A SUMMARY OF THE LAW OF RAILWAYS: WITH AN APPENDIX, INCLUDING THE THREE GENERAL CONSOLIDATION ACTS WITH ANALYSIS AND NOTES; REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE COMMITTEES ON Parlamentary Practice, FORMS, &c. BY FREDERICK WALFORD, ESQ. ~ OF THE INNER TEMPLE, BARRISTER AT LAW. Second Edition. BOSTON: CHARLES C. LITTLE AND JAMES BROWN. LONDON: THOMAS BLENKARN. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE general order and arrangement of the Second Edition of this Work is the same as that of the first; so far, that is to say, as regards the body of the Work, the principal difference between the two Editions consists in the necessary enlargement which some portions of the text have undergone, in order to embrace more fully the many novel questions which the rapid growth of Railway Enterprise during the preceding year has produced. The chapter, in particular, which treats of the rights and liabilities of the parties concerned in Companies for the formation of Railways, such as allottees of shares, provisional directors, and the like, has been enlarged to the full extent deemed consistent with the scope and limits of the work. Abstracts, moreover, of many of the most important cases have been introduced into the notes, by way of illustrating the positions laid down in the text. The main additions, however, are those which have been made to the Appendix. Reports have been given of the Proceedings of two of the most important Committees of last Session, that on Group (X) of Railways, (The London and York, &c.), and that on Group (A), (The North Kent, South-Eastern, &c.) These reports, it may be proper to remark, are not intended to give a detailed history of each day's proceedings, but to explain the general nature of the proceedings before Committees, and the principal points of parliamentary law or practice, which are likely to arise in the course of them. In addition to this, there has been introduced into the Appendix a Summary of Parliamentary Practice, including the new Resolutions of the two Houses, the Suggestions recently issued by the Chairmen of Committees for their guidance, a view of the question what constitutes a locus standi to be heard before a Railway Committee against a bill, and the grounds of opposition that may be taken by opponents. Forms of Railway Deeds have also been added, and a brief account of the present functions of the Board of Trade in regard of Railway Bills before Parliament. The Appendix concludes with some unreported cases relative to the liabilities of Provisional Directors, and the important case of Reg. v. The Great Western Railway Company, touching the rating of Railways, just reported. 4, KING'S BENCH WALK, TEMPLE, April, 1846. |