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Riotous assembling of White Boys
injuring persons and property, taking horses and arms, compelling to quit abode,
imposing oaths and declarations,
threats and incendiary letters,
obstructing export, destroying corn, &c.
dangerous to publick peace,
5 G. 3. c. 8. insufficient,
no indictmen thereon for offence since 1st March 1776,
in force as to former offences.
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WHEREAS it has frequently happened of late years in different parts of this kingdom, that several persons calling themselves White Boys and others as well by night as in the day time have in a riotous, disorderly, and tumultuous manner assembled together, and have abused and injured the persons, habitations, and properties of many of his Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects, and have taken and carried away their horses and arms, and have compelled them to surrender up, quit, and lease their habitations, farms, and places of abode, and have with threats and violence imposed sundry oaths and solemn declarations contrary to law, and solicited several of his Majesty's subjects by threats and promises to join with them in such their mischievous and iniquitous proceedings, and have also sent threatening and incendiary letters to several persons to the great terror of his Majesty's peaceable subjects, and have taken upon themselves to obstruct the exportation of corn, grain, meal, malt, and flour, and to destroy or damage the same when intended for exportation, and have also destroyed mills, granaries, and storehouses provided for the keeping of corn; which, if not effectually prevented, must become dangerous to the general peace of this kingdom and his Majesty's government therein: and whereas for putting a stop to and punishing such enormous outrages and offences an act passed in this kingdom in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of his present Majesty, entitled, An act to prevent for the future tumultuous risings of persons within this kingdom, and for other purposes therein mentioned; which act hath been from time to time continued and is now in force, but hath been found insufficient for the purposes thereby intended, and for preventing and punishing such wicked and unlawful practices: be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that no person or persons shall be indicted, or suffer any pains or penalties, under the said recited act passed in the fifth and sixth years of his present Majesty's reign, for any offence which shall be committed by him, her, or them from and after the first day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy six; but that nothing herein contained shall be construed to take away any of the force or effect of said statute, so far as it relates to offences, which have been committed or which shall be committed on or before the said day.
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