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TALBOT

v.

LINFIELD.

in prohibition, by six months is to be in-
tended dimidium anni, and not six lunar
months; Litt. R. 19; and in Copley v. Col-
lins, Hob. 179, it is said, that they shall
be counted according to the calendar;
2 Roll. Abr. Temps. (C) pl. 2, S. C. See

also Com. Dig. Ann. (B); Doe dem. Daggett v. Snowdon, post, 1224. By solar, Dennison, J., must be understood to mean calendar months, and so is the report in Burrow a solar month is the twelfth part of 365 days, viz. 30 days and 10 hours.

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MILLER'S Case.

UNDER the Insolvent Debtor's Act, 1 Geo. 3, one Miller
was compelled by a creditor, at the Sessions at Guildhall, to
give up his effects, and he accordingly signed and swore to his
schedule, &c. But some circumstances arising, the Court ad-
journed his discharge till the next Sessions. In the mean time,
the statute 2 Geo. 3, passed, which repealed the compelling
clause. Motion for a mandamus to the justices, now to pro-
ceed to grant Miller his discharge, the jurisdiction having at-
tached before the clause was repealed. But by the Court:-
Nothing is more clear, than that the jurisdiction is now gone,
and that we cannot grant any such mandamus. Even offences

committed against the clause (while in force) could not have
been now punished, without a special clause to allow it; and
therefore, a clause is inserted in the repealing statute for that
purpose (b).
Rule discharged.

(b) A contract declared by a statute to be illegal, is not made good by a subsequent repeal of the statute; Jaques v.

Withy, 1 H. Bla. 67; and see Com. Dig.
Parliament (R 10, &c.)

Executors in

HARRIS, an Executor, v. JONES.

S. C. 3 Burr. 1451.

ASHHURST moved for leave to discontinue without pay

some cases shall ment of costs, the plaintiff being an executor.

pay costs for leave to discontinue.

Walker shewed for cause, that the action was brought by one executor in his own name only, when he knew that there were others subsisting; and that thereby he had wantonly put the defendant to great expence.

And by DENNISON, WILMOT, and YATES, JS. (absente Lord MANSFIELD, C. J.) This is a matter within his own knowledge. The plaintiff comes to the Court for a favour; and we will therefore put what terms we please upon him. There are many cases, where executors, applying for favours, are obliged to pay costs (c).

Rule absolute, on payment of costs.

(c) Hale (Administrator) v. Norton, Barnes, 169, Cas. Pr. C. P. 79; Melhuish v. Maunder, 2 N. R. 72, acc. But an executor or administrator will be allowed to discontinue without payment of costs, where he has not knowingly brought

a wrong action; Baynham v. Mathews, 2 Stra. 871; Bennet, (Administrator) v. Coker, 4 Burr. 1927. In general, when plaintiff, he shall pay no costs; however, this must be understood to be, when he is under a necessity of naming himself exe

cutor or administrator, for if he were under no such necessity, he shall pay costs; Bull. N. P. 331. "It is clear upon the statute, where an executor or administrator necessarily sues as such, he is not liable to costs. And yet it has been holden, that where he is guilty of misbehaviour he shall pay costs. As where he suffers himself to be non-prossed; where he has knowingly brought a wrong action, or otherwise been guilty of a wilful default, he shall pay costs upon a discontinuance; or for not proceeding to trial according to notice: "

Per Rooke, J., in Comber v. Hardcastle,
3 Bos. & P. 117. See also n. (q), ante,
356. In the case of an executor or ad-
ministrator, wrongfully suing as such upon
a contract made with his testator, and not
succeeding, the Court will, in their dis-
cretion, make an order upon him to pay
costs to the defendant; but costs cannot
be awarded on the record, and judgment
must be entered without them; otherwise
it would be erroneous, Ibid.; Barnard v.
Higdon, 3 B. & A. 213. As to disconti-
nuance, see Roe v. Gray, post, 815.

