The Associated Chambers of Commerce met at Wolverhamp- ton on
Tuesday, 200 delegates being present, and passed an unanimous resolution in favour of the adoption of a Code of Commercial Law. Considering the present condition of Parlia- ment, the difficulty of passing any Bill of any utility, and the near approach of a new election, this might appear to be a resolu- tion in the air; but Mr. T. Barclay, delegate from the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris, showed that it was not. We are much nearer a Code of Commercial Lawithan anybody imagines. The work of codification, he said, had been silently going on in the shape of Consolidated Acts, until we had already a Code of Bank- ruptcy, of Merchant Shipping, of Bills of Exchange, of Companies, and of Patents and Trade Marks. What was now wanted was a Code of Contract Law, such as had been promulgated in India. If that were granted, the English Commercial Code would be as perfect as that of most Continental States, and the law of the subject might be contained in a single and small volume. Could not Lord Cairns, who seems inclined to utilise his poli- tical leisure in useful work, prepare a consolidating Bill of the Laws of contract, and pass it, as he did the Married Women's Property Act, without attracting public attention? It is incredible what good work may be done when the reporters happen not to be listening.
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