Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-25
corTuERS Legal. PUBLICATIONS.

is
qualifications of every kind uro beginning to WIN
their WAY 10 the favor OF Northern publishers and
writer's Some of the strongest blows for truth nave
been given by the South, and for the sake OF our
Northern contemporaries no less than for orr own, we
are more than pleased, we are gratlt-d that they
have nj length conceded that something good may
com, from the South, not only in the shape of polIti-
chi h!,s. but III other t"rinH OF literature and
learning II Southern l!tv!GtTr" sha. continue TO
max, the immense strides il has done the few years
past, we sha ere long hope to resch the day, when
our works shall be recognized on Northern ground
RS at least equal to their "a elimacteric of fame
ere while hardly 70 have been attempted or even
thought of by Southern writer, wi,huuta very large
quantity of sclf-nppreciatun The occasion Of these
remarks is recent favorable notice of Southern
legal publication which appears in the columns OF
the New York Evening Post We understand that
similar notices have been given by the Northern
journals of Lomax's Digest and other Virginia publ
cations. We cannot withhold from our readers this
tribute 10 volume, which deservedly holds 80 high
place among the legal works of the country. Here
il is
From the New York Evening Post
THE PRAcTICE OF COURTS OF JUSTICE ~ ENGLAND
AN o.
son, of Richmond. Va. Vol. I'd. Richmond a..
Morris. 1855.
The first edition of this work was published in
1882 and 1897. The first volume oil this second one
appeared in 1854
Ina scope of the work is, however, greatly enarg
cd since the publication of the first edition. which wac
rather intended for local Use The Ian of the work
embraces a comprehensive view OF the whole range
# our jurisprudence Indeed we recoect no Work
in our lee al libraries comprising large range OF
subjects und treating them so infinitely Mr.. Robin
sons work is in fact, when completed will be
Corpus .Inris. 1t comprises the whole body of our
Law.
uupr.,euding There is attempt ut fine writing,
and no effort to declare general rules which in fact do
not exist The conflicts of Judicial opinion between
the tribunals of England aud of tbs Union are July
and carefully stated and the work deliberately and
consienuusy represents the law az II 49, not as IL
should DO. ,., 1890
In this respect it ia extremely unlike great num-
ber of the recently published legal treatiSes under
which our pre,scs our shelves, and our lawyers have
snnaIlv rraaned which affect TO treat the law as
c,,,nulrte and harmonious sclence and enuncIae,
,r,hout hesitation, doctrines on disputed points of
law without taking any notice of the fact that the
nu..,nH under examination has been decided, per.
hnns half dozen different ways. by az many distinct
md iudrpendrnt tribunals, aud that consequently the
propnson OF the text IL as fnse i'll one place as II
NAV be true i'll another . =,
T., This kind of easy writing and easy reading Mr.
Rubiusun's work makes n" pretcnsl"ns. tontr"dic
tnrv nroupsilions are carefully and mnutey stated
very frequently ii moi genrraly, the precise words OF
IN. judicial decision are used ana IN. result 49, tha'
Nr Robinsons work is faithful reflex o! our law,
with il, minute distinctions its conflicting dtcsloIs
m scilIstiops and lis contradictions. and a. valuable
nI uscful in one part Of the country III another,
and M interesting work of reference, if not as
practically useful in England, as ii Is here
II ia unnecessary To say that the scheme Of Mr. no
biuson's work involves an almost Hercuesu task
ANY orIr who had occasion 10 determine how any
our legal question stands IN England and The differ
en States OF this Union will readily appreciate the
magnitude OF the task TO give faithful and accurate
notice of our whole jurisprudence within any toleia-
hi. limits Mr. Rounsou's long experience at the |
Virginia bar and his very extensive legal reading |
ani accurate habits OF mind einnenfly fit him for the |
undertaking. and he has grapplcd with 1t In the true
snirit and with ndlspuraUie vigOr. The work il al |
r.sdy rccoyuzcd and when completed, must be &c. |
n.rsjly adopted rs invaluable manual, general
store house of legal propositions, as great arinory of
l.ra weapons; and, when once completed, the diff.
Guilty OF noting aud of keeping pace with the changes
i'm the law will be comparatively trlhing
The difficulties, however, in the first preparation ol
work like this are truly Formidable and call for
small tribute of respect from the legal profession 10
that among their number who is NOT daunted by
the obstacles III his path In truth with the inordi-
nate amount of legislative organization anu judicial
machinery constantly al work Doth herc and in Eng
land the Law has come almost TO resemble Set of |
dissulviny yiews-whi!st you are takng OF a given
rule it us ceased to be-solne statutory provision
has taken lis place, some judicial decision has re-
ii led il out of existence We confess that admire
Mr.. Robinsuns courage his audacity of labor, as
much as cause 10 commend his accurate re-
search and various learning.
The only fault that We have tn find with the book |
IS i;s title. The term "Pracfice' conveys idea
whatever of the extent or magnitude of the subjects
OF w"ich it tr,as. Tho phrase Practice has settled
Specification both in England and, suppose, in
most of the States OF this Union, and thou III certain
ly very important is tho least disnd-d branch Of the
law. toni; which treats OF the whole range OF Ju
rispruicnre, canuo with propricty, bs called BOOB
Of Practice.