although, in a few months of the year, he had purchased £1,455 worth of adhesive stamps, which are only used as supplementary to the embossed stamps. The amount of embossed stamps used in the year was only £150 worth, while the adhesive stamps which he had purchased amounted to £3,600. It is therefore supposed that many thousand pounds' worth of embossed stamps must have been forged yearly. Already £1,500 worth have been identified as having been purchased from the prisoner. It is considered remarkable that the fraud should have escaped discovery so long. The prisoner was committed for trial, bail being refused. SALES OF ENSUING WEEK. August 3.-Messrs. EDWIN FOX & BOUSFIELD, at the Mart, LONDON GAZETTES. Bankrupts. FRIDAY, July 22, 1881. Under the Bankruptcy Act, 1869. Creditors must forward their proofs of debts to the Registrar. Davies, Evan, May's bldgs, St Martin's lane. Pet July 18. Murray. Reid, Thomas, Warwick st, Regent st, Engraver. Pet July 20 To Surrender in the Country. Bailey, William, Wilsden, Bradford, Coal Merchant. Pet July 19. Lee. Bradford, Aug 5 at 12 Pet July 18. Moore. Howe, Thomas Heslope, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Gent. Pet July 13. Spence, Thomas, West Hartlepool, Durham, Butcher. Pet July 19. Stephens, Thomas Trinn, Bristol, Brewer. Pet July 20. Harley. Trahar, William Henry, Devonport, Captain in her Majesty's At the Manchester Assizes, Joseph Lowe, a member of the firm of Potter & Lowe, solicitors, was charged, before Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, with stealing or concealing certain title deeds relating to six shops in Rochester-road, Manchester, which were the property of a builder named O'Brien, and upon the security of which James Addison and William Openshaw had advanced £1,800 of trust money, which was given by them to Lowe to be forwarded to O'Brien. The prisoner was also charged with forging a subsequent deed purporting to be signed by O'Brien relating to the same transactions. Mr. Addison, Q. C., and Mr. Nash conducted the case for the prosecution; Mr. Hopwood, Q.C., and Mr. Blair defended the prisoner. It appeared that Lowe made advances to O'Brien for the purposes of his building operations in the course of the year 1876. In December of that year Addison and Openshaw, who had trust funds to invest and were clients of Lowe, were taken by him over the Rochester-road property, and agreed to advance £1,800 upon it, a cheque for which amount was subsequently given to Lowe, and then, according to Addison's evidence, a mortgage, dated the 22nd of December, 1876, duly executed on parchment by O'Brien, was received by them, along with the bundle of title deeds in Lowe's office, and placed in Addison's own safe. The deeds were subsequently given to Lowe to be used in a chancery suit, and in the end were taken by Addison from Lowe's brother. Addison then found that the original parchment mortgage, which he said he had read in 1876, had disappeared, and in its place there was a paper mortgage unstamped, but bearing O'Brien's signature, of date January 1, 1879. The payments of interest which had been made by Lowe stopped in 1879, and when Addison complained that he had not got his original mortgage, he was told by Lowe he must be satisfied with what he had. The defence suggested was that the original parchment deed never existed, and evidence was given to show that no trace of it was to be found in the business books of the firm of Potter & Lowe. O'Brien gave evidence that he had no recollection of signing the parchment deed, but he admitted in cross-examination that he did not remember signing| the paper deed of 1879, though he believed the signature was his. It appeared in the course of the case that between December, 1876, and January, 1879, Lowe had obtained a mortgage (in which no mention was made of a prior in- Cooper, Thomas Henry, Featherstone bidgs, Holborn, Accountant. cumbrance) to Reid and Kenyon for £2,000, and a second mortgage to secure £600 due by O'Brien to a Mr. Haigh; and, further, that the two chief rents included in the mortgage of 1876 had been sold for £180. The Lord Chief Justice carefully summed up the case to the jury, who subsequently returned a verdict of Guilty. The learned judge sentenced him