CONTENTS OF VOLUME VI. CHANGES MADE IN THE LAW IN THE SES- Limitation of Real Actions Act, 261. Parochial Rates Exemption Act, 450. Payment of Debts out of Real Estate Act, ABSTRACTS OF RECENT STATUTES: Dramatic Literary Property, 211. Metropolitan Offices, 267, 280, 296, 310, Sewers, 356, 372, 394. Public Notaries, 422. Inclosure Awards Titles, 422. Sheriffs' Regulation and ExchequerOffices, Housebreaking and Forgery, 499. State and Prospects of Law Reform, 1, Local Courts, 2, 20, 35, 51, 61, 82, 129, General Registry of Deeds, 28, 57, 78, 86, 108, 118, 142, 145, 173, 191. Court of Chancery, 31, 81, 209, 257, 266. Abolishing Imprisonment for Debt, 108, 136, 185, 266, 295, 346, 395, 424, 454, Limitation of Real Actions, 121. Law of Debtor and Creditor, 132, 200. Common Law Courts, 188, 276, 345, 353, Court of Chancery Regulation, 3, 212. Debtor and Creditor, and Imprisonment, 148, 181, 196. Uniformity of Process, 266, 302. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES AND COMMISSION- Fourth Real Property Report, on Wills, Fifth Common Law Report, on Local Queries on Costs, 276, 345, 376. Ecclesiastical and Admiralty Courts, 497. Commissioners of Bankrupt, Compensa- LIST OF LOCAL AND PERSONAL ACTS, 428, 440. RECENT DECISIONS IN ALL THE SUPERIOR Index, in Italics; and the Names of the Cases Subject Matter of Transfer, 153. Clergyman's Charge of Benefice, 227. PRACTICAL POINTS OF GENERAL INTEREST: Trader absenting himself, 144. Work according to Specification, 370. Admittance to Prison, 342. Quin on the Trade of Banking, 18. Lewis on the Sheriffs' Court, 37. Cowlard on Republication of Codicils, 38. Denton on Local Courts, 51, 82. Dowling's Practical Reports, 188. Hughes's Directions for Wills, 263. Woolrych on Window Lights, 276. Ayrton on Composition Deeds, 355. MISCELLANEOUS DISSERTATIONS: Uniformity of Process Act, 39. Payment of Debts out of Realty, 120. Attendance at Solicitors' Offices, 121. Limitation of Real Actions, 121. Limitation of Actions for Rent, 377. Municipal Corporation Commission, 456. Inns of Court, 113, 241, 305, 366. Incorporated Law Society, 187. United Law Clerks Society, 470. NEW COURT, JUDGES' HALL, AND Cham- LEGAL BIOGRAPHY, 146, 225, 321, 390, REMARKABLE TRIALS, 345, 408, 476. Replevin on Distress for Poor Rates, 27, BARRISTERS CALLED, 79, 175. 43. Uniformity of Process Act, 102, 484. Mortgage Precedents and Stamps, 134. Rescinding Special Contract, 201. Provision for Younger Children, 298. THE PRESENT STATE OF LAW REFORM. We find it necessary, as well for our own sake as that of our readers, occasionally to take a general survey of the existing state of Law Reform. So many measures have been introduced in the present Session of Parliament-so many projects have been broached-so many schemes have been talked of, that we, whose business it is to know every thing that can be known, find ourselves a little confused. Let us, then, shortly recapitulate the Bills which have been already introduced, and venture to predict their fate. The Lord Chancellor's Law Amendment Bill, to the provisions of which we have frequently called our readers' attention, has now passed the House of Lords, and will probably go through the House of Commons with but little alteration. The Solicitor General's Real Property Bills have, we understand, received considerable verbal alterations in the Select Committee, although they remain unchanged in principle. They appear to have excited but little attention in the Lower House; they may chance, however, to meet a more questionable reception in the House of Lords. The fate of the Local Courts Bill is very doubtful. It will be strenuously opposed by Lord Lyndhurst, who will be able to produce so strong a body of facts and argument against it, that we anticipate its rejection; and even if it received the Lords' assent, we should be glad to know what the Chancellor of the Exchequer will say to NO. CXXXIX. so large a demand on him for the future. The Lord Chief Baron had good reason in wishing that the debate should be deferred until the evidence should be printed, as we are informed, that it is almost entirely against the scheme. The fact is, that the Lord Chancellor is a little unfortunate in this his favourite plan. On its first introduction he relied at any rate on the countenance of Jeremy Bentham; but that learned jurist not only pronounced it counterfeit, but wrote an article in the Westminster Review to prove it so. The Chancellor next applies to the Common Law Commissioners, and hopes that they will stand god-fathers to his project: they, however, decline the honour, preferring a little plan of their own. He turns in disgust from the learned Commissioners; surveys his Bills again; pulls some of the clauses out; inserts others in their places, and again proceeds to declare that it is the most faultless thing in the world. We could certainly have wished, for the Chancellor's reputation, that he had let the matter alone, and that his impatience for his due share of popular applause had manifested itself in some other shape. While one brother is thus incumbered with the Local Courts, the other is afflicted with the General Registry; and if Ajax strives in vain "so huge a weight to heave," how will his lesser brother fare, unprotected by the sevenfold shield of the giant? In an evil day, we must be permitted to think, both for the question and its mover, was its introduction adroitly shifted by the Solicitor General to the Master in Chancery-proving B 2 Law Reform.