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CITY AND COUNTY BANK (LIMITED). Petition for winding. up to be heard May 31, before the M. R.

FIBRE ASSOCIATION (LIMITED). Petition for winding-up to be heard May 31, before the M. R. LONDON AND PARIS HOTEL COMPANY (LIMITED). Creditors to send in by June 20 their names and addresses, and the particulars of their claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to F. Maynard, 35, Old Broadstreet, London, the official liquidator of the said company. June 30, at the chambers of V.C. M., at twelve o'clock, is the time appointed for hearing and adjudicatin upong such claims.

SEAL LOCK AND REGISTERING PRESSURE GAUGE COMPANY LIMITED. Petition for winding-up to be heard June 4,

before the M. R. WEST OF ENGLAND STUD COMPANY (LIMITED). Creditors to send in by June 10 their names and addresses and the particulars of their claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to Henry Brown, 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria-street, Westminster, Middlesex, the quidator of the said company. June 17, at the chambers of V.C. M., at twelve o'clock, is the time appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon such claims.

CREDITORS UNDER ESTATES IN CHANCERY LAST DAY OF PROOF.

ARMSTRONG Henry), New North-road, Durham. June 25; Wm. H. Marshall, solicitor, Durhain. July 9; M. R., at eleven o'clock.

BARRON (Thos,), Clenchwarton, Norfolk, fermer. June 12; David Ward, solicitor, King's Lynn. June 25; V.C. H., at twelve o'clock. GOODWRIGHT (Wm.), Loughborough-road. Brixton, Surrey, fruiterer and greengrocer. June 10; Hicklin and Washinston, solicitors, 1, Trinity-square, Southwark, Surrey. June 24; V.C. H., at twelve o'clock. HARRIES (John), Market-street, Newport, Pembrokeshire, retired master mariner. June 21; Wm. Davies, solicitor, Haverfordwest. June 28; V.C. B., at twelve o'clock. MACAULAY (Thos.), Lime Cottage, Tottenham, Middlesex, gentleman. June 5; Edwd. Boulton, solicitor, 21A, Northampton-square, Clerkenwell, Middlesex. June 14; V.C. M., at twelve o'clock.

UNCLAIMED STOCK AND DIVIDENDS IN THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

[Transferred to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and which will be paid to the persons respectively whose names are prefixed to each in three months, unless other claimants sooner appear.] BAKER (Richard Baker Wingfield), of Orsett Hall, Essex, Esq., three dividends on the sum of £775 58. 1d. Three per Cent. Annuities. Claimant, said Richard Baker Wingfield Baker.

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FARMER (Wm. Francis Gamul), Nonsuch-park, near Epsom, Esq., and FARMER (Francis Colebrook), minor, £128 15. Id., Three per Cent. Annuities. Claimant, said Francis Colebrook Farmer, formerly a minor, now of age, the survivor. FITZCLARENCE (Hon. Geo.), Addison-terrace, Kensington, one dividend on the sum of £4647 68, 5d. Three per Cent. Annuities. Claimant, said Hon. Geo. Fitzclarence. GREENLY (Chas. Williams), the Moor, Kington, Herefordshire, Esq., £190 4s. 1d. Three per Cent. Annuities. Claimant, said Chas. Williams Greenly. LOWE (Jeffry Bevington), Lowe (Wm. Bevington), and Lowe, jun. (Jeffry Berington), all of Eatington, Warwick, Esqs., one dividend in the sum of £1680 138, 5d. Three per Cent. Annuities. Claimant, said Wm. Bevington Lowe, the survivor.

PLATTS (Rebecca), Ditchingham, Norfolk, widow, £25 Three per Cent. Annuities. Claimant, John Robert Win. Tunney, sole executor of Rebecca Platts, widow, deceased.

CREDITORS UNDER 22 & 23 VICT. c. 35. Last Day of Claim, and to whom Particulars to be sent. ALLOWAY, otherwise MORRIS (Sarah), Trowbridge, Wilts, spinster. July 1; Rodway and Mann, solicitors, Trowbridge.

BALL (John), Newthorpe, Greasley, Nottingham, farmer. July 1; Hunt and Williams, solicitors, Weekday Cross, Nottingham.

BEATER (John, Crewkerne, Somerset, gentleman. July 1: J. and W. B. Sparks, solicitors, Crewkerne. BATEMAN (Hezekiah L.), Lyceum Theatre, Strand, and of Rutland Lodge, Rutland-gardens, Knightsbridge, Middlesex, theatrical proprietor. July 31; Sympson, Warner, and Turner, solicitors, 7, Golden-square, London. BEATTIE (Wm.), M.D., 13, Upper Berkeley-street, Middlesex. July 1; Perkins and Weston, solicitors, 9, Gray's Inn-square, London.

BLANDY (Chas.), Ripon Lodge, Bath-road, Reading, banker. Aug. 1; Blandy and Witherington, solicitors, 1, Friarstreet, Reading.

BORRODELL (Jolin B.), formerly of Ipswich, Suffolk, late of Great Bentley, Essex, gentleman. July 14; Turner, Deane, and Co., solicitors, Colchester.

BROWN (Wm.), King's Lynn, builder. June 24; Edw. M. Beloe, solicitor, New Conduit-street, King's Lynn. BROWNE (Captain Montague G.), R.H.A., formerly of Woolwich, Kent, late of Bungalore, India. Sept. 29; Walls, Abbott, and Martin, solicitors, 12, Queen Victoria-street, London.

CHATER (Eliza), Ponsonby-terrace, Pimlico, Middlesex, spinster. June 6; C. W. T. Gilding, solicitor, 12, Bessborough-gardens, Pimlico, Middlesex.

COLYER (Thos.), Farningham, Kent, gentleman. July 1;
B. Watson, solicitor, 12, Bouverie-street, Fleet-street,
London.
COUSINS (Henry), sen., Haddington Villa, Roath, near
Cardiff, Glamorgan, retired hotel keeper. May 31;
Daltons and Co., solicitors, 6, Working-street, Cardiff.
CRESPEL (Andrew), 192, Stanhope-street, Hampstead-road,
and 1, James-street, Haymarket, Middlesex, silversmith.
July 1; W. W. Brown, solicitor, 22, Basinghall-street,
London.

CROSS (Geo. R.), Barge Farm, Tanlow, Bucks, farmer. June
21; Darvill and Cs.. solicitors, New Windsor, Berks.
DELANO (Lydia), "Asplins," Tottenham, Middlesex, widow.
June 30; G. Palmer, solicitor, 66, Gresham-House, Old
Broad-street, London

DRAYSON (Emily E, Faversham, Kent, spinster. July 31; F. Johnson, solicitor, 67, Preston-street, Faversham, Kent.

DREWETT (Stephen), Tinhead, Edington, Wilts, yeoman. July 1; Rodway and Mann solicitors, Trowbridge. DUNCOMBE (Cordelia D.), 47, Royal York-crescent, Clifton, Gloucester, widow. July 1; J. T. Simpson, solicitor, 62, Moorgate-street, London.

FORSHAW (Thos.) sen., the Bower, Bowdon, Chester, and of Manchester, commission agent. June 21; Nicholls, Hinde and Co., solicitors, 3, High-street, Altrincham, Chester,

FOSTER (Chas.), Sheffield, engraver. July 13; Burbeary and Smith, solicitors, 16, Campo-lane, Sheffield. FOWELL (Thos.), Harplow, near Cheadle, Stafford, gentleman. June 30; Robinson and Son, solicitors, 21, Newhallstreet, Birmingham.

GREEN (Simon), 174, Oxford-street, Middlesex, optician. June 30; Reed and Lovell, solicitors, 1, Guildhall-chambers, 31, Basinghall-street, London.

HARFORD (John B.), Blaise Castle, Henbury, Gloucester, and Falcondale, Lampster, Pontstephen, Cardigan, Esq. June 15; J. Cooke and Sons, solicitors, Shannon-court, Corn-street, Bristol.

JACOB (Francis), 20, Warwick-road, Maida-hill, Middlesex, widow. July 1; M. H. Leverton, solicitor, 40, Bishopsgatestreet Within, London.