to five years' penal servitude. Under the Bankruptcy Act, 1869. To Surrender in London. Fennell, Richard Thomas, Barking rd, Essex, Commercial Clerk. To Surrender in the Country. Green, Charles Edward, Gt Yarmouth, Painter. Worlledge. Gt Yarmouth, Aug 13 at 12 Pet July 23. Pet July 16. July 13 BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. July 22. Liquidations by Arrangement. FIRST MEETINGS OF CREDITORS. FRIDAY, July 22, 1881. Adams, Samuel Enoch, Belvoir rd, Lordship lane, Builder. Aug 19 at 3 at Inns of Court Hotel, High Holborn. Marsden and Wilson, Old Cavendish st Alwen, John, Wordsley, Stafford, Farmer. Aug 2 at 3 at offices of Homfray and Holberton, High st, Brierley hill Baggley, Daniel, Silverdale, Stafford, Miner. Aug 4 at 11 at offices of Barker, Richard, New Malton, York, Horse Dealer. Aug 3 at 11 at Barnett, Louis, Birmingham, Furniture Dealer. Aug 4 at 11 at offices of Burn and Co, Temple st, Birmingham Beech, William, jun, Tunstall. Stafford, Joiner, Aug 5 at 3 at offices Aug 2 at 1 at offices of Hoyle and Co, Burdon bldgs, Grainger st West, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Aug 12 at 2 at Bond, Walter, Preston, Lancaster, Fancy Stationer. Brown, John, Wroot, Lincoln, Farmer. Aug 5 at 12 at Elephant Buckley, Woodhead, Huddersfield, Printer. August 4 at 11 at offices Buncombe, John Clarke, Bruton, Somerset, Ironmonger. July 30 at 12.30 at High st, Bruton. Russ Burrell, John Samuel, Lanchester, Durham, Grocer. August 4 st 12 at offices of Holmes and Co, Pilgrim st, Newcastle upon Tyne Bushell, Edmund, Faversham, Kent, Carpenter. Angast 3 at 3 at the Ship Hotel, Faversham. Norman, Chatham August 4 at 11.30 at Carr, Joseph, Holgate, York, Colliery Agent. August 4 at 12 at offices of Heaton and Son, Brickhouse st, Burslem Cheetham, George Middleton Salford, Lancaster, Baker. August 4 at 3 at the Spread Eagle Hotel, Corporation st, Manchester. Walker, Manchester Chivers, James, Bristol, Haulier. July 30 at 12 at offices of Williams Andrews, Nicholas st, Bristol. Ayre, Bristol Coles, Charles Henry, Lansdowne rd, Dalston, Baker. August 3 at 2 at the Inns of Court Hotel. Beswick, Bedford row Cook, John, Lever st, St Luke's, Boot Manufacturer. July 30 at 11 at the Unicorn Tavern, Vivian rd, Roman rd. Hicks, Grove rd, Victoria Park Cook, Matthew, Gateshead, Durham, out of business. August 3 at 2 at offices of Aitchison, Collingwood st, Newcastle upon Tyne Corder, John George, Lynton rd, Bermondsey, Coal Merchant, July 30 at 10 at offices of Bordman and Co, Victoria House, Trinity st, Southwark Crookhorn, Charles, Bradbury st, Kingsland, Cab Proprietor. Aug 9 at 2 at offices of Mackreth, New Broad st Crow, George, Canterbury, Carpenter. Aug 3 at 12 at offices of Mercer, High st, Canterbury Curtis, George, Ipswich, Suffolk, Grocer. Aug 4 at 11 at offices of Dand, Thomas, Teignmouth, Devon, Engineer. Aug 4 at 11 at Fitzpatrick, James, Southport, Lancaster, Grocer. Aug 5 at 3 at offices of Threlfall, London st, Southport Foster, Benjamin Edwin, Lansdowne rd, Clapham, out of business. Aug 9 at 2 at Guildhall Tavern, Gresham st. Gray, Ludgate hill Froggatt, Eliza Howard, Walsall, Stafford, Grocer. Aug 3 at 11 at Queen's Hotel. Stephenson pl, Birmingham. Cramp Frost, Edgar, Hornsey rd, Pastrycook. Aug 8 at 2 at Martin's lane, Cannon st. Hogan and Hughes Dealer. Gelson, William, Wolstanton, Suffolk, Earthenware Goodwin, Sampson, Birmingham, Grocer. Aug 12 at 3 at offices of Gottschalk, Gustavus, Watling st, of no occupation. Aug 12 at 12 at offices of Lawrance and Co, Old Jewry chmbrs Griffiths, Frederick Ezekiel, Llanelly, Carmarthen, Corn Merchant. July 30 at 11 at offices of Howell, Stepney st, Llanelly Hainsworth, Joseph, and Samuel Hainsworth, Bradford, York, Blacksmiths. Aug 4 at 3 at the Creditors' Association, Goodwin st, Bradford Halford, Henry, West Smethwick, Stafford, Coal Merchant. Aug 11 at 11 at offices of Taylor, Colmore row, Birmingham Hall, Robert, Bury, Lancaster, Joiner. Aug 3 at 3 at offices of Grundy, Union st, Bury Harris, John Rosser, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Grocer. Aug 3 at 12 at offices of Beddoe, Victoria st, Merthyr Tydfil Hawkes, Samuel. Upper North st, Poplar, Baker. July 29 at 11 at 49, Bromley st, Commercial rd East