A Moft Valuable Acquifition to every Lawyer, Real Estate Owner and Conveyancer. THE GREAT LEGAL WORK. BLACKWELL ON TAX TITLES. A Practical Treatise on the Power to Sell Land for the Non-Payment of Taxes Affeffed thereon, embracing the decifions of the Federal Courts, and of the Supreme Judicial Tribunals of the feveral States. By ROBERT S. BLACKWELL, Efq., of the Chicago Bar. One Vol., 8 vo., about 800 pages. Price $5.50. From the numerous letters which we have received from persons highly qualified to judge of the merits of the work, we make the following extracts: ILLINOIS. From Hon. J. D. Caton. "I have perused with attention the early sheets of BLACKWELL ON TAX TITLES. You have arranged your subject in an admirable and philosophical manner. Your extensive practice and great familiarity with the subject of which you treat, have eminently qualified you for the task you have undertaken. I am satisfied you have done yourself and your subject eminent justice. The want of a practical treatise on the subject of Tax Titles has long been felt by the profession, especially in the Western States. By accomplishing your task with the same fidelity and industry which is indicated in that portion which I have examined, you will have rendered an invaluable service to both the bench and the bar. No Law Library can be considered complete without your work. The mechanical execution of the work is such as leaves nothing to be desired in that department." From Hon. O. C. Skinner. "It seems to me the book is one of great practical utility, and demanded at this period by the wants of the profession. The fact alone that it gives complete reference to all the leading adjudications upon the vexed questions arising out of Titles derived under Tax Sales, renders the work peculiarly valuable, and the matter of the text appears highly creditable to the profession and to the author." From Hon. S. H. Treat. "I have examined Mr. BLACKWELL'S TREATISE ON TAX TITLES, and regard it as a valuable work, and well worthy the patronage of the profession." From Hon. D. M. Woodson. "As far as I can judge of the work, I regard it as one of great merit. It treats on a subject of much interest to the American Lawyer, and must doubtless meet with that favor from the profession which it deserves. Such a work is greatly needed, and the author is entitled to the thanks of the legal profession for the labor which he has bestowed on a branch of the law to which but little attention has been directed." From Hon. John M. Wilson. "I have examined with care Mr. BLACKWELL'S TREATISE ON TAX TITLES, and am confident that it will fully meet the expectations of the profession even in the West where his reputation as an able lawyer is best known. His extensive practice in cases involving the investigation of questions applicable to this branch of the law has enabled him to present the subject in a manner eminently practical. The arrangement of the subject is perspicuous and the citations of authorities upon all the. main topics are full, and embrace all the cases bearing upon the several points discussed; the subject is one of great and increa ing importance, and this is the first effort to bring order out of apparent chaos, of decisions scattered through the numerous American Reports. I have no doubt that his book will compare favorably with the best and most popular law treatises." From Chief Justice Scates. "A digest of the laws and principles settled by the construction of them by the many decisions of Great Britain and the federal and state courts, scattered through so many volumes of laws and reports, had become necessary to the profession. I highly approve the undertaking, and am pleased to find embraced within the plan of your work such thoroughness and completeness in tracing the subject from first principles through all its nice and difficult distinctions, from the source of the power to a valid title under it. Judging of the whole work by the chapters I have examined, your labors will supply a pressing want of the profession, and will, I have no doubt, meet their approbation and encouragement as they deserve." From Hon. Thomas Drummond. "I understand that you have in press and are soon to publish a work on the "Power to sell land for non-payment of taxes," by R. S. Blackwell of this city. My official duties have caused me to become somewhat familiar with the subject treated by Mr. Blackwell, as I have been called on to decide numerous cases upon that branch of the law within the last few years. I was much gratified to learn that he was preparing a work on that subject for the press. It has grown to be a very important branch of the law, particularly in the Western States, and I am confident the work of Mr. Blackwell will greatly facilitate the labors of the bench and the bar in cases involving the questions treated by him. I have had an opportunity of examining the work in its progress through the press, and I am much pleased with the manner in which Mr. B. has discharged the duty he has taken upon himself. The subject appears to be arranged with clearness, and discussed with learning and ability. Allow me to add, in conclusion, that you are producing the book in a style that is exceedingly creditable to your house." From Hon. R. S. Wilson. "This work I am sure will be of great service to the practitioner, and it will in my opinion furnish the student with more useful knowledge than can be obtained within the lids of work containing the same number of pages. It will unquestionably be a popular and useful book in every State in the Union." From Hon. David Davis. "I am happy to bear my testimony to the merits of your forthcoming work on Tax Titles, so far as I am able to judge from the chapters which you were kind enough to send me. The decisions of our courts on the