as principals or acceſſories ; fourthly, the ſeveral ſpecies of crimes, with the puniſhment annexed to each by the laws of England ; fifthly, the means of preventing their perpetration ; and, ſixthly, the method of inflicting thoſe punimments, which the law has annexed to each ſeveral crime and miſdemeſnor.
First, as to the general nature of crimes and their puniſhment : the diſcuſſion and admeaſurement of which forms in every country the code of criminal law ; or, as it is more uſually denominated with us in England, the doctrine of the pleas of the crown : ſo called, becauſe the king, in whom centers the majeſty of the whole community, is ſuppoſed by the law to be the perſon injured by every infraction of the public rights belonging to that community, and is therefore in all caſes the proper proſecutor for every public offence[1] .
The knowlege of this branch of juriſprudence, which teaches the nature, extent, and degrees of every crime, and adjuſts to it it's adequate and neceſſary penalty, is of the utmoſt importance to every individual in the ſtate. For (as a very great maſter of the crown law[2] has obſerved upon a ſimilar occaſion) no rank or elevation in life, no uprightneſs of heart, no prudence or circumſpection of conduct, ſhould tempt a man to conclude, that he may not at ſome time or other be deeply intereſted in theſe reſearches. The infirmities of the beſt among us, the vices and ungovernable paſſions of others, the inſtability of all human affairs, and the numberleſs unforeſeen events, which the compaſs of a day may bring forth, will teach us (upon a moment's reflection) that to know with preciſion what the laws of our country have forbidden, and the deplorable conſequences to which a wilful diſobedience may expoſe us, is a matter of universal concern.
In proportion to the importance of the criminal law, ought alſo to be the care and attention of the legiſlature in properly
