Latin

Compare French. Pleadings and records were at first written in the Latin language; later, in the Norman or law-French. The arguments of counsel and the decisions of the courts were likewise in Latin. " Law -Latin " is a technical language, easily apprehended, and durable. On these accounts it is suited to preserve memorials intended for perpetual rules of action. In the time of Cromwell (1649-60), recordswere written in English. Upon the restoration of Charles n (1660), that innovation was discountenanced: practitioners found the Latin the more concise and significant.

Statute of 4 Geo. n (1730). c.

26, directed that proceedings should again be written out in English, that the common people might understand somewhat of processes, pleadings, record entries, etc. But the translations of many phrases, names of writs and processes (such as nisi prius, fieri facias, habeas corpus), sounded so ridiculous that, two years later, by 6 Geo. n, c. 14, all technical terms were allowed to remain in Latin, As regards its technical expressions, the law merely stands upon the same footing as other studies.* The conciseness, expressiveness, and condensability of the Latin language fitted it for preserving the principles of jurisprudence. The civil and canon laws were in Latin, and quoted in the original, as often aa translated. After the Conquest, the conflict between Saxon and French promoted the use of an available neutral speech. As the use and knowledge of Latin declined, misuse of its terms became frequent.

See Arhaiqn.

LAUlfCH.

A vessel already in the water cannot be " launched," the meaning of which in such cases is, " to cause to move or slide from the land into the water."

2