Henderson, Andrew, Nottingham, Upholsterer. Aug 5 at 3 at offices Assembly Rooms, Low pavement, Nottingham. Clifton, Notting ham Hester, William, and Thomas John Hester, Bride court, Fleet st, Printers' Brokers. Aug 4 at 11 at offices of Schultz and Son, South sq, Gray's inn Hickinbotham, Trussell, and Edmond Hickinbotham, Upper St. Hill, George, Kirby Moorside, York, Draper. Aug 6 at 11 at North Hird, Robert Smith, Bradford, Temperance Hotel Keeper. Ang 3 at 11 at offices of Hutchinson and Son, Piccadilly chbrs, Piccadilly, Bradford Hoare, Henry, Clearwell Meend, nr Coleford, Gloucester, Collier. Holliday, John Nicholson, Sunderland, Engineer. Aug 3 at 11 at Ivory, Henry Allsopp, Victoria park rd, Pianoforte Manufacturer. Jackson, Thomas, Bolton, Ironfounder. Aug 8 at 3 at offices of Hall, Acresfield, Bolton Jennings, James, Birmingham, Wine Merchant. Aug 5 at 12 at Acorn Hotel, Temple st, Birmingham. Hawkes and Weekes, Birmingham Keen, Matthew, Leicester, Grocer. Aug 5 at 3 at offices of Buckby, Millstone lane, Leicester Keene, John Williams, Langley, Worcester, Licensed Victualler. Aug 2 at 12 at offices of Hartill, Birmingham st, Oldbury Lancashire, John, Farnham, Surrey, Railway Goods Manager. Aug 9 at 12 at Board Room, Townhall, Farnham Lister, Joel, Sheffield, Cutlery Manufacturer, Aug 4 at 2 at the Law Society's Rooms, Aldine court, High st, Sheffield. Allen, Sheffield Longworth, Edward, Huddersfield, Woollen Manufacturer. Aug 11 at 11 at offices of Whitley, New st, Huddersfield Longworth, James, Huddersfield, Woollen Merchant. Moore, Albert, Wells, Somerset, Fismonger. Aug 4 at 1 at Grand Hotel, Broad st, Bristol. Hobbs, jun, Wells Newell, Freeman, Fletton, Huntingdon, Commercial Traveller. Aug 8 at 12 at offices of Deacon and Wilkins. Cross st, Peterborough Newlands, Joseph, Derby, China and Glass Dealer." Aug 8 at 3 at offices of Moody, Corn Market, Derby Aug Phillips, William, Burry Port, Carmarthen, Innkeeper. at 11 at offices of Johnson and Stead, Church st, Llanelly Poole, George Read, St Mary Axe, Cigar Dealer. Aug 18 at 2 at 2 at offices of Beck, East India avenue, Leadenhall st Preston, George, Sheffield, Grocer. Aug 5 at 12 at offices of Rodgers and Co, Bank st, Sheffield Prince, George, Leeds, Whitesmith. Aug 5 at 10.30 at Law Institute, Albion pl, Albion st, Leeds. Cross, Bradford Pugmire, John Thomas, Hightown, nr Liverpool, Joiner. Aug 3 at 2 at offices of Etty. Lord st, Liverpoel Aug 5 at 12 at Aug 4 at 2 at offices of Quince, Elizabeth, March, Cambridge, Farmer. Aug 2 at 3 at offices of Dalton, Salt, Frederick, Tunstall, Stafford, Solicitor. Aug 3 at 3 at offices of Alcock, Market st, Tunstall Simcock, James, Longport, Burslem, Stafford, Wheelwright. Aug 2 at 3 at North Stafford Railway Hotel, Stoke-upon-Trent. Hollinshead, Tunstall Skinner, Frederick William, Ide hill, nr Sevenoaks, Kent, out of business. Aug 3 at 11 at Victory Inn, Sundridge, near Sevenoaks. Gregory, Cannon st Smith, Thomas William, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Chemist. Aug 3 at 12 at offices of Kent, St Andrew's hall plain, Norwich Steel, John, Willington, Warwick, Pig Dealer. Aug 9 at 11 at offices of Barkes, Moreton-in-the-Marsh Thompson, Emma, Harriett Thompson, and Ellen Thompson, Upfield, Matilda Mary Ann, Aldershot, Southampton, Butcher. Webb, George Pike, of HM'sship Royal Adelaide, Devonport, Sick Williams, William, Bury, Lancaster, Watchmaker. Aug 4 at 3 at Dog and Partridge Inn, Fennell st, Manchester. Anderton and Donnelly, Bury Young, Charles Silvester, Sutton Coldfield, Warwick, Traveller. Aug 3 at 3 at offices of Duke, Temple row, Birmingham TUESDAY, July 26, 1881. Abrahams, Lawrence, and George Lyon Abrahams, Brighton, Tailors. Aug 8 at 3 at offices of Ladbury and Co, Cheapside. Myer, New Bridge st Allen, Mary, Leek, Stafford, Silk Manufacturer. offices of Hacker and Allen, St Edward st Aug 8 at 2 at Bail, Alfred William, Edgware rd, Dairyman. Aug 6 at 12 at offices of Bristow Macmullen, Praed st Barton, John Thomas, Wilton Park, Durham, Grocer. Aug 9 at 11 30 at offices of Edgar, Silver st, Bishop Auckland Blake, John, Exminster, Devon, Smith. Aug 8 at 3 at offices of Fryer, Gandy st, Exeter Botting, George, Billingshurst, Sussex, Grocer. Aug 9 at 3.30 at King's Head