John Gage Marvin

“ It was my intention to have inserted an Introduction explanatory of the judicial adoption and authority of Foreign works in our Courts, with some account of the Legislation upon the subject, and the authority of the Federal Court and State Reports in each other's tribunals, but the volume has already attained a size beyond the original estimate, and I do not feel at liberty to increase its expense by additional matter. "This is a vessel I confess ill and weakly built, yet doth it adventure into the vast Ocean of your censures; Gentlemen, who are Antiquarians, Lawyers, and Historians." ”

“ While petty jealousies and differences of opinion prevail among members of other Professions, those of the Law are happily united, and make it a common cause to assist each other in advancing their common studies, and pursuits, and the instances are extremely rare where this reciprocal feeling does not exist. ”

“ The labour was undertaken with the belief, that a work of this description was needed, and would be an acceptable offering to the legal Profession, in the United States, and to such Foreigners as are desirous of obtaining more ample information relative to the Bibliography of the Common Law, than has hitherto been collectively afforded. Whoever seeks in this volume for book rarities or editions characterized by some peculiarity which does not give them intrinsic value, will be disappointed. ”