BY JOHN PITT TAYLOR, Esq. OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE, BARRISTER-at-Law, A. MAXWELL & SON, LAW BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHERS, 32, BELL YARD, LINCOLN'S INN; AND HODGES & SMITH, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY LORD BROUGHAM, ETC., ETC., ETC. MY LORD, I dedicate this Work to your Lordship, as a distinguished Statesman, an accomplished Lawyer, and what I consider a far more illustrious character than either, the most enlightened Law-Reformer of the Age. I have the honour to be, With feelings of real respect and regard, Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, J. PITT TAYLOR. PREFACE. THE following Work is founded on "Dr. Greenleaf's American Treatise on the Law of Evidence." Indeed, when, in July 1843, my attention was first especially drawn to the subject of Evidence, with a view to publication, I undertook to discharge the duties of an editor only, and it was not until I had been engaged for many months in that undertaking that I finally determined to abandon it, and to submit to the public a treatise of my own. In taking this step, I had no idle hope of being able to produce a book, which, regarded as an exposition of general principles, should surpass, or even equal that written by the learned American Professor; but I thought that, by citing more fully the leading decisions. of our own Courts, and by introducing such portions of our Statute Law as related to the subject of Evidence, |