SEDGWICK, ON THE MEASURE OF DAMAGES 6 (1847): "The common law, as it exists in England, and in the United States, is generally remedial in its character, and its remedies are of a pecuniary description. It has few preventive powers, it can rarely compel the performance of contracts specifically; its relief consists in the award of pecuniary damages. Whether it punishes wrongs, or remunerates for breach of contract, in either case its judgment simply makes compensation, by awarding damages to the sufferer."