STEVENS AND SONS, 119, CHANCERY LANE; H. SWEET AND SONS, 3, CHANCERY LANE; Law Publishers and Booksellers. PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION. A NEW Edition of this Treatise, revised throughout with assiduous reference to the authorities up to the latest decisions, including the Reports issued in December last, is here submitted to the Profession and to the Mercantile Community. The Court of Appeal in Stewart v. Merchants' Mar. Ins. Co. animadverted with just severity on the retention of the 3 per cent. memorandum as affecting ship in the terms in which it was introduced into the policy about 1749, unmodified in any respect, notwithstanding the vast increase in size and costliness of our ocean steamers. In one of the notes to that case a suggestion is offered with a view to stimulating discussion, in order that such a reform of that memorandum may be arrived at, as may maintain a somewhat more reasonable proportion to the present development of British Shipping. So simple a matter as the stamps and stamp laws in relation to policies is disgracefully perplexed on the face of the Statutes by piece-meal alterations on previous alterations. In the Appendix of Statutes the eye will find assistance from slight notes interspersed between the sections. At the same time the subject has been dealt with in the text in a simple and intelligible way, such as, it is hoped, will be generally acceptable. 11, KING'S BENCH WALK, TEMPLE, January, 1887. D. MACLACHLAN. 18 |