May 28 at 10, before Mr. Commissioner LAW. Edgar P. Nunn, Ealing, Middlesex, out of employ. Saturday, May 10. The following Assignees have been appointed. Further particulars may be learned at the Office, in Portugal-st., Lincoln's-inn-fields, on giving the Number of the Case. W. J. Lawrence, Laxon-st., Bermondsey, Surrey, oilman, No. 62,002 T.; Henry Hewett, assignee. Robert Smith, Somerset-place, Dalston, Middlesex, accountant, No. 62,177 T.; Francis Watts, assignee.-John Dyne, Shirley, Millbrook, Hampshire, builder, No. 68,449 C.; John Arnold, assignee.Margaret Parkes, Rhyl, Flintshire, licensed victualler, No. 73,559 C.; Wm. Walley, assignee.-Wm. Jewkes, Dudley, Worcestershire, builder, No. 73,441 C.; Wm. Thomas the younger, assignee.-Francis Stubbs, Snainton, near Pickering, Yorkshire, farmer, No. 73,454 C.; Robert Eden Wilson, assignee. Henry Brotherton, Bishop Auckland, Durham, grocer, No. 73,544 C.; Edward T. Pease and Thomas Close, assignees. Saturday, May 10. Orders have been made, vesting in the Provisional Assignee the Estates and Effects of the following Persons:— (On their own Petitions). Thomas King, Gravesend, Kent, attorney's clerk in the Queen's Prison.-John C. Catling, Albion-road, Queen'sroad, Dalston, Middlesex, surveyor: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-James Meadus, Clyde-terrace, Copenhagen-st., Caledonian-road, Islington, Middlesex, baker: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-James P. Munting, Gray's-inn-lane, Holborn, Middlesex, furniture broker in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.— Henry Boyd, Arbour-square, Stepney, Middlesex, promoter of the Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Frederick Aug. Dietrich, Bennett-st., Stamford-st., Blackfriars-road, Surrey, hat manufacturer: in the Queen's Prison.-James G. King, Henry-place, Hoxton Old-town, Middlesex, accountant: in the Queen's Prison.-John F. Archbold, Gloucester-place, Portman-square, Middlesex, barrister-at-law: in the Queen's Prison.-James Nisbet, Morpeth-street, Bethnal-green, Middlesex, carpenter: in the Gaol of Horsemonger-lane.-Joseph Fox, Victoria-grove, Victoria-park, Middlesex, foreman to a timber merchant: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-John C. Wright, Princes-road, Lambeth, Surrey, managing the business of a greengrocer : in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Moses Nathan, St. George'sin-the-East, Middlesex, tailor: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Thomas Anderson, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, currier: in the Gaol of Nottingham.-R. Baker, Dulesgate, Todmorden, Lancashire, blacksmith: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-J. Barnes, Manchester, painter: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Richard Cottingham, Kirkdale, Liverpool, bookkeeper in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Daniel William Clark, Southampton, Hampshire, victualler: in the Gaol of Southampton.-Jos. Fletcher, Elland-cum-Greetland, near Halifax, Yorkshire, woollen cloth manufacturer: in the Gaol of York. -John Hallam, Manchester, baker: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-James Holmes, Hulme, Manchester, assistant to a pork butcher: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-James Hague, Salford, Lancashire, cotton manufacturer: in the Gaol of Lancaster.Henry Fisher Lonsdale, Salford, Lancashire, carrier: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-John Porter, Liverpool, licensed victualler in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Ralph Robinson, Salford, Lancashire, rent collector: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Richd. Worthington, Preston, Lancashire, licensed victualler: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Richard Whittaker, Manchester, ironmonger in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Jeremiah Waddington, Luddenden Foot Warley, near Halifax, Yorkshire, shoemaker: in the Gaol of York.-Richd. Dickenson, High Harrogate, near Knaresborough, Yorkshire, publican: in the Gaol of York.-Benj. Fielding, Middleton, Lancashire, joiner: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Geo. Hawkes, Pershore, Worcestershire, innkeeper: in the Gaol of Gloucester.-Wm. Jones Morgan, Ruthin, Denbighshire, licensed victualler: in the Gaol of Ruthin.-Wm. Hen. Parry, Broadwell, near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, farm bailiff: in the Gaol of Monmouth.-Saml. Rimell, Upton, St. Leonard's, near Gloucester, innkeeper: in the Gaol of Gloucester.-William Williams Smith, Cambridge, conducting the business of a licensed victualler: in the : Gaol of Cambridge.-John Cox White, Neithrop, Oxford. shire, retailer of beer: in the Gaol of Oxford.