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Remphan

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Remphan. to regulate the inundation. On this account Plutarch denotes Chicf, Prince, Sovereign, is the very word Chiun Remin (Is. et Osir.) tells us, they believed the soul of their il- which the Egyptians and Hebrews applied to Sothis, as lustrious benefactress Isis to have transmigrated into the being, in their conceptions, the chief or sovereign of all Reacorastar Suthis, which they therefore worshipped as the divithe stars. This will appear still more probable, when nity which rendered their country fruitful. It made its we have ascertained the import of the word Remphan, appearance, too, on the first day of the month Thoth (A), or, as the LXX have it, Raiphan. which was the beginning of the Egyptian year, and as such celebrated with feasting and festivity; and being by much the brightest star in the heavens, Horapollo (cap. 3. informs us it was considered as sovereign over A combination of so many important circumstances might have induced a people less superstitious than the Egyptians to pay divine homage to that glorious luminary, which was confounded with Isis, who had been long regarded with the highest veneration; and as Isis was the wife and sister of Osiris, and always associated with him, the star of Isis or Remphan was naturally associated with Moloch, the same with Osiris.

the rest.

But it will be asked, how the star which by the Egyptians was called Soth or Sothis came to be worshipped by the Hebrews under the appellation of Chiun or Remphan? This is a very pertinent question, and we shall endeavour to answer it.

Every one knows that the pronunciation of oriental words is very uncertain; and that as the vowels were often omitted in writing, it is of very little importance to the meaning how they be supplied, provided we retain the radical consonants. The word Chiun may with equal propriety be written Kiun, Kion, or even Kyon, the Hebrew jod being convertible into the Greek v or the Roman ; but the words Cane, Chan, Kan, or Khan, which are often diversified into Khen, Kyn, Cohen, Cahan, signifying Head, Chief, Prince, King, &c. are diffused through a great part of Asia and Europe. In the Chinese language Quin, which signifies a King, is so similar to the word Chiun or Khiun under consideration, that no etymologist will hesitate to pronounce them of the same original and the same import. The word Kan or Khan is universally known to be an honorary title in Tartary; and Kaian or Kain, which is manifestly cognate of the word Chiun or Kiun, is, in the Plhevi or old Persian language, the epithet applied to the dynasty of princes which succeeded Cyrus the Great. Among the Scythians or ancient Tartars, Ghiun signifies the Sun and likewise the day; and Kung, Kinung, Kun, runs through all the dialects of the Gothic tongue, everywhere denoting a chief or sovereign. In the Syrian dialect, Kon signifies a prince; and hence the Almighty is styled (Gen. xiv. 19.) Konah, which is translated possessor, but might have, with perhaps more propriety, been rendered Sovereign of heaven and earth. In Hebrew, the word Kahan or Kahen, which is the very same with Khan or Kan, signifies either a priest or a prince; and in Egypt Kon was the name of the first Hercules or the sun. Hence the same word in composition denotes greatness, as Can-obus the great serpent; Can-athoth, the great Thoth or Mercury; Can-osiris, the great Osiris.

From this deduction we would conclude, that the word, which is found in so many tongues, and always

Phan, the latter part of this word, is unquestionably the same with Pan, the most ancient of the Egyptian gods (see PAN). It is likewise a cognate of the Hebrew Phanah, conspexit, spectavit, vidit; and the radical word seems to be PHAH, which signifies sometimes the countenance, and sometimes light. Hence Phaethon, which is compounded of pha "light," eth or esh, “fire," and on, 66 strength," came to be one of the names of the sun. Rai, which we commonly write Rajah, has long signified, among the Indians, a subordinate prince; and we know, that between India and Egypt there was a very early intercourse. Raiphan, therefore, may be ei ther the royal light or the bright prince, subordinate to Osiris; and in either sense, it was a very proper epithet of Sothis in the Egyptian kalendar. The word Rem or Rom, again (for it is sometimes written Remphan, and sometimes Rompha), is no other than the Hebrew 017, Rum, "high, exalted." Hence Remphan is the high or exalted light, which Sothis certainly was.

For this etymological disquisition we are indebted to Dr Doig, the learned author of Letters on the Savoge State, who has written a dissertation on Chiun and Remphan, of such value that we hope it will not be much longer withheld from the public. The ascertaining the identity of those names, and the god to which they belonged, is the least of its merit; for it will be found to throw much light upon many passages in the Old Tes

tament.

