THE COMMON LAW OF ENGLAND. BY W. BLAKE ODGERS, M.A., LL.D., K.C., DIRECTOR OF LEGAL STUDIES AT THE INNS OF COURT, GRESHAM AND WALTER BLAKE ODGERS, M.A., OF BALLIOL COLLEGE, OXFORD, THE MIDDLE TEMPLE AND THE SECOND EDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. SWEET AND MAXWELL, LIMITED, PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE first edition of this book, which was published in January, 1911, is now out of print. Since its appearance there have been numerous statutes, which have affected the Common Law of England in many respects. These have rendered necessary considerable alteration of the former edition. The chapters dealing with Larceny, Perjury and Forgery have been entirely rewritten. The abolition of the Grand Jury during the war was a change which greatly affected criminal procedure. Whether or not this change is permanent, it is impossible to say; we have therefore dealt with criminal procedure as it exists to-day. The simplification of indictments has been duly noted, and a new Appendix of Indictments composed. We have endeavoured to refer to all important statutes and decisions, which fall within the scope of this work, down to the end of last year. But we have purposely disregarded what appeared to us to be merely war-time legislation, which would not be permanent. The whole book has been thoroughly revised and brought up to date; the sub-heads in the Index-where there are more than four or five-have been arranged in alphabetical order. We wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance which |