-Edward Wil. liams, Ruthin, Denbighshire, licensed victualler: in the Gaol of Ruthin.-John Doughty, Cambridge, licensed victualler: in the Gaol of Cambridge.-Samuel Goddard, Wisbech St. Peter, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, bookseller: in the Gaol of Cambridge.-J. F. Longland Maxwell, Thorney, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, farmer: in the Gaol of Cambridge.-Wm. Baldock, Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, grocer in the Gaol of Nottingham.-Jos. Gilding, Broughton, Lincolnshire, farmer: in the Gaol of Kingston-upon-Hull.-James Smith, Thundridge, Hertfordshire, miller: in the Gaol of Hertford.Arthur Conboy, Hulme, Manchester, baker: in the Gaol of Manchester.-John Robertshaw, Manchester, clockmaker: in the Gaol of Manchester.- Samuel John Tweddell, Kingstonupon-Hull, chain manufacturer: in the Gaol of Kingstonupon-Hull.-Susannah Jackson the younger, Broad Oak, near Newnham, Gloucestershire, innkeeper: in the Gaol of Gloucester.-Arabella Anna Mann, Dover, Kent, out of busi ness in the Gaol of Dover.-James Monk, Grove, near Wantage, Berkshire, in no business in the Gaol of Reading. Thomas Hague, Salford, Lancashire, cotton manufacturer: in the Gaol of Lancaster. The following Prisoners are ordered to be brought up before the Court, in Portugal-street, to be examined and dealt with according to the Statute: May 27 at 11, before the CHIEF COMMISSIONER. John Mitchell, Great Winchester-st., Old Broad-st., London, merchant's clerk. May 29 at 11, before Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS. Edward Day, London-wall, London, out of business. The following Prisoners are ordered to be brought up before a Judge of the County Court, to be examined and dealt with according to the Statute: At the County Court of Gloucestershire, at GLOUCESTER, May 29 at 10. John Neems, Stroud, farmer. At the County Court of Glamorganshire, at CARDIFF, June 11. Charles Jones, Newport, brewer's traveller. At the County Court of Kent, at DOVER, June 4 at 10. Wm. Waghorne, Arbour-square, Stepney, Middlesex, out of employment. At the County Court of Cambridgeshire, at CAMBRIDGE, May 24 at 10. Wm. Williams Smith, Cambridge, out of business.-John Doughty, Cambridge, licensed victualler. At the County Court of Oxfordshire, at OXFORD, May 27. Thomas Greatbatch, Oxford, in no business. At the County Court of Gloucestershire, at GLOUCESTER, May 29 at 10. George Hawkes, Cheltenham, out of business.-Samuel Rimell, Upton, St. Leonard's, near Gloucester, out of business. At the County Court of Nottinghamshire, at NOTTINGHAM, June 5 at 9. Sneinton, near Nottingham, out of business. At the County Court of Hertfordshire, at HERTFORD, James Smith, Wadesmill, Thundridge, miller. FRIDAY, MAY 16. BANKRUPTS. JOSEPH CERRITO, Mincing-lane, London, merchant and commission agent, May 27 at 2, and June 24 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Groom; Sols. Williams & Co., 3, Paper-buildings, Temple.-Petition filed March 1. ALFRED TARRANT, High Holborn, Middlesex, bookbinder, May 28 and June 27 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Graham; Sols. Kingdon & Shephard, 16, Clifford's-inn.-Petition filed May 15. WILLIAM HENRY AYLES, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, builder, May 30 at 11, and June 26 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Bell; Sols. Abbott & Co., New-inn, Strand.-Petition filed May 13. SAMUEL GRINSTED, Brighton, Sussex, victualler, May 27 at 11, and June 26 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Groom; Sols. Bennett & Houseman, Brighton, Sussex; Rickards & Walker, 29, Lincoln's-inn-fields.Petition filed May 13. Field Dunn Barker, Cambridge, banker, June 12 at 2, Court of Bankruptcy, London, fin. div.-Wm. Phillips, St. Mary, Warwick, builder, May 31 at 10, District Court of Bankruptcy, Birmingham, aud. ac.; June 9 at 10, fin. div.Robert Wade, Plymouth, Devonshire, grocer, June 19 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Plymouth, div.-Robert Armstrong, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, shipwright, June 19 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, first and fin. div. CERTIFICATES. before the Day of Meeting. JOHN CLARK, Clarence-place, Camberwell, Surrey, auctioneer, dealer and chapman, May 22 at half-past 11, and June 27 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Whitmore; Sols. Guy & Reed, 8, Cannon-row, Westminster.-Petition dated May 12. GEORGE DODSON, Neath, Glamorganshire, painter, June To be allowed, unless Cause be shewn to the contrary on or 3 and July 1 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Bristol: Off. Ass. Miller; Sols. Whittington & Gribble, Bristol; Sewell & Co., 51, Old Broad-street, London.