as are most likely to be referred to in sessions, of its application to the charge, and the mode in which it may be adduced and sifted. For the greater part of this chapter the present Editor is responsible. The Eighth Chapter includes the few civil matters over which the sessions exercise an original jurisdiction, in the cases of disputes between apprentices and their masters, the exhibition of articles of the peace, and the disposal of vagrants. The consideration of bastardy might be brought into this division; but it so rarely comes before the sessions, otherwise than by appeal, that it was thought better, in this edition, to refer it to that class of subjects. The Ninth Chapter, "on general matters relating to appeals," collects such as are common to appeals, in order to prevent repetition in the subsequent chapters relating to appeals in particular cases, as the general rules affecting the notice; recognizances; the right of appealing; the sessions to which appeals must be preferred; the trial of appeals, and the judgment of the Court upon them. Its matter is chiefly that of Mr. Dickinson, though it has been arranged anew. The Tenth Chapter, "on appeals against poor rates, the appointment of overseers, and parish accounts," contains, under the third section upon the grounds of appeal, the matter collected by Mr. Dickinson on the law of rating property. This part of the work, and that contained in the following chapter on the law of settlement, does not generally consist of a digest or summary of the law, but a selection of the prominent cases with which the author chose to illustrate his positions. The Editor would have preferred substituting a more comprehensive and condensed summary of the law; but as in this part of the work there was not the same reason for the substitution of entirely new matter, which operated in the criminal division, he did not think it right to make so great an alteration in the spirit of a work which, on its original plan, has been found so acceptable to magistrates. If, however, the different manner adopted in those parts of the work, which are of necessity new, should be approved, he may feel authorized to introduce it into these chapters also in the next edition. In the mean time, this part of the work also has been subjected to an entirely new arrangement, and interspersed with such points as are likely to occur in practice. The Eleventh Chapter, "on appeals against orders of removal," contains, besides some new matter on practical points relative to removals, the matter collected on the law of settlement by the original author, except the section giving a history of settlement by payment of parochial taxes, and that on settlement by estate, of which the first is entirely, and the second principally, new. Such recent cases have, of course, been introduced throughout as were consistent with the design of the work. son. The Twelfth Chapter, "on orders, and convictions, and appeals from them," is partly new, as it relates to orders of bastardy, and entirely so as to orders for diverting highways; but the text, relating to the general requisites of convictions, is chiefly that of Mr. DickinThe precedents, however, which occupied more than a hundred pages of the former edition, are nearly all removed, having been rendered obsolete by recent statutes. A few precedents of convictions on recent statutes, and especially on 7 and 8 Geo. 4. c. 29. for offences partaking of the nature of larceny, have been introduced, chiefly as completing the illustration of the points which are noticed in connection with indictable offences,—as one degree of offence is often made punishable by summary conviction, and another, or a repeated offence, by indictment. To give a complete series of precedents applicable to all the clauses in Mr. Peel's acts would have been inconsistent with the design and limits The Thirteenth Chapter, on matters incidental to the. jurisdiction of the sessions, as the granting a special case, certiorari, costs, and pardon, consists chiefly of matter which had place in the former edition; but it com- prises the recent alteration of the law as to costs in criminal proceedings, the restoration of criminals to com- petency, and the restoration of stolen goods to their owners. The recent act, enabling the justices for Westminster to hold their sessions during the sitting of the Court of King's Bench, is annexed by way of The Editor has endeavoured, by the arrangement of the work, the heading of the pages, and the Table of Con- Temple, object, as and that it 1. OF SESSIONS OF THE PEACE IN GENERAL ...... Times when Special Sessions may be holden. ib. Form of High Constable's Precept to Petty Con- ib. |