of the old forms. The lease itself comprises the description of the parties to it and the demise. The other parts of the lease are thrown into a Schedule divided into eight sections, relating respectively to the boundaries, liberties, exceptions, rents, provisions relating to rents, covenants by lessee and lessor, and general provisions. The sections are divided into paragraphs, and numbered. By these arrangements any point may be referred to without trouble or delay an advantage so obvious that this method cannot fail to come into general use. The author is indebted for this form to G. C. Greenwell, Esq., the well-known author of a valuable work on mining. Another lease has been added as a valuable specimen of a modern and well-drawn instrument for the district of South Wales. A form of Proviso for reentry will also be found, which places that power upon a fair and reasonable basis. An epitome of the French laws relating to mines has been taken from an excellent work, and exhibits the points of difference between the French and English systems. The index has also been much enlarged. The author takes this opportunity of expressing his obligations to W. T. Lewis, Esq., of Aberdare, D. Randall, Esq., of Neath, and Joshua Richardson, Esq., for their kindness in supplying him with information. THE GNOLL, NEATH: INTRODUCTION. Ir is not intended in this work to enter at large upon the abstruse questions of real-property law which are connected with the working, sale, and letting of strata of coal. The work is rather intended as one of convenient reference for non-professional persons who are concerned in collieries, than as a guide to professional men, who are furnished with the best authorities on these subjects. But as in many transactions connected with collieries, business of importance is carried on without professional aid, and as a short and comprehensive statement of the law may be convenient even to professional men, it is proposed to consider as briefly as possible the general rules which govern this kind of property. The laws which govern the relation between the employer and the collier will be discussed somewhat more fully; and the topics of truck, combination, intimidation, rating, and inspection will be treated as fully as practical convenience can require. The leading cases will be referred to, in illustration of the propositions that are advanced, and the statutes that relate to the various matters under consideration will be embodied in the text, or otherwise referred to. The difficult subject of the rating of collieries has occupied much of the attention of the Author, and he has availed himself of all the information within his reach. The conclusions at which he has arrived are uncertain and unsatisfactory, and the intervention of the Legislature is much to be desired in order to place the rating of this class of property upon one uniform and intelligible basis. No work has hitherto been published which treats specially of these and other topics comprised in this treatise, to the exclusion of other matters and ques⚫tions connected with mining for the metallic ores. The great and growing interests involved in coalmining seem to justify the publication of a work in which those interests alone will be the subjects treated of. The Author fears that imperfections and omissions will be found in it, notwithstanding his anxious desire to make it accurate and clear. He is much indebted to the comprehensive and learned work of Mr. Bainbridge on the Law of Mines, in which the cases connected with mining have been collected down to the time of its publication. But whilst he has availed himself of the learned labours of this and other authors of well-known text-books, he has, at the same time, frequently brought forward some leading case illustrating the matter under consideration, from which the whole or parts of the judgments have been quoted verbatim. This plan has been followed as much as possible, because it will generally be found that the spirit and meaning of any rule of law is far more easily apprehended and ascertained by reading one luminous judgment on the subject-matter, than by the perusal of short epitomes or analyses of many decisions. decisions. As circumstances differ infinitely, so each case and decision will, indeed, have its own value, and present some peculiar modification or distinction. But although no case on any special subject-matter may be safely overlooked, it will generally be found either that the doctrine has been grasped and enunciated as soon as the matter was fairly discussed, and has been acquiesced in as law ever since, or that after a long series of cases, in which doubts are apparent, the discussions and arguments have terminated in a case in which the rule has been clearly and finally laid down. Hence the advantage of finding the leading cases containing the luminous expositions of English law which have from time to time been set forth by a line of great judges from Lord Holt to Lord Campbell. Magistrates before whom colliers are brought up on charges of misconduct, are often perplexed by the vague and loose nature of the contract of service. In many cases, if a contract exists at all, it can only be implied from the surrounding circumstances. The Author has suggested a form which he conceives may serve to meet the various difficulties which have actually occurred in the enforcement of such contracts, and which might form the heading of a |