what novel but exceedingly useful feature-precedents or styles, and official tables of fees for architects and engineers. PRESCRIPTION AND CUSTOM. Six Lectures delivered in the Old These lectures have been published at the request of several who heard them, and, provided as they now are with table of contents, index of cases, and general index, they form a very convenient medium for the acquirement by the law student of a knowledge of the subject, giving, as they do, much information in compact form. The book should prove of interest to the Scottish practitioner, whose own law here differs so much from that of England. SWEET & MAXWELL'S LAWYER'S REFERENCE BOOK. London: Sweet & Maxwell, Limited. (2s. 6d. net.) This is an exceedingly handy and moderately priced manual, containing complete chronological lists of English, Scotch, Irish, and Canadian law reports, showing the period covered by each series; lists of English law reports from 1810 to 1907, showing the year covered by each volume; an exhaustive list of abbreviated citations of law reports used in text-books; a table of regnal years from 1 William I. to 6 Edward VII., showing the dates of commencement and end of each year; and a table showing the corresponding volumes of the old reporters and the revised reports. Many of the text-books contain lists of abbreviations used in citing authorities, but many do not; while many of the law library catalogues contain prefatory matter of the same nature, though probably not as exhaustive as the present volume, but it is convenient to have that matter in a volume by itself, which can lie on the desk always within reach of the hand. To the law student, the legal practitioner, the law writer, and even to the antiquarian in certain lines of research, the work will be exceedingly useful. In the list of Scotch reports we find that, while the older reports are referred to by their names as "Shaw," "Dunlop,' Macpherson," and "Rettie," "Fraser is designated simply as "fifth series," though in the list of abbreviations "F" is given as "Court of Session Reports, Scotland," but it is erroneously added "fourth series." The new series of Scots reports are not referred to. These, of course, are trifling errors, natural in a writer dealing with the reports of foreign judicatories. 99 66 Obituary. At Trynlaw, Cupar, on 18th May, Mr. Walter Thomson Currie, senior partner of the firm of Messrs. Shiell & Small, solicitors, Dundee, and an hon. Sheriff-Substitute of the city. Mr. Currie had been in ill-health for over a year, and was practically confined to the house, but his death, nevertheless, came rather unexpectedly. We take the following notice of the deceased from the Dundee Advertiser:A Currie of Linthill, deceased was born in Roxburghshire. He served his apprenticeship with Mr. Robert Bruce, writer, Kelso, and afterwards entered the office of Mr. John Richardson, W.S., Edinburgh. In the university town he pursued his studies, and by diligent application and the exercise of a sound understanding he gained a deep knowledge of and insight into Scots law. The late Mr. John Shiell, sen., was also a Roxburghshire man, and served his apprenticeship with Mr. Bruce some twenty-four years before Mr. Currie entered the office. Between them a friendship sprang up-a friendship which lasted throughout Mr. Shiell's life. When Mr. Currie had spent two years studying in Edinburgh, Mr. Shiell suggested Dundee as a suitable field for the application of his talents, and accordingly in 1846 the former entered the offices of Shiell & Small, with the business of which he was identified throughout the long period of sixty-one years, during forty-one years of which he occupied the position of partner. In 1885, on the death of Mr. David Small, Mr. Currie became the head of the firm. For a quarter of a century he was depute Clerk of the Peace, and was also for many years depute Keeper and Receiver of Sasines. In 1896 he assumed as partners Mr. Herbert Ogilvy and Mr. J. T. Mudie. Four years later Mr. Currie was appointed an additional hon. Sheriff-Substitute for Dundee. His place and standing won for him the distinction of Justice of the Peace for the counties of Perth and Forfar, and for the city of the county of Dundee. Mr. Currie was also a Commissioner of the High Court of Justice in Ireland, and among the other public appointments held by him were the posts of legal assessor to the Dundee Mercantile Marine Board, secretary of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway, secretary of the Dundee Corn Exchange Public Hall Company, clerk to the Baxter Park Trustees, clerk of Dundee Landward School Board, clerk of the heritors of the parish of Dundee, and clerk to the Commissioners of Income Tax. In private life Mr. Currie was of a retiring disposition. For some time he leased Rankeillour House, but about fifteen years ago he purchased Ferrybank, near Cupar, changing the name to Trynlaw. His political views tended towards Unionism, and he was a member of the Established Church. Deceased is survived by a widow and one daughter. At Ayr, on 20th May, Mr. William Thomson, solicitor. Mr. Thomson was one of the best-known solicitors in Dumfries and the south. He was born at Coylton, Ayr, studied at Glasgow University, and was for some years in the office of Messrs. Honeyman, Monteath, & Black, writers, Glasgow. Going to Dumfries in 1889, he succeeded in building up a large practice, He was and had for years a most extensive Court business. very popular, and was for some time on the Dean's Council of the Faculty. He was a bachelor and in the prime of life. At Jedburgh, on 26th May, Mr. Peter A. Speirs, advocate, lately Sheriff-Substitute of the counties of Roxburgh, Berwick, and Selkirk. Mr. Speirs was the only son of the late Mr. Archibald Speirs, of the East India Company's Civil Service, and was born in 1842. He was called to the Scottish bar in 1866, and from and from 1877 to 1886 was Sheriff-Substitute of Inverness-shire. Notes from Edinburgh. PARLIAMENT HOUSE, 31st May, 1907. THE summer session began on 14th inst. with a good supply of work both in the Outer House and the Inner House, though a falling off in the number of procedure roll cases was apparent from the rolls, there being but 79 of these in all, of which Lord Dundas had 11; Lord Johnston, 14; Lord Salvesen, 22; Lord Mackenzie, 10; and Lord Guthrie, 22. In addition to these, 82 proofs and jury trials have been fixed for the session by the several Lords Ordinary, the numbers being fairly equally distributed among them. In the Inner House both Divisions were confronted with formidable rolls to be