410 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



tent of the law is to be derived from the body of the law, 

 the preamble often exceeding or falling short of this extent. 

 LXXI. There is one very faulty method of drawing up 

 the laws, viz. , when the case is largely set forth in the pre 

 amble, and then by the force of the word which, or some 

 such relative, the body of the law is reflected back upon 

 the preamble, and the preamble inserted and incorporated 

 in the body of the law; whence proceed both obscurity and 

 danger, because the same care is not usually employed in 

 weighing and examining the words of the preamble, as the 

 words of the law itself. 



Different methods of expounding laws and solving doubts 



LXXII. There are five ways of interpreting the law, 

 and making it clear; viz., 1, by recording of judgments; 

 2, by instituting authentic writers; 3, by auxiliary books; 

 4, by readings; and, 5, by the answers or counsel of quali 

 fied persons. A due use of all these affords a great and 

 ready assistance in clearing the laws of their obscurity. 



Reports of judgments 



LXXIII. And above all, let the judgments of the su 

 preme and principal courts be diligently and faithfully 

 recorded, especially in weighty causes, and particularly 

 such as are doubtful, or attended with difficulty or novelty. 

 For judgments are the anchors of the laws, as laws are the 

 anchors of states. 



LXXIV. And let this be the method of taking them 

 down 1. Write the case precisely, and the judgments ex 

 actly, at length; 2. Add the reasons alleged by the judges 

 for their judgment; 3. Mix not the authority of cases, 

 brought by way of example, with the principal case; 4. 

 And for the pleadings, unless they contain anything very 

 extraordinary, omit them. 



LXXY. Let those who take down these judgments be 

 of the most learned counsel in the law, and have a liberal 

 stipend allowed them by the public. But let not the judges 

 meddle in these reports, lest, favoring their own opinions 



