Trott, Thomas James, Patchway, Gloucester, out of business. May 4 at 11 at fices of Nicholas, Corn st. Bristol Vickerton, Isaac, Keyin ham, York, Shoemaker. May 4 at 3 at offices of Jackson, Imperial chrmbers, Bowlalley lane, Ki gston-upon-Huil Waldron, Wiliam, Rock, Worcester, Farmer. May 1 a 11 at offices of Corbet and Co, Church st. Kidderminster Weaver, Henry, Middlesborough, Beerhouse keeper. May 8 at 2 at offices of Dobson, Gosford st Middlesborough Wel's, George, Leeds, Agricultural Contractor. May 4 at 3 at offices of Simpson and Burrell, Albion st, Leeds West, James, Glascote, Warwick, out of business. May 4 at 3 at offices of Nevil and Atkins, Cole hill. Tamworth Weston, John Henry, Brentwood, Builder. May 5 at 3 at offices of Walls and Co, Queen Victoria st Whittaker, James Saville, Manchester, "Boot Manufacturer. May 6 at Wilkinson, Alfred. Nottingham, Wheelwright. May 6 at 12 at offices Andrews, George, Oxford s', Mangle Maker. May 8 at 11 at Inns of Court Hotel. Holborn. Ruridle and Brown, High Holborn Bailey, John, Nottingham, Auctioneer. May 8 at 12 at offices of Lees, Severn chambers, Middle pavement, Nottingham May Barker, John Wi son, Moss Side nr Manchester, out of business. 14 at 3 at offices of Boote and Edgar, Booth £t, Manchester Battersby, Richard, Tyld sley, Lancashire, Cloggar. May 11 at 11 at offices of Preston and Young, Norfolk st, Manchester; Bauer, Gilbert Lewis, Tottenham st, Tottenham et rd, Harmonium Manufacturer. May 14 at 3 at offices of Lumley and Lumley, Conduit st. 5 nd st Beer, James Edward, Liverpool, Clothier. May 14 at 2 at offices of Davie, temple, Dale st, Liverpool Betteridge, James, Malvern Wells, Worcester, Butcher. May 7 at 11 at offices of Tree and Son, High st, Worcester Blackie, Geo ge, Jrown-Tyne, Darham. Hatter. May 12 at 11.30 Breather, George. Wadsworth rd. Clapham, Pork Butcher. May 10 Button, William Frederick, Holt, Norfolk, Innkeeper. May 15 at 11 at offices of Winter and Francis, St Giles st, Norwich Campbell, Jon, Crisp st, Poplar. May 10 at 2 at offices of Shaen and Co, Bedford row, Hologra Clarke, Peter, East End rd, Gloucester, Builder. May 5 at 11 at offices of Herderson, Berkeley st, Glou ester Clay, Alfred, Sean horve, Linen, Clock Maker. May 12 at 11 at offices, Swter, Wrawby st, drigg Coulter, Robert, Chorl on-upon-Mellock, Manchester, India Rubber Manufacturer. May 7 at 11, at offices of Simpson and Heckin, Mount st, Albert sq. Manc ester Cross, William Mils, Upper st, Islington, Drarer. May 12 at 12 at offices of Punkett and Leader, St Paul's churchyard Cumming, Willm, Alnwick, Northumberland, Veterinary Surgeon. May 6 at 11 at offices of Forster and Paynter, Fenkle st. Alnwick Davies, David, Aberavon, Glamorgan, Boot Maker. May 10 at 12.30 at offices of Merchants' Association, Broad st, Bristol. Tennant and Jones, Aberavon Davies. John, Aberkwilly, Carmarthen, Boot Maker. May 12 at 10.15 at offices of Morris, Quay st, Carmarthen Doddrell, Jane, Roads terrace, Hornsey rd, Boot Dealer. May 7 at 2 at offices of Foster, Gr cechurch st Eglington, James, Kin.'s Lynn, Shoe Warehouseman. May 13 at 12 May 10 at Gibbons, William, Oxford, Shopkeeper. May 10 at 12 at offices of Bickerton, St Michael's chambers, Ship st. Oxford Greaves, Atkins, Frisby-on-the- Wreake, Leicester, Miller. 3 at offices of Freer and Co, New st, Leicester Hargreaves, J-mes Henry, Heaton, Lancaster, Contractor. 3 at offices of Mawdsley, Wood st, Bolton Harrison, John Williams, Safford, Shoe Manufacturer. at offices of Twynam, Crabbery st, Stafford Heisch, Philip Lowdell, Minto villas, Staines, Mariner. offices of Lewis, Chancery lane. Abbot, Blackfriars rd Hesketh, Walism, Barnsley, York, Blacksmith. of Rideal, Chron cle chambers, Barnsley May 10 at May 11 at 11 May 7 at 10 at May 12 at 2 a: offices Hunt, Alfred Leigh, Norwich, Commission Agent, May 12 at 12 at offices of Sadd and Linay, Theatre st, Norwich Hutchinson, Joseph, an' Thomas Morris, Manchester, Bakers. May 12 at 12 at offices of Blakeway. Deansgat, Mancer Ingram, William, Coventry, Baker. May 10 at 2 at a fics of Minster, Trinity chu chyard, Coventry Johnson, Joseph Mel, Worksop, Nottingham, Plumber. May 7 at 4 at offices of Binns, Eig Tree line, Sheffield Jones. Hugh, Great Barrow, Chester, Farmer. May 11 at 10.30 at offices of Boydell and Co, Pepper st, Chester Jones, Robert, Henllan, Denbigh, Joiner. May 11 at 2.30 at the Bull Joy, Henry Griffiths, Westbourne villas, Hartow rd, Box Book-keeper. Leese, William Smith, Ashborne, Derby, Provision Dealer. May 6 at 2 Bell Hotel, Lunn, William, jan, Salford, Lane ister, out of bu ness. May 18 at May 10 at 11 at Marsh, John, Little Yeldham, Essex, Farmer. May 