Page:Marvin, Legal Bibliography, 1847.djvu/533

 MOD K. E. and Ch., from 8 Queen Anne, to 11 Geo. I., inclusive. 5lh ed. By T. Leach. 8vo. London. 1795. This collection of Cases was made by Robert Lucas, who, in his Pre- face, states "that he can, with great assurance, acquaint the reader, that in every thing here published he has given him the sense, though not the words, of both the Bar and the Bench." "The book is of little autho- rity;" Buller J. Lord Mansfield, speaking of a dictum in the volume, says : " the obiter saying in X. Mod., (if it was a book of better autho- rity than it is,) would signify nothing, when the determinations are the other way." 1 Bur. 153; Doug. Gl, G89 ; Cowp. 178. MODERN REPORTS, Vol. XL A Report of Cases argued and adjudged in the Court of K. B., in the time of Queen Anne, from the 1st lo the 8th Year of her Reign ; during which lime the late Lord Chief Justice IIoll presided in that Court; to which are now added, Select Cases in K. B., from T. T., 4 Geo. L, to M. T., 4 Geo. IL By T. Lutwyche. 5lh ed. By T. Leach. 8vo. London. 1796. Some of the Decisions in the last part of the volume, were selected from the MS. of J. Wells. Its reputation is on a par with its predeces- sors. Cowper, IG. . Vol. XIL Reports of Cases in the Court of K. B., from M. T., 2 Wm. & Mary, to H. T. 13 Wm. IIL 5lh ed. By T. Leach. 8vo. London. 1796. This volume of Reports is supposed to have been taken by Lord King. It is of but apocryphal authority, but was relied upon by Chief Justice Marshall, in 5 Cranch, 91. Doug. 83 ; Peake'sEvid. 41 ; 3 Ves. 580; 4 Bur. 269, n. The idea naturally enough suggests itself, if the Modern Reports are of such acknowledged inaccuracy, how does it happen that there are so many editions 1 A part of the volumes never reached above two editions, some but one, and only the first, five. The calling the last impression the fifth edition, was a mere flourish of the editor, and Mr. Pickering com- mitted the same impropriety, by permitting to be affixed to the title page of the first seven volumes, fourth edition. Whoever has looked into the subject of bibliography, must have noticed the fraud that is sometimes practiced by the book-making, or, more generally, the book-selling com- munity, upon the book-purchasing public, with regard to editions. It was formerly, I believe, more common than at present, though cases might be pointed out that have occurred within pretty recent periods, where books are sold for what purport to be improved, when it turns out that they are old editions, dressed up in new title pages. I knew 521