the idea of comity was introduced into english law by lord mansfield, a scottish barrister and jurist. mansfield viewed the application of comity as discretionary, with courts applying foreign law "except to the extent that it conflicted with principles of natural justice or public policy." mansfield held in "somerset v stewart" (king's bench 1772), for example, that slavery was so morally odious that a british court would not recognize the property rights of an american slaveholder in his slave.