11 as 11 at Rose and Crown Hotel, Sudbury. Andres ant Co, Sudbur Maw, John William, Leeds, Pickle Manu'acturer. offices of Brooke, Bond st, Leeds Middleton, Edwin Crof, River Court st, Hmmer mith, Oil Merchant. May 8 at 12 at offices of Barker. Un'on ct Millward, Daniel Bowen, Chew Mogna, Somerst, Mi lər. at offices of Miller, Whitson chambers, Nicholas st, Bristol Moffoot. Matthew Richard-on, North Shields Bot an' So D aler. May il at 2.30 at offices of Adamson, Howard s, No h Shield Murgatroyd, Thomas, Grimsby Do ks, Great Grimsby. Grocer. May May 10 at 1 8 at 11 at George Hotel, Whitef iar-gate, Kingston-upon-Hul!. Smmins and Brown, Great Grimsby Nichols, William, Brackley, Nerthampton, Farmer. May 18 at 3 at offices of Weston and Barnes, Brackley Openshaw, William Arthur Horatio, Salford, Lancaster. T baccist. May 12 at 3 at offices of Woodall and Marri tt, Norfolk si, Man chester Paget, Alfred, Leicester, Boot Factor. Mav 10 at 3 at offices of Roberts and Baker, Selborne bldgs, Mills one lae, Liestr Palmer, Henry, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staff d. Publican. May 8 at 10 at the Copeland Arms Hotel, Stoke-upon-T ent. Bagnall, Stoke-upon Trent Patchett, Benjamin, Thornbury, York, Builder. May 5 a 11 at offices of Beverley, Hustlerzate, Bradfor1 Pattison, George Fetcher, Tynemouth, Nor humberland. May 5 at 11 at offices of the Law Society, Royal arcade, Necas le-pon- lyne. Arnott and Swann, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Payne, Lind, Kingston-upon-Hull. Draper. May 7 a 3 as offices of Jackson, Imperial chambers, Bowlalley lane, Kinston-u o-Hall Perkins, Richard, Bentanut, Salep, Provision Dealer. May 0 at 12 at the Miners' Arms Hotel, Minst rley. N-waill, Bi hop's Cas le Perry, William Thomas, Weston-super-Mare, Sinrse, Plumber. May 10 at 12 at the Grand Hotel, Broad st, Bristol. Davies, Westonsuper-Mare Reynolds, Peter, Manchester, Egg and Butter Merchant. May 12 at 2 at offices of Cobett and Co, Brown st, Manch-str Risworth, James, Sherburn, York, Farmer. May 5 at 3 at offices of Crumbie, Stonegate, York Rogers George Wiliam, Crewe, Chester, Fancy Goods Dailer. May 13 at 11 at offices of Hill, Market st, Crewe Royse, John Gibson, Manchester, Boot Dealer. May 7 at 3 at offices of Vaughan and Co, Princess st, Manchester. Farrington, Minches ter Salkind, Solomon, Norwich, Watch Maker. May 14 at 12 at offices of Sadd and Linay, Theatre st, Norwich Savory, Robert Dogget, Hunstanton, St Edmunds, Norfolk, Corn Sheppard. George, Portsmouth, Bootmaker. May 13 at 12 at offices of Smith, Henry, Ardwick, out of business. May 10 at 11 at New Boar's Southern, George, Altrincham, Chester, Ironmonger. May 12 at 3 at offices of Hinde and Co, Mount st, A bert sq, Manch-s.er. N cholls and Co, Altrincham Storer, Henry, Birmingham, Draper. May 10 at 3 at offices of East, Temple st, Birmingham Straughn, John, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Licensed Vietu ller. May 6 at 2 at offices of Hoyle and Co, Collingwood st, Newcastle-on-Tyne Sutcliffe, Joseph Thomas, Shetheld, Wate maker. May 10 a 13 at offices of Allen, Fig Tree lane, She neld Sykes, Joseph, William Henry Sykes, and Wright Sykes, Marsden, near Huddersfield, Waste D al-r. May 10 at 3 at offices of Learoyd and Co, Buxton rd, Huddersfield Tattersall, Joseph, Manchester, Butcher. Mav 6 at 11 at the Waggon and Horses, Southga e, Manchester. Hintliff, Manchester Taylor, John, Kendal, Westmoreland, Builder. May 12 at 11 at offices of Dobson, Finkle et, Kendal Thomson, Francis Christie, Stre ford, Manches er, Draper. May 13 at 3 at offices of Nuttall and Son, John Dalton st, Manchester Thornton, Thomas, Salisbury, Wilts, Carpenter. May 12 at 11 at offiees of Lee and Co, Chipper lane, Salisbury Walpole, Thomas, Sudbury, Suffolk, Bot Maker. May 11 at 3 at offices of Andrewes and Co, Friars st, Sudbury Watts, Joseph Ki g, Oxiord, Raker. May 11 at 12 at offices of Bickerton, St Michae.'s chambers, Ship st. Oxford Wild, James, and Emma Wild, Accrington. May 13 at 3 at the Commercial Inn, Blackburn rd, Accrington. Whalley, Accrington Wili ams, Edward, Widemarsh, Hereford, Market Gardener. May 10 at 10.30 at offices of James and Bodenham, St Peter st, Hereford Williams, Joseph, Smethwick, Stafford, out of business. May 14 at 11 at offices of Shakespeare, Church st, Oldbury Willis, Robert Frederick, Birmingham, Fruiterer. May 12 at 2 at offices of Burton, Union passage, Birmingham Windsor, North Curry, Somerset, Corn Factor. May 10 at 11 at offices of Trenchard and Co, Hammet st. Taunton May 5 at 11. 