The Legal World has come to look upon Stone's Justices' Manual very much as it has come to look upon the "White Book," that is to say, that the annual edition chronicles what has happened during the year. The labours of Mr. Roberts in preparing the present edition must have been tremendous. Of the fifty-six Statutes passed during the year 1907, no less than twenty-seven had to be dealt with in more or less detail as affecting the jurisdiction of Justices. To mention a few, such as the Probation of Offenders' Act, with its new rules, Butter and Margarine Act, Public Health Acts Amendment Act, and Lights on Vehicles Act. One hundred and twenty new cases had to be noted, Licensing law playing a very important part in their number. Such points as the Compensation Clauses of the 1904 Act and Rules, appealing on the question of the division of compensation money, and a decision under the Intoxicating Liquors (Sale to Children) Act. The Home Office has initiated a much needed reform, by reprinting Home Office Circulars to Justices and Justices' Clerks for a period of twenty-four years previous to October 16th 1907. The Editor again thanks correspondents for their useful suggestions, and it is undoubtedly largely due to these suggestions that the Manual is so comprehensive. The Editor has cause to review the result of his labours with considerable satisfaction, and the legal profession will doubtless show its appreciation by reading and using the latest edition.

The Justice's Note-Book does not seek to encourage comparison with such a standard treatise on Magisterial Law, as say the one above reviewed. Mr. Kershaw merely claims it to be a Note-Book and nothing more. As the late Mr. Knox Wigram, who prepared the first edition, stated, "Short and reliable information, available on the spot is, next to ready money, the most desirable thing in life." Most mistakes in life are caused by forgetting something which one ought to have remembered and remembers directly one is reminded. It is to fulfil that mission that the present work was first of all initiated. No master craftsman better qualified to carry on the duty could have been chosen than the present Author, whose knowledge of Criminal law is widely recognised in the legal profession.

Two Studies in International Law. By COLEMAN PHILLIPSON, M.A. London: Stevens & Haynes. 1908.-In this unpretentious but very careful work Mr. Phillipson (who is Quain prizeman of

University College, London) deals in a lucid fashion with the two subjects of Arbitration and Telegraphic Communication in War. His treatment of the latter we regard as the more valuable part of the book. The Author collects authorities which are not readily to be found elsewhere, and the results of his research should be very useful to all who are attacking that obscure subject. The essay on Arbitration is a comprehensive introduction in short compass to the study of the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr. Phillipson appears to have a wide acquaintance at first hand. with the works of jurists who write in the less-known tongues; and it can safely be said that his own views are marked by balance and pronounced good sense. It should be added that the work of the last Hague Conference is taken into account. Sir J. Macdonell is to be congratulated on the interest which his Quain lectures inspire in his auditory.

Criminal Appeal and Evidence. By N. W. SIBLEY, LL.M. London: Sweet & Maxwell. 1908. This is an interesting work, containing as it does a great deal more than the Criminal Appeal Act 1907 and notes thereon. It begins with an essay in which is discussed the history of the movement for Criminal Appeal, the various arguments used for and against, and finally the Act itself, its merits and possible defects. It is rather remarkable if it should be, as contended by Mr. Sibley, that the abolition of the writ of error has deprived a defendant of the right of having reviewed a judgment given against him on a general demurrer to an indictment, but no doubt the same points can be taken after conviction. Mr. Sibley says: "It is implicit”—this is rather a favourite word of his, the use of which is rather peculiar_" that conferring a right of appeal in a criminal case implies the liability to reverse the verdict of acquittal.” This is a little misleading, as the only power of the Crown to appeal is a qualified one on a point of law from the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal in the defendant's favour, if that can strictly be called an acquittal.

We do not understand the contention that the provision in the Criminal Appeal Act abolishing the granting of new trials in criminal cases, has implicitly abolished the possibility of removing indictments for felony by certiorari. An order for the change of venue is not an order for a new trial, but a direction where the trial is to take place. As might be expected, there are numerous references to

the Beck and Edalji cases. A considerable amount of attention is devoted to several other "remarkable cases of circumstantial evidence," among others those of William Habron and Gardiner. There is a useful dissertation on restitution; apparently the Court of Criminal Appeal will have no original jurisdiction in this matter. There are also chapters on "the prerogative of mercy,” and “compensation." We are sorry to find the Index is rather deficient; for instance, there are no headings of "restitution" or new trial," and the one of "Omission to raise objection to a question by counsel during cross-examination does not prove the question is admissible," —does not seem valuable.

