4 l6 .HARVARD LA W REVIEW. acute and powerful. Mr. Monro has in several notes cited English decisions upon parallel questions. More of such citations might be easily made, and would add to the value of the work. They would have a tendency to increase interest in the Roman law, which is a part of the value of books like this. The work of translation is well done, but the author's remarks in the preface upon the subject of translation are sensible and just. " I am," he says, " to say the truth, not without a misgiving that the student derives little or no benefit from any trans- lation at all, as he is encouraged to neglect the original, and thus bestow his time on the acquisition of a curious kind of artificial learning which cannot be called Roman law, or by any other particular name, and is only of conventional value." Mr. Monro's notes are useful without being elaborate, and discover an accurate general knowledge of the Digest and of the literature of the subject. W. S. Villainage in England. By Paul Vinogradoff. 1892. Oxford. At the Clarendon Press. The author of this work is Professor in the University of Moscow, and a reason for its appearance from so unexpected a quarter is to be found in the necessity felt among the thinking class in Russia for some means of meeting the problems and difficulties occasioned by the sudden emancipation of so large a body of their countrymen, and for some rules or principles which may guide their future social development. These national necessities tinge the author's views of the functions of history. In brief they are as follows : History in the past has been political ; in the future it must be economic and social. In the past it has concerned itself chiefly with the analysis of the development of, and working of, principles of govern- ment ; in the future it must rather consider the social and economic development of the people and the conflict of classes. In the Eng- land of seven centuries ago the condition of the rural population was not unlike that of the same class in the Russia of a generation ago. In England by the policy of the law and by her freer political institu- tions, the process of social development began earlier and was com- plete sooner than elsewhere ; to England, therefore, the author looks for the desired instruction. That a foreigner, from his freedom from national prejudice, may enjoy certain advantages in the study of the general features of any political system is, perhaps, undeniable. Three of the most thorough and impartial works upon our political in- stitutions have proceeded from foreigners ; but that the same advantage holds true of the treatment of special topics, is more open to question. In the present case it appears to have been attempted with satisfactory results. The work shows careful and thorough study of the older legal authorities ; the results which are reached are carefully stated, nor does the author hesitate to express his dissent when they are in conflict with those of previous workers in the same field. The book is in form two essays ; in the first is considered the Peasan- try of Feudal Age ; in the second the Manor and Village Community is treated of. The work is of interest to the specialist rather than the general reader, and though discussing a point of legal learning, to the student of political science rather than to the student of the law. The publication is by the Clarendon Press, the uniform excellence of whose work makes comment unnecessary. R. O. A.
