An Universal Etymological English Dictionary [Jonathan Belcher's copy] Bailey, N. Canadiana,Law,Nova Scotia

'The seventeenth edition, with considerable improvements'. Unpaged; double column format; 8.3 x 5.25 inches. Upper hinge particularly tender, but binding overall sound with no repairs. Ownership signature of Jonathan Belcher dated 15th April 1761 at Halifax NS to front free endpaper, and head of title page; with his bookplate to front pastedown. The free endpaper is on a stub contemporary with the original binding. Belcher (1710 - 1776), was installed as the first chief justice of Nova Scotia in 1754. He would also serve as lieutenant governor from November 1761 - September 1763. "From 1760 until his death he served as Masonic grand master of Nova Scotia." [S. Buggey's biography in DCB] : "Belcher was involved not only in the application and interpretation of the law in Nova Scotia but also in its creation. As the sole fully trained jurist in office for many years, he is credited with having drafted the laws passed by Nova Scotia's first and subsequent legislatures. The very small number of laws rejected on technical grounds by the English law officers testifies to his skill and attentiveness. Belcher's substantial legal library as well as his notebooks and long experience are evident in his revision and annotation of the first volume of Nova Scotian laws, published in 1767 by Robert Fletcher, and in his supervision the following year of an index of English laws acknowledged to extend to the colonies."