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This book presents the first thoroughgoing analysis of the contractual effect of letters of comfort as it appears in both common law and civil law systems. The commentary draws on cases from a wide variety of jurisdictions and on the full range of legal scholarship on the subject in several languages. Among the specific issues and topics raised along the way are the following: the typology of letters of comfort; the legal nature of letters of comfort; the use of letters of comfort in corporate group and banking practice; the economic explanation for the use of letters of comfort; the contractual effect of letters of comfort in French law; ‘ten commandments’ of letters of comfort; Clearly evoking the tension between business needs, the law, and judicial application, the book analyses what happens when the relationship between a lender and a creditor breaks down, or the latter becomes insolvent, and courts or arbitrators are asked to determine the legal status of a comfort letter. This is an area of practice in which lawyers in any field of business activity are inevitably concerned, and in which useful guidance is scarce. For this reason this detailed analysis will be very welcome.

This book presents the first thoroughgoing analysis of the contractual effect of letters of comfort as it appears in both common law and civil law systems. The commentary draws on cases from a wide variety of jurisdictions and on the full range of legal scholarship on the subject in several languages. Among the specific issues and topics raised along the way are the following: the typology of letters of comfort; the legal nature of letters of comfort; the use of letters of comfort in corporate group and banking practice; the economic explanation for the use of letters of comfort; the contractual effect of letters of comfort in French law; ‘ten commandments’ of letters of comfort; Clearly evoking the tension between business needs, the law, and judicial application, the book analyses what happens when the relationship between a lender and a creditor breaks down, or the latter becomes insolvent, and courts or arbitrators are asked to determine the legal status of a comfort letter. This is an area of practice in which lawyers in any field of business activity are inevitably concerned, and in which useful guidance is scarce. For this reason this detailed analysis will be very welcome.

South Africa has long awaited a full HISTORY OF JOHANNESBURG. Here is one written by an author who was himself in Johannesburg from 1892 onwards and had personal experience of much of which he writes. He saw the big explosion at Braamfontein and knew the town during the days of the Jameson Raid and the Boer War. His uncle, Dr W. J. Leyds, was one of President Kruger's closest advisers; and the records of his own family throw many personal lights on the earliest days of the Johannesburg story.The only authoritative work on old Johannesburg available until now was written some 30 years ago. New facts which have come to light since that book was was writer add considerably to emerging metropolis.G. A. Leyas was upon his own memories of the days; and not the least interesting of the reminiscences on a personal level come from letters — fortunately preserved — which his parents wrote to his grandmother overseas from 1887 onwards.But the twenty-one chapters of this book cover every phase of the development of the world's most famous mining camp into one of the cities of the Southern Hemisphere and describe every facet of its growing life.Among the itemized headings we find : The discovery of gold; the naming of the village; early personalities; the Diggers' Committee; water the problem; the Chamber of Mines; the Stock Exchange; history of the townships; history of Johannesburg streets; land deals; sport and social life; the first railway; "Uitlander grievances"; the Jameson Raid; war and surrender; refugee trains; Dr F.E.T. Krause; Milner's Kindergarten; self-government for the town; Native life and labour; art, monuments and music; education. But these give only a bare and fragmentary indication of the thorough-going and impartial survey which the author gives ot the city's history when still young. And each section of the story contains a wealth of authentic detail which it was important to preserve in black and white while those few who can corroborate them are still with us.The general reader will find graphic descriptions of wild early days and colourful sketches of men whose names have become household words. The controversial issues of 60 or 70 years ago, and afterwards, are faithfully dealt with, without fear or favour, as they appeared at the time on the spot. Being a linguist, the author has had recourse to many letters and documents hitherto not used, or scarcely used, by other writers; and several years of research, added to his personal experience, has produced this invaluable record. The book contains a large number of illustrations, and some of them fall into the of "hitherto unpublished" It will appeal equally to the historian, the South African citizen, the traveller and collector of Africana. G. Leyds (Tony to his friends) was able read the proofs of his book, and to answer many final queries, but was denied the pleasure of seeing this book in print. He died on 22nd Februrary, 1964, on the very eve of of his book, One of the few remaining links with old Johannesburg disappeared with his passing.During a lifetime of considerable public service G. A. Leyds filled many offices of distinction. While he lived on the Rand he helped form the first Rotary Club in South Africa and became Governor of Rotary in South Africa (1945—1947). At the Cape he has served as Trustee of the National Gallery, Chairman of the Association of Arts, Chairman of the Animal Welfare Society, President of the Amateur Swimming Association, and was one of the principal founders of the movement to save Cape Point for the nation. In the First World War he served with the Rand Light Infantry with the rank of Captain.