30 Winter. Alfred, Palace rd, Upper Norwood, Builder. at offices of Barnard and Co, Lincoln's inn fields Withers, Caroline, Romsey, Southampton, Miller. May 10 at 3 at offices of Bell, Portland st, Southampton Wright, George Samuel, Great Ellingham, Norfolk, Farmer. May 12 at 3 at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Cooper and Norgate, East Dereham Yardley, Thomas William, Swadlincote, Stafford, Builder. May 5 at 12 at offices of East, Temple st, Birmingham Young, Joseph, Lynton rd, Hornsey, Coach Builder. May 6 at 3 at the Mitre Tavern, Mitre court, Fleet st. Staniland, Hare pl, Fleet st SCHWEITZER'S COCOATINA, Anti-Dyspeptic Cocoa or Chocolate Powder. Guaranteed Pure Soluble Cocoa of the Finest Quality, with the excess of fat extracted. The Faculty pronounce it "the most nutritious, perfectly digestible beverage for Breakfast, Luncheon, or Supper, and invaluable for Invalids and Children." Highly commended by the entire Medical Press. Being without sugar, spice, or other admixture, it suits all palates, keeps better in all climates, and is four times the strength of cocoas THICKENED yet WEAKENED with starch, &c., and is REALITY CHEAPER than such Mixtures. Made instantaneously with boiling water, a tea roonful to a Breakfast Cup, costing less than a halfpenny. COCOATINA A LA VANILLE is the most delicate, digestible, cheapest Vanilla Chocolate, and may be taken when richer chocolate is prohibited. In tin packets at 1s. 6d., 3s., 5s. 6d., &c., by Choists and Grocers. H. SCHWEITZER & CO., 10, Adam-street, ondon, W.C. No. O. 13, SERJEANTS' INN, FLEET STREET. -To be LET on LEASE, or SOLD, the Freehold, handsome, stone-fronted Building formerly the Office for the Registration of Joint Stock Companies. It is substantially built, and well-arranged for offices, chambers, or a public institution. The principal entrance is in Serjeants'-inn, which is immediately accessible from Fleet-street and If the Temple, and there is also an entrance from a street in the rear. desired a large portion of the purchase money may remain on mortgageupon advantageous terms.-For further particulars apply to Messrs. HOWELL & BROOKS, 8, John-street, Adelphi, W.C. F1 REEHOLD GROUND-RENTS.-City of London. -The Commissioners of Sewers of the City of London will meet in the Guildhall of the said City on Tuesday, the 25th of May, 1889, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, to receive TENDERS for the PURCHASE of valuable FREEHOLD GROUND-RENTS and REVERSIONS of PREMISES in the Poultry, let on building leases having abat 80 years unexpired, viz :-No. 33, at a ground-rent of £675 per annum; Nos. 34, 35, at a ground-rent of £1,350 per annum; Nos. 35, 37, at a ground-rent of £1,165 per annum. Particulars and plans of the premises may be had at this office, together with the conditions of sale. Tenders must be sealed, endorsed outside "Tender for Freehold Ground-rent, No, 33, Poultry," &c. (stating the premises as the case may be), and be addressed to the undersigned, at this office, and must be delivered before 12 o'clock on the said day of treaty. The Commissioners do not bind themselves to accept the highest or any tender. Parties sending in proposals must attend, personally or by a duly authorized agent, at half-past 12 o'clock on the said day, and be then prepared (if their tender be accepted) to pay the required deposit of 10 per cent. on the purchase money and to execute an agreement for the completion of the purchase agreeably to the conditions of sale. HENRY BLAKE, Principal Clerk. Sewers Office, Guildhall, April, 1880. ST. GEORGE'S-IN-THE-EAST, near Wellclose-square. Valuable Leasehold Premises, being Nos. 18, 20, 22, and 24, Pell-street, and Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Thomas-place, the whole forming a compact estate, let to weekly tenants, and producing a rental of about £218 per annum. MR. WALTER KNIGHT will sell the above VALUABLE PROPERTY by AUCTION, at the MARI, Tokenhouse-yard, on WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, at TWO p.m. Particulars and conditions of sale of Messrs. ALLEN & SON, 17, Carlisle-street, Soho-square, and at the Auction Offices, 104, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, W. To Capitalists, Speculators, Builders, and others.-A choice Building Estate of about two acres, situate in the parish of Kensington, at the corner of Blyth-lane and the high road to Hammersmith-broadway, within a short distance of the West Kensington Junction, together with the spacious residence known as Denham-lodge; also a cottage, with stabling, garden, &c., the whole forming a fine residential estate, or for building purposes, out of which can be created large ground-rents. MR. WALTER KNIGHT is instructed to SELL by AUCTION, at the MART, on WEDNESDAY, the 19th of MAY, at TWO p.m., the above valuable COPYHOLD ESTATE, equal to Freehold. Particulars, with plan, can be obtained at the Auction and Estate Offices, 104, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury-square, W.C. VALUABLE REVERSIONS. MR. Pall-mall) [R. ROBINS (of 5, Waterloo-place, Pall-ma II) FREEHOLD cr LEASEHOLD. Interest 5 per cent. No commission required.