OFF 
base ; abdomen variegated with white and 
black. It deposits its eggs on the inner 
margin of the nostrils of sheep, occasioning 
them to shake their heads violently, and 
hide their noses in the dust or gravel. The 
larva crawl np into the frontal sinuses, a'id 
when full fed are again discharged through tlie 
nostrils. See PI. III. Entomology,fig.7and 8. 
OFFENCE, is any act committed against 
any law. Offences are either capital, or 
not capital. Capital offences are those for 
which the offender loses his life ; not capi- 
tal, where the offender may lose his lands 
and goods, be fined, or suffer corporal pu- 
nishment, or both, but wdiich are not sub- 
ject to the loss of life. 
OFFERINGS. Oblations and offerings 
partake of the nature of tithes; and all 
persons who by law ought to pay their of- 
ferings, shall yearly pay to the parson, vi- 
car, proprietary, or their deputies, or far- 
mers of the parishes where they dwell, at 
such four oft’eiing days as heretofore within 
the space of four years last past hath been 
accustomed, and in default thereof shall 
pay for tlie said offerings at Easter following. 
OFFICE, is that function, by virtue of 
which a person has some employment in 
the affairs of another. An office is a right 
to exercise any public or private employ- 
ment, and to take the fees and emoluments 
belonging to it, whether public, as those of 
magistrates ; or private, as of bailiffs, re- 
ceivers, &c. 
The statute 5 and 6. Edward VI. c. 16, 
declares all securities given for the sale of 
offices unlawful. And if any person shall 
bargain, or sell, or take any reward, or pro- 
mise of reward, for any office, or the depu- 
tation of any office, concerning the reve- 
nue, or the keeping of the king’s castles, or 
the administration and execution of justice, 
unless it be such an office as had been 
usually granted by the justices of the King’s 
Bench, or Common Pleas, or by justices of 
assize, every such person shall not only for- 
feit his right to such office, or to the nomi- 
nation thereof; but the person giving such 
reward, &c. shall be disabled to hold such 
office. 
But it has been decided that where an 
office is within the statute, and tlie salary 
certain, if the principal make a deputy, 
reserving by bond a less sum out of the 
salary, it is good : or, if the profits are un- 
certain, reserving a part, as half the profits, 
it is good ; for the fees still belong to the 
principal, in whose name they must be sued 
for. But where a person so appointed 
OFF 
gives a bond to the principal to pay him a 
sum certain, without reference to the pro- 
fits, this is void under the statute. 
To offer money to any officer of state, to 
procure the reversion of an office in the gift 
of the crown, is a misdemeanor at common 
law, and punishable by information ; and 
even the attempt to induce him, under the 
influence of a bribe, is criminal, though 
never carried into execution. An instance 
of which occurred under the administration 
of Mr. Addington, who prosecuted a tin- 
man for offering a sura of money to him for 
a place in the customs. 
Any contract to procure the nomination 
to an office, not within the statute 6 Ed- 
ward VI. is defective on the ground of pub- 
lic policy ; and the money agreed to be 
given is not recoverable. 
OFFICER, a person possessed of a post 
or office. 
The great officers of the crown, or state, 
are the Lord High Steward, the Lord High 
Chancellor, the Lord High Treasurer, the 
Lord President of the Council, the Lord 
Privy Seal, the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord 
High Constable,;the Earl Marshall; each of 
which see under its proper article. 
Officers, commission, are those appoint- 
ed by the King’s commission : such are all 
from the general to the cornet inclusive, 
who are thus denominated in contradistinc- 
tion to warrant officers, who are appointed 
by the colonel’s or captain’s warrant, as 
quarter-masters, serjeants, corporals, and 
even chaplains and surgeons. 
Officers, Jield, are such as command a 
whole regiment, as the colonel, lieutenant- 
colonel, and major. 
Officers, general, are those whose com- 
mand is not limited to a single company, 
troop, or regiment ; but extends to a body 
of forces, composed of several regiments : 
such are the general, lieutenant-general, 
major-generals, and brigadiers. 
Officers, staff, are such as, in the King’s 
presence, bear a white staff, or wand ; and 
at other times, on their going abroad, have, 
it carried before them by a footman, bare- 
headed : such are the Lord Steward, Lord 
Chamberlain, Lord Treasurer, &c. 
The white staff is taken for a commission, 
and at the King’s death each of these offi- 
cers breaks his staff" over the hearse made 
for the King’s body, and by this means lays 
down his commission, and discharges all his 
inferior officers. 
Officers, subaltern, are all who adminis- 
ter justice in the name of subjects : as tliose 
D 2 
