Elements of International Law
Encyclopedia
Elements of International Law, first published in 1836, is a book on international law
by Henry Wheaton which has long been influential.
The 3rd edition was published in Philadelphia in 1845. At the request of Wheaton's family, the 6th edition, with the last corrections of the author and a biographical notice, was published by William Beach Lawrence (Boston, 1855). Lawrence also published the 7th edition (1863). The 8th edition was published, with new notes and a new biography, by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
(Boston, 1866). Dana's alleged use of Lawrence's notes from the previous editions resulted in a protracted legal controversy.
A French
translation was published in Leipzig
and Paris
in 1848. At the instance of Anson Burlingame
, U.S. minister to China
, Wheaton's book was translated into Chinese
and published at the expense of the imperial government (4 vols., Pekin, 1865). The translator was American Protestant
missionary William Alexander Parsons Martin
who was working in China at that time.
Along with Chinese, the book was translated into Japanese
and the language of each country of Asia
.
The original edition bore the title Elements of International Law with a Sketch of the History of the Subject. Some subsequent editions omitted the "Sketch," which in 1845 became (in expanded form) part of Wheaton's History of the Law of Nations in Europe and America.
re-publication continues.
in full scale.
In listing Henry Wheaton among "prominent jurists of the nineteenth century," Anghie comments on the "several editions" of Elements of International Law and on the work as "widely respected and used at this time."
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
by Henry Wheaton which has long been influential.
Textual history
Many translations, editions and reprints of Wheaton's Elements have appeared since its first publication.The 3rd edition was published in Philadelphia in 1845. At the request of Wheaton's family, the 6th edition, with the last corrections of the author and a biographical notice, was published by William Beach Lawrence (Boston, 1855). Lawrence also published the 7th edition (1863). The 8th edition was published, with new notes and a new biography, by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
Richard Henry Dana Jr. was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts, a descendant of an eminent colonial family who gained renown as the author of the American classic, the memoir Two Years Before the Mast...
(Boston, 1866). Dana's alleged use of Lawrence's notes from the previous editions resulted in a protracted legal controversy.
A French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
translation was published in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1848. At the instance of Anson Burlingame
Anson Burlingame
Anson Burlingame wasan American lawyer, legislator, and diplomat, born in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York. In 1823 his parents took him to Ohio, and about ten years afterwards to Michigan...
, U.S. minister to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Wheaton's book was translated into Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
and published at the expense of the imperial government (4 vols., Pekin, 1865). The translator was American Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
missionary William Alexander Parsons Martin
William Alexander Parsons Martin
William Alexander Parsons Martin was an American Presbyterian missionary to China and translator, famous for having translated a number of important Western treatises into Chinese, such as Henry Wheaton's Elements of International Law.He graduated from Indiana University in 1846, known at that...
who was working in China at that time.
Along with Chinese, the book was translated into Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
and the language of each country of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
The original edition bore the title Elements of International Law with a Sketch of the History of the Subject. Some subsequent editions omitted the "Sketch," which in 1845 became (in expanded form) part of Wheaton's History of the Law of Nations in Europe and America.
re-publication continues.
Influence
The translations had a large influence on the approval of modern international law in Asia. Wheaton's was the first book to introduce international law to east AsiaEast Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
in full scale.
In listing Henry Wheaton among "prominent jurists of the nineteenth century," Anghie comments on the "several editions" of Elements of International Law and on the work as "widely respected and used at this time."