-Send full particulars to Messrs. HUMBERT & SONE, 8, St. James's-street, S.W. Снам HAMBERS to LET.-Second Floor, 3, Lancasterplace, Strand. Bed, sitting, and dressing rooms, with w.c. en suite. Several excellent fittings if required by tenant.-Apply to Mr. THURGOOD, Lonsdale Chambers, Chanc.ery-lane. HURGOOD & CO., Estate and Land Agents Surveyors and Auctioneers, Lonsdale Chambers, 27, Chancery. lane, W.C., hold PERIODICAL SALES of Property, at the MART, the Second Tuesday in each month. Railway, School Board, Corporation, Beard of Works, and other Compensations conducted. Valuations for Probate, Mortgages, &c. Estates managed. A scale of charges upon application. MESSRS. DEBENHAM, TEWSON & FARMER'S LIST of ESTATES and HOUSES to be SOLD or LET, including Landed Estates, Town and Country Residences, Hunting and Shooting Quarters, Farms, Ground Rents, Rent Charges, House Property and Investments generally, is published on the first day of each month, and may be obtained, free of charge, at their offices, 80, Cheapside, E C, or will be sent by post in return for two stamps.-Particulars for inser ion should be received not later than four days previous to the end the preceding month. E.C., on FRIDAY, MAY 21, at ONE for TWO o'clock precisely, in Messrs. BOOTY & BAYLIFFE, Solicitors, 1, Raymond-buildings, Messrs. COLLYER-BRISTOW, WITHERS, & RUSSELL, Soliciters, at the Mart; and of Mr. ROBINS. The valuable Advowson and next and perpetual right of presentation to the Rectory of Rattlesden, West Suffolk, five miles from Stowmarket, and nine miles from Bury St. Edmund's, subject to the lifeof the incumbent, the Rev. J. Barney, who is now in his 69th year. The rectory is close to the church, and has stabling, outbuildings, gardens, grounds, and 41 acres of glebe land attached to it. The church is a handsome structure, and has a peal of five bells. The population is under 1,200. Total yearly income from great and small tithes, extending over upwards of 3,200 acres, about £900, MESSRS, DEBENHAM, TEWSON, FARMER, & BRIDGEWATER will SELL the above, at the MART, on TUESDAY, JUNE 1, at TWɔ. Particulars of Messrs. POLLOCK & CO., Solicitors, 63, Lincoln's-in-fields; and of the Auctioneers, 80, Cheapside. "ONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW" asks what solicitors are to do under circumstances such as he relates with regard to summonses for time under the new provision as to consents. It appears that, after waiting until the last day but one, he wrote to the opposite side for their consent to an extension of time. Not receiving a reply up to three o'clock on the last day (only an hour before the offices closed), he issued the summons. But while the clerk was absent on this errand, the consent arrived, delivered by hand, and when the summons came to be heard the master indorsed " no order," the result being to saddle the applicant with costs. We may suggest that, under such circumstances, it may be advisable for solici tors, when writing to the opposite side, to limit a reasonable time within which a reply should be received, in order to prevent the issue of a summons. If this precaution is taken, probably the "discretion of the taxing-master" will be favourably influenced. A CORRESPONDENT calls attention to what appears to be a somewhat serious matter for solicitors who have constantly to attend at the Central Office, in order to inspect the record of appearances and other proceedings in actions. It appears that the books containing these records are sent away from the office to be bound, although they may be of very recent date and in constant use, and our correspondent lost a day through having to go to the binders' premises to inspect the record which ought to have been found at the Central Office. We believe that when the chancery records were with the Clerks of Records and Writs in Chancerylane the records never left the premises, a binder being kept continually at work upon them in a room appro priated for the purpose; and it must have been within the experience of many of our readers to have inspected a record while in the hands of this binder. There seems to be no reason why a like course should not be followed with regard to all the records in the Central Office, and it is certainly undesirable that these documents should