-Petition filed April 29. CHARLES BOND, Tiverton, near Bath, and Bath, Somersetshire, tanner, currier, dealer and chapman, May 27 at half-past 12, and June 24 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Bristol: Off. Ass. Acraman; Sol. Bevan, Bristol.Petition filed May 14. ARTHUR YOULE BARRETT, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, engineer, ironfounder, dealer and chapman, May 28 and June 25 at half-past 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Kingston-upon-Hull: Off. Ass. Carrick; Sol. Dunning, Leeds-Petition dated May 7. JAMES HOLDEN, Salford, Lancashire, licensed victualler, dealer and chapman, June 2 and 23 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester: Off. Ass. Fraser; Sol. Taylor, Manchester.-Petition filed May 9. MEETINGS. Henry Williams and James Welch, Great Distaff-lane, London, and Mile-end, Middlesex, builders, May 26 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London, pr. d. sep. est. of Henry Williams.-Joseph Hinchsliffe Stevenson, Sunderland, Durham, miller, June 17 at 1, District Court of Bankruptcy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pr. d.-Robert Andrew Taylor, Dunston, Durham, Epsom salts and colour manufacturer, June 13 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, last ex. - William Parkinson, Coppy Nook, Blackburn, Lancashire, cotton manufacturer and provision-shop keeper, June 2 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester, last ex.Frangonlis Pantoleon Platy, Broad-st.-buildings, London, merchant, May 27 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.-Wm. Buckle, Pall-mall, Westminster, and Leadenhallst., London, master mariner, May 27 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac. - - Henry Edward Thompson, Long-acre, Middlesex, India rubber bath manufacturer, May 27 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.-Colin Robertson, Duncan David Milligan, and Robert Milligan Dalzell, Lime-st.-square, London, merchants, May 29 at half-past 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.-Benj. Severn, Fredk. Benj. King, and John Severn, Church-lane, Whitechapel, Middlesex, grocers, May 29 at half-past 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac. sep. est. of F. B. King. -Andrew Eve, Charlotte-st., Fitzroy-square, St. Pancras, Middlesex, turner, May 28 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London, and. ac.-J. Matts, Edgeware-road, Middlesex, ironmonger, June 5 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.Allen Colyer the younger, Dover, Kent, jeweller, June 5 at 2, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.-Thomas Britton, Suffolk-lane, Cannon-st., London, wine merchant, June 3 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.-John Skam, Studley-road, Clapham-road, Surrey, builder, June 12 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, aud. ac.-James Smith, Darlington, Durham, shoemaker, June 4 at half-past 10, District Court of Bankruptcy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, aud. ac.-Wm. Shaw and Samuel Shaw, Upper Mill, and Grasscroft, Saddleworth, Yorkshire, timber merchants, June 3 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester, aud. ac. sep. est., and June 17 at 12, div. sep. est. of Wm. Shaw.-Ebenezer Lake, Okehampton, Devonshire, druggist, May 28 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Exeter, aud. ac.-Richard Gadsden, Boughton Mills, Northamptonshire, miller, June 11 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, div.-John Bynner, Oswestry, Shropshire, grocer, May 31 at 10, District Court of Bankruptcy, Birmingham, aud. ac.-Richard Green the younger, Brighton, Sussex, ironmonger, June 7 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, div. -John Voller, Landport, Portsea, Southampton, builder, June 7 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London, div.-John Lloyd, New Oxford-street, Middlesex, hosier, June 7 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London, div. Peter Wootton the elder and Peter Wootton the younger, Margate, Kent, grocers, June 7 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-John Slater Marshall, Goswell-road, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, boot and shoe dealer, June 7 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Robert Peach, Thorney, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, butcher, June 10 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Thomas Cave, South Kilworth, Leicestershire, innkeeper, June 12 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Birmingham.-Samuel Armstrong, Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire, glass dealer, June 17 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester. To be granted, unless an Appeal be duly entered. James Hayward, Oxford-street, Whitechapel, Middlesex, watchmaker.