A New Law Dictionary, Intended for General Use as Well as for Gentlemen of the Profession

Preface of the Dictionary

With some changes from the Encyclopedia of Law team:

The work now presented to the public, is carefully printed from a fair manuscript, in the
author’s own hand-writing; to which there do not appear to be any preface, or hint of
the title that he might intend for it. It however so far coincides with his former publications, as to leave little doubt of his designation of it for the press; and he seems to have continued
it, as matter occurred, till the time of his death.

It is now offered to the world, in the pleasing confidence, that it will answer the end for
which, I have reason to think, it was originally intended; I mean, for the use and information
of those, who with to have a rational knowledge of matters relating to their lives, properties, and other essential interests; to the critical knowledge of which, they are not professionally
bred.

The author ‘early discovered the want of such a Guide as might enable all ranks and professions of men, to act confidently, and prudently, in their respective paths of life. How far he has contributed to this great end, in his JUSTICE 0F THE PEACE, and ECCLESIASTICAL LAW, seems to be determined, by the general approbation with which those publications have been received; and in what degree his present work may be thought essential to the same purpose,
is submitted to the wisdom and candor of all competent judges.

My Father’s very considerable attainments, not only in the learned and gothic languages,
and in the law of the land; but also in matters of antiquity; seem to have induced him,
to depend upon his own strength; and to produce an ORIGINAL WORK, not copying (as is too
often done) from other books of the kind; in some of which the servility of transcribing,
from one work to another, is but too obvious.
And I am joined in opinion by a learned friend, well acquainted with my Father’s literary pursuits, that the present book hath no particular reference, except it be to his own previous publications; and that his real motive was, to facilitate the understanding of them; and to effect
such an acquaintance with the necessary terms, and technical language of the laws of his
country, as might be profitable to those persons for whose use and advantage he had compiled
his former works.

It is unnecessary to assign the reasons, why this publication has been so long postponed;
but it may be proper to observe, that the delay has caused a necessity of accommodating certain particulars to the present state of the law, wherein some material changes, and additions, are annually made; and these additions, where necessary, I have carefully endeavored to supply.

Finally, I beg leave to inform the reader, that the present publication is by the advice,
and earned solicitations, of my good friend Dr. CHARLES MORTON, of the British Museum,
whose uniform friendship, and intimacy with ,my late Father, for a period of forty-eight
years, have rendered him sufficiently acquainted with the end and purpose of most of his literary labours. To that gentleman, therefore, I dedicate this posthumous publication, as a memorial or the friendly intercourse and harmony, ‘Which Cubfifted, for near half a century, between him and my honoured Father.

About the Author: Richard Burn (1709-1785)

In the words of the Tarlton Law Library (University of Texas School of Law):

“Richard Burn was born in Westmoreland, where he spent the greater part of his life. Educated at Oxford, Burn went on to serve in a vicarage in Orton. He also served as justice of the peace, and in 1765 was appointed chancellor of the diocese of Carlisle. Frontispiece, A New Law Dictionary, 1792

A New Law Dictionary is of significance not in itself, but as the product of a distinguished legal scholar. Burn is best known for his work Ecclesiastical Law (London, 1760), which was published in at least nine subsequent editions and became the standard text for this subject. His Justice of the Peace and Parish Officer went through twenty editions. He also edited the ninth, tenth, and eleventh editions of Blackstone’s Commentaries.

Richard Burn’s son, John Burn, edited and published A New Law Dictionary after his father’s death, adding a preface and an engraved frontispiece (shown at right). A pirated one-volume Dublin edition appeared soon after the London edition

Resources

See Also

• A New Law Dictionary
• A New and Complete Law-Dictionary
• Ballentine Law Dictionary
• Bouvier’s Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia, 1914
• Osborn’s Concise Law Dictionary
• Penguin Dictionary of Law
• Judicial Dictionary
• Legal Dictionary
• Black’s Law Dictionary
• A Dictionary of the Norman or Old French Language

Further Reading

• John G. Marvin. Legal Bibliography, or a Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books. Philadelphia: T. & J. W. Johnson, 1847.