378 Introductory 
There seems to be no satisfactory logical principle by which to determine 
the order of presenting the data relative to the local archives. There would 
be some advantage in treating the civil and the ecclesiastical archives in sep- 
arate chapters, but this would necessitate twice going over some of the 
ground, geographically speaking. In general, the chronological development 
of jurisdiction has been from south to north, and, although this is only par- 
tially true, and though the closest and most important contact has often been 
nearest the border, yet the general fact has been taken as the guide in what 
must be at best a more or less arbitrary order of procedure. 
