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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855. Excerpt:... Art. I.--POINTS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR LAW MERCHANT. HAVING made arrangements for the appearance in this Magazine of a series of papers bearing upon such topics connected with mercantile law as may from time to time, whether by reason of their intrinsic importance or of projected legislation touching them, demand attention, we here purpose, by way of introduction, to offer some remarks, desultory per-chance, yet individually much considered, relative to certain points and epochs in the history of our Law Merchant. The inquiry, of which some sketch or outline merely is on this occasion attempted, would, as we conceive, if fully carried out, possess great and indubitable interest--an interest increased by this circumstance, that the subject adverted to, although voluminously treated by various well-known statistical writers, has never yet been regarded from a strictly legal point of view, or thoroughly investigated by a legal mind. Possibly the hints thrown out in the ensuing pages, and the remarks, somewhat loosely strung together, there appearing, may hereafter, by some i abler hand, be amplified and methodized, with a view to supply-ing a deficiency in legal literature much to be deplored. To any one who shall be minded to apply himself to this task, VOL. Liv. No. cvm. B we would earnestly commend for consideration the general tenour and spirit of the following remarks, made by Mr. Reeves in the introduction to his accurate, though rather dry and uninviting, "History of the English Law." He observes, that in order to have a right conception of our old jurisprudence, it is necessary that the inquirer should forget for a while every alteration which may have been since made--should enter upon his investigations with a mind wholly unprejudiced, and should ex...