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.' 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 Paul 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 AttorneyGeneral 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. 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 four o'clock on the previous Monday." judge will take applications of an urgent nature; and his address can be obtained at the Rolls' The House. The chambers of the Master of the Rolls will be open on the 24th, on the 30th, and 31st inst., and on the 1st, 2nd, and 6th Jan. from eleven to one o'clock. The Courts of Common 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. The 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. DEATH OF CHIEF BARON 1GOT.-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. His 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; and in 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, & Commissioner of National Education, and also connected with other public bodies. 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 following gentlemen, under the age of 26, as being Superior Courts, the examiners recommended the 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 Rhodes, af Alford, and Messrs. Scott and Co., of served his clerkship to Messrs. Bourne and 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, of Liverpool, and Messrs. T. and T. Martin, of Liverpool; George Barrow Cummins, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Hore and Monkhouse, of Liverpool, and Messrs. Milne, Riddle, and Mellor, of London. have accordingly awarded the following prizes of The Council of the Incorporated Law Society books :- -To Mr. Murcott, the prize of the Honourable Society of Clifford's Inn; to Mr. Jeans, the prize of the Honourable Society of Clement's Inn; to Mr. Smith, Mr. Davies, Mr. Hime, and Mr. Cummins, prizes of the Incorporated Law Society. The examiners have also certified that the following candidates, under the age of 26, whose examinations which entitle them to commendanames are placed in alphabetical order, passed tion :-John Edward Booth, who served his clerkship to Messrs. Teale and Appleton, of Leeds; Thomas Dent Gardner, who served his clerkship 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 accor dingly awarded them certificates of merit. Term was 166; of these, 157 passed, and nine were postponed. By order of the Council, The number of candidates examined in this 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 1866, 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 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 Practice of the courts; 3, Conveyancing. 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 Baukruptcy 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. GENTLEMEN WHO PASSED THE FINAL Doing my utmost I cannot earn more than 8d. a EXAMINATION. MICHAELMAS TERM, 1873. Allen, Samuel Barrow, Alfred Bassett, John Batten, Thomas Bennett, Charles Hudson Bull, W. James Hastings Furber, Richard Gardom, Edw. Theodore Garnett, Charles Geare, Henry Cecil Gill, Robert Thos. Greatheed, Wm. Hamshaw, John Lovell Hime, George | Lewis, John Pryse Millett, Reginald Nutt, Jas. Teed Phillips, Edwd. Lord were to sign his name "J. Jones," payment under such power might with equal reason be refused on the ground that the person signing "J. Jones might be one James Jones, notwithstanding the affidavit might declare that the signature was that of John Jones; but, failing to convince him, I sent the power and affidavit to the Lord Chancellor, with a statement of the fact, and his Lord. ship, through his secretary, having intimated to the Paymaster-General that, in his opinion, the power was sufficiently executed to be acted upon, I have, after considerable delay, numerous at tendances, and correspondence, arrived at the position I should have been at the outset, and received the cheque. I make no complaint against individuals, having received perfect courtesy from all parties. I opposed the requirements of the Paymaster-General because it seemed to me that a system was vexatious which required a man to sign his name contrary to his usual practice, and I hope I have thereby succeeded in preventing this vexation reaching others. JOHN NICHOLAS MASON. ARTICLES OF CLERKSHIP.-Your correspon. A CHRISTMAS APPEAL.