CHURCH LECTURES.-A correspondent in the Times of the 22nd Dec., suggests, that by 13 & 14 Car. 2, c. 4, ss. 17, 19, 20, 21, and 22, it is decidedly illegal for a layman to lecture in any church without the license of the primate or diocesan, first obtained in all cases. This statute subjects the offender to an imprisonment of three months. THE JUDICATURE ACT.-The Globe alludes to the "possibility of a short Bill being introduced next Session to postpone the operation of this Act for another year." But "at present there appears no need of such a measure.' "3 It is suggested that "it would be better to postpone the initiation of a new state of affairs than to begin it with a half finished or ill-considered mode of procedure." BURCH V. THE REV. JOHN REID.-On Saturday, Mr. G. H. Brooks, the Proctor, on the part of the Bishop of Exeter, received a petition of appeal in this case, recently heard in the Arches Court, and in which the defendant, the vicar of Tregony, Cornwall, was suspended for three years on a charge of immorality. The appeal will to-day be lodged at the Judicial Committee. THE directors of the Law Union Insurance Company have issued a notice in which they say that they think it desirable to direct the attention of their insured to the great increase in wages and in cost of materials, which in numerous cases renders reinstatement of premises destroyed by fire for the amount insured out of the question. It therefore becomes important that policy-holders should revise their insurances, with the view of satisfying themselves that their property is insured for a proper amount. His HONOUR, the Vice-Chancellor Malins, has sanctioned the payment of a second dividend of 38. 6d. in the pound to the creditors of the International Life Assurance Society, payable at the offices of Mr. Maynard, 55, Old Broad-street, on Wednesday next and the two following Wednesdays. It is announced that any of the creditors who have not received the first dividend can receive it with the second, provided there be nothing due from them in respect of loans on policies, and that they produce what is required of them in support of their title. WILLS AND BEQUESTS.-The will of the late Lord Chief Justice Bovill has been proved by his relict and eldest son. The document bears date the 20th Jan. 1870, and is wholly in the handwriting of the testator, whose personalty has been sworn under £70,000. The testator bequeaths certain personalty to his widow absolutely, and the income of the residue to her use for life, with remainder to his descendants as she may appoint. The testator's shares in the County and Borough Hall Guildford Company (Limited), are bequeathed to the Mayor and Corporation of Guildford, the income and votes in respect thereof to be used and applied for the benefit of the Guildford Working Man's Institution, of which the testator was formerly the president. THE TEMPLE FIRE, A.D. 1737.-On the 4th Jan. (Old Style) about seven o'clock, p.m. "a dreadful fire broke out in the Inner Temple, adjoining to the Hall, and continued to burn with great fury until five o'clock next morning, which entire consumed the Inner Temple, kitchen, buttery, and the great stairs that lead to the hall; but the hall was with great difficulty preserved, which was owing to the party-wall. It likewise consumed upwards of thirty chambers. At its breaking out there was a great scarcity of water, otherwise 'tis thought it would have been extinguished without doing any considerable damage. 'Tis said that several writings of great consequence were consumed in the flames. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales came there about eleven o'clock p.m., and by his presence he animated the people, gave money to the firemen, &c., and staid until it was quite over. A party of the Foot Guards were placed in the Temple Gardens, to take care of the valuable goods, writings, &c., that were carried thither." In the Gentleman's Magazine, vol 7, p. 59, it is stated that this was a considerable fire, and that it caused much loss of property. THE NEW LEGAL KNIGHTS.-Sir Archibald Paull Burt, who received the honour of knighthood last week from Her Majesty, at Windsor Castle, is the second son of the late Mr. George Henry Burt, and was born in the year 1810. He was educated at a private school at Richmond, and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, in Michaelmas Term 1845, and practised at St. Christopher's. In 1849 he was appointed Attorney. General of the Island of St. Christopher, in 1860 Commissioner of the Civil Court in Western Australia, and in the following year Chief Justice of that colony. He has been a Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Christopher, a member of the Legislative and Executive Council there, and a member of the Administrative Committee, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Antigua and the Leeward Islands. Sir Archibald married, in 1836, Louisa, daughter of Mr. John Bryan, M.D., of St Christopher's. Sir William Henry Doyle, who was knighted on the same occasion, is the only son of the late Mr. Edward Doyle, and was born in the year 1823. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in Easter Term, 1846, and in 1858 was appointed Assistant Justice of the General Court of the Bahamas. In 1865 he was promoted to the Chief Justiceship. He is also Judge of the ViceAdmiralty Court, and President of the Legislative Council of the Bahamas. Sir William H. Doyle is married to Miss Sarah Johnson, daughter of Mr. Samuel Johnson, of Nassau, in the Bahamas. MUNICIPAL ELECTION PETITIONS. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Mellor, two of the judges on the rota for the trial of parliamentary election petitions, have appointed Tuesday, the 13th Jan., for the trial of the municipal petitions from Nottingham and Hereford, and Tuesday, the 20th proximo, for the hearing of the petitions from Liverpool and Manchester. On the first day of trial the barristers appointed-namely, Mr. Dowdeswell, Q.C., Mr. T. W. Saunders, and Mr. Biron will sit at 11 o'clock; on the subsequent days at 10 o'clock. LAW STUDENTS' JOURNAL. EXAMINATIONS AT THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY. 1873. FINAL EXAMINATION. MICHAELMAS TERM, Ar the examination of candidates for admission on the roll of attorneys and solicitors of the Superior Courts, the examiners recommended the following gentlemen, under the age of 26, as being entitled to honorary distinction:-Edwin Murcott, who served his clerkship to Mr. George Cattell Greenway, of Warwick, and Messrs. Robinson and Preston, of London; John Locke Jeans, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Bourne and Rhodes, af Alford, and Messrs. Scott and Co., of Lincoln's-inn-fields, London; Henry Joseph Smith, who served his clerkship to Mr. William Frederick Baker, of