seems to have placed his hopes in the adoption of some kind of written constitution which, like the American prototype, would safeguard us from fundamental changes by the caprice of a single assembly. But this is not the place to pursue such highly debateable matters. Enough if we say that the man who wishes to serve an apprenticeship to an intelligent understanding of the political society of the present cannot do better than begin by a careful study of Maine's researches into the political society of the past. J.H. MORGAN. _Note._--The reader who desires to study Maine in the light of modern criticism is recommended to read Sir F. Pollock's "Notes on Maine's _Ancient Law_" (published by John Murray at 2_s._ 6_d._, or, with the text, at 5_s._). The best short study of Maine with which I am acquainted is the article by Professor Vinogradoff in the _Law Quarterly Review_ for April 1904. The field of research covered by Maine in his various writings is so vast that it is impossible to refer the reader, except at great length, to anything like an adequate list of later books on the subjects of his investigation. In addition to the works on the Village Community mentioned in a previous footnote, I may, however, refer the beginner to Mr. Edward Jenks' little book on _The History of Politics_ in Dent's Primers, to Professor Ashley's translation of a fragment of Fustel de Coulanges under the title of _The Origin of Property in Land_, and to Sir Frederick Pollock's brilliant little book, _The Expansion of the Common Law_. The reader is also recommended to study Mr. H.A.L. Fisher's succinct survey of the contributions of Maitland to legal history under the title of _F.W. Maitland; an Appreciation_ (Cambridge University Press). One of the most brilliant and ingenious studies of the origins of European civilisation is to be found in the work of the great German jurist, Ihering, _Die Vorgeschichte der Indo-Europder_, translated into English under the title of _The Early History of the Indo-European Races_ (Sonnenschein, 1897). [1] The reader who desires to pursue the subject by reference to one of Maine's chief authorities is recommended to read the translation of the _Institutes_ by Sandars. [2] English literature on the subject is best studied in Maitland's _Domesday Book and Beyond_, Vinogradoff's _The Growth of the Manor_ and _Villeinage in England_ (with an excellent historical introduction), and Seebohm's _English Village Community_.