23 JUNE 1888, Page 26

The Law of Public Meeting. By J. W. Blagg. (Butterworths.)

—Mr. Blagg, in this little volume, which he has managed to bring within reasonable compass, discusses and compares precedents and decisions. These are not altogether harmonious ; nevertheless, a fairly clear and practically sufficient idea of the law can be gathered from them. On one vexed question we may quote Mr. Blagg's dictum. "No doubt it is clear that the Commissioners have con- trol over Trafalgar Square, as over London thoroughfares generally." But the word " thoroughfare " is an essential part of the proposition ; and it would have been better if Mr. Justice Charles had used this term rather than "public place," when he gave judgment in the case of "Reg. v. Graham and Burns."