subject of Taxe and Tax Sales are scattered through a great number of volumes, and thereby rendered in a measure inaccessible to the great majority of the profession in the Western States. A book bringing together those decisions with the laws on which they are founded, and giving the references to them must, prove eminently useful to the bar of this country. Every lawyer and in fact every business man who is engaged in real estate transactions, needs the work, and will certainly procure a copy I trust that a discerning and liberal profession will amply repay you for the time and labor bestowed in the preparation of your book." From Hon. Norman H. Purple. "I have examined the three first chapters of your work on Tax Titles; furnishing, as the same is designed to do, to the profession, a ready reference to all the laws and decisions, with a brief and lucid abstract of the same, in relation to Taxes and Tax Sales, in the United States. It must prove highly useful and beneficial to the legal profession at home and abroad, and indispensable to such as are extensively engaged in the investigation of titles to real estate. I take great pleasure in recommending it to the public." From Isaac N. Arnold, Esq. "I have been highly gratified in looking over several chapters of your "Practical treatise on the power to sell land, &c." It is a book which supplies a want felt more and more by the profession, and which will relieve all who have any thing to do with investigations connected with Tax Titles from much labor. Its possession by me during the past year would have saved me weeks of labor. I think the execution of the work highly creditable to yourself; exhibiting great research, industry and accuracy, and nice discrimination in statement of cases. In the production of this work, I think you have honorably discharged the "debt which," as Lord Coke says, "every man owes to his profession." From Hon. Ebenezer Peck. (State Reporter.) "It is a treatise of much merit, prepared with great care, and carries with it evidence of study and learning. The book will make a valuable addition to the library of every western lawyer, and in truth to the library of every lawyer who desires to be well informed upon the subjects of which Mr. Blackwell treats. The mechanical execution of the work is superior and will do credit to yourselves as publishers." From Hon. P. H. Walker. "I feel no hesitation in saying that I regard it a very valuable addition to the present stock of our legal learning. I think it will prove highly valuable to both the student and practitioner. It seems to cover the entire subject, and is very complete in its arrangement. Such a work has been greatly needed and its appearance will be highly acceptable to the profession." MARYLAND. From Chief Justice R. B. Taney. Chief Justice Taney received specimen sheets of the work while indisposed, at "Old Point Comfort;" he therefore was unable to give the work more than a cursory examination. He writes as follows: So far as I looked into it, my opinion was a favorable one, and certainly a work on that subject is very desirable." OHIO. From Hon. John McLean. "I am very favorably impressed with the work. Such a treatise was much needed, not only in the Western States where lands are frequently sold for taxes, but also for land holders in the West who reside in other parts of the Union. I have no doubt that it will not only be extensively useful, but very creditable to the author. The manner in which the book has been printed, does credit to the publishers and the press of Chicago." From Hon. W. Y. Gholson. "The portions of Mr. BLACKWELL'S TREATISE ON TAX TITLES, which you were so kind as to send me have been examined. It is an able and very carefully prepared work, and promises entirely to exhaust the subject; much labor must have been bestowed on the examination of the cases having any bearing on the subject discussed, and I must confess that I am surprised they were found to be so numerous. The work when completed will be a most valuable aid to all whose business or researches lead them into an investigation of the questions discussed. The mode in which the work has been got up is creditable to the arts in your city." MISSOURI. From the Hon. John M. Krum, St. Louis. "I have read with great interest and satisfaction BLACKWELL'S TREATISE ON TAX TITLES, which you were so kind as to rend me, as the work was going through the press. Having myself given this subject more than ordinary study and attention during the last fifteen years, I was the more anxious to see this work when its publication was announced. In my judgment the author has succeeded well in presenting his subject in clear and vigorous language, and with marked perspicuity and point. He has succeeded equally well in stating the facts and the points decided in the many Tax Title Cases that have been adjudicated in the several courts of the United States, and which are reviewed in the text. This feature in the work renders it a most valuable acquisition to every practicing lawyer." INDIANA. From Hon. S. E. Perkins. "I have looked with some care through BLACKWELL ON TAX TITLES, and am pleased with the work. The branch of the law treated of, is sufficiently important and extensive to be made the subject of a volume, and is, I judge, systematically and thoroughly examined by Mr. B. The work will be of great practical value to the profession, and should, and I have no doubt will, meet with an extensive sale. I am satisfied it will take its place among our standard text books, along side of Angel & Ames' Corporations, "Sedgwick on damages," &c." VIRGINIA. From Hon. Andrew Johnston. "I have read attentively the first sheets of BLACKWELL ON TAX TITLES. Such a work is very much needed by the bar; being the first attempt, so far as I know, to