^{page 124 note *} Traité des Assurances et des Contrats à la Grosse. Par M. Balthazard-Marie Émerigon, Avocat au Parlement de Provence, ancien Conseiller au Siége de l'Amirauté de Marseille. 2 vols. 4to. Marseille, 1783.Google Scholar

There is a later edition, with considerable additions by Boulay-Paty, Rennes, 1827; and an English version appeared last year (1850) under the title of “A Treatise on Insurances by Balthazard-Marie Émerigon. Translated from the French, with an Introduction and Notes, by Samuel Meredith, Esq.”

^{page 124 note †} Collection de Lois Maritimes antérieures au XVIII^eme siècle, dédiée au Roi. Par J. M. Pardessus, Conseiller à la Cour de Cassation, Professeur de Droit Commercial à la Faculté de Paris, Chsvalier del'ordre royal Saint-Michel, Officier de la Légion d'Honneur. Paris: Imprimé par autorisation du Roi, à l'imprimerie Royale. 6 vols. 4to., 1828, 1831, 1834, 1837, 1839, and 1845.Google Scholar

A reimpression, without the introduction to the first volume, was in course of publication in 1847, under the title of Us et Coutumes de la Mer, ou Collection des Usages Maritimes des peuples de l'antiquité et du moyen âge. Par J. M. Pardessus, Membre de l'Institut, Académiedes Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.

^{page 125 note *} “A Lecture on the Law of Representations in Marine Insurance, with Notes and Illustrations; and a Preliminary Lecture on the question whether Marine Insurance was known to tie Ancients. By John Duer, LL.D., Counsellor at Law.” 8vo. New York, 1844.Google Scholar

^{page 135 note *} The work is entitled “Delia Decima e di varie altre Gravezze imposte dal Comune di Firenze, della Moneta e della Mercatura di Fiorentini fino al Secolo XVI.” It comprises 4 4to volumes, published at “Lisbona e Lucca, 1765, 1766.” The third volume contains “La Pratica della Mercatura,” by Francisco Balducci Pegolotti, edited from a manuscript in the Library of the Marquis Riccardi at Florence; and in the fourth volume is given the treatise bearing the same title, by Giovanni di Antonio da Uzzano, edited from a manuscript belonging to Dr. Canini of Florence. In the second volum e (p. 78), Signor Sarchi (the editor) observes, “Due cose mi sembrano in questi Trattati assai degne di particolare osservazione, l'una comune ad amendue e si è l'uso delle sicurtà, che sifacevono, e si premiavono fin d'allora per il trasporto delle Mercanzie; l'altra particolare ad un solo, cioè che la pratica de Cambi.” And, further on, the following important particulars are given respecting Giovanni da Uzzano, and the date to which his treatise may be referred: —“Era egli figlio di Bernardo da Uzzano, che aveva eserctuata la Mercatura, e fù ricco negoziante in Pisa, dove non sò per qualle accidente mancò di credito, e falli, come viene indicato dalla portata fatta da suoi creditori agli Uffiziali del Catasto nel Quartiere San Oroce. Gonfalone Bue. Doveva egli essere nel 1442, allorche dice di avere scritto il suo libbro in età di anni 21 non completi, conforms apparisce dalla portata faita dal Padre al Catasto del 1427. (Quartiere S. Spirito Gonfalone Scala. N. 100.) Dubiterei perciò, che non fusse veramente l'autore del' Trattato, ma piuttosto il Copista o al più il Collet-tore delle Notizie gia scritte da altri, e tanto più ne dubilo dall'avere osservato, e la data di alcuni promedimenti, eke si dicono emanati, allora che si scrive dal nostro Giovanni, quando sono anteriori di parecchi anni, e di alcune conti di Mercanti, che son fatti motto innanzi, che Egli nascesse.”