-I shall feel obliged by dents, "Harvey and Addison," have either mis your kindly inserting the following letter in the road or failed to perceive the obvious meaning of LAW TIMES. I am widow of the late Henry the words in sect. 43 of the Stamp Act 1870. Eldon George Bankes, who is the son of the late "Save as herein before provided articles of clerk. Rev. Edward Bankes, canon of Bristol and Glou-ship are not to be stamped at any time after the cester, and Chaplain to Her Majesty, and grand- expiration of six months from the date thereof, son to the late Earl of Eldon, late Lord Chancellor except upon payment of penalties as follows," &c. of England. Acting under the advice of counsel, They clearly relate to clause 41, sub-sect. 2, and I have filed a bill in Chancery against Mr. John clause 42, sub-sect. 2, empowering the CommisScott Bankes, The Rev. Eldon Surtees Bankes, sioners of Inland Revenue to stamp articles of and Mr. Frances Serrell, to pray the court to de- clerkship on which a lesser duty than £80 has clare that I am entitled to a share in the estate of the late Lord Eldon, but I am informed been paid, as in the cases of clerks to solicitors in any of the counties Palatine of Lancaster, &c., to before my case can be heard. In the meantime I mission in the Superior Courts at Westminster. by my solicitor that it may be eighteen months the full sum, qualifying, in that respect, for adhave no means of subsistence. I have been in the I cannot see that the Profession has been led into workhouse, but owing to the kindness of friends have been able to escape from it for a few weeks. any error by the wording of the Stamp Act 1870. My friends can no longer support me, and I must It was only requisite to investigate the subject with ordinary care and attention. By 34 Geo. 3, return. Only those who have lived amongst the c. 44, articles of clerkship were required to be higher classes can appreciate the horrors of that stamped before being executed. By 7 Geo. 4, c. 44, dreadful place, and I do beg you to allow me to s. 4, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue were appeal to the legal Profession to save me from prohibited from stamping articles of clerkship spending my Christmas week separated from my after six months from date under any pretence child, amongst the lowest of the low, in the Union. whatever, this limit of time being identical with that within which the articles were to be enrolled. day at needlework, but my child and I cannot live By the 9 Geo. 4, c. 49, the commissioners were upon this in the winter weather. The Rev. empowered to stamp between 15th July 1828, and Thomas Pigott, 16, Belgrave road, Upper Holloway, the last day of Hillary Term 1829; any articles of has kindly consented to receive donations on my clerkship dated prior to 22nd June 1825, not stamped behalf. LOUISA BANKES, before execution on payment of the duty, and of £5 penalty. By the 19 & 20 Vict. c. 81, articles of clerkship (notwithstanding the Act 34 Geo. 3) could be stamped under the direction of the Lords of the Treasury at any time after execution on payment of the penalties therein enumerated. By the Stamp Act 1870, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue were empowered to stamp articles of clerkship after execution without the intervention of the Treasury on payment of the duty, and BEALL V. SMITH.-The letter which appears in the under-mentioned penalties, viz., if within one your issue of to-day, signed "A Solicitor," calls year, £10; if subsequently, £10 for each year, upon us to state the facts of this case, and we and for the fractional part of a year. The have no objection whatever to the position your key to the mystery is as follows: By the 15th correspondent takes up, and are content to stand section of the Stamp Act 1870, a penalty of £10 is made payable on any instrument taken or fall on the issue raised by him. Let us, therefore, briefly say that every fact was brought to be stamped after its execution, but by sub-sect. directly under the notice of the chief clerk and 2 of that clause, the commissioners are emthe court, and that no step was taken clandes- powered to remit or reduce such penalty within tinely, and that no fact, or part of any fact, was twelve months, but by the 43rd section of this withheld from the knowledge of the court, and Act, the time within which they can exercise that that the decree, and every order, was made in full power in the case of Articles of Clerkship is knowledge of every circumstance of the case, reduced to six months, thus if Articles of Clerkalthough our leader, Mr. Greene, Q.C., had to ship be tendered for stamping within six months explain to his Honour, Wickens, V.C., what took after execution the commissioners may in the explace on obtaining the order on further consider-ercise of their discretion reduce the penalty ation. We are perfectly ready to lay the facts of the case before your readers in our own way, but as you have already received from us copy of our affidavits, we prefer to leave the matter in your hands for the present. Dec. 20. Widow of the late Henry Eldon Bankes. ARTICLED CLERK.