What confirms his interpretation is, that the idol consecrated by the Egyptians to Sothis or the dogstar, was a female figure with a star on her head; and hence the prophet upbraids his countrymen with having borne the Star of their deity.

ACTION OF REMOVING, in Scots Law. See LAW, No clxvii. 18.

REMURIA, festivals established at Rome by Romulus to appease the manes of his brother Remus. They were afterwards called Lemuria, and celebrated yearly.

REMUS, the brother of Romulus, was exposed together with his brother, by the cruelty of his grandfa ther. In the contest which happened between the two brothers about building a city, Romulus obtained the preference, and Remus, for ridiculing the rising walls, was put to death by his brother's orders, or by Romulus himself (see ROMULUS). The Romans were afflicted with a plague after this murder; upon which the oracle was consulted, and the manes of Remus appeased by the institution of the Remuria.

RENAL, something belonging to the reins or KID

NEYS.

RENCOUNTER, in the military art, the encounter of two little bodies or parties of forces. In which sense rencounter is used in opposition to a pitched battle.

RENCOUNTER, in single combats, is used by way of contradistinction

(A) This was the case at a very remote period; but it is otherwise at present, owing to the PRECESSION of the Equinoxes. See that article.

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ounter contradistinction to DUEL.-When two persons fall out human industry has rendered them of considerable im- Renfrewand fight on the spot without having premeditated the portance; and they are rather employed to turn some combat, it is called a rencounter. vast water wheel or other pieces of machinery, than to give variety to the beauties of a park, or to please the eye with the romantie scenery which nature sometimes delights to display. The chief rivers are the White and Black Carts, and the Grief, which ultimately form a junction and discharge themselves into the Clyde below Inchinnan bridge.

RENDEZVOUS, or RENDEVOUS, a place appointed to meet in at a certain day and hour.

RENDSBURG, the frontier town in Holstein, is regularly built, and better fortified than any in the Danish dominions. It is situated on a canal which runs from the Baltic. This is a work of considerable commercial consequence, and deserves to be particularly noticed. It has its source three miles north of Keil, forming the boundary of Holstein and Sleswick, and by means of it ships of 140 tons can come up from the Baltic. This canal was begun in 1777, and it is intended to make it stretch across the whole peninsula, the utility of which will be clearly perceived by all those who are acquainted with the value of inland navigation. Rendsburg is a place of considerable trade, and contains about 2800 inhabitants, including the garrison which is usually stationed there.

RENEALMIA, a genus of plants belonging to the monandria class. See BOTANY Index.

RENEGADE, or RENEGADO, a person who has apostatized or renounced the Christian faith to embrace some other religion, particularly Mahometanism.

RENFREW, a royal borough, and the county town of Renfrewshire, situated not far from the south bank of the Clyde, about five miles west from Glasgow, and three north from Paisley. It has only one narrow street half a mile long, and its trade is inconsiderable, though favourably situated for commerce. The river Clyde having shifted its bed, a canal was formed in it, by which vessels of 200 tons burden can come up to the town during spring tides. The manufacture of thread has been long carried on here, and that of soap and candles to a great extent. Many looms are constantly employed in the fabrication of silk and muslin. In the year 1164 it became memorable for a battle between Somerled thane of Argyle and Gilchrist earl of Angus, in which the former was defeated. King Robert II. made it a royal borough; and charters were afterwards granted to it by James VI. and Queen Anne. Its political constitution consists of a provost, two bailies, and 16 counsellors, who have the management of about 360l. of annual revenue, arising from lands, salmon fishing, &c. In the year 1791 the population amounted to 1628. The soil consists of clay, sand, and rich loam, the latter of which is the most predominant. The whole of the land is enclosed and well cultivated. It is a place of very great antiquity, as we find mention is made of it in the chartularies of the abbeys of Dunfermline and Paisley.

RENFREWSHIRE, a small but populous county of Scotland, bounded on the south-west by the hills which run along the northern part of Ayrshire; towards the west and north by the river Clyde, and on the east by Lanarkshire. It is rather level along the north-east and north part of it; and it has few hills which rise to any considerable height. But the summits of Balagich and Dunware, in the parish of Eaglesham, are about 1000 feet above the level of the sea.

The waters of Renfrewshire are not extensive, but

The number of lakes in this county is increased for the purpose of collecting water to give motion to the machinery of cotton mills, or to answer the demands of

extensive bleachfields.

