Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808 edition. Excerpt: ... in this company, he surpasses the most skilful in r the profession. For the principles of it are obvious, occur in daily practice, in common conversation, 'and in the forum; and are not to be acquired by much study or extensive reading. For the same principles were published by many, and then, after some verbal alterations, transcribed again and again by the same authors. To this is to be added another circumstance, which, though little noticed, encourages the study of the civil law, and that is, f hthe great pleasure and satisfaction which the Vknowledge of it affords. For if a man delight in the view of ancient times, he has a lively picture of antiquity presented him in every part of the civil law, in the books of the priests, and the twelve tables; and he learns withal the former usage 1 T7ie great pleasure and satis)'action, I believe Crassus may have the suffrage of all succeeding ages, for what he has advanced here. There certainly never was so excellent a digest of laws formed, as was that of the twelve tables, for securing property; and had the public liberty obtained as strong a barrier, the constitution of the Roman government, in some sense, might have been said to be immortal. In th mean time, though we justly wonder at the neglect, which, as appears from the words of Cicero, prevailed at Home, with regard to this study, we perhaps in England arc as defective in the knowledge of our constitution. This is a most miserable omission in the education of young gentlemen who have a prospect of being one day members of the British legislature, where the most important points as to peace and war turn upon principles of law, and where even many private causes and matters of right, that come before them, can never be either...