-John Murrells, Colchester, Essex, bargeowner. Thomas Cox, Cambridge, chemist.-Frederick Mountford, Greenwich, Kent, stationer.-Ann Royston, Chorlton-uponMedlock, Manchester, brewer. PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED. Robert C. Phillips and James Nurse, Weymouth, Dorsetshire, attornies and solicitors. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Robert Dixon, Crawfordjohn, Lanarkshire, carrier.-Robt. Wm. Thompson, Athelstaneford, Haddingtonshire, grocer. Leys, Aberdeen, cartwright.-Thomas Oliver and Alexander Oliver, Falkirk, seedsmen. INSOLVENT DEBTORS Who have filed their Petitions in the Court of Bankruptcy, and have obtained an Interim Order for Protection from Process. William Holroyd, Rochdale, Lancashire, umbrella maker, June 5 at 12, County Court of Lancashire, at Rochdale.George Talbot, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, bleacher, May 23 at 11, County Court of Bedfordshire, at Luton.-Rich. Simons, Toynton St. Peter's, Lincolnshire, farmer, June 4 at 10, County Court of Lincolnshire, at Spilsby.-John B. Ablard, Stickney, Lincolnshire, shoemaker, June 4 at 10, County Court of Lincolnshire, at Spilsby.-Charles Button, Halton Holegate, Lincolnshire, gardener, June 4 at 10, County Court of Lincolnshire, at Spilsby. - James Martin the younger, Birdwood, Churcham, Gloucestershire, blacksmith, June 26 at 10, County Court of Gloucestershire, at Gloucester. — Richard Gibbins, Gloucester, tailor, June 26 at 10, County. Court of Gloucestershire, at Gloucester.-George Musson, Newark-upon-Trent, Nottinghamshire, grocer, June 6 at 1, County Court of Nottinghamshire, at Newark. - Thomas Bee, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, Lincolnshire, joiner, June 2 at 10, County Court of Lincolnshire, at Lincoln.-T. Wilkinson, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire, engraver to calico printers, June 4 at 11, County Court of Lancashire, at Bury.-James Pagett, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, out of business, May 27 at 12, County Court of Staffordshire, at Wolverhampton. Thomas Webb, Bilston, Staffordshire, moulder, May 27 at 12, County Court of Staffordshire, at Wolverhampton.-D. Power, Walsall, Staffordshire, web maker, May 23 at 12, County Court of Staffordshire, at Walsall.-James Mansell, Liverpool, optician, May 22 at 9, County Court of Lancashire, at Liverpool.-Thomas Garner, Liverpool, currier, May 22 at 9, County Court of Lancashire, at Liverpool. The following Persons, who, on their several Petitions filed in the Court, have obtained Interim Orders for Protection from Process, are required to appear in Court as hereinafter mentioned, at the Court-house, in Portugal-street, Lincoln's Inn, as follows, to be examined and dealt with according to the Statute: May 30 at 11, before the CHIEF COMMISSIONER. J. Albon, Levington-buildings, City-road-gate, St. Luke's, Middlesex, out of business. -Susan Creech, Lisson-grove, LAW.-A GENTLEMAN, who has for the last year and a Middlesex, manager of a lodging-house. May 30 at 10, before Mr. Commissioner LAW. Thomas Wm. Piggott, Riley-street, Bermondsey, Surrey, hat manufacturer. May 31 at 11, before Mr. Commissioner PHIllips. half been engaged with a first-rate firm in the west of England, is desirous of a RE-ENGAGEMENT as ASSISTANT CONVEYANCING CLERK, under the superintendence of the principal. He is willing to make himself generally useful. Salary 801. Address, Mr. Lowe, Law Stationer, Bell-yard, London. Preparing for publication, in 1 vol. 8vo., Thomas D. Akers, Nassau-place, Commercial-road East, A CONCISE and PRACTICAL VIEW of the LAW of Middlesex, oil and colour man.-John Edwards, Munster-st., June 2 at 11, before Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS. VENDORS and PURCHASERS of ESTATES. By Sir EDWARD SUGDEN. This Work will speedily be published; it will not form a new edition of the Author's larger Treatise on the same subject, but will be limited to an 8vo. volume of about 700 or 800 pages, and will contain all the later authorities. Also, in the press, in 1 vol. 8vo., An ESSAY on the NEW STATUTES relating to Limita- ARCHER'S INDEX TO UNREPEALED STATUTES. May 30 at 11, before the CHIEF COMMISSIONer. Thomas Showell, Goldington-terrace, Somers-town, Mid- AN INDEX to the UNREPEALED STATUTES con dlesex, foreman to a tailor.--John Levingston, Park-rd., New May 30 at 10, before Mr. Commissioner Law. surveyor. May 31 at 11, before Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS. June 2 at 11, before the CHIEF COMMISSIONER. June 2 at 10, before Mr. Commissioner Law. At the County Court of Devonshire, at EXETER, May 31 Wm. S. Codner, Dartmouth, linendraper.-Thos. Leth- Thos. Powell, Builth, surgeon.