The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-24
COMMENTARIES
ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND,
pt5Gfsd By EDWARD LEIcoMB-,1ie, ID. text of 81,
WILLIAM BIacrsroS-

ON THE LAWS ENGLAND,
pe5yfed BY EDWARD LEIcoMB-,jism tie text of Sir
WILLIAM BLAcEsroNx.
"'The motives for fuch an extraordinary publ;ca.
ton will he ben explained by the Tranator hirfef
from whole preface ihsll make G,ort extract, re-
queitirg at the fame time, your confidence tina: no oo
portunty mail be loft Of .annittng copy for your
peruial.
" The advantages" continues Mr.. LEIcoMB, after
enumerating the difficulties attendant on his arduous
undertaking. NUT be obvious at the ri fight 70 IN.
meanea capacity. The utility Of verie in the COM
munication OF knowledge is really incaculblets aid
to the memory is incopcevab!e in rendering the re-
collection OF what would with to retain fare after
than any other mode which has been vet adopted.
This important truth has been incontrovertiby eta
bihed by the experience and aprrobation of every
iucoeeding age Another important reafon for which
was adueed to undertake this work. is the preference
which youthful minds generally give TO poetical or
| nament.-After dwelling on the rnajenic ard Gub
lime descriptions of Homer and the Man,uan Bard.
and other peaing puriuts which precede the ifudy
OF the law the Student with disappointment on
the dry and unentertainng doctrines of jurisprudence
and purlues them often with digua. I hope in fome
meaure to obviate this ferrous Inconvenience by co-
thing i'll verfe the Lectures Of Sir William Black
which generally the first book that is put into the
young Students hands" Thus continues Mr. L-But
Will nd the remainder of my paper with one or two
quotations from this curious work-The first book on
y has yet appeared and il the econd chapter is the
following paragraph which varies very little from the
| text -
"Thuswhenthe Great Unknown from nothing form d
This univerfe, and on. of Chaos wild
| And Anarchy created matter, he
| On 1t inlpreh 4 fixed principles and Laws,
! Without whole agency twould ceafe to be,
| When he impaired motion to the World,
1 OF motion he pstabihed rertaiu I mug
To which all bodies, movable rh-mfelves
| Did erst fubrnit. SO when the artist forms
| or wondrous mechaniin, the little Watch,
Whose faithful hand defcribes the varying hour,
So long as faithful to the laws prefcrib'd,
Its operations prove, it moves complete,
| And aniwers every end for which twas forIn'd"
And i'll chapter 0, book LIST, are the following re-
marks on the Statute Of ELIzABETn, for Provifion
| for the Poor
Whereas, if only they whom cherries want
And poverty with all its woes deprefs-
1t only they who, heirs TO Mifery,
| Ne'er knew the comfort of wntry garb
Were cloathed, and for their labour amply paid,
| Soon Industry would fn,ie in every cot,
! And fweet Contentment each feature beam
| The humble Peafant would no more repine
| But work with pleafure at his daily talk;
No murmurs would the blithfome Swain express,
Nor eer dilquietude his disturb.
Well would he know, that when the hand of time
| Had fcatterd Der his head the frost of age,
Or weakness had enfeebIed every limb,
Then and then only would the rich stretch forth
The fostering. hand of comfort and of cafe /;
Or when the tender iprng of Innocence and Youth
Forbad his offspring for themielves to toll,
| Mild Charity would for each want provide,
And watch them with Parents gentle care"