Hotel, Horsham. Medwin and Co, Horsham Brett, Harry, Gresham st, Public Accountant. Aug 10 at 2 at Guildhall Tavern, Gresham st. Rose-Innes and Co Broadhead, William Henry, Bowling, Bradford, York, out of business. Aug 8 at 11 at offices of Hutchinson and Son, Piccadilly. chmbrs, Piccadilly, Bradford Browning, John, Strand, Optician. Aug 11 at 2 at offices of Chesterton, Thomas Henry, St Helen's, Lancaster, Tobacconist. Merchant. Aug 4 at 2 at offices of Pickering, Parliament st, Kingston-uponHull. Todd, Hull Cliffe, Charles, Gamston, Nottingham, Farmer. August 8 at 12.30 at offices of Marshall, Chapelgate, East Retford Cliffe, Samuel, Everton, Nottingham, Farmer, August 8 at 11 at offices of Marshall, Chapelgate, East Retford Coates, William, Chesenhale rd, Old Ford rd, Carpenter. August 17 at 3 at offices of Cooper, Lincoln's inn fields Coles, Frederick Augustus, Highbridge, Somerset, Coachbuilder. August 11 at 3 at the George Hotel, Highbridge. Broad, Burnham Cook, John, Lever st, Saint Luke's, Boot Manufacturer. August 5 at 3 at offices of Rawlings and Co, Railway Approach, London Bridge, in lieu of the time and place originally named Davies, Williams, Neston, Chester, Grocer. August 9 at 2 at offices of Bremner and Co, Dale st, Liverpool Deane, James Augustus, Leek, Stafford, of no occupation. August 9 at 2 at offices of Redfern and Son, Church lane, Leek Dickinson, John, Wigan, Lancaster, Licensed Victualler. August 8 at 11 at offices of Wilson, King st, Wigan Dobbing, Thomas, Greatham, nr West Hartlepool, Durham, Grocer. August 9 at 11 at the Grey Horse Inn, Stockton on Tees. Clayhills Fawkner, George, Congleton, Chester, Licensed Victualler. August 12 at 11 at the Old Cheshire Cheese Inn, High st, Congle. ton. Garside and Co, Congleton Aug 9 at 11 Feek, James, London rd, Butcher. August 2 at 3 at offices of Wenn, King Edward st, Newgate st at Queen Hotel, Huddersfield. Whitley and Whitley, Huddersfield Filmer, Edmund, Berners st, Upholster. August 15 at 12 at Bucklesbury. Young and Co, St Mildred's ct, Poultry Gascoine, Edward Stanley, 168, Fleet st, Broker. Aug 11 at at offices of Armstrong and Lamb, Old Jewry Glendenning, John, Norwich, School Desk Manufacturer. Aug 8 at 12 at offices of Burton, Queen st, Norwich. Blyth, Norwich Goldman, Marks, Swansea, Glamorgan, Jeweller. Aug 4 at 11 at offices of Evans and Davies, Wind st, Swansea Gooding, Sampson, Chatham, Bootmaker. Aug 10 at 12 at offices of Clabon, Great George st, Westminster. Wood and McLellan, Chatham Graham, Francis Dixon, Birkenhead, Chester, Tallow Chandler. Aug 9 at 11 at at offices of Bleakley and Downham, Hamilton sq, Birkenhead Grantham, William Wilkinson, Small Heath, Warwick, out of business. Aug 8 at 11 at offices of Barber, Colmore row, Birmingham Green, John Arthur, and John Canham, Regent st, Provision Merchants. Aug 10 at 2 at offices of Lewin and Co, Southampton st, Strand Griggs, George Adkins, Chatsworth rd, Clapton Park, Corn Dealer. Guilford, Thomas James, Bishopsgate Churchyard, Bishopsgate st, Gurnsey, Edward, Gillingham, Kent, Grocer. Aug 8 at 3 at Royal Crown Hotel, High st, Rochester. Knight, Serjeant's inn, Chancery lane Harper, James, Horton, Bucks, no occupation. Ang 1 at 4 at office of Webb, High st, Slough Hartz, William, Mark lane, Merchant. Aug 8 at 3 at 14, George st, Herbert, Francis, Gloucester, Steam Laundryman. Ang 8 at 3 at Hopkins, aoshua Joseph Mather, Bloxwich, Stafford, Awl Blade sall Hopper, William, Rochester, Builder. Aug 11 at 11.30 at offices of Mann, Hamond pl, Chatham Horn, John, Stoop House, nr Pennithorne, York, Farmer. Aug 5 at 10 at offices of Topham and Groves, Leyburn. Waistell, Northallerton Rogers, John, Llanfair Dyffrynclwyd, Denbigh, Farmer. Aug 10 at 3 at offices of Louis and Edwards, Castle st, Ruthin Rounds, Edward Stormont, Chester, Schoolmaster. Aug 9 at 4 at at offices of Churton, Eastgate buildings, Chester Russell, Albert, and William Butcher, Lewisham, Kent, Builders. Aug 8 at 2 at offices of Dubois, Serjeants' inn, Chancery lane. Selby, Cecil st, Strand Salkeld, Thomas Henry, Bishop Auckland, Commercial Traveller. Aug 9 at 11 at the Queen's Hotel, Leeds. Maw jun, Bishop Auckland Smith, Harris, Cable st, St George's-in-the-East, Wholesale Clothier. Aug 17 at 