London; Jesse Thomas Davies, who served his clerkship to Mr. Thomas Davies and Mr. John Paul Poncione, the younger, of London; George Hime, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Anderson, Collins, and Robinson, Liverpool; George Barrow Cummins, who served of Liverpool, and Messrs. T. and T. Martin, of his clerkship to Messrs. Hore and Monkhouse, of Liverpool, and Messrs. Milne, Riddle, and Mellor, of London. ON Wednesday the Chancery vacation com. menced and lasts until the 6th Jan., inclusive. The law offices will be closed until Tuesday morning. The Master of the Rolls is the vacation judge during the Christmas recess, and, according to a notice just issued, will, if required, sit at the Rolls' House, on Wednesday, the 31st Dec., and on Wednesday, the 7th Jan. "Any person desirous of making any application on either of those days must give notice at the Rolls' House before have accordingly awarded the following prizes of The Council of the Incorporated Law Society four o'clock on the previous Monday." The books: To Mr. Murcott, the prize of the judge will take applications of an urgent nature; Honourable Society of Clifford's Inn; to Mr. and his address can be obtained at the Rolls' Jeans, the prize of the Honourable Society of House. The chambers of the Master of the Clement's Inn; to Mr. Smith, Mr. Davies, Mr. Rolls will be open on the 24th, on the 30th, and Hime, and Mr. Cummins, prizes of the Incorpo31st inst., and on the 1st, 2nd, and 6th Jan. from rated Law Society. eleven to one o'clock. The Courts of Common The Pleas and the Exchequer will sit at Nisi Prius in and after Hilary Term on the same days. The first sittings on Tuesday, the 13th Jan.; second sittings, Monday, the 19th Jan.; and third sittings, on Monday, the 26th Jan., at Westminster. courts will not sit in London during Term. After Term, in Middlesex, the sittings are appointed for 2nd Feb., and in London on Monday, the 16th Feb. BARON COLERIDGE.-The Right Hon. Sir John Duke Coleridge, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, who is to be raised to the Peerage as Baron Coleridge, of Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire, is the elder son of the Right Hon. Sir John Taylor Coleridge, of Heath's Court, Ottery St. Mary (many years a Puisne Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench), by a daughter of the late Rev. Gilbert Buchanan, LL.D. He was born in the year 1821, was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he obtained a Scholarship, and graduating B.A. in 1812, was afterwards elected to a Fellowship at Exeter College. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1847, and went the Western Circuit, of which he was for some years the "leader." He held the Recordership of Portsmouth from 1855 to 1866, and was made a Queen's Counsel and elected a bencher of his inn in 1861. He sat in the House of Commons as M.P. for Exeter from 1865 down to last month, when he accepted the Lord Chief Justiceship. He held the SolicitorGeneralship from 1868 down to 1871, and succeeded Sir Robert P. Collier in the Attorney. Generalship in the latter year. He was sworn a Privy Councillor a week or two ago. Sir John Coleridge married in 1846 or 1847 Miss Jane Fortescue Seymour, daughter of the Rev. George T. Seymour, of Farringford, in the Isle of Wight, by whom he has with other issue an eldest son, Bernard John Seymour, now of Trinity College, Oxford. His DEATH OF CHIEF BARON 100T.-Lord Chief Baron Pigot died on Monday morning, at his residence in Merrion-square, Dublin, after a protracted illness. He had been in very delicate health for some months, and had been unable to preside in his court since the commencement of Term; but no serious fears were felt until the last few days, and up to Saturday evening he himself expected that he would recover. illness then assumed an alarming aspect, and, in fact, a report of his death was current in the city. He made a slight rally, however, and survived the attack of the disease until four o'clock on Monday morning. He was born at Kilworth, County Cork, in 1805, and was the son of a physician. In 1826 he was called to the Bar, after graduating in Trinity College; in 1835 he received a silk gown; in 1839 he was made a Bencher of the King's Inns, and was appointed to the office of SolicitorGeneral under the Melbourne Administration. Next year he succeeded to the office of AttorneyGeneral, and was made a Privy Councillor; andin 1846 the late Sir Maziere Brady, who then presided in the Court of Exchequer, having been elevated to the rank of Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Mr. Pigot was appointed first Roman Catholic Chief Baron, with a general recognition of his fitness. From 1839 to 1846 he represented the borough of Clonmel. The Lord Chief Baron was a visitor of the College of Maynooth, and a member of the Senate of the Queen's University, a Commissioner of National Education, and also connected with other public bodies. The examiners have also certified that the following candidates, under the age of 26, whose names are placed in alphabetical order, passed examinations which entitle them to commenda tion :-John Edward Booth, who served his clerkThomas Dent Gardner, who served his clerkship ship to Messrs. Teale and Appleton, of Leeds; to Messrs. Jones, Roberts, and Hale, of London; George Henry Hankinson, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Cooper and Sons, of Manchester; Thomas Noon Talfourd Strick, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Strick and Bellingham, of Swansea, and Messrs. Tamplin, Tayler, and Joseph, of London; Alfred Bishop Wallingford, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Wallingford and Day, of St. Ives, Hunts, and Messrs. Neal and Philpot, of London; George Kyme Wright, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Staniland and Wigelsworth, of Boston, and Messrs. Johnson and Jackson, of London. The Council have accordingly awarded them certificates of merit. The number of candidates examined in this Term was 166; of these, 157 passed, and nine were the Council, postponed. By order E. W. WILLIAMSON, Secretary. Law Society's Hall, Chancery-lane, London. The following circulars have been issued:INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION. Incorporated Law Society U.K., Chancery-lane, London, Dec. 1873. Sir, I am directed by the examiners appointed for the intermediate examination of persons under articles of clerkship to attorneys, to inform you that Thursday, the 22nd January 1874, is the day appointed for the examination, and that candidates for examination are to attend on that day, at half past nine in the forenoon, at the hall of the Incorporated Law Society, Chancerylane, London (Carey-street entrance.) The examination will commence at ten o'clock precisely, and close