be sent to places where they may run considerable risk of accidental destruction. While we are upon the subject, we may express a hope that before long arrangements will be made for executing within the building all the printing required by the various offices. The amount of printing required is now so great that a staff of compositors might be kept employed, and a considerable saving effected to the public service. A DAILY CONTEMPORARY has vouchsafed a very confident opinion that, under the provisions of the Judicature Acts, the present Master of the Rolls is disqualified from sitting in the House of Commons. It may be worth while to see what ground there is for this statement. The Judicature Act, 1873, by section 9, enacted that "No judge of either of the said courts" [i.e., the High Court or Court of Appeal] "shall be capable of being elected to, or of sitting in, the House of Commons"; but by section 11" every existing judge, who is by this Act made a judge of the High Court of Justice shall, as to tenure of office, rank, title, salary, pension, patronage, and powers of appointment or dismissal, and all other privileges and disqualifications, remain in the same condition as if this Act had not passed; and subject to the change effected in their jurisdiction and duties by or in pursuance of the provisions of this Act, each of the said existing judges shall be capable of performing, and liable to perform, all duties which he would have been capable of performing, or liable to perform in pursue ance of any Act of Parliament, law, or custom if this Act had not passed." By section 100 "existing" means existing at the time appointed for the commencement of the Act. Section 9 of the Act of 1873 was repealed and re-enacted by the Act of 1875 (section 5,) which, by section 1, is to be construed as one with the Act of 1873. At the time of the commencement of that Act the present Master of the Rolls was an existing judge by the Act made a judge of the High Court of Justice, and therefore remained in the same condition as to "privileges and disqualifications" as if the Act had not passed. The capacity to be elected to and to sit in the House of Commons, being an exception to a disqualification, is plainly within the proper meaning of the word "privilege." The question which remains is, therefore, whether the generality of the provision of section 11 of the Act of 1873 is limited by the special provision of section 5 of the Act of 1875. As we read it, the effect of the first-mentioned section is absolutely to remove the existing judges from the operation of the Judicature Act as regards certain matters, including privileges and disqualifications; and in effect to restrict the "judge" referred to in section 9 to "future judge;" and it is to observed, in confirmation of this view, that in section 14 the same term-" judge of the High Court of Justice" is plainly used in reference, exclusively, to future judges (see the marginal note.) The question of the propriety of the proposed candidature is a wholly different and more doubtful one. THE DEATH is announced of a member of the profession better known in sporting than in legal circles-Mr. William Sheward Cartwright, of Newport, Monmouthshire. Mr. Cartwright was articled in the city of Hereford in the year 1829, and was admitted a solicitor in 1834. He subsequently settled at Newport, and practised there for upwards of thirty years, but in 1866 finally retired from practice. Mr. Cartwright has been well known as an owner of racehorses since about the year 1850. He won the Derby in 1874 with George Frederick, but last year disposed of the whole of his racing stud with the exception of two horses. THE PARLIAMENTARY OATH. NEITHER the Select Committee which has been appointed to inquire into Mr. Bradlaugh's case, nor the House of Commons itself, has any power to relax the conditions imposed by the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, and the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868. Except in the one debateable point, those statutes are drawn in unmistakable language. The Act of 1866, after prescribing a form of oath for which the form prescribed in the Act of 1868 is substituted, and ending with the formula, "So help me, God," enacts by section 4 that "every person of the persuasion called Quakers, and every other person for the time being by law permitted to make a solemn affirmation or declaration instead of taking an oath, may, instead of taking and subscribing the oath, make and subscribe a solemn affirmation in the form of the oath, . . substituting the words 'solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm' for the word 