Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/370

 354 riots and affrays, in taking ecurities for the peace, and in apprehending and committing felons and other inferior criminals. It alo empowers any two or more of them to hear and determine all felonies and other offences; which is the ground of their juridiction at eions, of which more will be aid in it's proper place. And as to the powers given to one, two, or more jutices by the everal tatutes, which from time to time have heaped upon them uch an infinite variety of buines, that few care to undertake, and fewer undertand, the office; they are uch and of o great importance to the public, that the country is greatly obliged to any worthy magitrate, that without initer views of his own will engage in this troubleome ervice. And therefore, if a well meaning jutice makes any undeigned lip in his practice, great lenity and indulgence are hewn to him in the courts of law; and there are many tatutes made to protect him in the upright dicharge of his office : which, among other privileges, prohibit uch jutices from being ued for any overights without notice beforehand; and top all uits begun, on tender made of ufficient amends. But, on the other hand, any malicious or tyrannical abue of their office is ure to be everely punihed; and all perons who recover a verdict againt a jutice, for any wilful or malicious injury, are entitled to double cots.

is impoible upon our preent plan to enter minutely into the particulars of the accumulated authority, thus committed to the charge of thee magitrates. I mut therefore refer myelf at preent to uch ubequent parts of thee commentaries, as will in their turns comprize almot every object of the jutices' juridiction: and in the mean time recommend to the tudent the perual of Mr Lambard's eirenarcha, and Dr Burn's jutice of the peace; wherein he will find every thing relative to this ubject, both in antient and modern practice, collected with great care and accuracy, and dipoed in a mot clear and judicious method. Rh