admitted that difficult questions were put sometimes. It was said that young men were unaccustomed to the examination, and became nervous, and could not do themselves justice. He must say that he had never seen the papers of any young man who was rejected, whom any sensible and rational solicitor would have admitted. If a young man answered all the fifteen questions-which he was happy to say many did he got 150 marks; if he got half that number he would pass. When he first became a member of the Council of the Incorporated Law Society, the rule laid down by the common law judges was, that a young man should pass in common law. It was also required by the Master of the Rolls that the young men should pass in equity. They were also examined in criminal law and bankruptcy, and were required to pass in one of these three last subjects, as well as in the two first mentioned. He was of opinion that conveyancing was quite as important as the other two, or even more so in its influence upon society; and the council had now made conveyancing also indispensable. He contended that no young man's rejection could be attributed to nervousness, but only to ignor

ance.

Mr. MARRIOTT (of Manchester) thought they would greatly support the exertions of the final and intermediate examination if they, as attorneys, did their duty to their articled clerks. As a rule they were left almost without any attention, and were permitted to go through the office and to pick up what information they could, and were supposed after a certain period to be able to pass their examination. If attorneys were hor.est, and asked themselves how many hours they had devoted to their articled clerk during the five years of the young man's career, they would, in many cases, be able to count them on their fingers. He thought they often omitted doing their duty from want of thought, and an inclination to go on in the course their predecessors pursued, and so neglected their duty. He urged them to fulfil their trust like honourable men, as they were bound to do.

Mr. SHAW said he had very little to say, because there had hardly been any objections made to the proposition he had advanced. He agreed with the observations of the gentleman who last addressed them, that much greater attention than was now paid to articled clerks was equally due to the clerks and to themselves. With regard to another question, as to how far the Inns of Court were justified in withholding benefits from attorneys, he thought that the attorneys had a just claim and strict right-a moral right, at all events-to a participation in the benefit of those funds. There should be a correct history of the Inns of Court, especially in relation to their endowments. He was not aware that such a history existed, and hoped some gentleman present would prepare one or induce somebody else to do so.

Mr. COOKSON observed that it had been stated the intermediate examination was confined to questions out of specified works; but he did not think that it would be desirable to extend the final examination. He considered the object of the examination was to test the fitness of the person to go immediately into the practice of his profession. When he entered upon the practice of his profession his clients did not consult him as to the contents of books, but upon a variety of questions, which they had to deal with without any notice whatever. The object of the final examination was to try if the young man was equal to those duties. He did not think that end would be attained by pointing out any particular book or subject, but by directing his attention to all those subjects in which, in the course of his profession, he would be called upon to act. With regard to the intermediate examination, he said no young man was postponed merely for failing to answer what had been called the difficult questions on conveyancing. If any one did not succeed in passing that examination, he had failed in some other department besides conveyancing. He thought that those questions which it was necessary for the young man to answer to ensure passing, should be so framed as to enable a young man, if at all qualified, to pass; but at the same time that somewhat more difficult questions ought to be introduced with those, that they might have a test of the degree of proficiency of the candidates, more especially when they considered that at the examination which followed, prizes and marks of distinction were awarded, which was another reason why a man should do more than answer a few easy questions. That principle he had endeavoured to pursue, but did not know whether he had succeeded in carrying it out correctly; it was well known to be the sound and

orrect one.

RECENT STATUTES.

(26 Vic. and 26 & 27 Vic.)

THE following are some of the statutes passed in the last session of Parliament :

EXPORTATION OF SALMON. (26 Vic, c. 10).-This Act comprises only four sections. It prohibits the exportation, from any part of the United Kingdom to parts beyond seas, of unclean and unseasonable salmon, and of salmon caught during the time at which the sale of salmon is prohibited in the district where it is caught, under penalty of £5 in respect of each salmon, and forfeiture of the fish. The burden of proving that salmon entered for ex

Y

portation between the 2nd Sept. and 2nd Feb. is not so entered in contravention of this Act, is to be upon the person entering the

same.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT AMENDMENT.-(26 Vic., c. 17).—In places where the population is less than 3,000, the Local Government Act is not to be adopted unless approved by a secretary of state on proof of special circumstances making the adoption of the Act desirable, and he is to institute an inquiry for that purpose. If adopted in any place having less than 3,000 inhabitants, the resolution may be rescinded by a subsequent one passed in the same manner; but the like appeal may be had against the rescinding as against the passing of a resolution. Where a district under the Public Health or Local Government Acts is surrounded by, or adjoins, a highway district, the former is to be deemed to be within the highway district for the purpose of any meeting of the highway board (s. 6); the power of adopting any part of the Local Government Act is not to be exhausted by one adoption, but may be exercised from time to time.

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.-(26 Vic. c. 29.)—This is designed to impose further checks upon bribery and corruption at elections. No payment is to be made by, or on behalf of, any candidate at any election before, during, or after it, on account of such election, except through an agent named to the returning officer; any other payment is to be a misdemeanour. To this agent all bills are to be sent within one month, or the right to recover them is to be barred. A detailed statement of such expenses is to be made out and signed by the agent, and delivered to the returning officer; who is to advertise an abstract of it. In indictments for bribery general allegations are to be sufficient. No witness before an election committee is to be oxonerated from answering on the ground that the question may tend to criminate himself; but if the witness answers, he is to be entitled to a certificate of protection against prosecution for any act done during the election, and no such statement shall be admissible in evidence in any court except in case of indictment for perjury. For the better regulation of election committees, it is enacted-1. That, on a charge of treating, it shall not be necessary first to prove agency. 2. That a person found guilty, by any committee, of bribery or treating, shall lose his vote at the election, and may be expunged from the register of electors. An election committee is to report whether there is reason to believe that corrupt practices have extensively prevailed. Where persons are reported, by an election committee, as guilty of bribery or treating, the report and evidence are to be submitted to the Attorney-General with a view to prosecution. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Acts are continued for five years.

