CIVIL LAW, in a general sense, denotes the law of any particular state, more commonly called its municipal law ; but, in a restricted and more usual sense, it signifies the legal institutions of ancient Rome, which are called by way of eminence the civil law.
The Roman laws, proceeding from a variety of sources, had, like the institutions of any other country which has for a considerable time been advancing in civilization, accumulated to a very great and inconvenient extent, when, in 438, Theodosius the younger, then emperor of the West, ordered a digest to be made; which, how ever, without exploring the other sources of the law, was confined to the institutions promulgated by the em perors, and then in force in his part of the empire. This Theodosian code was the first attempt at a methodical collection of the Roman jurisprudence, which had the sanction of public authority,—for several digests had been previously made by private lawyers, to facilitate the study and practical application of the law. But the most celebrated collection was that made about the year 533, at the command of Justinian, then emperor of the eastern empire. This collection, though posterior in time, did not supersede the authority of Theodosius's code, each being framed for the respective divisions of the empire over which these two emperors presided. So great, however, was the superiority of Justinian's col lection, that, upon the dissolution of the empire, it came gradually to be adopted, more or less, even by those states of which the western division had been composed, and now forms part of the institutions of most of the mo dern states of Europe.
This celebrated collection consists, 1st, Of the insti tutes, or elements of the Roman jurisprudence, intended as the rudiments of its study. 2d, Of the Digests or Pan dects (7rctyhx.rat) in 50 hooks, being selections from the writings of eminent lawyers, systematically arranged. 3d, Of the Code, or a collection of the constitutions of the emperors in le,' books, brought down to a later pc riod than the Thcodosian code. And 4th, Of the No vels, or the trcw constitutions, which had been promul gated from time to time by Justinian himself, the Code comprising only those of his predecessors. These dif ferent parts farm together the body of Roman law known under the title of the Corleus Juris ; the dicta of which, particularly of the institutes and pandects, being for the most part grounded in the true principles of a comprehensive utility, according with the mural sentiments of mankind, and expressed with great puri ty and elegance, have always been held in the highest estimation.
The revival of the Roman law in Europe, is corn monly ascribed to the accidental discovery of a copy of the digests at Amalfi in Italy, about the year 1130. It is much more probable, however, that it emerged gra dually into notice, not by any single accident of this kind, but with the gradual return of civilization which followed the long interval of barbarity, occasioned by the decline and final overthrow of the Roman greatness. Certain it is, that Justinian's collection, or the more va luable parts of it, whatever there may be in the fact of the discovery at Amalfi, were known and taught in some of the ecclesiastical seminaries in different quarters of Europe Mole that period.
The countries on the continent in which this system of jurisprudence has most authority, are Germany and Holland, where, unless when controulcd by local cus toms, it forms the great body of their common law. In England it is received, under certain restrictions, in four species of courts, 1st, The courts of the archbishops and bishops and their derivative officers, usually called courts Christian, curie Christianitatis, or the ecclesiastical courts. 2d, The military courts. 3d, The courts of ad miralty. And 4th, the courts of the two universities. In all these courts the authority of this law, and the dif ferent extent to which in different courts it may be pleaded, is grounded not on any authority in the law it self, but entirely on the custom or common law of the realm, corroborated as to the universities by an act of parliament. In Scotland, its authority, where not con tradicted by positive institutions, has been held by sonic lawyers as tantamount to the common law, and as, in deed, forming a part of it. That its authority, however, was at no time recognised to so great an extent, seems the more correct opinion; and it is certain that for at least a century, it has been recognised no farther than as supported by the express dicta, or analogies, of the de cisions of the supreme court. Where these arc silent, it may always, when not opposed by established custom or positive enactment, be pleaded as argument of grave consideration, but not as possessing any inherent and cuntrouling authority. (J. B.) the Cenium Celle of the ancients, a seaport town of Italy, situated on a bay of the Mediter ranean, on the arrondissement of Viterbo, and the de partment of Rome. It has a good harbour and arsenal, and was formerly the station of the pope's galleys. Not far from the town arc the Bagni de Pelazzi, which are hot baths, known to the ancients under the name of Ague renal. There is also here a grotto from which sulphu reous steam issues. About six miles from Civita Vec chia are the ruins of Leopolis, a town built by Pope Leo IV. in A. D. 854, and peopled with the inhabitants of Centum Civita-Vecchia has always been considered as next to Ancona in maritime importance ; and though the har bour is not capable of receiving large ships, it is fre quented by numerous small vessels, which carry on a very extensive trade. The principal manufactures of this place, are those of leather, pottery ware, and linen and cotton cloths. Civita-Vecchia receives all the colo nial goods which are consumed in the country, and car ries on a considerable export and import trade. The principal exports are burnt sulphur, alum from Rome, grain, oils, wool, timber, salted anchovies, cheese, vol canic and red sand, which is used in making cement for building under water. The wood which is exported is principally staves of oak and chesnut, which are sent to Agde, Cette and Barcelona, and the alum was generally sent to Venice, France, and Holland. The imports are French wines, woollen and linen cloths, silks, salted fish, citrons, oranges, dry fruits, lint, soaps, and spices. Popu lation in 1811, 9000. East Long. 11° 44' 45", and North Lat. 42" 5' 24". (w)