THERE are also counties _corporate_; which are certain cities and towns, some with more, some with less territory annexed to them; to which out of special grace and favour the kings of England have granted to be counties of themselves, and not to be comprized in any other county; but to be governed by their own sheriffs and other magistrates, so that no officers of the county at large have any power to intermeddle therein. Such are London, York, Bristol, Norwich, Coventry, and many others. And thus much of the countries subject to the laws of England. COMMENTARIES ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND. BOOK THE FIRST. OF THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS. CHAPTER THE FIRST. OF THE ABSOLUTE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS. THE objects of the laws of England are so very numerous and extensive, that, in order to consider them with any tolerable ease and perspicuity, it will be necessary to distribute them methodically, under proper and distinct heads; avoiding as much as possible divisions too large and comprehensive on the one hand, and too trifling and minute on the other; both of which are equally productive of confusion. NOW, as municipal law is a rule of civil conduct, commanding what is right, and prohibiting what is wrong; or, as Cicero[a], and after him our Bracton[b], has expressed it, _sanctio justa, jubens honesta et prohibens contraria_; it follows, that the primary and principal objects of the law are RIGHTS, and WRONGS. In the prosecution therefore of these commentaries, I shall follow this very simple and obvious division; and shall in the first place consider the _rights_ that are commanded, and secondly the _wrongs_ that are forbidden by the laws of England. [Footnote a: 11 _Philipp._ 12.] [Footnote b: _l._ 1. _c._ 3.] RIGHTS are however liable to another subdivision; being either, first, those which concern, and are annexed to the persons of men, and are then called _jura personarum_ or the _rights of persons_; or they are, secondly, such as a man may acquire over external objects, or things unconnected with his person, which are stiled _jura rerum_ or the _rights of things_. Wrongs also are divisible into, first, _private wrongs_, which, being an infringement merely of particular rights, concern individuals only, and are called civil injuries; and secondly, _public wrongs_, which, being a breach of general and public rights, affect the whole community, and are called crimes and misdemesnors. THE objects of the laws of England falling into this fourfold division, the present commentaries will therefore consist of the four following parts: 1. _The rights of persons_; with the means whereby such rights may be either acquired or lost. 2. _The rights of things_; with the means also of acquiring and losing them. 3. _Private wrongs_, or civil injuries; with the means of redressing them by law. 4. _Public wrongs_, or crimes and misdemesnors; with the means of prevention and punishment.