We have referred above to certain well-known works on Criminal Law. These, the reports, the older text-books, and other authorities have been made to contribute information as the occasion required. Special acknowledgment is due, and is hereby rendered, to the 'General View' of Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, from which frequent quotations have been made and matter borrowed, to an extent sufficient to lead to further perusal of that work. It is hoped that, while nothing useless and obsolete has been retained, there has not been any omission which will prevent the reader from obtaining a fair general view of the existing Criminal Law. LIVERPOOL, Spring Assizes, 1877. S. F. H. An explanation must be given of the manner in which the punishments affixed to the various crimes are set forth in the body of the work. It was thought that much repetition. might be avoided if attention were drawn to a few general rules. Only the maximum limit of penal servitude is noticed in the text, as, with very few exceptions which are specially pointed out, the minimum limit is five years. Where penal servitude may be awarded, almost without exception (any exception being mentioned), the court has the alternative of sentencing to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; therefore such imprisonment has not generally been specified. The rules as to hard labour, whipping, and solitary confinement are adverted to in the chapter on Punishment. A reference to the Table of Offences at the end of the volume will clear up any difficulty which may arise. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. IN preparing the second edition for the press great care has been taken to render the work as accurate as possible up to the time of publication; and it is hoped that no material addition or alteration required in consequence of recent legislation or decisions has been omitted. One of the most important enactments passed since the publication of the former edition is the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879, the effect of which will be found described in the chapter on Summary Convictions. We venture to anticipate that this edition will meet with a reception no less favourable than that accorded to the former one. S. F. H. F. P. T. |