Marshall Rare Books
An Act to Impower His Majesty to Secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy
FIRST EDITION, [2], 311-312, woodcut coat of arms on title, woodcut floriated initial, text in black letter, unbound, folio (320 x 200mm), London, Charles Eyre and William Straham, 1777 One of the most important and historic British Acts, directly related to the conduct of the British throughout the American Revolution and their treatment of American prisoners. From Public General Acts 1776-1777, it required magistrates to hold anyone who had been charged with or suspected of having committed treason in the American colonies or high seas to be held in custody without bail or trial until 1 January 1778.
Anno Regni GEORGII III REGIS Magnae Britaniiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, DECIMO SEPTIMO. At the Parliament Begun and Holden at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth Day of November, Anno Domini 1774, in the Fifteenth Year of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith….
FIRST EDITION, [2], 311-312, woodcut coat of arms on title, woodcut floriated initial, text in black letter, unbound, folio (320 x 200mm), London, Charles Eyre and William Straham, 1777
One of the most important and historic British Acts, directly related to the conduct of the British throughout the American Revolution and their treatment of American prisoners. From Public General Acts 1776-1777, it required magistrates to hold anyone who had been charged with or suspected of having commited treason in the American colonies or high seas to be held in custody without bail or trial until 1 January 1778.
This was published following the Declaration of Independence. It declares America to be in a state of “Rebellion and War”, and allows the prosecution of High Treason Charges without trial. Any participation in or support for the Revolution was considered treason against Great Britain.
The Act was due to expire on 1st January 1778, but this was extended annually to 1 January of each successive year until 1 January 1783, when it was finally allowed to expire.
A Very Important and Scarce Act.
[ESTC: N57668]