3 at offices of Brighten and Co, Bishopsgate st Without Smith, Ralph, jun, and Edgar Joyce, Amhurst rd, Hackney, Auc tioneers. Aug 15 at 2 at offices of Ingoldby and Buckley, Finsbury sq Stock, William Ravenhill, Long Ashton, Somerset, Colonial Br (T Sutter, Alexander, Chipping Norton, Draper. Aug 3 at 11 at Crown Tucker, Frederick Walter, Little Love lane. Commission Agent. Wallis, George, sen, Ken, Somerset, Farmer. Aug 8 at 12 at offices Watkinson, Asa, Liverpool, Tobacconist. Aug 5 at 3 at offices of Sheen, North John st, Liverpool. Blackhurst and Fretson, Liver. pool Wheeler, Edwin, Beckenham, Builder. Aug 5 at 3 at offices of Blewitt and Tyler, Gracechurch st Wilson, Mary Ann, Walworth rd, Boot Dealer. Aug 10 at 11 at office of Chalk, Finsbury circus Wood, Michael, Salford, Fish Salesman. Aug 8 at 3 at offices of Garthwaite, Brazennose st, Manchester Wren, Henry, Quedgeley, Gloucester, Grocer. Aug 4 at 11 at offices of York, Berkeley st. Gloucester Wright, William, Bootle, Lancaster, Grocer. Aug 5 at 2.30 at offices of Lumb, Dale st, Liverpool Young, William, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Brushmaker. Aug 2 at 3at offices of Sewell, Grey st, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hutchison, John, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Pawnbroker. Aug 10 at 2 SCHWEITZER'S COCOATINA, at offices of Joel, Newgate st, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Johnston, George Gordon, West Ferry rd, Milwall, Licensed Victualler. Aug 15 at 2 at offices of Leyton and Co, Budge row Joseph Louis, Nelson sq, Blackfriars, Feather Manufacturer. Aug 10 at 3 at offices of Lee, Gresham blgs, Basinghall st Kent, George, Lather Brush, near Bishop Auckland, Innkeeper. Aug 10 at 11 30 at offices of Edgar, Silver st, Rishop Auckland Knowles, Richard, Thornhill, York, Butcher. Aug 9 at 3 at offices of Scholefield and Son, Wellington rd, Dewsbury Lewis, Arthur, Monmouth, Grocer. Aug 8 at 2 at offices of Williams, Monmouth Lusty, George, Bedminster, Bristol, Retail Hatter. Aug 10 at 12 at offices of Phillips, Small st, Bristol. Wansbrough, Bristol Mackie, John, Birmingham, Boot and Shoe Maker. Aug 5 at 3 at offices of Wright and Marshall, New st, Birmingham Major, William, Cotton Broker. Aug 10 at 2 at offices of Gill and Archer, Cook st, Liverpool Marriott. Thomas William, Sneinton, Dentist. Aug 9 at 11.30 at offices of Webster, Brougham chambers, Wheeler gate, Notting ham Ang 9 at Aug 8 at 1 at Bell Pass, Richard, Rochdale, Lancaster, Maker of Spindles. Powell, William, Smethwick, Stafford, Haulier. Aug 6 at 11 at office of Wright and Co, Church st, Oldbury Prax, Joseph, Manchester, Tailor. Aug 5 at 3 at offices of Sampson, Proud, Thomas, Bishop Auckland, Leather Seller. Aug 9 at 3 at Aug 17 at 2 at Raddon, Joseph Nosworthy, Warwick, Builder. Aug 5 at 11 at offices Boddington, High st, Warwick Roberts, Henry, Carnarvon, Ship Chandler. Aug 5 at 2 at the Queen's Hotel, Chester. Rees, Carnarvon Roberts, John Cwmyrafar, Llanbedr, Merioneth, Farmer. Aug 9 at 1 at the Commercial Hotel, Portmadoc. Jones and Jones, Portmadoc Rodman, Stephen Hook, Bury, Huntingdon, Licensed Victualler. Aug 5 at 12 at offices of Hart, Priestgate, Peterborough 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 Deverage for Breakfast, Luncheon, or Supper, and invaluable for Invalids and Children."" Highly commended by the entire Medica IPress. Being without sugar, spice, or other admixture, it suits all palates, Teeps better in all climates, and is four times the strength of cocoas RICKENED yet WEAKENED with starch, &c., and IN REALITY CHEAPER than such Mixtures. Made instantaneously with boiling water, a teaspoonful to a Breakfast Cup, costing less than a halfpenny. COCOATINA A LA VANILLE is the most delicate, digestible, cheapest Manila Chocolate, and may be taken when richer chocolate is prohibited. In tin packets at 18. 