Raymond. (Henry S. Ring and Co.)—The most valuable part of
this book is the appendix, which consists chiefly of Acts of Parliament. The writers have also inserted the schedule of rules approved by the Institute of British Architects. With regard to this, we cannot but think that it would be a much fairer and more convenient plan to leave the rate of remuneration to be agreed upon between the parties, accord- ing to the value of the architect's work. To fix an arbitrary charge of five pet cent, upon the total cost of the works executed affords an opportunity for unprincipled architects to make the building as expen- sive as possible. It appears to us, too, that it might often happen that elaborate and careful plans, which have cost the designer much thought and work would be paid for at exactly the same rate as those of a more simple character when the cost of tho actual building was the same in both cases. There is, therefore, a premiuni upon taking as little trouble as possible over the preliminary plans. The rules we have referred to were drawn up in 1872, and it would be very desirable to know what is the opinion of the public and the most eminent archi- tects upon this question of the rate of payment. As to the actual work itself, it consists almost entirely of dilutions of various elementary law-books, mingled with what the authors probably consider practical remarks, which, however, would naturally occur to most men of ordinary common-sense. It is too technical for the public, too simple for legal use. Remarks abound of such nature as, "If an archi- tect were to undertake to superintend the erection of works, it is ap- prehended a reasonable amount of attention would be implied," a fact which we hardly require two lawyers to discover for us. The persons who will probably be most benefited by this work will be authors them- selves, who will, perhaps, have become acquainted with a few cases in the Law Reports upon building contracts. The public generally will show their wisdom if they trust not to this book, but follow the advice, given in the introduction, "to refer for advice to some competent legal authority."
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