The general appearance of this county is favourable to agriculture, the population being very extensive, and the inclosures numerous, while manure in abundance is obtained from the neighbouring towns. Commerce and manufactures have been so often successfully pursued, producing great and sudden riches, that in a greater or less degree they occupy the attention of almost every individual. Although a considerable part of it might be constantly kept with advantage under arable crops, yet so extensive is the demand for the products of the dairy, that a very large proportion of the soil is perpetually kept in grass. With respect to crops, potatoes generally constitute a part of every rotation. This is the usual arrangement: Oats from grass; potatoes or barley dunged; oats, with five pounds of red clover and three firlots of rye-grass; hay for two years; pasture. The proprietors of land in this county have shewn a laudable zeal for the making of excellent roads, which are constantly kept in the best repair, and steelyards are fixed at every toll-bar to prevent carts from being overloaded; 15 cwt. being allowed in the vicinity of Paisley as the load for a cart with one horse.

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The mineral productions are not very extensive, but they are very abundant in the vicinity of Paisley. coal has been met with near Greenock or Port-Glasgow; but what is called osmund stone is found in the parishes of Eaglesham and Kilbarchan, so very soft at first that it may be cut with a chisel, but it becomes much harder by exposure to the air. It is of various colours; breaks in every direction; readily absorbs water; and if recently heated in the fire, the absorption is accompanied with a hissing noise. There are two mineral springs in the same vicinity of Eaglesham; the one possessing a purgative quality, and the other is regarded as a remedy for what is called the moor-ill in black cattle.

The most remarkable field of minerals is in the vicinity of Paisley; the most singular being the coal at Quarreltown, upwards of 50 feet thick, consisting of five strata in contact with each other (A). The Hurlet coal, belonging to Lord Glasgow, about three miles south-east of Paisley, is five feet three inches thick, and supposed to have been wrought for more than two centuries. Inflammable air and fixed air are met with in this mine, but from the precautions adopted accidents are not so frequent as might otherwise be apprehended. The coalmines of Hurlet have for a long time afforded the materials for a copperas manufactory on a small scale ; and

one

(A) For a detailed account of this singular mass of coal, the reader is referred to the Appendix to Williams's Mineral Kingdom, by Dr Millar, 2 vols. 8vo, 1809.

shire.

Renfrew- one of the most extensive manufactories of alum in Britain has been established and successfully carried on by a spirited and enterprising company, for several years past, at the same place. Coal is also found in the upper part of the county, as in the parish of Cathcart, and also not far from Renfrew. Limestone is abundant in many parts of the county, as in the parish of Cathcart; and at Lord Glasgow's coal work at Hurlet, it forms a very considerable stratum covering the coal. But one of the most remarkable masses of limestone is found at the entrance to a romantic glen called Glenniffer, three miles to the south of Paisley. The limestone is in a mass of about 10 feet thick, dips to the centre, and is wrought by driving mines under a thick mass of whinstone which covers it. Ironstone is also abundant along with the coal strata in some parts of the county.

The ruins of an old castle, called the Peel, to which the lairds of Semple retreated in times of imminent danger, are still to be seen in an island of Castle Semple loch; and the ruins of the castle of Newark, lower down the country, are even at this day deserving of attention. They are lofty, and have still an air of magnificence, and some parts of it were inhabited about half a century ago. It is situated on the eastern part of the bay containing the town and harbour of Port Glasgow and Newark. This castle is very ancient, is the property of Lord Belhaven, but when it was erected cannot be fully ascertained. Mearns Castle, another ruin, stands in the south-east part of the county, near the village and church of the same name. Crookstone Castle is situated about three miles to the south-east of Paisley. The strong position and commanding prospect of this magnificent ruin must have rendered it a favourite residence of the powerful family of Lennox, to whom it originally belonged. Near the castle there is a yew-tree, venerable from its antiquity, but still more so, according to the legendary lore of the country, as having afforded its shade to the unfortunate Queen Mary and her equally unfortunate husband Darnley. If this be true, the said tree is not less than three centuries old.

There are four cups in the parish of Kilmacolm which were used by the celebrated reformer John Knox at the dispensation of the Lord's supper. They are formed of the purest silver, and seem to have been originally intended for candlesticks, although necessity converted them into communion cups. This sacred use of them, joined to their antiquity, makes them much esteemed by the people at large.

Renfrew is the only royal borough in this county, a privilege which was conferred upon it by Robert Bruce. It elects a member of parliament along with Glasgow, Dunbarton, and Rutherglen.

