Reviews of Boofe ESSAYS IN ANGLO-AMERICAN LEGAL HISTORY
COMPARATIVE JURISPRUDENCE IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. "The Legislation of the Empire; being a Survey "Select Essays in Anlgo-American Legal His the Legislative Enactments of the British tory." By Various Authors. V. 3. Little, Brown of Dominions, from 1898 to 1907. Edited, under the & Co., Boston, (f 12 net for the set of three vol direction of the Society of Comparative Legislation, umes.) by C. A. E. Bedwell. 4 v. Butterworth & Co.. London. V. 1, pp. xxxv, 545; v. 2, pp. x. 482; v THE history of the development of the 3, pp. x, 528; v. 4, Index, pp. 231. (12j. 6d. principles of law which are our daily per vol.) monitors is full of delightful interest to the THESE four handsomely printed volumes practitioner who finds relaxation in intel epitomize the statute legislation of lectual exercise. An overwhelming weight the British Empire during ten eventful years of detail, however, so valuable to the student, which saw the creation of the Commonwealth but so confusing and inconsequential to the of Australia, the constitution of the provinces general reader, makes difficult the reading of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the beginning of the typical comprehensive history of Eng of the reorganization of South Africa, and lish law. In this collection of essays the the introduction of new principles into the reader will find concise yet careful treatment common law. About twenty-five thousand of certain specific topics, some of which are statutes are dealt with. Nothing more is sure to attract and hold his attention, and attempted than a summary of the principal each of which, while part of a unified plan, is features of each act, with only such fullness complete in itself. The editors are to be as its importance may demand, and as the congratulated upon the success of their labors, mass of minor detail is omitted the informa which are completed in this volume. It tion reaches the reader in an easily digestible comprises Part V, Commercial Law, Part VI, form. Contracts, Part VII. Torts, Part VIII, Prop The Earl of Rosebery in his preface ex erty, and Part IX, Wills, Descent, Marriage. plains that the Society of Comparative The last part is notable for the inclusion of a Legislation, in striving to perform a useful treatise by Professor Robert Caillemer of the service to the cause for which it was founded, University of Grenoble, "The Executor in thought best to restrict its researches, in the England and on the Continent," review of legislation now before us, to the It is difficult and perhaps undesirable to territory of the British Dominions. In make comparisons between the productions asmuch as the New York State Library of so many learned authors written at different publishes a full digest of the laws of the times and for different purposes, all of which various states of America, and the Societi have previously appeared in legal periodicals, de Ligislation Comparie presents a complete or as part of a larger publication. Each is survey of the laws of European countries, he important partly as characteristic of its considers it singular that the work which has author, and all were selected with a view to been done gratuitously by a large number rounding out the topics treated in this volume. of' contributors "in these days of super The arrangement is such, however, that no abundant legislation . . . should be left to a article had to be included which did not meas private society." ure up to a high standard, and the editor did Sir John Macdonell, one of the editors of not depart from the rule even for the purpose the Society's Journal, in his introduction of completing a topic. The reader will prob observes:— ably find most interesting "The History of "There may one day be a true science of legisla the Carrier's Liability," by Joseph Henry tion which will enable a student of it to predict accurately the trend and nature of the legislation Beale, and most scholarly "The Mystery of of any given society. Such a science may show Seisin," by the late Professor Maitland. The that the history, constitution, and economic scope of the historical work of Professor Ames, circumstances of a community necessitate a course of legislation can be foreseen. Sociology is shown by the fact that he contributed more may teach us which that there is an affinity between articles than any other author. His two democratic forms of government and certain lands essays on the history of contract are in many of statutes." respects the most notable in this volume. Such a, science may some day be able to
