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" The law of England is divided into three 

 parts : the Common Law, Statute Law, and 

 particular Customs ; for if it be the general 

 custom of the realm, it is part of the Common 

 Law." Coke's 1. Institutes. 





 " The Common Law is Jjie ancient usage and 



custom of the realm, before any statutes were 

 made." Shepherd's Epitome of the Laws. 



" The Common Law is grounded on the ge- 

 neral customs of the realm." Terms de la 

 Ley, 147. 



" General customs, which are the universal 

 rule of the whole kingdom, form the unwritten 

 or Common Law." . Black. Com. Introd. p. 67. 



" The Common Law of England is a law 

 used time out of mind by prescription. That 

 custom which is common throughout the realm, 

 is Common Law." Sir Henry Finch's Dis- 

 course on Law, p. 77. 



If, therefore, it can be proved, that this pub- 

 lic right hath been used and practised, time 

 out of mind, continually, without legal inter- 

 ruption, it proves it to be the Common Law 



