LAW OF RECEIVERS. By Charles F. Beach, Jr., of the New York Bar. New York: L. K. Strouse & Co., 1888. This is truly a valuable book, being the most recent work on the subject. The fact that it was selected by the faculty of Columbia Law School as a text-book is in itself a high recommendation of its worth. The theory and doctrine of this branch of the law is masterly considered. The citations, especially as to railroad receivership, are so comprehensive as to render the work a necessity in every lawyer's library.

PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. By William T. Brantly, of the Baltimore Bar. San Francisco: Bancroft-Whitney Company, 1891.

This short work is one of the "Pony Series" of law books, published in a useful form and size by the Bancroft-Whitney Company. Mr. Brantly does not endeavor to follow out and treat of all the topics which fall under the broad term "Personal Property," but has rather confined himself to expositions of those topics which are not treated in distinct works. Of course the topics which are treated separately, and which naturally belong to a correct work on personal property, such as copyright and the law of fixtures, are dealt with in their proper places, but their principles are stated with great conciseness. The chief value of the work lies in its use as a reference book upon such subjects as gifts, possession, animals. As as a work confined exclusively to topics of personal property it is one of much usefulness.

A TREATISE ON THE LAW Of Citizenship IN THE UNITED STATES. Treated historically by Prentiss Webster, of the Boston Bar. Albany: Matthew Bender, 1891.

Although in legal form this is not solely and strictly a legal work. It is rather a combination of the legal and historical development of citizenship; not only in this, but in other countries. It is this combination of the two that gives the real value to the book. Mr. Webster lays down the definition of citizenship "to be the enjoyment of equal rights and privileges at home, and equal protection abroad," and from the standpoint of this definition has succeeded in giving us a very able treatise; one that will be of use not only to the lawyer, but to every citizen of this thinking nation. Mr. Webster has confined himself to the citizenship of the United States, and has clearly set forth all the duties, obligations, and privileges of the citizen to the United States.

GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF
THE UNITED STATES. BY W. W. and
Baltimore:
W. F. Willoughby, A.B.
Johns Hopkins University Studies, 1891.

This work is the January and February number of the "University Studies in Historical and Political Science." The aim of the work is to give to students in political institutions a "better understanding of the manner in which" our Federal system is administered. It should be used in connection with the general text-books on Civil Government; both as a help to the instructor in his lectures, and as a

guide to the student in a natural course of historical research in American history. Johns Hopkins University is to be complimented upon the uniform excellency of these historical and political studies.

Pleading under THE CODES. By Charles T. Boone, LL.B., author of Law of Corporations," Real Property," etc. 2 Vols. San Francisco: Bancroft-Whitney Co., 1885-1886.

Books on Code Pleading have been published without number, and yet the profession is always anxious for a work that will be more practical than any of the old ones.

In Mr. Boone's work the chief aim has been to make a treatise that will be practical in its every detail, and in this the author has been very largely successful. The work is adapted to all the States and Territories that have adopted the system of reformed procedure, and can thus be relied upon by the profession generally who have occasion to practise in courts where that system prevails. The second volume of the work contains all the forms of Code Pleading necessary to a varied practice, and is an essential part of the subject. The notes in both volumes are complete, and the entire work is a clear and concise treatise upon all Code Pleading. As a student's work especially it is of the highest

value.

FORMS IN CONVEYANCING, And General LEGAL FORMS. By Leonard A. Jones, author of "Mortgages of Real Property," etc. Second edition, revised. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., 1891.

The usefulness of a good set of forms is evident to both lawyer and layman, and with regard to the second edition of the work of Mr. Jones, it is not saying too much to recommend it as one of the most

reliable books of its kind known to us. These forms are the more valuable in that half of them are full precedents and all of them very practical with practical notes. The work is adapted for general use in every State, the local forms of each State being given as well as those general forms

used in numerous localities.

Mr. Jones deserves credit for the breadth of ground covered by his book and for the carefulness with which he has revised his original work. The addition of two hundred cases to the present edition largely increases the value of the work. It is not intended that these forms should be an exact model of the instrument to be drawn, but simply that they shall be an example to the draftsman to suggest to him the provisions necessary to a correct instrument.

The index will be found very complete and easy of access, and the general makeup of the book is in every respect satisfactory.

A LEGAL ANTIQUITY.

The following is a correct transcript of the most memorable judicial sentence which has ever been uttered by human lips in the annals of the world. This curious document was discovered in A.D. 1280 in the city of Aquill in the kingdom of Naples, in the course of a search made for the discovery of Roman antiquities, and it remained there until it was found by the Commissaries of Art in the French army of Italy. Up to the time of the campaign in Southern Italy, it was preserved in the sacristy of the Carthusians, near Naples, where it was kept in a box of ebony. Since then the relic has been kept in the Chapelo Caserta. The Carthusians obtained, by petition, leave that the plate might be kept by them as an acknowledgment of the sacrifices which they had made for the French army. The French translation was made literally by members of the Commission of Art. Denon had a facsimile of the plate engraved, which was bought by Lord Howard, on the sale of his cabinet, for two thousand eight hundred and ninety francs.

There seems to be no historical doubt as to the authenticity of this document, and it is obvious to remark that the reasons of the sentence correspond exactly with those recorded in the Gospels. The sentence itself runs as follows:

"Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate, Intendant of Lower Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall suffer death by the cross. In the seventeenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, and on the 25th of March, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, during the Pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Intendant of the Province of Lower Galilee, sitting in judgment in the presidential chair of the prætor,

sentences Jesus of Nazareth to death on a cross, between two robbers, as the numerous testimonies of the people prove that— 1. Jesus is a misleader. 2. He has excited the people to sedition. 3. He is an enemy to the laws. 4. He calls himself the Son of God. 5. He calls himself the King of Israel. 6. He went to the Temple followed by a multitude carrying palms in their hands."

It likewise orders the first Centurion, Quiralius Cornelius, to bring him to the place of execution, and forbids all persons, rich or poor, to prevent the execution of Jesus. The witnesses who have signed the execution against Jesus are: 1. Daniel Robani, a Pharisee; 2. John Zorobabel; 3. Raphael Robani; 4. Capit.

Finally it orders that the said Jesus be taken out of Jerusalem through the gate of Tournea. GREEN BAG.