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Foreign News
July 10, 1752
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Report from April 20 on a proposed parliamentary bill to make adultery punishable by death, citing ancient precedents and arguing its societal harm exceeds that of theft or robbery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
April 20. It is strongly reported that the next Session of Parliament a Bill will be brought into the House, in Order to have the Crime of Adultery punished with Death. Whether the Bill will be presented with Success cannot be determined; but it is certain, that the Lacedaemonians, and other States of Antiquity punished it in that Manner; and it may easily be demonstrated, that Robbery and Theft have not in their Natures a Tendency to produce such general Mischief in the World as this Practice; and as these Offences are Capital only in Terrorem, and for the Benefit of Society, it will be difficult to advance any Arguments, why the greater Evil should not be punished with an equal Severity with the less.
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
What keywords are associated?
Parliament Bill
Adultery Punishment
Death Penalty
Ancient Precedents
Foreign News Details
Event Date
April 20.
Event Details
Strong report that in the next Session of Parliament, a Bill will be introduced to punish the Crime of Adultery with Death. Success uncertain, but notes that Lacedaemonians and other ancient States punished it similarly. Argues that adultery causes greater mischief than robbery or theft, which are capital offenses, and thus should be punished with equal severity.