at four o'clock. I have to remind you that your articles of clerkship and assignment, if any, with answers to the questions as to due service, according to the regulations approved by the judges, must be left with me on or before the 3rd January; and in case your articles and testimonials of service have been deposited here, they should be reentered, the fee paid, and the answers completed on or before the 3rd January. No candidate will be examined who shall not have complied with these conditions, or whose testimonials as to service or conduct shall not be satisfactory to the examiners. to each candidate, containing questions to be answered On the day of examination, papers will be delivered in writing, selected from the works specified by the examiners; and a paper of questions on book-keeping, If you apply to be examined under the 4th section of the Attorneys Act 1860, you may, on application, obtain copies of the further questions relating to the ten years' service antecedent to the articles of clerkship; and such questions, duly answered, must be left with your articles, &c., on or before the 3rd January. (a)--I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, E. W. WILLIAMSON, Secretary. FINAL EXAMINATION. Incorporated Law Society U.K., Chancery-lane, London, Dec. 1873. Sir,-I am directed by the examiners appointed for the examination of persons applying to be admitted attorneys, to inform you that Tuesday, the 20th, and Wednesday, the 21st Jan. 1874, are the days appointed for the examination, and that candidates for examination are to attend on those days, at half-past nine in the forenoon of each day, at the hall of the Incorporated (a) Candidates who have already proved to the satisfaction of the examiners the ten years' antecedent service are not required to leave replies to the further questions again. Law Society, Chancery-lane, London (Carey-street entrance). The examination will commence at ten o'clock precisely, and close at four o'clock. I have to remind you that your articles of clerkship and assignment, if any, with answers to the questions as to due service, according to the regulations approved by the judges, must be left with me on or before the 10th Jan. If your articles were executed after the 1st Jan. 1861, the certificate of your having passed the intermediate examination should be left at the same time; and in case your articles and testimonials of service have been deposited here, they should be reentered, the fee paid, and the answers completed on or before the 10th Jan. If you apply to be examined under the 4th section of the Attorneys Act 1860 you may, on application, obtain copies of the further questions relating to the ten years' service antecedent to the articles of clerkship; and such questions, duly answered, must be left with your articles, &c., on or before the 10th Jan. (a) Where the articles have not expired, but will expire during the term, or in the vacation following such term, the candidate may be examined conditionally; but the articles must be left on or before the 10th Jan., and answers up to that time. If part of the term has been served with a barrister, special pleader, or London agent, answers to the questions must be obtained from them, as to the time served with each respectively. No candidate will be examined who shall not have complied with these conditions, or whose testimonials as to service or conduct shall not be satisfactory to the examiners. On the first day of examination papers will be delivered to each candidate containing questions to be answered in writing, classed under the several heads of-1, Preliminary; 2, Common and Statute Law, and Practice of the courts; 3, Conveyancing. On the second day further papers will be delivered to each candidate containing questions to be answered in-4, Preliminary; 5, Equity, and Practice of the Courts; 6, Bankruptcy, and Practice of the Courts; 7, Criminal Law, and Proceedings before Justices of the Peace. Each candidate is required to answer all the preliminary questions (Nos. I and 4); and also to answer in three of the other heads of inquiry, viz.: Common Law, Conveyancing, and Equity. The examiners will continue the practice of proposing questions in Bankruptcy and the Criminal and Proceedings before Justices of the Peace, in order that candidates who have given their attention to these subjects may have the advantage of answering such questions, and having the correctness of their answers in those departments taken into consideration in summing up the merit of their general examination. I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, E. W. WILLIAMSON, Secretary. A CHRISTMAS APPEAL.-I shall feel obliged by GENTLEMEN WHO PASSED THE FINAL Doing my utmost I cannot earn more than 8d. a EXAMINATION. MICHAELMAS TERM, 1873. Allen, Samuel Bassett, John Batten, Thomas Bennett, Charles Hudson Bull, W. James Hastings Freeman, John Tilleard, M.A. Geare, Henry Cecil Gill, Robert Thos. Greatheed, Wm. Hamshaw, John Lovell Hime, George Lewis, John Pryse Mawdsley, Wm. Henry Millett, Reginald Nutt, Jas. Teed Phillips, Edwd. Lord ney Sanders, Oliff George Shipton, Thos. the younger Widow of the late Henry Eldon Bankes. ARTICLED CLERK.-With reference to Greville's BEALL V. SMITH.-The letter which appears in MERRIMAN, POWELL, AND CO. RED TAPE IN THE CHANCERY PAY OFFICE.- were to sign his name " J. Jones," payment under ARTICLES OF CLERKSHIP.-Your correspondents, "Harvey and Addison," have either misroad or failed to perceive the obvious meaning of the words in sect. 43 of the Stamp Act 1870. "Save as herein before provided articles of clerkship are not to be stamped at any time after the expiration of six months from the date thereof, except upon payment of penalties as follows," &c. They clearly relate to clause 41, sub-sect. 2, and clause 42, sub-sect. 2, empowering the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to stamp articles of clerkship on which a lesser duty than £80 has been paid, as in the cases of clerks to solicitors in any of the counties Palatine of Lancaster, &c., to mission in the Superior Courts at Westminster. the full sum, qualifying, in that respect, for ad I cannot see that the Profession has been led into LAW SOCIETIES. THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND. WE take the following extracts from the Report of the Council of this Society, at the late general half-yearly meeting: ATTORNEYS' CERTIFICATE DUTY. In January last your council wrote to the council of the Incorporated Law Society, London, requesting to know, in view of the (then) approaching session of Parliament, whether they thought that any and what steps could be taken, with reasonable prospects of success, to obtain the reduction of this duty, and your council received an answer from that society, dated 5th Feb. 1873, saying