industrious student must dig for legal knowledge. It is much to be wished, that some lawyer, whose views are enlarged by science, and whose penetration is sharpened by practice, would apply.himself to compose a work, on a plan more original, liberal, and extensive than the commentaries; which, whenever that is done, will slide into insignificance and oblivion.' When this is done, that consequence will certainly follow, most enlightened and liberal critic! The editions, abridgments, analyses, and other forms, in which this work has appeared before the public, have almost equalled in number the years which have elapsed since its first publication, showing, very clearly, its deserved and growing estimation. The following list of the principal editions, abridgments, &c. will, no doubt, be acceptable to the student. OF THE 1. In November, 1765, the author published the first volume of his 'Commentaries," and in the course of the four succeeding years the other three volumes appeared. 2. The subsequent eight editions received some corrections from the author, the result of new statutes and judicial decisions; and also, in consequence of severe strictures on some political and ecclesiastical doctrines, made by various critics, among whom are the author of Junius; Dr. Priestley, Dr. Furneaux, Mr. Bentham and others, the author saw fit to modify, in a few instances, the objectionable passages of the text. 3. In 1782, DR. RICHARD BURN published the ninth edition, in four volumes octavo, from the author's manuscript, prepared * Vide Note, ante page 136. for the press a short time prior to his death. In this we find many valuable additions, and authorities, and some corrections of the text. 4. Since Dr. Blackstone's death the work has assumed a great variety of forms; in some of which the annotations are so crowded on one another as to destroy its elementary character, and render it scarcely readable. The tenth and eleventh editions published in 1787 and 1791, by John Williams, Esq. added but little to the work. He is nevertheless entitled to be considered the first editor of this great work. The twelfth edition, with portraits of the judges, appeared in 1793; and the thirteenth in 1800. To these editions no new matter was added. 5. In 1803, EDWARD CHRISTIAN, Esq. edited, with great ability, the fourteenth edition; and again in 1809, the fifteenth edition, with further new matter. 6. In 1811, JOHN FREDERICK ARCHBOLD, greatly improved the work. He retained the able notes of Professor Christian, and added much valuable matter of his own. He also gave. analyses, and an epitome of the whole work, and greatly improved the index. 7. In 1826, an extremely valuable edition was published by JOSEPH CHITTY, Esq. with such notes as are adapted to 'render the Commentaries a work of practical utility and convenient reference to the profession, in their daily avocations.' 8. COLERIDGE and CHRISTIAN's edition. 9. JONES' edition. 2 vols. New York, 1827. 10. PROFESSOR TUCKER's edition, with notes and references to the Constitution and laws of the United States, and of the state of Virginia. Philadelphia, 1803, 5 vols. 11. REED'S Pennsylvania Blackstone, being a modification of the Commentaries of sir William Blackstone, with nume rous alterations and additions, illustrative of the laws of Pennsylvania, 3 vols. Carlisle, 1831. 12. In 1796 an Abridgment was made, with corrective and explanatory notes by WILLIAM CURRY, Esq. in one volume, octavo. And in 1809 a new and improved edition of this abridgment was also given by him. 13. Another Abridgment, in one volume, was published in 1819 by Mr. ADAMS. This, as well as Mr. Curry's abridgment, is ably executed, and will be found extremely useful for revision. The former, however, is something more than an abridgment, as it assumes, in many respects, the character of a distinct performance, accompanied by notes and numerous references. 14. FIELD'S ANALYSIS of the Commentaries, in a series of questions, to which the student is to frame his own answers. London, 1811, 1817, &c. The questions are judiciously propounded, and afford a useful test of the student's knowledge of Blackstone. 15. ANTHON'S ANALYTICAL ABRIDGMENT of the Commentaries, with a synopsis of each volume. New York, 1809. This little volume cannot fail to be a great favourite with elementary students. 16. JONES' TRANSLATION of all the Greek, Latin, Italian and French quotations which occur in Blackstone's Commentaries, and in the notes of the editions by Christian, Archbold, and Williams. London, 1823. 17. SEDGWICK's Critical and Miscellaneous Remarks on Blackstone's Commentaries, 1 vol. 4to. London, 1800, 1808. 18. Rowe's Vindication of the Commentaries of sir William Blackstone, against the strictures of Mr. Sedgwick, 1 vol. 8vo. 1806. (Note 16.) WOODDESON'S LECTURES.-The transition from the Commentaries of Mr. Justice Blackstone, to the 'Systematical View of the Laws of England,' by professor Wooddeson, will be found natural and very agreeable. Some of the topics scarcely mentioned, and others more fully treated of by Justice Blackstone, have in this work been considered somewhat in detail, so that the student, having attained in the former the elements, welcomes a more particular (though still elementary) view of the subjects in the latter. It has been frequently said, erroneously we suppose, that Dr. Wooddeson was the successor of sir William Blackstone, and the second Vinerian professor. We believe sir Robert Chambers was the immediate successor. In 1824, a small volume, containing the substance of his short course of lectures, was published by his relative, in the preface to which, sir Robert is stated to have been the second Vinerian professor. Dr. Wooddeson commenced his lectures in Michaelmas term, 1777, and they were published in the year 1792, in three octavo volumes. There have been several other editions, one of which is in four volumes. The last edition, with valuable notes, appeared in 1834 by R. W. Williams, in 3 vols. 8vo. We notice as particularly excellent in these volumes, part 2d, division 1st, and part 3d, division 2d. (Note 17.) REEVE'S HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LAW.— On the first appearance of this great work, in 1784, it embraced the history of English law, from the time of the Saxons to the reign of Henry VII. in two volumes. In 1787 a new edition in four volumes was published, which brought the history down to the reign of Philip and Mary inclusive, and is the work to be found in most of our law libraries. In the year 1829, the profession were much gratified to find a fifth volume published by this aged and truly estimable author. It embraces the reign of Elizabeth; and is executed with equal skill and learning with the previous volumes. Until the appearance of this work, a general history of English jurisprudence was no where to be found, and was certainly a great desideratum. The connection between the law and the history of the times in which it originated, advanced, and matured, is very intimate; and, as has elsewhere been observed, must receive an attention commensurate with its great utility. But the history of the science of law itself, its origin, alterations, modifications and maturity, demands a closer inspection, and cannot fail to be regarded as a subject of singular interest to every legal inquirer. A lawyer surely will not content himself with a knowledge of the existing laws, without respect to their origin and primary spirit, but will acquaint himself with the reasons which occasioned their enactment, the causes of their various changes, and the circumstances which would justify their abolition. He should know what the law has been; why it no longer exists the same; and the cause of the alteration in any of its provisions; for the parts which have been pruned and cast off, still affect the nature and configuration of those which remain: in fine, the law more than any other science, should be known in all the various stages of its progression: its history discloses its philosophy, and as legal writers are too often content with declaring the mere operative law, a juridical history, gradually and chronologically developing the science from its infancy, through all its struggles to manly and vigorous maturity; designating with certainty and precision the various mutations it has undergone, and the causes which induced them; cannot but be a work of great interest and manifest utility. In this point of light we regard Mr. Reeve's history. The object |