CROYDON-Maggs v. Barnes Moved Hilary Term, 1874. Rilway Company MIDDLESEX-Williams v. Williams [L. C. J.-Mr Lopes [Brett, J.-Mr Giffard [Brett, J.-Mr Manisty [Brett, J.-Mr Huddleston [L. C. J.-Mr Matthews [Brett, J.-Mr Metcalfe [Brett, J.-Mr M'Intyre LONDON-Badart v. Brown [Brett, J.-Mr W. Williams LONDON-Brown v. Badart [Brett, J.-Mr Day LONDON-Hall r. Hatch [Brett, J.-Mr L. Smith LONDON-Radcliffe Investment Company v. Bristow [Brett, J.-Mr Willis LONDON-Silvester v. Godby [Denman, J.-Mr L. Smith (Suspended.) [Brett, J.-Mr Field LONDON-Hudson v. Hill LONDON-Boldero v. Badcock MIDDLESEX-Melhado v. Stokes [Brett, J.-Mr Turner SPECIAL PAPER. For Argument. Thursday, April 23. Edmunds v. Alsop. To be re-argued Moved Michaelmas Term, 1872. GUILDFORD-Philips v. Hornstedt [Mr Hawkins, Q.C.-Mr Garth Reg. v. Green pany BEDFORD-Woodroffe v. Davison [Cleasby, B.-Mr Bulwer RUTHIN-Williams v. Great Western Railway Company [Keating, J.-Mr M. Lloyd [Quain, J.-Sir J. Karslake DURHAM-Jackson v. Leeman CARLISLE-Williamson v. Bain over. Fowler v. Locke For Argument. City Discount Company v. McLean EXCHEQUER ERRORS. For Judgment. Riche v. The Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company [Quain, J.-Mr Herschell [Denman, J.-Mr A. S. Hill For Argument. Liver Alkali Works Company . Johnson Walker v. North Eastern Railway Company Selford v. Lows Harris v. McCulloch Knowlman v. Bluett Court of Criminal Appeal. Moved after 4th day of Michaelwas Term. MIDDLESEX-Street v. The Society of Licensed Vic- This court will sit on Saturday, April 25, at ten o'clock. tuallers [Pollock, B.-Mr Torr Stand over [Cleasby, B.-Mr Cave MIDDLESEX-Trevitt v. Spick. Moved Hilary Term, 1874. MIDDLESEX-Dear v. Edwards MIDDLESEX-Treloar v. Bigge MIDDLESEX-Brochetan v. Moffat Hendricks . Australian Insurance Company. Special MIDDLESEX-Beavan v. Marbella Iron Ore Company case [L. C. B.-Mr H. T. Cole [L. C. B.-Mr Day [L. C. B.-Mr Herschell [L. C. B.-M. B. T. Williams MIDDLESEX-Childs v. Hearne [Bramwell, B.-Hon A. Thesiger MIDDLESEX-Ball v. Bridges [Cleasby, B.-Mr M. Howard LONDON-Alexandra Palace Company . Bignold L. C. B.-Mr O'Malley LONDON-Dignam v. Vans Agnew [L. C. B.-Mr Day LONDON-Hosegood v. Lloyd [Bramwell, B.-Mr J. Brown Stand over LONDON-Head v. Smith. [Bramwell, B.-Mr Beasley LIVERPOOL-Holden v. Flintshire Oil and Cannel Co. [POLLOCK, B.-Mr Herschell Moved after 4th day of Hilary Term. MIDDLESEX-Carr v. Tolson [Pollock, B.-Mr Herschell LEEDS-Ryan v. North Eastern Railway Company [Bovill, L. C. J.—Mr D. Seymour SPECIAL PAPER. For Judgment. PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. N.B.-Announcements of promotions being in the nature of advertisements, are charged 2s. 6d. each, for which postage stamps should be inclosed. MR. CHARLES WILLIAM REES STOKES, of Tenby, has been appointed a Commissioner to Administer Oaths in the Courts of Exchequer and Common Pleas for the counties of Pembroke, Carmarthen, and Cardigan, and the town of Haverfordwest and borough of Carmarthen and counties of the same town and borough. MR. RICHARD LEWIS TAPLEY, of Great Torrington, Devon, has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor to Administer Oaths in Chancery and the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas has appointed him a Commissioner for taking Ac knowledgments of Deeds of Married Women. THE GAZETTES. Bankrupts. Gazette, April 3. To surrender at the Bankrupts' Court, Basinghall-street. EMERY, SAMUEL ANDERSON, comedian, Alfred-pl, Bedford-sq. Reg. Murray. Sol. Davis, Arundel-st, Strand. Sur. April 14 HOGGINS, HENRY, merchant's clerk, New-cross-rd. Pet. March 31. Reg. Murray. Sol. Smedley, Fleet-st. Sur. April 14 HUSTLER, ORBEL JAMES, corn dealer, King's-rd, Chelsea. Pet. March 30. Reg. Brougham. Sol. Watson, Basinghall-st. Sur. April 17 ROBERTSON, SAMUEL BOXILL, attorney, New-inn, Strand. Pet. March 30. Reg. Brougham. Sols. Ravencroft and Co., Bedfordrow. Sur. April 17 TAYLOR, JAMES WILLIAM, cheesemonger, Broadway, London- LOWENTHAL, EMIL, merchant, Liverpool. Pet. March 