ENLARGEMENT OF PUBLICATION.

In consequence, it would seem, of the intimation before given of an alteration, an "Old Subscriber" has just reminded us that, for nearly twenty years, he has read our publications, which have, during that period, appeared under the various titles of the "Weekly Law Magazine," the "Law Students' Magazine," the "Law Chronicle," and the EXAMINATION CHRONICLE. We felt startled by this reminder; and as it implied, if true, that a large portion of our life must have been devoted to those publications, we sought for the first number of the original work, and, to our surprise, we found, "Saturday, October 1st, 1842," placed thereon, as the day of its publication, and thus our correspondent's intimation turned out to be correct. The retrospect would have been to us one of unalloyed pleasure but for some painful circumstances which, just prior to the commencement of the present publication, disclosed to us what we had never dreamed of, namely, that for the preceding five years we had been carrying on-or, rather, were made out to have been carrying on-the "Law Chronicle" at a loss, instead of that profit which before, we had always obtained by our publications, and had still every right to expect. We only allude to this matter for the purpose of stating that the stoppage of the "Law Chronicle was occasioned thereby, and that this publication (not being, like the others, at the mercy of a publisher) was substituted in great haste, and in the belief that, though of smaller dimensions, it would, from its meeting what appeared to us to be a decided want, receive a more extended support than the previous publications, and it was for this reason that so small a price was fixed. We are sorry to say that our anticipations have not been fully realised, and we have also discovered-what only experience could demonstrate that to carry into full effect our original plans requires more space than, under the present arrangement, is practicable. Thus, we are compelled to shorten the answers to the Examination Questions, and the "Studies," besides altogether omitting notices of the new statutes and the summary of recent decisions, and in other important respects we find ourselves much crippled for want of a little more space. We know, by experience, how much subscribers object to any increase of price, so that unless there were a real necessity for an alteration in the publication, we would let things remain in statu quo. But we have to announce that, from and after No. 18, each number will, instead of twenty-four, contain thirty-two pages, and the subscription thenceforth will be 12s yearly, or 68. half-yearly, instead of the former sums of 8s. and 4s. Those subscribers who have already paid for the ensuing half-year, can either at once remit the additional sum of 2s. in postage stamps, or add it to their

next half-year's or year's subscription. This mention of subscriptions reminds us that we are much troubled by some of the subscribers not prepaying, as we announced was necessary in the case of this publication, stating as a ground for the requirement that we had been, in the cases of our former publications, great losers by allowing arrears of subscriptions, though we endeavoured to lessen the loss by charging an extra 2s. per annum for the delay in payment. Thus, practically, the subscription to the "Law Chronicle" was 22s. per annum, whilst, to the present publication-even after the increaseit will be but 12s. per annum, that is, full 10s. less. We must, however, insist on pre-payment, and we trust that all of our subscribers will comply with this request without any personal applica tion for payment.

We shall be much surprised if our subscribers do not, at least after a time, see the beneficial effect of the alteration now announced, inasmuch as we shall be enabled to carry out our original plans in a more complete and satisfactory manner. In particular, we hope to receive more "Experiences," as we did not press so much for them when we felt it was doubtful whether they could be inserted, and we shall be able to give more attention to the "Examinations" of every kind, and, in addition, to notice the principal new statutes and the recent decisions, and in other ways very much increase the utility of the publication.

Although not strictly connected with the preceding, we take this opportunity of noticing several communications we have received from those subscribers who commenced with No. 13 and have not purchased the previous numbers. Those gentlemen think we ought not to refer back to Vol. I. of the publication, but (say they) if the matter is pertinent it should be repeated and set forth in Vol. II. Now, it appears to us to be very unreasonable to expect that we should be debarred from referring to Vol. I. for matter there given, or that those who have that volume should be subjected to a repetition of matter therein contained merely because some subscribers do not choose to purchase the first volume. If, indeed, that volume were very expensive, there might be some excuse for making the request, but when the price of it, in cloth, is but a trifle, no one can be debarred from its purchase on that account. We have given this explanation lest it should be thought we had nothing to say in defence of our proceeding, and because we feel that there is no just cause for complaint in the matter.

We intend to bring out the June number in the middle of May, in order that subscribers may have the Easter Term Examination Questions and Answers at an earlier period than they would in the regular course of publication; therefore Moot Points and additions to Lists of Correspondents for that number must be sent up early in the month.

COURSE OF LAW STUDIES.

(Continued from page 76.)

CONVEYANCING.

GREAT as have been the alterations within the last thirty years in the Real Property Law, much more important ones are now in agitation, so that many of our readers who do not feel pressed by the near approach of their examination may be indisposed to commence a course of study in this department of the law. But it is submitted that this is injudicious, for it behoves the practising lawyer to be acquainted not only with what is, but what has been, law; and particularly is this so with real property, where, on account of the necessity for investigating the title from some precedent period of time, the practitioner (like the geologist in his department of knowledge) has to pass through various strata, representing a primary, secondary, and tertiary character, according as it is the old common law, the statute law interposed upon it, or the later enactments wholly independent of the original foundation. It will not, therefore, be prudent for any articled clerk to postpone the study of Real Property Law out of an apprehension that the pending bills may overturn the present system of conveyancing, for whatever may be the effect of the new enactments, the system which will be superseded by it will, for a long time to come, be necessary to be known.

