This detail shews how much the dignity and security of the King's person is confounded with that of his officers, and even with his effigies imprest on his Coin.--To assassinate the servant, or to counterfeit the type, is held as criminal as to destroy the Sovereign. This indiscriminate blending of crimes, so different and disproportionate in their nature, under one common head, is certainly liable to great objections; seeing that the judgment in this offence is so extremely severe and terrible, _viz. That the offender be drawn to the gallows on the ground or pavement: That he be hanged by the neck, and then cut down alive: That his entrails be taken out and burned while he is yet alive: That his head be cut off: That his body be divided into four parts: And that his head and quarters be at the King's disposal_.--Women, however, are only to be drawn and hanged:--though in all cases of treason, they were heretofore sentenced to be burned: a cruel punishment, which, after being alleviated by the custom of previous strangulation, was at length repealed, by the Act 30 Geo. III. _c._ 48. There are indeed some shades of difference with regard to coining money; where the offender is only drawn and hanged; and that part of the punishment which relates to being _drawn_ and _quartered_ is, to the honour of humanity, never practised. But even in cases of the most atrocious criminality, the execution of so horrid a sentence seems to answer no good political purpose.--Nature shudders at the thought of imbruing our hands in blood, and mangling the smoaking entrails of our fellow-creatures. In most Countries and in all ages, however, Treason has been punished capitally.--Under the Roman Laws, by the _Cornelia Lex_, of which Sylla, the Dictator, was the author, this Offence was created.--It was also made a capital Crime when the Persian Monarchy became despotic. By the Laws of China, Treason and Rebellion are punished with a rigour even beyond the severity of our judgment, for the criminals are ordained to be cut in _ten thousand_ pieces. There is another species of Treason, called _Petty Treason_, described by the Statute of the 25th of Edward the III. to be the offence of _a Servant killing his Master, a Wife killing her Husband_, or a _Secular or Religious slaying his Prelate_.--The Punishment is somewhat more ignominious than in other capital offences, inasmuch as a _hurdle_ is used instead of a _cart_.--Here again occurs a very strong instance of the inequality of Punishments; for although the principle and essence of this Crime is breach of duty and obedience due to a superior slain, yet if a child murder his parents (unless he serve them for wages) he is not within the Statute; although it must seem evident to the meanest understanding that Parricide is certainly a more atrocious and aggravated offence, than either of those specified in the Statute.