[AMERICAN LEGAL HISTORY]
Group of four 18th century American legal imprints, including Judgements in the Admiralty of Pennsylvania in four suits, brought as for maritime hypothecations. Also, the case of Silas Talbot, against the brigs Achilles, Patty, and Hibernia, and of the owners of the Hibernia against their captain, John Angus. With an appendix, containing the testimony exhibited in the Admiralty in those causes. The Hon. Francis Hopkinson Judge. Philadelphia: T. Dobson and T. Lang, 1789; FREEMAN, SAMUEL. A valuable assistant to every man: or, The American clerk's magazine. Containing the most useful and necessary forms of writings, which commonly occur between man and man... Boston: I[saiah] Thomas and E. T. Andrews, 1794. First edition; The probate auxiliary; or, A director and assistant to probate courts, executors, administrators and guardians. Being the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, respecting the estates of testators, intestates and wards. Carefully collected. Together with a comprehensive alphabetical index to the same. To which are added, a variety of forms, for the use of probate courts, and of such persons as may have business to transact therein. Portland: (Massachusetts [i.e., Maine]): 1793; And COBBETT, WILLIAM [trans]. Summary of the law of nations, founded on the treaties and customs of the modern nations of Europe; with a list of the principal treaties, concluded since the year 1748 down to the present time, indicating the works in which they are to be found. By Mr. Martens. Philadelphia: Thomas Bradford, 1795. Various sizes and paginations. All but one volume in library cloth, the title of the first work detached at the gutter.
Of the first-listed work, Morris Cohen wrote: "This case [Silas Talbot] was of great consequence, not only on account of the property depending on its decision, but because the following questions were determined upon solemn argument. First, that the owners of letters of marque are responsible for injuries committed on the high seas, by the commanders of vessels sent out by them. Secondly, that in cases of capture from enemies, persons in other vessels acquire no rights, merely by seeing the capture made. Thirdly, that the judge of admiralty may legally take cognizance in similar cases, and that the appeal in such cases to a higher court is irregular."--p. [3]. (Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 1605). Evans 22053; Evans 27017; Evans 25511; Evans 29025.