[3] The learned reader is aware that the "jus naturae" and "jus gentium" of the Roman lawyers are phrases of very different import from the modern phrases, "law of nature" and "law of nations." "Jus naturale," says Ulpian, "est quod natura omnia animalia docuit." D. I. I. I. 3. "Quod naturalis ratio inter omnes homines constituit, id que apud omnes peraeque custoditur vocaturque jus gentium." D. I. I. 9. But they sometimes neglect this subtle distinction--"Jure naturali quod appellatur jus gentium." I. 2. I. II. _Jus feciale_ was the Roman term for our law of nations. "Belli quidem aequitas sanctissime populi Rom. feciali jure perscripta est." Off. I. II. Our learned civilian Zouch has accordingly entitled his work, "De Jure Feciali, sive de _Jure inter Gentes_." The Chancellor D'Aguesseau, probably without knowing the work of Zouch, suggested that this law should be called, "_Droit entre les Gens_," (Oeuvres, tom. ii. p. 337.) in which he has been followed by a late ingenious writer, Mr. Bentham, Princ. of Morals and Pol. p. 324. Perhaps these learned writers do employ a phrase which expresses the subject of this law with more accuracy than our common language; but I doubt whether innovations in the terms of science always repay us by their superior precision for the uncertainty and confusion which the change occasions. [4] This remark is suggested by an objection of _Vattel_, which is more specious than solid. See his Prelim. Sec. 6. [5] "Est quidem vera lex, recta ratio, _naturae congruens_, diffusa in omnes, constans, sempiterna, quae vocet ad officium jubendo, vetando a fraude deterreat, quae tamen neque probos frustra jubet aut vetat, neque improbos jubendo aut vetando movet. Huic legi neque obrogari fas est, neque derogari ex hac aliquid licet, neque tota abrogari potest. Nec vero aut per senatum aut per populum solvi hac lege possumus. Neque est quaerendus explanator aut interpres ejus alius. Nec erit alia lex Romae, alia Athenis, alia nunc, alia posthac, sed et omnes gentes et omni tempore una lex et sempiterna, et immortalis continebit, unusque erit communis quasi magister et imperator omnium Deus. Ille legis hujus inventor, disceptator, lator, cui qui non parebit _ipse se fugiet et naturam hominis aspernabitur_, atque hoc ipso luet maximas poenas etiamsi caetera supplicia quae putantur effugerit."--_Fragm._ lib. iii. _Cicer. de Republ. apud Lactant_. It is impossible to read such precious fragments without deploring the loss of a work which, for the benefit of all generations, _should_ have been immortal. [6] "Age vero urbibus constitutis ut fidem colere et justitiam retinere discerent et aliis parere sua voluntate consuescerent, ac non modo labores excipiendos communis commodi causa sed etiam vitam amittendam existimarent; qui tandem fieri potuit nisi homines ea quae ratione invenissent eloquentia persuadere potuissent."--_Cic. de Inv. Rhet._ lib. i. in proem. [7] [Greek: Dichaiomata tot polimot.]