A Short History of Roman Law. Translated from the French
of Paul Frederic Girard by A. H. F. Lefroy, MA., and John Home Cameron, M.A. (Canada Law Book Company, Toronto.)—It should be noted that this, as a history of Roman laws, begins at a very much earlier date than that to which most treatises on the subject commonly refer. The phrase "Roman Law naturally suggests the Institutes of Justinian and the principles of jurisprudence which have influenced, in a greater or less degree, European civilisation. Professor Girard goes back to the beginnings of the Roman State, and traces the development of its legal system through the Kingship, the Republic, the early and the late Empire, so that we do not reach Justinian till we have nearly arrived at the conclusion of the volume. The subject is too technical for discussion in these columns ; but, indeed, a book written by so distinguished a legist as Professor Girard scarcely needs commendation. We welcome, too, a contribution from a Canadian University. May we venture to say that such an oration as "Pro Roscio Comoedo " is not quite so absolutely intelligible to a non-legal scholar as the note on p. 12 would seem to indicate P At the same time, we acknowledge the importance of such helps as this.
Previous page
