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As Law Notes (N.Y.) says:

'The members of the legal profession may well love it for the enemies it has made. The ignorant have at all times been loud in their denunciation. One of the chief demands of the Peasants' Rebellion in the 14th century was the prompt execution of all the lawyers. A recent instance shows a similar point of view on the part of the great apostle of abolutism. Mr. Gerard relates that in a conversation with the Emperor of Germany the "All Highest" said: 'Lloyd George, Asquith, Poincare, all my enemies-what are they. Pooh! Nothing but lawyers."

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We may supplement this by the old story of Peter the Great of Russia when he was taken to see Westminster Hall, and told that those about were lawyers. "Lawyers! I've only two in Russia, and I intend to hang one of them when I get back." As Lord Morley says in one of his letters to Lord Minto, published in his Recollections:

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said to me this morning, "you see the great executive officers never like or trust lawyers." I'll tell you why," I said, "'tis because they don't like or trust law: they in their hearts believe before all else the virtues of will and arbitrary power."'

No greater tribute to the legal profession has ever been given than the following praise bestowed upon it by the Emperors Leo and Anthemius in the 5th century of our era:

"The lawyers who clarify the ambiguous facts of litigation, and who by the strength of their defensive skill exhibited In both criminal and civil suits rescue other persons in danger of ruin and restore their fortunes, are not less useful to the world than soldiers who serve their country and their homes on the battlefield. We consider that not only soldiers but also lawyers are fighting battles in our State: for the lawyers, wielding the weapon of eloquence, protect the hopes and lives of persons in distress and their children." 1

1 Code 2, 7, 14 (A. D. 469).

ARTICLES AWAITING PUBLICATION.

Options of Purchase, and London and SouthWestern Railway v. Gomm, by Walter S. Scott, Calgary, Alta.

The Provincial Judiciary: Federal Legislation, by Albert Dubuc, Winnipeg, Man.

'The Basis of Law and Obedience, by J. E. G. de Montmorency, of London, England.

Registration and its Effect, by John D. Falconbridge, Toronto.

The Freedom of The Seas, by A. Berriedale Keith, of Edinburgh.

The Statute of Frauds in the Province of Quebec, by A. Rives Hall, K.C., Montreal, Que.

The Judicature Act in New Brunswick, by M. L. Hayward, B.C.L., of Hartland, N.B.

The Dominion Insurance Act, 1917, by H. G. Garrett, Victoria, B.C.

Mens Rea, by Silas Alward, K.C., St. John, N.B.

The Anglo-Saxon Period of English Law, by the

Editor.

The Dominion Companies Act Amendment Act, 1917, by Thomas Mulvey, K.C., Under-Secretary of

State.

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SIR, The most important event of the past month in legal circles is, of course, the appointment of the Earl of Reading, Lord Chief Justice of England, to be His Majesty's High Commissioner in the United States, in the character of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on Special Mission. Lord Reading, as High Commissioner and Special Ambassador, will have full authority over the members of all British Missions sent to the United States in connection with the active prosecution of the war, and the labours of such Missions will be completely under his direction and control. The appointment of the Lord Chief Justice of England to be British High Commissioner in the United States-remarkable as it is in many respects-has been approved on all sides, and all the more so as it is fully expected that when the war is over Lord Reading will resume his judicial duties. The appointment is a welcome proof of the desire of the Government to go outside the diplomatic service for the special ability required in ambassadors, and it is known that few men in England would be received more cordially in America than Lord Reading. His career in all directions has been typical of the man. In some directions it has been marked by an ability which approached genius, in others it has been characterized by a discretion which will be useful in his new and responsible position. The choice of Lord Reading as a successor to Lord Alverstone, who was himself well known in the United States, impressed the world with the genuineness of British ideals of freedom and independent thought. He was made Lord

Chief Justice four years ago, at the age of 53, with the acclamation of the Bar, and on the Bench his popularity both with the public and with those who have practised before him has been undiminished. Lord Reading was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple

in 1887.

Although there is no precedent in modern times. for the appointment of a judge as ambassador, the objections raised on the ground of incompatibility between the two offices have found no support in legal circles. On the contrary, it is generally recognized that the devotion by Lord Reading of all his powers to the unification of the effort between the two governments is the greatest service which he can render to the State at the present time. On the question of the appropriateness of the appointment, I may perhaps be permited to quote Lord Reading's own words when he formally took leave of Bench and Bar on temporarily relinquishing his judicial duties:

"In this struggle, which is for justice and liberty," said Lord Reading," it does appear to me that there may be more reason than is perhaps apparent at first sight in the selection of the holder of my office to proceed to America.

consultation

I have had the advantage of

with the highest authorities before coming to the

conclusion that although there will be a temporary absence from this country of the holder of my office, I can nevertheless properly undertake the duties now entrusted to me.

with me was

What weighed so much that the service asked was in the national interest,

not for a particular section or political party or class, but for a united nation which speaks with one voice."

eral's congratulations ately referred to the common law as one of the great links between the United States and this coun

Lord Reading, in his reply to the Solicitor-Gen

on his appointment, appropri

try:

America

"With you I think it is not inappropriate that the holder of my office should proceed to America at this juncture on the mission to which His Majesty has graciously appointed me. like us founds its law upon the common law of England. Their laws are based on the same ideals of justice and liberty as ours. Their laws have the same origin and customs as those of the

English people; they are administered with the same traditions; and, in this struggle for justice and liberty, it does appear to me that there may be more reason than is, perhaps, apparent at first sight for the selection of the holder of my office to proceed to America; for, after all, with my brother judges, I am the custodian of the common law of England. With their assistance we administer in this Division that law, and when I go to America, it appears to me that, with our Allies, I go for this country engaged in the administration of justice and in the preservation of liberty according to the laws of humanity and civilization."

The Hilary Cause Lists present some curious features. In the King's Bench Division there is a large decrease of business; the number of cases (334) is much the lowest on record and is 189 below the number a year ago. In all the other Divisions of the Supreme Court, however, there is more business. In the Court of Appeal the number of cases has risen from 117 to 153, this increase being largely due to arrears, some 50 appeals being in the list which were entered before the long vacation. In the Chancery Division the number of cases in the list is considerably in excess of the Hilary figures in several pre-war years. In the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division the number of cases has risen from 582 to 707. Although the matrimonial suits have risen from 500 to 551, there is also a considerable increase in Admiralty actions, the present figure being 128 as against 67 a year ago, while the Probate cases have risen from 19 to 28. Only one branch of the Court of Appeal has been sitting during the last month. This is much to be regretted in view of the large accumulation of arrears in the list of King's Bench appeals. The long delay in appointing a successor to Lord Cozens-Hardy in the office of Master of the Rolls is, or course, primarily responsible for this disorganization of the work of the Court of Appeal, and the omission of the usual expedient of transferring a chancery judge temporarily to the Court until the present week is a secondary cause of the delay in hearing appeals.

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