The Weights and Measures Acts 1878—1904. By W. E. BOUSFIELD. London: Stevens & Sons. 1907. Mr. W. R. Bousfield, K.C., contributes a short Introduction to this treatise, giving the history of the Act of 1904. This was an Act of considerable importance, as

its object was "to introduce uniformity where before there had been diversity of practice," and it was followed by the Board of Trade Regulations made under that Act. Mr. Bousfield, in a short Intro duction, describes the law of Weights and Measures and the changes introduced by the Board of Trade Regulations. He then gives the successive Weights and Measures Acts of 1878, 1889, 1892, 1893, 1897, 1904, with notes and references to the sections when required. Then we find the Weights and Measures Regulations 1907, made by the Board of Trade, containing 139 sections and accompanied with elaborate tables and a schedule of Instructions to Inspectors. The whole contains a mass of detail which is very important for the trade of the country, but not interesting reading. A number of other Acts which are affected by the Act of 1904 and the Regulations of 1907 are given in whole or part, such as the Bread Acts, Coal Mine Regulation Act, Market and Workshop Acts, &c. The whole of this dry subject has been carefully and laboriously examined and set out by Mr. Bousfield, and to him are due the thanks of all those concerned in the administration of these Acts.

The Acts relating to the Estate Duty. By J. WEBSTER-BROWN. London: Horace Cox. 1908.-Mr. Webster-Brown truly says of the Finance Act 1894 that "the Act and its amending Acts together form one of the most complex and intricate branches of the law, as His Majesty's judges have admitted on more than one occasion."

This, however, is rather a mild way of putting the opinions of some of his Majesty's judges. One of the most eminent of them said that the provisions of this Act were "strangely confused and singularly ill-drawn." Mr. Webster-Brown, however, says "it has fairly well effected the object of its framers." This tempts us to quote another passage from the same judgment as to the manner in which in the particular case in question the attempt had been made to construe the Act. The Author has the great advantage of having had long official experience in connection with these Acts, but he carefully and most properly states that his book is not an official publication, and that his office is in no way bound by it. The subject seems to us to be very thoroughly and clearly treated. A particularly good feature is the unusually full statements of the facts of many of the cases cited; a very great assistance to anyone searching for authorities. We think the work will be most useful to all those who have to consider the law and defend their clients against the claims of an insatiable Treasury.

Second Edition. The Agricultural Holdings Act 1906. By G. A. JOHNSTON. London Effingham Wilson. 1908. Mr. Johnston cannot repeat too emphatically his warnings to landlords and their representatives to look carefully into their positions under this Act and make arrangements accordingly. He probably, justly, disclaims any bias in favour of landlords, but he cannot as a lawyer consider the Act without perceiving and calling attention to the fact that its provisions are intended to be all in favour of tenants. Mr. Johnston points out clearly the difficulties and disadvantages which landlords may come under in consequence of this Act, and by forewarning thus endeavours to forearm them. Some of his suggestions are very ingenious, but we are doubtful- -as in fact he himself seems to be--whether they will all hold water: but those regarding more elaborate covenants of repair and provisions against deterioration, seem to us thoroughly practicable. We can recommend the book to the perusal of all interested in estates.

Second Edition. Legal Representatives. By S. E. WILLIAMS. London: Stevens & Sons. 1908.-" Legal Representatives" is the modern name for executors and administrators, and Mr. Williams' object is to give the law relating to these in the smallest possible

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compass. The learned Author admits that the task he undertook is not an easy one, and that it has required severe and laborious compression." He gives as an instance the difficulty of dealing with the Death Duties in half-a-dozen pages. He has adopted one way of making more concise the statements in that chapter, and as far as we have noticed in that chapter alone, by omitting the names of the cases and only giving the reference to the report. It is not in our opinion at all a good plan. The chapter on Real Estate, to which attention is especially called in the Preface, is intended to bring out the changes introduced by the Land Transfer Act 1897. The book seems clear and useful, though we are not quite sure we should go so far as does the Author who considers that "the work, though so short, is sufficiently full and comprehensive to meet the ordinary requirements of the practitioner."

Forty-fifth Edition. Every Man's Own Lawyer. By a Barrister. London: Crosby Lockwood & Son. 1908.-This book gives information on twenty-two subjects, each of which has furnished material for whole shelves full of treatises. No doubt it would be easy to indulge in cheap witticisms when reviewing a work of this nature, but unquestionably there is a large section of the public which likes its law in tabloid form. "Six-and-eightpence saved at every consultation " is the proud boast printed in gilt letters on the cover. Yes, but how many guineas eventually paid in costs. might have been saved if a few of these initial consultations had been paid for? Such a discussion might be as caviare to the moralist and philosopher, but would be out of place in a review. The work itself shows signs of great care, both in preparation of the text and in the effort to keep it quite up-to-date. During the year 1907 many controversial Acts were passed, and these are noticed. Acts such as the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act produced much controversy at the time as affecting a large section of the community, and in the latter aspect is dealt with in the book under review. The Dictionary of Legal Terms will prove of considerable assistance to the layman. The Index is an efficient guide to the contents.