MORNING ADVERTISER, April 24, 1873.

"This is a work long wanted in the libraries of our middle-classes. We have often wondered that among all the numerous digests and epitomes of the laws of England there has never yet been published a volume comprehensive enough to give a thorough practical groundwork to the would-be law student, and yet concise and simple enough to attract the attention of a general reader, anxious to make himself somewhat acquainted with the Constitution of his country. The ignorance displayed even among some of our most highly-educated classes on the subjects of British law is often the theme of remark, and yet not the slightest effort has ever been made to remedy it by making a course of study on the Constitution of their native land compulsory in all English schools. In the United States every child that has received any education at all talks glibly about the Constitution, and can tell you where English laws have been altered to suit the Republican institutions of his country, and will explain the reasons of the modifications also. They are taught that the declaration of Independence must be reverenced only in one degree less than the Bible, and hence the ardent patriotism or spread-eagleism that is found among the dwellers under the Stars and Stripes. Americans almost worship their flag, and that accounts for the extraordinary respect and attention paid to it by foreign nations. Now, why should not Magna Charta be as familiar to the English schoolboy as the Declaration of Independence is to the American? We have often heard the excuse made in answer to inquiries why the laws of the country were not taught in our schools, that there are no books capable of being used in such a way; that the half-formed minds of boys and girls would not be capable of understanding the whys and wherefores and intricacies of Blackstone or Coke. Hitherto the excuse was valid; it is so no longer, for the book we have before us seems peculiarly adapted for that very purpose. The author says in his preface:

In order to fix the attention of the student by exciting thought, I have adopted the interrogatory system; and for facility of reference have divided the work into four books, each book embracing all the legal points and practical information contained in the respective four volumes of Blackstone as originally written, supplemented by subsequent statutory enactments and important legal decisions. The changes that have taken place in English jurisprudence are concisely explained, and the jurisdiction of our Courts of Law, which has been lately modified and much enlarged, is carefully noted, so as to render Blackstone Economized a solid foundation on which the student may build a legal edifice.' The work, too, is only the ordinary size of a school reading-book. The author's style is lucid, and the manner in which he has arranged the different headings is admirable. The reader can almost see at a glance the subject he desires to be informed upon, and the light pleasant way in which Mr. Aird explains the legal technicalities for the benefit of the unprofessional peruser deserves commendation. We are perfectly sure that if this work were introduced into all the schools, it would soon become a favourite among the boys. Young England is proverbially fond of professional works, whether of law, physic, or philosophy, and and to those whose parents have designed them for the legal profession this little book will be invaluable. We will endeavour to give our readers a general idea of the matter in each book. Book I. contains the nature of laws in general, showing the importance of a knowledge of

law; evil consequences of ignorance of the laws by which we are governed; utility of the study of law to the various classes of the community; the rights of persons, the Queen and her prerogative, Parliament, the people, &c. Book II. treats of the rights of things, of property in general, of real property; the feudal system, ancient and modern English tenures, personal contracts, estates for life, &c. Book III.-Private wrongs, showing how to redress the same; of Courts in general, ecclesiastical, civil, and military; reputation, liberty, injuries from or affecting the Crown, pursuit of remedies by action, Chancery suits, &c. Book IV., and last, contains-Public wrongs, the nature of crimes and their punishments, offences against the Sovereign or the Government, offences against the law of nations-a very necessary matter of study now-a-days-offences against public, private, and personal property, against the public peace, health, or economy, quarantine laws explained, and concluding with a summary. Of course there are numerous other matters treated of, but our space only permits the mention of the above. We cannot forbear giving one or two quotations just to show our readers the really attractive style of the author, and his apparent determination to make the book as much a work for reference in conversation as possible. In Book III., chapter 8, page 239, the author explains the action of ejectment. Ejectment' is now a very important action, and by it alone possession of land is recovered. The form of the action is totally remodelled, and the proceedings in it are minutely pointed out by the Common Law Procedure Act of 1852. A writ is issued out of any of the superior Courts of Common Law directed to the person or persons, and all persons alleged - ~ entitled to defend the possession of the premises therein described, and commanding those to whom it is directed to appear in the Court out of which the writ issued within sixteen days of the service thereof, to defend the possession of the property or such part of it as they shall see fit. It also contains a notice that, in default of appearance, the defendants will be turned out of possession. The writ is served by delivering it personally to the tenant in possession, on the land or elsewhere, or by delivering it personally on the premises to some member of the family or household; and in either case, it should be read over or its purport explained. The trial of the issue joined then proceeds in the usual way, and a verdict is found. If it is for the plaintiff, judgment is entered up for the possession of premises, with costs, and possession will be delivered to him by the sheriff.