'swear,' and omitting the words 'So help me, God.'" Then by section 5 it is enacted that "if any member of the House of Commons votes as such in the said House, or sits during any debate after the Speaker has been chosen, without having made and subscribed the oath, he shall be subject to "a penalty of five hundred pounds," to be recovered by "action in one of her Majesty's superior courts at Westminster," and his seat shall be vacated as if he were dead. The Act of 1868, by section 2, prescribes the following" oath of allegiance":— I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Victoria, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me, God. By section 8 the above form "shall be deemed to be substituted. in the case of the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, for the form of the oath thereby prescribed. By section 11, "when an oath is required to be taken under this Act, every person for the time being by law permitted to make a solemn affirmation," &c., may make such affirmation instead of the oath, and by section 14 "nothing in this Act shall affect" (inter multos alios) "the Clerical Subscription Act, 1865, or the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, except in relation to the form of oath in manner herein before mentioned." Mr. Bradlaugh, it is understood, wishes to bring himself within the exception of section 4 of the Act of 1866 as being one of the "other persons," not being Quakers, "for the time being by law permitted to make a solemn affirmation or declaration." Now, it is to be observed in the first place that the statute contains no express reference to the series of Acts from 3 & 4 Will. 4, c. 29 to 33 & 34 Vict. c. 49, downwards, which were passed to enable affirmations to be made by witnesses, or to the Act 30 & 31 Vict. c. 35, which was passed to allow jurors to affirm instead of swear, and which contains no words applicable to persons having no religious belief. But we think it may be taken as a reasonable intend ment that these Acts are the "law for the time being " referred to, and that if Mr. Bradlaugh can bring himself within them, or any of them, he may safely affirm under the Parliamentary Caths Act. That two of the Acts-32 & 33 Vict. c. 68, and 33 & 34 Vict. c. 49-are later in date than both the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, and the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868, makes no difference. The Legislature had clearly met that difficulty by the use of the words "for the time being "-a not uncommon formula in modern statutes. But Mr. Bradlaugh not being of the persuasion called Quakers, is he one of the other persons by law permitted to affirm? In other words, is the rule "ejusdem generis too strong for him? Here there is very great room for doubt. The rule itself has led more often than not to injustice, but viewed as a rule of construction it is far too firmly established to be departed from. (See the numerous cases collected in Maxwell on Statutes, pp. 297-302.). True it is that in the greater number of cases the enumerated particulars have been many. (See, for instance, Sandeman v. Breach, 7 B. & C. 96, in which it was held that the words "tradesman, artificer, workman, labourer, or other person whatsoever" did not include a coach proprietor), but in Williams v. Golding (14 W. R. 60, L. R. 1 C. P. 69), it was held that the words "district surveyor, or other person" included only persons having an official duty, and in Watson v. Martin (34 L. J. M. Č. 50), that the words "at or with any table or instrument of gaming" did not include halfpence used for tossing for money, a decision significantly got rid of by 31 & 32 Vict. c. 52, s. 3. It may be well to compare the Act 32 & 33 Vict. c. 68 by which persons having no religious belief affirm in a court of justice with the Act 17 & 18 Vict. c. 125, s. 20 (the Common Law Procedure Act, 1854), which provides for conscientious objectors. The formula provided by the Act of 1854 is I, A. B., do solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare that the taking an oath is according to my religious belief unlawful, and I do also solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare, &c. The formula provided by 32 & 33. Vict. c. 68 is I solemnly promise and declare that the evidence by me given to the court shall be the truth, and nothing but the truth. This promise is to be made "if the presiding judge is satisfied that the taking of an oath would have no binding effect" on the objector's conscience. It might be objected that this statute is so obviously passed alio intuitu that it can be in no way be prayed in aid of