JOHNSON (Geo. L.), Egremont House, Worthing, Sussex,
Esq. June 30; Tippetts and Co., solicitors, 5, Great St.
Thomas Apostle, Queen-street, London.
MACDONELL (Alexander S.), 21, Brook-street, Bath, Esq.,
Inspector General of Army Hospitals. June 22; T. W.
Gibbs, jun., solicitor, 5. Northumberland-buildings, Bath.
MORGAN (Rev. Thos.). Brynteils, near Llandilofowr, Car-
marthen. Aug. 12; C. Bishop and Son, solicitors, Lland-

overy.

July 1;

MORRIS (Samuel), Trowbridge, Wilts, clothier.
Rodway and Mann, solicitors, Trowbridge.
MYLER (Elizabeth), Medbourn, Aldenham, Hertford.
widow, a beerhouse keeper. June 15; R. B. Pugh, soli-
citor, &, Gray's-inn-place, Gray's-inn, Middlesex.
NEWTON (WI. F.), 3, Maiden-la, Queen-street, London, and
of Bingham House, Richmond, Surrey, wine merchant.
July 10; Weeks and Son, solicitors, 78, Newgate-street,
London.

OLLEY (Henry), Mellis, Suffolk, gentleman. June 17; J. W.
Sykes, solicitor, 31, St. Swithin's-lane, London.
PORTER (John), Congresbury, Somerset, yeoman. July 1;
James and Simmons, solicitors, Wrington, Somerset.
PROWSE (Elizabeth), South Petherton, Somerset. July 1;
Meade King and Bigg, solicitors, 4, St. Stevens-street,
Bristol.

RAMSEY (John), formerly of Newry, Ireland, late of Kent
Villa, St. Lawrence, Isle of l'hanet, Kent, civil engineer.
June 12; West and King, solicitors, 66, Cannon-street,
London.

MAGISTRATES LAW.

COST OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS. THE following letter has been addressed to the Times:

Sir-When the case of the Justices of Lancashire was before the court. I, with many others, on the facts then disclosed, thought that great injustice had been done: but since then I have devoted much attention to the subject, and I am now satisfied that the examiners, as stated in your article, have been generally right. The only class of cases in which I hold they are really wrong is that alluded to, the preparation of plans, and I would add, amount of fees allowed in heavy cases. As far as these charges are concerned, I hold with you that the direct certificate of the judge or chairman should be conclusive.

The other ground of disallowance may, I think, be divided into three heads:

1. Charges for work done by clerks to justices under Acts of Parliament, but which are not now strictly costs of prosecution, such as taking eviROFFEY (Wm. E. J.), 18, Berners-etreet, and 23, Blooms-dence of prisoner's witnesses, binding them over bury-square, Middlesex, Esq. Sept. 1: J. E. Turner, solicitor, 30, King-street, Cheapside, London.

ROOKIN (Rev. Henry, Upton Gray, Southampton, clerk. July 1; Brockbank and Helder, solicitors, Whitehaven, Cuinberland.

ROYLE (James) Altrincham, Chester, yeoman. June 10; Nicholls, Hinde, and Co., solicitors, 3, High-street, Altrin

cham.

SIDDALL (Chas.), Balby, York, gentleman. July 1; F. W. Fisher, solicitor, Doncaster.

SINGLE (Thos.), Whitehorse-lane, Mile-end, Middlesex, Esq. June 13: Sheffield and Sons, solicitors, 52, Lime-street, London, E.C.

STEVENS (Geo.), 75, Bishopsgate-street Within, London, wine and spirit merchant. June 24; H. J. and T. Child, solicitors, 2, Paul's Bakehouse-court, Doctor's-commons, London.

STILL (Robert), 5, New-square, Lincoln's-inn, Middlesex, Esq. July 1; Still and Son, solicitors, 5, New-square, Lincoln's-inn, London. STURMY (Herbert), 3, Vanburgh-terrace, Blackheath, Kent, gentleman. May 30; A. Diggles, solicitor, Hiberniachambers, London-bridge, Southwark, Surrey. THOMPSON (Michael), Watergate, Wark, Northumberland, yeoman. June 12; John Errington, solicitor, 40A, Engfish-street, Carlisle.

TOOZE (John R.), Dorchester, Dorset, gentleman. July 1;

Symonds and Son, solicitors. Dorchester. TUFFLEY (Ann), Figheldean, Wilts, spinster. July 1; A. A. Corsellis, solicitor, East Hill, Wandsworth, S. W. WALTON (Carter), North Clifton, Nottingham, farmer. July 20; Newbald and Falkner, solicitors, Newark-upon

Trent. WOOD (Mary), 13, York-place, Brighton, spinster. July 1; W. A. Stuckey solicitor, 4, Prince's-place, Brighton, Sussez.

REPORTS OF SALES.

Thursday, May 13.

By Messrs. VERNON and SON, at Uxbridge. Bucks, near Uxbridge.-The Dog and Duck public-house, two cottages, and 2a. 3r. 4p., freehold-sold for £510. A freehold residence, and 5a. 3r. 3 p.-sold for £1600. The Denham Flour Mills, and 36a. 3r. 34p.-sold for £9500. A plot of land, with stabling thereon-sold for £600, Middlesex, near Uxbridge. Fray's Farm, containing 49a. Ir. 39p.-sold for £4500.

Thursday, May 20.

By Mr. WooDs, at the Mart. Hounslow.-Devonshire Villa, with stabling, term 74 years -sold for £890. By Messrs. WEATHERALL and GREEN, at the Mart. Islington, No. 14, King Edward-street, term 29 years-sold for £350. Rotherhithe.-No. 3, Goldsworthy-terrace, term 17 yearssold for £165.

By Messrs. WOODS and SNELLING, at the Mart. Shoreditch.-Nos. 51 to 60 (odd numbers), Great Cambridgestreet, term 13 years-sold for £650,

City of London. The interest in No. 27, Jewry-street, term 6 years-sold for £60.

By Messrs. H. HAINES and Son, at the London Tavern.

to appear, &c.

1. Work done by clerks to justices which cannot be properly charged, as costs of information and hearing, when not followed by commitment or conviction under the Criminal Justice Act. These have properly been borne by the prosecutor, and cannot be allowed, but are often claimed.

3. Work done by justices' clerks for which they can properly charge, but which from mistakes or carelessness they fail to set forth in a legal way in their claim for costs, omitting dates, time of attendance, distance travelled, and description of witnesses.

But I

I submit that all cases under these three heads are most properly revised by examiners, though if on personal interview the county authorities are not satisfied, I hold with you there ought to be an appeal to independent authority. feel it due to examiners to add that I have always found them most attentive to any objections I have made, and ready to correct any mistake they may have made, but these have been very few indeed.

In conclusion, I consider the present system, with some slight alteration as now pointed out, is much better than the proposed plan of average. If the county authorities will not make out proper bills, they and not the Treasury should suffer.Your obedient servant, A CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE. Oxford and Cambridge Club, Pall-mall, S.W., 24th May.

BOW STREET POLICE COURT. A MIDDLE-AGED man was recently charged on remand before Mr. Vaughan with receiving furni ture, curtains, &c., to the value of £15, which in some way or other had been stolen from a Swiss merchant during his visit to Geneva last March. Mr. Edward Lawrence Levy appeared for the prosecution.

Merriman for the defence.

Merriman, addressing Mr. Vaughan, said: Sir, I most reluctantly take objection to the appearance of Mr. Lawrence Levy in the case. He is not an

Paddington, Harrow-road. The lease of the Warwick Arms, attorney, and I must object to the appearance of

term 62 years-sold for £10,050.

By Messrs. BAILEY, FRY, and WYER, at the London Tavern. Pimlico, Rochester-row.-The lease of the Plough, term 25 years-sold for £3360.

By Messrs. FURBER, PRICE, and FURBER, at the Mart. for £1420.

Spitalfields.-Nos. 24 and 25, Princes-street, freehold-sold

By Messrs. NEWBON and HARDING, at the Mart. City-road.-Nos. 104 and 106, with the goodwill, term 21 years-sold for £1800.

Canonbury, Nos. 65, 67, and 69, St. Paul's-road, term 60 years-sold for £1375.

Hornsey Rise.-No. 2, Shaftesbury-villas, term 73 years --sold for £560.

Tavistock-square.-No. 20, Tavistock-place, term 25 yearssold for £120,

Westbourne-grove.-No. 39, Sutherland-place, term 71 years -sold for £190.

