By the _Lex Pompeia_ of the Romans, Parricides were ordained to be sown [Transcriber's Note: sewn] in a sack with a _dog_, a _cock_, a _viper_, and an _ape_, and thrown into the sea, thus to perish by the most cruel of all tortures. The ancient Laws of all civilized nations punished the crime of Parricide by examples of the utmost severity.--The Egyptians put the delinquents to death by the most cruel of all tortures--mangling the body and limbs, and afterwards laying it upon thorns to be burnt alive. By the Jewish Law it was death for children to curse, or strike their parents; and in China, this crime was considered as next in atrocity to Treason and Rebellion, and in like manner punished by cutting the delinquent in _one thousand_ pieces. The Laws of England however make no distinction between this crime and common Murder; while it is to be lamented that offences far less heinous, either morally or politically considered, are punished with the same degree of severity; and it is much to be feared, that this singular inequality is ill calculated to inspire that filial awe and reverence, to parents, which all human Laws ought to inculcate. The offences next in enormity to Treason, are by the Laws of England, denominated Felonies, and these may be considered as of two kinds, _public_ and _private_. Under the head of _Public Felonies_ we shall class the following: having peculiar relation to the State. 1. Felonies relative to the Coin of the Realm. 2. ----------------- to the King and his Counsellors, &c. 3. ----------------- to Soldiers and Marines. 4. ----------------- to embezzling Public Property. 5. ----------------- to Riot and Sedition. 6. ----------------- to Escape from Prison. 7. ----------------- to Revenue and Trade, &c. We consider as comprehended under _Private Felonies_ the following crimes committed, 1. _Against the Life_, 2. _the Body_, 3. _The Goods_, 4. _The Habitation of the Subject_. Against 1. By Murder. Life. 2. By Man-slaughter. 3. By Misadventure. 4. By Necessity. Against the 1. Sodomy. Body. 2. Rape. 3. Forcible Marriage. 4. Polygamy. 5. Mayhem. Against 1. Simple Larceny. Goods. 2. Mixt Larceny. 3. Piracy. Against the 1. Arson. Dwelling or 2. Burglary. Habitation. Those Crimes which we have denominated _Public Felonies_ being merely of a political nature, it would seem that the ends of justice would be far better answered, than at present, and convictions oftener obtained, by different degrees of Punishment short of Death. With regard to _Private Felonies_, it may be necessary to make some specific observations---- The first, in point of enormity, is _Murder_, which may be committed in two Ways:--first, upon _one's self_, in which case the offender is denominated _Felo de se_ or a _Self-murderer_;--secondly, by killing another person.