32 



JUDGE GEORGE H. SMITH ON JURISPKUDENCE. 



the Law, prevailing, until recently, in the two countries, from the 

 time of Bentham and Austin. 



This, from the standpoint of Jurisprudence, I conceive to be the 

 most important aspect of the phenomenon alluded to by the Chair- 

 man, but none the less, it must be gratifying to all of us to contem- 

 plate the close and intimate relation imposed upon us, not only by 

 the use of a common law, but by a common language and literature, 

 and common blood, which makes us in fact one people. In this 

 regard, the feeling of Americans generally — excepting perhaps some 

 of our naturalized fellow citizens and their immediate descendants — - 

 was, I think, well expressed by the American Commodore (Commo- 

 dore Shubrick, I believe) when he came to the assistance of the 

 British fleet in withdrawing from its attack upon the Chinese forts, 

 saying: "Blood is thicker than water." Nor do I think there are 

 many of us who — except on the score of official propriety — would be 

 disposed to condemn the sentiments expressed by Captain Sims, 

 upon the occasion of his late speech in London. For myself, looking 

 back over a more than usually long life, I do not remember the 

 time, when I, or those with whom I have commonly associated, 

 have ever regarded England, or rather Britain, as a foreign country . 



