ΤΟ The Queen's Moft Excellent Majefty, THE FOLLOWING VIEW OF THE LAWS AND CONSTITUTION OF ENGLAND, THE IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION OF WHICH HAVE DISTINGUISHED THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL CONSORT, IS, WITH ALL GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY, MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HER DUTIFUL AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, WILLIAM BLACKSTONE. a 2 PREFACE. THE following fheets contain the fubftance of a courfe of lectures on the laws of England, which were read by the author in the univerfity of OXFORD. His original plan took its rife in the year 1753: and, notwithstanding the novelty of fuch an attempt in this age and country, and the prejudices ufually conceived against any innovations in the established mode of education, he had the fatisfaction to find (and he acknowleges it with a mixture of pride and gratitude) that bis endeavours were encouraged and patronized by thofe, both in the univerfity and out of it, whofe good opinion and efteem he was principally defirous to obtain. The death of Mr. VINER in 1756, and bis ample benefaction to the university for promoting the study of the law, produced about two years afterwards a regular and public eftablishment of what the author had privately undertaken. The knowlege of our laws and conftitution was adopted as a liberal fcience by general academical authoa 3 rity; rity; competent endowments were decreed for the Support of a lecturer, and the perpetual encouragement of students; and the compiler of the enfuing commentaries had the honour to be elected the first Vinerian profeffor. In this fituation he was led, both by duty and inclination, to investigate the elements of the law, and the grounds of our civil polity, with greater affiduity and attention than many have thought it neceffary to do. And yet all, who of late years have attended the public adminiftration of justice, must be fenfible that a masterly acquaintance with the general spirit of laws and the principles of univerfal jurifprudence, combined with an accurate knowlege of our own municipal conflitutions, their original, reafon, and history, hath given a beauty and energy to many modern judicial decifions, with which cur ancestors were wholly unacquainted. If, in the purfuit of thefe inquiries, the author hath been able to rectify any errors which either himself or others may have heretofore imbibed, his pains will be fufficiently anfwered: and, if in fome points he is fill mistaken, the candid and judicious reader will make due allowances for the difficulties of Search fo new, fo extensive, and fo laborious. 2 Nov. 1765. |