which formerly occurred as to the want of proper stamps on documents produced at trials, which come within the provisions of the latter Act (e). It appears to the Author that the commissioners appointed for the consolidation of the Statute Law would have conferred a substantial benefit on the public if their labours had been directed towards this subject. Since the introduction, in the year 1836, of the Bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Stamp Duties, this branch of the law has become so much more complicated and multifarious as to render it inexpedient to include in one Bill the whole subject matter; but it certainly appears to the Author that the Stamp Laws on matters affecting such subjects as are of daily occurrence in the practice of barristers, solicitors and others, might, with great advantage, be consolidated and arranged, without rendering it necessary to include Probate, Legacy and Succession Duties. Some Forms, framed with reference to the Succession Duty Act, 1853, which are not to be found in any other work on the subject, are added with the view of making the book more practically useful. The Author, having been unable to find in any book the present constitution and practice of the Queen's Remembrancer's Office, has added a note on that subject, and regrets that he has had neither time nor opportunity to make this branch of the subject more complete. (e) 17 & 18 Vict. c. 83; see post, p. 59. Although the Author cannot anticipate that his twelve labours (f) will be as immortal as those of Hercules (g), he feels some confidence that his attempts to elucidate the laws of his country will at least meet with the approbation of some of the learned and judicious of the present generation, who are capable of estimating the value of intellectual labour. (f) See List of the Author's Works before the title page of this volume. (g) Perrupit Acheronta Herculeus labor. Hor. B. I. Ode III. 3, BRICK COURT, Temple, 26th May, 1855. CONTENTS. PAGE III. Of rectifying the Stamps on Probates and Letters of Administration where too high or too little Duty shall have been paid in the first instance IV. Of obtaining a Return of Probate and Administra- An Act for granting to her Majesty Duties on Succession to Pro- perty, and for altering certain Provisions of the Acts charging II. Description of Successions to be charged with Duty. 2. What Dispositions and Devolutions of Property shall 248, 249 249 250 251 7. Dispositions accompanied by a Reservation of a Bene- fit to the Grantor, &c. to confer Successions 8. Dispositions to take effect at Periods depending on Death, or made for the Purpose of evading Duty, to III. Management and Grant of Duties. 252 254 15. Duties payable in respect of transferred Interests 16. Succession subject to Trusts for Charitable or Public 20. Duties to be paid on the Successor becoming entitled in possession; but in the Case of outstanding In- |