The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-27
Quaint Law Books.

"I.awyers throughout the country Will find much to entertain them In the cases of rare old law books the department of justice will show at St. Louis,' said member of the bar who was once con- nected with the United States department of justice "Included In these are two ancient volumes entitled The Laws of New York Among other curious things of historic interest the first volume con- tains an order from George III, dated March 1s ITO, creating the Chamber of Commerce of New York. The President was John Cruger One of the members was John Roosevelt. A full list of the names contains many intimately connect ed with the business interests of this country. This charter of George III was ratified and confirmed by the senate and assembly of New York April 19 1775 The membership had in the meantime changed somewhat and the name Isaac Roosevelt appears in the ratified document as the successor of John Roosevelt.
 These Laws of New York were pub llshed according to an act of the New York legislature. April 15 17Se.' They were printed by Hugh Gaine at his print ing office and book store, at the Bible, In Hanover Square, The Laws were edited by Samuel Jones and Richard varick, who apologize for few errors of the press that still remain to be corrected The preface Is dated November 25, 17ss. The constitution of the state of New York, dated Kingston, April 20. TIT, begins on the first page. This constitution is signed Leonard Gansevoort, President P. T.
 "All the laws of the state passed at the first session of the legislature, held at Poughkeepie, Duchess county. are given in detail, and some of them are very amusing. One of these Is an act to per init the raising of a sum not exceeding two thousand pounGs, by way of lottery, to- ward rebuilding the court house and gaols in tn ecounty of Ulster This pass ed April 8. ITS. Long Island is referred to as Nassau. Elias Desbrosses seems to have been an important character, and the names of other men for whom the streets of older New York were called. occur frequently.
 Perhaps the most valuable collection at the exposition will be three sets of English lay books which date from the War of the Roses to the time Lord Coke was lord chief justice of our mother country. The oldest of these Is known as Jenkins Centuries, written by Judge David Jenkins of North Wales, while he was a prisoner eighteen years in the Tower of London, by order of Oliver !. tax dents and rulings of England's courts from the beginning of the York and Lan- caster quarrel to the date of Judge Jenk- ins tenure of office.
 ''The State Trials of Great Britain for Heresy and High Treason collected and edited, one set by Hargrave. the other by Howell, read like historical romances. On these pages figure the most famous characters of English history, Queen Mary of Scots. Queen Elizabeth, King Charles l. Sir Walter Raleigh, Captain Kidd, Titus Oates, Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys, Lord Chief Justice Coke and countless others. It is hoped that ar arrangements will be made at the St. Louis exposition so that the scholarly visitors to the government building, lawyers, judges and students, can examine some of these rare old volumes. There are thousands. especially in remote parts of the country who never have an oppor- tunity to see them except at expositions. The educational value of this collection is second to nothing shown in the govern ment building, and is the most striking single feature In the exhibit of the de- partment of justice"