Montiel y Duarte, Isidro Antonio, 1821-1891.

Montiel y Duarte's Vocabulario : (Latin American Law, 1878)

This slim volume is more of a quick reference book than a comprehensive dictionary. While the author claimed it contained explications of Mexican common, ancient, and modern law, including mercantile, military, maritime, and constitutional, and encompassed Canon, Spanish, French, and English law, in fact the definitions are very simple and brief (for example: "Política: Ciencia de gobierno") and contain very little direct reference to authority or statute. At the end of the work Montiel y Duarte did list several reference works from which he derived his definitions, including Blackstone, Escriche, Castejón, the Mexican Constitution of 1857, and more.

Still, while brief, the definitions do seem to embody the heart of the meanings of words; his definition for "citizen" (ciudadano) is a good example: "Miembro del cuerpo político en que reside la soberanía y que no solo tiene deberes, sino que goza de todos los derechos políticos que conceden las leyes" (or, "A member of an autonomous and independent political organization; who not only has duties, but also enjoys all the political rights granted by law"). Montiel y Duarte does elaborate when necessary, such as with words like "justice" and "law" which defy brief explanation.

Tarlton's copy is inscribed by the author, dated "mayo 7 de 79."

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