-With reference to Greville's case reported on p. 70 of your issue of 29th Nov. last, can any of your readers inform me of any case in which it has been held that Sunday service in a choir (on salary) is au office or employment contrary to 23 & 24 Vict. c. 127. A. B. MERRIMAN, POWELL, AND CO. RED TAPE IN THE CHANCERY PAY OFFICE.- Sanders, Oliff George Peter Shipton, Thos. the younger (though in practice they do not); if subsequently taken for stamping, the penalties prescribed by the Act are peremptorily enforced.-E. C. LAW SOCIETIES. IRELAND. THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF 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 i of solicitors' remuneration, and had been assured that a measure would be introduced into Parliament by the Government for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of land, and that should same become law, it would, of course, be most desirable that some corresponding change should be made in the mode in which solicitors were to be remunerated, and that their council, therefore, considered that it would not be wise to attempt any agitation for the reduction of the Certificate Duty pending the consideration of the more important matter to which they referred. Upon receiving that communication, your council immediately forwarded a copy of it to the Provincial Law Societies at Belfast, Cork, and Waterford, and it seemed to be considered inexpedient to go forward in the matter without having the assistance and co-operation of the Profession in Eng. land, for which, under the circumstances stated, your council could not hope. AN ACT FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF BANKRUPTCY IN IRELAND (35 & 36 VICT. c. 58.) During the session of Parliament of 1872, an Act, bearing the above title, became law, not to come into operation until Jan. 1, 1873. 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 1857, as is not by said Act altered or repealed, as one Act, and may be cited for all purposes as the Bankruptcy (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1872." In connection with this subject your council have to inform you that they received a letter from the chief registrar of the Court of Bankruptcy and Insolvency, transmitting, by desire of the judges of that court, the draft of a revised scale of solicitors' fees and charges in proceedings therein, in view of the altered procedure, and by said letter your council were requested to depute some of their number to confer with the chief registrar and chief elerk, in order that any sug gestions or alterations they might deem desirable in proposed schedule should be submitted to the judges. 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. 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 their services more in accordance with the exigencies of the times; and having accordingly devoted much time, care, and attention to the matter, they prepared a revised schedule of fees, copies of which they sent in June last to all the common law judges, with letters representing the necessity of having a new scale of fees settled, and requesting their lordships' attention to the 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 auch 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 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.) expenses which must necessarily be incurred ings and for printing, and other similar purposes. during the ensuing year in holding public meetIt 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. In December last the Council of the Cork Law Society brought under the notice of your council a case which had occurred before the polico magis. trates in that city in the previous month of August, in which a constable who took upon himself to state the case against an accused party was allowed by the magistrate so to do, although On the motion of Mr. Osborne Morgan, Q.C., the attorney for the accused interposed to make M.P., seconded by Mr. Gedge, Mr. Ralph Charla preliminary objection, on behalf of this Pro- ton Palmer, of 8, New-square, Lincoln's-inn, who fession, to such a proceeding; the magistrate, has kindly consented to assist the present hononevertheless, prevented the attorney from mak-rary secretaries, was unanimously elected an ing his objection pending the statement of honorary secretary of the association. the constable, and ruled that the constable JOHN V. LONG BOURNE, Hon. Sec. should be heard, in conformity with a cir- 20th Dec., 1873. cular issued from Dublin Castle, dated 29th Donations in aid of the funds of the associaAugust 1870, addressed to the magistrates of tion should be sent to the treasurer, J. M. Clabon, petty sessions for their guidance and instruction. Esq., 21, Great George-street, Westminster, S.W. 