Page:Harvard Law Review Volume 12.djvu/594

574 574 HARVARD LAW REVIEW. Tiirgot to Dr. Price of England, written in March, 1778, communicating suggestions as to our American constitution of that period. Naturally enough, he fails to observe the real aim of our revolution, and judges us as if we were trying to ground our constitutions on first principles, instead of merely applying to better advantage our inherited outfit of English ideals. But, nevertheless, these are the comments of a great and wise man, and we have reason to thank the kind friend that has made them accessible to us in the attractive little pamphlet above mentioned. J. B. T. Bouvier's Law' Dictionary. Rawle's Revision. Vol. 2 — J. to Z. By John Bouvier. A new edition by Francis Rawle. Boston : The Boston Book Co. 1897. pp. 1254. To approach a law dictionary in its entirety on criticism bent does not at first blush strike one as an inspiring task. The high reputation of this standard work and Mr. Rawle's success with his previous edition of it, however, nerve the critic for the attack, and fortunately the study proves happier than the promise. There is much to please the general reader, much entertainment in this book, though its existence, of course, is excused only by its utility. It is unnecessary to add anything by way of general criticism to the review of the first volume of the present edi- tion which will be found in 11 Harvard Law Review, 420. It is possible, however, to consider this second volume in some of its details. The dictionary is very complete. It would be difficult to hit on any topic which could properly be found in a law dictionary which is not dis- cussed in this book. Not only are technical and " law words," if the ex- pression may be permitted, defined, but words of ordinary use are taken up from the lawyer's point of view. For instance, the word " milk " might be omitted, not unreasonably, from a law dictionary. On page 411, however, "milk" is defined to be by weight of adjudicated cases skim milk, and the general American statutes providing for its inspection are considered. Quaint and almost forgotten legal terms, too, are dis- cussed. Examples of these are " Tour d'Echelle " or the old right exist- ing in certain parts of France of resting a ladder on your neighbor's wall, and "sworn brothers," which treats of formal covenants of friends to share each other's fortunes. Important legal topics are discussed with a broad comprehension and with logical plan. When possible, the derivation of the word is given, then its short meaning, then its established legal significance, — as, for ex- ample. Baron Alderson's classic definition of negligence (p. 478), — then a general discussion of the whole subject embraced by the heading, in- cluding many citations by way of authority and illustration. The discus- sions of "mental suffering," "tort," "partnership," "libel," and "malice" struck the writer as especially helpful. There is much more than mere definition ; there is enlightened consideration in accord with advanced but generally accepted legal ideas. Certain other details deserve to be noticed. There are no less than forty pages of legal maxims briefly defined and supported by authorities ; brief summaries of the constitutions and general laws of all the States of our Union ; a list of the leading English and American reports with their abbreviations and the periods they cover ; and discussions of statutes of present and historical importance such as the Thelusson Act and Quia Emptores.