The Government of Victoria (Australia). By Edward Jenks, M.A. (Macmillan.)—Professor
Jenks explains in a very modest preface the origin of his book. On his appointment, three years ago, to the Chair of Law in the University of Melbourne, he found himself bound to lecture on "The Public Lawlof Victoria," a subject of which he had made no special study, and on which no text-book existed. All that he had before him was the series of Acts of Parliament then in force. As he well observes, the "Public Law" in Victoria, as certainly in England, is made up of many things besides statutes. The book, therefore, is meant
primarily for Victorian students ; but it has much that is in- teresting for readers in this country. "Many tendencies," writes
Professor Jenks, "at present only latent in English politics, or
kept in check by powerful counter-influences, have in Victoria run their unhindered course." The most important chapters, from the English point of view, are chap. xliv., on "Attempts Towards a Federal Union ;" and chap. xlv., entitled "Conclusion," in which the author "has permitted himself to moralise." The
most remarkable utterance in this is the author's pronouncement (commonly he gives facts to the exclusion of opinion) against the "Cabinet System."
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