28. Reg. NICHOLLS, JOSEPH, farmer, Seavington St. Michael. Pet. March 30. Reg. Batten. Sur. April 17 PROUT, BENJAMIN, victualler, Manchester. Pet. March 28. Reg. Hulton. Sur. April 15 RAMSKILL, JAMES, accountant, Halifax. Pet. March 30. Reg. Rankin. Sur. April 20 SMITH, JAMEs, victualler, Llanwnda. Pet. April 1. Reg. Jones. SMITH, SAMUEL, jun., gentleman, Upton Snodsbury. Pet. March FRASER, ALEXANDER, gentleman, Willsbridge. Pet. April 2. Reg. Harley. Sur. April 27 ISRAEL, SELIM, jeweller, Birmingham. Pet. April 2. Reg. Chauntler. Sur. April 20 LOAT, JOHN, builder, Balham. Pet. March 31. Reg. Willoughby. Sur. April 24 VEIDEMAN, THOMAS, gasfitter, Stafford. Pet. March 31. Reg. BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. FARNCOMB, HENRY, no occupation, St. Leonard's-on Sea. Oct. 16, 1873 Gazette, April 3. GRIFFITHS, MARY, butter merchant, Llandewy Volfry. March SKIPWORTH, JAMES, poulterer, Boston. Feb. 7, 1874 3, 1874 Liquidations by Arrangement. FIRST MEETINGS. Gazette, April 3. ANDERSON, ALFRED, baker, Leominster. Pet. April 1. April 20, BANN, SAMUEL, coal merchant, Monks Coppenhall. Pet. March Pet. BIBBENS, WILLIAM, commission agent, Ipplepen. Pet. March 31. BISSEX, ROBERT, beerhouse keeper, Hanham. Pet. April 1. BROOM, ELEAZER, cabinet maker, Liverpool. Pet. March 31. BUDGE, ALEXANDER, provision merchant, Liverpool. Pet. March 31. April 15, at twelve, at office of Sol. Lupton, Liverpool CHARLTON, WILLIAM HENRY HASELL, coal merchant, St. CHIPPERFIELD, HARRIETTE SOPHIA, fancy goods dealer, CLARKE, WILLIAM, manure manufacturer, Darsham. Pet. March 24. CLAY, THOMAS RENSHAW, draper, Denmark-hill. Pet. March DALE, WILLIAM, brewer, Birmingham. Pet. April 1. April 17, DRING, WILLIAM, cab proprietor, Barnsley. Pet. March 28. DURRANT, TRAYTON, builder, Waldron. Pet. April 1. April 17, FAIRBOURN, RICHARD, grocer, Haslingden. Pet. March 31. FALL, GEORGE SNOWDEN, fishmonger, Ripon. Pet. March 27. FARRAR, DAVID, cloth factor, Minchinhampton. Pet. March 27. FURBEY, SAMUEL, builder, Wakefield-st, Gray's-inn-rd. Pet. AGEN, GEORGE, coal merchant, Kentish-town-rd, and Cam- BB, ALEXANDER, clothier, Sunderland. Pet. March 31. April Pet. April 1. HACKWORTH, RICHARD, auctioneer, Norwich. Pet. March 30. Pet. HEMMING, SAMUEL, Essington wood, and HEMMING, JOHN, Wood-end, charter masters. Pet. April 1. April 18, at eleven, at office of Sol. Barrow, Wolverhampton HIGGS, WILLIAM, grocer, Hastings. Pet. March 26. April 27, at HOWELLS, EDWARD, general dealer, Worcester. Pet. March 28. cester HUBY, EDWIN, dealer in drapery, Bradford. Pet. April 1. April JOHNSON, JOHN, poulterer, Oxton. Pet. March 31. April 17, at Pet. MOORE, JOHN, baker, Keynsham. Pet. March 30. April 14, at O'BRIEN, EDWARD. publisher's clerk, Princess-ter, Upton-rd, OLIVER, JAMES WILLIAM, tailor, High Holborn, and Waxwell- PENGELLY, THOMAS HODGE, printer, Bristol. Pet. March 31. POULTON, JOHN, jun., shopkeeper's assistant, Reading. Pet. POUND, HENRY, miller, Ashbury. Pet. March 28. April 13, at Sol. RICHARDS, ALFRED JOHN, rope maker, Redruth and Illogan. ROBINSON, JOHN, joiner, Liverpool. Pet. April 1. April 20, at SHORT, SAMUEL, colourman, Bristol. Pet. March 30. April 17, TANKARD, WILLIAM CHARLES, leather merchant, Durham-st, TARRANT, WILLIAM, draper, Thaxted. Pet. March 30. April 20, THOMSON, THOMAS, tailor, St. Helen's. Pet. March 31. April 15, WALLWORK. JOHN, auctioneer, Rawtenstall. Pet. March 31. WHALE, JOHN, grocer, Landport. Pet. March 31. April 17, at WHITE, GEORGE, saddler, Rugby. Pet. March 31. April 18, at WHITEHEAD, HANNAH, tobacconist, Bolton. Pet. March 30. WOOLFORD, WILLIAM JAMES, bootmaker, Kilmersdon. Pet. YOUNG, ALFRED, boot upper manufacturer, Wellingborough. Gazette, Aqril 7. AVIS, THOMAS, inspector of nuisances, Uckfield. Pet. April 2. BADGER, THOMAS, and BOWEN, NATHAN WHILE, glass makers, BARBER, FANNY, widow, innkeeper, Edgmond Marsh. Pet. April BENSON, GEORGE WILLIAM, druggist, Welchpool. Pet. March 31. London BREW, THOMAS, clogmaker, Whitehaven. Pet. April 1. April Noble-st, and CONWAY, JOHN HARRIS, jun., grocer, Abergavenny and