The Oxford edition of Blackstone - Commentaries on the laws of England. Book IV, Of public wrongs

Oxford's variorum edition of William Blackstone's seminal treatise on the common law of England and Wales offers the definitive account of the Commentaries'development in a modern format. For the first time it is possible to trace the evolution of English law and Blackstone's thought through the eight editions of Blackstone's lifetime, and the authorial corrections of the posthumous ninth edition. Introductions by the general editor and the volume editors set the Commentaries in their historical context, examining Blackstone's distinctive view of the common law, and editorial notes throughout the four volumes assist the modern reader in understanding this key text in the Anglo-American common law tradition. In the final volume of the Commentaries Blackstone presents a comprehensive and critical overview of English criminal law and procedure, prefaced by a discussion of the philosophical and basis of the criminal justice system. His final chapter'On the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England'provides a fitting historical conclusion to the work as a whole. Cover 1 Commentaries on The Laws of England 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Editor’s Introduction to Book IV 8 The Varia 16 Reception 22 The Afterlife of the Commentaries 26 Note to the Reader 28 Abbreviations 30 General Abbreviations 30 Bibliographical Abbreviations 30 Commentaries on the Laws of England. 36 Chapter the first: of the nature of crimes: and their punishment 38 Chapter the second: of the persons capable of committing crimes 50 Chapter the third: of principals and accessories 59 Chapter the fourth: of offences against god and religion 64 Chapter the fifth: of offences against the law of nations 81 Chapter the sixth: of high treason 86 Chapter the seventh: of felonies, injurious to the king’s prerogative 99 Chapter the eighth: of praemunire 105 Chapter the ninth: of misprisions and contempts, affecting the king and government 116 Chapter the tenth: of offences against public justice 122 Chapter the eleventh: of offences against the public peace 131 Chapter the twelfth:of offences against public trade 138 Chapter the thirteenth: of offences against the public health, and the public police or oeconomy 143 Chapter the fourteenth: of homicide 153 Chapter the fifteenth: of offences against the persons of individuals 173 Chapter the sixteenth: of offences against the habitations of individuals 183 Chapter the seventeenth: of offences against private property 189 Chapter the eighteenth: of the means of preventing offences 202 Chapter the nineteenth: of courts of a criminal jurisdiction 206 Chapter the twentieth: of summary convictions 220 Chapter the twenty first: of arrests 226 Chapter the twenty second: of commitment and bail 230 Chapter the twenty third: of the several modes of prosecution 233 Chapter the twenty fourth: of process upon an indictment 243 Chapter the twenty fifth: of arraignment, and its incidents 246 Chapter the twenty sixth: of plea, and issue 252 Chapter the twenty seventh: of trial, and conviction 258 Chapter the twenty eighth: of the benefit of clergy 273 Chapter the twenty ninth: of judgment, and its consequences 279 Chapter the thirtieth: of reversal of judgment 289 Chapter the thirty first: of reprieve, and pardon 291 Chapter the thirty second: of execution 297 Chapter the thirty third: of the rise, progress, and gradual improvements, of the laws of england 300 Appendix 324 §. 1. Record of an Indictment and Conviction of Murder, at the Assises 324 §. 2. Conviction of Manslaughter 327 §. 3. Entry of a Trial instanter in the Court of King’s Bench, upon a collateral Issue; and Rule of Court for Execution thereon 327 Michaelmas term, in the sixth year of the reign of king George the third 327 §. 4. Warrant of Execution on Judgment of Death, at the general Gaol-delivery in London and Middlesex 328 §. 5. Writ of Execution upon a judgment of Murder, before the King in Parliament 329 VARIA 330 Chapter 1 330 Chapter 2 330 Chapter 3 331 Chapter 4 331 Chapter 5 337 Chapter 6 338 Chapter 7 340 Chapter 8 342 Chapter 9 343 Chapter 10 343 Chapter 11 346 Chapter 12 347 Chapter 13 350 Chapter 14 353 Chapter 15 356 Chapter 16 358 Chapter 17 359 Chapter 18 370 Chapter 19 371 Chapter 20 373 Chapter 21 373 Chapter 22 374 Chapter 23 375 Chapter 24 378 Chapter 25 378 Chapter 26 381 Chapter 27 382 Chapter 28 385 Chapter 29 389 Chapter 30 390 Chapter 31 391 Chapter 32 391 Chapter 33 391 Table of Cases 394 a. Yearbook Cases 394 b. Other Cases 394 Table of Statutes 398 Index of Persons and Places 410 Index 416 Book I: Of The Rights Of Persons / With An Introduction, Notes, And Textual Apparatus By David Lemmings -- Book Ii: Of The Rights Of Things / With An Introduction, Notes, And Textual Apparatus By Simon Stern -- Book Iii: Of Private Wrongs / With An Introduction, Notes, And Textual Apparatus By Thomas P. Gallanis -- Book Iv: Of Public Wrongs / With An Introduction, Notes, And Textual Apparatus By Ruth Paley. William Blackstone. The only variorum edition of Blackstone's seminal treatise on the common law, tracing the evolution of Blackstone's thought from the first to the ninth edition. The third volume focuses on civil remedies, and courts and procedure, including equity. The only variorum edition of Blackstone's seminal treatise on the common law, tracing the evolution of Blackstone's thought from the first to the ninth edition. The fourth volume addresses central topics of criminal law, known as 'public wrongs'.