the attention of any of our legal writers. A knowl edge of the proper methods for determining the pertinence and weight of reported cases is, unfortu nately, confined almost exclusively to what we may term " expert " lawyers, and the young practitioner is frequently perplexed and in doubt as to whether cer tain decided cases have or have not any real bearing upon the subject-matter he may have in hand. In the opening portion of this volume Mr. Wambaugh fully and yet concisely explains the best methods for de termining the pertinence of reported cases, and, that the student may acquire a mastery of these methods by actual practice, the remainder of the volume is devoted to cases for study. The intention of the author is " that the student shall state the cases, dis cover the doctrines of law established by them, com pose head-notes, point out dicta, make all possible comments as to the weight of the decisions, and compile a digest. We know of no work of greater importance to the student, or one which will render him more material aid in preparing for the practice of the law, than this volume of Mr. Wambaugh's. It should be adopted as a text-book by every law school in the country. A Selection of Leading Cases in the Criminal Law (founded on Shirley's Leading Cases), with Notes. By Henry Warburton. Stevens & Sons, London, Eng., 1892. Cloth, $2.70. This work is founded on Shirley's Leading Cases in the Criminal Law, and the author's aim has been to make the collection of cases given of general use for practitioners as well as for students. The prin cipal offences and points of procedure with which a practitioner in criminal law has to deal will be found to be fully covered in this volume. The author has had the advantage of bringing to his aid a long ex perience in criminal practice, and his selections have been made with care and good judgment. The notes are very full, and contain much valuable matter. Pleading at Common Law and under the Codes. By George Wharton Pepper, A.B., LL.B. Edward Thompson Company, Northport, Long Island, N. Y., 1891. This admirable monograph on Pleading was origi nally prepared for the American and English Ency clopaedia of Law, by Mr. Pepper, who is the Lecturer on Pleading in the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania. It has been reprinted in its present form for the use of the students who are under Mr. Pepper's instruction. Its use, however, will not be limited to that one law school, for we are sure that other lecturers upon the subject will be glad to avail
themselves of this excellent work. It is a remarka bly clear and concise presentation of a subject which the average law student finds exceptionally difficult. We heartily recommend it to our legal teachers as well as to students. A Treatise on the Law of Private Corpora tions, divided with respect to Rights pertaining to the corporate entity as well as those of the corporate interests of members, Remedies for the enforcement and protection of these rights and interests, and Legislation amending and repealing charters, regulating rates and conduct of business, and taxing stock franchises and other corporate property. Containing a full and complete exposition of principles both ancient and recently developed, with references to au thorities in England and all the States down to date of publication. By J. Carl Spelling, of the San Francisco Bar. L. K. Strouse & Co., New York, 1892. Two vols. Law sheep, $12. Considering the number of works on this important subject which are already at the command of the profes sion, a writer must indeed be bold who dares to ven ture into this well-worked field. A careful examina tion of Mr. Spelling's treatise, however, demonstrates the fact that good as previous works on Private Cor porations may have been, there was still room left for improvement, and the author has not been slow to avail himself of the opportunities presented to him. In one respect, certainly, the present work greatly excels its predecessors, and that is in the division of the subject. This division is fully illustrated in an analytical plan which precedes the opening chapter, and which will prove of great value to the reader. Subjects which have heretofore been treated in iso lated chapters are classed and subdivided according to their relation to the whole subject. On one point we fully agree with the author, who does not believe that there is any special merit in citing numberless cases. He believes, and so do we, that the citation of one or two of the latest decisions in a State where in former decisions in the same State are cited and reviewed will yield space which can be better de voted to development of principles than to a long string of cases, which will necessarily come to the notice of the practitioner upon examination of the latest decisions. Mr. Spelling's notes are very full, and evidently prepared with great care; and in cases where the law is unsettled or the decisions conflict ing, he does not hesitate freely to express his individ ual opinion. Altogether this work is a valuable addition to our legal text-books, and should receive an appreciative endorsement by the profession.