Kentish Town.--No. 5, Ashdown-street, term 89 years-sold for £220.

By Messrs. DEBENHAM, TEWSON, and FARMER, at the
Mart.

Carnarvonshire.-The Ffridd Isaf farm of 538 acres, with the
Snowdon Slate Quarries-sold for £3000.
Wandsworth Common.-Nos. 1 to 6, Heathfield-villas, free-
hold-sold for £5000.

Wandsworth.-No. 84, High-street,

£1010.

freehold-sold for

Nos. 4, 6, 8, and 10, High-street, freehold-sold for £1210. Hanover-square.-No. 25, Conduit-street, and No. 36, Georgestreet, term 36 years-sold for £1000. Camden Town.-Nos. 66 and 68, Pratt-street, term 13 years -sold for £375. Barnet.-Nos. 1 and 2, Durham-place, term 56 years--sold for £520.

AN IMPORTANT SANITARY IMPROVEMENT.-Of late years, the invention of Reflectors has taken a strong hold on the English public, who seem to, at last, realise the vital importance of living in a pure atmosphere. Thousands of Daylight Reflectors have been and are continually manufactured by Mr. Chappuis, the Patentee, of 69, Fleet-street, London. By consulting him, you will learn the means of dispensing with gas in daytime, and of saving your money and your health. [ADVT.]

a gentleman who has been struck off the Rolls; I also object to his appearance as a clerk of a solicitor. You have, your worship, power to hear him as a clerk, but I feel in the interest of the public, of the Profession to which I have the honour to belong, and of my client, that I cannot do otherwise than object to Mr. Levy.

Mr. Levy produced an authority to appear on behalf of a firm of solicitors who employed him. Mr. VAUGHAN.-The matter is, no doubt, one for the magistrate's discretion. I do not know the firm of solicitors mentioned, but I have seen it stated in the law reports that Mr. Levy applied to be reinstated as a solicitor, and the application had been refused.

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COUNTY COURTS.

READING COUNTY COURT. Wednesday, May 19.

Recorder.

SESSIONS.

W. W. Ravenhill, Esq.
John Thos. Abdy, LL.D.
Wm. T. Greenhow, Esq..
William Cope, Esq.
P. H. Edlin, Esq., Q.C.
B. Thos. Williams, Esq.
Richard Wildman, Esq.
Arthur J. H. Collins, Esq..
Thomas S. Pritchard, Esq..
Joseph Catterall, Esq.

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His HONOUR delivered the following judgment: On the 18th July the following contract in writing as to which there is no dispute, was entered into between the plaintiffs and the defendant:

"101, Leadenhall-street, London, E.C., "18th July 1873. "Sold Mr. R. Henderson twenty barreis best standard white petroleum, at 1s. 4d. per gallon casks free, and fifteen barrels benzoline, at 1s. 4d. per gallon casks, free, to be delivered as required to station in London, between the present time and first March next, and to be paid for thirty days after delivery of each parcel, less 2 per cent. discount. "SMITH BROS. and Co."

A corresponding sale note was signed by the defendant. The following correspondence subsequently took place between the parties:

2nd Dec. 1873, Market-placo, Wokingham. "To Messrs. Smith, Brothers, and Co., "Gentlemen,-I find the quantity of oil and spirit contracted for will not be nearly sufficient. Will you kindly state your lowest price for a further quantity of twenty petroleum and twelve barrels of benzoline? Reply as soon as possible, and oblige, "Yours truly,

"To Mr. R. Henderson.

"R. HENDERSON." "3rd Dec. 1873.

"Dear Sir,-In reply to your favour of the 2nd, our lowest price for a further quantity, say twenty barrels petroleum and twelve barrels benzoline, for delivery to 1st March will be-Petroleum, Is. 3d.; benzoline, 1s. 2 d.

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"Your order will oblige yours truly,
'SMITH, BROTHERS, and Co."
"6th Dec. 1873.

"To Messrs. Smith, Brothers, and Co.
Gentlemen,-In reply to yours dated 3rd inst.,
I am willing to extend our contract if benzoline
can be sent as per original quotation at 1s. 2d.
I hoped, considering prevailing low prices, more
favourable terms would have been sent. If the
price for benzoline be agreed to, an order will be
immediately sent.

"I am Gentlemen, yours obediently,
"Pro R. HENDERSON, J. T."
"Memorandum.

"8th Dec. 1873.

"From Smith, Bros., and Co., to Mr. R.

derson.

"Dear Sir,-We are in receipt of your favour of Saturday's date, and as the benzoline market has declined somewhat since quoting you, we accept your offer for a further quantity at 18. 2d. per gallon, casks free. Please drop us a line confirming same, and oblige yours truly,

"SMITH' BROS., and Co., pro H. P. A." "9th Dec. 1873.

"To Messrs. Smith, Bros., and Co.

Gentlemen, I am willing to contract as per arrangement, for twenty barrels petroleum, and

fifteen of benzoline, and remain obediently yours,

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1864, in a letter of their solicitors to the defendant of that date relative to other matters, they claimed a sum of £21 from the defendant, in consequence of the non-fulfilment of the further contract by the defendant and of the fall in the price of oil and benzoline up to the date of the letter, and that sum they originally claimed in this action. I held that they could not claim for so much of the fall in price as was subsequent to 1st March, and the plaintiffs reduced their claim to £18, according to the market price of the goods on that day. Counsel for the defendant contended: first, that there was no contract between the parties; secondly, that if there were a contract, there was no writing sufficient to satisfy the Statute of Frauds; thirdly, that there was no offer to deliver the goods on the 2nd March, and consequently no refusal by the defendant to accept the goods before action brought. On the first and second points, I am of opinion that the letters of the 8th and 9th Dec. 1873, referring as they do to the former contract of the 18th July 1873, constituted a valid further contract within the meaning of the Statute of Frauds for the sale and purchase of the additional goods on the terms of the original contract as to delivery; and on the third point I am of opinion that no tender or delivery by the plaintiffs was necessary or proper, inasmuch as by the contract between the parties, no delivery was contemplated after the 1st March, and no delivery up to that date except upon the order from the defendant which he had neglected to send. In my opinion the contract was broken by the defendants allowing the 1st March to pass without sending an order for the goods, and he thereupon became liable to the plaintiffs for the damages incurred by them through his breach of the contract, which the plaintiffs had been ready and willing to perform up to that day on receiving his order. I am therefore of opinion that the plaintiffs are entitled to recover the above amount of £18, and shall give a verdict for the sum with costs, on the higher scale, payable in one month.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

PROFESSION.

NOTE. This Department of the LAW TIMES being open to free discussion on all professional topics the Editors are not responsible for any opinions or statements contained in it.

THE AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS ACT, 1875.The provisions of this Act have been well discussed at the various Chambers of Agriculture throughout England, but I have failed to observe any comment made at the meetings of the chamHen-bers upon the operation of the Act upon small hold. ings. If I construe the Act correctly it wil apply to the letting of all the lands from year to year, or at will, and sect. 35 substitutes one year's notice to quit, for a half year's notice. This latter provision is fair and just towards the occupiers of large arable farms, but will operate prejudicially to a tenant or the landlord of small holdings. The land surrounding most of our provincial towns is apportioned and let in small lots to inhabitants of the town adjoining, by way of affording accommodation, and not as a means of profit to the occupier, and I feel sure it will be very inconvenient if in future the tenancy has to be dissolved by a year's notice to quit. Freedom of contract is still preserved by the Bill, but I believe a notice in writing from the landlord, written two months from the passing of the Act, All the oil under the original contract was sent Act, and this notice may be overlooked in cases will be necessary to exclude the operation of the and accepted previously to the 1st March 1874, of small holdings. I shall be glad to learn the and all the benzoline under the original contract views of my professional brethren on this point. was sent and delivered previously to the 16th Jan. If I am correct in my interpretation of the Act, 1874, except three barrels. On the 16th Jan. 1874 some M.P. should be invited, when the Bill passes the plaintiffs received an order from defendant through committee in the House of Commons, to for five barrels of benzoline, being the remaining move the insertion of a clause excluding all three barrels under the original contract, and two holdings of, say, not exceeding twenty acres from barrels under the further contract of 9th Dec. the operation of the Act. 1873 (assuming it to be a contract), which were sent and delivered. The defendant never sent orders for any more oil or benzoline previously to the 2nd March, nor subsequently. The plaintiffs waited some time, expecting that the defendants would send orders for more oil and benzoline, according to their contract, without making any communication to the defendant; but on the 22nd May

R. HENDERSON." "Please send seven barrels petroleum per S. E. Railway, three to be left at Blackwater Station, four at Wokingham, at once."

