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STE STEPHEN, GEORGE. The Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a Horse. 12mo. London. 1835. "This is a very clever and amusing book, containinnr abundant infor- mation on the defects and merits of horses, and the frauds practised in selling them ; together with a lively and accurate review of the law relating to the warranty of horses." 11 L. O. 56. STEPHEN, HENRY JOHN. A Summary of the Criminal Law, in lis Present State ; to which are subjoined the principal Modern Acts for the Improvement of Criminal Justice. 8vo. London. 1834. See Law Library. . A Treatise on the Principles of Pleading in Civil Actions ; comprising a Summary View of the whole Proceedings in a Suit at Law. 5th ed. 8vo. London. 1843. 3d American ed., with large Additions. By F. J. Troubat. 8vo. Philadelphia. - 1840. Mr. Stephen's work on Pleading, is a master piece of exhausting and elegant legal writing. It is characterized by an accurate statement and clear elucidation of the principles of Pleading, by a perspicuous and logical arrangement, and by a comprehensive and yet concise treatment of the subject. The science of Special Pleading is here displayed, pruned of all redundances, and in as attractive a manner as the subject is susceptible of. 12 A. J. 212 ; (15) 337 ; (25) 333 ; 1 Leg. Rep. 297 ; 46 N. A. Rev. 72; HolT. Leg. Stu. 381 ; 4 Kent, 544, n. . New Commentaries on the Laws of England, partly founded on Blackstone. 4 vols. 8vo. London. 1841-45. 4 vols. 8vo. New York. 1843-46. Serjeant Stephen's Commentaries are a rejuvination of Sir William Blackstone's. The hitherto usual method of editing the latter is to pre- serve the text entire, and to present the changes that the law has under- gone since he wrote, in the form of notes. Serjeant Stephen drops the obsolete parts of Blackstone altogether, and aims at furnishing an ele- mentary exposition of the English Law as it exists at the present day. His Commentaries area compound of Blackstone and Stephen, not a new edition of the former, nor an entirely new work of the latter. Those parts of the old Commentaries retained in the new, are distinguished by means of brackets, so that one is never at loss to know whether he is reading Blackstone or Stephen. The new Commentaries have been so recently published that their merits or defects have not been much can- vassed, but from the author's well known legal reputation, it is probable that no material inaccuracies will be found, though the first edition of every work of magnitude ordinarily contains some omissions or mis- 664