-Wm. Stephens, Ystradgunllais, chemist. nected with the ADMINISTRATION of the LAW in ENGLAND and WALES, commencing with the Reign of William IV, and continued to the close of the Session 1850. By THOMAS G. ARCHER, Solicitor. London: Butterworths, Law Booksellers and Publishers, 7, Fleet-street. Just published, in 8vo., price 21s. boards, A COMPENDIUM of the LAW and PRACTICE of VENDORS and PURCHASERS of REAL ESTATE; comprising the Authorities down to January, 1851. By J. HENRY DART, Esq., Barrister at Law. We have little doubt that the work will become the Conveyancer's 'Handbook,' and that no Solicitor's office will be long without a copy." -Law Student's Magazine. "The work is short, readable, and very accurate. . . . . Is obviously prepared with great care, and will, we think, become a standard text book."-Jurist. LOGIC for the MILLION: a Familiar Exposition of the ART of REASONING. By a FELLOW of the ROYAL SOCIETY. "By logic for the million, I mean the art of reasoning so explained as to be readily understood by those men and women who have not had the advantage of a literary education."-Preface. London: Longman & Co., 39, Paternoster-row. THE IRISH JURIST, Vol. 3, in course of publication, INSOLVENT DEBTORS' DIVIDENDS. William Hoare, Euston-square, Middlesex, lodging-house keeper: 28. 84d. in the pound.-Fred. Horne, Denmark-rd., Lambeth, Surrey, keeper of lunatics: 4s. 94d. in the pound. -Wm. Finlayson, Salem-gardens, Bayswater, Middlesex, contains full and accurate Reports of the several Cases decided commander in the royal navy: 7d. in the pound.-John But- up to the present date, in the Courts of Equity and Common Law, and is the only AUTHORISED JOURNAL containing Reports of Cases decided terworth, Batley, near Dewsbury, Yorkshire, rag dealer: in the Incumbered Estates Court, and the Courts of Bankruptcy and 48. 2d. in the pound.-Mark White, deceased, Hastings, Sus- Admiralty. It contains leading Articles on Law Subjects, and Lists of sex, captain in the royal navy: 38. 6d. in the pound.-David Petitions presented, and Orders made by the Incumbered Estates ComTerras, Fieldgate-street, Whitechapel, Middlesex, coach-missioners, together with full Reports of those Cases decided during smith: 94d. in the pound. Apply at the Provisional Assignees' Office, Portugal-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, London, between the hours of 11 and 3. MASTERS IN CHANCERY.-The Lord Chancellor has appointed the following gentlemen to be Masters Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery:-Edward Augustus Smith, of Blandford, Dorsetshire; William Pollock, of Ayr, Scotland; James Tree, of Worcester; Isaac Hall, of Manchester; John Estlin the younger, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. LOANS IN CONNEXION WITH LIFE assurance. the Years 1848, 1849, and 1850. The first and second volumes, now completed, together with much useful miscellaneous matter, contain most valuable Digests of the Cases reported in all the Irish Equity and Law Reports, and in The Irish Jurist. Orders for THE JURIST given to any Newsman, or letter (post paid) sent to the Office, No. 3, CHANCERY-LANE, or to STEVENS & NORTON, 26 and 39, BELL-YARD, LINCOLN'S-INN, will insure its punctual delivery in London, or its being forwarded on the evening of publication, through the medium of the Post Office, to the Country. Printed by HENRY HANSARD, PRINTER, residing at No. 14, Park Square, Regent's Park, in the Parish of St. Marylebone, in the PELICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. County of Middlesex, at his Printing Office, situate in Parker Street, in Established in 1797. NOTICE.-The Directors are prepared to receive PROPOSALS for LOANS on APPROVED SECURITY, in sums of not less than £500, coupled with one or more Policies of Insurance to be effected in the Pelican Office. Applications to be made to the Secretary, at the Chief Office of the Company, No. 70, Lombard-street. the Parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, in the County aforesaid; and Published at No. 3, CHANCERY LANE, in the Parish of St. Dunstan in the West, in the City of London, by HENRY SWEET, LAW BOOKSELLER and PUBLISHER, residing at No. 41, Great Coram Street, in the Parish of St. George, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex.