To be secure therefore against those public calamities which, almost inevitably, lead to anarchy and confusion, it is far better to improve and confirm a nation in the true principles of natural justice, than to perplex them by political refinements. Having thus taken a general view of the principles applicable to Punishments in general, it may be necessary, for the purpose of more fully illustrating these reflections, briefly to consider the various leading Offences, and their corresponding Punishments according to the present state of our Criminal Law; and to examine how far they are proportioned to each other. High Treason is the highest civil Crime which can be committed by any member of the Community.--After various alterations and amendments made and repealed in subsequent reigns, the definition of this offence was settled as it originally stood, by the Act of the 25th of Edward III. stat. 5, cap. 2. and may be divided into seven different heads: 1. Compassing or imagining the Death of the King, Queen, or Heir Apparent. 2. Levying War against the King, in his realm. 3. Adhering to the King's enemies, and giving them aid, in the realm or elsewhere.[11] [Footnote 11: It has been thought necessary, by the Legislature, to explain and enlarge these clauses of the Act 25 _Ed._ III. as not extending, with sufficient explicitness, to modern treasonable attempts. It is therefore provided by the Act 36 _Geo._ III. _cap._ 7, "That if any person (during the life of his present Majesty, and until the end of the Session of Parliament next after a demise of the Crown) shall within the realm, or without, compass, imagine, invent, devise, or intend death or destruction, _or any bodily harm, tending to death or destruction, maim, or wounding, imprisonment, or restraint_ of the person of the King, his heirs, and successors, or to deprive or depose him or them from his stile, honour, or Kingly name; or to levy war against the King within this Realm, in order by force to compel him to change his measures; _or in order to put any force or constraint upon, or to intimidate or overawe_, BOTH HOUSES, OR EITHER HOUSE, OF PARLIAMENT; or to incite any foreigner to invade the dominions of the Crown: and such compassings, &c., shall express, utter, or declare, _by publishing any printing, or writing_, or by _any other_ overt act or deed"--the offender shall be deemed _a Traitor_, and punished accordingly.] 4. Slaying the King's Chancellor or Judge in the execution of their offices. 5. Violating the Queen, the eldest daughter of the King, or the wife of the Heir Apparent, or eldest Son. 6. Counterfeiting the King's Great Seal, or Privy Seal. 7. Counterfeiting the King's Money, or bringing false Money into the kingdom.