THE BAKEHOUSE REGULATION ACT (26 & 27 Vic., c. 40) This Act is for the purpose of limiting the time of labour of those employed in baking. Section 2 defines "local authority" to mean such persons as are defined as such by 18 & 19 Vic. c. 120, s. 134, or by the Nuisance Removal Act, and the Acts of 18 & 19 Vic. c. 121, 23 & 24 Vic. c. 77, &c., &c.; "bakehouse "is any place where bread or confectionary is baked for profit. A man to be "employed" need not be in the receipt of wages. "Occupier" is the person in possession; "the Court" is any one having jurisdiction under the Act. By s. 3 no person under the age of eighteen can be employed from nine p.m. to five a.m.; and, any one contravening this provision can be fined £2 for the first offence, £5 for the second, and for a third and every subsequent offence £1 for every day he employs such persons, not exceeding £10 in all. There are stringent regulations for the cleanliness of bakehouses. Sec. 4 requires that every bakehouse, and the stairs and passages leading to it, shall be either painted or whitewashed; if the former, once in seven years with three coats of paint; if the latter, once in six months; also that it should be well ventilated. Should this regulation not be complied with, the occupier is liable to a fine of £5; but the Court may give him time to carry out the provisions of the Act, but if he neglect to do so after the time afforded him has expired he can be fined £1 for every day he so neglects the order of the Court. These regulations apply when the bakehouse is situated in a town of 5,000 inhabitants by the last census. No apartment next to a bakehouse shall be used as a sleeping room, unless it be separated from the bakehouse by a partition from the floor to the ceiling, and have an external window of 9ft. area, under a penalty of not less than £1 for a first and £5 for any subsequent offence. Power is given by s. 6 to any officer appointed by the local authority to enter into and examine any bakehouse. The expenses are to be defrayed by a rate, levied by the local authority. Sec. 8 relates to the recovery of penalties, which may be recovered summarily before two or more justices. The last section gives jurisdiction under this Act to metropolitan and stipendiary police magistrates, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London; and in Ireland, to any justice or justices in Petty Sessions, and the Dublin police magistrates; in Scotland, to the Sheriff or his substitute, or any police magistrate.

SECURITY FROM VIOLENCE (26 & 27 Vic. c. 41).-This measure, which the garotte system called into existence, increases the power of punishment given to the Court by the 24 & 25 Vic. c. 96, and 24 & 25 Vic. c. 100, in all cases of violence, by introducing whipping not more than three times, in addition to the other punishment. If, however, the offender's age is under sixteen, a birch rod must be used, and the strokes must not exceed twenty-five. If

over sixteen, fifty strokes may be given; but the Court, in passing sentence, must specify the number to be administered.

WAYWARDENS CONTRACTS ACT (26 & 27 Vic. c. 61).—Should any waywardens be concerned in any contracts within their own districts, they will be liable, under the present Act, to a fine of £10 with full costs, to be recovered by action for debt, by any person, in the County Court in which the district is situated. In addition, highway boards are not liable to pay for any work so contracted for, but may recover money so paid with full costs in the County Courts, if below £50, or otherwise in the Superior Courts.

JURISDICTION OF JUSTICES ACT (26 & 27 Vic. c. 77).—S. 35 of 11 and 12 Vic. c. 43, is here declared not to apply to, or control, the 6th section, and this section shall be construed as if the 35th s had never been passed, and any acts done, or orders made, by justices previously to the passing of this Act, which would have been valid if this Act had been passed at the respective dates of such Acts being done, or orders made, shall be valid.

SAVINGS' BANKS CONSOLIDATION ACT (26 & 27 Vic. c. 87).—This is an Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to savings'banks. It recites that numerous banks for savings had been established under the authority of the Acts now in force for the safe custody and increase of small savings, and that it is expedient to amend such laws, and to consolidate the same in one Act. From and after the 20th November, 1863, the Acts now in force, several in number, set forth in one of the schedules, will be repealed, and the new law take effect. With the view of giving protection to the savings' banks already established, and to afford encouragement to the formation and establishment of like institutions, the persons connected with savings' banks may cause the rules and regulations for the management of such institutions to be entered, deposited, and filed in the manner prescribed, and power is given to pay money into the Bank of England and Ireland, and of receiving receipts, and to invest sums already accumulated; but no new banks are to be formed unless approved by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. The rules of all savings' banks are to be entered in a book, and open to all depositors. Two written copies of the rules are to be submitted to the barrister appointed, who is entitled to a fee of one guinea. He is to return one copy to the bank, and the other to the commissioners. Weekly returns are to be made to the commissioners by all banks. The treasurer and other officers entrusted with the receipt of money are to give security. The savings banks are declared to be vested in the trustees for the time being, whose liabilities are set forth in the Act. The trustees of savings banks are to invest all money in the Banks of England or Ireland, and not in any other securities. It is not to prevent depo