Llan- March 30. CUTHBERT, CHARLES, fish dealer, Philpot-la, Commercial-rd. DAWE, TH MAS, miller, Silverton. Pet. April 1. April 23, at FISHER, CHARLES, out of business, Ipswich. Pet. April 1. FOSTER, GEORGE BELL, farmer, Ellerslie-ter, Bedford-rd, Clap- GILES, JOHN, grocer, Manchester. Pet. April 2. April 22, at HOARE, PETER MERRIK, gentleman, Hythe. Pet. March 31. JOHNSON, JOHN, colour merchant, Wellington-rd, Stoke New. ington. Pet. March 20. April 16, at two, at office of SolGowing, Coleman-st JONES, BENJAMIN, general dealer, Shifnal. Pet. April 2. April 17, at ten, at offices of Sol. Lenke, Shifnal KING, HENRY, draper, Shillington. Pet. March 30. April 20, at KIRBY, GEORGE, attorney, Bicester. Pet. March 28. April 23, 16, at twelve, at office of Sols. Stend and Sibree, Hull MCMANUS, JAMES, tailor, Blackburn. Pet. April 1. April 24, at eleven, at office of Sols. Messrs. Backhouse, Blackburn NETTLETON, THOMAS, butcher, Horbury. Pet. April 2. April 16, at eleven, at office of Sols. Burton and Moulding, Wakefield OPPENHEIM, JOHN HERMAN, law stationer, Southampton-bldgs. Pet. March 31. April 15, at two, at office of Sol. Norris, Actonst, Gray's-inn-rd OWEN, JOHN, joiner, Llanrwst. Pet. April 2. April 22, at twelve; at office of Sol. James, Llanrwst PALMER, HENRY, grocer, Mendlesham. Pet. April 4. May 1, at PIDGEON, CHARLES, fronmonger, King's Norton. Pet. April 2. ter RISHWORTH, JAMES ARTHUR, Gothic Lodge, West End, Hamp- RODGERS, JAMES, tailor, Consett. Pet. April 2. April 21, at SIMMONS, JAMES, whitesmith, Wolverhampton. Pet. April' 1. Dibidends. BANKRUPTS' ESTATES. Pet. April 2: The Official Assignees, &c., are given, to whom apply for the Bartlett, H. M. innkeeper, second and final 1d. At Trust. F. T. Hare, Totnes.-Combes, E. wine merchant, first 3s. 6d. At Trust. E. Moore, 3, Crosby-sq.-Farrage, W. shoe manufacturer, first and final 4s. 9d. At Trust. J. Y. Strach in, 18, Grainger-st-west, Newcastle-Hall, P. commission agent, first and final 28. At Sutton and Harding, accountants, 23, Brown-st, Manchester.-Nankwell, J. P. farmer, first and final, 18. 1d. At Trust. T. Chirgwin.-Payne, W. corn merchant, second 1s. 3d. At Trust W. Sharp, 20, Gresham-st.-Petit, E. jeweller, first, 2s. 6d. At Trust. J. Troup, 36, Hatton-garden.- Willard, E. E. tailor, second and final, 18. At Trust. W. C. Cooper, 7, Gresham-st.-Wood, W. R. sen., brickmaker, 58. At Sols. Wilkinson and Howlett, 14, Bedford-st, Covent-garden BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS BIRTHS. LICKFOLD. On the 8th inst., at 3, Blomfield-road, Maida-vale, MARRIAGE. TABOR-KNAPP.-On the 7th inst., at St. Saviour's, Dartmouth, DEATH. MALIM. On the 5th inst., at Grantham, aged 66, Frederic PARTRIDGE AND COOPER ream. BRIEF PAPER, 158. 6d., 178. 6d., and 28s. 6d. per ream. LARGE CREAM LAID NOTE, 48. 6d., os. 6d., and 88. per ream. "We should direct particular attention to their New Club-house Paper: in our opinion it is the very best paper we ever wrote upon."-London Mirror. INDENTURE SKINS, Printed and Machine-ruled, to hold twenty RECORDS OF MEMORIALS, 7d. each, 6s. 6d. per dozen. LEDGERS, DAY-BOOKS, CASH-BOOKS, LETTER OF MINUTE-BOOKS AJ at three, ut office of Sols. Lawrance, Plews, and Boyer, FUNERAL REFORM. Old Jewry-chmbs, London HOGGETTS, JOHN WILLIAM, commercial traveller, Lozells. Pet. The exorbitant items of the undertaker's bill have long operated as an oppressive tax upon all classes of the community. With a view of applying a remedy to this serious evil the LONDON NECROPOLIS COMPANY, when opening their extensive cemetery at Woking, held themselves prepared to undertake the whole duties relating to interments at fixed and moderate scales of charge, from which survivors may choose according to their means and the requirements of the case. The Company also undertakes the conduct of Funerals to other cemeteries, and to all parts of the United Kingdom. A pamphlet containing full particulars may be obtained, or will be forwarded, upon application to the Chief Office, 2, Lancaster-place, Strand, W.C. Country Gentleman's Newspaper, A LECTURE delivered before the Hull Law Ferdinand David, with Plan of the Aberdeen Golf Links. DRESS AND FASHION: The Parisian Fashions (from our own Correspondent).