"Commercial Law" by Richard D. Currier, Richard William Hill, and Samuel Williston is a comprehensive textbook written in the early 20th century. It aims to educate bankers on the principles of law relevant to their profession, helping them understand legal concepts to act confidently in their roles. The book is designed not to turn bankers into lawyers but to equip them with essential legal knowledge that can inform their decisions and actions in the banking sector. The opening of the work outlines the intent and purpose of the textbook, emphasizing that it serves as a guide to commercial law rather than a legal treatise. It highlights the importance of understanding legal principles for bankers, providing illustrative cases and discussions about contracts, liabilities, and the overall legal landscape that affects banking practice. It also sets the stage for subsequent chapters by discussing foundational definitions of law and the essential role of common and civil law systems, all of which are crucial to understanding the complexities of commercial transactions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)