left on the shelf, till the mind is well stored with knowledge, because the first which he might happen to take into his hands would probably appear to him to have espoused the right side of the question. Controversial books are generally written by ingenious men; and they may mislead the Student without being practically useful, because ingenious reasoning too often usurps the place of established cases and solid arguments. Before considerable advances in study have been made, and where opportunities of reference are not often afforded, the Student implicitly relies on the Author he is reading: he is not capable of arguing the point with him as he proceeds; and he cannot detect his errors, by bringing forward authorities which may have escaped the controversialist's attention, or which, from regard to a favourite bypothesis, he has suppressed."

There is much good sense in the following observations in the Chapter on the Study of Civil Law:"

66

"In every profession different kinds of learning are useful, though to common understandings they would not appear to bear much, if any, relation to it; and they tend to enlarge the powers of penetration and judgment. A mind well cultivated has an extensive grasp, which seizes at once every decision and argument that bears fairly on a case, and thus ensures accuracy and stability to all its serious and mature conclusions. But a narrow understanding, unacquainted with elementary principles, is, confused and perplexed by every common occurrence, and is busied only in little things and quibbling objections, which cannot stand against able and well-applied reasoning, the sure reward of time which has been judiciously and diligently employed."

In the Chapter "on Practice, and on attending Courts of Justice," the Author ably controverts the notion entertained by some professional Gentlemen, that "practice claims the Student's most particular attention; that theory or study is of little consequence to an Attorney; and that any knowledge which is necessary may, without trouble or expence to himself, be easily acquired."

The Chapter" on the Professional Duties of Attorneys" is extremely valuable and important.

1

"An Attorney should commence his professional labours with the laudable resolution of preventing litigation as much as possible; for petty suits are always vexatious, and seldom produe

tive of advantage either to the parties or to society.

"It will not always be prudent to advise men to proceed at Law, though you could ensure success. Most cases are doubtful; and even where there ap pears no doubt, if the redress to be obtained is of little value, the costs of seeking it will exceed its worth when obtained, and a client, unless he is wealthy and fond of litigation (and there are many men of this character), however anxious he may be to commence, is generally willing to compromise before his suit is ended. Our duty on such 'occasions is plainly and truly to point out the probable advantages of a verdiet, with the disadvantages from an unexpected failure, and the difference between costs which must be paid by the client, and what will be allowed on taxation. With this information let a client proceed as he pleases: if he is an opulent man, he may not be much injured or dissatisfied with his Solicitor, though unsuccessful; but, if he is poor, he may be almost ruined even by gaining a verdict; and, as an additional obstacle to law-suits, let it be remembered that the mind of all men is in some degree disturbed when they are engaged in expensive litigation.

"When consulted professionally, a young Attorney should not, if he can avoid it, give his opinion hastily, but consider and re-consider. All the cases in the memory of a well-read man will not at all times present themselves, and a little thought may cause an alteration in that opinion, upon which sometimes the welfare and property of a client and his family depend. But, when he does advise, let him give his advice honestly, and suffer no unworthy fear of incurring any man's displeasure to make him swerve from the duty which he owes both to his client and himself. He who deceives his client on any occasion, cannot reconcile such practice with the truth and honesty to which he solemnly pledges himself on his admission."

The prevalent practice of "a Vendor's Solicitor introducing into his conditions and contracts, for the sale of estates, a compulsory clause, that the Purchaser shall (whuetver may be his opinion of his abilities or cha racter) employ him to judge of the validity of the vendor's title, and to prepare his conveyance-deeds," is very properly reprobated.

"The Solicitor is thus," Mr. Wright observes, "doubly paid for duties which are often incompatible; and the purchaser,

chaser, after having paid the vendor's Attorney for perusing his abstract, and drawing and ingrossing his deeds, must, before his own mind is satisfied of the safety of his title, pay perhaps as much money to his own attorney; and from the vendor's solicitor not having done what the purchaser's attorney thinks requisite, additional and considerable expences may be incurred."

In preparing wills, an attorney should be careful that the disposal of the property shall not render his own character open to suspicion. If a testator selects him as an object of his bounty, let the will be prepared by a stranger. No person making a will in favour of himself or his own family, can escape censure; and there is great reason to suppose knavish conduct to have influenced the man who has made a will in his own favour to the exclusion of relations. That honour which ought to influence a man in the exercise of his professional duties, should make him pause before he becomes auxiliary to a cruel and unnatural devise, or assists in disinheriting a child, a brother, a sister, or any other near relation. Many who, from very insufficient reasons, are disposed to give their property to strangers, or to distant, in exclusion of near relatives, might easily be prevailed on to act with propriety; and it will be a gratifying reflection to any one, that he has persuaded a man preparing for futurity, to regard those obligations and feelings which Nature seems to have implanted in every honest heart."

We here close our extracts from a

work replete with useful information and advice; and recommend it to the general patronage of Attorneys (whose labour of instruction it may serve materially to diminish), as well as to the attention of every young Clerk. An extensive circulation of the book will undoubtedly contribute (as far as written advice can contribute) to increase the knowledge, and raise the character, of that part of the profession for which it is designed.

We ought not to omit stating that in this second edition many alterations and several additions have been made. The Chapters " On Practice, and on attending Courts of Justice," and " on the Professional Duties of Attorneys," have been considerably enlarged. The volume is dedicated, by permission, " To the Right Hon. John Lord Eldon, Lord High Chan

cellor of Great Britain, with the highest respect for his great attainments as a Lawyer, and for his unimpeachable integrity as a man."