-Saturday, May 17, 1851. LONDON, MAY 24, 1851. THE question whether, under the Copyright Act, 5 & 6 Vict. c. 45, which, among other things, declares the terms on which the copyright in contributions to periodicals shall vest in the proprietors of such periodicals, the price of the contributions must be actually paid to the writers before the copyright becomes vested in the proprietors, was raised in a very recent case, (Richardson v. Gilbert, 15 Jur., part 1, p. 389). The point is not expressly decided in that case, because, as will be seen by the report, the Court was of opinion that the fact of payment was sufficiently alleged and proved, and therefore it was immaterial to consider what would be the effect if it had not been sufficiently proved. But Lord Cranworth expressed the inclination of his opinion to be, that actual payment must take place to effect the vesting of the copyright in the proprietors. The same point was discussed, without being decided, in an earlier case, (Brown v. Cooke, 11 Jur., part 1, p. 77), before Sir L. Shadwell. In that case there was another difficulty, on which the Court refused to interfere till the right had been established at law, viz. that the proprietors claiming copyright did not pretend that the contract was direct between them and the actual writers, but that they employed and paid by a salary an editor, who, out of his salary, procured articles to be written. Whether he had actually paid for such as were printed, and were the subject of the claim, did not appear. There are no other cases upon the subject, and the question must, therefore, be considered as still undecided. The clause of the act under which it arises is worded in a singular and rather careless manner:-" If any publisher or any other person shall, before or at the time of the passing of this act, have projected, conducted, and carried on, or shall hereafter project, conduct, and carry on, or be the proprietor of any encyclopædia, review, magazine, periodical work, or work published in a series of books or parts, or any book whatsoever, and shall have employed or shall employ any persons to compose the same, or any volumes, parts, essays, VOL. XV. T articles, or portions thereof, for publication in or as part of the same, and such work, volumes, parts, essays, articles, or portions shall have been or shall hereafter be composed, under such employment, on the terms that the copyright therein shall belong to such proprietor, projector, publisher, or conductor, and paid for by such proprietor, projector, publisher, or conductor, the copyright in every such encyclopædia, review, magazine, periodical work, and work published in a series of books or parts, and in every volume, part, essay, article, and portion so composed and paid for, shall be the property of such proprietor, projector, publisher, or other conductor, who shall enjoy the same rights as if he were the actual author thereof, and shall have such term of copyright therein as is given to the authors of books by this act, except only that in the case of essays, articles, or portions forming part of and first published in reviews, magazines, or other periodical works of a like nature, after the term of twenty-eight years from the first publication thereof respectively, the right of publishing the same in a separate form shall revert to the author for the remainder of the term given by this act." The difficulty is, whether the act intended payment to be part only of the contract, so that a contract with a contributor, that he should write and be paid for it, would vest the copyright in the proprietor; or whether, in order to vest the copyright in the proprietor of the periodical, it is necessary not only that the writing should be done under a contract, but that it should have been followed by actual payment. There would be much doubt on the subject if the first or explanatory part only of the section were looked at, and if, in the words actually declaring in what things copyright shall vest, the act had merely referred to the "volumes, parts, articles," &c. antecedently spoken of. But the act says, that if "volumes, articles," &c. shall be composed for the proprietor of a periodical on certain terms, then, not that the copyright in those things shall vest, but the copyright "in every composed and paid for." There is, therefore no sta tutory declaration of copyright, except egard to a GNO JURIST contribution composed on the terms antecedently mentioned, and paid for. The language of this part of the section is perfectly clear and precise, whatever may be thought of the preceding part, and seems to us to leave no room for doubting that both ingredients, viz. the contract and the payment, must exist in order to vest the copyright in the proprietor. Reviews, 1. Government by Commissions Illegal and Pernicious. Local Self-Government and Centralisation, including THE conclusion contended for with much learning and ability by Mr. Toulmin Smith, in the first of the above-named works, which was published two years ago, viz. the absolute illegality of Crown-appointed commissions, of whatever kind, has recently received a very strong confirmation by the written opinion of some of the first lawyers at present in England. Certain objections against the legality of the Oxford University Commission, now