Note 9 — LORD ST LEONARDS.[8]

Preface to the fourth edition of the “Vendors and Purchasers” quoted in the preface to the thirteenth edition. In justice to the memory of the late Mr Preston, one of the most eminent conveyancers that ever lived, it should be stated that he also in early life published—we believe in his twenty-first year (1791)—an elementary treatise on the Quantity of Estates, which has, with modifications in successive editions, continued even to the present time a standard text-book in the profession. In its original form it may be regarded as the anatomy of the body of real-property law—and a doubt may be entertained whether subsequent editions were improvements on the first. This book laid the foundation, in his case also, of an enormous practice and great wealth; but never, as in the case of his distinguished contemporary, led to judicial office.