that their council were of opinion that the reasons given by them, in answer to a similar communication made by your society at the commencement of the previous session of Parliament, still applied with equal, if not greater, force; also that their council had recently had an nterview with the Lord Chancellor on the subject of solicitors' remuneration, and had been assured AN ACT FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF By the first section of said Act it is enacted that the Act shall be construed, together with so much of The Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act This the council accordingly did, and the members of their body who attended to confer reported that nothing could exceed the courtesy shown to them by the chief and other registrars and chief clerk, and by every official connected with that court. Your council allude to this subject with peculiar pleasure, as a further evidence of the kindly and considerate desire which the present judges of the Court of Bankruptcy and Insolvency have uniformly manifested to consult the wishes of your council in every matter having for its object the upholding of the status and wellbeing of your Profession, and to evince the anxiety of these judges at all times to receive and give due weight to any suggestions which might be offered by your council tending towards that object; and the result of the conference has been that a much more liberal scale of solicitors' fees and charges has since been adopted and promu!gated by that court. this particular class of business than had pre-association for the purpose of meeting the heavy viously been allowed. ATTORNEYS' AND SOLICITORS' ACT (IRELAND), 1866 (29 & 30 VICT. c. 84.) "In all cases of summary proceedings before Justices, it is provided by the Petty Sessions Act (14 & 15 Vict. c. 93), s. 9, that the parties by and against whom any complaint or information shall there be heard, shall be admitted to conduct or make their full answer and defence thereto respectively, and to have the witnesses examined and cross-examined by themselves, or by counsel or attorney on their behalf. "In all such summary proceedings, therefore, no constable can be admitted to conduct any case, unless he be the party complaining. "In all cases of proceedings for indictable offences of a public nature, every member of the constabulary is, by the Act 6 Will. 4, c. 13, charged with all the powers and duties of a constable at common law or by statute, and these include the arrest of offenders on warrant, information, or suspicion of felony, the preservation of the peace, and protection of property from crime; and in every case of arrest it is the duty of the constable to bring his prisoner before a justice, in order that he may be committed for trial or discharged. "In such proceedings the Crown is the prosecutor; the constable, as a public peace officer, is charged wth the duty of explaining and proving to the justice the cause of the arrest; and, as incident to this duty, he is, in my opinion, entitled to state the facts, and examine and cross-examine witnesses. COMMON LAW SCHEDULE OF FEES. It appearing to your council that the schedule of law fees, settled by the judges in 1854, was not sufficiently comprehensive in its terms, nor liberal enough in the fees allowed, to afford to your Profession an adequate remuneration for the labour and responsible duties imposed upon them in the transaction of common law business, your council felt it necessary to endeavour, on behalf of the Profession, to obtain an increased scale of fees for "The Attorneys' Act imposes penalties only for their services more in accordance with the exi-acting as attorney or solicitor,' and no one can gencies of the times; and having accordingly so act except on behalf of a party. It appears to devoted much time, care, and attention to the me that in offences the subject of indictment the matter, they prepared a revised schedule of fees, constable, who, to use the common phrase, 'has copies of which they sent in June last to all the charge of the case,' is acting as a public peace common law judges, with letters representing the officer, having no client except the Queen, reprenecessity of having a new scale of fees settled, senting the public, but not as a party, and that he and requesting their lordships' attention to the does not incur any penalty by so doing. matter as early as possible. Your council brought this matter again before the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland previously to the commencement of the Michaelmas Term just ended, but they have not yet been favoured with any reply. COSTS OF ACCOUNTING BY RECEIVERS IN In January last your council received a communication from Master Coffey, the senior Taxing Master in Chancery, transmitting a draft of a new form of costs of passing receiver's accounts for consideration of your council, and inviting such suggestions as they might see fit to make in reference to the proposed scale of charges; and your council having carefully examined same, had an interview subsequently with the taxing masters, who received all their suggestions with much courtesy, and having fully discussed same, proised to consider how far they could adopt them. your council afterwards received a revised draft form of costs from the taxing masters, by which it appeared that nearly all the suggestions of your council had been adopted; and the result has been the production of a more liberal scale of fees for "I am, therefore, of opinion that the circular 66 "Dec. 21, 1872." A copy of this opinion was subsequently fur. nished to the Cork Law Society, but it did not seem to your council that any beneficial result would be obtained by further action in the matter. LEGAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. expenses which must necessarily be incurred during the ensuing year in holding public meetings and for printing, and other similar purposes. It was further requested that the attention of members of the association might be called by the finance committee to the moderate expense at which the work of the association had been carried on up to the present time, owing to it having had the advantage of the use of offices rent free, and of being able to dispense with any paid assistance. On the motion of Mr. Osborne Morgan, Q.C., M.P., seconded by Mr. Gedge, Mr. Ralph Charlton Palmer, of 8, New-square, Lincoln's-inn, who has kindly consented to assist the present honorary secretaries, was unanimously elected an honorary secretary of the association. JOHN V. LONG BOURNE, Hon. Sec. 20th Dec., 1873. Donations in aid of the funds of the association should be sent to the treasurer, J. M. Clabon, Esq., 21, Great George-street, Westminster, S.W. PROMOTIONS & APPOINTMENTS N.B.