A COUNTRY SOLICITOR.

THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS' SOCIETY.-I have observed in the LAW TIMES of the 15th inst. a letter from "A Country Solicitor," who writes under this heading, and I can most fully endorse the views he has expressed, and concur with him

in the opinion that barristers-at-law or solicitors only should be allowed to appear in county and It is most annoying to magisterial courts. gentlemen to meet officers of excise and other Government officials, who are entirely ignorant of the rules of evidence and the practice and procedure of these courts, prosecuting and supporting informations, of the legal bearing and nature of which they know nothing whatever. These persons go into court armed only with the statutes, without understanding their interpretation, and without ever having studied the rules of argument or read any text book on pleading or evidence, and in many cases have the audacity and impudence to raise frivolous objections to the legitimate and proper questions of qualified practitioners. Why cannot the excise be represented by a solicitor in every town? The Government receives annually from the solicitors nearly £100,000. Surely it ought to stand by the rights of solicitors and uphold their privileges, and be professionally represented in all cases. In my opinion if this matter were brought before the Incorporated Law Society by the Legal Practioners' Society, they would interfere on our behalf, and do their utmost to procure a Bill to be passed amending the existing state of things, and by this means one at least of our numerous grievances would be remedied, as unqualified persons would no longer be allowed to seat themselves at attorneys' tables and annoy gentlemen by their gross ignorance of law and legal principles, and their uncalled for, commonplace, and superfluous verbiage. G. GREENSMITH.

somebody is responsible for the conduct of busiTHE SOUTHWARK COUNTY COURT.-I presume ness in the office of a County Court, and I venture to call the attention of that somebody, whoever he may be, to the conduct of somebody else, whose duty it is to issue plaints in the above-named court. The offices open at 10 a.m., and at that other morning for the purpose of issuing a hour punctually I attended at Swan-street the plaint. I had to wait, however, till twenty-five mencement of business. The clerk had not come. minutes past the statutory hour for the comanxious to do nothing in haste, I have since made I do not know what detained him, but being inquiries among a few of my friends who are frequenters of the Southwark County Court, and I find that the "lateness" of which I complain is not accidental but habitual. If the clerk whose conduct I impugn wishes my name and address, he is quite welcome to them, and I shall be happy to furnish him with the title of the plaint, which I issued at twenty-five minutes past ten, and which he himself informed me was the first he had issued that morning.

A SOLICITOR'S CLERK. [The offices of the Superior Courts are open punctually, and there can be no sufficient reason why County Court offices should not be so also.— ED. SOLS'. DEPT.]

PROVINCIAL LAW LECTURES.--I observe in the last number of the LAW TIMES Mr. Baker's testimony to "the universal regret felt by the members of the Birmingham Law Students' Society, that a regular course of lectures could not be introduced into the ordinary education of provincial law students." There can be no doubt that the great want of the legal profession in the present day is a development of its system of education, such as shall keep pace with the rapid development of its duties and its responsibilities. The Inns of Court whose duty it is to provide this, obstinately refuse to discharge their trust; and the Bar seem resigned to the neglect. Solicitors, however, have the remedy in their own to establish satisfactory law lectures in at least hands; for a very little co-operation would suffice half a dozen of our most populous centres. In every great city there are numerous articled clerks anxiously looking for assistance in their studies, and distressed by the indifference of their principals, whose busy life too often leaves them no leisure to superintend the education of those who have paid a premium to become their

pupils. These clerks would welcome the services of competent lecturers, and surely the solicitors to whom these clerks are articled would not refuse assistance to a scheme which aims at relieving them from duties which they seldom have leisure to discharge. In the last two years a most successful scheme of provincial lectures on various subjects has been arranged by the University of Cambridge, and its reward has been that in several great towns large audiences have attended regularly for minute instructions even in subjects of little popular interest. The promoters of the University Extension" movement would readily be induced by any intimation of professional feeling to expand their scheme, so as to include the teaching of law, and if the subject were fairly treated, even non-professional audiences would attend. Law is at least as attractive as political economy, and that dismal science has

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drawn crowded classes in the "Extension" towns. The study of law is now highly rewarded in Cambridge, and an elaborate organisation of teachers and examiners exists for promoting it, whilst its students are so rapidly increasing that they do not fall far short of the number of the classical students themselves. It may be added that one of the most distinguished of the present teachers of law in Cambridge is also a most successful lecturer on the provincial" Extension" movement. I hope that the secretaries of Provincial Law and Law Students' Societies will note these suggestions, and take the matter into serious consideration. There will be no difficulty in finding pupils or in finding teachers, and no permanent difficulty in finding funds. All that is wanted is a man with a turn for organisation, to start the scheme, and half a dozen men or societies to guarantee the expenses of the first year, that the scheme may be once tested. Surely these are not difficulties that need deter a rich and powerful Profession from doing justice to its own wants. COURTNEY KENNY. Downing College, Cambridge.

BANKRUPTCY REFORM.-It is admitted on all hands that the existing Act and the rules engrafted upon it are totally inadequate in many respects to secure to advantage the interests of the creditors generally. Take, for example, the case of a debtor who has presented a petition for liquidation by arrangement or by a composition with his creditors. The object of the Bankruptcy Law is to secure equality amongst creditors, and this I presume is the meaning of affording the debtor the facility for presenting his petition for a liquidation by arrangement in order that, when a debtor feels that he is hopelessly involved, he may, by the opportunity offered to him, extricate himself from his difficulties, and may at the same time secure equality among his creditors. The first meeting of the creditors under the liquidation is summoned, the claims and proxies are handed in to the chairman of the meeting, & composition of a few shillings in the pound is offered to the creditors and accepted by a statutory majority, and this arrangement is afterwards confirmed at a subsequent meeting. The nature of the securities held by the creditors are for the most part acceptances on bills of exchange. The debtor may be a small trader, and may have been obliged to borrow money and renew bills at a high rate of interest. This is not very hypothetical. On the other hand, some of the liabilities incurred by the debtor are invariably those of his ordinary tradesmen's, whose claims are for sterling value, and their claims are placed in a very small minority compared with the liabilities on the bills. The tradesmen creditors must then be governed to a very great extent, if not altogether, by the action of the bill holders, whose exorbitant claims eat up the greater portion of the debtor's assets. Is this fair and equitable towards the smaller creditors? The bill holders are of course aware that the debtor can find friends who are willing to come forward and compound with his creditors in order to save his reputation and credit in business. Looking at the ingredients of their claims, they can perhaps well afford to accept a composition of 10s. in the pound, and are favourably inclined towards the debtor, knowing well, among other things, that he may have occasion for their services again. Who is to guarantee that consideration has passed between the debtor and his creditor in respect of the bill? The holder of the bill will not convict himself. Some means should be afforded to the creditors of testing the bona fides of the transaction, and this is the great stumbling block with which bona fide creditors have to contend. The difficulties that have to be overcome in order to arrive at the truth of the transaction

are such as to deter any creditor from contending with the question. Again, the debtor is required to produce to the first meeting of his creditor a statement of his assets and liabilities issued by himself. Who is to test the veracity of the statement? He should be required to produce the statement on oath, and should also be required to answer any questions that may be put to him by any creditor at the meetings respecting every creditor's claim. A bill of exchange is a very convenient security for a creditor to hold, as it imports per se a valuable consideration, which it is very difficult to rebut. Creditors' meetings should be altogether abolished, and in place thereof the proceedings in bankruptcy and liquidation should be conducted under the supervision and control of the proper officers of the court. A receiver should be appointed in each case by the court if necessary, and the discretion as to what is right and proper to be done under the circumstances of each case should be left to the officers of the court. Creditors may be unduly biassed in adopting a resolution, and great opportunities are placed at their disposal for improper action. The matter should be left in the hands of an impartial person. A CONSTANT READER.