6d., 3., 5s. 6d., &c., by Chemists and Grocers, Charities on Special Terms by the Sole Proprietors, Я. SCHWEITZER & CO., 10, Adam-street, London, W.C. HAMPTON & SONS make NO CHARGE for inserting particulars in their FREE MONTHLY REGISTER of ESTATES, TOWN and COUNTRY HOUSES, Furnished or Unfurnished, or for Sale, to be had GRATIS at their Offices, or post-free for two stamps. Published on the 1st of the month, and particulars for insertion should be sent not later than five days previous to end of preceding month. Valuations for Probate and Transfer. Surveys. Estate and Auction Offices, 8, Pall Mall East, S.W. 1 recently expressed, that no such general authority can be delegated to the Chief Clerks. MUCH INCONVENIENCE has been caused of late by the unpunctuality of certain judges of the Chancery Division in attending at chambers. When it is announced that a learned judge will be at his chambers at three o'clock, it is not to the advantage of the practitioners who have summonses on the list that he should continue to sit in court until four o'clock. Counsel and solicitors are kept idle during the hour or more of waiting, which of itself is a considerable grievance; but a still greater is the fact that the time for transaction of the chamber business is seriously curtailed. THE ATTENTION of practitioners should be directed to the amending order, which we print elsewhere, as to fees and percentages to be taken in the Supreme Court by means of stamps. The principal feature of this order consists in a direction that certain fees shall only be paid by means of impressed stamps, and not by adhesive stamps. The documents which are required to be stamped by impressed stamps are (1) all writs of summons for the commencement of an action; (2) the CREDITORS' CLAIMS .......................................................................................................................... 764 COURT PAPERS writs; (3) judgments or decrees or decretal orders, whether on the original hearing of a cause or on further consideration, including causes commenced by summons at chambers, and orders on the hearing of a special case or petition, and orders by the Appeal Court; (4) petitions; (5) petitions for orders of course; (6) orders of course on petitions of right; (7) orders for a commission on a petition of right; (8) judges' fiats; (9) certificates on a reference to a master; (10) recognizances and bail pieces; (11) commitments; (12) applications to produce 830 judges' notes, and (13) transcripts of the Chancery Paymaster's accounts. 842 CASES REPORTED IN THE WEEKLY REPORTER. 844 Benbow v. Low. Low v. Benbow (Ch. Div. V.C.B.) 837 Great Western Railway Company v. Waterford and Limerick Emden v. Carte (Ch.Div. Fry, J.) Hardy, In re. Wells v. Barwick (Ch, Div. V.C.M.) Midland Counties Insurance Company v. Smith (Q.B.Div.) CURRENT TOPICS. .... 850 825 ALL THE LORD JUSTICE LUSH is making favourable progress towards recovery, and hopes to be able to leave town in the course of a week. THE VACATION NOTICE, which we publish elsewhere, and which is now for the first time promulgated, leaves unnamed the vacation judges, for the reasons which we have previously stated. Of course, unless and until some change is made in the judges of the High Court, Mr. Justice CAVE and Mr. Justice KAY will divide the vacation work between them. IT SHOULD BE OBSERVED that the clause hitherto contained in vacation notices, enabling the Chief Clerks to give leave to parties to give short or other special notice of motion, has this year been omitted, in deference, we believe, to the opinion of the Master of the Rolls, IT APPEARS probable, from the Attorney-General's statement in the House of Commons a few days ago, that the patronage clause of the Judicature Bill will be withdrawn. The Lord Chancellor has confessed that the matter has occasioned him great perplexity, and it is to be hoped that before another session a more satisfactory scheme may be devised for dealing with this important question. The long-delayed return, showing the amount of patronage now theoretically vested in the three common law chiefs has been issued, and it shows that the existing patronage relates to eighteen masterships, with salaries varying from £2,000 in the cases of the senior master (who is also Queen's Remembrancer), and the master who acts as registrar of judgments, down to £1,200. The patronage also at present includes 93 clerkships in the Central Officeviz., 17 first-class clerks, 42 second-class clerks, and 34 third-class clerks, with salaries varying from £600 down to £100. It is clear that this amount of patronage is