It was originally intended that I should merely take the place, so far as I could hope to do so, of the late Professor Buckland in the partnership which produced this book; but Sir Arnold McNair soon found that his other duties made too great demands on his time, and asked me to undertake the full task of preparing a new edition. In the end therefore, although Sir Arnold has from time to time given me help for which I am most grateful, the responsibility for this edition is entirely mine.

I have tried not to change the general character of the book; but I have not merely brought it up to date, by taking account of alterations in English law or of the constantly changing views held on Roman law. Indeed little has needed to be done in either direction, for the statements on Roman law were for the most part uncontroversial, and the parts of English law chosen for comparison were seldom such as undergo serious changes in a short space of time. Moreover, the book was never intended to be a compendium of Roman and Common law, and a display of learning was far from the thoughts of either author. On the other hand, they did intend a comparison, and it was obvious to me from the start that the comparison must be brought up to date.