The National Register.
London, England, 1821-07-02 00:00:00

MOCK CONSTITUTIONAL SOCIETY.
The legal objections that are made to this notoriatu Arao-
dation are grounded on the 39th George 111. cap! 79, enfilisd
"An Act fur die more effectual suppression of societies ertablaind
for seditious and treasonable purposes ; and tbr better passmidas
treasonable or seditious practices."
By the second aectidn of this statute, it is enacted, SW else
and after the passing of this act, every society, the members
where 4 skill take, soloccib.., or ar.tent to, any test or deactratkon
not required by law, or rot anthor;:ad in manner hereinafter
mentioned ; and every society, of wlikh the names of the mena&rs.
or any of then?, shall be kept arra from the society at large, or
whieh shalt have any COMMailee or select body so chosen or
appointed, that the members rimititntin4 the sante shall not he
Amount by the society at large to be members of smelt committee or
select body, or which shall have any president, secretary, delegate,
or other officer so chosen or appointed, that the election or
appointment of such persons to such officers shall not be known
M the society at large, of which the names glad the members..
and of all committees or scket bodies of members, and of all
gradients, treasurers, delegates, and outer officers, shall not he
entered in a book or books to be kept jiff that purpose, and to be
open to the inspection of all the members of such society; and
every society which shall be composed of different divisions or
branches, or of different parts, acuns in any manner separately
or distinct front each other, or of which any part shall have any
separate or distinct president, secretary, treasurer, delegate, er
other officer, elected or appointed by or for such part, or to act as
an officer for such part, shall be deemed and takes to be unlairjitt
combinations and confrderacier ; and every person who, from and
tiller the paxsing glair act, shall become a member of any sac/i
society, or who, being a member of any such society at the passing
of tins act, shall afterwards act as a member thereof; and every
person who, alter the passing sy. this act, shall directly or rods •
redly maintain correspondence or intercourse with any such
society, or with any division, branch, committee, or other select
body, president, treasurer, secretary, delegate, or other officer or
member thereof as such, or who '/al by contribution of money or
otherwise, aid, abet, or support inch society, or a members or
oficers thereof as such, data be deemed gritty oats sus/awful
combination and confederaey.
Section the third makes an exaption in favour of " any de-
claration taker., subscribed, or assented to by the members of any
society, in c.t,c the form of such declaration shall have been first
approved awl subscribed by two or more of his Majesty's justices
of the peace for the county where such society shall ordinarily
rissemblc, and shall have been registered with the clerk of the
peace, and on application by the parties, confirmed by the major
part of the justices present at the next general sessions; and if the
same shall not be then and there entifirmed, the provisions of the
act shall then extend to such declaration, and to all persons
sunscribing the sante."
With regard to the punishment, section eight provides—." that
every person who shall be guilty of such unlawful coutanatiou
and confederacy as in this act described, shall and may he pro-
ceeded against fur such offence in a summary way, either before
oac or more justices of the peace, or by indictment ; and every
person convicted of any such offence, upon the oath of one or
more witnesses, by such justice or justices shall be committed to
the common gaol or house of correction for the terns of three
calendar months; or shall be adjudged to figleit and pay the sum
of twenty pounds as to such justice or justices shall seem meet;
and every person convicted of any such offence epos indicunent,
shall and may be transported fin. the tens of seven years, or im-
prisoned for any term not exceeding two years."
By seetton the ninth, justices of the peace are authorized to
mitigate die punishment, SD 35 the Male eiall not be thereby
reduced to less titan one third of the punishment directed to be
inflicted as aforesaid, whether such punishment be by imprison.
ment or fine.

. .

The act has provided no clause allowing an appeal from the
decision of justices, and no other remedy to persons feeling theme
selves aggrieved by such decision.

COVENT GA E vrit.;;=rhe second part
of King Hotly the Fourth has been brought forward
fur the purpose o: representing the ceremonial of the
Coronation of !ferny the Fifth. The play was well
cast—Mr. Macratei iy did ample justice to KiNg
Henry, and Mr. C. Kemble is decidedly the best
Prince if I Vales on the stage. Mr. Fawcett infused
much humour into his personification of Falls/;
and the chuckle of the jolly Knight was admirable.
The Coronation, however, was the grand magnet of
attraction. It commenced with the King's Harts
Woman, and girls strewing flowers, the high Con
stable of Westminster, with drums and trumpets,
followed by the Sheriffs, Aldermen, the Masters in
Chancery, the Law Officers of the Crean', and the
Judges ; the Peers and Peeresses dresseu in their
robes and carrying the coronets, the King at Arms,
the Lord Steward, and Lord Keeper of the Great
Seal, the Bishops, and the Lord Chancellor. Then
followed the Sceptre of the Cross, the Golden Spurs, .
&e. the Usher ot the Black Rod, Heralds, and the
Lord Mayor, the Lord Chamberlain preceding the
Princes ot• the Blood, and the Royal Insignia ; and
last ot ull the Royal Canopy, under which the Kiug
walked, supported by a Bishop on each side, and
train-bearers Tel trumpets closed the procession.—
The characters were all dressed in correct costume,
and the arrangements most splendid. The second
scene w correct and line representation of West
mitister Abbey. The tine anthem of Hauled, com-
posed for the last Coronation, was performed in a
masterly style by Mr. Hall, and the whole concluded
with the Grand Banquet in Westminster Hall, su-
perbly and elegantly decorated with arms and device.s.
The Kroh is seen sitting at the head of the Hall, at
table, surrounded by the Pages and Lords in Wait-
ing ; the nobility are ranged an each side of Rio
Hall, and the galleries above are oceupie.i by a uu-
merous orchestra, behind which are the •pe:tutors.
After a flourish of trumpets, the Chatupeni enters,
on horseback, preceded toy the L•'.trl Marshal and
Lord High Constable, likewise un horseback. A
Herald proclaims the challenge, and the Champioa
throws down his gauntlet. fhe King then drinks
to the Champion out of a golden goblet, which is
afterwards presented to him, add he raires, still un
horseback, with his fitce towards the throne. The
banqueting scene ends with one of ehortu.e.:.
—We have seldom witnes.e.td a more interesting and
gorgeous spectacle, which lezeisted with thu
1110 A flattering applause.