-Announcements of promotions being in the nature of advertisements, are charged 2s. 6d. each, for which postage stamps should be inclosed. MR. WILLIAM BURRIDGE, JUN., has been elected the clerk to the new Local Board of Health, Wellington, Somerset. Mr. S. B.JACKAMAN, of Ipswich, having resigned the office of borough coroner, after having held same for fifty years, Mr. H. M. Jackaman has been unanimously elected his successor to that office. THE COURTS & COURT PAPERS. SITTINGS IN AND AFTER HILARY TERM Tuesday Monday 1874. Monday......... Tuesday Monday Feb. 2 Monday Jan. 26 London. Feb. 16 To surrender at the Bankrupts' Court, Basinghall-st. To surrender in the Country. Robinson. Sur. Jan. 6 BOLTON, GEORGE EDWARD, farmer, Cainham. Pet. Dec. 16. Reg. CURTEIS, EDWARD, gentleman, Lavenham. Pet. Dec. 13. Reg. DREW,, merchant, Old Broad-st. Pet. Dec. 16. Reg. Brougham NEALE, MAUDE, Margate. Pet. Dec. 17. Reg. Callaway. Sur. TERRELL, JOHN, farmer, Cardiff. Pet. Dec. 17. Reg. Langley. Gazette, Dec. 23. To surrender in the Country. AT a meeting held on the 19th instant of the The finance committee were requested to take BOWERS, JAMES, out of business, Windermere-rd, Upper Hollosuch steps as they might think expedient for obtaining donations in aid of the funds of the RIDDIFORD, WILLIAM WALTER HATCH, timekeeper in the Roy al Liquidations by Arrangement. FIRST MEETINGS. Gazette, Dec. 19. ALCOCK, LUCY, farmer, Temple Ginting. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 5, at Pet. Dec. 16. ASHTON, CHARLES, hatter, Royal-hill, Greenwich. Pet Dec. 12. Dec. 27, at twelve, at the Chamber of Commerce, 145, Cheapside ASHWORTH, JOHN, and HALSTEAD, RICHARD, joiners, Stack- BATCHELOR, WILLIAM, bootmaker, Southborough. Pet. Dec, 13. BEST, WILLIAM, out of business, New Grimesthorpe. Pet. Dec. 12. Jan. 7, at two, at office of Sol. Roberts Sheffield BLAXLAND, JAMES, farmer, Milton-next-Sittingbourne. Dec. 15. Jan. 1, at two, at the Bull hotel, Sittingbourne. Pet. Sol. BOYNS. HENRY, grocer, Penrith. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 1, at eleven, at office of Sol. Trythall, Penzance BRASHAW, CHARLES EBENEZER, draper, Hilltop-in-Attcrcliffe. Pet. Dec. 12. Jan. 6, at one, at office of Sol. Roberts, Sheffield BREMNER, GEORGE WILLIAM, commission merchant, Mansionhouse-bidgs, Queen Victoria-st, and Milford Haven. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 13, at two, at the Inns of Court hotel, High Holborn. Sols. Randall and Angier, Gray's-inn-pl BROWN, DAVID, labourer, Llanwonno. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 2, at one, at office of Sol. Beddoe, Aberdare BROWN, JOHN BARNES, commercial traveller, Manningham. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 7, at three, at office of Sol. Hutchinson, Bradford BULLOCK, WILLIAM HENRY, tailor, Doncaster. Pet. Dec. 4. Dec. 31, at twelve, at office of Sols. Shirley and Atkinson, Doncaster BUTLER, HENRY, lodging house keeper, Brighton. Pet. Dec. 11. Jan. 1, at three, at office of Sol. Goodman, Brighton COATES, FREDERIC GEORGE, and SHARP, JOHN, and GRANGER, THOMAS, warehousemen. Bristol. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 2, at twelve, at the Queen's hotel, Manchester. Sols. Messrs. Brittan COCKBURN, CHARLES, sen., draper, Chatham. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 7, at two, at Ladbury, Collison, and Viney, Cheapside. Sols. Clapham and Fitch, Bishopsgate-st-without COOPER, HENRY CLINTON, auctioneer, Upper St. Martin's-la. Pet. Dec. 11. Dec. 26, at ten, at Haxell's hotel, 370, Strand CROASDELL, FREDERIC, and BROCKSOP. ARTHUR, wholesale cheesemonger, Park st, Southwark. Pet. Dec. 13. Jan. 1, at two, at office of Sols. Linklater, Hackwood, Addison, and Brown, Walbrook Jan. 1, at CRYDER, WILLIAM WETMORE, dealer in stocks, Gresham-house, and Queen's-gate, South Kensington. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 12, at two, at office of Sol. Clements, Old Broad-st DAVIS, SAMUEL. vicualler, Alcester. Pet. Dec. 13. at twelve, at office of Sol. Jones, Alcester DAVISON, GEORGE, shoemaker, Hawthorn. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 3, at three, at office of Sol Bell, Sunderland DEAN, GEORGE, boot dealer, Manchester. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 7, at three, at office of Sols. Addleshaw and Warburton, Manchester DYSON, JAMES, DYSON, WILLIAM, and DYSON, ABRAM, cotten doublers, Halifax. Pet. Dec. 17. Dec. 31, at two, at office of Sol. Leeming, Halifax EDMONDS, JAMES, coal merchant, Nottingham. Pet. Dec. 9. Dec. 30, at twelve, at the Assembly Rooms, Nottingham. Sols. Everall and Turner ELLIS, HENRY JAMES, general shopkeeper, Bury St. Edmund's. Pet. Dec. 17. Dec. 31, at ten, at the Angel hotel, Bury St. Edmund's. Sol. Walpole, Bury St. Edmund's FOWLER, PHILLIP HENRY, chemist, Bacup. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 6, at three, at the Dog and Partridge hotel, Manchester. Sol. Sykes FUDGE, JAMES, innkeeper. Taunton. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 2, at twelve, at offices of Sols. Trenchard and Blake, Taunton GOLDSMITH, GEORGE, carpenter, St. Leonard's. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 5, at two, at office of Cogswell, Gracechurch-st. Sol. Hicks, Annis-rd, South Hackney GOODHALL, JOHN, wine merchant, Newport. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 5, at eleven, at office of Sol. Hooper, Newport GOSBELL, HENRY, wholesale stationer, Tabernacle-row, City-rd. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 5, at eleven, at office of Sol. Perry, Guild. hall chmbs, Basinghall-st GREEN, JOSEPH, grocer, Great Yarmouth. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 6, at twelve, at Blake, accountant, Great Yarmouth. Sol. Palmer, Great Yarmouth HALL, THOMAS, worsted spinner, Leeds. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 9, at eleven, at office of Sol. Gardiner, Bradford HARLE, GEORGE, jun., engineer, Whitley. Pet. Dec. 16. Dec. 30, at twelve, at Messrs. Ridley, accountants, Newcastle. Sol. Thompson, Newcastle HARRISON, CHARLES, grocer, Farndon, and Holt. Pet. Dec. 13. HOWARTH, JAMES, flock dealer. Littleborough. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan, 5. at three, at the Spread Eagle inn, Rochdale. Sol. Standring, Rochdale HUGHES. JOHN, artist, Liverpool. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 5. at two, at the Clarendon Rooms, Liverpool. Sol. Williams, Liverpool HUNT. JOHN. draper, Ipswich. Pet. Dec. 16. Dec. 31, at eleven, at office of Sol. Watts, Ipswich JARVIS, DANIEL KENT, oilman, Princess-st, and Great James.st, Marylebone. Pet. Dec. 12. Dec. 29, at twelve, at Thwaites, Basinghall-st. Sol. Fulcher ONES, DAVID, and ROBERTS, RICHARD HENRY LLEWELLIN, iron plate workers, Birmingham. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 9, at three, at office of Sols. Rowlands, Bagnall, and Rowlands, Birmingham JOY, WILLIAM, batter, Bitton. Pet. Dec. 12. Dec. 31, at eleven, at office of Sol. Atchley, Bristel KNOWLES, EDWARD, draper, Stockport. Pet. Dec. 15. Dec. 30, at eleven, at office of Sol. Burkinshaw, Stockport LEON, LOUIS HORNTZ, and DAVIS, CASPER, tobacconists, Birmingham, Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 1, at two, at offices of Sol. Maher and Poncia, Birmingham LEWIS, THOMAS, grocer, Oswestry. Pet. Dec. 13. Jan. 2, at eleven, at the Osborne hotel, Oswestry. Sol. Jones, Oswestry. MANLEY, WILLIAM, innkeeper, Uphill. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 8, at twelve, at the Saracen's Head inn, Bristol. Sol. Jones, Westonsuper-Mare MANN, MARTIN, mercantile clerk, Tufnell-pk-rd. Pet. Dec. 4. Dec. 29, at three, at office of Sol. Holmes, Eastcheap. MARKLAND, EDWIN, chemist, Kelvedon, Pet. Dec. 12. Jan. 8, at one, at office of Sol. Smith, Denbigh-st, Pimlico, London MASON, FREDERICK, carpenter, Birmingham. Pet. Dec. 15. Dec. 29, at ten, at offices of Sol. East, Birmingham ODEY, THOMAS. cab proprietor, Elizabeth-st, Buckingham Palace-rd, Pimlico. Pet. Dec. 16. Dec. 31, at two, at office of Sol. Wilding, Titchborne-st, Edgware-rd OWENS, WILLIAM, grocer, Pontprenllwyd, par. Penderyn. Pet Dec. 13. Dec. 31, at one, at office of Sol. Beddoe, Aberdare. PATCH, THOMAS, miller, Bradford Abbas. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 2, at two, at office of Sols. Messrs. Watts, Yeovil POTTS, JOHN GREGORY, innkeeper, Witham. Pet. Dec. 13. Jan. 8. at two, at the Fleece inn, Colchester. Sols. Messrs. Digby, Maldon QUINN, JOSEPH. egg dealer, West Derby, and Liverpool. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 7, at three, at office of Sol. Baxter, Liverpool RUSHWORTH, JEREMIAH PHILLIPS, linen draper, Bradford. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sol. Hutchinson, Bradford ROBERTS, ROBERT, builder, Penmaenmawr. Pet. Dec. 9. Jan. 2, at three, at the British hotel, Bangor. Sol. Williams, Rhyl RUDLEN, HENRY, grocer, Rayleigh. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 10, at twelve, at the Crown inn, Rayleigh. Sols. Messrs. Digby, Maldon SAWYER, WILLIAM SPENCER, merchant, Manchester. Pet. Dec, 17. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sols. Atkinson, Saunders, and Co., Manchester SIMPSON, HENRY, tailor, Widnes. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sol. Nordon, Liverpool. STANTON, SAMUEL LEAR, grocer, Moxley, par. Wednesbury. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 5, at eleven, at office of Sol. Smith, Wednesbury STRANGE, ROBERT, grocer, New North-rd. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 2, at tvo, at Izard and Betts, 46, Eastcheap. Sols. Carter and Bell, Leadenhall-st SMITH, GEORGE, and SMITH, DAVID, cloth manufacturer, TYRER, THOMAS SAVAGE, jun., commission agent, Liverpool. WALLIS, GEORGE, out of business, WALMSLEY, DAVID, livery stable keeper, Preston. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 6, at four, at office of Sols. Buck and Dickson, Pres ton WARBURTON, JOHN, decorator, Southport, and Manchester. WHITE, SAMUEL THOMAS, GARDINER, CLEMENT, and GARDI- AIRD, JOHN SPARK, cattle dealer, Whaley Bridge, Chester. BAINES, MARTHA, widow, milliner, Huddersfield. Pet. Dec. 19. BIDGOOD, WALTER HENRY, auctioneer, Cardiff. BRADFORD, JOHN BENJAMIN, and PULLEN, HENRY, brass founders, Leeds. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 5, at two, at offices of Sols. Simpson and Burrell, Leeds BROWN, JOHN, sen., and BROWN, JOHN, jun., corn dealers, Penrith, Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 7, at three, at office of Sols. Cant and Fairer, Penrith BURGESS, JOSEPH, farmer, Tarporley. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 5, at COLE, JOHN THOMAS, Thaxted, and COLE, JOSHUA GEORGE, CONN, WILLIAM, engineer, York. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 7, at eleven, at office of Sol. Calvert, Lendal COOK, HENRY FRANCIS, grocer, Eastbourne. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 12, at three, at office of Sol. Chamberlain, Basinghall-street, London COXON, JOHN, baker, Gibson-st, Waterloo-rd. Pet. Dec. 8. Jan. 5, at three, at offices of Sol. Ody, Trinity-st, Southwark DANCE, JOHN, out of business, Birkenhead. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 14, at two, at office of Ford, 31, The Temple, Liverpool. Sul. Crozier, Liverpool DAVIES, STEPHEN EDWARD, licensed victualler, Birmingham. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 5, at eleven, at the Union hotel, Birmingham. Sol. Shakespeare, Oldbury DE CHASTELAIN, CHARLES EMANUEL JOHN, picture dealer, Buckingham Palace rd. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 6, at twelve, at office of Sol. Crump, King-st, Cheap ide DICKINSON, WILLIAM, builder, Seacombe. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 5, at twelve, at offices of Richarson, Oliver, Jones and Billson, 10, Cook-st, Liverpool DOLAN, MARK, Ironmonger, Liverpool. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 8, at two, at office of Sol. Hughes, Liverpool DUDD, WILLIAM, grocer, Clevedon. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5, at twelve, at offices of Sols. Henderson, Salmon, and Hendersons, Bristol EDWARDS, HOLLAND, secretary, Devonshire-rd, Holloway. Pet. FARNDALE, GEORGE, chemist, Middlesborough. Pet. Dec. 17. FRANCIS, CHARLES, builder, Harpurhey. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 8, GAETANO, SEMENZA, Gresham-house. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 8, at two, at office of Messrs. Turquand, Tokenhouse-yd. Sol. Cooper, Billiter-st, E.C. GARBETT, JAMES PHILIP, builder, Great Yarmouth. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 13, at twelve, at office of Blake, accountant, Great Yarmouth. Sol. Palmer, Great Yarmouth GILBEY, WILLIAM, fish merchant, Lowestoft. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 8, at two, at office of Sols. Chamberlain and Diver, Great Yarmouth GRAMMER, JOHN, provision merchant, Brompton-rd, and Fulham-rd. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 7, at two, at office of Sol. Brown, Basinghall-st GRANT, RICHARD, house decorator, Crawford-st, Marylebone. Jan. 8, at ten, at the Goldhawk tavern, Goldhawk-rd, Hammersmith GREGORY, FRANCIS JAMES, publican, Cheltenham. Pet. Dec. 12. Dec. 29, at a quarter-past ten, at office of Sol. Boodle, Cheltenham GWINNEL, FREDERICK PROCTOR, grocer, Cheltenham. Pet. Dec. 15. Dec. 31, at a quarter-past ten, at office of Sol. Boodle, Cheltenham HAWORTH, ENOCH, grocer, Accrington. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sols. Addleshaw and Warburton, Manchester HENKEL, HENRY, commission merchant, Circus-pl, Finsbury. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan, 13, at three, at offices of Sols. Lewis, Munns, and Longden, Old Jewry HILL, JAMES, baker, Trowbridge. