Espinasse's Reports

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Espinasse's Reports, formally titled Reports of Cases argued and ruled at Nisi Prius, in the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas, from E. T., 33 Geo. III, to T. T. 47 Geo. III, is a collection of nominate reports by Isaac Espinasse, [1] of nisi prius cases decided between 1793 and 1807. They are in six volumes. They may be cited as "Esp.". [2]

Contents

Reprints

These reports are reprinted in volume 170 of the English Reports. [3]

Accuracy

Glanville Williams said that this set of nominate reports has received more criticism related to their accuracy than any of the others. [4] When a case from these reports was cited before Denman C.J., he said:

I am tempted to remark for the benefit of the profession, that Espinasse's Reports, in days nearer their own time, when their want of accuracy is better known than it is now, were never quoted without doubt and hesitation; and a special reason was often given as an apology for citing that particular case. Now they are often cited as if counsel thought them of equal authority with Lord Coke's Reports. [5]

Pollock C.B. said that Espinasse only heard half of what went on in court and reported the other half. [6] [7] When a case from these reports was cited before Maule J. he said that he did not care for Espinasse "or any other ass". [8]

Ashton said that:

More decorous, though not more learned judges than Maule always insisted that the fifth Espinasse must not be cited and would hardly admit even the earlier volumes.

and that Espinasse went downhill as he got older.[ clarification needed ] [9]

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Select Cases in the K. B. in 22d, 23d, and 24th years of Charles I., with the names of the learned Counsel who argued the same is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by John Aleyn, of cases decided by the Court of King's Bench between approximately 1646 and 1649. For the purpose of citation, their name may be abbreviated to "Al". They are reprinted in volume 82 of the English Reports.

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Les Reports des mults principals cases en le temps del jadis roign Eliz., cibien en le common bank, come devant touts les Judges de cest Roialme is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Sir Edmund Anderson, of cases decided by the Court of Common Pleas between approximately 1534 and 1605. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "And". They are in two volumes. Both volumes are reprinted in volume 123 of the English Reports.

Reports of cases in the Court of King's Bench, in the 11 and 12 years of Geo. II. is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by George Andrews, of cases decided in the Court of King's Bench between approximately 1738 and 1739. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "Andr". They are reprinted in volume 95 of the English Reports.

Reports of cases in the Court of Exchequer, from E.T. 32, Geo. III., to T.T. 37, Geo. III. is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Alexander Anstruther, of cases decided by the Court of Exchequer Chamber and the House of Lords between approximately 1792 and 1797. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "Anst". They are in three volumes. They are reprinted in volume 145 of the English Reports.

Reports of Cases argued and determined in the High Court of Chancery, in the time of Lord Hardwicke, from 1737 to 1754 is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by John Tracy Atkyns, of cases decided by the Court of Chancery between approximately 1736 and 1755. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "Atk". They are in three volumes. They are reprinted in volume 26 of the English Reports.

Reports of Cases in the High Court of Chancery, 13 and 14 Geo. II. from April 25, 1740, to May 9, 1741 is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Thomas Barnardiston, of cases decided by the Court of Chancery, between approximately 1740 and 1741. For the purpose of citation, their name may be abbreviated to "Barn C". They are reprinted in volume 27 of the English Reports.

Reports of Cases in the Court of King's Bench, together with some other cases from T. T. 12 Geo. I., to T. T. 7 Geo. II., from 1726 - 31 is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Thomas Barnardiston, of cases decided by the Court of King's Bench between approximately 1726 and 1735. For the purpose of citation, their name may be abbreviated to "Barn KB". They are in two volumes. They are reprinted in volume 94 of the English Reports.

Notes of Cases in points of practice, taken in the Court of Common Pleas, from M.T. 1732, to H.T. 1756, inclusive. To which is added a continuation of cases to the end of the reign of Geo. II. is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Henry Barnes, of cases decided between approximately 1732 and 1760.

Ans du Roy Richard II., hors des les Abridgments de Statham, Fitzherbert et Brooke is the title of a collection of law reports, compiled by Richard Bellewe, of cases decided between approximately 1378 and 1400. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "Bel". They are reprinted in volume 72 of the English Reports.

Ascuns novel cases de le ans et temps le Roy H. VIII., Edv. VI, and la Roygne Mary. Escrie ex la graund Abridgment, compose per Sir Robert Brooke, Chivaler, &c., la, disperse en les Titles; mes icy collect sub ans is the title of a collection of law reports, compiled by Richard Bellewe, of cases decided between approximately 1515 and 1558. They are reprinted in volume 73 of the English Reports.

Les Reports des divers resolutions et judgement donne par les de la Ley en le Temps del Reigne de Hen. VIII., Edw. VI., and Mar. Eliz. Jac. I. et Car. I. is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Gulielme Bendloe, of cases decided between approximately 1531 and 1628. For the purpose of citation, their name may be abbreviated to "Benl". They are reprinted in volume 73 of the English Reports.

Les Reports des divers Cases en le Court del Common Bank, en le several Reignes de Hen. VII., Hen. VIII., Edw. VI., et Mar. et Eliz. is a collection of nominate reports, attributed to Gulielme Benloe and Gulielme Dalison, of cases decided by the Court of Common Pleas between approximately 1486 and 1580. For the purpose of citation, their name may be abbreviated to "Ben & D". They are reprinted in volume 123 of the English Reports.

Reports in Common Pleas and Exchequer, from E.T. 28 G. III., 1788, to H.T. 36 G. III., 1796 is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Henry Blackstone, the nephew of Sir William Blackstone, of cases decided between approximately 1788 and 1796. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "Bl H". They are in two volumes. They are reprinted in volume 126 of the English Reports.

Reports in K.B. and C.P., from 1746 to 1779 is the title of a collection of nominate reports, by Sir William Blackstone, of cases decided between approximately 1746 and 1780. For the purpose of citation their name may be abbreviated to "Black W" or "Bl W". They are in two volumes. They are reprinted in volume 96 of the English Reports.

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References

  1. Marvin, J. G. Legal Bibliography, or a thesaurus of American, English, Irish and Scotch law books: together with some continental treatises . T & J W Johnson. 1847. Page 298 from Google Books.
  2. Index Chart issued for the English Reports, 1930, Stevens & Sons Ltd. (London), W. Green & Son, Ltd. (Edinburgh)
  3. Index Chart issued for the English Reports, 1930, Stevens & Sons Ltd. (London), W. Green & Son, Ltd. (Edinburgh)
  4. Glanvil Williams, Learning the Law, 11th edition, Stevens, 1982
  5. Small v. Nairne (1849) 13 QB 840 at 843, 116 ER 1484 at 1486
  6. (1938) 54 LQR 368
  7. Anonymous, A Lawyer's Notebook, page 43
  8. Biron, Without Prejudice, page 88
  9. Arthur Jacob Ashton, As I Went on My Way, pp. 27–8