sitting, having been taken, counsel's opinion was requested; and of the opinion, dated "Lincoln's-inn, March 3, 1851," and signed Whether the particular decision in Richardson v. Gil-2. bert is sound, in regard to the sufficiency of the evidence, may be doubted. The bill and affidavits, according to the report, did not state, as separate allegations, the contract for the contributions in the terms of the statute, and that the plaintiffs were entitled to the copyright. If they had, it might, perhaps, have been said, that a distinct and separate allegation, that the plaintiffs were entitled, involved an allegation that they had paid, if payment is necessary to give title. But the bill alleged the contract only, viz. that the plaintiffs employed the writers to compose on the terms that the copyright should belong to the plaintiffs, and should be paid for by them; and that, under the circumstances aforesaid, they were entitled to the copyright. So that, so far from the bill by inference alleging payment, it alleged by inference the very contrary; because, alleging that there had been a contract to pay, it alleged title by force of that contract; and by implication, therefore, excluded from the allegation of title the notion that payment formed any part of its foundation. The allegation in the bill was, of course, a sufficient averment that the plaintiffs had done all that was required by the act of Parliament, to have let in evidence to prove the particulars of title. But the affidavits (according to the report) did not do so; they merely echoed the general allegation of title contained in the bill. "G. J. TURNER, the following is an extract:- * * * from the ecclesiastical commissions above referred to, "It may be said that the present commission differs inasmuch as it directs inquiry only, whereas the former commissions directed the commissioners to hear and determine &c. But commissions for inquiry and discovery otherwise than according to the old law of the land, alone are illegal, because they put parties to answer 42 Edw. 3, c. 3), and because, as Lord Coke writes, under them a man may be unjustly accused by false evidence, and he shall not have any remedy; a party may be defamed, and he shall not have any traverse to it.' (12 Co. 31, 64). The cases of Morris v. Kelly (1 J. & W. 481) and Colburn v. Duncombe, (9 Sim. 151), which do not appear to have been cited in Richardson v. Gilbert, have a considerable bearing on the subject. In the former case, on an application for an injunction by persons who claimed as purchasers of a copyright, the bill not stating that there had been an assignment by the author in writing, (which was necessary to pass the copyright), Lord Eldon at first refused the injunction; afterwards he granted it, on an affidavit that the plain-(see Magna Charta; 9 Hen. 3, c.29; 25 Edw. 3, st. 5, c. 4; tiffs were unable to state whether there had been any assignment in writing by the author to their vendor, but swearing that their vendors had assigned by deed to them. On this Lord Eldon assumed the regularity of the title until the contrary should be shewn. In Colburn v. Duncombe, which was heard on demurrer, the plaintiff was also the purchaser of a copyright, and he had paid for it, and the author had agreed to assign it in writing when required to do so; it was not alleged that any assignment had actually been made, but the bill, after stating to the above effect, went on thus-" that after the plaintiff had purchased the copyright of the work as aforesaid, he caused the work to be printed under the title of 'A Diary,' &c.; and that the work so printed and published, and the copyright thereof, were then the sole and exclusive property of the plaintiff." The Court refused to treat this as a substantive independent allegation of legal title; and allowed a demurrer, on the ground that the author was not a party. * * "Lord Bacon's argument, referred to in the case, that voluntary benevolences' might legally be solicited by the Crown, has long been exploded and condemned. The Crown and the subject are not on equal terms in such cases; and the Crown cannot constitutionally solicit against a subject that which it cannot command. And this principle seems especially true and reasonable as to an inquiry, in which the subject has not the safeguards or helps which the law gives for the investigation of truth, and where he has no remedy of appeal in case wrong conclusions are drawn. Many commissions for inquiry alone have issued in modern times, and far as we are aware, have been tested in courts of jushave been generally submitted to; but none of them, so tice. They have not, however, been invariably submitted to: for example, the Municipal Corporation Commission met unqualified and successful resistance |