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practical assistance, not only to the officers named, but to the practising lawyer. The book is essen tially a Massachusetts book, although several chap ters treat of subjects governed almost entirely by the common law; and resort has been had to cases aris ing in England, and in other States of the Union, for elucidation of the rules therein laid down. A Treatise on the Law of Citizenship in the Unh ed States. By Prentiss Webster, of the Boston Bar. Matthew Bender, Albany, N. Y., 1891. Law sheep. I4.00. Although the title of this work would seem to con fine its subject to citizenship in the United States, it is in fact a history of the rights of citizens from the earliest Roman times to the present day. It is a book for ready reference for diplomatic and consular officers in the service of the United States abroad to cases decided by the Department of State on the authorities of the United States Courts and the Attorney-Generals of the United States, and will serve as a practical guide for the officer in consider ing the many questions of applicants emigrating to the United States, naturalized citizens upon return to their country of origin and to other foreign coun tries, citizens who purpose making a permanent home abroad, and the relations of citizens of the United States marrying foreigners with the intent to take up residences in foreign countries. It contains the naturalization laws of the United States, the treaties of naturalization, and reference to the ana lytical index to treaties made between the United States and foreign nations on naturalization, com merce, and tenure of property; and is, in fact, a practical manual for judges and clerks of Courts of Naturalization on decisions of the Department of State and Supreme Court in the relations of our citizens to this country and to foreign countries. Also the relations of aliens seeking citizenship in the various stages of naturalization proceedings in our own courts. The treatise has been prepared with evident care, and while designed for the legal profession will find interested readers among all intelligent laymen. A Treatise on the Law of Homicide, including a Complete H istory of the Proceedings in find ing and trying an Indictment therefor; together with a Chapter on Defences to Homicide. By James M. Kerr. Banks & Brothers, New York and Albany, 189 1. Law sheep. $6.00 net. Mr. Kerr is certainly an indefatigable worker, and the quality of his work is surprisingly good. In the present treatise the law of homicide, as it exists in this country, Is clearly and concisely stated, and the

cases therein collected exhaustively cover every point likely to arise in the trial of homicide cases. It will prove of much value to all criminal lawyers. The index is very full, and the citations include some five thousand cases, the leading cases being printed in italics, and the date of each decision is given. It is evident, as the author says, that " neither time nor pains have been spared to make what was thought to be a book assistful to the profession, and afford a convenient key to the mass of cases on the topics treated of." Principles of the Law of Personal Property. By William T. Brantly, of the Baltimore Bar. San Francisco : Bancroft-Whitney Company, 1891. $3-00 net. This work of Mr Brantly's is the last addition to the "Practitioners' Series." It includes many topics which are not treated in other text books, as well as some which ordinarily constitute the subject matter of entiie volumes. . The author's object has been to consider with due elaboration those topics which belong exclusively to the title of " Personal Property," and are not the subject of distinct works, such as the law of accession, gifts, possession, occupancy, ani mals, and the co-ownership of personalty. Other subjects which naturally find a place in works of this character are also concisely discussed. Mr. Brantly appears to have done his work carefully and conscientiously, and his book will prove of value to the profession. Commentaries on the Laws of England. By Sir William Blackstone, Kt. Edited for American Lawyers, by William G. Hammond. Bancroft-Whitney Company, San Francisco, 1890. Four volumes. • $10.00 net. Without detracting in the slightest from the merits of the various editions of Blackstone's Commenta ries which have from time to time appeared, the place of honor must certainly be accorded to this work of Professor Hammond's. No law writer in this country is better fitted for the task of editing such a work; and an examination of his notes reveals a vast amount of research and learning, which ren der them invaluable to the practising lawyer as well as the student. References are made to all com ments on the text in the American Reports from 1787 to 1890. We wish that the work might have been published in a different form, — the " Practi tioners' Series," of which it forms a part, being printed in too small a type for comfortable reading. Still, we are grateful to the Bancroft Whitney Com pany for giving us this valuable addition to legal literature in any form.