such of the English statutes as existed at the time of their colonization, and which they have, by their experience, respectively found to be applicable to their several local and other circumstances. That these, his majesty's colonies, are likewise entitled to all the immunities and privileges granted and confirmed to them by royal charter, or secured by their several codes of provincial law."

2. When the colonies formed and adopted their State constitutions, they did not claim that they had improved upon the constitution under which the colonies were formed; but they claimed an equality with their brethren who had remained in England. In the first constitution of the State of New York, it was ordered, determined, and declared, that such parts of the common law of England, and of the statute laws of England and Great Britain, and of the acts of the legislature of the colony of New York, as, together, did form the law of said colony on the 19th day of April, 1775, shall be and continue the law of the State, subject to such alterations as the legisla ture should, from time to time, make concerning the same.

3. They abrogated and rejected all such parts of the common law and statute law as might be construed to establish or maintain any particular denomination of Christians, or to claim allegiance to the government of Great Britain. They also abrogated all parts of the common and statute laws repugnant to the constitution.

4. At the time the colonies became independent, they retained the whole body of the statute and common laws which were applicable to them in their new form of government. They still retain a large proportion of that law,

Congress declare that the colonies were entitled? To what other immunities and privileges were they entitled?

2. Did the colonies claim to have improved upon the constitution under which they were formed? What did they claim? In establishing the first constitution of New York, what laws did that colony declare should continue the law of the State? Subject to what?

3. What did they abrogate and reject?

4. What did the colonies retain when they became independent? What do they still retain? What are the sources of American law?

either incorporated into their constitutions, their statute laws, or the decisions of the several courts. The sources of American law then are: 1. The national and State constitutions, which are the supreme law of the nation and of the several States; 2. Laws passed by Congress and by the legislatures of the several States; 3. Laws passed by the colonial legislatures and colonial congresses in any State before it became independent; 4. The common and statute laws of England, passed before the colonies became independent; 5. The common law of the United States and of the several States.

CHAPTER XXX.

LAWS OF ENGLAND BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

1. In the year 1765, Sir William Blackstone published the first volume of his Commentaries on the Laws of England; and each year thereafter published an additional volume, until the four volumes had been published. These works were read and studied in the English colonies in North America with as much interest, and perhaps more, than in England. The colonists claimed that the law of England, as there set forth, was their law, which claim could not be disputed. The first of these lectures had been published separately, in which the distinguished author had declared that "a competent knowledge of the laws of the society in which we live is the proper accomplishment of every gentleman and scholar. As every person is interested in the preservation of the laws of his country, it is incumbent upon every man to be acquainted,

1. When was the first volume of Blackstone's Commentaries published? When were the three subsequent volumes published? Were these works read by the English colonists? What did the colonists claim? What does the author say is the necessary accomplishment of every gentleman and scholar? What does he say is incuinbent upon

at least, with those laws with which he is immediately concerned. Gentlemen of fortune are ambitious to represent their country in parliament. When they occupy that station, they become the guardians of the English constitution, and the makers, repealers, and interpreters of the English law. As legislators, they are delegated to watch, to check, to avert, every dangerous innovation; to adopt, to cherish, any solid and well-weighed improvement. They are bound, by every tie of nature, of honor, and of religion, to transmit the constitution and the laws to posterity, amended, if possible, at least without derogation. It must appear unbecoming in a member of the legislature to vote for a new law while ignorant of the old, to attempt to interpret a law while ignorant of the text on which he comments."

2. The learned author of the Commentaries declares that the end and scope of the British constitution is the security and enjoyment of civil and political liberty. He proceeds to give strong reasons why the laws of their own country should be studied and understood by all classes. The circulation of this lecture had created a general desire to procure the whole work as soon as published, and it was purchased and read extensively among the colonists.

3. Blackstone arranged the absolute rights of individuals under the three following heads: 1. The right of personal security; 2. The right of personal liberty; 3. The right of private property. He had defined the right of personal security to be the legal and uninterrupted enjoyment of life, limb, body, health, and reputation. He had defined the right of personal liberty to be the power of moving to whatever place one's inclination may direct,

every man? Of what are gentlemen of fortune ambitious? When they become members of parliament, what are their duties? As legislators, to what are they delegated? What are they bound to do? What must appear unbecoming in a member of the legislature?

2. What was declared to be the end and scope of the British constitution? For what does he give strong reasons? What effect had been produced by the circulation of this lecture?

3. How did Blackstone arrange the absolute rights of individuals?

without imprisonment or restraint. The right of private property consists in every man's free use and disposal of his own lawful acquisitions, without injury or illegal diminution. He defines imprisonment to be the confinement of a person in any wise—as keeping a man against his will in a house, arresting him, or detaining him in the

streets.

4. These rights, with many others drawn from Magna Charta, are incorporated into the declaration of rights of the several American constitutions.

CHAPTER XXXI.

PARLIAMENT.

1. THE supreme power in a government is the power to make laws. This power, in Great Britain, is vested in parliament. Parliament has stood in its present form for nearly six hundred years. In the United States, the power to make laws is vested in Congress. In the States, it is vested in the legislature.

2. Parliament consists of three branches: 1. The king; 2. The House of Lords; 3. The House of Commons. Congress may be considered as consisting of three branches: 1. The President; 2. The Senate; 3. The House of Representatives. Legislatures are composed of three branches: 1. The governor; 2. The Senate; 3. The House of Representatives.

How did he define personal security? liberty? What is imprisonment?

How did he define personal

4. Into what are these rights incorporated?

1. Which is the supreme power in the government? Where vested in the government of Great Britain? How long has parliament stood in its present form? Where is the supreme power vested in the government of the United States? Where is it vested in the State governments?

2. Of what three branches does parliament consist? Of what three branches does Congress consist? Of what three branches do the legis latures consist?

3. The executive power of the government of Great Britain is vested in the king. The executive power in the government of the United States is vested in the president. The executive power in the government of the States is vested in the governor.

4. In parliament, if the House of Lords refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the House of Commons refuse to pass it, it is lost. If the king refuses to sign a bill, after it has passed both houses of parliament, it is lost. Each of the three branches has an absolute veto. In Congress, if the Senate refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the House of Representatives refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the president refuse to sign a bill, after it has passed both houses of Congress, it is lost, unless it can be passed by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house. The Senate and House of Representatives have an absolute veto, and the president a conditional veto. In the State legislatures, if the Senate refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the House of Representatives refuse to pass the bill, it is lost. If the governor refuse to sign the bill, after it has passed both houses, it is lost, unless it can be passed by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house, in most of the States.

5. The House of Lords consists of two archbishops, twenty-four bishops, and all the peers of the realm. The titles of the peers are: 1. Dukes; 2. Marquises; 3 Earls; 4. Viscounts; 5. Barons. The number of members of the House of Lords is not limited. Some of the peers are

3. In whom is the executive power vested in the government of Great Britain? In whom is the executive power vested in the government of the United States? In whom is the executive power vested in the govemments of the several States?

4. If either house in parliament fail to pass a bill, or the king refuse to sign it, what is the effect? What power has each of the three branches of parliament? If either house in Congress fail to pass a bill, or the President refuse to sign it, what is the effect? What power has each of the three branches of Congress? If either house in the State legislature fail to pass a bill, or the governor refuse to sign it, what is the effect? What power has each of the branches of the legislature?

5. Of what does the House of Lords consist? What are the titles of