-Reasons against the Local Courts Bill. only that it might be in hands still more in- | Deeds. They are determined not to be outcompetent than those which had before in-done by their Common Law brethren; alcumbered it by their help. From all that we though we trust that the result of their lacan learn, it has but little chance of passing bours is not to be confined to the publicaeven the House of Commons. tion of two blue-covered volumes by the year. The Bill for Chancery Reform will be pushed on, if possible, and will not be so strenuously opposed. We have already stated our humble approval of its provi- REASONS AGAINST THE LOCAL sions. Lord Wynford's Bill, to diminish Delay and Expense, of which we have already given an account, has been lost for the Session. mons. COURTS BILL. 1. That the benefit, professed in the preamble of the Bill, "of having suits tried near Besides these important Bills, there are the homes of the suitors," is fallacious, bemany others, for effecting minor alterations cause the several suitors and witnesses frein the Law, before Parliament. The Luna-quently reside at a considerable distance tic Bill is going slowly on towards maturity. from each other. The Bill for authorising the King in Coun- 2. That of the actions commenced for cil to vary the towns for holding assizes (a small debts, three-fourths are for money useful measure,) is still in the House of Com-lent, goods sold, or work done; to which The Bill for re-modelling the Privy there is no defence; and it is unjust that Council has passed the House of Lords, and the convenience of the debtor should be conwill pass the other House without opposition, sulted at the expense of the injured crediThe Bill relating to the Law of Patents has al- tor. ready met with considerable delay, and will hardly get through this session. There are several Bills for ameliorating the Criminal Law, and another for allowing Prisoners to be defended by Counsel. These, or some or one of them, may probably pass. Mr. Romilly has introduced a Bill for subjecting real estate, in every instance, to simple contract 4. That all the reasons for abolishing the debts. We understand that it is the same Welch Local Courts (which possessed the Bill that was introduced by Sir Samuel Ro-advantage of comparatively eminent Judges) milly; and if the present Houses of Parliament are more disinterested than their predecessors, it may become law. 3. That it is a great hardship on creditors, to compel them to proceed in Local Courts, where they must employ agents in whom they may have no confidence, and convey their witnesses, at great expense and inconvenience, to the several districts where their debtors reside. apply more strongly to the proposed plan, because the Judges will have less experience and learning; and, as they must be conThese are most of the Bills already stantly resident in their districts, the danger brought in; but there are other measures of partiality will be greatly increased, from which are contemplated. The Solicitor Ge- their personal knowledge of the suitors, neral has given notice of a Bill, founded on witnesses, and practitioners; whilst strangthe Fourth Common Law Report, which is ers, and especially aliens, will have cause to to alter the present Law of Debtor and Cre-apprehend that equal justice will not be ditor. The Lord Chancellor, who has al- administered. ways a Bill at his fingers' ends, will soon favour us again; and the budding legislators of the House of Commons will never think of letting the Session expire without some further attack upon Mother Law. 5. That it will not be satisfactory to the suitors in general, to have all kinds of causes heard before inferior, and often partial Judges, when, according to the present system, they have the advantage of the most The Law Commissioners are also at work. eminent learning, experience, and impartiThe Poor Law Report will soon be pub-ality in each department of the law. lished, the Commissioners having been al- 6. That the decisions and practice of the ready prematurely delivered of an octavo of several Local Courts will not be uniform; "Information," which, by the bye, we shall and the appeals to the Judges of the Suspeedily notice. The Real Property Com-perior Courts, to correct misdirections and missioners, although as yet no one of their errors of judgment, will enhance the costs recommendations has been carried into to more than the amount of the present effect, have nearly printed a Fourth Report, proceedings. on Wills, and are ready to print a Fifth, on 7. That the necessity for Local Courts, |