not a matter to be dealt with hastily at the fag end of a session. The efficiency of the Central Office is a matter of vital concern to the public, and this is in no small degree dependent on the decision which may be arrived at as to the patronage. WE OBSERVE that, in clause 14, the Judicature Bill speaks of "the Act of the sixth and seventh years of 99.66 her Majesty, chapter eighteen." In the Representation of the People Act, 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 102, s. 34), we read of "the Act of the sixth Victoria, chapter eighteen"; but in the Parliamentary Electors Registration Act, 1368 (31 & 32 Vict. c. 58), the full expression "Act passed in the session of the sixth and seventh years of the reign of her present Majesty, chapter eighteen, intituled, 'An Act to, &c.,'" is used. The draftsman of the Parliamentary and Municipal Registration Act, 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 26), has directed that the Acts referred to in that Act by short titles, "may be cited for all purposes by those titles respectively," and also that the term "Parliamentary Registration Act, 1843," Imeans the Act of the session of the sixth and seventh years of the reign of her present Majesty, chapter eighteen." We may hope, therefore, that some friendly amending hand may read this very proper "short title" into the Judicature Bill. But in cases where there is no statutory short title, what is the proper yearly numeration of an Act of Parliament? We believe the rule to be this. If the Act passes before the anniversary of the accession of the Sovereign, it has a single number; if after, it has the double number. The present Sovereign ascended the throne on the 20th of June. The Parliamentary Registration Act, 1843, receiving the Royal assent on the 31st of May, was rightly called, when first issued by the Queen's printers, 6 Vict. c. 18, for it was not certain at that time that the session would extend beyond the 20th of June. When, however, the session has overlapped that day, how ought the Act which passed before it to be printed or described? Here the practice is diversified. The statutes themselves, as we have seen, sometimes follow one mode of citation, sometimes another. The Statute Law Revisers print the double year in the Chronological Table of the Statutes irrespective of the precise date at which an Act was passed. The text-books and the Law Reports Digest appear usually to number each Act as numbered at first, singly or doubly as the case may be, and so does the Law Reports' edition of the Statutes, but so do not the Queen's printers themselves (in the headings to each page) when they come to issue a whole volume of statutes. There is something to be said for each mode of numeration. If the single year is retained, we get a mode of fixing the date-i.e., we know that the Act was passed before the date of the accession of the Sovereign. On the other hand, the single employment of the two years (6 & 7) for both sets of statutes obviates the necessity for the double search in an index. Clearly the most convenient mode is to drop the "year of the Queen" altogether and to describe by the year of the calendar, as was recommended by the Select Committee on Acts of Parliament many years ago, giving every Act a statutory short title. We have got considerably beyond such descriptions as "thacte of Parliament or statute made in the fyve and twenty yere of the reigne of the most noble Kinge of famous memorye, King Edwarde Thirde" (1 M. St. 1, c. 1, s. 2), or "the statute made in the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the fourth daye of November in the thyrd yere of the raigne of our late Sovraigne lord, Kynge Edwarde the Sixt" (13 Eliz. c. 6); but it is plain that our modern mode of describing Acts of Parliament still leaves much to be desired. EXCLUSIVE OF the provisions relating to the Court of Appeal, the disposal of patronage, and the formal interlineations as to salaries and pensions, the Judicature Bill, as brought from the House of Lords on the 25th of last month, appears to contain five amendments. These may all be described as of a minor character, but it may be as well to note them in their first inception. The first amendment merely provides that the President