MONTAGU’S DIGEST OF 
8. What degree of violence or putting 
in fear is necessary. 
The remaining titles are treated of 
with equal care and fulness, and the sta- 
tute regulations are considered in order 
of time'and subject matter. The VIth 
is peculiarly interesting and wel] exe- 
cuted. 
The subjects of the ather chapters are 
investigated in the same manner, so that 
each may be considered as a distinct 
complete treatise upon that head. In 
some, however, when the offence is dif- 
ferent, and yet the legal doctrine apply- 
ing to each is similar, as in rape and so- 
domy, the statement of it is not repeated, 
but in the latter chapter the contents of 
the former are referred to. 
The style is clear, and the greatest 
care appears to have been taken to guard 
against equivocal expressions ; though it 
is not to be expected that a work of such 
extent will be free from many small in- 
accuracies. In the use of his materials 
the author has acted judiciously ; he has 
made copious extracts from the MSS. 
confided to him; his marginal notes of 
reférence are very numeraus ; when cases 
are stated they are as much condensed 
THE BANKRUPT LAWS. $1t 
as their importance will admit of; and 
the arguments and opinions of the judges 
are only introduced in new, doubtful, and 
weighty points; but the material words 
of statutes are always stated at length. 
The work is well printed, upon paper 
very much superior indeed to what we 
are accustomed to see; and as an in- 
stance of consideration very seldom ex- 
ercised, but certainly of great utility, not 
only the material words in the text, but 
the contents of the chapters and sections 
in the margin, are printed ‘ia italics, 
whilst the maginal references are in full 
roman characters. 
In short, whether we consider this work 
in the value and extent of its additional 
matter over all former publications on 
crown law, or in the manner in which 
the whole has been arranged, and is now 
brought before the public, we cannot 
help congratulating the members of Mr. 
East's profession “on an offering which 
must be so acceptable to them,”’ and our 
countrymen at large, on a publication 
which puts them in possession of so com- 
plete a body of the laws for which 
England will ever stand distinguished 
amongst nations, 
Arr. VIT. A Digest of the Bankrupt Laws, with a Collection of the Statutes and of the 
Cases argued and determined in the Courts of Law and Equity upon that Sabject.* By 
Basit Montacu, of Gray's Inn, Esq. Barrister at Law. 
THAT system of law which distri- 
butes the effects of a trader, no longer 
capable of discharging his debts, equally 
amongst his creditors, and not only re- 
lieves the unfortunate man himself from 
the pressure of existing demiands, but 
enables him to begin the scheme of life 
anew, and acquire, undisturbed, the pro- 
duce of a more successful labour, is the 
creature of commerce, and had adyanced 
with us, since the year 1542 when it bee 
gan, in proportion to the stupendous 
pivenee of our trade. Ly a series of no 
_jess than twelve existing statutes, and a 
vast body of decided cases upon them, it 
is supposed to have attained considerable 
Maturity; and this author certainly puts 
that to the fairest test, When he attempts 
to investigate and exhibit the whole law 
of bankruptcy by a strict analysis. The 
two writers who had preceded him, and 
from whose works the profession derived 
great advantage, pursued very different 
plans. Mr. Cooke, under a loose ar- 
rangement, gave little morg than a come 
ilation of the cases. Mr. Cullen com; 
posed a yery excellent treatise ypon thg 
pp- 374. 8vo. 
law, But Mr. Montagu’s book is much 
more elaborate; besides an appendix, 
containing all the statutes and decided 
cases at length, with practical forms, he 
endeavours to state in the text a sum- 
mary of the law with the most senten- 
tious conciseness; and where the doc- 
trine admits of doubt, or requires ex- 
planation to support it, in the notes, by 
comparing and reasoning upon the cases 
and statutes. 
The introductory chapter states that 
the whole work will be thus divided : 
Book 1. Of bankruptcy in general. 
Part 1. Considerations previous to is- 
suing a commision. 
Part u. Proceedings under a commis- 
sion. 
Part 111. Inyalidating a commission. 
Book II, Of bankruptcy in particular 
cases: as of members of parliament, part- 
ners, executors, assignees, of persons who 
have before been bankrupts, country 
commissions. 
The part now before us contains, 
Analysis. 
Introductory chapter. a 