attacked, the First Division having 7 cases standing in the summar roll, 89 in the short roll, and 13 in the jury roll, while, in addition, the long roll (of causes sisted or held over) contained 8. The Second Division started with 9 causes in the summar roll, 100 in the short roll, 4 in the jury roll, and 16 in the long roll. The Inner House supply is unusually heavy, and to it must be added some 70 new actions boxed in the vacation-the majority, as usual, being to the First Division. The vacation lists of summonses called before the Lords Ordinary were lighter than usual. The first box-day saw 40 cases called, while the second had almost double that number to its credit, 76 new summonses being initiated. On first sederunt day 19 new actions were in the calling lists, and on the day following 32 summonses were called. As showing the unequal manner in which new actions are distributed, owing to parties being allowed to choose their judge, it may be noted that, of the cases referred to, the numbers applicable to the several Lords Ordinary were as follows:-Lord Dundas, 44; Lord Johnston, 14; Lord Salvesen, 53; Lord Mackenzie, 18; and Lord Guthrie, 39. These figures would seem to speak in favour of an enrolling office being instituted for the equal allocation of summonses. The spring vacation saw little beyond the usual routine business being transacted by the vacation judges. There were, however, an unusual number of orders granted in applications for winding up and for supervision of companies, owing to the great failures in the timber trade, and there was, besides, one matter of outstanding public interest disposed of, viz., the interim interdict granted by Lord Salvesen against the sitting of Glasgow Licensing Appeal Court, the effect of which interdict was to bring about what would seem to have been a carnival of riot and uproar in the west. The doings of the Glasgow licensing bench appear to be not unfavourable to legal men, for, since the Court resumed its sittings, three summonses have been called against the licensing authorities at the instance of publicans who had been refused licences at the recent Court, which included in its sederunt Mr. Battersby, said to be an official of the Vigilance Society, and his presence, apparently, is the main bone of contention. Reduction of the Court's resolutions refusing the licences is asked in each case. During the vacation two important legal appointments were made, viz., that of Keeper of the Register of Sasines and that of Clerk of the Bills and Sequestrations, both posts having been rendered vacant by the death of their respective holders, Mr. Hope Finlay and Mr. D. Antonio. To the former office Mr. J. Smith Clark, S.S.C., was appointed, while the latter was filled by the appointment of Mr. T. Swinton Paterson, S.S.C. In Parliament House Mr. Smith Clark has for long been regarded as one of the most capable and thoroughgoing agents. and his able conduct of many heavy cases, including the recent actions by the Assets Company, for whom he acted, has made for him a reputation as one of the best Court of Session agents of recent years, and he has the confidence of the profession in his ability to discharge the responsible duties which now fall to his lot. Mr. Paterson, the new Clerk of the Bills, is not well known in Parliament House, as his practice did not include much Court work, and he has yet to win his spurs as an exponent of procedure in what is, without question, the most difficult and technical department of the Court. He is a comparatively young man, however, and this fact will stand him in good stead in discharging the duties of Bill Chamber Clerk, whose position calls for constant and unremitting activity of both mind and body. Towards the end of the vacation Lord Ardwall, on his return to town, became indisposed, and could not attend at Glasgow Circuit Court, which necessitated his place being taken by Lord Salvesen; but, although unable to be present in the Second Division on the first day of the session, his lordship turned up looking fit and well on the second day. In view of the much-discussed Third Division starting operations shortly, a clean bill of health all round is just now desirable, as the success of the experiment largely depends on the full working strength of the bench being available, and, as the Lord President is to be off duty for health reasons during the month of June, the supplementary Court cannot make a start until his return. I should not be surprised to find that the Third Division does not start work at all this session. It is understood that that Division will be composed of Lords M'Laren, Pearson, and Stormonth-Darling, and that Lord Dundas will sit in the First Division to make up a quorum of three judges. By the death of Lord Young, the last survivor of the fine old school of Scottish judges has disappeared. Homely of speech, and at times, perhaps, unconventional in expression, he stood out prominently as a type distinct and separate from those who, at the date of his retiral, were his colleagues on the bench. In many quarters much has been said as to his lordship's distinguished career in the several spheres in which he shone, and many stories concerning his sayings and doings have been re-told. I have not, however, seen reference made as to the real kindness of heart which lay behind the exercise of a caustic and at times cynical wit; but the deceased judge was, if he did not parade the fact on the bench, at all events in private life, one of the best-hearted of men. One eminent senator, who as a counsel engaged in many a sharp passage of arms with his lordship, once testified to this, saying, “If ever I were in trouble or in difficulties, and required assistance, Lord Young is the first man I should think of applying to for aid." Among malefactors the name of Lord Young at one time was regarded with wholesome awe, for he was ever stern in the administration of justice, yet his attitude could not be attributed to anything like hardness of heart, as his fondness for young children, which was one of his distinguishing features, would testify. Many a time he has been seen in Heriot Row and neighbourhood stopping to chat on equal terms with youngsters in charge of their nursemaids, and his familiar figure will be missed by numerous children who were wont to welcome his appearance among them. The heart of the man who loves and is beloved of children is in the right place, and the infantile judges who weighed up George Young were unerring of instinct when they accepted him as their comrade. Twice within the past six months has the Court of Session P |