BANKRUPTCY SCALES OF COSTS.-I observe in last Saturday's LAW TIMES, in the case of John Roberts, that Mr. Edmond Beales, County Court judge, decided contrary to the opinion of his registrar, "that where in bankruptcy or liquidation either the assets exceed £200, or the debts £750," under the 8th rule of 7th July 1871, the higher scale of costs would apply. I may state that the practice of the London Bankruptcy Court is that both events must occur or the higher scale does not apply, and this is supported by the decision of the Chief Judge in Ex parte Hodge, re Lemon, MS. note, 6th May 1872 (and see Roche and Hazlitt, p. 492), to the effect that where either event happens the costs must be on the lower scale. If the rule be read carefully I think it will be clear that is the proper construction. It says, ¢ that where the debts do not exceed £750, or the assets £200, the lower scale should be allowed." The two sentences are disjunctive, so that in either alternative the new (lower) scale applies. If there were any doubt about this, the second part of the rule would, I think, make it clear, for that distinctly provides that if charges have been allowed or paid on the higher scale, and the debts shall afterwards be ascertained not to exceed £750, or the gross assets not to exceed £200, the excess shall be disallowed. As the point is of some interest to the Profession I trust that you will afford space for this letter. THOS. RUSSELL.

[There seems little doubt that the views of the Registrar of the Bedford County Court and that of our correspondent are correct.-ED. SOLS.' DEPT.]

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kindly inform me the earliest term in which I can 30. FINAL EXAMINATION.-Will any of your readers present myself for this examination. My articles will expire on the 22nd of Jan., 1878, but I shall not be twentyone until the following July. ARTICLED CLERK.

[Inasmuch as you do not attain your majority until after the expiration of your articles you cannot present yourself for final examination until Michaelmas Term 1878. If the Judicature Act is then in operation it will present be prudent to predict. no doubt make a difference, but what, it will not at You can, according to present practice be examined before you are twentyone on obtaining a judge's order for the purpose.-ED. SOLS.' DEPT.]

31. INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION.-Would you kindly inform me whether there is an Intermediate Examination held in July, and if so, whether I can present myself then. My articles (for three years) are dated 8th October, 1874.

B. A. [None in July. You cannot present yourself for Term.-ED. SOLS.' DEPT.] Intermediate Examination until next Michaelmas

32. LAW STUDENTS' DEBATING SOCIETIES.-I shall be glad to know whether their exists a Law Students' Debating Society at Liverpool, or at Salford, independently of Manchester, or at Leeds, or Sheffield, or NewcastleL. L. D. on-Tyne, or Brighton.

33. OBJECTION TO ARTICLES.-Considering that an articled clerk has to answer questions at the Intermediate on bookkeeping, will it be any objection to his articles that he has, previous to that examination, assisted his father at his accounts out of office hours.

P. A. A

34. SALE-PURCHASE MONEY.-A. offered for sale a messuage and premises to B. at £140. During the negotiation for sale B. asked A. what the rent was. A. replied £8 a year. B. accepted the offer, and agreed to give £140 for the property. A conveyance was prepared and executed. About half a year after B. applied to the tenant for payment of the rent as £5 a year, but the tenant objected to pay £8, saying his rent was only saying the rent was £8, but declares he said it was £6. £6 a year. B. then communicated with A., who denied Assuming that B. can prove that A. said the rent was £8 a year, has B. any remedy in a civil court against A. to recover any part of the purchase money, and if so what?

FINAL EXAMINATION, EASTER TERM, 1875.At this examination the following question was [You do not say whether you are under articles to asked (No. 69): “A deposit of a policy of assuryour father, but in any case there can be no objection ance on his life is made by a person who after- to the course pursued. You may almost as well ask if wards fails, no notice having been given to the there is any objection to your reading a novel after insurance office of the deposit. On the bank-office hours.-ED. SOLS.' DEPT.] ruptcy of the depositor, who is entitled to the benefit of the policy ?" The answer to this question in "The Final” (edited by Mr. Bedford) is that the policy money passes to the trustee in bankruptcy, and the case of Ex parte Caldwell, re Currie (L. Rep. 13 Eq. 188) is referred to. This case arose out of a bankruptcy which occurred in December 1869, before the Bankruptcy Act 1869 was in operation, and it is expressly provided by that Act (see sect. 15, sub sect. 5), that things in action other than trade debts shall not be deemed goods and chattels within the meaning of the reputed ownership clause. Is not a policy of assurance a chose in action ? And if so, will not the title of the holder of the policy prevail over that of the trustee? Surely he must be in as good a position as an equitable mortgagee claiming by virtue of a deposit of title deeds. The point appears to me to be very important, and I should much like to know the opinion of any of your correspondents upon it. Is there any authority touching the question? A SOLICITOR.

NOTES AND QUERIES ON POINTS OF PRACTICE.

NOTICE.-We must remind our correspondents that this column is not open to questions involving points of law such as a solicitor should be consulted upon. Queries will be excluded which go beyond our limits. N.B.-None are inserted unless the name and address of the writers are sent, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee for bona fides.

Queries.

Within the last two or three

26. CASE WANTED. years a case at common law-I think in the Court of Exchequer-was reported in the Law Times, in which the liability of successive assignees of leas holds to the obligations of the lease was considered, and it was held of an indemnity from the assignee to the assignor. that the covenant in each assignment was in the nature After a diligent search I have been quite unable to find the case, and should be very much obliged for a reference S. B. E.

to it.

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28. CASE WANTED.-Can any of your readers refer me to a case deciding clay to be a mineral. A. C.

29. WILL.-"I give, devise, appoint, and bequeath all my real and personal property, estate, and effects, whatsoever and wheresoever, unto A., B., and C., to be divided between and amongst them in three equal shares and proportions as tenants in common." This is the whole of the will, none of the three tenants in common are children of the testator. C. dies in the lifetime of the testator, does his third share pass on to A. and B., or does it descend to the testator's heir-at-law? In a book published by Hayes and Jarman in 1838, I result is, that a testator whose will contains a complete find in their observations on the Statute, thus: "The and operative general or residuary devise in fee, cannot die intestate in regard to any portion of his real

35. LEGACY DUTY.-A., a testator, gave his personal property to his wife for life, with remainder to his nephews B., C., D., and E. Two of the remainder men died during the lifetime of the tenant for life, having bequeathed their reversionary interests under the will of A. No duty has been paid, the widow having died quite recently. Is duty payable as if the four remainder men had survived the testator's widow. If so, I apprehend the executors of A.'s will must pay the same before handing over the shares (less duty), to the executors of the respective deceased nephews. Legacy duty will also, I presume, be payable by the legatees under the wills of the two deceased remainder-men, thus making duty payable, as it were, twice. A reference to statutes or cases will oblige. SUBSCRIBER.

36. PROBATE DUTY.-C., a testator, gives his real estate to trustees, "in their discretion" to sell and divide the proceeds amongst the residuary legatees, their executors, administrators, and assigns. One of the residuary legatees dies intestate before the realty is sold. Will the testator's unsold realty be deemed converted in equity, and consequently liable to duty on the letters of administration of the intestate residuary legatee? SUBSCRIBER.

37. STAMP ACTS.-If a person enter into an agree ment in writing with a limited liability company, which agreement is intended to be sealed with the common seal of the company, and signed by the other contracting party, ought such an agreement to bear the stamp duty payable on an ordinary agreement, viz., 6d., or a 10s. deed stamp ? A. H. H.

Answers.

(Q. 20.) MARRIAGE SETTLEMENTS.-I can find no authority for the unqualified way in which the law is laid down by Greenwood as quoted by "Articled Clerk." Williams (R. P., 8th edit., pp. 89) emphatically takes the other view quoted from Barry; and in Prideaux (Prec., vol. 2, 6th edit., p. 168, et seq.) it is said:-1. "That where the property settled comes from any source other than the husbaud, the gift over on bankruptcy is valid." 2. "That where the property comes from the husband, such a gift over is invalid as against his assignees." "Whether it would be good against his alienees would probably depend on whether such persons had or had not notice of the condition." I refer "Articled Clerk" to this work, where the subject is more fully treated. A. B.

