section set out with the notes and decisions applicable thereto. In Appendix B is given the Report of the Select Committee before mentioned, an item which shows the grave consideration given by the Members to this important subject.

Apart from these small differences, both books possess considerable merit, and display an amount of careful work and study which will render them acceptable to a wide circle of readers.

Irish Forms and Precedents. Edited by WILLIAM C. STUBBS, M.A., and J. SINCLAIR BAXTER, LL.B. Consulting Editor, JOHN H. EDGE, K.C. London: Butterworth & Co.

1910.

This is a supplementary volume to the Encyclopædia of Forms and Precedents. The great differences in the Land laws of England and Ireland not only deprive collections of English precedents of much of their value to an Irish lawyer, but create considerable dangers "which may be incurred by an English lawyer, though he may be an expert in English land laws and conveyancing, who advises on Irish titles or prepares Irish deeds without first becoming familiar with the complications of Irish Land Tenure, and with the preparation of instruments dealing with Irish Land." The greater part of the precedents given in this volume relate exclusively to the conveyance and management of Irish Land. Conspicuous among these are forms for use under the Land Purchase and Registration Acts, but there must also be noted Fee Farm Grants, the difference in agreements for leases and buildings, and the different powers given to agents. All these separate headings have carefully drawn introductions. Mr. Stubbs has done the greater part of the labour connected with this volume, but Mr. Baxter, who succeeded him as Editor, is solely responsible for the important dissertations on the Land Purchase Acts and the Town Tenants Act. Mr. Edge, on whose work on Leases the book is partly founded, has acted as general Editor, and has contributed an Introductory Chapter.

The Annual County Courts Practice 1911. 2 Vols. By His Honour Judge SMYLY, K.C., and W. J. BROOK. London: Sweet & Maxwell.

The Yearly County Court Practice 1911. 2 Vols. By His Honour Judge WOODFALL and S. H. TINDAL-ATKINSON. London: Butterworth & Co. 1911.

Efficiency is the badge of both these works. It could hardly be otherwise, when they have stood the test of years against that keenest

of all criticism—that which is applied by those who depend in actual practice upon the information which the volumes supply. Nothing short of constant and prolonged reference to the books, in daily Court work, would justify the assignment of pre-eminence to either; and even then it is doubtful whether such a quality could be discovered. As far as possible, the accuracy of both works has been tested in a variety of searches, on matters important and trifling, and in every such case the accuracy has been proved. The comprehensive Finance Act has cast new duties on the County Courts, and the Workmen's Compensation Act has vastly increased their work. It is a boon to the profession to possess such reliable guides as these.

Third Edition. Elements of the Law of Contract. CARTER. London: Sweet & Maxwell. 1910.

By A. T.

Although it is only three years since the appearance of the second edition, a third edition of this excellent little book has been found necessary. We also learn that during that time Mr. Carter has ceased to be a Reader to the Inns of Court. Nevertheless he manages to preserve the characteristics of his book, which is intended to ground students in the elements of contract. We notice, in looking through the Table of Cases cited, that certain of their number are printed in italics, but no reason is given for so doing, so that we are unable to guess the why or the wherefore, unless it is intended to indicate the leading cases. The book has been brought thoroughly up to date. The chapter dealing with Capacity has been enlarged, owing principally to the Married Women's Property Act 1908 (8 Edw. VII, c. 27). In the same chapter such recent cases as Bromley v. Smith (L. R. [1909], 2 K. B. 235), dealing with Contracts by Infants, and Masson, Zemplier & Co. v. De Fries (L. R. [1909], 2 K. B. 831), affecting married women are noticed. The Companies (Consolidation) Act 1908 (8 Edw. VII, c. 69) of course affects the law of contract, and this again has been incorporated into the text and into Appendix A. The note on the far-reaching case of British Cash Conveyors v. Lawson Store Service (L. R. [1908], 1 K. B. 1006) is particularly illuminating. These are some illustrations showing how carefully Mr. Carter has revised the present edition, maintaining its position as one of the best handbooks on the Elements of Contract that we have ever seen. If we might venture one criticism, it would be to advise the learned Author to be more careful in his proof reading, as we notice many typographical errors.

Fourth Edition. Principles of International Law.

LAWRENCE, M.A., LL.D.

By T. J.

London: Macmillan & Co. 1910.

