PREFACE. My first intention in approaching this subject was to edit the Commentary on the Bills of Exchange Act of the late Mr. W. D. Thorburn, Advocate. I abandoned this design, because it became evident to me that a commentary written immediately after the passing of the Act was not a suitable basis for one issued at this date. At the same time I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Thorburn's work, the arrangement of which I have followed and the matter of which I have adopted so far as it appears to be still of use. It has been my purpose in this book to refer not only to every decision, English and Scottish, upon the meaning of the Act itself, but also to the earlier Scottish decisions, and the more important of the very numerous earlier English decisions, which are still of value, either as supplementing or illustrating the Act, or as containing the law on subjects relative to bills of exchange with which the Act does not deal. The note in the Appendix on letters of credit is based on the latter part of Mr. Thorburn's introduction. My thanks are due to many friends for advice and assis tance in this work, particularly to Mr. JOHN RANKINE, K.C., Mr. JOHN CRAIGIE, Advocate, and Mr. J. P. WOOD, W.S. Mr. W. J. ROBERTSON, Advocate, has kindly helped me in reading the proofs. The index of cases has been prepared by Mr. RENTON of the Advocates' Library. A. M. H. EDINBURGH, April 1904. |