(Q. 23.) Books WANTED.-As an elementary book on Conveyancing, I would recommend Deane's Principles of Conveyancing, price 188., published by Stevens and Haynes, Bell yard, Temple Bar. In Bankruptcy, Doria, price £1 11s. 6d., published at the office of this paper, or Roche and Hazlett, price 30s., published by Stevens and Haynes. In Equity, Goldsmith's Doctrine and Practice, price 188., published by Butterworth In Common Law (for chambers), Parkinson's Hand book, price 7s., published by Butterworth; (for costs), Gray's Treatise, 21s., Butterworth. In Pleading

Williams, price 21s., Butterworth. For Practice, Lush, by Dixon, 46s., Butterworth. I would also direct the attention of "L. M. N." to Archbold's Practice, by Chitty, price £2 12s. 6d., published by Stevens and Sons, of 119, Chancery-lane, London. I select the bove as the best. LIBEIS.

LEGAL NEWS.

THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS' BILL. THE following paragraph and letter appeared in a recent issue of the Globe:

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There is a popular impression that almost, any. one is capable, after slight training, of performing the lighter functions of lawyers. Thus deeds are sometimes drawn by persons who have no proper knowledge of legal forms. The notion of those for whom this good office is performed is that the work is quite as well done as it could be by a regular practitioner, and at a much cheaper rate. But afterwards endless difficulties are pretty sure to arise, and then it turns out that it would have been far less expensive to have employed a regular practitioner at first. The bill entitled "Legal Practitioners'," and introduced by Messrs. Charley and Gordon, is intended to put an end to this state of things. If this measure passes, a penalty of ten pounds, with full costs of suit, may be imposed on any person who, not being a qualified practitioner, either directly or indirectly, for or in expectation of any fee, gain, or reward, draws or prepares any instrument under seal, or who shall receive any fee, gain, or reward for drawing or preparing any such instrument." In any action against a person accused of violating the law in this matter, it will be necessary to prove only that he "has received a fee, gain, or reward for the business or transaction in respect of, or in regard to which he has, directly or indirectly, drawn or prepared such instrument." It will be observed that the bill is not meant for the protection of the legal profession, but of the public. It would no doubt be better that people should be intelligent enough not to require this sort of protection; but as the present state of things gives rise to considerable public inconvenience, it is right the Legislature should interfere and provide a remedy.

"SIE,-I notice the comments in your issue of to-day on this Bill, which has been introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. W. T. Charley, D.C.L., M.P. (barrister-at-law and honorary treasurer of the Legal Practitioners' Society), and Mr. William Gordon, M.P. (solicitor). Your views of the main question proposed to be dealt with by the Bill are precisely those of the Parliamentary Committee of the Legal Practitioners' Society, which committee framed the Bill. It would undoubtedly be in the interests of lawyers that laymen should be permitted to prepare legal documents for fees or reward, but the public ought to be protected against the inevitable evils consequent upon such a state of things. Will you allow me to add that the principle of the main feature of the Bill is far from new, inasmuch as it was first recognised in the Stamp Act (44 Geo. 3 c. 98), and has always since been preserved? Our Bill simply provides an easier mode of enforcing a smaller penalty, without touching the provisions on the same subject in the Stamp Act of 1870.-I am, your faithful servant, CHARLES FORD."

MR. AUGUSTUS SMITH, of Northwood House, Upper Norwood, has been placed on the Commis. sion of Peace for Surrey.

MR. S. D. WADDY, Q.C., M.P., has been elected a member of the "Political Committee" of the Liberal party.

IT is proposed to introduce into Parliament a measure enabling ratepayers to reduce the number of existing publichouses, compensating the owners of those which are suppressed.

Mr. MACKONOCHIE has written to the Arch. bishop of Canterbury explaining his reasons for withdrawing his appeal, which he expected would be heard before the new Court of Judicature, the constitution of which gave him hope of an impartial administration of justice.

ACCOUNTANTS' CHARGES.-At a meeting of accountants held at the Guildhall Tavern last week to consider a circular issued by wholesale houses with reference to accountants' charges, a committee was appointed to draw up a satisfactory scale of charges.

SUMMER CIRCUITS OF THE JUDGES.-On Thursday the judges met in their private chamber at Westminster Hall and selected their circuits for the ensuing summer assizes as follows: Northern, Justice Archibald and Baron Huddle. ston; Home, the Lord Chief Baron and Justice Brett; Norfolk, Baron Bramwell and Justice Mellor; Western, Justices Blackburn and Quain; Midland, Justices Field and Lindley; Oxford, Justice Grove and Baron Pollock; North Wales, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge; South Wales, the Lord Chief Justice of England. Baron Cleasby will be the judge in town, to attend to summonses, &c. in chambers.

ROBERT EARNSHAW, Colne, Lancashire, bank actuary, accountant, and trustee in numerous commercial matters, has disappeared, leaving, it is supposed, defalcations amounting to £8000 or £10,000.

THE solicitors to the Grand Junction Canal
Company have intimated their intention to accept
as final the recent verdict declaring the liability
of the company to pay for the damage caused by
the explosion in Regent's Park, and their desire
to settle all claims with as little delay as
possible.

THE Newcastle Chronicle announces the death
of the eldest son of Mr. W. D. Seymour, Q.C.,
Recorder of Newcastle. It says: "The young
gentleman in question was a student of Trinity
College, Dublin. A few months ago the student
of so much promise was engaged in Trinity Col-
lege grounds in some athletic amusement, and
received a blow on the temple, doing some internal
injury, under which he sank on Tuesday last at
Bray. The deceased was only twenty-two years
of age, and was preparing for holy orders, with
fine gifts of intellect and eloquence. He was a
most exemplary son, and beloved by his family
and by all who knew him. During the recent
Midland Circuit, of which Mr. Digby Seymour is
the leader, the learned gentleman suffered much
depression from anxiety as to the condition of his
son, and frequent telegrams from Dublin rendered
the father almost incapable of conducting his
business with his usual aptitude and vigour."
ONE of those remarkable cases of judicial
longevity which sometimes occur in England and
this country was that of Judge Willard Hall, of
Delaware, who died on Monday, in his ninety-fifth
year. For forty-eight years he was judge of the
United States District Court of Delaware, having
resigned his judgeship in 1871. He was born in
Massachusetts in 1780, and graduated at Harvard
College in 1799. He removed to Delaware in 1803,
and was appointed, in 1823, judge of the United
States District Court by President Monroe.
Besides his extensive and able judicial services,
he assisted in the revision of the State Code
in 1829, drafted the school system in 1830,
and was an active member of the Constitu.
tional Convention of 1831. We do not recall any
instance where a judge has held a single position
so long as Judge Hall occupied the United States
district judgeship. His career shows that exten-
sive and continuous judicial service is not in.
consistent with great longevity.-Albany Law
Journal.

JUDGES OF THE DIVORCE COURT.-Under the
Acts 20 & 21 Vict. c. 88, and 22 & 23 Vict. c. 144,
the Lord Chancellor and the Chief and other
Judges of the three Superior Courts of Common
Law, in addition to the Judge Ordinary, are con-
stituted Judges of the Court for Divorce and
Matrimonial Causes, three or more judges of the
court, of whom the Judge Ordinary is required to
be one, exercising the powers of the full court.
By the Act 23 & 24 Vict. c. 144 (made perpetual
by 25 & 26 Vict. c. 81), the Judge Ordinary alone,
or with the assistance of one other judge of the
court, may exercise all the powers previously
vested in the full court. An appeal lies within
three months from any decision of the Judge
Ordinary alone to the full court; and further, an
appeal to the House of Lords from the decision
of the full court on any petition for the dissolu-
tion of marriage.

