The Courts can take no notice of anything but what comes judicially…

The Court must have ministers : the attornies are its ministers.

If the custom be general, it is the law of the realm: if local only, it is lex loci, the law of the place. Now, all laws are general, as far as the law extends; and all customs of England are of course, immemorial.1 No usage, therefore, …

The sheriffs of London have been immemorially the sheriff of Middlesex.

Old rights must remain: it would be very unreasonable if it should be otherwise.

It is proper to inquire into the practice and precedents; and to see whether they have been uniform and concomitant.

Great attention and respect is undoubtedly due to the decisions of a Lord Chancellor: but they are not conclusive upon a Court of common law.