J^E VIEWS. 293 of the work than more extended criticism could. The contents consist of three parts. The fir^t third of the book contains annotated texts from the Declaration of Independence through to a thor >ughly indexed text of the Constitution, with the references to decisions inserted immediately after each clause. Next follows a short essay on the " Origin and Pro- gress of Independence," ihe general texts for which are perhaps found in the statements on page 148, that "for one hundred and thirty years " up to 1763 'the supremacy of Parliament had been denied whenever the claim was presented," and on page 149, that in this state of affairs " the only ground of hope was in negotiation, and that appears not to have b^en thought of" by England. Then a digest of decisions and comment com- pletes the book. It is printed in the ordinary type of the text, instead of in the irritatingly fine print usually found in digests. It is also very conveniently arranged for reference under the Articles and clauses of the Constitution and other texts. This should make the book of service in hasty search for decisions upon special phrases of the Constitution. R. v. H. The Religion of the Republic and Laws of Religious Corpora- tions. By Alpha J. Kyneit, D.D., LL.D. Cincinnati: Cranston & Curts. New York : Hunt & Eaton. 1895. Svo, pp. xxiii, 852. The first part of the book is contributed directly by the author, and deals principally with the "American Civil Structure" and "Religion in the Rtpublic." One might complain of the tendency in places to pulpit rhetoric in the treatment of these topics. At times, too, the discussion is marked by defects characteristic of most attempts to deal with large sub- jects in outline. One fails, for instance, from the summary of the colonial history of Virginia (page 32) to grasp the author's idea of the character of the Virginian colonists. This portion of the book is, however, an inter- esting contribut on toward solving the somewhat perplexing relation of church and religion to our political forms of government. As a matter of law, excepion may be taken to the inadequate definition of corpo- ration (page no) as "a creature of law having certain of the rights, pjwers, and duties of a natural person"; and according to the index, there is no allusion to the question of the enforceability of voluntary sub- scriptions for religious purposes. A collection of statutes — of every State — dealing with religious corporations forms the second part of the book, and has been prepared by the author's legal assistants. It is of value to all who have to do with church property. The work is care- fully revised from the edition of 1886, and brought thoroughly up to date. Notes of judicial decisions interpreting the statutes are given wherever it is possible. e. r. c. The American Digest. Annual. 1895. (Sept. i, 1894, to Aug. 31, 1895). Prepared by the Editorial S atf of the National Reporter System. St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Co. 1895. All the American cases of the past year are included in this volume, and they are some twenty thousand in number. The work is admirably indexed, and has the good quality of bemg a little less bulky than some of Its predecessors, while accomplishing equally good results. R. G. D.