HARRIS

v.

JONES.

THE KING . BANKES and Others.

S. C. Ante, 445.

[

452 1

Court Leet, de

THE name of John Price, the mayor de facto, being now in- Mandamus to serted in the rule, the principal question came on to be argued; summon specific when it appeared, that Mr. Bankes was lord of the manor of jurors upon a Corfe Castle, and Mr. Henry Bankes (his brother) was steward nied. or bailiff of the manor, who had appointed a deputy-bailiff, who usually held the courts in his stead; and had warned a jury for a court on the 25th October, 1763, when a mayor was to be elected for the year ensuing. But he, suspecting that the deputy-bailiff had been tampered with to warn a jury, who would chuse a mayor in the interest, not of the lord of the manor, but of Mr. Calcraft his opponent, suddenly revoked his deputation after the jury were warned; so that no court was held, and of consequence no mayor chosen on the regular prescriptive day. And now the motion was for a mandamus to the lord of the manor to hold a court leet, and to the jurors by name, who were summoned for the 25th of October, to appear and form a jury, in order to proceed to the election of a mayor: It being argued that Price's election, being not on the prescriptive day, was invalid.

But by the whole Court.-We are all of opinion, that a special mandamus, to the jury [by name] (d), is new and unprecedented; and cannot be granted. Nor, upon this rule, can any general mandamus issue; more especially, as there is already a mayor de facto subsisting (e). So discharge the rule; but, as the steward has behaved illegally, in the revocation of the deputy-bailiff's power, after the jury were summoned, no costs shall be allowed.

(d) This evidently should be so; and not to grant a mandamus; but if it was a not" to the same jury" as in the former edition.

(e) It appears from the report in 3 Burr. 1454, that if it was a doubtful election, and fit to be tried upon an information in nature of a quo warranto, the Court ought

mere colourable election and clearly void,
they ought. See also R. v. Mayor of Tin-
tagel, 2 Stra. 1003; Scarborough Corpora-
tion, Id. 1180; R. v. Mayor of Cambridge,
4 Burr. 2008, and R. v. Lord Montacute,
ante, 60, and notes.

Serving constable as substitute for another, is

not serving an [*453 ]

office so as to gain a settle

ment.

THE KING V. WINTERBORNE.

S. C. Burr. Sett. Ca. 520.

ON a certiorari it appeared, that William Merrick and his eight children were removed, by an order of two justices, from Winterborne to St. Philip and Jacob in Gloucestershire. On appeal to the Sessions, they discharge this order, * and state, that the pauper, about thirteen years ago, gained a settlement in St. Philip and Jacob: That, at a Court Leet at Winterborne, the 3d of October, 1761, one Richard Bailey was chosen constable for the tithing of Hambrook in Winterborne, but was never sworn in, nor took on him the said office; but procured the pauper to serve the said office in his stead, in order to gain the pauper a settlement at Winterborne: That the pauper was accordingly sworn in before a justice, and served for the year, and lived in Hambrook; but was never presented at the leet, though the custom has ever been, that all constables should be first presented there.

Morton and Vernon argued, that the pauper was settled at Winterborne; that he served the office on his own account, as a substitute, not as a deputy, and was the real officer of the tithing.

But the Court, without hearing any counsel on the other side, were clear, that this was not serving an office on his own account within the intent of the statute; and discharged the order of Sessions and confirmed the order of the justices (g).

(g) So executing the office of tithingman, as deputy, will not gain a settlement, even though he be sworn at the Court Leet; R. v. Allcannings, Burr. Sett. Ca. 634. A pauper gains a settlement in that parish, in which he resides, by executing the office of constable for a city, which consists of several other parishes; R. v. St. Maurice, Burr. Sett. Ca. 27; 2 Stra. 1014, S. C. Lee, J., there said (p. 34), that under 9 & 10 W. 3, c. 11, if he exe

cute such an office by deputy he gains a settlement. And so it was decided in R. v. Hope Mansell, Cald. 252. But where a borseholder, regularly sworn in at a Court Leet, after executing his office a few days was irregularly discharged by two magistrates, in which he acquiesced, and did not in fact afterwards execute the office, he did not gain a settlement; R. v. Holy Cross, Westgate, 4 B. & A. 619.

