The Constitution of the United States | Page 2

and for
the man who has so generously given of his time and learning for our
instruction. Mr. Beck is always a welcome visitor to our shores, and
nowhere is he more welcome than in these ancient Inns of Court which
are the home and source of law for Americans and Englishmen alike. In
contemplating the edifice reared by the Fathers of the American
Constitution we take pride in remembering that it was built upon
British foundations by men, many of whom were trained in the English
Courts; and when Mr. Beck lectures on this subject to us, our interest
and our sympathy are redoubled by the thought that whatever
differences there may be between the Old World and the New, citizens
of the United States and ourselves are the Sons of a Common Mother
and jointly inherit the treasure of the Common Law. And we cannot
part with Mr. Beck on this occasion without a personal word. Plato
records a saying of Socrates that the dog is a true philosopher because
philosophy is love of knowledge, and a dog, while growling at
strangers, always welcomes the friends that he knows. And the British
public often greets its visitors with a touch of this canine philosophy.
We regard Mr. Beck, not as a casual visitor, but as a firm friend to
whom we owe much; he has been here again and again and we hope
will often repeat his visits, and Englishmen will never forget how, at a

crisis in our fate, Mr. James Beck profoundly influenced the judgment
of the neutral world and vindicated, by his masterly and sympathetic
argument, the justice of our cause.
[Footnote 2: Address of Sir John Simon on the conclusion, on June
19,1922, of the three lectures herein printed.]

Author's Introduction
This book is a result of three lectures, which were delivered in the Hall
of Gray's Inn, London, on June 13, 15, and 19, 1922, respectively,
under the auspices and on the invitation of the University of London.
The invitation originated with the University of Manchester, which,
through its then Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ramsay Muir, two years ago
graciously invited me to visit Manchester and explain American
political institutions to the undergraduates. Subsequently I was greatly
honoured when the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and London
joined in the invitation.
Unfortunately for me--for I greatly valued the privilege of explaining
the institutions of my country to the undergraduates of these great
Universities--my political duties made it impossible for me to visit
England prior to June 1, about which time the Supreme Court of the
United States, in which my official duties largely preoccupy my time,
adjourns for the summer. Any dates after June 1 were inconvenient to
the first three Universities, but it was my good fortune that the
University of London was able to carry out the plan, and that it had the
cordial co-operation of that venerable Inn of Court, Gray's Inn, one of
the "noblest nurseries of legal training."
Thus I was privileged to address at once an academic and a
professional audience.
I came to England for this purpose as a labour of love. I had no
anticipation of success, for I feared that the interest in the
subject-matter of my lectures would be very slight.

My surprise and gratification increased on the occasion of each lecture,
as the audiences grew in numbers and distinction. Many leading jurists
and statesmen took more than a mere complimentary interest, and some
of them, although pressed with social and public duties, honoured me
with their attendance at all three lectures. How can I adequately express
my appreciation of the great honour thus done me by the Earl of
Balfour, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Justice Atkin, the Vice-Chancellor
of the University of London, and many other leaders in academic and
legal circles--not to forget the Chief Justice of the United States, who
paid me the great compliment of attending the last lecture. To one and
nil of my auditors, my heartfelt thanks!
I also must not fail to acknowledge the generous space given in the
British Press to these lectures, and the even more generous allusions to
them in the editorial columns. An especial acknowledgment is due to
Viscount Burnham and The Daily Telegraph for their generous interest
in this book. The good cause of Anglo-American friendship has no
better friend than Lord Burnham.
This experience has convinced me that now, more than ever before,
there is in England a deep interest in American institutions and their
history. This is as it should be, for--for better or worse--England and
America will play together a great part in the future history of the world.
In double harness they are destined to pull the heavy load of the world's
problems. Therefore these "yoke-fellows in equity" must know each