be surprised, if, "beside the substance, I have been often struck, with the form of an argument," and will excuse the attempts I have sometimes made to retain both in the report. Knowing, as I do the great respect which their honors of the Senate, the Chancellor and Judges, entertain towards the bar, and how highly they appreciate the assistance derived from counsel in the decision of causes, I feel that this alone is a sufficient warrant for the attempt to enrich these reports with their researches. Entertaining these views, I have endeavored to preserve, at least, the substance of arguments, though I am sensible how many times this has been but an endeavor. It is not unusual, in the Court of Errors, for the discussions of counsel, in a single cause, to occupy several days. These, in the fullest warrantable report, must be reduced comparatively to a very narrow compass. In doing

this, the form of the argument may be entirely lost, and its matter greatly diminished. So of some cases in the Supreme Court." All I dare hope is, that they will be found to have been preserved with a fidelity and success which bears some reasonable proportion to the nature of the undertaking.

I must again remind the profession, that most of these reports are composed from my notes of oral arguments and opinions taken in Court. Almost the only exceptions are, the opinions of the Chancellor, Judges and Senators, in calendar causes, in most of which, though not in all of these, copious notes are obligingly furnished by the Judge who gives the opinion. I mention these facts that any inaccuracy or obscurity of expression which may have intervened, shall be imputed to the proper source. They lie between me and the printer. The amazing extent and weight of judicial business in which their honors are engaged, forbid them, or any other men, under the like circumstances, to do much more than attend to its immediate disposition, without revising opinions in cases which are to be reported.