Remarkable Decisions of the Court of Session, From the Year 1730..

1766. EDinburgh: A. Kincaid and J. Bell, 1766.. EDinburgh: A. Kincaid and J. Bell, 1766. "Advancing Law to a Vigorous Maturity" [Kames, Henry Home, Lord (1696-1782)]. Remarkable Decisions of the Court of Session, From the Year 1730 to the Year 1752. Edinburgh: Printed for A. Kincaid and J. Bell, 1766. Folio (12" x 7-1/2"). Recent library buckram, gilt institution name to boards, red and black lettering pieces and gilt institution name to spine, endpapers renewed. Light rubbing to extremities. Library stamps to edges, preliminaries and rear endleaves. Light toning to interior, light foxing to a few leaves, "R397," owner signature (A. Blane) and annotation identifying Kames as compiler in early hand to title page, cellotape repair to section of gutter. $450. * First edition. The leading Scottish jurist of his day and an important figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, Lord Kames influenced David Hume, James Boswell and Adam Smith. As indicated by the preface, this compilation anticipates the intention and design of the modern casebook. "For advancing law to a vigorous maturity, no means appear more effectual than reasonings upon general subjects, struck out in the zeal of pleading, inflamed by the spirit of interest. This consideration will always make compilations of the present kind acceptable, provided a judicious selection be made; for, to collect all cases indiscriminately that come before a Court, would have no better effect than to bury a small quantity of grain in endless heaps of chaff. The Compiler pretends not to vouch for himself; but he has impowered the Editor to say, that he has been attentive to admit no case but what, being in resolvable into some principle, may serve as a rule for cases of the same kind" (Preface). Published separately and complete in itself, this book is a companion to a 1728 volume with a similar title covering the years 1716-1728. (The entry in Sweet & Maxwell's A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth, 5:57, lists this as a two-volume set erroneously.) English Short-Title Catalogue T78723.