1821 April 15.

First Lines

Means

1 Distributive

3 Security

Where /Were/ nothing further necessary to the purpose, the list of these several definitions, (considered as being so many instruments employed in the process of affording, security, against these several /so many/ acts, by the exercise of which, in so far as they are exercised /security/ is broken in upon and lessened,) might without any apparent incongruity /impropriety/ be allotted to the branch of Law here in question. - viz the Civil or Distributive Branch. But such are the temptations by which, in the instance of each such /exciting /stimulating/ / offence, men are liable to be invited to the exercise of it, that unless, for the purpose of restraining them from the commission of those acts respectively, inducements of the nature of punishment were employed and announced, every such definition so sent abroad wothout support would be a dead letter and as such be without effect. Penal Law is the name given to that /therefore the/ branch of Law which occupies itself in the distribution of burthens to the intent of their having the effect of punishments: to each act to which a place is given in the list of offences as designated by their several denominations and definitions, its appropriate punishments or assortments of punishments. Thus it is that so much of the matter of Law as is occupied in the affording of security in these its several modes is universally and with indisputable propriety considered as belonging to the branch of Law denominated Penal Law.