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P R E F A C E
O
F the reaʃons which induced me to undertake this work, and oʃ the diƒƒiculties that have attended its execution, it will be enough, at this time, to obʃerve, that the ƒormer originated in the wiʃh of ʃo a friends, whom I was deʃirious to oblige ; and that the latter would hardly have been ƒurmounted, without the liberal aʃʃiʃtance of the Bench and the Bar, which I ʃhall ever be proud to acknowledge.
Perhaps, indeed, there never was a book, ƒor the ƒaults oƒ which the Publifher is ʃo entirely subject to cenʃure, and yet ʃo little entitled to praiʃe for its merits. The opinions oƒ the reʃpectible Courts, upon many oƒ the moʃt important points, THE CHIEF JUSTICE and MR. PRESIDENT SHIPPEN,
obligingly permitted me to tranʃcrible ƒrom their notes ; ʃeveral of the deciʃions, previous to the year 1787, were kindly ƒurniʃhed by Mr. Rawle ; the briefs of the diƒƒerent counʃel were, on every application, ƒreely communicated ; and each caʃe, before it was ʃent to the preʃs, underwent the examination of the preʃiding Judge of the Court in which it was determined. Beʃides theʃe advantages, with refʃpect to the materials oƒ this compilation, I have remarked a candid diʃpoʃition among the members of the proƒeʃʃion, to excuʃe any deƒects or inacuracies that may appear, in the mere ʃtyle and mode of publication ; And, therefore, I anticipate with pleaʃure, that, as a conʃequence oƒ ʃuch encouragement and indulgence, ʃome one, more able, will