-Ball Dresses and Court Trains; Dinner Toilettes; Black Silk Costume; Black Velvet Bodice; The Arnould-Plessis Confection; Half Mourning Dinner Toilette: Ball Toilette; Fancy Costume; Fancy Dress, &c., with Illustrations. THE WORK TABLE.-Gimp Medallion; Rosette for Antimacassar Shoulder Cushion: Jet Embroidery: Borders; Mat or Cushion; Knitting Bag; Thread or Wool Case; Design for Gold Canvas, &c., with Illustrations. THE HOUSEWIFE. - Domestic Cooking and Warming Music and Musicians. Gazette des Dames. The Tourist. Price 6d.; Post Free 64d. May be had of News Agents, Booksellers, and at the Railway Stalls. OFFICE: 346, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. Fmigrant Fields of North America. Feeding Substances for Farm Stock. Students' Society on the Course of Reading for the Final Examinations of the Incorporated Law Society. By Dr. ROLLIT. Price 28. LEGAL MAXIMS, with Observations and Cases. A DIGEST of the EXAMINATION QUESTIONS in Common Law. Conveyancing, and H. COX, 10, WELLINGTON-STREET, STRAND. Stamping out Fleuro. pneumoniang, Croquet, Archery, THE COUNTY COURTSUPTOR, Monthly, Garden, Poultry, &c. Price 6d. By post, 6d. FIELD OFFICE, 346, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. price 1s. 6d., contains all the Law and Reports of the London: "LAW TIMES" Office, 10, Wellington-street, Now ready, price 68., A TREATISE ON WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS UPON THE SALE OF PERSONAL CHATTELS. By THOMAS WM. SAUNDERS, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Recorder of Bath. LONDON: "LAW TIMES" OFFICE, 10, WELLINGTON-STREET, STRAND, W.C. LAW OF ELECTION PETITIONS, WITH ALL THE DECISIONS. THE LAW & PRACTICE OF ELECTION PETITIONS, WITH ALL THE DECISIONS, INCLUDING THE LAW AND PRACTICE OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS, PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL, THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. The work comprises: The Representation of the People Act 1867; The Registration Act 1868; The Corrupt Practices Act 1868; The Ballot Act 1872; incorporating the Reform Act and all the Statutes; and the decisions of the Court of Common Pleas upon Appeal to 1873, with instructions for the management of Elections in Counties, Cities, and Boroughs, for the management of Registration, and for Returning Officers, with Precedents of Books, Forms, &c. And The Law and Practice of Municipal Elections. THE ALSO A CHAPTER ON LEGAL PRINCIPLES RELATING TO CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS By F. O. CRUMP, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. TWELFTH EDITION. PRICE 248., CLOTH. LONDON: "LAW TIMES" OFFICE, 10, WELLINGTON-STREET, STRAND, W.C. THE American idea of our manner of dealing with professional questions is somewhat amusing. The Albany Law Journal informs its readers that "a committee of the House of Commons having been appointed to investigate the charges preferred against Dr. KENEALY, Counsel for the Tichborne claimant, Mr. WHALLEY, M.P.. demands that a similar committee be appointed to investigate charges against Mr. HAWKINS, Q.C., prosecuting attorney." THE large proportion of professional opinion in the House of Commons was arrayed against Mr. Bass's Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill. We observe that whilst Mr. BUTT, Mr. HOPWOOD, Mr. W. M. JACKSON, Sir HENRY JAMES, Serjeant SIMON, and Serjeant SPINKS voted for the Bill, the majority against it included the ATTORNEY-GENERALS for England and for Ireland, the LORD ADVOCATE, Mr. FORSYTH, Mr. GOLDNEY, Mr. GORDON, Mr. GrantHAM, Mr. HOLKER, Mr. HUDDLESTON, Mr. C. E. LEWIS, Mr. M. VOL. LVI.