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¬destroy all the simplicity of our venerable con- stitution. ¬I am aware it must be a Master's hand that touches such a string. — It would be most difficult to make a dictionary of final decisions, abrogating all those upon which they were founded; because it would cast into the shade the history and progress of the law which preserves and consecrates its character; yet I still think that means might be found, by the aid of Parliament, to simplify its practice, leaving the ancient books as the fountains of more modern judgments, which, like statutes, might give the rule until repealed. ¬In carrying such a system into effect, the language of decisions ought of course, not even in a letter, to be touched, as it would be the parent of new litigations ; but the decisions themselves might be sanctioned, so as to prevent all resort to others more ancient, shut out by -the ¬
