The natural law, or law of nature; law. or legal principles, sup-posed to be discoverable by the light of nature or abstract reasoning, or to he taught by nature to all nations and men alike; or law supposed to govern men and peoples in a state of nature, i. e.. in advance of organized governments or enacted laws. This conceit originated with the philosophical jurists of Rome, and was gradually extended until the phrase came to denote a supposed basis or substratum common to all systems of positive law, and hence to be found, in greater