Williams' Real and Personal Property. Davidson's Concise Precedents. The first works in conveyancing which are now usually read alike by students for the bar and articled clerks, are the two volumes of Mr. Joshua Williams, on Real Property and on Personal Property, the full titles being "Principles of the Law of Real Property, intended as a First Book, for the use of Students in Conveyancing," and "Principles of the Law of Personal Property, intended for the use of Students in Conveyancing." Of the work on Real Property, five editions have appeared, the last in 1859, price 188., whilst of the work on Personal Property four editions have appeared, the last being in 1860, price 16s. In former times, students of Real Property Law were recommended to commence with the second volume of Blackstone (the first of Stephen's edition), but it is not to be doubted that the works of Mr. Williams are preferable. Indeed a careful study of the two volumes will form a good foundation for a knowledge of modern conveyancing, so far as the doctrines are concerned, and we would recommend the student to procure and read Mr. Davidson's work, entitled "Concise Precedents in Conveyancing, adapted to the Act to Amend Real Property, 8 and 9 Vic. c. 106, with Practical Notes and Observa

tions on the Act, and on the Act for the Cesser of Attendant Terms." The last edition, the fifth, appeared in 1857, price 9s. It is a small work, but one well worthy of an attentive study, with a view to acquiring a knowledge of the ordinary provisions of legal documents. The student who has made himself master of the previous works is not to suppose he has done enough, even for the examination. He must read some other works, in order that he may obtain a more exact knowledge of conveyancing.

Hayes' Conveyancing.-Horsey's Purchase Deeds, &c.-The next work to which the student should devote his attention is Hayes' "Introduction to Conveyancing, and the New Statutes Concerning Real Property." It is unfortunate that the last edition of this work, the fifth, appeared so long ago as 1840, but we observe that a sixth edition, in two volumes, is "in the press," though this gives no datum for the time of the publication. If any of our readers have the fifth edition we would advise them to read the same with great care, as much information is to be obtained therefrom, especially respecting the Real Property Statutes. The forms, also, may be studied with great profit, especially as they illustrate the doctrines of the earlier portions of the work, and particular attention should be given to the notes. The articled clerk will always find it useful to combine doctrine and forms, and as now he may be supposed to have obtained some considerable knowledge of principles, we would recommend him to take in hand an excellent work by the late Mr. Cornish, entitled, "A Treatise on Purchase Deeds of Freehold Estates, and Incidentally of Leasehold Property, with Precedents and Practical Notes." A new edition of this work appeared in 1855, under the editorship of Mr. George Horsey, who has ably supplied what the changes in legislation necessitated alike in the forms, the introductory matters, and the notes. We are certain that the student, who has made sufficient progress in his studies, will derive great benefit from the combined labours and learning of Mr. Cornish and Mr. Horsey. The price of the work is 10s., and the volume is of such a moderate size that no one need be deterred from its perusal, and we are satisfied that, from a careful study of the text and forms, the reader will very much advance his practical knowledge of conveyancing. It is to be regretted that the work does not, as its title, indeed, sufficiently indicates, extend to the subjects of leases, mortgages, settlements, and wills, which form such important items in the professional curriculum of studies as of those more pleasant matters "gains and emoluments," for the sake of which, indeed, the other is pursued.

Burton's Compendium.-A work of great merit is the Compendium of the late Mr. Burton, which, as he himself stated, was adapted "principally to such readers as, being already acquainted with Black

stone, were desirous of further progress, and of an introduction to more scientific or technical preceptors." The first edition appeared before the series of Real Property Acts, and this detracts from the value of the work, so far as it does not present the law in its actual condition. The work is entitled "An Elementary Compendium of the Law of Real Property." The last edition, the seventh, appeared in 1850, under the superintendence of the late Mr. E. P. Cooper, with "notes showing the alterations in the law to the (then) present time; to which is prefixed an introductory chapter, giving a concise historical outline of such parts of the law as have been the subject of statutory alteration." The notes are almost entirely confined to the statutes up to 1850, with some references to recent decisions. The introductory chapter does not appear to possess much originality, but its perusal may be useful in connection with the body of the work. It is to be remarked that the original work is a compact mass of learning set forth with astonishing brevity, not a superfluous word being used. It is a production which those who can follow the author æquo pede fully appreciate; but it demands from the reader a good capacity and great industry, so that it is not strange that many students have, at a very early stage, abandoned its perusal in despair or disgust. Indeed, the work may be considered as a test of a reader's powers; that is, if a student can read it with profit he may be sure that he has some of the right stuff in him, but if he cannot comprehend the propositions it is a sure sign that nature has refused him a large measure of intellect. The late W. D. Lewis, the author of the work on "Perpetuities." was a great admirer of Burton's production, declaring it to have been perfect with two exceptions, relating, we think, to the subject of resulting uses. And many other eminent conveyancers have spoken of the work in similar commendatory terms. There is no doubt that an edition of the work, bringing the law down to the present time, on the same plan as Mr. Burton's, would be a boon to the profession; but there are few men who could accomplish the task, and, probably, none of them would like to undergo the necessary amount of labour, especially with the fate of the author before them, his death having been, if not entirely occasioned, yet certainly accelerated, by the great labour consequent upon the production of the "Compendium."

Smith's Real and Personal Property.-Smith's Compendium of Real and Personal Property will be found a very useful work for the advanced student. It is in one volume, price 30s., and the second edition appeared in 1859. It is unfortunate that it does not contain all the late statutes, though it has the 22 and 23 Vic. c. 35, by way of Appendix. It is a work containing a good summary of the principal matters occurring in conveyancing business, and is, indeed, chiefly founded on Cruise's Digest, Preston on Abstracts, and other