falfely and infidiously held out to them can be realized; but that, on the contrary, fuch wicked attempts will tend to the deftruction of all trade and manufactures, by which they are fupported, when induftrious; and will deftroy all the provifion made for the poor, which they now enjoy when they become unfit for labour.

Refolved,

That the following Opinions from the Commentaries of the excellent Mr. Juftice Blackftone, vol. iv. chap. 9. be published for the information of the ignorant, and as a caution to the unwary.

1

"If a party apprised of any treafon does not, as foon as "conveniently may be, reveal it to fome judge of affize, "or juftice of the peace, he is guilty of mifprifion of treafon; "which is punished by the lofs of the profits of lands "during life, forfeiture of goods, and imprisonment during << life.

"But if there be any probable circumstances of affent; "as if one goes to a treafonable meeting, knowing before

hand that a confpiracy is intended against the king; or "being in fuch company once by accident, and having "heard fuch treafonable confpiracy, meets the same com"pany again, and hears more of it, but conceals it; this is an implied affent in law, and makes the concealer "guilty of actual high treafon.

66

"Contempts and mifpr fions against the king's person and government may be by fpeaking or writing against them, curfing or withing him ill, giving out fcandalous stories concerning him, or doing any thing that may tend to leffen him in the esteem of his fubjects, may weaken his "government, or may raise jealoufies between him and his "people. It has been alfo held an offence of this fpecies "to drink to the pious memory of a traitor; thefe being "acts which impliedly encourage Rebellion.

"For these species of contempt, a man may not only be "fined and imprifoned, but fuffer the pillory, or other in"famous corporal punishment."

This Committee, fully fenfible of the many kind and interefting Communications which they continually receive from various quarters, return thanks to their Correfpondents, whofe hints will be thankfully received, and carefully attended to. In the mean time it is hoped that the variety of important bufinefs which occupies the Committee will furnith an excufe for their not returning immediate answers to each letter which they may receive.

Books

Books are opened at the Crown and Anchor for the Entry of Names, as well as the Receipt of Subicriptions.

N. B. All Communications to this Society are defired to be addreffed to the Chairman at this place.

CROWN AND ANCHOR, December 11, 1792.

Ta MEETING of the COMMITTEE of this SOCIETY,

AT

JOHN REEVES, Efq. Chairman.

Complaints having been made of the licentioufnefs of certain Print-fhops, wherein libellous pictures and engravings are daily exhibited, to the great fcandal and offence of his Majefty's loyal and affectionate Subjects:

Refolved,

That by way of caution to the proprietors of those fhops, the following authorities, fhewing the illegality and dangerous confequence of fuch procedure, be published.

"A libel, libellus famofus, fine fcriptis, may be, first, picturis; as to paint the party in any fhameful and ignominious manner-5. Co. 125.

"The notion of a libel may be applied to any defamation whatfoever, expreffed either by figns or pictures."Hawkins's Pleas of the Crown, Book I. ch. 73.

"A libel is a contumely or reproach, publifhed to the defamation of the Government, of a Magiftrate, or of a private perfon; and it may be without writing; as by making a picture in an ignominious manner, or by an ignominious fign, to the reproach of another."-Lord Chief Baron Comyns' Digeft, Libel. A.

"Malicious defamations of any perfons, especially a Magiftrate, made public by either printing, writing, figns or pictures, in order to expofe him to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, are punishable as libels." Blackft. Com. Book IV. ch. II.

Refolved,

That THOMAS PITT, Efq. and the Rev. ROBERT NARES, be added to this Committee.

JOHN REEVES, Chairman.
CROWN

CROWN AND ANCHOR, December 12, 1792. AT&SPECIAL MEETING of the COM

MITTEE,

JOHN REEVES, Efq. in the Chair.

The Committee can delay no longer to exprefs the extreme fatisfaction with which they obferve the universal fpirit of loyalty to the King, and of zealous attachment to the Conftitution, difplayed in every part of the kingdom. The declarations which have been made by fo many refpectable bodies, voluntarily uniting for the purpofe of fuppreffing fedition, and fupporting our excellent Conftitution as by law established, are fomething more than testimonies of the public opinion; they infpire confidence, and they furnish strength, to refift every attempt at difturbing the public peace, and to aid the Executive Power and the Magiftrates in preferving it. The efforts that have thus been made have already produced much; the difaffected have felt the refiftance; they are diverted, it is hoped, from purfuing their defigns in the way that was intended; but this has added to their former malignity the rage of disappointment: It is, therefore, highly neceffary that good fubjects fhould perfevere in maintaining the fame spirit and front which produced the firft check; and it is most earneftly recommended, that the different parifhes which have not yet united, will immediately proceed to form themselves into Societies, after the examples of those already inftituted. It is by fuch union, and readiness to act, that Britons will be enabled to preferve and tranfmit to their children. that Conftitution and domeftic happiness, which they receive from their ancestors; which has always diftinguished them above all the nations of the earth; and which they have, on the prefent occafion, moft generally and moft energetically declared they prefer to all others; firmly believing, as they do, from the reasonings of the beft politicians, confirmed by their own experience, that a free Monarchy, like their own, is the best form of a free Constitution that ever was devifed by the Wisdom of Man.

JOHN REEVES, Chairman'

OF THE

ASSOCIATION

FOR PRESERVING

LIBERTY AND PROPERTY

AGAINST

REPUBLICANS AND LEVELLERS,

CONTINUED,

FROM DECEMBER 12, 1792, TO JUNE 21, 1793.

I. That the public Declaration of a whole People in favour of their Eftablished Government, and the particular expreffions of Zeal, Loyalty, and Attachment to our

excellent Conftitution, under King, Lords, and Commons, published by the various loyal Affociations and other Meetings throughout this Kingdom, are too honourable to them, and to the cause which they fupport, to be left scattered papers to the difpofal of time and chance.

II. That in conformity to a former Refolution of the 14th of December 1792, thefe Declarations ought to be collected, as a Memorial to the prefent Generation, an Example and Inftruction to Pofterity.

III. That for these purposes this Committee having directed a Collection of fuch Declarations to be made, and regularly continued, will cause the whole to be immediately prepared for Publication.

IV. That Mr. DEBRETT, Bookfeller in Piccadilly, having, on the 31ft of December laft, fubmitted to the Committee Propofals for publishing fuch Collection as foon as the fame fhall be completed; He be furnished with the materials collected for that purpose,

V. That though the nature and limits of our truft do not authorize us to employ any part of the fund committed to our care in fuch a work, yet we will individually give it every fupport in our power, and we have therefore ordered for our own private use, and at our own expence, ONE HUNDRED COPIES.

VI. That in order to render this Collection as perfect as poffible, the Committee earneftly requeft of fuch Chairmen of the feveral Affociations, Societies, and other Meetings for the fupport of the King and Conftitution throughout the Kingdom as have not already done them that honour, to tranfmit copies of their refpective Refolutions to this So ciety.

CROWN