Page:United States Reports, Volume 1.djvu/5



F the reaons which induced me to undertake this work, and of the difficulties that have attended its execution, it will be enough, at this time, to oberve, that the former originated in the wih of ome friends, whom I was deirious to oblige; and that the latter would hardly have been urmounted, without the liberal aitance of the Bench and the Bar, which I hall ever be proud to acknowledge.

Perhaps, indeed, there never was a book, for the faults of which the Publiher is o entirely subject to cenure, and yet o little entitled to praie for its merits. The opinions of the repectivle Courts, upon many of the mot important points,, and Mr. , obligingly permitted me to trancribe from their notes; everal of the deciions, previous to the year 1787, were kindly furnihed by Mr. Rawle; the briefs of the different counel were, on every application, freely communicated; and each cae, before it was ent to the pres, underwent the examination of the preiding Judge of the Court in which it was determined. Beides thee advantages, with refpect to the materials of this compilation, I have remarked a candid dipoition among the members of the profeion, to excue any defects or inacuracies that may appear, in the mere tyle and mode of publication: And, therefore, I anticipate with pleaure, that, as a conequence of uch encouragement and indulgence, ome one, more able, will be