The other towns are Paisley, Greenock, Port Glasgow; and some of smaller note, as Kilbarchan, Lochwinnoch, Neilston, Gourock, and Auldkirk. Among these deserves also to be mentioned Johnston, which within a period of little more than 20 years has become a large town, owing to the progress and prosperity of the cotton manufacture.

The manufacture of silk gauze was introduced into Paisley about the year 1760, in imitation of that of Spittalfields in London; experiencing at first many dif ficulties to which new inventions are very frequently exposed. Patterns and designs of fancy works were originally composed at Paris; but the manufacturers at

Rendes

Paisley established draughtsmen of their own, and the Renfrew. patterns thus executed were sent to London and Paris in shire, order to be approved of. By means of industry and ge nius properly encouraged, the most curious fabrics came to be devised; and the vast variety of elegant and highly ornamented gauze manufactured here is allowed to be superior to every thing of the kind which had formerly made its appearance. Even London itself was obliged to relinquish this manufacture; merchants from the metropolis came to carry it on at Paisley; and warehouses were opened in London, in Dublin, and Paris, for vending their commodities. We formerly said that Paisley must contain upwards of 25,000 inhabitants see (PAISLEY); but we have since seen a more recent computation, by which they are stated at upwards of 31,000.

The whole population of Renfrewshire amounted to 78,000 in 1801, of which Paisley alone contained much more than a third, and in 1811 it was 92,596. In the year 1755 the population of this county was 26,645, so that in the course of sixty years it has more than tripled. The following table exhibits a view of the population of each parish according to the reports communicated to the Statistical History of Scotland.

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26,645

62,853

See RENFREWSHIRE, SUPPLEMENT.

RENNES, a town of France, and capital of the department of Ille and Vilaine. Before the revolution it had a bishop's see, two abbeys, a parliament, and a mint. The houses are six or seven stories high, and the suburbs of larger extent than the town itself. The cathedral church is large, and the parliamenthouse a handsome structure. The great square belonging to it is surrounded with handsome houses. There is a tower, formerly a pagan temple, which now contains the town-clock. It is seated on the river Vilaine, which divides it into two parts, and was anciently fortified, but the walls are now in ruins, and the ditch nearly filled up. The population in 1817 was 29,000. The siege of the city by Edward III. king of England is very celebrated in history. The English and Breton army consisted of 40,000 men ; and nevertheless, after having remained before it six months,

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were obliged to retire without success. E. Long. o. 23. N. Lat. 48. 7.

RENNET. See RUNNET.

RENT, in Law, a sum of money, or other consideration, issuing yearly out of lands or tenements.

RENTERING, in the manufactories, the same with fine-drawing. It consists in sewing two pieces of cloth edge to edge, without doubling them, so that the seam scarcely appears; and hence it is denominated fine draw ing. It is a French word meaning the same thing, and is derived from the Latin retrahere, of re, in, and trahere, because the seam is drawn in or covered. We are told *, that in the East Indies, if a piece of fine musicu- lin be torn and afterwards mended by the fine drawers, it will be impossible to discover where the rent was. In this country the dexterity of the fine drawers is not so great as that of those in the east; but it is still such as to enable them to defraud the revenue, by sewing a head or slip of English cloth on a piece of Dutch, Spanish, or other foreign cloth; or a slip of foreign cloth on a piece of English, so as to pass the whole as of a piece, and by that means avoid the duties, penalties, &c. The trick was discovered in France by M. Savary.

RENTERING, in tapestry, is the working new warp into a piece of damaged tapestry, whether eaten by the rats or otherwise destroyed, and on this warp to restore the ancient pattern or design. The warp is to be of woollen, not linen. Among the titles of the French tapestry-makers is included that of renterers. Finedrawing is particularly used for a rent or hole, which happens in dressing or preparing a piece of cloth artfully sewed up or mended with silk. All fine drawings are reckoned defects or blemishes, and should be allowed for in the price of the piece.

RENVERSE, INVERTED, in Heraldry, is when any thing is set with the head downwards, or contrary to its natural way of standing. Thus, a chevron renverse is a chevron with the point downwards. They use also the same term when a beast is laid on its back.

RENUNCIATION, the act of renouncing, abdicating, or relinquishing, any right, real or pretended. REPARTEE, a smart, ready reply, especially in matters of wit, humour, or raillery. See RAILLERY. REPEALING, in Law, the revoking or annulling of a statute or the like.

