COMMENTARIES ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND. BOOK THE FOURTH. OF PUBLIC WRONGS. CHAPTER I. OF THE NATURE OF CRIMES; AND THEIR PUNISHMENT. WE are now arrived at the fourth and last branch of these Commentaries; which treats of public wrongs, or crimes and misdemeanors. For we may remember that, in the beginning of the preceding volume, wrongs were divided into two species: the one private, and the other public. Private wrongs, which are frequently termed civil injuries, were the subject of that entire book: we are now, therefore, lastly, to proceed to the consideration of public wrongs, or crimes and misdemeanors ; with the means of their prevention and punishment. In the Division of the pursuit of which subject I shall consider, in the first place, subject. the general nature of crimes and punishments; secondly, the persons capable of committing crimes; thirdly, their several degrees of guilt, as principals, or accessories; fourthly, the several species of crimes, with the punishment annexed to ach by the laws of England; fifthly, the means of preventing heir perpetration; and, sixthly, the method of inflicting those VOL. IV. B |