measure tending to injure his fame. Often have I remonstrated to various persons, for whose opinions I have the highest respect, that, notwithstanding the wonderful merit of that great work, his commentaries, still they were only elements of our law, only written for students, not designed for profound experienced lawyers, such as are either the fixed ornaments of their country, on the elevated seats of justice, or move as shining, though secondary planets, in our juridical world. If the commentaries of Mr. Blackstone have attracted the attention of great judges and eminent counsel, before sufficiently enlightened; have been critically read, and ardently studied by persons of such description; it is the strongest possible proof of a commanding excellence; and though such persons should find blemishes in every page, it will be at once obviated, by reminding them of the nature of the work, and of their unremitting condescension in examining its contents. Such," continues Mr. Hargrave, "is the the point of view, in which I have ever considered these famous commentaries of an almost second Hale."

Lord chancellor Redesdale also, in the case of Shannon v. Shannon. 1 Scho. and Lef. 327, in noticing a legal doctrine cited from the commentaries, says "I am al ways sorry to hear Mr. Justice Blackstone's commentaries cited as an authority: he would have been sorry himself to hear the book so cited: he did not consider it such." Judge Tucker, the American editor of the commentaries, thus expresses himself on the subject. "On the appearance of the commentaries, the laws of England, from a rude chaos, instantly assumed the semblance of a regular system. The viginti annorum

lucubrationes recommended by Fortescue, it was thought, might be dispensed with, and the student, who had read the commentaries three or four times over, was lead to believe, that he was a thorough proficient in the law, without further labour or assistance. The crude and immethodical labours of sir Edward Coke were laid aside, and that rich mine of learning; his commentary upon Littleton, was thought to be no longer worthy of the labour requisite for extracting its precious ore. This sudden revolution in the course of study may be considered as having produced effects almost as pernicious as the want of a regular and systematick guide; since it cannot be doubted, that it has contributed to usher into the profession a great number, whose superficial knowledge of the law has been almost as soon forgotten as acquired."

Judge Tucker has been found fault with for this opinion It is manifest, however, that the judge meant not to censure the work, nor to diminish its merited fame; for he was himself greatly instrumental towards its circulation. He has, no doubt, with regret observed the evil we have been noticing, and warmly censures the folly of relying on the commentaries for solid learning: this is the "pernicious effect" which he deprecates, and which has no doubt occasioned the failure of many students of law.

Upon the whole, we strongly urge an earnest perusal of this admirable work, the student always bearing in mind, that its principal object is to present an orderly and systematick view of a science, the outlines of which are not to be found as briefly yet completely delineated, in any other work. Let him also

regard it as a "more beautiful specimen of elegant literature, than has in any other instance been applied to a professional subject, which has greatly facilitated the acquisition of juridical knowledge, while it has improved the judgement of mature experience, and given a convincing proof to the cultivators of general literature, that if the science of English law has not been often presented in an elegant form, the defect has not been occasioned by the nature of the subject." 1. Evans's Pothier. Intro. 75. Such unqualified, disingenuous, and ungrateful remarks as the following, can only be mentioned to be condemned. "The commentaries of Blackstone have met with success, but have not deserved it. At a time when taste and literature are very much advanced in Great Britain, it was necessary its inhabitants should be presented with a readable system of law. This judge Blackstone did, and no more; we find in it no invention, no philosophy, no erudition; it may instruct a country gentleman, but lawyers receive no benefit from it. These commentaries do not go sufficiently into the history and antiquities of the law; deep researches did not suit his capacity; he should all along, where the subject permitted it, have appealed to the Saxon government and policy. More modern usages should have been illustrated by ancient customs, and every point of the constitution should have been traced to its source. He found it a much easier task to deduce his subject from the conquest, and to transcribe, with a few improvements of language, the matter which is heaped together in lord Coke, or in Maddox, than to walk in a path where there was no such genius to direct him: a vast labyrinth presented itself to him; he was conscious of

his weakness, and recoiled. A great many ingenious things have been written on the nature and plan of the feudal polity, by sir Matthew Wright: these the doctor found it easier to copy, than communicate any ideas of his own on that very curious and intricate system. The crabbed, rugged, and unequal style of Bacon, Selden, and Spelman disgusts all readers of taste; but it is in these, and in authors that resemble them, that the industrious student must dig for legal knowledge. It is much to be wished, that some lawyer, whose views are enlarged by science, and whose penetration is sharpened by practice, would apply himself to compose a work, on a plan more original, liberal, and extensive than the Commentaries; which, whenever that is done, will slide into insignificance and oblivion." When this is done, that consequence will certainly follow, most enlightened and liberal critick! (Note 6.) WOODDESON'S SYSTEMATICAL VIEW, &c. The transition from the "Commentaries" to the "Systematical View of the Laws of England," by professor Wooddeson, will be found natural and very agreeable. Many of the topicks scarcely mentioned, and others more fully treated of by justice Blackstone, have in this work been considered somewhat in detail, so that the student, having attained in the former the elements, welcomes a more particular view of the subjects in the latter.

Dr. Wooddeson was the successor to sir William Blackstone, and the second Vinerian professor. His lectures commenced in Michaelmas term, 1777, and were published in the year 1792, in three volumes octavo. We notice as particularly excellent, part 2d, division 1st, and part 3d, division 2d.

(Note 7.) DE LOLME ON THE CONSTITUTION OF ENGLAND. This is deservedly a work of high estimation, and has been much commended, not only in England, but wherever it has been read. Junius recommends it as a deep, solid, and ingenious production; and lords Chatham and Camden have spoken of it in terms of great approbation. It is unquestionably a luminous, candid, concise, yet satisfactory exposition of the British constitution, and is written in a pure and nervous style. John Lewis De Lolme was born in Geneva, where he was for some time a senator. He resided for several years in England, and wrote there on a variety of topicks. He is the author of "Parallel between the English constitution and the former goverment of Sweden," published in 1772; "Essay on the union of Scotland with England," 1787; "Flagellantes;" "Memorials of human superstition;" "Observations on the tax on widows," 1778; (a pamphlet of much wit and good sense;) and "Observations on the late national embarrassments," 1789. He died in his native country, aged and poor, in March, 1807. He is said to have been a man of genius and learn ing, of sprightly and witty conversation, but rather eccentrick.

By some he has been placed in the splendid catalogue of those to whom the celebrated letters of Junius have been ascribed.

(Note 8.) PLOWDEN'S TREATISE, &c. This is a very interesting and clear, though concise history of the civil and ecclesiastical constitutions of Great Britain and Ireland. It presents, in a bird's eye view, every important feature of that wonderful piece of state mechanism, and unfolds its progressive ad