"Upon the judgment after a special verdict, or a bill of exceptions, or by consent after a special case, error may be brought in the same manner as in other actions. To complete the remedy in an ordinary case, recourse is had to another supplementary action-viz., an ordinary action of trespass quare clausum fregit, to recover the mesne profits which the defendant has received during the period of his wrongful possession.

"What can be clearer or freer from legal jargon than the above, and yet after reading it, any one would know perfectly well what proceed ings would have to be taken in an action for ejectment. In Book III., chap. 2, page 199, the question is asked, 'Define a Court, and explain the difference between a Court of Record and a Court "not" of Record.' A Court is defined to be a place wherein justice is judiciously administered, either in civil cases between individuals, or in criminal offences, between the Sovereign representing the State and the people.

"A Court of Record is that where the acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled for a perpetual memorial and testimony. Courts of Record are the Queen's Courts in right of her crown and Royal dignity. Courts not of Record are Courts of inferior jurisdiction, such as the Court Baron, incident to a manor, where the proceedings are not formally recorded. Every Court of Record has authority to find and imprison for contempt of its authority; but Courts not of Record have not this power, unless given by express Act of Parliament. There would be nothing very difficult in learning the quotations we have given, and every page is equally free from ambiguity.

"One other extract, and we have done. The author in his introductory remarks says:-'I strongly advise students to disregard the invidious remarks upon those lectures (the public and private lectures of the Inns of Court). Oral tuition not only simplifies the mind, but it attunes the ear, and guides the tongue to fluency of speech. Slight not these lectures. The advantage is of apparently slow growth, but it grows.' In these observations we cordially agree. There is nothing half so instructive as a good lecture from person who thoroughly understands what he is talking about, and makes his facts clear to the audience. Students have been known to puzzle over books for months and months when preparing for an examination in some of the higher branches, and almost given it up in despair, when they have been induced to try the course of lectures given at King's College, and in a month or two have passed their examination with flying colours. We strongly recommend Mr. Aird's book to the public as supplying a want long felt; no one after perusing it can be twitted with ignorance of the fundamental laws of the Constitution under which we live. And we hope that some of our educational leaders will take it up, with a view to its introduction as a standard lesson-book into the public schools."

THE LAW JOURNAL, Jan. 4, 1873.

We further

"There are two classes of persons to whom we can recommend this volume. We think that a young gentleman who has just been, or is just about to be, articled to a solicitor, should read it. think that it is exactly the kind of book which would do an immensity of good, if it could be put into the hands of every mechanic in the country. In saying this, we allude mainly to the contents of the first book, which contains in a form at once perspicuous and precise an amount of valuable information on the Constitution and general character of the laws of this country, such as we do not recollect to have seen in any other written document of the same bulk. The books on Private Wrongs and Public Wrongs would also form a most useful vehicle of education among the adult population; so that, except as to Book II., which, as dealing with the law of real property, is too tough a nut for ordinary readers, we have here a volume which has pretty nearly solved the problem how to make the people understand the policy of the laws under which they live."

SOLICITORS' JOURNAL, Jan. 25, 1873.

"Mr. Aird quotes Sir John Fortescue's opinion that a person of ordinary capacity might attain an adequate knowledge of the law consistent with the status of a gentleman, within the brief period of one year, without neglecting his other avocations; a remark true perhaps in his

time, but certainly inapplicable to the present condition of things. In our days no such royal road to knowledge exists, and an acquaintance with law adequate even for the requirements of a gentleman can only be acquired by a much more severe process than that contemplated by the early judge. We think Mr. Aird's book will be of service in the first stages of this process. The non-professional reader will find in it an intelligible and concise outline of the laws of his country, and legal students may with advantage adopt it as an introduction to their subsequent course of reading."

LAW MAGAZINE, March, 1873.

"For certain purposes this book will be a useful one to a student. There is much originality in the treatment of the subject. The author is generally clear and precise. The arrangement and editorial 'getup' of the book is unexceptionable. We must say fairly that we do not think that Blackstone is a good model, and that it would have been better that Mr. Aird should have given a compendium of the laws of England on his own framework, instead of adopting the somewhat rickety one chosen a century ago, and which subsequent criticism has shown to be ill-constructed. But having said this, and we know that there are many who still maintain that Blackstone ought to remain the first legal textbook, we are bound to add that Mr. Aird has done his work well."

