• Introduction


• A Comment on the Commentaries


• 1: Of the Nature of Laws in General


• 2: Of the Laws of England


• Appendices


• A Fragment on Government


• Preface


• Introduction


• 1: Formation of Government


• 2: Forms of Government


• 3: British Constitution


• 4: Right of the Supreme Power to Make Laws


• 5: Duty of the Supreme Power to Make Laws


• Appendix


• Index of Subjects


• Index of Names

In the two related works in this volume, Bentham offers a detailed critique of William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765-9). He provides important refelctions on the nature of law, and more particularly on the nature of customary and statute law, and on judicial interpretation.