Common Pleas and Exchequer of Pleas, in Personal Actions and Ejectment.' The judicial decisions of the courts referred to in that work, are, for the most part, founded on the new statutes and rules of court, and as a whole, the system thus worked up, independently of its philosophical merits, has but little in it useful to the American lawyer."

The name of Mr. Troubat, who is already favorably known to our readers as a law writer and editor, and who has himself published a successful work on practice, is a sufficient guaranty for the correctness and value of his share in the preparation of this new edition of an old and favorite work.

8.-A Digest of the reported Cases decided by the Supreme Court of Errors of the State of Connecticut, from 1786 to 1838, inclusive. With tables of the names of the Cases and of the titles. By THOMAS DAY. Hartford Published by T. M. Day,

1840.

This work comprises Kirby's reports (one volume); Root's (two volumes); Day's (five volumes); and Connecticut reports (twelve volumes); in all, twenty volumes. It is designed, says the compiler," to answer the twofold purpose of an index and a digest; to point the inquirer to the objects of his search, and to present those objects in a condensed and systematic form.” So far as we have examined the work, it seems to be well executed.

We commence, in the present number, the publication of the long promised articles from professor Mittermaier, on the criminal legislation of Germany.

QUARTERLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

UNITED STATES.

The Practice of the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas, in personal actions and ejectment: to which are added the Law and Practice of Extents; and the rules of court, and modern decisions, in the Exchequer of Pleas. By William Tidd, Esq. In two volumes. Third American, from the Ninth London Edition. With notes of recent English statutes and decisions. By Francis J. Troubat. Philadelphia: Robert H. Small, Minor Street, 1840. The Statesman, or Principles of Legislation and Law. By John Holmes. Augusta : Severance and Dorr, 1840.

A Treatise on the Law of Fire Insurance and Insurance on Inland Waters. In two parts. With an Appendix of Forms. By Elisha Hammond, Counsellor at Law. New York: Halsted and Voorhies, 1840.

Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature of the State of Indiana. With tables of the cases and principal matters. By Isaac Blackford, A. M., one of the Judges of the court. Vol. IV. Containing the cases from May Term, 1835, to May Term, 1838, both inclusive. Indianapolis: Printed by Stacy and Williams, 1840.

Reports of Cases argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States, January Term, 1840. By Richard Peters. Vol. XIV. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwaite & Co. 1840. A Digest of the reported cases, decided by the Supreme Court of Errors of the State of Connecticut, from 1786 to 1838, inclusive. With tables of the names of the cases and of the titles. By Thomas Day. Hartford: Published by T. M. Day, 1840.

The Statutes of the State of Mississippi of a public and general nature, with the constitutions of the United States and of this state and an Appendix containing acts of congress affecting land titles, naturalization, &c., and a manual for clerks, sheriffs, and justices of the peace. Compiled by V. E. Howard and A. Hutch

inson. By authority. New Orleans: E. Johns & Co., Stationers' Hall, 1840.

A Catalogue of Law Books published and for sale by Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1840.

On International Copyright, in a Letter to the Hon. William C. Preston, Senator of the United States. By Francis Lieber. Wiley and Putnam, New York and London, 1840.

A report of the Opinions and decision of the court for the correction of errors, in the cases of Warner and Ray v. Beers, President &c. and of Borlande v. Stevens, President, given at a special term of the court, held at the capitol in the city of Albany on the 7th day of April, 1840. New York: J. Van Norden & Co. 1840. Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. By Theron Metcalf. Vol. I. No. 1. Boston Little & Brown, 1840.

A treatise on the Law of Easements by C. J. Gale, Esq., and T. D. Whatley, Esq., Barristers at Law. With American Notes, by E. Hammond, counsellor at law. New York: Halsted & Voorhies, 1840.

Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. By Octavius Pickering. Counsellor at Law. Vol. XXII. Boston: Little & Brown, 1840.

Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Court of Appeals of Maryland. By Richard W. Gill and John Johnson. Vol. IX, containing cases in 1837-8. Baltimore: 1840.

IN PRESS,

BY MESSRS. CHARLES C. LITTLE AND JAMES BROWN, BOSTON.

Commentaries on Equity Pleading. 2d Edition. By Joseph Story, LL.D.

"In preparing this edition for the press, I have availed myself of the opportunity of revising the entire text, of making such corrections and qualifications thereof, as a more thorough examination seemed to require, and of adding such illustrations and new doctrines as the authorities published, since the former edition, have brought to my notice." Author's Preface.

Commentaries on the Conflict of Laws, Foreign and Domestic. By Joseph Story, LL.D. Second edition, revised and greatly enlarged.

Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Circuit Court of the United States for the first Circuit. By Charles Sumner, Esq. Third Volume.

STANDARD LAW BOOKS,

Published by G. & C. Meriam, Springfield, Massachusetts ;

And sold by Charles C. Little & James Brown, Boston; W. & A. Gould & Co., Albany; Gould & Banks; Collins, Keese & Co., and Halsted & Voorhies, New York; Grigg & Elliott; T. & J. W. Johnson, and Thomas, Cowperthwaite & Co., Philadelphia,

and all law booksellers.

1. Chitty's Pleadings. 3 vols. 2. Chitty's Precedents. 2 vols.

"The volumes will be eminently valuable and useful. The forms of declarations will be found, if we are not much mistaken, a very great improvement upon the ancient forms, and a very acceptable addition to our present stock. The notes are copious and valuable." American Jurist for January, 1840.

*

*

"I am satisfied that it is a very valuable compilation, and that the work on Pleading by the elder Chitty is incomplete without it. I presume that every practitioner acquainted with its character would add the work to his library."-Hon. E. D. Ingraham, of Philadelphia.

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*

"This work seems to have been demanded by the changes introduced of late years in the English law of remedy. The work we doubt not will prove a valuable, we had almost said an indispensable aid to the American lawyer."-North American Review for April, 1840. See which for an extended notice of the work.

3. Chitty's Criminal Law. 3 vols. American Notes by J. C. Perkins, Esq.

4. Chitty on Bills.

1 vol.

5. Chitty on Contracts. 1 vol. From a new and greatly enlarged English edition. Notes by Perkins.

6. Collyer on Partnership. 1 vol. A new edition, in which notes of English and American cases are brought down to 1830.

"Of the four treatises, (Watson, Montague, Gow and Collyer), Collyer is to be preferred."-Warren's Law Studies.

A similar opinion has been professed by professor Hitchcock, of the New Haven Law School, and other distinguished gentlemen

of the bar.

7. Barbour and Harrington's American Equity Digest. 3 vols.

A work highly recommended by chancellor Walworth, judge Cowen, chief justice Savage, professor Hoffman, of the Maryland University, Baltimore, &c. Judge Cowen says of it, "I do not hesitate to say, that the plan cannot be better executed than it has been. The work is essentially necessary to the chancery practitioner."

AMERICAN JURIST.

NO. XLVIII.

JANUARY, 1841.

ART. I.-LAW OF CONTRACTS.

No. 10.-Obligation of Contracts.

THE Constitution of the United States, article I., § 10, provides, that no state shall pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts.

The reason and the meaning of this prohibition are to be sought, in part at least, in the history of the country previously to the adoption of this constitution. The finances of the states, and the ability of individuals, had been greatly impaired by the burdens imposed during the war of the revolution; and upon the establishment of peace, it was found, that all the sources of profit, and the resources of enterprize, were closed, or greatly lessened, by the depression of property and the pressure of private and public debt.

Severe and urgent embarrassments, however temporary they may be supposed to be, often induce individuals and communities to resort to sinister and desperate methods of relief. Such were the attempts, in this instance. The states refused to redeem their paper, issued during the