FRENCH v. CORNELYS.

In judgments ERROR from the Common Pleas of a judgment by default on a note of hand. The error assigned was, that no warrant of attorney for the defendant (the now plaintiff in error) was entered on the record below (h).

by default the plaintiff is to make up the whole record; but if error is brought for a

slip in not making proper entries for the defendant, judgment shall stay

Ashhurst, for the defendant in error (the plaintiff below), insisted, that a man shall not take advantage of his own neglect in not making proper entries on record.

Clayton, contra, that, in judgments by default, the plaintiff is to make up the whole record, and therefore it is his own till he can apply laches.

to amend below.

(h) See Richards q. t. v. Brown, 1 Doug. 114 a, and notes; Com. Dig. Amendment (E); Tidd's Pr. 110, 587 (ed. 1821).

1

The Court ordered the cause to stand over, till the Court of Common Pleas could be moved, for leave to amend the record. And afterwards, on an application to the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas at his chambers, he directed a proper *war- [ rant of attorney to be filed and entered; and thereupon a new certiorari issued, and the judgment was affirmed in the King's Bench (i).

(i) On error from C. P. to K. B., the amendment may be made either in the Court above or the Court below; Blackamore's Ca., 8 Rep. 156 a, 162 a; Wood v. Matthews, Poph. 102; Friend v. Duke of

Richmond, Hardr. 505; Hardy q. t. v.
Cathcart, 1 Marsh. 180; Dunbar v. Hitch-"
cock, Id. 382, 5 Taunt. 820, 3 M. & S.
591, S. C.; Com. Dig. Amendment (2 A,
2 B).

FRENCH

v.

CORNELYS.

*454 ]

KENDRICK V. KYNASTON.

IN assault, the latitat was of Michaelmas Term, but the de- Claim of conufendant never appeared; and this Term the plaintiff entered sance by the an appearance for the defendant, and filed common bail and Chancellor of Oxford, how left a declaration in the office. And now, before plea pleaded, made. or imparlance prayed, Blackstone exhibited a claim of conusance (k), by the Earl of Litchfield, Chancellor of the University of Oxford; stating the charters of the University, confirmed by statute 13 Eliz. (7); and alleging, that the defendant was a privileged person, as being a matriculated person, and fellow of Brazen-Nose College, where he was a master of arts and in holy orders. This claim was under seal of the Chancellor's office, and was (previous to the present motion) entered upon record, together with a letter of attorney from the Chancellor, empowering one Elderton, an attorney of this Court, to appear in his name, and demand the conusance (m). There

(k) See the form of a claim of conusance by the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, in Welles v. Traherne, Willes, 233, n. (a). During the vacancy of the office of Chancellor it may be made by the ViceChancellor; Williams v. Brickenden, 11 East, 543. A claim on behalf of the University of Cambridge is made by the ViceChancellor, as locum tenens or deputy of the Chancellor, and of the masters and scholars. See the form in Browne v. Renouard, 12 East, 12. As to conusance by the Universities, and the time and manner of claiming it, see the above cases, and Wilkins v. Shalcroft, Hardr. 188; Castle v. Lichfield, Hardr. 505; Parker v. Edwards, 1 Show. 352; Woodcock v. Brooke, Ca. temp. Hardw. 241; Leasingby v. Smith, 2 Wils. 406, where the time of claiming conusance is particularly considered, (Oxford): Case of Cambridge University, 10 Mod. 126; R. v. Agar, 5 Burr. 2823, (Cambridge); Vin. Abr. Conusance; Com. Dig. Courts (P 2, 3).

(1) C. 29: see 4 Inst. 227.

