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 EEC for many years a Consul, and knew what sort of information was requi- site to those exercising the same office. It is in part compiled from Savary''s Didionnaire de Commerce, and other writers upon commercial law, together with the English statutes and decisions relating to the sub- ject. The author was assisted in the compilation of his work by several gentlemen whose names are given in the preface. The Lex Mercatoria, though primarily designed rather for the merchant, has been frequently cited in courts of justice, and its authority, in some cases, has become the basis of decisions in those courts. Chancellor Kent observes, that " This is a much superior work to that of Malyn's. It contains a full and very valuable collection of the rules and usages of law on the sub- ject of bills of exchange. Beawcs is frequently cited in our books as an authority in mercantile customs." The growth and extent of com- merce since Beawes wrote, has rendered this author nearly obsolete at the present day, and his work rather belongs to the antiquities of the law. The editions are, folio, London, 1758-61-71-83. 5th ed., 1792, by Thomas ]Iortimer, who enriched the work by incorporating into it Anderson's Chronological Deduction of Commerce, and making free use of Postletlnvayt's Dictionary, and adding notes from other commercial writers. This and Mr. Chitty's edition are to be preferred. 3 Kent's Com. 126. BECCARIA.B. C. Dei delitti, e delle Pene. 12mo. Parigi. 1780. Beccaria's liberal and philanthropic views upon criminal jurisprudence, have had a most beneficial influence upon the criminal laws of the whole civilized world. His work has been translated into most European lan- guages, and tiie truths that it contains have commended themselves to the world. The English translation of Beccaria, was made from the French translation of the Abbe IMorellet, to which Voltaire added a com- mentary. This French translator took the liberty of changing the arrange- ment of the work. The English editions are 8vo., London, 1775, 180-1, 1801; Philadelphia, 1809—19. Among the best French translations, are those of Dufey de I'Yonne, containing Voltaire's Commentary, an essay of Servan's upon criminal justice, and many critical and historical notes, 8vo, Paris, 1821 ; Rcederer's, with notes by Diderot, and a theory of penal laws by Jeremy Bentham, 8vo., Paris, an V. ; Collin de Plancy's, with the observations and notes of different commentators, and a biog- raphy of the author, 12mo., Paris, 1823 ; and a French and Italian edi- tion together, 4to., Paris, 1796. Le fran§ais est imprime d'abord, I'ltalien ensuite. On a employe la traduction de Chaillou de Lisy, sauf quelques legers changemen's ; pour I'ltalien ou a suivi les dcrniers edi- tions de Malini, 1780. Several writers have attacked Beccaria's work, and the sale of it, when first published, was prohibited in several parts of Europe, in consequence of the liberal tendency of its doctrines. Hommelli Lit. Juris. 126. 105