INCENDIARY, crim. law. One who maliciously¹ and wilfully² sets another person's house on fire; one guilty of the crime of arson³.

2. This offence is punished by the statute⁴ laws of the different states according to their several provisions. The civil law punished it with death, Dig. 47, 9, 12, 1, by the offender⁵ being cast into the fire. Id. 48, 19, 28, 12; Code, 9, 1, 11. Vide Dane's Ab. Index, h. t.

INCEPTION⁶. The commencement; the beginning. In making a will, for example, the writing is its inception. 3 Co. 31 b; Plowd. 343. Vide Consummation; Progression.

INCEST. The carnal copulation of a man and a woman related to each other in any of the degrees within which marriage is prohibited by law. Vide Marriage. It is punished by fine and imprisonment⁷, under the laws of the respective states., Vide 1 Smith's Laws of Pennsylv. 26; Dane's Ab. Index, h. t.; Dig. 23, 2, 68; 6 Conn. R. 446; Penal⁸ Laws of China, B. 1, s. 2, 10; Sw. part 2 17, p. 103.

INCH. From the Latin uncia. A measure of length, containing one-twelfth part of a foot.

INCHOATE⁹. That which is not yet completed or finished. Contracts are considered inchoate until they are executed by all the parties who ought to have executed them. For example, a covenant¹⁰ which purports¹¹ to be tripartite, and is executed by only two of the parties, is incomplete, and no one is bound by it. 2 Halst. 142. Vide Locus¹² paenitentiae.

INCIDENT. A thing depending upon, appertaining to, or following another, called the princinal.

2. The power of punishing for contempt is incident to a court of record; rent is incident to a reversion; distress¹³ to rent; estovers of woods to a tenancy for a life or years. 1 Inst. 151; Noy's Max. n. 13; Vin. Ab. h.. t.; Dane's Ab. h. t.; Com. Dig. h. t., and the references there; Bro. Ab. h. t.; Roll's Ab. 75.

INCIPITUR, practice. This word, which means "it is begun," signifies the commencement of the entry on the roll. on signing judgment¹⁴, &c.

INCLUSIVE. Comprehended in computation. In computing¹⁵ time, as ten days from a particular time, one day is generally to be included and one excluded. Vide article Exclusive, and the authorities there cited.

INCOME. The gain which proceeds from property, labor¹⁶, or business; it is applied¹⁷ particularly to individuals; the income of the government is usually called revenue.

2. It has been holden that a devise of the income of land, is in effect the same as a devise of the land itself. 9 Mass. 372; 1 Ashm. 136.