In English law , the term state trials primarily denotes trials relating to offences against the state . In practice it is a term often used of cases illustrative of the law relating to state officers or of international or constitutional law .
8-430: The first collection of accounts of state trials was published in 1719 in four volumes. Although without an editor's name, it appears that Thomas Salmon (1679–1767), an historical and geographical writer, was responsible for the collection. A second edition, increased to six volumes, under the editorship of Sollom Emlyn (1697–1754), appeared in 1730. This edition contained a lengthy preface critically surveying
16-465: Is now credited as the initial editor of the State Trials , the collection of reports on significant trials, mostly on treason charges, that had editions well into the 19th century. Sollom Emlyn continued his five volumes, which were reprinted whole in 1730, with two more in 1735. Francis Hargrave , in a preface to the 4th edition, was explicit about Salmon's involvement in the 1738 Critical Review of
24-470: The Trials . He deduced that Salmon was editor of the first edition, in 1719. He commented also on the effect of Salmon's Tory politics on the work; and (positively) on the sourcing he provided for some of the material. This identification of Salmon as original editor is now accepted. He was working for the printer John Darby the younger (died 1733) from about 1716, on materials Darby provided. His initial shaping of
32-530: The East and West Indies for some time. He also travelled in Europe. In 1739–40 Salmon accompanied George Anson on his voyage round the world. He died on 20 January 1767. Salmon's works were: Salmon also, in 1725, brought out an edition of his father's Historical Collections of Great Britain . To it he prefixed a preface commenting on the partisan approaches of Paul de Rapin de Thoyras and other historians. Salmon
40-480: The condition of English law at the time. A third edition appeared in 1742, in eight volumes, the seventh and eighth volumes having been added in 1835. Ninth and tenth volumes were added in 1766, and a fourth edition, comprising ten volumes, with the trials arranged chronologically, was published the same year. A fifth edition, originated by William Cobbett , but edited by Thomas Bayly Howell (1768–1815) and known as Cobbett's Complete Collection of State Trials ,
48-432: The trials down to a later date. Eight volumes were published in 1888–1898, bringing the work down to 1858. The first three of these were edited by Sir John Macdonell , the remaining five by John Edward Power Wallis . For citation , their name may be abbreviated to St Tr (NS) . Selections have also been edited by Harry Lushington Stephen and others. Thomas Salmon (historian) Thomas Salmon (1679–1767)
56-557: Was an English historical and geographical writer. Salmon, who was born at Meppershall in Bedfordshire , and baptised there on 2 February 1679, was the son of Thomas Salmon , by his wife Katherine, daughter of John Bradshaw ; Nathanael Salmon was his elder brother. William Cole wrote that he wrote much of his work in Cambridge, where he ran a coffee house, and then moved to London. He told Cole that he had spent time at sea, and in both
64-400: Was published between 1809 and 1826. This edition is in thirty-three volumes; twenty-one of them, giving the more important state trials down to 1781, were edited by TB Howell, and the remaining volumes, bringing the trials down to 1820, by his son Thomas Jones Howell (d. 1858). A new series, under the direction of a parliamentary committee , was projected in 1885, with the object of bringing
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