Commentaries on the Laws of England. Book 4: Of Public Wrongs


Read by Roy Haines

The Commentaries on the Laws of England by Sir William Blackstone, are a prominent and authoritative 18th century dissertation on the common law of England which not only pertains to that country, but is also at the foundation of the American legal system. They were widely read and a huge influence on America's Founding Fathers and, to this day, are occasionally quoted in U.S. Supreme Court decisions when expounding upon principals of universal and enduring human justice.

The commentaries were divided into four books: On the Rights of Persons, On the Rights of Things, Of Private Wrongs, and Of Public Wrongs.

This fourth and final volume elaborates on the English laws, courts, procedures & punishments regarding the full range of criminal injuries, from misdemeanors on up through murder and high treason. It includes a section dealing with libel and seditious libel, which informed to a great extent the Founders’ understanding of the freedom of the press clause of the First Amendment. - Summary by Roy Haines

Chapters

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Chapter 01: Of the Nature of Crimes, and Their Punishment - Part 1 19:24 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 01: Of the Nature of Crimes, and Their Punishment - Part 2 23:42 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 02: Of the Persons Capable of Committing Crimes - Part 1 16:37 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 02: Of the Persons Capable of Committing Crimes - Part 2 14:30 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 03: Of Principals and Accessories 14:59 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 04: Of Offenses Against God and Religion - Part 1 22:21 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 04: Of Offenses Against God and Religion - Part 2 21:20 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 04: Of Offenses Against God and Religion - Part 3 16:51 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 05: Of Offenses Against the Law of Nations 16:54 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 06: Of High Treason - Part 1 22:25 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 06: Of High Treason - Part 2 23:54 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 07: Of Felonies, Injurious to the King’s Prerogative 19:20 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 08: Of Praemunire - Part 1 17:48 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 08: Of Praemunire - Part 2 21:47 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 09: Of Misprisions and Contempts, Affecting the King and Government 17:26 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 10: Of Offenses Against Public Justice - Part 1 17:50 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 10: Of Offenses Against Public Justice - Part 2 15:52 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 11: Of Offenses Against the Public Peace 25:02 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 12: Of Offenses Against Public Trade 16:43 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 13: Of Offenses Against the Public Health, the Public Police or Economy - Part 1 19:58 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 13: Of Offenses Against the Public Health, the Public Police or Economy - Part 2 16:09 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 14: Of Homicide - Part 1 23:50 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 14: Of Homicide - Part 2 16:41 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 14: Of Homicide - Part 3 22:58 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 15: Of Offenses Against the Persons of Individuals - Part 1 22:07 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 15: Of Offenses Against the Persons of Individuals - Part 2 9:52 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 16: Of Offenses Against the Habitations of Individuals 19:13 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 17: Of Offenses Against Private Property - Part 1 18:31 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 17: Of Offenses Against Private Property - Part 2 14:34 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 17: Of Offenses Against Private Property - Part 3 12:54 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 18: Of the Means of Preventing Offenses 14:24 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 19: Of the Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction - Part 1 23:05 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 19: Of the Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction - Part 2 23:12 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 20: Of Summary Convictions 19:09 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 21: Of Arrests 14:15 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 22: Of Commitment and Bail 10:58 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 23: Of the Several Modes of Prosecution - Part 1 23:55 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 23: Of the Several Modes of Prosecution - Part 2 9:59 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 24: Of Process Upon an Indictment 8:35 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 25: Of Arraignment, and Its Incidents 19:56 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 26: Of Plea, and Issue 22:06 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 27: Of Trial, and Conviction - Part 1 14:44 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 27: Of Trial, and Conviction - Part 2 17:27 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 27: Of Trial, and Conviction - Part 3 17:13 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 28: Of the Benefit of Clergy 23:13 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 29: Of Judgment, and its Consequences - Part 1 15:36 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 29: Of Judgment, and its Consequences - Part 2 19:01 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 30: Of Reversal of Judgment 7:37 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 31: Of Reprieve, and Pardon 19:42 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 32: Of Execution 8:32 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 33: Of the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England - Part 1 18:35 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 33: Of the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England - Part 2 26:21 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 33: Of the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England - Part 3 20:35 Read by Roy Haines
Chapter 33: Of the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England - Part 4 24:55 Read by Roy Haines