New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

rrcrr-p-s on THB EArLY HISTORY or lNsflTVToNs
" s'A h'S1r SrNS1S NAME S7'' rp Az A''' "''
The line OF research pursued by Sir Henry
lI,nc in his mastery work "Arcicnt Law Is eo"
,inucd TO n certain extent, in the present volume ="
stead, however. 81 taking tho Roman Law as NV -,
yal source % his Illustrations, he has tou'uru
Greater part OF These lectures on thu aucleu' .-
laws OF Ireland a body Of law by when 'ha' o0u'
WAS governed for many centuries. unul IL was -
,,v 5l.lac,L ~ the fsudal institutions, Sc the eoAQu'
- tho island was completed 10y British arms 0"'l
ecmparstlvely recent period, the breho" i~ -
Hooked ND in tie o0sCurity OF the CeItc =,
a, r,r.r,nco OF governmental commission tniee wa
pmes were translated into English OF WIN 80 49,,
,as nutlshcd in lsC5 aud the third. enricheu VII" w."
palle prefaces has only just made iiS appear ""O'
Brehon laws cannot be regarded az Su'0' AZ -,
code but they are rather eo.e0''V" -
md usages. which have elnstereu "iO"" 80
o,1or ru,leus aud were administered oy inc
scheme who were the judges Of The land Iho oilS
,t do,e of these compilations in the opinion OF 'no
,hor must have beea go carly % the tenth OF eie'
.nh ceniury although tho actual period GU WHO" 'ey
assumed their present shape IL cA're"oS ui0't
ae OF the tracts OF which the collection eousS'S Claims
far earlier origin, aEd processes TO have oeeh com
piled under the personal influence OF ST. fa'IlOA
.,houob this pretenson canuot be sustained, 1t Is not
l,,nrouale that the writing OF tha BgehOn laws Deg'u
soon after the conversion az the Ish peopo 10 Chrs
tanifv The original composition, there Is reaS0n ~
bei.yc. was n rule verse or rAythhllcH pIVs'' AN
,rJi,oal authors arc said 10 have exhibited AN Tag
,rdenent and poetry OF the mon OF E'in' IL seeNS
MI, ., each ef the tracts sets forth the leTa oOc-
500 % ma body 81 persons. who In iliieai phfaSc'
"a rorotu,l succrss0n Kind OF family or law seAoo
c,.euce OF which, in ancient Ireland. the auth0I
.rr,,s ,tcre "a ample evidence The text appears 10
80 becn mt together by QUO efIr from processing
n,cr Ia GsA IL nay have been pat toSc 'heF eoAAu-
ou.lv nv A single writer, has tAe eddItohs
p,ust BE- m accumulation Of GlJSses ard con-
et % vri,ns dates by subsequent posossors OF tae
oocrrrent TIE volnme now Published has Rrare ant
,u,-, AZ well Is LEGAL interest. sig Henry Maine has
bulLI. materials with tac zeal % G.. Oar 40 the
d.tnir.ton Of lawyer. IIis lucid nnayses present
h.tv q exceptional jcris prudence, Which vel &c
serves he study OF The curious an;iquaty The relation
bc r,,hon laws - stl more ancient codes Is 81 y
elucAtcd vlls th"r prin Pics are traced IN the pIo
efess h.egu.ut DC ai.ou. Tbs reader who delights
Il the perceptions 81 subtle aua,o-ics AID The Cisc'Vey
ofa r.rvatHr unity IA the mi1s; OF apparently DIS
sorl1rt clements Will take great satisfaction In follow
inc tho author through his profound ro'ca'oh's ana
tru,e d,6uc.i,ra Although 10 vii 30 dazz'cd by 20
OIL udors Of composition, ror oppressed vihony ror'ao
ofcruIiiCu, ho VIII DO ms itel with perfect conhdtAce
IN The sound Judgment the competent earniac ana vac
sire 40 ont o: tho wgitor. and win slIcy accept his
aid rs f.ithtM guide 81 The mary LovrictA before
fln-we ought 20 adj that beside the commentary On
the BIZ hon laws tho volume contains thee Instructive
lcciurc. on the early history Of tie "s'i Property
ofiilrricl " mea" Sovereign y" AID 6oycfoisniT
aud Empire" tie last two q Which rre devoted 10 iho
esc...n o. toae u tho theories VI jeremy Een ,LAG
and John Austin.