No act of parliament shall be repealed the same se3sion in which it was made. A deed or will may be repealed in part, and stand good for the rest. It is held that a pardon of felony may be repealed on disproving the suggestion thereof.

REPELLENTS, in Medicine, remedies which are supposed to drive back a morbid humour into the mass of blood, from whence it was unduly secreted.

REPENTANCE, in general, means sorrow for any thing past. In theology it means such a sorrow for sin as produces newness of life, or such a conviction of the evil and danger of a sinful course as is sufficient to produce shame and sorrow in the review of it, and effectual resolutions of amendment. In this sense the

evange

lical writers use μeraμsdua and μerava. See PENI

TENCE and THEOLOGY.

REPERCUSSION, in Music, a frequent repetition

of the same sound.

REPERTORY, a place wherein things are orderly disposed, so as to be easily found when wanted. The

indices of books are repertories, showing where the Repertory matters sought for are treated of. Common-place books A are also kinds of repertories. Replevy.

REPETEND, in Arithmetic, signifies that part of an infinite decimal fraction, which is continually repeated ad infinitum. Thus in the numbers 2. 13 13 13 &c. the figures 13 are the repetend and marked thus i 3. These repetends chiefly arise in the reduction of vulgar fractions to decimale. Thus, +0.333 &c.=0.3.

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REPETITION, the reiterating of an action. REPETITION, in Music, denotes a reiterating or playing over again the same part of a composition, whether it be a whole strain, part of a strain, or double strain, &c.

When the song ends with a repetition of the first strain, or part of it, the repetition is denoted by da capo, or D. C. i. e. " from the beginning."

REPETITION, in Rhetoric, a figure which gracefully and emphatically repeats either the same word, or the same sense in different words. See ORATORY, No 67 -80.

The nature and design of this figure is to make deep impressions on those we address. It expresses anger and indignation, full assurance of what we affirm, and a vehement concern for what we have espoused.

REPHIDIM, in Ancient Geography, a station of the Israelites near Mount Horeb, where they murmured for want of water; when Moses was ordered to smite the rock Horeb, upon which it yielded water. Here Joshua discomfited the Amalekites. This rock, out of which Moses brought water, is a stone of a prodigious height and thickness, rising out of the ground; on two sides of which are several holes, by which the water ran. (Thevenot).

REPLEGIARE, in Law, signifies to redeem a thing taken or detained by another, by putting in legal

sureties.

DE HOMINE REPLEGIANDO. See HOMINE.

REPLEVIN, in Law, a remedy granted on a distress, by which the first possessor has his goods restored to him again, on his giving security to the sheriff that. he will pursue his action against the party distraining, and return the goods or cattle if the taking them shall be adjudged lawful.

In a replevin the person distrained becomes plaintiff; and the person distraining is called the defendant or avowant, and his justification an avowery.

At the common law replevins are by writ, either out. of the king's-bench or common-pleas; but by statute,. they are by plaint in the sheriff's court, and court baron, for a person's more speedily obtaining the goods. distrained.

If a plaint in replevin be removed into the court of king's bench, &c. and the plaintiff makes default and becomes non-suited, or judgment is given against him, the defendant in replevin shall have the writ of retorno habendo of the goods taken in distress. See the next article.

REPLEVY, in Law, is a tenant's bringing a writ of replevin, or replegiari facias, where his goods are taken by distress for rent; which must be done within five days after the distress, otherwise at the five days. end they are to be appraised and sold.

This word is also used for bailing a person, as in the case of a homine replegiando.

REPORT,,

Report

REPORT, the relation made upon oath, by officers or persons appointed to visit, examine, or estimate the. Reprieve. state, expences, &c. of any thing.

Blackst.

REPORT, in Law, is a public relation of cases judicially argued, debated, resolved, or adjudged in any of the king's courts of justice, with the causes and reasons of the same, as delivered by the judges. Also when the court of chancery, or any other court, refers the stating of a case, or the comparing of an account, to a master of chancery, or other referee, his certificate thereon is called a report.

REPOSE, in Poetry, &c. the same with rest and pause. See REST, &c.

REPOSE, in Painting, certain masses or large assemblages of light and shade, which being well conducted, prevent the confusion of objects and figures, by engaging and fixing the eye so as it cannot attend to the other parts of the painting for some time; and thus leading it to consider the several groups gradually, proceeding as it were from stage to stage.

REPRESENTATION, in the drama, the exhibition of a theatrical piece, together with the scenes, machinery, &c.

