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CORONERS' COURTS.

Another subject of great importance, on which a committee of the Society is still engaged, is that of Coroners' Courts. The question was brought before the Society by Mr. Dempsy, in a paper offering a variety of suggestions for re-modelling the whole system pursued in this ancient and useful court, and for extending the duties of the coroner. Among the few measures of law amendment which passed during the last brief session of Parliament, was an act to enable coroners to take bail in cases of manslaughter, the evil arising from the inability of the coroner in such cases having been forcibly pointed out by Mr. Wakley at the meeting of the Society at which the paper now mentioned was read.

CONSOLIDATION.

Among the papers read before the Society which have not yet been referred to, was one by Mr. E. Webster on the Consolidation of Judicial Decisions. It was resolved that the paper should be taken into consideration at a future meeting of the Society, and notice of certain resolutions in accordance with the paper was given. The object of these resolutions was to take the opinion of the Society as to the expediency of discontinuing the present Statute Law Commission, and establishing in its stead, with the authority of the legislature, a duly qualified Board of Commissioners, whose exclusive duty should be the preparation, for the consideration of the legislature, of a digest of the whole body of the law, both written and unwritten. The Council having contemplated holding a public meeting on the subject of the consolidation of the statutes, it was considered desirable that the resolutions should be brought to the notice of the Society at that meeting, the matter being one of much public importance. The political events, however, to which reference has already been made, have prevented the proposed meeting being held; but, from the great interest which the Society has always taken in the question of consolidation generally, and from its great importance with reference to the amendment of the law, the Council will feel it to be their duty

to watch for every favourable opportunity of bringing the matter to the attention of the legislature and the public.

In connection with this subject, the Council would state that they have much pleasure in learning from the recent report of the Statute Law Commission, that that body is now directing its efforts to the preparation of a register of existing statutes. On the merits of the particular mode of registration adopted by the Commission, the Council would not at present express any opinion, but would merely advert to the fact, coupled with the circumstance of no bill prepared by the Commission having yet received the sanction of the legislature, as fully justifying the views expressed by a Committee of this Society nearly four years ago, as to the necessity of a complete expurgation of the statute-book before proceeding to the work of consolidation. They would also mention that the example of the state of NewYork in the consolidation of its statutes, then appealed to by the Committee, has been referred to by the Commission in favour of the course which they have at length thought proper to adopt.

ARTISTIC COPYRIGHT.

Among the papers submitted to the Society during the session, was one by Mr. Edgar, on the law relating to artistic copyright, in which the defects of the existing system with regard to the protection of the rights of artists, the assignment of copyright, and the legal proceedings by which redress may be obtained for piracy, were pointed out.

EXECUTORS AND TRUSTEES.

A valuable paper was also read by Mr. Harris, on the present position of Executors and Trustees, and offering suggestions for a provision for their relief. The plan proposed was, that all trustees who desire an investigation into the state of the trust fund, and all cestuis que trust who are dissatisfied with the administration of the trust estate, might, on petition to the Court of Chancery, have an investigation conducted in London before one of the masters, or one of the chief clerks belonging to the Court of Chancery, or in the country before one of the registrars of the Court of Bankruptcy; and which master, chief

clerk, or registrar, should make a report of the condition of such trust estate, and direct such proceedings to be taken for correcting errors, with regard to administration, as should appear desirable. The Society has not yet had an opportunity of considering the merits of the scheme now mentioned.

DIVORCE COURT.

An important communication was made to Lord Brougham at an early period of the session, with regard to what appeared to his Lordship a defect in the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, viz., the absence of any sufficient security against the frauds which may be practised by parties acting in collusion to obtain a divorce. The subject has not yet been considered by the Society, but after the experience of the working of the new system which has now been obtained, it will be desirable, if no provision be made in the meantime by the legislature, that the matter should be investigated by the society during next session.

LEGAL EDUCATION.

On the subject of legal education, the Council have much pleasure in stating that the Committee of the Inns of Court have reported to the benchers of the several societies in favour of an examination of students previous to admission to an Inn, and also in favour of a compulsory examination of students previous to being called to the bar. On the necessity of such examinations the Society has on several occasions expressed a strong opinion; and the Council earnestly hope that the benchers will agree to adopt the above, together with the other recommendations contained in the report referred to.

In connection with this subject, the Council would also state that a resolution was carried after considerable discussion at a general meeting of this Society, recommending the abolition of the present rule of the different Inns of Court, requiring the names of attorneys to be struck off the rolls for three years before being called to the bar.

Although the Council have not the slightest hope of any important measure of law reform being carried during the present

session of parliament, and although the state of popular feeling on the subject is for the present discouraging, it would yet be unwarrantable to have the smallest fear for the progress of that cause for which this Society has now laboured for sixteen years. The advantages which have resulted from those amendments of the law which have already taken place, have been so manifest, that no apprehension need be entertained that other and further improvements in our legal system will not be adopted as soon as the political circumstances of the country will permit. The magnitude of some recent changes in that system-such as the establishment of the new Probate and Divorce Courts-which, though long delayed, were yet successfully carried at last, shows the height to which the tide has risen, and the force which it has acquired; nor is there any reason to doubt that it is still flowing, although the present is the period of the recoil of the wave. Subject, however, as the cause of law amendment must always more or less be to temporary checks, it is of great advantage to have such a Society as ours, pursuing its inquiries in season and out of season, and offering a continuing protest against all unjust and unequal laws. By its publications and meetings for the discussion of important questions; by the great authority and influence of its president; by the zeal and energy of many of its supporters, labouring in the various fields of inquiry which it embraces; and by its very list of members comprehending names from every influential class in this great and free community, it will still keep the cause alive through all political vicissitudes, and prepare the public mind for the wise and beneficial measures that are to be adopted in happier times,

II. ON THE PRESENT POSITION OF EXECUTORS AND TRUS

TEES; WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EQUITABLE

PROVISION FOR THEIR RELIEF. By GEORGE HARRIS,
Esq., Barrister-at-Law.

THE attention of this Society has several times been called to the state of the law as it affects executors and trustees; but mainly as regards the opportunities afforded to dishonest and fraudulent trustees to mis-appropriate the property intrusted to them, on the one hand; and, on the other hand, as regards the perils to which trustees who are honestly disposed, and desirous to act fairly, are but too frequently exposed. In consequence of a paper which was some time ago written by our noble president, pointing out in a very forcible manner the evils which arise from the defects of our law as regards the former of these considerations, a committee of this society was appointed on the subject, who, after very careful consideration of the whole matter, drew up a report, embodying their views and recommendations. As regards the provisions which ought to be adopted, in order to restrain the misappropriation by trustees of trust property committed to their charge, the committee recommended that such an act, when fraudulently perpetrated, should be brought within the provisions of the criminal law. This suggestion has since been adopted by the legislature, and is now the law of the land.

As regards the perils to which trustees, who are honestly disposed and desirous of acting fairly, are very frequently exposed, the committee recommended that facilities should be afforded for an investigation into the condition of the trust estate before proper tribunals for the purpose, so that trustees who are acting improperly might be restrained in their proceedings, and the trust estate saved from ruin; while those trustees who desire to act fairly would be directed aright in cases where they had erred, and prevented from following an erroneous course; and those trustees whose conduct is proved to have been in all respects satisfactory, as regards their administration and investment of the trust fund,

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