the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, but it will be observed that the formula need not be used-the Act of 1866 providing its own formula (since superseded by the Act of 1868), and that the machinery of the mind of the presiding judge being brought to bear may be disregarded. Mr. Bradlaugh appears to be well within the statute if he be one of the "other persons." On the whole, we incline to think that he is not one of the other persons designated by the Act of 1866, because we think the canon of construction to which we have referred above would press too strongly against his case. But yet a further question remains. The Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, indeed, designates Quakers, but the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868, is free from that objection. The words of section 8 are simply," When an oath is required to be taken under this Act, every person for the time being by law permitted, &c., may affirm," &c. If Mr. Bradlaugh can bring himself within this latter Act he is safe enough. Is, then, the parlia mentary oath "required to be taken" under the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868? In one sense, no doubt, it is. The words of section 8 are "the form of the oath under this Act" shall be deemed to be substituted for the form of the oath under the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866. But we think it would be mere playing with words to say that the oath is “required" by the Act of 1868. Upon all grounds, therefore, we incline to think that Mr. Bradlaugh is disqualified. His case is a casus omissus, like that of the juror under 30 & 31 Vict. c. 35, already referred to, which only an Act of Parliament can remedy. It is a casus omissus which we should expect to find in a series of statutes passed to remedy religious grievances, each one of which advances an infinitesimal step beyond its predecessor. THE JUDICIAL STATISTICS. REFORMATORIES AND CRIMINAL LUNATICS. THE number of certified reformatory schools in England and Wales in 1877-8 was 54, or one more than in the preceding year, a new school for girls having been opened at Parson's Green, London. The number of offenders committed to these schools in the year ended 29th of September, 1878, was 1,584, or 1,302 males, and the 282 females; showing an increase of 113 as compared with the total number for 1876-7, and making the aggregate commitments to reformatories since passing of the Act 17 & 18 Vict. c. 86, to amount to 27,664—viz., 22,527 males, and 5,137 females. Of the 1,584 offenders committed in 1877-8, the terms of detention were as follows:-2 years, 43, 2-3 years, 221; 3-4 years, 286; 4-5 years, 1,034. Of the whole number, 231 were committed after conviction or indictment, and 1,533, or 85 4 per cent. upon summary conviction. At the commencement of the year there were 4,779 offenders under detention, and during the year, as we have seen, 1,584 were committed, while 7 were received from other certified reformatory schools, and 28 from prison after confinement for refractory conduct, &c.; 11 were re-admitted after absconding the previous year, and 89 returned from licence, &c.—making 6,498 as the total number under detention during the year. Of these, 114 were discharged by order from the Secretary of State; 528 were discharged on completion of term; 864 were permitted out on licence, &c.; 30 absconded and were not retaken; 36 were removed to prison for refractory conduct; 12 were sent to other certified reformatory schools; and 31 died; leaving 4,883 under detention at the end of the year. The state of instruction of the offenders committted was as follows:-610 could neither read nor write; 830 could read or read and write imperfectly; 140 could read and write well; 3 possessed superior education; and the intellectual condition of 1 could not be ascertained. The total amount payable by her Majesty's Treasury on account of these schools for the year was £72,751 15s. 8d., being an increase upon the sum for the previous year of £3,210 10s. 11d.; and the amount recovered from parents was £5,697 5s. 4d., or £272 7s. 8d. less than in 1876-7. The commitments under the Middlesex Industrial Schools Acts to the school at Feltham during the year ended September 29, 1878, amounted to 49, against 54 in the preceding year, making, with 140 commitments under 29 & 30 Vict. c. 118, a total of 189, against 273 in 1876-7. The number in the school at the commencement of the year was 129, making, with the 49 committed, 16 returned from licence, and 1 received from prison after confinement for refractory conduct, 195 as the total number under detention during the year, exclusive of those