NOTWITHSTANDING the diffidence expreffed in the foregoing Preface, no fooner was the work completed, but many of its pofitions were vehemently attacked by zealots of all (even oppofite) denominations, religious as well as civil; by fome with a greater, by others with a lefs degree of acrimony. To fuch of these animadverters as have fallen within the author's notice (for he doubts not but fome have efcaped it) he owes at leaft this obligation; that they have occafioned him from time to time to revife his work, in respect to the particulars objected to; to retract or expunge from it what appeared to be really erroneous; to amend or fupply it when inaccurate or defective; to illuftrate and explain it when obfcure. But, where he thought the objections ill-founded, he hath left and fhall leave the book to defend itself: being fully of opinion, that if his principles be falfe and bis doctrines unwarrantable, no apology from himfelf can make them right; if founded in truth and rectitude, no cenfure from others can make them wrong. a 4. THE editor judges it indifpenfible to preferve the author's text intire. The alterations which will be found therein, fince the publication of the laft edition, were made by the author himself, as may appear from a corrected copy in his own handwriting. What the editor hath chiefly attended to is, to note the alterations made by fubfequent acts of parliament. Thefe, together with fome few other neceffary observations, in order to prevent confufion, are inferted feparate and diftinct at the bottom of the page. July 20, 1783. RI. BURN, To be feen at Mr. Cadell's in the Strand. IN ADVERTISEMENT concerning this eleventh edition. N this edition, as in the laft, the author's text is preserved intire. The editor hath added not only the alterations made by acts of parliament fubfequent to the publication of the last edition, but also references to the Term Reports, which have been fince published. Some manufcript cafes in the editor's poffeffion are alfo noticed in this edition, wherein the authority of fome paffages in these commentaries hath been denied. Thefe, together with fome notes and obfervations of his own, the editor hath inferted separate and distinct at the bottom of the page. The notes added in the tenth edition, are enclosed in brackets, thus [], and marked with Italic references; and thofe added to the prefent edition, thus (). Temple, Jan. 12, 1791. |