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 1, at one, at office of Sol. Shrapnell, Trowbridge HODGSON, HENRY, and HODGSON, WILLIAM CLAPHAM, builders, Leeds. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 10, at twelve, at office of Sols. Bond and Barwick, Leeds HODGSON, JOSEPH, licensed victualler, Bristol. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Hancock, Triggs, and Co., public accountants, Bristol. Sol, Alman, Bristol JONES, LEWIS, grocer, Llanelly. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5, at eleven, at &, Spilman-st, Carmarthen. Sol. Howell, Llanelly JONES, THOMAS, commission agent, Bow-la. Pet. Dec. 13. Jan. 12, at three at offices of Sols. Harcourt and Macarthur, Moorgate-st JORDAN, TIMOTHY, grocer, Derby. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 8, at three, at offices of Sol. Leech, Derby KIRKLAND, PENELOPE, dealer in Berln'wool, Leamington. Pet. KINDER, WILLIAM, upholsterer, Peterborough. Pet. Dec. 17. LEWIS, DAVID, innkeeper, Talywain, par. Trevethin. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan, 3, at ten, at the Crown hotel, Pontypool. Sol. Morgan, Newport LINTOTT, EDWARD, coachbuilder, Maidstone. Pet. Dec. 17. Sol. Mempes, LISTER, ALFRED, clog maker, Rochdale. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 2, at three, at office of Sol. Lawton, Manchester LONSDALE, RICHARD, grocer, Butcher-row, Ratcliff. Pet. Dec. 11. Dec. 30, at twelve, at Mullen's hotel, Ironmonger-la. Sol. King, Walbrook LUCAS, JOHN, farmer, Gateforth, near Selby. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 5, at three, at offices of Sols. Davies and Brook, Warrington MARTIN, FREDERICK HENRY, tobacconist, Bath. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sol. Wilton, Bath MCCRUMMON, FARQUHAR, commission agent, Manchester. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 10, at one, at the Swan hotel, Manchester. Sol, Ward MCPARLAN, THOMAS, farmer, Middleton. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 6 at three, at office of Sol. Chorlton, Manchester MEAGHER, CHARLES FRANCIR, licensed victualler, Newcastleupon-Tyne. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 2, at three, at offices of Sol., Sewell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne MONTEJO, URBANO, merchant, Billiter-st. Pet. Dec. 10. Dec. 30, at twelve, at office of Messrs. Harding, Old Jewry. Sols. Ayles and Rawlins, Gracechurch-st MOORE, GEORGE MARMADUKE, out of business, Wate. Pet. Dec. 19. Jun. 9, at three, at offices of Sols. Forshaw and Hawkins. Liverpool MORRIS, DAVID JOHN. builder, Rugeley. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 1, at three, at offices of Sol. Crabb, Rugeley MORRIS, WILLIAM, chemist, Worcester. Pet. Dec. 17. Dec. 31, at three, at offices of Sol, Tree, Worcester MOULSON, THOMAS, warp sizer, Oldham. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 6, Pet. Dec. 17. at three, at office of Sol. Sampson, Manchester OSBORN, WILLIAM, carpenter, Falmouth. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 5, at three, a toffices of Sol. Jenkins, Falmouth PARKER, JAMES JORDAN, innkeeper, Ealing. Jan. 8, at two, at office of Sol. Best, Southampton PARLE, JOHN, joiner, Liverpool. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 5, at three, at offices of Sols. Teebay and Lynch, Liverpool PARSONS, EDWARD, grocer, Brentwood. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 8, Sol. at three, at 23, Long-la, West Smithfield, London. Hubbard PAYNE, RICHARD, pianoforte dealer, East Grinstead. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 5, at four, at the Crown hotel, East Grinstead. Sols. Stone and Simpson, Tunbridge Wells PILKINGTON, JOHN, tailor, Burnley. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 2, at three, at offices of Pollard, 16, Ormerod-st, Burnley. Sol. Wilding, Burnley cross PINCHBECK, GEORGE, engineer, Brunswick-villas, Hammersmith Pet. Dec. 13. Jan. 2, at three, at office of Sol. Cooper, CharingPRESS, JOHN, grocer, Dunstable-ter, Marsh gate, Richmond. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 12, at ten, at office of Sol. Steadman, Coleman-st RACE, DANIEL, cheesemonger, Canonbury-la, Islington. Pet. Dec. 9. Jan. 1, at three, at offices of Sol. Ody, Trinity-street, Southwark Pet. RIDSDALE, ELIZABETH, lithographic printer, Bradford. SAUNDERS, HENRY, gentleman, Kidderminster. Pet. Dec. 20. SEDDON, JOHN, grocer, St. Helen's. Pet. Dec. 19. Jan. 6, at two, at office of Mather, 4, Harrington-st, Liverpool. Sols. Barrow and Cook, St. Helen's SELLERS, WALTER, electro plater, Birmingham. Pet. Dec. 19. SMART, WILLIAM, innkeeper, Upper Machen. Pet. Dec. 18. SYKES, JOHN, woollen manufacturer, Huddersfield and Longwood. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 7, at three, at office of Sols. Messrs. Learoyd, Buddersfield TATE, SUSANNAH, dressmaker, Halifax. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5 at three, at office of So, Leeming, Halifax TERRY, GEORGE HENRY, grocer, Mirfield. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 9, at three, at the Great Northern hotel, Leeds. Sols. Robinson and Johnson VALE, WILLIAM, licensed victualler, Stourbridge. Pet. Dec. 18. VERNON, WILLIAM, manager of the Central Working Men's WALKER, HUGH, baker, Colby-ter, Upper Norwood. Pet. Deo 13. Jan. 1, at three, at office of Sol. Cooper, Charing-cross WALTERS, STANLEY, farmer, Mavesyn Ridware. Pet. Dec. 15. Dec. 31, at twelve, at the Chadwick's Arms inn, Ridware. Sol. Palmer, Rugeley WARD, THOMAS, hotelkeeper, Tewkesbury. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 6, at eleven, at office of Sols. Moores and Romney, Tewkesbury WESTGATE, ROBERT. Outfitter, Westow-hill, Upper Norwood, and Beckenham. Jan. 7, at two, at office of Sol. Cotton, Cole BIRTHS. BIRTHS MARRIAGES AND DEATHS LEIGH-On the 20th inst., at The Yews, Beaminster, Dorset, the wife of Mr. R. Leigh, solicitor, of a son. MILLAR-On the 21st inst., at 59, Kensington-gardens-square, the wife of F. C. J. Millar, of the Inner Temple, barrister-atlaw, of a son. ROLLIT.-On the 14th inst., the wife of A. K. Rollit, LL.D., SONcitor, Hull of a daughter. WOODARD.-On the 13th inst., at Manchester, the wife of M. N. Woodard, barrister-at-law, of a son. Now ready, price 5s. 6d., VOL. II., Part 1, of MARITIME LAW REPORTS (New Series) By J. P. ASPINALL Esq., Barrister-at-Law, in the Admiralty Courts of England and Ireland, and in all the Superior Courts, with a Selection from the Decisions of the United States Courts, with Notes by the Editor. The First Series of "Maritime Law" may now be had complete in Three Volumes, half bound, price £5 58. for the set, or any single volume for £22s. Back numbers may be had to complete sets. London: HORACE COX, 10, Wellington-street, Strand, W.C. