MssB L71 +1798

Notebook

Seth P. Staples

ca. 1798

Rare Book Collection

Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library

Litchfield, Connecticut; New Haven, Connecticut

34 cm

Binder's title: Reeve's lectures. Staples' notes
Caption title: Notes taken from lectures delivered by Tapg. Reeves, esqr

This notebook may have been used by Staples for the instruction of students in his New Haven law office. Many pages are blank. Contains autograph of Seth P. Staples. There is no evidence that Staples attended the law school.

P. 13 contains a date, Sept 10th, 1798.

Many pages have large blank spaces. Titles and page numbers appear to have been added later with a different ink. Between pages 224 and 225 written vertically on the margins are "No 6" and "No 7" The last thing written on page 405 is "two Lectures to come in here." Pages 406-414 are blank.Page 414 has no title, and 415 begins with "Trover." Appears to be missing several lectures ...other students have in the category "Private Wrongs." p. 447 "this is all by mr. R. on the subject in this course of Lectures. A blank is left to put in more from other lectures or from the books." p. 448-449 are left blank.

Near the end of several of the lecture topics, the author notes Reeve's suppositions as to what aspects of English law will be adopted in America. It also contains the following commentary on slavery in Connecticut:

p. 140 "Slaves in Con., if such beings can legally exist in this state, differ from other servants only in the duration of their services. It has been doubted whether slavery has ever in this state duly authorized by law. If slavery has been established by law in C, it must have been is established either by state or legal decisions; for by common law it is clearly not warranted."

"1. Of a sanction by Statute. There is no stat in this state expressly warranting slavery. But two stats relating very directly to this subject. One obliging masters to maintain their slaves_ the other communicating at the age of 25 years old that shall be born after the year AD 1784. These have been thought to give an implied sanction to slavery. There is another Stat. making all born after 1797 free at the age of 21."

P. 663 Of Waste: "Mr. Reeves thinks that it would not be considered waste to cut timber & clear the land on a new farm in this country, where it is necessary to clear the land for cultivation & that the tenant might receive benefit from the estate."

p. 703 entry on Law of Evidence, p. 704-724 are blank

P. 757-776 are blank

P. 777-807 contain a Comparison of the English Law and Law of Connecticut
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