The police of France: or, an account of the laws and regulations established in that kingdom, for the preservation of peace, and the preventing of robberies. To which is added, a particular description of the police and government of the city of Paris / [Anon].

  • Mildmay, William, Sir, 1705-1771.
Date:
1763
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The police of France: or, an account of the laws and regulations established in that kingdom, for the preservation of peace, and the preventing of robberies. To which is added, a particular description of the police and government of the city of Paris / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/150 (page 22)
    the inferior judicatures, or by the foverelgn courts of Parlla- ' ment upon appeal; as alfo all prevotal crimes, adjudged either by the prefidial court, or the court of the prevot of the marechaujjee,. fuch as robberies on the highways, or in the ftreets of Paris, though of the molt trifling value; or even a violent affault with an intent to rob; thefe are all punilhed with death, by the offenders being hanged or broke upon the wheel. If the robbery was accompanied with murder, or any other att of cruelty, the condemned, after having his limbs broke, is left to expire by the torture; but for an alfault, or a robbery without any circumftance of cruelty, the coup de grace is commonly given. In order to receive this dreadful punilhment, the criminal after condemnation is brought to a fcaffold, ufually eredted at the place neared; to where the crime was committed; where the judges who condemned him again alfemble, at fome convenient didance, to take down in writing his laft eonfeffion and, the dilcovery of his accomplices, in cafe he offers to make any; being always exhorted thereto by the pried; that attends him, and who refules to give his ablolu— tion, although the prifoner has made the amende honorable, until he makes a dilcovery, or perdlls in declaring he had no accomplices : by thefe means, in the punilhment of one criminal, they often arrive at the knowledge of many others* After having offered this general furvey of the jurifdidtions eftablilhed in France for the adminiftration of juftice, I fhall proceed to delcribe that particular branch of their police, which is more immediately intended for the prefervation of peace, and the preventing of robberies. PART