In this edition the text with slight exceptions remains unchanged from the last edition. In a very few instances, where statements were obviously wrong or misleading, a sentence or paragraph has been omitted. But this has been done only when it was possible without changing the sense of the context, and when the necessity for it seemed clear. In a few instances, also, under like circumstances, a word or a sentence has been changed or inserted, the altered or added words being inclosed in brackets. In dealing with the notes, greater freedom has been used. Very many of the notes of the editor of the last edition and a few notes by Professor Parsons have been omitted altogether, such matter in them as it was deemed desirable to retain being incorporated in new notes. In order to make room for new matter, omissions also have been made of portions of a number of the notes of Professor Parsons, consisting chiefly of quotations from the opinions of cases which no longer are of sufficient comparative importance in the law to justify the full quotations made from them in former editions. It is believed that nothing of material value to the book has been omitted. Whenever additions have been incorporated by the present editor in the notes of the last edition, the added matter has been inserted in brackets, except simple citations of cumulative authorities. Many of the notes of the editor of the seventh edition, William V. Kellen, Esquire, have been retained, and are indicated by the letter K. appended to them. The notes having the authority of Professor Parsons are printed in parallel columns; the notes by the editors of the seventh edition and of this edition are printed continuously across the page.

In a book of such scope, it is impossible, without exceeding proper limits, and if it were possible it would be undesirable, to cite all pertinent decisions. No attempt at this sort of completeness has been made. Especially, where a number of decisions in a single jurisdiction are merely cumulative, and the latest decision affords ready reference to the earlier, it has been deemed sufficient to cite the latest case only. An exception to this rule has been made in favor of cases which for any reason are of more than ordinary importance. On the other hand, the editor has not confined his work wholly to the cases decided in the decade which has elapsed since the publication of the seventh edition, but, for the sake of making his notes complete, has frequently cited earlier cases. In spite of the endeavor to restrict the citation of cases to such as were of value, and the omission, on account of the citation of later decisions, of not a few cases cited in the last edition, the number of cases cited in this edition exceeds by about five thousand the number cited in the seventh edition.

SAMUEL WILLISTON. Cambridge, October, 1893.