Mobile register and journal., 1845-08-26

kAUFMAH'S COMPENDIUM or MODERN CIVIL LAw.-We before had occasion to notice this inva. luable work now in the ofpubl cation in New York, and have now 10 acknowledge our obligations to the author for sight of the last proof sheets from pages 337 to 352 inclusive, and embracing many of the most curious and interesting titles in lhe Law Among these we particularly notice the title Super hces,' under which IS discussed the complicated rights of the proprietors of coterminous landed pos- sessions winch occupied by buildings the line of eparationoyerhangi eyes, overh Angng trees, etc. The ability displayed in the text of the eel lebrat ed work which Dr. Kaufman is translaing and edit
 ing, is of course familiar to every acquainted with he history literature of the Civil Law; and we are able to say without the least exaggeraton, that the notes with which the present editor is en- richng this first American edition, exhibit an af- duence of learning and degree of lucdness, ee. yance and accuracy of statement quite refreshing when compared with the barren and unthriiy wastes over winch the student of the law is usually con,- pelled to travel after the needu lore of his profess sion Indeed this work with the admirable notes with which it Is enlarged and improved, is al- most interesting the general as to the profess siona reader; and we do not hesitate to say that no sentleman's library ought to be without these admi- rable volumes. The work is destined, we are sats- fled, to exercIse sauiary and extended influence in
 imerica, where new questions in jurisprudence are constantly sf.inging mp under tie new aspects and changed relations o society and government so ut-
 ery unlike those which gave birth and spirit to the common law-where, in fact, old questions must ne- cessariy subj ;ted for their satisfactory and just solution to rules growing out of a totally changed condition of things, d civilization and progress among Indeed he common law has already il, the United States received greatly larger nius of civil law principles than in Eng land, while the for the want of translations, the best sour. of civil law knowledge, has to the public al large and to the great body of lawyers been limited and scanty. The accomplishment of the task which Dr. Kaufman has undertaken will, we think, at once sharpen the taste oi the professional student for ciyi law reading. while il will convince him that withopt thorough study of it's profound and comprehensive principles he will pour in vain the classic pages of a;Aslone, the subelies of Chitty and the casus try of the Reports.
 Something of the civil law every student endea- yours to acquire, who has any ambition above that of the wordy decimalion which wins the temporary ap. pause of the crowd at the expense of the patience of the Court and the interests of the clienl-and which we need hardly add is, in all the learned and unearned professions, (medicne not excepted) the besettIng sin of American oratory-vugarly, ue.y vulgary 50 called. But in truh of the modern civil law. as it is understood and has been modified and applied to the renovated state of European society, there has been great and Ipable neglect in our country. Except the work before us, indeed, we know not at present, without the aid of very com petent knowledge of the Latin and French, or Ger man languages, whiher d lawyer could turn with the iaintest hope of getting competent knowledge on the subject. No English work prelends 10 give it, and yet when consider the present state of European nations and the growing intimacy and complication of our relations with them, how impor- tan is il both to the politician and the lawyer that tlis knowledge should be possessed, and that we should keep pace constantly with it's advances. The conduct even of our diplomacy with these powers, must want essential element of strength and saiety while this subject is go utterly neglected among those who contribute from their profes siona class so largely to that of our statesmen and diplomatsts - It is for these reasons that we haii with especial result, the promised early appearance of this great work. Every lawyer at least ought to hasten to ac. knowledge his and the obligations of the profess sion 10 Dr Kaufman, who will enable him not only to be useful 10 his clients but to his country, while he fills for himself larger and better measure of renown