ERRATA.

In the table of Contents, read chapter viii. p. 13, without a semicolon after "estates pur autre vie."

Page 217, note (g), for " By 3 & 4 Wm. 4," read " 6 Wm. 4."

237, note (c), for " By 7 Wm. 4 and 1 Vict." read " 7 Wm. 4 and 1 Vict. c. 26."

273, note (p), for "By 7 & 8 Wm. 4 and 1 Vict." read "7 Wm. 4 and 1 Vict."

66

277, note (v), for By 1 & 2 Geo. 4, s. 2," read " 1 & 2 Geo. 4, c. 78,

8. 2."

281, note (e), for " By 1 & 2 Wm. 4, s. 12," read "1 & 2 Wm. 4, c. 56,

s. 12."

402, on the subject of presentation to Roman Catholic benefices read
note (e), 496.

455, 456, in notes (b), (c), and (d), for “see 3 &4 Wm. 4, c. 42, ante the
first note to this chapter," read "see 3 & 4 Wm. 4, c. 42, n. (c) p. 442."
470, in the third line of note (d), for “ chapter 23," read “ chapter 24."
488. In the seventh line from the bottom, for "deficiancy," read
"defi-
ciency."

502. With that portion of this page relating to forging or counterfeiting
the sign manual, privy signet, or privy seal, read " section 2, of 11 Geo. 4
& 1 Wm. 4, c. 66, p. 562, and 7 Wm. 4 and 1 Vict. c. 84, s. 1, p. 564."
515, in the third line of note (ƒ), for “ By s. 9,” read " By s. 59."
560, note (z), for " By 7 & 8 Geo. 4, c. 3," read " 7 & 8 Geo. 4, c. 30."
575, note (f), for "post, p. 576," read " post, p. 577."

593. In the first line of note (b), for " indictments" read " indictment."
599, note (b), for " By 60 Geo. 3 and 1 Geo. 4," read "60 Geo. 3."
614, note (d), for " By 7 & 8 Geo. 4, c. 13," read "7 & 8 Geo. 4, c. 28,
s. 13."

COMMENTARIES

ON

THE LAWS OF ENGLAND.

SECTION I.

OF THE NATURE OF LAWS IN GENERAL.

neral sense.

LAW, in its general and comprehensive sense, signifies a Law in its gerule of action which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey, and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of action, whether animate or inaminate, rational or irrational: thus we say the laws of motion and of mechanics, as well as the laws of nature and of nations.

But laws, in their more confined sense, denote the rules, not In its limited of action in general, but of human action or conduct, that is, sense. the precepts by which we are commanded to regulate our behaviour. Man must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator, upon whom he depends absolutely for every thing; it is therefore necessary that he should conform in all points

to his Maker's will, and that will is the law of nature, which Natural law. may be reduced to this one paternal precept," that man should pursue his own true and substantial happiness;" for the Creator has so intimately connected and so inseparably interwoven the laws of eternal justice with the happiness of each individual, that the latter cannot be attained but by observing

the former; and if the former be punctually obeyed, it cannot

but induce the latter. God has revealed to us the law of Revealed law. nature, considered as a rule of action, in the Holy Scriptures,

which tend, in all their consequences, to man's felicity; and upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law

of revelation, depend all human laws (a). As, however, the Law of nations. whole race of mankind form separate states, a third law has

arisen, called the law of nations, regulating the intercourse

(a) “Finis enim et scopus, quem leges intuere atque ad quem jussiones et sanctiones suas dirigere debent, non alius est quam ut cives feliciter degant.”—De Augmentis Scientiarum, 1, 8, c. 3, Aph. 5.

B