-Io. 1620. LLOYD, Mr. A. G. MARTEN, Mr. G. O. MORGAN, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. ROEBUCK, Hon. E. STANHOPE, Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS, and Mr. LOPES. THE first annual report of the Barristers' Benevolent Association, which has just been issued, is decidedly satisfactory. Donations had been received and promised up to 31st Dec. 1873, to the amount of £2035 15s., and annual subscriptions amounting to £479. The committee, after careful examination of the cases submitted to them, have granted assistance to the extent of £170. The sum of £1000 has been placed on deposit receipt, and a balance of £299 remains in the hands of the treasurer. Two Bills have been introduced into the House of Commons during the past week which the authors admitted to be defective. Mr. BASS positively allowed that his Bill for abolishing imprisonment for debt was illogical, and on Wednesday Mr. MORLEY in bringing forward his Married Women's Property Act Amendment Bill, confessed that it had blemishes. It is really ridiculous that Parliament should allow public time to be wasted in this fashion, and it is certainly a scandal that we have no standing committee whose duty it should be to rid Bills of their conspicuous blots before they are submitted to the House. A Bill of some kind to amend the Married Women's Property Act 1870 is very much wanted; and what Mr. MARTEN means by doubting whether it is necessary to do anything in that direction we cannot understand. There cannot, we should think, be two opinions of the absurdity of the law as it stands at present. We have from time to time reported cases from the County Courts and elsewhere and commented upon them, so as to have made the defects of the law familiar to our readers, and the only question is how those defects shall be remedied. Sir RICHARD BAGGALLAY has taken the right view of the matter; and if he would undertake the measure, and amend it as required, we might hope to see this branch of the aw of husband and wife placed upon a satisfactory footing. WE perceive that the observations of Mr. Justice BLACKBURN, on the appeal from the decision of Mr. BEALES in the case of Taylor v. The Great Eastern Railway Company, reported in this journal on the 7th of last February have not unnaturally excited that learned gentleman's indignation. The learned Judge was rather more severe than usual in this particular instance, and we regret that we cannot in a measure appease Mr. BEALES by admitting any mistake or exaggeration in the report. As furnished to us, it was a transcript of a shorthand writer's notes, and we are not aware that there is any ground whatever for disputing its perfect accuracy. Whether the facts of the case and reasons of the decision were fully apprehended by the court is another matter, and we shall be very glad to hear an explanation favourable to Mr. BEALES' reputation. The testimony of the County Court Bar must be satisfactory to Mr. BEALES, and we ourselves have more than once had occasion to admire the care which the learned Judge devotes to cases which come before him, and his ability as a lawyer is generally considered to be respectable. With respect to the severity of Mr. Justice BLACKBURN's comments, we incline to the opinion that, as a matter of principle, glaring incapacity in an inferior Judge is quite as much a subject for the consideration of the LORD CHANCELLOR as misconduct; but, looking at Mr. BEALES' career on the Bench, it is open to question whether he should have been exposed to judicial criticism, even supposing Mr. Justice BLACKBURN justified by the facts and circumstances of the case. We shall welcome with much satisfaction any amende which may be made to Mr. BEALES. THE argument advanced on behalf of the sitting members in the case of the Hackney Election Petition was perhaps as remarkable as any which has ever been addressed to an election tribunal. Assuming the learned counsel to have been correctly reported, he argued that inasmuch as there are precedents which justify an election which is pure being upheld in spite of some slight irregularity in the mode of taking the poll, therefore, an irregularity which amounts to an absolute exclusion of an unascertainable number of voters from