little later we hear that a child under the age of seven shall not suffer judgment in a case of homicide.[125] In 1457, an infant of four was held liable in trespass, though the language of the court shows a disposition to exempt the infant.[126] From the eighteenth century instances are recorded of a girl of thirteen who was burnt for killing her mistress, and of a boy of eight who was hanged for arson.[127] In 1748, a boy of ten, being convicted for the murder of a girl of five, was sentenced to death, and all the judges to whom this case was reported agreed that, "in justice to the publick," the law ought to take its course. The execution, however, was respited, and the boy at last had the benefit of His Majesty's pardon.[128] It appears from these facts, and from others of a similar character referring to continental countries,[129] that there has been a tendency to raise the age {269} at which full legal responsibility commences. And we have reason to hope that legislation has not yet said its last word on the subject. [Footnote 115: Senfft, in Steinmetz, _Rechtsverhältnisse_, p. 449 (Marshall Islanders). Miklosich, 'Blutrache bei den Slaven,' in _Denkschriften d. kaiserl. Akadamie d. Wissensch. Philos.-hist. Classe_, Vienna, xxxvi. 131 (Turks of Daghestan). See also _supra_, p. 217 _sq._] [Footnote 116: Lang, in Steinmetz, _Rechtsverhältnisse_, p. 257 (Washambala).] [Footnote 117: _Iliad_, xxiii. 85 _sqq._ _Cf._ Müller, _Dissertations on the Eumenides_, p. 95.] [Footnote 118: Nicole, in Steinmetz, _Rechtsverhältnisse_ p. 132 (Diakité-Sarrakolese). Marx, _ibid._ p. 357 (Amahlubi).] [Footnote 119: Dennett, in _Jour. African Society_, i. 276.] [Footnote 120: Wigmore, 'Responsibility for Tortious Acts,' in _Harvard Law Review_, vii. 447.] [Footnote 121: Wilda, _Strafrecht der Germanen_, p. 642 _sq._ Nordström, _Bidrag till den svenska samhälls-författningens historia_, ii. 73. _Cf._ von Amira, _Nordgermanisches Obligationenrecht_, i. 375 _sq._] [Footnote 122: _Grágás_, Vigsloþi, 32, vol. ii. 63.] [Footnote 123: Wigmore, _loc. cit._ p. 447.] [Footnote 124: _Three Early Assize Rolls for the County of Northumberland_, p. 323.] [Footnote 125: Pollock and Maitland, _op. cit._ ii. 84.] [Footnote 126: Wigmore, _loc. cit._ p. 447 _sq._ n. 7.] [Footnote 127: Wilson, _History of Modern English Law_, p. 124.] [Footnote 128: Foster, _Report of Crown Cases_, p. 70 _sqq._] [Footnote 129: Trummer, _op. cit._ i. 428, 432 _sqq._ (Germany). Jousse, _Traité de la justice criminelle de France_, ii. 617; Tissot, _Droit pénal_, i. 30 (France).] * * * * *