STEVENS AND SONS, LTD., 119 & 120, CHANCERY LANE; SWEET AND MAXWELL, LTD., 3, CHANCERY LANE, Law Publishers. PREFACE. THE present Work originated in a request made to me by the Publishers that I should prepare a Sixth Edition of Mr. Coote's Treatise on the Law of Mortgage. But, on considering this proposal, it seemed to both parties that, having regard to the long period which had elapsed since Mr. Coote's well-known work first appeared, and the considerable changes in the law on the subject which had in the meantime been effected by statutory enactments and judicial decisions, it would be more satisfactory that an entirely fresh attempt should be made to state that law. It was, however, decided that the results of the research and labours of Mr. Coote and his learned Editors should be utilized by full liberty being given to me to incorporate in the present treatise, on my own responsibility, such parts of the Work referred to as I might think fit, of which liberty I have freely availed myself. This Treatise is therefore to some extent founded on that of Mr. Coote; but while I take this opportunity of acknowledging the great assistance which I have derived from the information and propositions of law contained in that book, I would observe that I have throughout verified and supplemented, and, where necessary, corrected or modified them, by the light of recent statutes and decisions, and I have added a considerable amount |