PREFACE. The Author, as Referee of Titles under the Act for Quieting Titles, and as Reader on the Law of Real Property to the Law Society, had frequent occasion to consider and annotate the various Statutes relating to that branch of the Law, and they formed the subject of many Lectures. delivered by him at Osgoode Hall. He conceived the idea of publishing the result of his labors in a shape, which, he hoped, with but little further labor to himself, might perhaps be of service to the Profession. He has been compelled however to abandon the original design of treating of all the important Real Property Statutes at one time, from the difficulty in keeping pace with the Legislature, and the necessity for constant alterations of the text arising from ever recurring change in the Laws. It has been remarked, with expression of regret, by Mr. Chancellor Kent, that frequent change of the laws is prevalent in the United States, and is, he says, characteristic of the restless disposition of his fellow citizens. The reverse is the case in England. Mr. Wood in the preface to his valuable treatise on the Registry Laws has said that whilst in England "the Statutes of Anne, and that of 8 George II. relating to Yorkshire remain yet in force, and have not even been added to or amended in any important particular, the statute book of Upper Canada has been prolific in amending, explaining, consolidating, and repealing enactments relating to that branch of the Law." Legislation here since as well as before those remarks fully justify |