The Ordinance No. 15, of 1844, to establish a Supreme Court of Judicature at Hongkong, provides in Clause numbered 3, that the Law of England shall be in full force in the Colony, except where it shall be inapplicable to the local circumstances or its inhabitants. Though this general rule is stated, it is to be objected chiefly (or perhaps exceptionally) that it will raise a great multitude of questions in the decision of which it does not provide. The criterion of applicability to local circumstances is, I apprehend, the only test by which to solve the enquiry whether any given rule of English Law is, or is not in force in a British Colony. But it is manifestly most vague and uncertain criterion. The effect of it is, to transfer to the Judge a large part of the duties of the Legislature. He must in each successive case determine how far local circumstances admit or prevent the application of the Law of England, unless...