in matters of policy, an act by which two parties at variance promise to pardon and bury in oblivion all that is past.

Amnesty is either general and unlimited, or particular and restrained, though most commonly universal, without condition or exceptions; such as that which passed in Germany at the peace of Osnaburg in the year 1648.

Amnesty, in a more limited sense, denotes a pardon granted by a prince to his rebellious subjects, usually with some exceptions; such was that granted by Charles II. at his restoration.