He discovered that not only was there no separate treatise embodying the law in clear and concise form, but even that there was not any systematic and exhaustive col lection of its doctrines and rules anywhere. A chapter, of greater or less length, in some work com prising a wide range of subjects, where none received more than a general treatment; a note in some book of cases displaying more or less industry in collecting the authorities, but without much attempt at method or arrangement, and one or two magazine articles, summed up all that had been written upon the subject. For any further investigation recourse must be had to the digests or to the reports them selves.