INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION. AMONG the various relations in society, there is scarcely one, perhaps, in which a knowledge of the law, as affecting the parties in their relative capacities, is more imperatively demanded, or more imperfectly possessed, than in that which forms the subject of the following Treatise. Even among professional men, unless of very considerable experience and research, the knowledge of this branch of the law must necessarily be very confined, from the circumstance of its being only to be acquired, either by steadily pursuing the subject through all the reports (for which but few can afford the requisite time), or by perusing the very voluminous works in which alone it has been treated of, and in which, consequently, the space devoted to it is very limited. The author having himself experienced this difficulty, and, in overcoming it, acquired the materials for, in a great degree, removing the obstacle for the future, has therefore been induced to arrange his notes, and bring them before the Public, in the hope that even the present imperfect work, from its accessibility and familiar style, may prove extensively useful, not only to the law student, but to those also more immediately interested, namely, the parties themselves. In some few instances he has ventured, with a view to invite the attention of more competent persons to the points in question, to offer opinions and suggestions of his own; but in all such cases they will be found to be given as the mere doubts, or ideas, of the writer. It will be seen that those branches of the Law of Master and Servant, which peculiarly relate to Agriculture, Manufactures, and Trades, are altogether omitted here, as being mostly regulated by distinct statutes, applicable only to a particular class, and not to servants in general, and as it was an especial object to confine the work to a very moderate size. 2nd. For the criminal acts of his servant. 3rd. For the contracts of his servant. V. Of the rights of the servant, other than to |