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. Metropolitan Building Acts-Danger- COURT OF EXCHEQUER. The Liverpool Municipal Petition... 166 ECCLESIASTICAL LAW:Notes of New Decisions COUNTY COURTS: Notes of New Decisions 166 168 608 Corporation - Parol contract - Mutuality-Corporate seal-Town clerk...... 611 COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. Ex parte BARRY; Re Fox NOTES AND QUERIES ON POINTS OF PRAC 171 TICE LAW SOCIETIES: Law Association LEGAL OBITUARY Shares-Assignment of-Declaration of PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS trust 620 Evidence-Unstamped letter, or order NOTICE. 172 THE LAWYER'S ALMANAC for 1874 will be presented to our Subscribers with our next number. The Law and the Lawyers. THE number of cases which may be, and often are, cited upon the construction of wills, is absolutely appalling, and it is a relief to find the vigorous mind of the MASTER of the ROLLS developing all the energies characteristic of new brooms, and attacking the practice which has so long prevailed. In the case of Waring v. Currey, before him on the 10th ult., Sir GEORGE observed "with reference to a case cited in argument, that the rules as to the construction of wills had often been departed from, and that he should adhere to the principles laid down by Lord WENSLEYDALE VOL. LVI.-No. 1005. in Grey v. Pearson (6 H. of L. Cas. 61, 108), and should in such cases always endeavour to prevent counsel citing authorities on the construction of other wills, except where some principle was laid down or where some technical terms were defined or explained." The inconvenient habit which is thus to receive a check prevails also in the United States, and we met with a case recently in which counsel on each side cited authorities which would have filled one of these columns printed in small type. Several hours must have been occupied in mere citation, and the mental condition of the Bench at the close of the argument may perhaps be imagined. It is an evil that our law is so largely made up of cases, but nothing tends so much to make the law uncertain as the unnecessary introduction of decisions and dicta into arguments intended to instruct the court and facilitate their labours. A CONTRIBUTOR sends us the following with reference to a matter arising in his practice: "A question of considerable difficulty arose a short time ago, and one upon which there seems to be some conflict in the decided cases. A testator devised real estate to his daughter "for the term of her natural life, and for her separate use, without power of anticipation ;" and, "if she shall die before attaining the age of twenty-one years, or without leaving lawful issue," he devised the property to another daughter. Is this devise to be construed as a fee to the first-named daughter, determinable upon her decease under the age of twenty-one years, or without leaving issue; or as raising by necessary implication an estate tail in her, or as simply an estate for life? If we adopt the first construction, the words limiting the estate to her life must be taken in strict connection with the clause for the separate use as indicating the period during which the restriction upon alienation and anticipation is to operate, and not as words of limitation confining the estate to the life of the devisee. And by such a construction the absurdity is removed of making a life estate determinable on death without issue or under twenty-one; and probably the testator's intention would be best effectuated thereby. The case of Ex parte Rogers (2 Madd. 449) is an authority in favour of the second view, though that was a cause of personalty. That case, however, seems now to be of doubtful authority, though it has never been expressly overruled: (See Sparkes v. Restall, before Lord ROMILLY; Doe d. Bamfield v. Wetton, 2 Bos. & Pul. 324; Ranelagh v. Ranelagh, 12 Beav. 200; and in Lee v. Bask, 2 De G. M. & G.) CRANWORTH, L.J., expressed doubt as to whether Ex parte Rogers was law. It would probably not be followed unless the circumstances were precisely similar. But the very peculiarity of these cases is that the same circumstances scarcely ever repeat themselves without some slight variation. And in later cases the courts have shown great reluctance to modify the words of wills: (See Grey v. Pearson, 6 H. of L. 61.) It is difficult to see how the rigid interpretation in some of the above cited cases can be reconciled with the general indulgence shown to testators, and the words of Jarman (3rd edit. p. 527) " when the language of the will necessarily confines the interest of the parent to his life, the courts will lay hold of slight circumstances to raise a gift in the children." And if, as in so many other cases, the word "or" be construed as " and," further difficulties may arisethe daughter might attain twenty-one and die, without leaving issue, or she might die under twenty-one, and leave issue; in either of these cases the gift over to the second daughter would be defeated. THE Times seems to have taken a somewhat unusual course with regard to the vacancy created on the Irish Bench by the death of Chief Baron PIGOT. The manner in which the Judges of Ireland who can be considered to have any chance of promotion are weighed, and their merits discussed, is about as singular as anything which we remember; and the conclusion of the writer puts the Government in a position which must prove uncomfortable if the influence of the Times is worth anything. In the first place rightly enough it is suggested that the Government may save £4000 a year by promoting a puisne Judge; which, then, shall be promoted? The Times discovers that although Baron FITZGERALD is a most able Judge, he was "unluckily, during his political career, a Conservative," whilst "his juniors, Barons DEASY and Dowse, were both Liberals." We trust that it is not meant to suggest that changes in the positions of men already on the Bench-changes of no political aspect whatever are to be governed by considerations of the political creeds of individuals years ago. The Times evidently thinks that they are, for it goes on to observe that "the pretentions of Mr. Justice FITZGERALD-a Liberal well known during his party career, and no relative of his Conservative namesake in the Exchequer " (as if even relationship with a Conservative might operate prejudicially!)-"are commanding." Our contemporary, however, concludes thus: "Upon the whole it may be said that the competition for the vacant place lies between the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, Mr. Justice FITZGERALD, and Baron FITZGERALD. If the Ministry decide upon taking into consideration official pretensions only, and decline to introduce those economies which are plainly needed into the Irish judicial expenditure, they will promote Mr. PALLES. If, still regarding party claims as paramount |