COK ■additions of notes and references. Together with an Analysis of Little- ton, written 1658-59, by F. Harrrrave and C. Butler. 14th, 1789 — additional notes to this edition were published in 1 vol., folio, 1797. 15th, 3 vols., 8vor, 1794 — Littleton's text and Coke's Commentaries, occupy the first two volumes, with references to the notes which are con- tained in the third volume, by Charles Butler. IGth, 1809 — a reprint of the preceding edition. 17th, 2 vols., 8vo., 1817 — with additional notes, by Ciiarles Butler. To which is now added a new and comprehensive Index, by T. Canning. In this edition the notes are placed under the text, and a regular system of paging and reference adopted ; the want of which in the former octavo editions was much felt. 18th, 2 vols., 8vo., 1823, and 19th, are reprints of the seventeenth edition. The three last are to be pre.%rred to the elder editions, both on account of the conve- nient reference to notes and for the excellent index. The American, above mentioned, is a pretty accurate reprint of the 15th English edi- tion. The additions by the editor are but few and unimportaut, the paper is coarse and the type bad. For abridgments, modifications, &c,, of Coke Littleton, see Coventry, Hawkins, Davenport, Thomas, and Fisk. Coke Littleton has exercised a most wonderful and abiding influence upon the common law. The annotating of Littleton was a favorite pursuit of Lord Coke's, and in his Commentary he has gathered most that was valuable from all the books that existed pertinent to the subject when he wrote, adding his own reflections, which have commanded equal respect and consideration, and possess the same authority as the text which he elucidates. The" highest encomiums have been bestowed upon the won- derful industry and learning of the commentator, by those who have most traversed and contemplated the ancient and modern fields of juris- prudence, and Fuller's prophecy seems destined to be fulfilled, when he said, " Lord Coke's learned and laborious works on the laws, will be admired by judicious posterity, while Fame has a trumpet left her and any breath to blow therein." Mr. Butler remarks that, " a knowledge of ancient legal learning is absolutely necessary to a modern lawyer. Sir Edward Coke's Commentary upon Littleton, is an immense reposi- tory of every thing that is most interesting or useful in the legal learning of ancient times. Were it not for his writings we should still have to search for it in the voluminous and chaotic compilation of cases contained in the Year Books, or in the dry though valuable abridgments of Sta- tham, Fitzherbert, Brooke, and Rolle. Every person who has attempted it, must be sensible how very difl!icult and disgusting it is, to pursue a regular investigation of any point of law through these works. The writings of Coke have considerably abridged, if not entirely taken away, the necessity of this labor." Lord Coke's masterly knowledge of the law, joined with an admira- tion for Littleton amounting almost to devotion, eminently capacitated 205