80. A Review (and complete Abstract) of the Reports to the Board of Agriculture; from the Midland Department of England: comprising Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, Warwickshire, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and a principal Part of Cambridgeshire. By Mr. Marshall,

Author of various Works on Agricul ture, and other Branches of Natural, Political, and Rural Economy; whose Surveys, and digested Registers of superior Practices pursued, in the Six Agricultural Departments of England, gave Origin to the Board of Agricul ture, and its Reports. 8vo. pp. 660.

WE have accidentally happened on this volume*, which we find to be the last but one of a series of Five, which are intended by Mr. Marshall to form not only a complete Abstract of what is useful, in nearly One Hundred Volumes (published and unpublished) that have been printed by the Board of Agriculture, as" REPORTS" from the Counties of England and Wales; but to incorporate with it much practical information, arising from his own knowledge of the several subjects under consideration; and to correct numerous errors, and clear up various points in dispute, among Amateurs, as well as among men of more mature experience; and, moreover, to appreciate, by the evidence of their own works, the qualifications of Modern Writers on Rural subjects.

--

It cannot be denied that a work on such a plan, if ably executed, must be a great desideratum with Farmers and Landed Gentlemen: and if a judgment may be formed from, the numeroas original works on Rural Economy, that have been written by the same Author within the last forty years, few men could be found to have undertaken such a task, who could be supposed better qualified for the just execution of it.

Our limits prevent us from entering on a minute examination of so elabo

rate a production, and restrict us to

* York printed; as we conclude the former volumes have been.

the

for, without calling in the aid of mineral substances. For, supposing the leaves, decayed branches, and the roots of annual and of aged plants, to increase the depth of soil, only one hundredth of an inch, annually, the increase, in 1000 years, would be 10 inches: a depth which the majority of soils do not reach. Let us, now, endeavour to explain how far mineral and fossil substances have been instrumental, in the formation of soils. The first plants which took root, after the present figuration of the surface of the earth was cast, were of cousse nurtured by the substances that were exposed upon it; and it would be a length of time, in most situations, before vegetable productions arrived at the state of luxuriance in which we now view them; and this may serve to account for the thinness of soils, at the present day, in various situations, and for the great variation in their depths, in a general view. Where natural clays, or other loose earthy strata, of a fertile quality, were exposed on the surface, there, vegetation would soon gain strength. On the contrary, where in durated strata, or those of a nature unfriendly to vegetation, though of a plas tic or loose texture, occupied it, there, it would long remain destitute of covering. Again, where water lodged in the substratum, so as to give an ungenial coldness to the surface, or where the surface was a blowing sand, or where the elevation was so great as to check vegetation, though the exposed surface were of a fertile quality,-in such situations the growth of plants, and the ac cumulation of vegetable mold, would be slow; while on sounder and better textured grounds, more genially situated, the growth of soil would be rapid; and its depth would of course become comparatively great. But although the more fertile parts of the generality of soils, must necessarily, I conceive, have been produced in the manner above suggested, yet there can be few instances in which their entire bulk can be of vegetable origin. For, even in the state of nature, the substratum on which the vegetable mold was produced, would be raised and mixed with it, by moles, worms, and other inhabitants of soils; and, in the state of cultivation, the subsoil or base is still more liable to be turned up, and intimately blended with the vegetable matter, by the operations of the plow, and other implements. Hence there can be no risk in concluding that (unless where the accumulation of vegetable mold has been of extraordinary depth) cultivated soils partake more or less of the mineral strata on which they rest;

and this might not inaptly serve to raise in the minds of mere mineralogists, the idea that the entire matter of soils may have been produced by the perishing and decomposition of those strata. The animal matter which has been accumulating on the surface, from the time of its being inhabited, I have refrained from mentioning, as it is of vegetable origin; -vegetable mold bighly elaborated and rendered capable of giving a superior degree of fertilization to soils. I have embraced the present as a favourable opportunity of explaining my ideas. respecting the origin, increase, and com ponent parts of cultivated soils. I have, for some length of time, been in possession of them; as may be seen in my SOUTHERN COUNTIES, district Weald of Sussex, article Soil; but have not until now, deliberatively discussed and digested them."

"THE EARLY MORNING AIR. (Leices tershire.) Having considered it a duty to endeavour to place Mr. Ainsworth's theory, concerning the food of plants, in its true light, and in strong colouring; lest, from the conspicuous place it fills, in a public report, a state paper!!! it might, in these talking, frivolous times, become fashionable; —it would be a want of candour not to bring before my readers a new idea, I believe, thrown out by Mr. A. which does his philosophical ingenuity great credit. The alchemists, though they failed in their main design, made some useful discoveries.

“P. xxxvii. We are told by mariners, that in the calmest weather, and perhaps in all parts of the globe, there is a land breeze that will generally fill their sails soon after Aurora makes her appearance; this is attributed to the sun; but if so, why not a sea (where there is no obstructions) as well as a land breeze? and why not follow the course of the sun? as this is, according to Dr. Ingen housz, the exact time that plants begin to emit the pure air. Query, whether it is not the perspiration of the infinite number of plants united, that puts that tremulous elastic fluid in motion! If so, this will account for that hour being the most salubrious and pleasantest of all the 24; according to my poor judgment, I have not the least doubt of it, as I have taken the opportunity, since writing this Essay, for numbers of mornings together, and always found the plants begin to wave at that time. Hence, shall we say, the WHOLESOMENESS of EARLY RISING? which it would be difficult, perhaps, to account for, rationally (if really a fact, 1 mean) on any other ground.'