re-read the sermons of Dr. Barrow, till he knew many of them by heart. With the same view, he performed a task to which, perhaps, no other student in oratory has ever submitted. He went twice through the folio Dictionary of Bailey (the best before that of Johnson), examining each word attentively, dwelling on its peculiar import and modes of construction, and thus endeavoring to bring the whole range of our language completely under his control." We may safely assume therefore that the study of an English dictionary is not only in teresting, but that it has peculiar advantages and compensations to the layman. The profes sional man must needs know the meanings of, as well as the words for, things. "Is not the judge," says the learned Baron Martin, "bound to know the meaning of all words in the English language?" If this be so and if the judge does not derive the knowledge from descent he must by purchase, and this work is simply indispensable to him; for herein he finds not merely the word but the word as interpreted by his elders, if not bet ters, in solemn judgments of courts of last resort. The professional meaning he must have, and if counsel do not suggest it, he must fumble through many a volume in what often proves a painful if not wholly illusive search. The word in its technical sense is wanted; philological nicety is not required, but a knowledge of its derivation is far from useless. Sir Richard Kindersley, indeed, maintains the contrary, as quoted by Mr. Stroud, for the learned vice chancellor says: "It is not necessary to go into the derivation of words for that sort of reasoning would not assist in the administration of justice." True as a general rule, it may not be so in a par ticular instance. If we open Stroud (Vol. II., p. 942) at "inappreciable," we find Baron Parke taking issue with Kindersley's gen eral statement, and the learned and fussy baron is, as always, right. "An 'inappre ciable' abstraction of water from a stream, has been suggested to mean, so 'inconsider able an amount as to be incapable of value or price' (per Talfourd, J., Embrey v. Owen,
20 L. J. Ex. 212; 6 Ex. 353); on which Parke, В., in delivering the judgment of the Court of Exchequer, said, 'We are not pre pared to say that the learned judge was cor rect in the interpretation of 'inappreciable' when connected with 'quantity'; nor are we sure that he was not. The word 'unappreciable,1 or 'inappreciable,' is one of a new coinage, not to be found in Johnson's Dic tionary, Richardson's, or Webster's. The word 'appreciate' first appears in the edition of Johnson by Todd, in 1827, with the explantion, 'To estimate and vale.' " (Vth., per Bowen, L. J., Brunsden v. Humphrey, 14 A. B. D. 150.) But conceding that Mr. Stroud's work i& eminently useful, indeed indispensable, is it sufficiently full and accurate for professional purposes? It is impossible to answer this question without doing Mr. Stroud's work over again, but a careful examination of numerous passages would lead the reviewer to reply in the affirmative. Some time ago the writer had occasion to read the case of Birmingham v. Allen (L. R. 6 Ch. Div. 284) in which Sir George Jessel considered inter alia "the right of the ad joining owner." Stroud, Vol. I., p. 34, arti cle "adjacent," noted the reference to Birm ingham v. Allen and other references were given under the appropriate articles: adjoin,, adjoining, adjoining owner, and neighbor ing. This is only one of many instances that might be given. A single quotation will indicate Mr. Stroud's method and its thor oughness—the first paragraph of the heading "Keep" (Vol. II., p. 1038). "To keep in Good Repair1 pre-supposes the putting into it, and means that during the whole term the premises shall be in good repair (per Rolfe, В., Payne v. Haine, 16 M. & W. 546; 16 L. J. Ex. 130; Luxmore v. Robson, i B. & Aid. 584; Proudfoot v. Hart, 59 L. J. A. B. 389; 25 A. B. D. 42); the meaning is the same if the phrase is 'keep in repair' (cf, Crowe v. Crisford, 17 Bea. 507; Cooke v. Cholmondeley, 4 Drew. 328; Woodf. 628; Fawcett, 314): and this ruling seems appli cable not only to Buildings but also to a.
