With these two works no man can be ignorant of his rights or obligations; and, indeed, the “Commentaries” are so essential, that he who has not read them has no claim to be considered qualified for the exercise of his public duties as an Englishman. He is at liberty, it is true, for the law leaves him at liberty, to assume the character he may be called on to bear in common with his fellow-citizens; but, with this liberty, he is only more or less than a savage, as he is more than a savage by his birth in a civilized country, and less than a savage in the animal instinct, which teaches that self-preservation is the first law of nature; and still further is he less, because, beside the safety of others, it may fall to him, in this state of ignorance, to watch and ward the safety of the commonwealth itself. Blackstone, on making choice of his profession, wrote an elegant little poem, entitled “_The Lawyer’s Farewell to his Nurse_.” It is not more to be admired for ease and grace, than for the strong feeling it evinces in relinquishing the pleasures of poesy and art, and parting for ever from scenes wherein he had happily spent his youthful days. Its conclusion describes his anticipations-- Lost to the field and torn from you-- Farewell! a long--a last adieu! Me wrangling courts and stubborn _law_ To smoke and crowds, and cities draw; There selfish faction rules the day, And pride and av’rice throng the way; Diseases taint the murky air, And midnight conflagrations glare: Loose revelry and riot bold In frighted streets their orgies hold; Or when in silence all is drowned, Fell murder walks her lonely round No room for peace--no room for you Adieu, celestial nymph, adieu! A SUIT AT LAW. Its origin and progress may be traced in the _Tree_ engraved on the opposite page. [Illustration: ~The Tree of Common Law.~] 1. The _root_ of the engraved _Tree_ exhibits a diversity of suits and actions for the remedy of different wrongs. 2. The _trunk_ shows the growth of a suit, stage by stage, until its conclusion. 3. The _branches_ from each stage show the proceedings of the plaintiff on one side, and the proceedings of the defendant on the other. 4. The _leaves_ of each branch show certain collateral proceedings whereby the suit is either advanced or suspended. 5. Supposing the _form_ of action suitable to the case, and no stay of proceedings, the suit grows, on the “sure and firm set earth” of the law, into a “goodly tree,” and, attaining to execution against either the plaintiff or the defendant, terminates in consuming fire. * * * * *