the polling booths should not invalidate an election unless it can be clearly shown that the numbers excluded would have brought about a different result. This was to put before the judge a problem utterly impossible of solution, and to ask him, because he was unable to solve it, to determine that there was a mere irregularity which did not affect the return. We are not now dealing with the judgment of the learned Judge-which, however, has arrived at the only possible conclusion--but with the principle of the argument. It is quite new to us that where a corrupt practice affects a constituency, it must be shown that those influenced equal the majority obtained by the successful candidate. In the Galway case priestly intimidation was the ground on which Mr. Justice KEOGH upset the return, but the sitting member was many hundreds ahead of his opponent, and it was obviously impossible that this majority could be accounted for by any corrupt influence. But no one ever thought of suggesting that on such a ground the election should be sustained. It will of course be said that a failure of the machinery of polling is a different matter to corrupt influence. As regards the candidates it may be-as regards the public it is not. Every elector has a right to record his vote freely, whatever its effect on the return may be, and we think it would be decidedly dangerous if a public right of the highest importance were to be weighed in the balance of contending parties. Where the machinery breaks down, the question is not whether the same candidates would have been elected had it not broken down, but whether the electors have had an opportunity of recording their votes. This may be a question of degree; a substantial number of voters must doubtless be prevented from voting, but where exclusion to that extent is proved there must be a new election. We believe it is generally admitted that ORTON was a most extraordinary impostor, but the way in which he managed to delude respectable lawyers is perhaps the most astounding feature of his career. More than this; certain lawyers were not content with believing in him and writing professional opinions about his case. The infectious zeal of his partisans carried them out of the caution which usually hedges in members of the legal profession, and induced them to write letters for the purpose of being exhibited to supporters. These letters would have appeared to be sufficiently ill-judged and imprudent when everything was still open to conjecture, and their swift destruction would have been a mercy to their writers. But when the subject of the opinions expressed in those letters is condemned by all reasoning men as the hero of a story fatally blotted, as Mr. Justice BRETT has said, with a hundred improbabilities and impossibilities, it is simply cruel to drag them into the light. One of them, however, found its way into that highly respectable organ Reynolds's Newspaper, and was thence copied into a weekly production, which we refrain from characterising, called the Englishman. This was bad enough, but in order that no one who omitted to read the two publications which we have named should be uninformed of the folly of which a Queen's Counsel can be guilty, a letter to the Times from the learned gentleman himself proclaimed the circumstances to all the world. Is it possible after this to repel with any show of indignation the American assertion of the deterioration of the English Bar? THE case of The Original Hartlepool Collieries Company v. Moon (30 L. T. Rep. N. S. 193), is one of some practical importance on the subject of production of documents, the question being whether a defendant could be compelled to produce letters relating to the subject matter of the suit addressed by her solicitors to third parties. The Vice-Chancellor (BACON) pointed out the important fact that the privilege of non-production is the privilege of the client, and does not extend to communications by a solicitor to other persons. His Honour said: "The privilege contended for is her [i. e., the client's] privilege, and it is impossible to carry it any further, because, although in some of the cases that have been referred to, it might seem at first sight that it was the privilege of the solicitor, upon consideration there is no ground whatever for so treating it. A solicitor who is employed to conduct the suit and to collect evidence, to get up the case, as it is called, is acting on behalf of his client, and only on behalf of his client, and the privilege which he claims is not a privilege that he possesses, but a privilege that belongs to the client because of the employment of the solicitor." Consequently, letters written by the solicitor to a third party who was, in a certain sense, the agent of his client, were held not privileged. It must be added, however, that it was further said that "The case of a solicitor who employs a person to collect evidence for him in a foreign country, or who employs an accountant to make up a report from books, is a part of the proper business of the attorney; the client has retained him to do that business, and he has done it, and cannot be compelled to disclose the manner in which it has been done." WE made no announcement last week of the pending changes in the law officerships, it being entirely uncertain who would be the incoming SOLICITOR-GENERAL. Sir JOHN KARSLAKE'S retirement and its cause are the subjects of regret throughout the Profession. He has long been, in or out of office, emphatically the leader of the Bar, and it has never had a leader who knew better how to maintain its standard of purity and independence. We now know that Mr. JOHN HOLKER, Q.C. of the Northern Circuit, has been offered and has accepted the office of SOLICITOR-GENERAL, and the appointment is one which must commend itself to the approbation of everyone who knows anything of the recent history of our greatest circuit. As the leader of that circuit he has been exceedly popular. He has the reputation of being an astute lawyer, nd an advocate whose powers of lucid exposition have never been surpassed at the English Bar. He commenced his career like so many of our eminent men in the office of a solicitor. Having been called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1854 he commenced practice as a local barrister at Manchester. In a short time, however, he removed to London, rapidly obtained a large and lucrative practice, and received a silk gown in 1868. He first entered Parliament as member for Preston in1872, and was again returned at the General Election of the present year. By his retirement from the Northern Circuit, where he appeared on one side or the other in almost every case, a vast amount of business will be released, but we believe we may confidently say that there will be less joy over this by the members of the circuit than will be excited by the promotion which raises him purely on his merits from the proud position which he has recently held to the responsible post of Solicitor-General. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT IN COUNTY COURTS. MR. BASS's Bill for abolishing imprisonment for debt in the County Courts has been defeated by an overwhelming majority, but there is sufficient strength of opinion in support of its principle to justify the expectation that imprisonment as a punishment for not paying debts will be abolished altogether at no distant date. When we find converts such as Sir HENRY JAMES, who was on a committee which took evidence on the subject, there must be some very strong and cogent objections to the present system. If we fail to appreciate them the fault must be ours. But whatever they are, and whatever their force, we consider that a mistake is made in mixing up with the simple issue “grave social and economical questions," which, according to Sir HENRY JAMES, are involved. We look through his speech to discover such questions, and what do we find? First, that the power to enforce payment by imprisonment fosters an unhealthy system of credit. Secondly, that the opportunity of obtaining