digest in a separate treatise the cases and doctrines belonging to a subject of great and increasing importance. I have no doubt Mr. Blackwell's undertaking will prove an essential service to the profession, and confirm the reputation he has already acquired." WISCONSIN. From Hon. Levi Hubbell. "I have noticed with much pleasure, your announcement, of a work in press entitled "Blackwell on Tax Tities." From an examination of the advance sheets, I am satisfied it will prove a work of merit and prove extensively serviceable to the bench and the bar. If the work is completed in accordance with the prospectus, Mr. B. will have admirably cultivated a new field of professional reputation." NEW JERSEY. From Hon. B. Williamson. "The work is one which has been greatly needed by the profession. The collection of the scattered authorities upon the subject of the treatise would of itself make this a most acceptable work both to the bench and the bar. It has, however, much more merit than this; and I am sure the author will receive, as he deserves, a suitable return for his own valuable labors by which he has so much abbreviated the labors of others, and supplied a deficiency in the library of the lawyer." MICHIGAN. An eminent lawyer in Michigan, who has received the work in sheets as it came out, thus writes: "I have received from you, and read with equal pleasure and profit the first eleven chapters of "Blackwell on Tax Titles." It has long been matter of astonishment to me that so important a subject as that of Titles to Real Estate under sales for Taxes, should remain so entirely unnoticed by commentators on American Law. While every freeholder in the country is interested in knowing what are the safeguards which the law throws around his property, and how strictly those must be regarded by officers who would punish his neglect of duty by the forfeiture of his estate, while the 10 294512 53 004 XL 88 2159 title to millions of acres is yearly being transferred or attempted by law to be transferred from those who have bought in good faith and for a full consideration to speculators who pay a nominal price only, and while every municipal corporation has a vital interest in the question of the validity of tax sales, by the aid of which alone it can maintain its revenues-this great branch of American Jurisprudence has scarcely received the passing notice of authors, and the lawyer who would make himself familiar with it, has been obliged to wade through series after series of reports, collect the scattered cases, examine them in the light of the various statutes affecting them, and with great labor sift the grains of correct doctrine from the conflicting decisions. Rejoicing, therefore, to learn that Mr. Blackwell was engaged in the work of bringing together and analysing the American decisions on Tax questions, I assure you that I was both surprised and delighted to find his Treatise so clear in its statements of fundamental principles, so comprehensive in its plan, and so complete in its collection of authorities as the first portion shows it to be That this great professional want should be at once so completely supplied, was more than we could reasonably have hoped, and Mr. Blackwell has well earned the thanks of the profession, and the high reputation he is certain to attain by bringing & well-disciplined mind and a large experience to the elucidation of this subject." ALABAMA. From Hon. W. P. Chilton. "I am in receipt of some of the early sheets of Mr. Blackwell's work on Tax Titles, which you did me the honor to forward. From the specimen I feel confident the work will be highly acceptable to the legal profession, as it is the only one exclusively devoted to this branch of the law. The author appears to have bestowed much care and labor to make it accurate, and well deserves the gratitude of his professional brethren. I have no doubt the publishers will find for it a very ready sale." SOUTH CAROLINA. From Hon. Job Johnston. "I have as you desired examined with such attention as my business allowed, portions of Blackwell on Tax Titles issued from your press, and am quite pleased with them. Judging from the research into authorities, the clearness of exposition, and the soundness of reasoning manifested in the chapters already out, and the subjects indicated in the table of contents, I shall expect the work when completed to rank well among American judicial publications. The subject of the taxing power considered as a matter of law, is well handled, and the investigation of what is intended by the phrase Lex Terra is uncommonly extensive and able. If the remainder shall correspond in excellence with what I have seen, this work will, in my opinion, establish a high reputation for its author." From Hon. John Belton O'Neale. "I received a few days ago your favor, together with "Blackwell on Tax Titles." I have read the work with attention, and am much pleased with the plan and the contents." GEORGIA. From Hon. E. A. Nesbet. "I am in receipt of some of the early sheets of "Blackwell on Tax Titles," which you propose soon to publish. I have looked into the work, and find it written with precision and accuracy, and its positions sustained by copious references. The title really has no place in the elementary books of the profession Such a treatise is a professional want. It will be useful more especially in our new States. That it will be successful I have no doubt." PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE POWER TO SELL LAND FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES ASSESSED THEREON, EMBRACING THE DECISIONS OF THE FEDERAL COURTS, AND OF THE SUPREME BY ROBERT S. BLACKWELL, OF THE ILLINOIS BAR. CHICAGO: D. B. Cog & Co., BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHERS, 135 LAKE STREET. 1855. |