of the Probate, &c., Division "shall not be entitled to any precedence over any existing judge to which he would not have been entitled as a judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature if this Act had not passed." If this clause, as amended, should lead to hastening the day when this awkwardly styled division shall be "reduced," so much the better. That it ought to be merged in the Chancery Division without delay is abundantly clear. The next amendment is a new substantive clause. It provides that "in any case of urgency arising during the absence from illness or any other cause, any one judge of the High Court who may consent to do so may officiate for any other in hearing any application for an injunction or other interlocutory order." Upon this the only remark we have to make is, that it is so desirable a provision that it may very well be extended, so as to allow the substituted judge to act for his brother to any extent, and in hearing any kind of application. It | might be inconvenient that the interlocutory order should be made by the deputy, and the final hearing take place before the principal. The third amendment is obviously a desirable one. It provides (clause 13) that an election judge may continue the hearing of a petition or other pending matter although his year of office may have run out. The amendment is, we believe, suggested by the curious facts of a Worcester election petition some fifteen months ago, in which the then Mr. Justice LUSH was sitting as election judge beyond his year, but it so happened that the awkward legal point as towhether he had jurisdiction or not to give judg ment, never came to be argued. This amendment suggests the question whether it would not be well to apply to all judges and all cases that provision of section 60 of 15 & 16 Vict. c. 80, by which a retiring Lord Chancellor is enabled to give judgment within six weeks after his retirement. The next amendment is a well-meant attempt to remedy the defect in the present constitution of the Court for Crown Cases Reserved, to which we recently drew attention in connection with this Bill, by reason of the requirement of section 47 of the Act of 1873, that the Lord Chief Justice of England shaib always be a member of that court. A new clause (16) now provides that the Lord Chief Justice shall always be one of the judges "unless by writing under his hand, or by the certificate in writing of his medical attendant, it shall appear that he is prevented by illness or otherwise from being present," in which caso "the presence of the said Lord Chief Justice shall not be necessary." That the Lord Chief Justice should be present if possible is in accordance with sound judicial traditions. He is the chief criminal judge of England, and his attendance is peculiarly desirable. But is it not a mistake to define so precisely the grounds on which he may be absent? As the clause now stands, a court constituted without him has no jurisdiction in law unless all its conditions are satisfied. To leave it as it is might give rise to "error," and we should think a directory clause, such as "It shall be the duty of the Lord Chief Justice," &c.,. would satisfy the necessities of the case. Or perhaps it might be enough simply to put the two senior puisnes of the Queen's Bench Division in the place of the two extinguished chiefs. ANOTHER AMENDMENT (clause 24), reciting that there is no power to appoint as district registrars persons other than those designated by the existing Judicature Acts-that is (see section 60 of the Act of 1873), registrars of county courts, or local courts, or prothonotaries-enacts that whenever "it shall appear to the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Treasury, that from the nature and amount of the business to be transacted it is expedient that the office should be conferred upon a person not so qualified as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Treasury, to appoint to such office any barrister-at-law of not less than five years' standing, or any solicitor of the Supreme Court of not less than five years' standing." We note the absence of the ordinary requirement, that the barristers or solicitors in question should be "in actual practice," but as it is |