REPRESENTATIVE, one who personates or supplies the place of another, and is invested with his right and authority. Thus the house of commons are the representatives of the people in parliament. See COMMONS and PARLIAMENT.

REPRIEVE, in Criminal Law, (from reprendre, "to take back") is the withdrawing of a sentence for an interval of time; whereby the execution is suspended. See JUDGMENT.

This may be, first, ex arbitrio judicis, either before or Comment. after judgment: as, where the judge is not satisfied with the verdict, or the evidence is suspicious, or the indictment is insufficient, or he is doubtful whether the offence be within clergy or sometimes if it be a small felony, or any favourable circumstances appear in the criminal's character, in order to give room to apply to the crown for either an absolute or conditional pardon. These arbitrary reprieves may be granted or taken off by the justices of gaol-delivery, although their session be finished, and their commission expired: but this rather by common usage than of strict right.

Reprieves may also be ex necessitate legis: as where a woman is capitally convicted, and pleads her pregnancy. Though this is no cause to stay judgment, yet it is to respite the execution till she be delivered. This is a mercy dictated by the law of nature, in favorem prolis; and therefore no part of the bloody proceedings in the reign of Queen Mary hath been more justly detested, than the cruelty that was exercised in the island of Guernsey, of burning a woman big with child; and, when through the violence of the flame the infant sprang forth at the stake, and was preserved by the bystanders, after some deliberations of the priests who assisted at the sacrifice, they cast it into the fire as a young heretic. A barbarity which they never learned from the laws of ancient Rome; which direct, with the same humanity as our own, quod prægnantis muliers damnata pana differatur, quoad pariat: which doctrine has also prevailed in England, as early as the first memorials of our laws will reach. In case this plea be made in stay of execution, the judge must direct a jury of twelve matrons or discreet women to inquire into the fact: and

if they bring in their verdict quick with child (for bare- Reprieve, ly with child, unless it be alive in the womb, is not suf- Repres ficient), execution shall be staid generally till the next session; and so from session to session, till either she is delivered, or proves by the course of nature not to have been with child at all. But if she once hath had the benefit of this reprieve, and been delivered, and afterwards becomes pregnant again, she shall not be intitled to the benefit of a farther respite for that cause. For she may now be executed before the child is quick in the womb; and shall not, by her own incontinence, evade the sentence of justice.

Another cause of regular reprieve is, if the offender become non compos between the judgment and the award of execution: for regularly, though a man be compos when he commits a capital crime, yet if he becomes non compos after, he shall not be indicted; if after indictment, he shall not be convicted; if after conviction, he shall not receive judgment; if after judgment, he shall not be ordered for execution: for furiosus solo furore punitur; and the law knows not but he might have offered some reason, if in his senses, to have stayed these respective proceedings. It is therefore an invariable rule, when any time intervenes between the attainder and the award of execution, to demand of the prisoner what he hath to allege why execution should not be awarded against him; and, if he appears to be insane, the judge in his discretion may and ought to reprieve him. Or, the party may plead in bar of execution; which plea may be either pregnancy, the king's pardon, an act of grace, or diversity of person, viz. that he is not the same that was attainted, and the like. In this case a jury shall be impanelled to try this collateral issue, namely, the identity of his person; and not whether guilty or innocent, for that has been decided before. And in these collateral issues the trial shall be instanter ; and no time allowed the prisoner to make his defence or produce his witnesses, unless he will make oath that he is not the person attainted: neither shall any peremptory challenges of the jury be allowed the prisoner, though formerly such challenges were held to be allowable whenever a man's life was in question. If neither pregnancy, insanity, non-identity, nor other plea, will avail to avoid the judgment, and stay the execution consequent thereupon, the last and surest resort is in the king's most gracious pardon; the granting of which is the most amiable prerogative of the crown. See the article PARDON.

REPRISALS, a right which princes claim of taking from their enemies any thing equivalent to what they unjustly detain from them or their subjects. For as the delay of making war may sometimes be detrimental to individuals who have suffered by depredations from foreign potentates, our laws bave in some respects armed the subject with power to impel the prerogative; by directing the ministers of the crown to issue letters of marque and reprisal upon due demand: the prerogative of granting which is nearly related to, and plainly derived from, that other of making war; this being indeed only an incomplete state of hostilities, and generally ending in a formal denunciation of war. These letters are grantable by the law of nations, whenever the subjects of one state are oppressed and injured by those of another; and justice is denied by that state to which the oppressor belongs. In this case letters of marque

and

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