The Library "And what of this new book?"-Sterne. "Men disparage not antiquity who prudently exalt new enquiries." -Sir Thomas Browne, Bills of Exchange, Cheques, Promissory Notes, Etc. By Bertram Sweet & Maxwell Co., Limited, 3 This handy volume gives in a most concise form, the clearest exposition of the principles and the rules relating to bills, cheques and notes, that have been given to the public. for a long time. The work is divided into three parts: Part 1, dealing with the characteristics of negotiable instruments generally. Part 2, with those of bills of exchange, cheques and promissory notes, while part 3 takes up in detail practically every section of the Bills of Exchange Act (Eng.), followed by notes on I. O. U. and bills of lading. Forms of practically every instrument referred to in almost every conceivable variation in which they can be found in business are given so that the book itself forms a trustworthy guide, not only for the business man, but also for the solicitor. Decided cases are given at the end of 1912. Altogether the book should prove one of the most useful negotiably and legally that has recently been published. Wertheimer's Law Relating to Clubs. By A. W. Chaster, of the University of London, LL.B., and of the Middle Temple. London: Stevens & Haynes, Bell Yard, Temple Bar. Toronto: The Carswell Co. Ltd. Price $2.75. This handy, yet comprehensive, volume on this interesting subject, is issued at a time when the formation of clubs of all kinds is on the increase, although the present volume deals with clubs properly so called. The work presents the subject in a very complete form, first defining the word "club," then taking up the constitution, statutory requirements, con tracts and expulsion. The appendix comprises a set of rules and regulations and the different Acts of Parliament which refer to the subject. A History of Cavalry. By Col. Geo. T. Denison. Toronto: The Macmillan Co. of Canada, Ltd. Price $2.50. It affords unqualified pleasure to be able to commend without reserve this most valuable book on the history of cavalry, more especially as the author is a man so well known not only in Canada, but throughout the empire. The esteem in which the work was held by those qualified to judge, is exemplified by the fact that the first edition of the work, published in 1877, won the Emperor of Russia's prize for the best work on the subject, in competition with works written by officers belonging to the armies of the great nations of the world. Not only is the book of interest to military men, but should be read by all classes of people interested in the world's affairs. The classical student will recognize many old friends in the early portion of the book in the chapters on Greek and Roman cavalry. The work shews the mark of great labour and research, and is without doubt the most complete of its kind, in fact, the only work of its kind published. Federal Incorporation. By Roland Carlisle Heisler, Gowen Memorial Fellow in the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, 1910-12. The Boston Book Company, Boston, 1913. This volume in an able way discusses this most important question and traces the various stages by which Congress became vested with the power to regulate interstate commerce. The rivalries and jealousies which existed between the states, prior to the adoption of this clause in the Constitution, had developed to such an extent that the whole commercial system was in danger until the power of regulation was placed in the hands of the Federal Government. The Interstate Commerce Act, coming into force in 1887, was followed in 1890 by the Sherman Antitrust Act, which in turn was followed by various other statutes as the need arose to deal with this most difficult subject. Chapter 5 is particularly interesting, as dealing with state legislation with reference to state corporations engaged in interstate commerce, particularly with regard to taxation. The work shews careful study and research and discusses in a reasonable way this interesting matter. The Law Relating to Cheques. By Eric R. Watson, LL.B., (London), of the Inner Temple. Butterworth & Co. (Canada) Ltd. The 4th edition of this popular little work is now published by Messrs. Butterworth, with a number of changes, including new decisions of the past ten years, and other new matter. Although there has been some question as to the law as laid down in the decision of the House of Lords in Young v. Grote, the main portions of the doctrine have been maintained in this book, and in doing so, the decision of the author is to be commended, for it is one of the most important cases and of the greatest interest, not only to bankers but to clients, that has ever been decided. The book is a handy as well as a useful one. The Lawyer in Literature. By John Marshall Gest, Judge of the Orphans' Court, Philadelphia, Penn. Boston Book Co.. Boston. A delightfully readable and interesting book, taking up as it does the very lovable characters of Dickens and the various phases of law which are found in Sir Walter Scott and Balzac. Describing Sir Edward Coke and comparing him with his great contemporaries, Bacon and Shakespeare, the author gives the following description: "There was a volcanic eruption of brilliant men; Coke was born in 1552, Bacon in 1561, Shakespeare in 1564. Why it was that these men unequalled respectively as lawyer, philosopher and poet, should have appeared within the narrow limits of a dozen years is certainly strange, but, as writers always say of what they cannot explain, we shall not stop here to inquire. "Among these and other men who graced the complex Elizabethan Age, Coke was by no means the least important. He was the oracle and ornament of the common law; a lawyer of prodigious learning, untiring industry and singular acumen, with an accurate knowledge of human nature. He was a Judge of perfect purity, a patriotic and independent statesman and a man of upright life; and to bring us to the subject of this paper, his writings have had more influence upon the law than those of any other writer-certainly in England-who ever lived. And yet there are some who, while admitting his learning, would deny every other claim just made for him. It is indeed hard to estimate correctly, even after three centuries, those mighty men who then occupied the centre of the stage. Every one who reads the fascinating Elizabethan story becomes insensibly a Baconian or a Cokian, a partisan of one or the other of those wonderful men. They were indeed antipathetic, each doubtless feeling for the other intellectual compassion rather than sympathy. "We are finding out in the twentieth century what the English lawyers discovered in the sixteenth, that the old common law, with its unsurpassed powers of adaptability and expansion, contains within it the solution of present-day problems, and in our renewed study upon historical lines we cannot have a better motto than Back to Coke."" Continuing, the author states, "Coke's writings abound with quaint axiomatic, idiomatic and pithy expressions," the following of which are some examples: "The common law is an old, true and faithful servant to this commonwealth.” "Perpetuities were born under some unfortunate constellation." "There is no greater injustice than when under colour of justice injury is done." Sometime when the public good is pretended, a private benefit is intended." A further interesting chapter in the book is "The Influence of Biblical Texts Upon English Law." Mention must be made of the Introduction, which gives a resumé of many of the interesting books of the writers alluded to in the body of the work. Leading Cases оп International Law. By Pitt Cobbett, M.A., D.C.L. (Oxon.), of the University of Sydney, New South Wales. London: Stevens & Haynes, Bell Yard, Temple Bar. 158. The present work contains parts 2 and 3 of this work, namely, part 2 dealing with "War," and part 3 with "Neutrality," part 1, "Peace," having been published some years ago. Many changes in the law which have taken place in recent years in the subjects dealt with have rendered it necessary to practically re-write the whole volume and to replace many of the earlier cases with those more up to date. This has been performed with great care and judgment and the law as set forth in the entries contained in this volume, though brief, is to the point. The notes are full and will be found particularly useful. Not the least admirable part of this book is the translation of the text of the Hague conventions which deal with the subject contained in the appendix. The present edition of this work is a valuable addition. to a law library. A Digest of Equity. By J. Andrew Strahan, M.A., LL.B.. of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law, Reader of Equity, Inns of Court, London; and Professor of Jurisprudence, University of Belfast; and G. H. B. Kendrick, LL.D., one of His Majesty's Counsel and Advocate-General of Bengal. Third edition. Butterworth & Co., London. 15s. This digest gives a very concise summary of the law of equity beginning with a history of the Court of Chancery and its prerogatives and how these powers were obtained, followed by a discussion of the law of equitable rights and equitable remedies. Under the former, trusts and trustees in their manifold forms are defined, and under the latter specific performance and bankruptcy. Much care has been taken in the compilation of the references. |