The Oxford Edition of Blackstone’s: Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book III: Of Private 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. Entitled __Of Private Wrongs__, __Book III__ can be divided into three principal parts. The first describes the multiple courts in England and their jurisdictions, including the wrongs cognizable in each of them. The second describes some aspects of the substantive common law: wrongs to persons and to personal and real property. The third describes the processes of litigation in the courts of common law and equity. Cover 1 Commentaries on the Laws of England Book III: Of Private Wrongs 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Editor’s Introduction to Book III 8 Subject Matter, Sources and Comparison with Blackstone’s Analysis 8 Reception of Book II upon Publication; Blackstone’s Varia 14 Impact of Book II to the Present Day 16 Acknowledgements 20 Note to the Reader 22 Abbreviations 24 General abbreviations 24 Bibliographical abbreviations 24 Chapter the first: Of the redress of private wrongs by the mere act of the parties 32 Chapter the second: Of redress by the mere operation of law 43 Chapter the third: Of courts in general 46 Chapter the fourth: Of the public courts of common law and equity 51 Chapter the fifth: Of courts ecclesiastical, military, and maritime 72 Chapter the sixth: Of courts of a special jurisdiction 79 Chapter the seventh: Of the cognizance of private wrongs 89 Chapter the eighth: Of wrongs, and their remedies, respecting the rights of persons 109 Chapter the ninth: Of injuries to personal property 129 Chapter the tenth: Of injuries to real property, and first of dispossession, or ouster, of the freehold 144 Chapter the eleventh: Of dispossession, or ouster, of chattels real 164 Chapter the twelfth: Of trespass 170 Chapter the thirteenth: Of nusance 175 Chapter the fourteenth: Of waste 180 Chapter the fifteenth: Of subtraction 185 Chapter the sixteenth: Of disturbance 189 Chapter the seventeenth: Of injuries proceeding from, or affecting, the crown 200 Chapter the eighteenth: Of the pursuit of remedies by action; and, first, of the original writ 210 Chapter the nineteenth: Of process 216 Chapter the twentieth: Of pleading 225 Chapter the twenty first: Of issue and demurrer 239 Chapter the twenty second: Of the several species of trial 246 Chapter the twenty third: Of the trial by jury 262 Chapter the twenty fourth: Of judgment, and its incidents 285 Chapter the twenty fifth: Of proceedings, in the nature of appeals 295 Chapter the twenty sixth: Of execution 302 Chapter the twenty seventh: Of proceedings in the courts of equity 311 Appendix 330 No. I: Proceedings on a Writ of Right Patent 330 §. 1. Writ of Right patent in the Court Baron 330 §. 2. Writ of Tolt, to remove it into the County Court 330 §. 3. Writ of Pone, to remove it into the Court of Common Pleas 331 §. 4. Writ of Right, quia Dominus remisit Curiam 331 §. 5. The Record, with award of Battel 331 §. 6. Trial by the grand Assise 333 No. II: Proceedings on an Action of Trespass in Ejectment, byOriginal, in the King’s Bench 334 §. 1. The Original Writ 334 §. 2. Copy of the Declaration against the casual Ejector; who gives Notice thereupon to the Tenant in Possession 335 §. 3. The Rule of Court 336 §. 4. The Record 336 No. III: Proceedings on an Action of Debt, in the Court of common Pleas; removed into the King’s Bench by Writ of Error 339 §. 1. Original 339 §. 2. Process 340 §. 3. * Bill of Middlesex, and Latitat thereupon, in the Court of King’s Bench 344 §. 4. Writ of Quo minus in the Exchequer 344 §. 5. Special Bail; on the Arrest of the Defendant, pursuant to the Testatum Capias, in page xiv [IV. 310] 345 §. 6. The Record, as removed by Writ of Error 346 §. 7. Process of Execution 351 Varia 354 Chapter 1 354 Chapter 2 354 Chapter 3 355 Chapter 4 355 Chapter 5 358 Chapter 6 358 Chapter 7 359 Chapter 8 360 Chapter 9 362 Chapter 10 365 Chapter 11 368 Chapter 12 369 Chapter 13 369 Chapter 14 369 Chapter 15 370 Chapter 16 370 Chapter 17 371 Chapter 18 372 Chapter 19 373 Chapter 20 374 Chapter 21 375 Chapter 22 376 Chapter 23 376 Chapter 24 379 Chapter 25 381 Chapter 26 384 Chapter 27 385 Table of Cases 388 a. Yearbook Cases 388 b. Other Cases 389 Table of Statutes 398 Index of Names and Places 406 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.