under the Industrial Schools Act. Of these, 19 were discharged by order of the Secretary of State, 22 on completion of term of detention, 2 permitted out on licence under clause 3 of the amended Act, and 18 on licence or on service, leaving 134 under detention at the end of the year. The gross cost per head per annum was £23 16s. 2d., and the total amount recovered from parents was £216 19s. 9d. There were, in 1877-8, 94 industrial schools certified under the Act of 29 & 30 Vict. c. 118, in which children were detained, the names of five new ones appearing for the first time in the tables. These are the Working Boys' Home at Hereford, the ship Mount Edgcumbe at | Saltash, the ship Clio in the Menai Straits, one at Northumberland-terrace, Liverpool, for girls, and the Shibden, for boys, at Halifax. Two were discontinued. The number under detention at the beginning of the year was 8,934; 2,620 were committed during the year; 13 were re-admitted after absconding; 131 were received from reformatories or other industrial schools; and 89 returned from leave of absence, &c.; making 11,787 under detention during the year. Of these, 160 were removed to other schools; 1,386 were discharged; 76 died; 29 absconded and were not retaken; and 586 went out on licence, leave of absence, or service; leaving 9,550 as the number in the schools at the end of the The total costs of the children amounted to year. £180,976, as against £159,270 in 1877; and the amounts recovered from parents in the two years respectively were £11,208 and £10,209. The number of criminal lunatics under detention at the various asylums, hospitals, and licensed houses during the year ended September 29, 1878, was 867, against 889 in 1876-7. They were distributed as follows:-Broadmoor, 526; county asylums, 263; city and borough asylums, 16; hospitals, 2; metropolitan licensed houses, 2; provincial licensed houses, 58. Under the Act of 30 Vict. c. 12, pursuant to which criminal lunatics whose term of punishment has expired are not afterwards to be considered as criminals, but are to be treated as pauper lunatics, 124 ceased during the year to be considered as criminals, and were removed or discharged; 25 died; 3 escaped; 24 were removed or discharged on becoming sane; 11 were removed sane for trial or imprisonment; and 10 were removed to other asylums, leaving at the end of the year 670 under detention as criminal lunatics. The offences with which they have been charged were in 240 cases murder, in 5 concealment of birth and infanticide, in 158 manslaughter and attempts to murder, in 34 rape, assault, and unnatural crimes, in 135 larceny and petty theft, in 43 burglary and housebreaking, in 58 arson and other malicious offences, in 23 vagrancy, and in 171 other miscellaneous crimes. Of the whole number, 181 had been found insane, 288 acquitted insane, 204 removed by Home Secinsane after committal, 192 so retary's warrant as removed as insane after trial, and 2 committed as dangerous by justices under 1 & 2 Vict. c. 14. The total expenses amounted to £32,983, chargeable as follows:-County rates, £3,197; borough rates or funds, £451; union or parish rates, £10,140; public revenues, The average cost £17,657; and private funds, £1,538. The per head in the State Asylum at Broadmoor was £53 13s. 7d., at the 46 county lunatic asylums in which criminal lunatics were confined during the year, £265s. 5d., lowest average cost per head for the county asylums and at 7 city and borough asylums £32 Os. 3d. was £20 10s. 2d. for Dorsetshire, and the highest £36 10s. for Bedfordshire. At the city and borough asylums the lowest average cost per head was in the case of BirIn licensed mingham, where it amounted to £23 8s. houses a few cases remain at high rates paid from private funds. Mr. Charles Morton, W.S., Edinburgh, has been appointed Crown Agent for Scotland. On the 4th inst., Sidney Toppin, 9, Cloak-lane, Cannonstreet, solicitor, appeared before Mr. Vaughan, to a summons charging him with wilful and corrupt perjury. The alleged perjury was contained in an affidavit sworn by the defendant in connection with some bankruptcy proceedings, to the effect that Mr. Pooley, the bankrupt, was indebted to him in the sum of £75, and that he had no security for that amount. It was alleged, on behalf of the prosecution, that the defendant had sold the debt to the liquidator of the Metropolitan Bank, and received a cheque for the amount, and evidence was called to show that the amount of the debt had been offered to the defendant, and refused, before adjudication was asked for. Mr. Vaughan committed the defendant for trial, accepting two sureties in £25 for his appearance. |