LECTURES ON THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF ENGLAND: WITH A COMMENTARY ON _MAGNA CHARTA_, AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF MANY OF THE ENGLISH STATUTES. BY THE LATE FRANCIS STOUGHTON SULLIVAN, _LL. D._ Royal Professor of COMMON LAW in the UNIVERSITY of DUBLIN. THE SECOND EDITION. To which AUTHORITIES are added, and a DISCOURSE is prefixed, concerning the LAWS and GOVERNMENT of ENGLAND. BY GILBERT STUART, _LL. D._ _LONDON_: Printed for EDWARD and CHARLES DILLY in the Poultry; and JOSEPH JOHNSON in St. Paul’s Church-yard. M,DCC,LXXVI. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FREDERICK LORD NORTH, KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, AND CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, MY LORD, I am ambitious of giving dignity to this Work by inscribing it to your Lordship; and I conceive that it has a natural claim to your protection. It regards those laws and that constitution which, at a most critical period, you were called to defend; and of which the important purposes are the security and the happiness of a free people. In this illustrious rank which divides your cares between prerogative and liberty, and in which you support the lustre of the Crown, while you guard the independence of the subject; the greatest occasions are afforded to distinguish the generosity of public virtue, and to employ a capacity enlarged alike by reflection and experience. But it does not become me to say with what honour to yourself, and with what advantages to the nation, you sustain the arduous charge of government. To posterity, which will not be suspected of flattery, it must be left to celebrate the merits of an Administration, too vigorous to yield under difficulties, and of which the glory has increased with danger. I am, with the greatest respect, MY LORD, Your Lordship’s Most obedient, And most humble servant, GILBERT STUART. ADVERTISEMENT.