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. The council of the Cork Law Society also informed your council that they had subsequently brought the facts of this case before the autho- PROMOTIONS & APPOINTMENTS rities at Dublin Castle, and had requested to be informed by what authority any constable was invested with the power, as not only his right, but his duty, of conducting cases, and examining and cross-examining witnesses, without the inter. vention of any professional man, as stated in the circular of 29th August 1870, but that their council had been informed by the Under-Secretary that the grounds or reasons upon which the law officers arrived at the opinion expressed in the circular referred to could not be inquired into. Under these circumstances the council of Cork Law Society requested the intervention of your council on behalf of this Profession, and your council accordingly submitted a statement of the whole case (including the correspondence with the Under-Secretary) to Gerald Fitzgibbon, junior, Esq., Q.C., for his opinion, a copy of which opinion is as follows: "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, infor. mation, 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. "The Attorneys' Act imposes penalties only for 'acting as attorney or solicitor,' and no one can so act except on behalf of a party. It appears to me that in offences the subject of indictment the constable, who, to use the common phrase, 'has charge of the case,' is acting as a public peace officer, having no client except the Queen, representing the public, but not as a party, and that he does not incur any penalty by so doing. "I am, therefore, of opinion that the circular of 29th August 1870, correctly states the law. (Signed) GERALD FITZGIBBON, Jun., 10, Merrion-square, North. 66 "Dec. 21, 1872." A copy of this opinion was subsequently furnished 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. 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 Monday..... Tuesday Monday. Monday 1874. Common Law Courts. Feb. 2 Monday Feb. 16 To surrender at the Bankrupts' Court, Basinghall-st. BULL, HENRY, solicitor's clerk, Aldridge-rd.villa, Westbournep. Pet. Dec. 16. Reg. Murray. Sols. Lewis, Munns, and Co., Old Jewry. Sur. Jan. 13 TAYLOR, JOHN victualler, St. Andrew's-hill, Doctors-commons. Pet. Dec. 15. Reg. Brougham. Sols. Nash, Field, and Co., Suffolk-la, Cannon-st To surrender in the Country. BENJAMIN, PHILIP, Great Dover-st, Borough. Pet. Dec. 17. Reg. Spring Rice. Sols. Messrs. Brandon. Sur. Jan. 8 BOLTON, GEORGE EDWARD, farmer, Cainham. Pet. Dec. 16. Reg. Robinson. Sur. Jan. 6 BURCHBY, JOHN WRIGHT, auctioneer, Peterborough. Pet. Dec. 17. Reg. Gaches. Sur. Jan. 3 CURTEIS, EDWARD, gentleman, Lavenham. Pet. Dec. 13. Reg. LEGAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. AT a meeting held on the 19th instant of the executive committee of the council of the association (Mr. Amphlett, Q.C., M.P., in the chair), the report of the interview which took place on the 12th instant between the Lord Chancellor and a deputation from the association, was read, and ordered to be printed and circulated with the report of the proceedings at the annual meeting SMITH, SAMUEL BARTHOLOMEW, hotel manager, West Cowes, of the association held in Lincoln's-inn Hall in January last. The finance committee were requested to take such steps as they might think expedient for obtaining donations in aid of the funds of the PRINGLE, JAMES, farmer, Morpeth. Pet. Dec. 18. Reg. Mortimer. Sur. Jan. 3 Isle of Wight. Pet. Dec. 16. Reg. Blake. Sur. Jan. 5 BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. Gazette, Dec. 15. BOWERS, JAMES, out of business, Windermere-rd, Upper HolloRIDDIFORD, WILLIAM WALTER HATCH, timekeeper in the Royal way. Nov. 4, 1973 Arsenal, Woolwich, Plumstead.common. Jan. 22, 1867 Liquidations by Arrangement. FIRST MEETINGS. Gazette, Dec. 19. ALCOCK, LUCY, farmer, Temple Ginting. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sol. Marshall, Cheltenham ARCHER, DAVID, buckle manufacturer, Walsall. Pet. Dec. 16. Sol. Stanley, Walsall 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, Now Grimesthorpe. Pet. Dec. Pet. Sol. BOYNS, HENRY, grocer, Penrith. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 1, at eleven, BROWN, DAVID, labourer, Llanwonno. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 2, at BULLOCK, WILLIAM HENRY, tailor, Doncaster. Pet. Dec. 4. Dec. tan 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 Jan. 3, 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. 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. Ed. mund'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. 