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same way as the Acts, and moreover are only to be found in the voluminous back files of the London Gazette. Finally, many of the enactments are not perfectly clear in their meaning, and have had to be construed and explained by the Law Courts.

The present work has aimed at collecting these various sources of law, and presenting them more or less in the form of a Code. The Act of 1854 is taken as the basis of the work, and to each of its sections there are added sections of subsequent Acts, together with any Orders in Council and decided cases relating to the same topic. Besides this, there are interspersed throughout the work in the form of notes, the leading principles of the Maritime or Common Law on all the subjects treated of in the Acts; and for this purpose the cases in the United States Courts, and especially those in the Supreme Court, have been referred to, besides those decided in this country. The American cases, though not absolutely binding on our Courts, always receive the highest consideration, especially on questions of maritime law, since their judgments are in most cases founded on precisely the same principles as those which prevail in our Courts. Questions of Admiralty jurisdiction have also been considered wherever they arise, and the work contains a summary of the powers and jurisdiction of the County Courts in Admiralty, and also of the Vice Admiralty Courts abroad. It is hoped that it may prove useful to members of the legal profession who are occupied with shipping

questions as a book of reference, and to shipowners, masters, and others practically engaged in shipping, as a means of knowing what their duties are, and what liabilities they are subject to for neglecting them; also to consular officers, government officials, and others employed in carrying out the Acts, as a means of ascertaining their powers, and the mode provided for giving them effect.

2, KING'S BENCH WALK, TEMPLE,

2nd November, 1876.

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