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MALICIOUS MISCHIEF Bridges
The Criminal draws the Legislator
after him, as the Magnet
does the needle.
The Value which may amount
to perpetual imprisonment will
come within the price of any
Bridge. - But a Ferry Boat
destroyer which may occasion a vast
of mischief?
The Value must be contrived to
be expressed [in or after the destruction]
the Value of the whole
mischief done, not what one man
has done for his own share.
It is possible the Legislature should not have seen, that either there was no reason at all, for
the punishing of the destroying of those bridges
affixing that punishment to the offence of destroying those Bridges, or at was
just the same for punishing in the same manner the destroying of any other Bridges
that cost as much money+, at least that were used by as many people? It
-trary is possible, for they did not it is fact — It is not however difficult to persuade how it must have happened says the reasons well enough of it's happening so
tho' it would will be pretty difficult I believe to see the reasons: It was because attempts were made open-handed
to destroy those Bridges — But from what motives? from the same that would prompt
to destroy any other Bridges that were then be built, or shall [be] hereafter. It was
just as if there were supposed to be no adequate punishment for the Crime of Robbery
and a Man were robbed in going from London to Hampstead; & it were made Death
to rob on the road from London to Hampstead; and another man were robbed in
going from London to Romford; & it were made Death to rob on the road from
London to Romford; & so keep taking or making the circuit of the Kingdom, till somebody should have going or , which when <add>with great tranquility
been robbed upon every road in it, where it would be completed. I
The circuit of the Kingdom having
been completed then & not before
till when every road has been the
scene of Robbery n it's turn.
If a person Destroying the Bridge over the Thames at Walton in Surry at Hampton Court, that over the river
Ribble, at Sandwich or Wige at Ferry at Black Friar's at Old Brampton
across the Trent at Wilden Ferry if [it is] a man he is to be burnt in the hand, or at least to
as if he were burnt in the hand to profit all his lands to somebody or other, & all
his goods to the King, whether he has any Lands or Goods, or as as probably he has not,
& what a deal is to happen to him besides, though which was never the intention of the penners or the writers of these statutes, who
classed in the word Felony for shortness<add>because they had been used to it without thinking any thing about the matters+ [I say, if
a Man: for it is a Woman, all these things must happen to her, & she must die fid quo.]
Dr , Physician to an
Hospital for Lunatics not only had done
something to disoblige his Patients
They agreed one and all to put
him into a large couldren that
was boiling in a large room;
& he ran for his life, & they
after him, still treading in his
steps: till he gained time for them
without to his assistance
had they met him in it had
been over with him, but this they
never thought of [It must be confessed
that these lunatics are the Emblems of the
Legislature.]
Unhappily the madness is here
in the Physician.
The Punishment is the same for destroying any of the works & [2. the passage] of the others Bridges at Walton
but if any other of those Bridges it is no matter.
As a specimen if a man puts
off a Balustrade is convicted
[But is not burnt for that would have
that. Pardon ] & 20 years
hence sees a man robbed & Murdered
he is not to be believed except.
To make amends, if a Balustrade or any thing of that sort is demolished (wilfully,
& in ) in any of the other the Punishment is the same as for demolishing
the whole (for fear people should leave off after they have begun) except at Walton Bridge
where it is no matter; except again if it be by Fire, in which case God knows how it
would turn out but it seems as if it would be the same whether it were part or all.
MISCHIEF. Malicious. Bridges. [BR][2]
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