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, ollman, 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. QUINN, JOSEPH. egg dealer, West Derby, and Liverpool. Pet. 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. SMITH, GEORGE, and SMITH, DAVID, cloth manufacturer, TYRER, THOMAS SAVAGE, jun., commission agent, Liverpool. WALLIS, GEORGE, out of business, Dunstable. Pet. Dec. 5. Jan. 1, at two, at the Railway inn, Dunstable. Sol. Burr, St. Mary's-sq, Paddington, London ton WALMSLEY, DAVID, livery stable keeper, Preston. Pet. Dec. 17. Jan. 6, at four, at office of Sols. Buck and Dickson, PresWARBURTON, JOHN, decorator, Southport, and Manchester. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Sol. Simpson, Manchester WATKINSON, ALFRED, oil merchant. Burnley. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan. 1, at three, at office of Sol. Hartley, Burnley WEEKS, ALFRED, boot manufacturer, Langley-pl, commercialrd-east. Pet. Dec. 15. Jan 6, at two, at offices of Sols. Tilley and Liggins, Finsbury-pl-south WHITE, SAMUEL THOMAS, GARDINER, CLEMENT, and GARDINER, EDMUND, general produce brokers, Bristol and Cardiff. Pet. Dec. 12. Jan. 1, at twelve, at Barnard, Thomas, Tribe, and Co., Albion-chmbs, Small-st, Bristol. Sols. Beckingham, Bristol, and Stanley and Wasbrough, Bristol WILLIS, WILLIAM, grocer, Seaham-harbour. Pet. Dec. 12. Dec. 30, at four, at offices of Sols. Messrs. Wright, Sunderland Gazette, Dec. 23. 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, Pen- COATES, FREDERIC GEORGE, SHARP, JOHN, and GRANGER, COLE, JOHN THOMAS, Thaxted, and COLE, JOSHUA GEORGE, Great Dunmow, builders. Pet. Dec. 16. Jan. 8, at twelve, at the Green Dragon hotel, Bishopsgate-st, London. Sol. Snell, Great Dunmow 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. Sol. 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. FORGHAM, GEORGE, bootmaker, Wednesbury. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 2, at three, at office of Sol. Ebsworth, Wednesbury FOX, THOMAS, chemist, Keighley. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5, at three, at office of Terry and Robinson, Bradford. Sol. Hodgson, Keighley FRANCIS, CHARLES, builder, Harpurhey. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 8, at two, at offices of Sols. Messrs. Chew, Manchester FREEMAN, EDWARD, farmer, Lichfield. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5, at twelve, at the Old Crown hotei, Lichfield. Sols. Barnes and Russell 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, honse 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 ac countants, Bristol. Sol. Alman, Bristol JONES, LEWIS, grocer, Llanelly. Pet. Dec. 20. Jan. 5, at eleven, at E, 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. Pet. 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. Jan. 5, at one, at the Bell hotel, Maidstone. Sol. Mempes, Maidstone LISTER, ALFRED, clog maker, Rochdale. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 2, LUCAS, JOHN, farmer, Gateforth, near Selby. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. MCPARLAN, THOMAS, farmer, Middleton. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 6 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. Jan. 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, at three, at cffice 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. Pet. Dec. 17. 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, Charing PRESS, 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. RIDSDALE, ELIZABETH, lithographic printer, Bradford. Pet. 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, Ruddersfield 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, Coleman-st WHITLOCK, ROBERT TASS, cheesemonger, Lower-marsh, Lambeth. Pet. Dec. 18. Jan. 13, at two, at office of Sols. Wood and Tinkler, Leadenhall-st BIRTHS MARRIAGES AND DEATHS BIRTHS. 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., solicitor, Hull of a daughter. WOODARD. On the 13th inst., at Manchester, the wife of M. N. Woodard, barrister-at-law, of a son. DEATH. WOODTHORPE.-On the 19th inst., at Haverstock-hill, aged 58, F. Woodthorpe, Esq., late Town Clerk of the City of London. 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. 608 COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. Metropolitan Building Acts-Danger- COURT OF EXCHEQUER. Corporation - Parol contract- Mutu- Ex parte BARRY; Re FOX SHALLARD; Re ADAMS AND Evidence-Unstamped letter, or order Notes of New Decisions Law Association 166 166 171 LEGAL OBITUARY Shares-Assignment of-Declaration of PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS Er parte KIRBY for payment of money 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 |