(m) It is to be observed, that the Uni

versity of Oxford has conusance of all
manner of trespasses and other offences
whatsoever, and of all other contracts,
pleas, and complaints personal (assizes and
pleas of freehold alone excepted) arising,
done, or committed within the town of Ox-
ford, &c., or elsewhere within the kingdom
of England, where the scholars or their
servants, or ministers, or any other per-
sons, who ought to have any privilege of
the said University, whom the Chancellor,
&c. shall challenge, is one of the parties.
But the University of Cambridge has conu-
sance of all personal pleas, and of all mis-
prisions within the town of Cambridge and
its suburbs (mayhem and felony only ex-
cepted), where any master and scholar or
servitor, or common minister of the said
University, shall be one of the parties.
Therefore in case of a claim by the latter
University, it must appear by affidavit,
that the cause of action, if any, arises with-
in the liberty of the University, to wit,
within the town and suburbs of the town
of Cambridge.

KENDRICK

v.

KYNASTON.

were also affidavits from the defendant himself and another person, which proved him to be, at the time of the writ sued, and at the time of making the claim, a matriculated person (n). On reading all which, and also the charter of King Henry the Eighth under the great seal, and an exemplification of the statute 13 Eliz. (which, though printed in the statute books, is only a private act) the Court granted a rule to shew cause, why the cognizance should not be allowed; and, in the mean time, all proceedings to stay (o).

(n) It should also appear by affidavit, that the party is actually resident within the University; the privilege not extending to non-resident members; Hayes v. Long, 2 Wils. 310; Browne v. Renouard, 12 East, 12. But where an affidavit described the party to be of the parish of —, in the suburbs of the city of Oxford, and marshal of the University of Oxford: and that he had been for fourteen years, and then was a common servant of the University, and called marshal of the University; it was held sufficient, though he was not expressly stated to have been resident; Thornton v. Ford, 15 East, 634: see also

R. v. Routledge, 2 Doug. 531.

(o) "The entry of the claim on the roll in the case of Kendrick v. Kynaston, in B. R. was exactly like that in Hayes v. Long, 2 Wils. 310, (which seems to be drawn from it). I was in that Court, when a rule to shew cause was made, why the claim of conusance should not be allowed; but nothing further was done, nor was the rule ever made absolute; so that whether the claim in the case of Kendrick v. Kynaston was duly made and entered or not, was never determined;" Per Wilmot, C. J., in Leasingby v. Smith, 2 Wils. 409.

room, though

BOND v. SEAWELL.
S. C. Ante, 407, 422.

[If three wit- THIS case was again argued by Willes for the plaintiff'; who nesses attest the observed, that if a testator had shewn a will made on several last sheet of a will, and the pieces of parchment rolled up, so that only the bottom should other sheets are appear to the witnesses, that would doubtless be a good attest[455] ation. That the inconvenience suggested, that the testator then in the same might substitute another sheet never seen by any witness, would be equally strong, if all the witnesses had seen it; for it was all written with his own hand, and he might change any part of it at pleasure. That the dictum relied on (in Lea and Libb, 3 Mod.) supposes, that none of the witnesses see the first sheet, which is not the present case. He also cited Wyndham_and Chetwynd, 31 Geo. 2(p), from 2 Burn's Ecclesiastical Law, but was interrupted by Lord Mansfield, who said that book was no authority, and that the case cited was ill reported to his knowledge.

they do not see them, or know that they are so,

it is a good attestation.]

Norton, Attorney-General, for the defendant, allowed, that this instrument might be good as a will, but not as a devise of lands. That the word will is never once mentioned in stat. Car. 2. The only question is, whether it has all the statutable requisites to such a devise. We say, it is not statutably attested. It is rather a question of fact than of law. I admit, that the witness need not know the number of sheets which he attests: but here he actually did know it. When he positively says, "I attested a will of one sheet only," and you produce a will of two sheets; the Court will say, "That is not the same (p) Ante, 95.

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