SPECTATOR, March 1, 1873.

"This is by no means the first abridgment of Blackstone, but it is one which has merits of its own, and will be especially useful to those for whom it is intended, the elementary class of students. By simplifying much of Blackstone's language, and breaking up his work into divisions which may be easily mastered, Mr. Aird has produced what may be called the First Book of Law. It is probably with a view to the utility of such a work for educational purposes that Lord Selborne has accepted the dedication of it; and we think beginners will find its method thoroughly practical."

CITY PRESS, Feb. 22, 1873.

"This is professedly a work for students, and is designed to smooth the way for the comprehension of more formidable volumes, by furnishing in a small compass a general idea of the principles of our laws. The object which the author thus had in view has certainly been most satisfactorily fulfilled, but we think the result of his labours will be. found worthy of a far wider circulation than that suggested in the preface. It is just the kind of book that every Englishman of any pretensions to general knowledge should have and carefully study. Free from technicalities to an unusual degree, it will be found easy of comprehension by all intelligent readers, and it furnishes in a clear and simple manner a large amount of information on legal subjects, that will be found exceedingly useful in ordinary life."

THE ILLUSTRATED REVIEW, Jan. 30, 1873.

"Blackstone Economized' is the capital notion of a barrister of the Middle Temple. Mr. D. M. Aird has cleverly compiled and compressed and comprehended the Laws of England."

UNITED SERVICE GAZETTE, Feb. 8, 1873.

"Cedant arma toga; we admit the rule, and therefore give up a small portion of our space this week to a notice of Mr. Aird's admirable compendium. No matter how law reformers may preach or Parliamentary orators prattle about legal revolutions, nobody will for a moment admit that Blackstone' is out of date, or is less than ever an authority on constitutional principles and common law. We have heard enthusiasts aver that in addition to this, the Commentaries' were as pleasant reading as one of the Wayerley Novels. We cannot say that we are quite prepared to go that length, but to their value as a law book we can give the most unqualified testimony. Practice has of course strayed far away from the old lines of Blackstone's days, but in principle the laws of England are always the same. Nolumus leges Angliæ mutari is as true now as it was in the days of Runnimede. It is the principle which Mr. Aird preserves in his admirable digest, and therefore, whilst "Blackstone Economized" is a book which no law student can afford to miss from his shelf, it is also invaluable as a book of reference to all laymen who may wish to know something of the laws and constitution under which they live. Although detailed criticism of a law book would be out of place in our columns, we may say generally that Mr. Aird shows a clear and acute comprehension of his subject, and that his arrangement is a masterly piece of professional mechanism."

COURT JOURNAL, Jan. 25, 1873.

"The necessity of a codification of English jurisprudence, for the use of students, has long been admitted, and it is with great pleasure we announce that the difficult task has been successfully completed. 'Blackstone Economized, a Compendium of the Laws of England to the Present Time,' by David Mitchell Aird, Barrister-at-Law, contains the principles of the laws of England in a simplified form, the fundamental maxims of legal science being clearly stated, whilst the more laborious research and speculations as to the origin of our laws and enactments are left to the mature judgment. The volume is divided into four parts. Part I., Of the Nature of Laws in General,' treats of the countries subject to British laws, statute and municipal laws, the rights of persons, Parliament, the duties and privileges of the Queen and Royal Family, the people, corporations, and companies. Part II., 'On the Rights of Things,' is devoted to the subject of property, with the various systems, tenures, and modes in which landed estates are held, conveyances, and the methods of acquiring and losing titles to estates. Part III. treats of Private Wrongs,' and gives the means of redress; the courts of common law and equity and the minor courts of judicature are also noticed. Part IV. is devoted to 'Public Wrongs,' and the various offences against municipal and national laws, the Sovereign and Government, public peace, trade, public health, offences against the person, property, and other crimes and misdemeanors. Mr. Aird's work is one of very great utility, and is calculated to stimulate students preparing for the legal profession, for it takes them a ready road or a short cut to much learning, while the knowledge they acquire will be sound and reliable, and those principles upon which the noble edifice of British Jurisprudence is founded will be thoroughly manifested. The work, which has a copious index, is dedicated to Lord Selborne, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. It is published by Longmans, of Paternoster Row."