HIGH COURT OF ADMIRALTY OF ENGLAND.None of the motions under the head of the Liverpool District Registry are heard or disposed of in that registry; all that the district registrar does is to receive the motions and forward them to the principal registry, when they come on in the usual way before the judge, and are disposed of by him; and the order is thereupon drawn up in the principal registry, and a copy thereof is transmitted to Liverpool for registration in the district registry. No causes are heard or decrees made in the district registry, but when the cause is ready for hearing, the papers are transmitted to the principal registry, and the cause having been heard by the judge in London, the order or decree is drawn up in the principal registry, and a copy thereof is forwarded to Liverpool for registration in the district registry. No moneys are received in the district registry except for transmission to the principal registry, where all the accounts are kept. All the general business, the naval prize business, &c., is transacted in the principal registry exclusively.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S OFFICERS (The Clerk of the Patents, The Messenger or Pursuivant of the Great Seal, The Clerk of the Petty Bag, Attorney-General's Patent Bill Office).The history and duties of these offices are clearly and fully set out in draft report made in August 1867 by a Treasury committee, consisting of the Right Honourable G. J. Goschen, Mr. (now Sir) W. H. Stephenson, and Mr. W. B. Lushington. The Treasury minute appointing the committee, on 15th Feb. 1866, and the draft report, dated 5th Aug. 1867, were moved for in the House of Commons, and ordered to be printed on the 14th

Aug. 1867. We think it unnecessary to recapituright to point out that the reasons therein given late what is there so fully stated, but we think it for the immediate abolition of these four offices, have acquired additional force since 1867. We are persuaded that they ought to be immediately abolished, and such duties as survive in each be performed, with the undermentioned exceptions, by the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery. Mr. Romilly, the Clerk of the Crown, seems to consider there would be no difficulty in his present staff taking over, without extra assistance, the duties of these offices.

THE TIPPERARY ELECTION. Mr. Judge Keogh receatly gave judgment in the Tipperary election petition. He was strongly of opinion that he had jurisdiction to try the petition, for he could not question the right of the House of Commons to pass the resolution against Mitchell and issue a new writ. He also held that there was no question as to alienage, for the disability alluded to in the statute had reference to the case of infants, lunatics, idiots, and married women, and, therefore, Mitchell was not disqualified from becoming a naturalised subject of another country, and was consequently an alien at the time of the election. He was also disqualified on account of the sentence passed upon him as a felon. The questions raised upon the petition, however, were so important that he had yielded to the appeal of the respondents to reserve them for the consideration of the Full Court, and he would not declare his determination as to costs until the decision of the court had been arrived at. He would take care to have the questions considered as early in the next week as possible.

THE Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, which is now in session in Washington, is transacting its business with much rapidity. Mr. Creswell, of counsel, for the United States, is reported as saying that the majority of claims filed involve large sums of money, but that the aggregate of awards will not be so great as to consume the whole $15,000,000 paid by Great Britain. The surplus, if any, will remain as a fund from which congress may direct payment of other claims arising under the treaty of Washington. But if the sum awarded to the claimants should exceed the amount of the Geneva award, the amounts will be distributed rateably among those in whose favour particular awards shall have been made. The court has decided several cases in which damages for injuries to the person were claimed. These injuries were received in consequence of the capture by the confederate vessels of the ships on which the claimants were. The court held that it had no jurisdiction of claims for damages of this character, it could only entertain elaims for injuries to property.

PAYING FOR SEWING MACHINES BY INSTALMENTS.-A case came before one of the courts in New York city recently, involving the right of sewing machine companies to reclaim machines for non-payment of instalments of the purchasemoney without refunding the amount already paid. It seems that the Howe Sewing Machine Company, like many other companies, in selling their machines, make it a condition that whenever payment is to be made by instalments, the machines are to be considered as leased, and the purchasers are to forfeit all the money paid upon a failure to pay any instalment when due. The plaintiff in the case was a widow, who brought a suit to recover 65 dols. that she had paid on account of a sewing machine which was valued at 70 dols., but which was taken from her because the last instalment of 5 dols. was not paid when due. When the machine was taken from her she offered to pay the 5 dols. which was overdue, but this was refused. The plaintiff also denied that the signa ture to the contract of sale, including the forfeiture, was hers. The judge, in deciding the case, said that sales of this character, with the right to take the machines back by force, when nearly the full value has been paid, without refunding what has been paid, or any part thereof, are contrary to public policy, and unjust and oppressive to a deserving class of people. Judgment was, therefore, given for the plaintiff, and the 65 dols. was paid over.-Albany Law Journal.

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.-On Monday the annual accounts of the Metropolitan Police, presented to Parliament for the year ending the 25th of March last, were printed. On the 1st of January last the force amounted to 9940, consisting of 4 district superintendents, 25 superintendents, 276 inspectors, 986 sergeants, and 8649 constables. The balance in hand on the 1st of April, 1874, was £157,282 15s. 7d., which with the receipts in the year amounted to £1,183,965 108. 1d. The total sum paid for the Metropolitan Police between the 1st of April, 1874, and the 31st of March last was £1,099,851 9s. 9d., leaving a balance of £84,114 0s. 4d. The Superannuation Fund account shows the receipts to bo £112,707 168. 1d. There were 2807 superannua tions on the list, amounting to £110,152 63. ld. Gratuities, amounting to £2555 108., were given to 54 constables. For the service of the police

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courts in the year there are various receipts and the land with that which the reverend priest payments. The fines and penalties at police- Brightric gave for the relief of his soul to a courts amounted to £15,913 17s. 11d. Since the monastery in Crydiaton, expresses a sort of 1st of January the fines were paid by means of prayer that " anyone who shall take it away or Inland Revenue stamps, and have ceased to be diminish it may be stricken with a perpetual accounted for to the receiver from that date. The curse, and perish everlastingly with the devil," stamps used by the police in the year amounted unless he make atonement. The interior of the to £4007 28. The cost of coals supplied in the deed contains no recitals in our sense of the word, year to constables and for police stations but after a sort of pious ejaculation analogous to amounted to £11,400 11s. 2d. The amount re- that with which old wills begin, it mentions the ceived from proprietors, drivers, and conductors advisiability of making deeds of gift in writing, of public carriages in the year was £22,522 10s. 10d."lest the succession of posterity be swallowed in There is an item of £427 2s. 3d. as "expenses of the whirlpool of rapine and the clouds of igno. education of police." rance. The rest of the document is not very essentially different from a modern deed, and perhaps in the idea of some readers will bear comparision with it. A very vehement blessing is invoked, upon those who "moved by a benevolent and sincere disposition, shall trouble themselves in amplifying the said grant;" and then, after the date, follows the whole array of "witnesses." First, I, Edgar, King, have confirmed the said grant;" Ethelfrith, Queen, has consented. Then Dunstan, archbishop has corroborated it. Oswald, Archbishop of York, and twelve other bishops, none of whose sees are mentioned; twelve abbots, also described by their Christian names alone; four dukes, and ten ministers, all severally strengthen it." The parchment is almost an exact square, measuring about twelve or thirteen inches along each of its sides.-Globe. JUDGE ALLAN PARK was a most ridiculous man, and yet a good lawyer, a good judge, and in his day a most eminent counsel. He was a physiognomist, and was captivated by pleasant looks. In a certain cause in which a boy brought an action for defamation against his schoolmaster, Campbell, his counsel, asked the solicitor if the boy was good-looking. "Very." "Oh, then, have him in court we shall get a verdict." And so he did. His eyes were always wandering about, watching and noticing everything and everybody. One day there was a dog in court, making a disturbance, on which he said, "Take away that dog." The officers went to remove another dog, when he interposed, "No, not that dog. I have had my eye on that dog the whole day, and I will say that a better behaved little dog I never saw in a court of justice."-Canada Law Journal.

A STORY illustrative of the advantages of studying law by cases, and the complaints which are sometimes made of the uncertainty of the law, used to be told by an eminent attorney of Massachusetts, whose name is still associated with many of the pleasant anecdotes which used to be repeated at the social meetings of the Bar, and may not be wholly without point in the present phases of legal science. On his returning to his office one day he found his table loaded with books, upon which a student in his office seemed to be diligently engaged. Before he could have a chance to inquire as to the subject of his investigation, the student broke out with an expression of surprise and astonishment to find the law so defective. To an inquiry what led to such a sweeping remark, the student informed Mr. B. that, in his absence, a client from a neighbouring town had come into the office, and told him that a man had just got on to his horse and rode him off, and he wanted to know how he could get him back, or get satisfaction for his loss ? He had thereupon gone to work and looked into the index of every law book in the office to find something about "horse" saddle," and was surprised to find that the law had made no provision for either of them. He had, therefore, become satisfied that the client was without remedy, and had so informed him, and he had gone home on foot. It is needless to say that Mr. B. informed his student that a lawyer sometimes was able to settle a question about a specific article by a course of reasoning drawn from general principles, although the law writers had been so culpably negligent as to omit to name that particular article. And thereupon the student gravely concluded that the index of a law book was not always the surest mode of settling legal principles in their application to particular

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66

LAW SOCIETIES.

