V. AND R. STEVENS AND G. S. NORTON, (Succes s to the late J. & W. T. CLARKE, of Portugal Street,) Law Booksellers and Publishers,

26 AND 39, BELL YARD, LINCOLN'S INN.

HODGES AND SMITH, DUBLIN.

MDCCCXLV.

ΤΟ

THE HON. SIR WILLIAM ERLE,

One of the Judges of Her Majesty's Court of Common Pleas,

THE FOLLOWING WORK

(BY PERMISSION)

MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

THE existence, and established character of Mr. Lewin's very valuable "Treatise on the Law of Trusts and Trustees," may seem to call for some apology for the appearance of the present Work. It might perhaps be sufficient for the writer to state, that his own Work had been commenced previously to the appearance of that of Mr. Lewin; but in truth it will be seen on examination, that the object, as well as the arrangement of the two Treatises are very dissimilar in many material respects. The present Work, as appears from its Title, is written principally for the information and guidance of Trustees in the discharge of their office, and the Law of Trusts has not been gone into further, than appeared absolutely essential for the development of that object. However, even with this limited purpose in view, a Treatise on the Law relating to Trustees involves in a greater or less degree the consideration of the whole Law of Real and Personal Property, and the difficulty of effecting a clear and continuous arrangement, which should embrace all the branches of the subject, is proportionably great. The defects on this point, as well as many of those attending the execution of the Work, are sufficiently apparent even to the writer himself: but he feels, that those who will discover the imperfections, must also be sensible of the difficulty of avoiding them, and will therefore be disposed to make the requisite allowances, and with this conviction he has greater confidence in bringing his Work before the Public.

6, New Square, Lincoln's Inn,

26th May, 1845.