A New Institute of the Imperial or, Civil Law. With Notes Shewing..

2007. ISBN-13: 9781584776871; ISBN-10: 1584776870. The Standard Anglo-American Treatise on Civil Law During the Eighteenth Century Wood, Thomas. A New Institute of the Imperial or, Civil Law. With Notes Shewing in Some Principal Cases Amongst Other Observations, How the Canon Law, The Laws of England, And the Laws and Customs of Other Nations Differ From It. In Four Books. Composed For the Use of Some Persons of Quality. To Which is Added, As an Introduction, A Treatise of the First Principles of Laws in General; Of Their Nature and Design, And of the Interpretation of Them. Originally published: London: Printed by W.B. for Richard Sare, 1721. [x], 144, xvi, 414, 9 pp. Reprinted 2007 by the Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. ISBN-13: 9781584776871. ISBN-10: 1584776870. Attractive Smyth sewn blue cloth hardcover with gilt stamped front cover and spine. New. $125. * Reprint of the third edition. It was common during the eighteenth century to promote the study of Roman and comparative law for its liberalizing effect on the student of the common law. Wood's New Institute was the best attempt to promote this goal. It went through four editions in 1704, 1712, 1721 and 1730 and was the standard Anglo-American treatise of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and a well-thumbed reference for jurists who wished to add an element of civilian learning to their work, such as Joseph Story. Wood also considers its role as an auxiliary to English law. As the title suggests, it is not only a summary of Roman law adapted to the needs of students of English law, but also a pioneering essay in comparative law. Wood pays some attention as well to Roman law's influence on the historical development of English law. Indeed, he observes that "Fleta and Bracton would look very naked if every Roman lawyer should pluck away his [sic] feathers" (ix).