^{page 137 note *} The annexed specimen, containing the publication and first article of the ordinance, will afford a good example of its style:—

“Die Lunæ xxi., mensis Novembris, anno à Nativitate Domini millesimo quadringen-tesimo tricesimo quinto, Salvator Roviredéch, praeco Civitatis Barchinonæ, retulit se fecisse per loca solita Civitatis Barchinonse præconizationem sequentem. Ara Ojats.

“1. Per manament del honorable Mossen Guittém de Sentcliment Cavalier Vaguér de Barcelona, è del honorable en Matheu Dezvall Batle de la dita Ciutat; có es, de cascuns d'ells tant com se pertangue á llur juridicció: ordonaren los Consellers è Prohomens de la dita Ciutat per esctirpar totes fraus è dans, questions, è debats ques poguessen seguir en la dita Ciutat per rahó de assegurar navilis é altresfustes, è per assegurar mercaderies, robes, é havers; è axi per sguard dels assegurats: que d'aqui avant navilis ó altres fustes, qui no sien de vassals del Senyor Rey, ne cambis donats á risch de tals navilis ó fustes, no puxen esser assegurats en Barcelona en tot ne en part en alguna manera. E si será contrafet, tals seguretats, no puxen aprofitar als assegurats, ne per aquelles á pagar puxen esser convenguts los asseguradors en juy nefora juy; ans sien gonyats los preus de tals seguretats.” (Col-leccion Diplomatica. Capm. ii. 383.) The title of the work is Memorias Historicas sobre la Marina, Comerio, y Artes de la Antigua Ciudad de Barcelona. Publicadas por disposicion y a eocpensas de la Real Junta y Consulado de Gomereio de la misina Ciudad; y dispuestes por Capmany, D. Antonio de, Monpalau, y de (Individuo de la Real Academia de Historia,, y de la de Buenos Lettres de Sevilla. Secretario Perpetuo de la Real Academia de la Historia.) 4 vols. 4to. 1 and 2, Madrid, 1779; 3 and 4, Madrid, 1792.Google Scholar

^{page 137 note †} The passage appears in his notes to Le Guidon utile et nécessaire pour ceux qui font Marchandise, et qui mettent à la Mer.

^{page 142 note *} Vide Consulat de la Mer, ou Pandectes du Droit Commercial et Maritime, faisant loi en Espagne, en Italie, à Marseille et en Angleterre, et consulté partout ailleurs comme raison écrite: Traduit du Catalan en Français d'après l'Edition originate de Barcelonne, de l'an 1494; Dédié à Monseigneur le Prince Cambacères, Archi-Chancelier de l'Empire. Par Boucher, P. B, Professeur de Droit Commercial et Maritime à l'Académie de Législation, &c. &c. 2 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1808.Google Scholar

In this work Boucher inserted a Prospectus, statin g his intentio n to puhlish two other volumes containing the Catalonian Text of the Consolat, with a glossary, notes, and illustrations. Thes e however never appeared, which is the more to be regretted, as his first two volumes give an earnest of the interesting manner in which he could have treated all the details of his subject.

The ordinance of 1484 is not included in De Capmany, but forms an appendix to that important compilation, the Consolat de Mar, It would only be just to the Barcelonese if the latter were always quoted by that name, instead of by the more usual Italian term of Il Consolato del Mare. The appendix seems to have often been mistaken for a treatise on Insurance, although it consists of nothing more than the 25 Chapters of the “Ordinations de Consellers de Barcelona darrerament fetes sobre les seguretats maritimes.” There was ample cause for this and other misapprehensions respecting th e complete work, and Valin and other jurists were repeatedly complaining of the want of the original text, and were not even correctly informed as to the language it appeared in. In fact, it was lost to the public, except in the versions made from defective sources by two Italian translators, in 1566 and 1599, and into French and Dutch in 1577 and 1704, until Capmany and Boucher produced translations into Spanish and French, the latter from the editio princeps (with a date) of 1494. One would need considerable bibliographical courage to search for so extreme a rarity as that edition seems to be; whether any of the later Catalonian editions are as scarce I know not, but th e inference to be gathered from accounts of the unsuccessful attempts of old writers to obtain them, is certainly in that direction. The reader who wishes to learn more on the subject of the Consolat, had better refer to Boucher, Pardessus, and Stevens,—but Brunet will give him the fullest information on the Barcelonese editions. If this note were not already so long, I should make no excuse for even adding to the gossip on the latter subject, and mentioning that I have a later Barcelona edition than those which Brunet describes. It is from the press of Mestre Carles Amoros, provensal (litt. goth.), and the Colophon bears the date of 1540. Amongst other woodcut ornaments it includes a very graphic representation of the effecting of a policy in the presence of the public authority. The notary is the central figure at the official table, the insuring party and the underwriter are on his right and left, with three witnesses on each side, and facing the table are three subordinates or clerks, one of whom appears to be reading the policy aloud for the notarial cognizance required by the terms of the ordinance.