It is only fifteen years since Dr. T. J. Lawrence published the first edition of this book. Already a fourth edition has been called for; and the many striking events of the past decade have provided the Author with so much material that the issue is practically a new work. A little less is said in this edition about the nature of International law, a little more about its history: but after this introductory matter is passed, and especially when we read the Laws of War we finds that the book has been in many parts re-written. Not only are recent events specifically dealt with, but they are not embedded like faults in the strata of the old work; the very texture of the latter has been rewoven so as to include them in an organic unity. Among the most valuable features of the new matter is a very judicial discussion of the problem of the exemption of private property from maritime capture, which the Author resolves in the affirmative. We are happy to see that Dr. Lawrence no longer affirms that "the great Republic of the New World stands out as a giant among pigmies." The startling growth of Argentina, and the brilliant diplomacy of the Brazilian statesman Ruy Barbosa, have made old formulas rusty. He still seems, however, to concede an authority to the United States which we do not believe they exercise in practice. Nor can we agree with him in ascribing a similar authoritative legal force to the decrees of the Great Powers in European and in general matters. That their wishes have upon occasion been yielded to proves nothing. What would prove their anthority would be the existence of a universal sentiment recognising their right to dictate: and of this we see no trace. The exercise of their power has been spasmodic, rare, undefined. It has exhibited all the vague characteristics of moral influence. We cannot clothe caprice in the raiment of legality and consent to style it "law.” Dr. Lawrence gracefully acknowledges in the Preface the assistance derived by him from the study of The Hague Peace Conferences by Dr. Pearce Higgins. It is satisfactory to note that he disagrees entirely with those who argue that Article 50 of the Hague Convention of 1899 has no effective force, and can be disregarded by a commander who chooses to call his vicarious cruelties "reprisals." Signs of penetration by French thought may be seen in the use of the word "precious" for "valuable" or "important" (p. 273). But it would be pedantry to insist on trivial details, when the work as a whole is so

good and useful. It has taken its place as a standard authority, and can be unreservedly recommended.

Fifth Edition.-The Law relating to Municipal Corporations. By W. W. MACKENZIE, M.A., and G. R. HILL, M.A., assisted by C. L. DES FORGES. London: Butterworth & Co. 1910.

The late Mr. T. J. Arnold, one of the Metropolitan Police Magistrates, was the original compiler of this treatise, and it is sixteen years since the last edition appeared. During that time, Sir S. G. Johnson, the well-known Town Clerk and Clerk of the Peace of the Town and County of Nottingham, who assisted in compiling the second, third and fourth editions, died. Fortunately that wellknown writer, Mr. W. W. Mackenzie, who was joint editor of the fourth edition, is still able to act as senior editor, in conjunction with Messrs. Hill and des Forges. Although no statute of striking importance has been passed since the last edition appeared, nevertheless a mass of judicial decisions and minor enactments has accumulated. At the commencement we get an historical Table of Provisions contained in the Municipal Corporations Act 1882, which enables the reader to trace, through much legislation, the history of the various sections of that Act. Of course the pièce de résistance is the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 (45 & 46 Vict., c. 50), the great Act consolidating the law affecting municipal corporations in England and Wales. This, with its 260 sections, schedules, forms, etc., occupies 279 pages. It is most carefully annotated, and each section is copiously noted, all the most recent judicial decisions being given. After several minor Acts, we get the Local Government Acts of 1888 (51 & 52 Vict., c. 41) and 1894 (56 & 57 Vict., c. 73). The Appendix is divided into eleven chapters, each one of which attacks some subject of superlative importance. For instance, Chapter I treats of the Conduct of Municipal Elections, and in Chapter II we have Corrupt and Illegal Practices at Municipal Elections, and Municipal Election Petitions. Again, such subjects as Registration, and the Police Acts, are dealt with, and the notes are brought thoroughly up to date. The amount of work involved is amply demonstrated by the fact that the illuminating Index alone occupies 136 pages, and that hardly a page too many in order to make it a true key to the text. The compilation of this monumental treatise demonstrates, on the part of the learned Editors, a desire not only to show their own

erudition, but a determination to make the book fit to carry on the traditions of the past, which traditions have made for it the position of being a standard text-book on the law of Municipal Corporations.

Sixth Edition. The Students' Guide to the Law of Real and Personal Property and Conveyancing. By CHARLES THWAITES.

Eighth Edition. A Guide to Criminal Law and Procedure. By the same Author. London: George Barber. 1910.

Both of these guides are so well known and have been so often reviewed in these pages that little need be said of these fresh editions, The first named consists of epitomes of some of the important statutes connected with the subject, and a number of test questions on general principles, and on the conveyancing guide prepared by the Author and Mr. Indermaur.

The second named, dealing with a subject much less complex than real and personal property, is more complete in itself, for it contains, in only two hundred pages, an excellent treatise on the elements of Criminal law, and a series of questions on the preceding text. As books for students with an anxious eye on examinations. these fulfil their purpose in an effectual and practical way.

Sixth Edition. Taylor's Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence By F. J. SMITH, M.A., M.D. London: J. & A. Churchill. 1910.

Every year the output of legislation makes it more incumbent upon medical men to study Medical Jurisprudence. Of late years, the passing of the Children Act of 1909, the Poisons and Pharmacy Act 1908, the Education Act 1907, and the two Workmen's Compensation Acts, have thrown a great additional burden on their shoulders. Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence is well known throughout the English-speaking world, and was primarily intended to equip the medical man to sustain the ordeal of the witness-box with credit to himself. Proof of this lies in the fact that more than sixty pages of the work are given up to sage advice upon this subject. Originally published in 1843 by the late Dr. Taylor, acknowledged to be the most eminent English medical jurist and toxicologist of his time, as a "Manual," in course of time it has become the leading work on the whole subject of Medical Jurisprudence. Care has always been taken that each successive edition should be edited by someone whose name was a household word for knowledge and capacity.