credit for necessaries induces the working inan to get in debt to the draper and grocer whilst he spends his cash at the publican's, who cannot now recover for beer scores. Again, he says that men sent to prison are brought into contact with the worst characters. These, we suppose, are the grave social and economical questions, and we are free to admit that opinions may differ as to their gravity. We have heard them urged before, and they are supported by the testimony of one or two of the most eminent of our County Court Judges. Perhaps the difference of opinion prevailing among County Court Judges is the most remarkable circumstance in the history of the agitation. Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL and Mr. J. A. RUSSELL are gentlemen held in high esteem, and would not be likely to give opinions of a vague or ill-founded character. Forming their opinions upon their experience, they conclude that many of the small debts for which commitment orders are now made would never have been incurred if the power to enforce payment by imprisonment had not existed. That is to say, that if imprisonment for debt were abolished, the credit system as available to the working classes would collapse. And this they consider expedient. Many Judges, on the other hand, take a diametrically opposite view; they see no objection to the credit system properly regulated, or to the commitment of debtors with whose knowledge debts have been contracted, and who have the means to pay. Perhaps Mr. Commissioner KERR has had as large experience of the credit system as any Judge, and the operation of imprisonment for debt has been constantly before him for many years. It is only necessary to sit in his court for a few hours to hear his opinion of the expediency of abolishing the power of imprisonment for non-payment of debts. The view which he takes is probably stronger than that of many County Court Judges, as he looks upon a man who has voluntarily got into debt, and refuses to pay, as prima facie dishonest. This is, we conceive, the correct view, and if imprisonment for nonpayment of debts, or, more correctly, for disobeying an order of the court for payment, were abolished, Mr. CROSS's suggestion that the principle of the legis lation against fraudulent debtors should be extended, would have to be adopted. It is a favourite argument against imprisonment for debt, that, it is punishing criminally the incapacity or refusal to perform a civil contract. For the purposes of promoting healthy trade, we question whether this is the right way of looking at the matter. To procure on credit goods for which we have not the means to pay is virtually obtaining them by false pretences, and a false pretence is punishable by imprisonment. We freely admit, on the other hand, that where the debtor is not the author of his own liability-where, for example, the goods have been ordered without his knowledge, and the first demand for payment comes in the form of a County Court summons, the hardship of imprisonment may be very great. We also admit that every precaution should be taken that a debtor should be informed personally of the intended_proceedings before matters are put in train for commitment. Here, indeed, we arrive at the true grievance, and Mr. CROSS deserves the greatest credit for being the only participator in the debate with sufficient sagacity or insight to perceive that it is in the administration of the law, and not in the law itself, that the evil is to be found. "If," he said, "County Court Judges would confer together and frame rules by which to act in a more uniform manner, much of the alleged evil would be removed." It is certainly extraordinary that there has not been more concerted action amongst those gentlemen with a view to settling the practice. Strict proof should always be required that the original summons has reached the debtor before a judgment summons is granted, and particular care should be taken to ascertain that the goods were supplied with the knowledge or consent of the debtor. |