^{page 144 note *} M. Pardessus hits the nail on the head with the following remarks: —Il est aisé de voir qu'il ne s'agit que de l'obligation d'un commettant ou préposant d'indemniser son commis ou préposé de toutes les obligations contraetéespar celui-ci pour l'exécution de sa préposition. Je mets done ces argumens de coté, &c.”

I have referred to the earliest translation I can find, and it fully hears out the above views. Gerard Malynes, in his well-known work, published at London in 1622, 1656, 1686, includes a version of the Wisby Laws, “rendered into English for the use of Navigates, by C. Miege.” Art. 66, there appears as follows;.—“If the master be forced t o give th e owner security for the ship, the owner on the other side (to balance the business) ought to give security for the master's life.”

M. Pardessus' restoration of the original Low German Text is from the Greifswalde MS. of 1541. The corresponding article is there “De LXVII. Beleuijnghe, Item. Weer ijdt Sake dat de Schijpper, scholde Borge setten vor dat Schijppe, so weer de Reder schuldich Borgen tho setten vor des Schijppers Lijff.” And this agrees with the Dutch of the Amsterdam Ordinances, (Art. 31,) “Waer't sake dat de Schipper soude Borge setten voor dat Schip; soo ware de Reeder schuldig Borge te setten voor des Sehippers Lijf.”

^{page 145 note *} Les Us et Coutumes de la Mer. Divisées en trois parties. I. De la Navigation. II. Du Commerce Naval et Contrats Maritimes. III. De la Jurisdiction de la Marine. Avec un Traitté des Termes de Marine, &c. 4to. Bourdeaux, 1661. The dedication of this volume to the Queen of France is signed by Estienne Cleirae, its author and compiler.

I have seen the above edition, but my own Copy is the Roue n reprint of 1671, at which date some of the Rouen booksellers had obtained the privilege of its publication. It agrees with the Bourdeaux impression, except that, instead of Cleirac's dedication, the booksellers have inserted their own to the President Pellot, and have continued the marine ordinances to 1670 inclusive. The explanation of marine terms, appended as a portion of the work, has a separate title page, and, dated 1670, is stated to be the third edition. This Note occurs:—“Cet échantillon d'explication des Termes de Marine partit en l'an 1634, en qualité d'Avancoureur pour prendre langue sur le passage que la collection des Us et Coutumes de la Mer, se disposoient defaire.”

The first issue of the Us et Coutumes, according to the date sometimes assigned to th e work, would seem to have appeared in 1647. I regret the absence of information respecting Cleirac himself: his writings are of that interesting character, that curiosity may be well directed in searching out a few particulars respecting their author. Some reader, who has the time, may perhaps pursue the matter further.

Cleirac's name becomes more aristocratically “De Cleyrac” in the Déclaration du Roy portant réglement sur le fait de la, navigation, &c, and dated 1 February, 1650. This signature is affixed by him in the quality of Admiralty Advocate at Bourdeaux, and next i n office in th e absence of the Lieutenant-General.