THE SOLICITORS' BENEVOLENT ASSO.

CIATION.

APPOINTMENT OF A PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.Drawing attention to the statement made by the Home Secretary that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a bill during the present session to provide for the appointment of public THE fifteenth anniversary festival of this asso prosecutors in England, the Economist points out ciation was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great that the bill is intended especially to meet the case Queen-street, on Tuesday last. The Right Hon. of mercantile frauds, which, in an immense number the Lord Mayor of London, presided, and among of cases, escape without even a menace of pun- those present were Messrs. Alderman and Sheriff ishment, because it is nobody's business to hunt Ellis, Sheriff Shaw, the Mayor of Folkestone, down the criminals. The penal consequences the Mayor of Peterborough, the President of the attaching to fraud in the promotion and floating Bath Law Society, the President of the Kent Law of companies are at present almost wholly inoper- Society, the president of the Wakefield Law ative. If, for example, a company state in a pro- Society, J. Monckton, Esq. (Town Clerk of Lonspectus that a sum of £1,000,000 has been re-don), the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of ceived, and is applicable to the payment of divi- Cutlers, the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of dends, whereas such an amount never could be so Farriers, the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of applicable because it never had been received, Poulters, Messrs. W. J. D. Andrew; S. H. Asker, and existed only in the imagination of the conNorwich; G. Beetham Batchelor; J. Batchelor, coctors of the prospectus, that is an offence under Greenwich; J. Beaumont, Coggeshall; Charles the present law punishable as severely as the most Ford, editor LAW TIMES Solicitor's Department; rigid moralist could desire. But, in fact, though E. Bedford; W. F. Blandy, Reading; E. J. Bridgthe offence is common, and has been more so, the man; H. Briggs, Isleworth; W. B. Brook; E. F. cases in which the offenders have been convicted Burton; C. Chandler, Dewsbury; W. Cheesman, and committed to prison have been amazingly Hastings; W. Chubb; H. Gosedge; F. Filliter, few. Hardly anyone will take the trouble and Wareham; K. H. Fryer, Gloucester; C. H. Gates, risk the costs of a prosecution in such a case. The Lutterworth; T. M. Golding, Walsham-le-Wilmultiplicity of human interests, as has been lows; F. Gordon; W. Greaves; E. Hedger; observed, tends to eradicate the passion of G. W. H. Janeway; F. H. Janson; J. H. Kays; revenge; and a man who has lost money through Thos. King, Brighton; J. Kynaston; Edwin Low; the fraudulent representations of a company does A. Mayhew; J. J. Merriman ; John Moody, Derby; not care to "throw good money after bad by W. B. Paterson; Pountain, Derby; W. H. attempting to bring the swindlers to punishment. Roberts; J. Anderson Rose; Wm. Ruston, BrentNo organised efforts will be made to hunt down ford; Wm. Ruston, jun., Brentford; Wm. Edfraud of this order until there is a special func-wood Shirley, Doncaster; J. M. Shugar, Tring; tionary whose business it will be to move the S. Smith; J. Stone, Bath; H. S. Styan; James Tassell, Faversham; J. S. Torr; H. J. Torr; C. H. Turner, Exeter; F. T. Veley, Chelmsford A. C. Veley, Chelmsford, and H. S. Wasbrough, Bristol. About 250 gentlemen sat down to dinner.

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AN ANCIENT DEED.-Among the documents copied by the photozincographic system of General James, the Director-General of the Ordnance Survey, is a charter or deed of grant made by Edgar, King of England, to one of his thanes, in the year 974. A facsimile of it, with a translation appended, is published, and it has an interest which lawyers as well as archæologists will readily appreciate. The property granted consists of three hides of land at Nymed, in Devonshire, now forming the site of three villages called Nymet, near Crediton. The body of the charter is in Latin, but the description of the boundaries of the property is in Anglo-Saxon, and the endorsement of the parchment contains a medley of the two languages. The deed is not long, but it contains some decidedly strong language, expressed generally in the learned tongue. The endorsement, for instance, after stating the identity of

The thirty-fourth half-yearly report, which was distributed amongst the members, stated that the association continued to make progress, fiftyseven new members having been admitted since October last, increasing the aggregato number to 2397, of whom 835 are life, and 1562 annual. Thirty-three life members are also annual subscribers. The receipts during the half-year were £1538 12s. 7d. A sum of £420 had been applied in grants of assistance; and it was explained that not only were the applications from members' families exceptionally few, but that the half-year included two menths of the recess, during which the board did not meet for the consideration of applications for assistance. A sum of £812 15s. 3d.

has been invested in the purchase of stock, in creasing the funded capital of the association to £30,219 stock, which consists of £7000 Three per Cent. Consols, £8000 India Five per Cents., £11,000 India Four per Cents., £3907 London and North-Western Railway Four per Cent. Perpetual Debenture Stock, £250 London and St. Katharine Docks Four per Cent. Debenture Stock, and £62 10s. Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities, producing altogether annual dividends amounting to £1208. A balance of £281 123. 1d. remained to the credit of the association with the Union Bank of London, and a sum of £15 in the secretary's hands. The directors had resolved on granting annuities to members and their widows and families, under certain limitations; a course which had, during the past few years, been urged upon them by several members of the associa tion.

The customary loyal toasts having been proposed from the chair and duly responded to,

The Chairman then rose to propose what he said might very properly be called the toast of the evening, "The Solicitors' Benevolent Associa tion, and may prosperity attend it." He felt bound to confess that when he was asked to preside over this festival of the society, he felt very considerable difficulty and diffidence in accepting the honour, because he remembered that for many years the annual festivals of this Association had been presided over by some of the most learned and illustrious judges of the land, and the Association had had the bene fits of the experience of those in the highest position in the legal profession. After the chair had been occupied by no less a person than Lord Selborne, who had the warmest feeling towards the profession, he doubted, when he received the invitation, whether he would not be the wrong person to be called upon. (No, no.) But he had the pleasure afterwards of reading the reports, not only of the speeches of his Lordship, but of the proceedings that took place at the meeting of the society in October last, and then he became reconciled to the position he was asked to occupy. and he was reconciled to it for this reason, that he was bound to assist the association from the feeling that it had endeavoured to draw, as it were, upon its own strength, and its own foundation. Looking over the report he found a worthy predecessor of his, in his own profession Mr. Alderman Wire was the first who presided over its annual meeting. (Cheers.) He quite agreed with this fact that it was quite right, considering the large number of members composing the legal profession, to make a new start in this way, that they should not have to rely on extraneous help, but to go on in their own strength (cheers), and he was not certain whether the course hitherto adopted by the association of seeking the aid of the generous and noble in the land to preside at its annual meetings should be pursued. (Hear, hear.) He considered that their branch of the legal profession, consisting as it did of over 10,000 in number, ought not to go about and send round the hat begging (cheers); but was large enough to support the society, and it ought to receive the support of its own members, and considering that large body, it ought to be a very profitable society indeed. He was happy to say, looking over the various reports of the society, that the appli

cents for assistance had not been so very

numerous among members as non-members, and that was a very strong argument in favour of encouraging the efforts of the society to relieve the distressed members of the Profession. Only 2400 members of the Profession had joined the society, and although no one could tell to what extent it might be called on to render assistance to the needy he was bound to say that there was not at the present time so much distress in the Profession as might be supposed, and that the relief required seemed to be very small. Last year the assistance rendered amounted to only about £420, and that was not a very large sum considering that a very large proportion of it was given to the widows and families of non-subscribers. It was also found that the society received something like £3300 a year, and that it was able every year to put by various sums so as to form a substantial fund to draw upon; and the investments seemed to be over £30,000. That showed that if a larger portion of the entire Profession became members that sum might be raised to a suffi cient amount to enable the society to grant permanent annuities. (Cheers.) Eleemosynary aid was sometimes of great service, but when the donations were expended the recipients were in the same position as before, whereas, if annuities were given to decayed men who were incapable of earning their living, so that the aid rendered would be theirs as long as they lived, a greater good would be done. (Cheers.) It had been suggested that the legal associations were too fond of giving dinners. He believed that there was an error in that respect, because their country friends did not understand the way in which

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