BRIBERY, in common law, is when a person, occupying a judicial place, takes any fee, gift, reward, or brokage, for do ing his office, or by colour of his office, except of the king only. In a larger sense, bribery denotes the receiving or offering of any undue reward, to or by any person concerned in the administration of public justice, as an inducement for acting con trary to duty ; and sometimes it signifies the taking or giving of a reward for a public office. In England, this offence of taking bribes is punished, in inferior offi cero, with fine and imprisonment ; and in those who offer a bribe, though not taken, the same. But in judges, especially the superior ones, it has always been regard ed as a very heinous offence ; insomuch, that anciently it was punished as high j treason, and the chief jastice Thorp was hanged for it in the reign of Edward Ill. and at this day it is punishable with for feiture of office, fine, and imprisonment.
Officers of the customs taking any bribe, whereby the crown may be defrauded, forfeit 1001. and are rendered incapable of any office ; and the person giving the bribe, or offering any bribe to officers of the customs, to induce them to con nive at the running of goods, shall forfeit 501. Candidates that bribe electors,-efter the date or teste of the writs, or after the vacancy, by giving or promising any mo ney, or entertainment, are disabled to serve for that place in parliament ; and he that takes, as well as he that offers, a bribe, forfeits 5001. and is for ever disabled froM voting, and holding any office in any corporation, unless, before conviction, he discovers some other offender of the same kind, whereby he is indemnified for his own offence. •