the cause in the first instance, he was not sufficiently acquainted with its merits to undertake the defence in the absence of his client, and therefore moved the Court for a delay of three weeks, as was usual in such cases. The motion was refused. The case was then gone into, and the judgment of the inferior Court was affirmed. On the 30th Nov. following, execution issued, by an Act of Prison against the Procureur, (not the debtor), in which the officer of the Court was authorized, in default of payment, to seize his person and commit him to prison. On the Procureur's return to Jersey, the execution was levied, and he was taken into custody by the Deputy Vis count, who conducted him to the Goal. But here it was discovered, that the action had been wrongfully instituted, it being against the Procureur, instead of his constituent, which shows the slovenly manner in which legal matters are managed. The fact having been pointed out, the officer took upon himself to liberate the arrest, giving his record of the same, upon which it might be supposed that the process had been spent but no, they then took another course. The record of the officer was returned into Court, the 6th of April, when a motion was made, ex-parte, that the Dep. Viscount should be authorized to write to the said Charles Vautier, who was absent from the island, requiring him to satisfy the judgment, on pain that his property should be adjudged renounced and passed by a Decret. The motion was granted, and an act drawn up, setting forth that the officer had applied to the Procureur for payment, but omitted to state that he had seized his person in execution of the judgment, pursuant to the same, and had subsequently liberated him. Thus we see, an action instituted against the Procureur, instead of his constituent, a judgment recovered and execution levied agaiust his person, to satisfy a debt for which he was in no way responsible-the arrest afterwards liberated, and measures taken against the property of the constituent, to make him a bankrupt, although no action had been instituted, or judgment recovered against him! Who will say after this, that the Jersey Court is a proper tribunal to have the disposal of the rights, liberties and property of 40,000 persons?

Trusts. It appears, that no real property can, strictly speaking, be placed in trust, either in Jersey, or Guernsey ; hence the usual course is, to make an absolute transfer to the party, as if it were a bona fide sale, and take a bond for the value, and a private agreement declaring the purposes for which the transfer has been made. There are about 35 dissenters' chapels in Jersey, held either in this way, or by some other scheme, which cost about £15,000. Now all these

chapels are viewed by the law as being the sole property of the individuals whose names are in the contracts, or title deeds; and whose heirs and assigns are liable for the rents or debts that may be owing on them; consequently they are subject to all the casualties and mutations of private property, which may be set forth in a few words. If a trustee dies, the property vested in him must descend to his heirs, excepting it be so charged with debt, that the latter renounces to the succession, in which case it goes to the Tenant under a decret. If a trustee dies without heirs in a decret line, it reverts to the Lord of the Manor for a year and a day, and if he voluntarily expatriates himself for 7 years, without causing his where. about to be known, or without appointing a procureur, or an administrator being elected to him; or is banished from the Island, for that period, he then becomes dead in law, or if he commits self murder, in all there cases the property reverts to the Lord of the Manor, and in default thereof to the Crown, absolutely and for ever.

Tumultuous Meetings.-The following is a translation of the Act of the States, passed on the 16th Feb., 1797, and which received the Royal Assent on the 27th April following:

Article 1.-All persons are prohibited from gathering together, or assembling tumultously, to the number of twelve or more, with a view or under pretext,,of considering, declaring, or representing whether verbally or in writing, some pretended grievance on pain that such mob be declared illegal. All persons are equally prohibited from publishing, announcing or declaring, either by notice posted up or advertisements pub. lished, the assembling or gathering of persons for or under pretext of considering, or representing a pretended grievance, under the penalty of two hundred livers, against each offender, without, however, prohibiting, preventing, or restraining in any manner, the convocation, holding, and functions of public assemblies, authorised by law and custom; the right is also reserved to all persons to represent, in a suitable manner, to the constituted authorities, the subjects that are of the competence of the said authorities respectively.

Art. 2.-If any Constable or Centenier is informed of a mob Or an illicit assembly of persons in his parish, he is authorized and directed forthwith to repair thither, and loudly to order, in the King's name, those who shall be so assembled or gathered together, instantly to disperse and retire peaceably home, to their lawful occupatious; and if half an hour after such order given, six persons or more remain gathered together, the Police Officer in that case is hereby authorized and directed

to seize the refractory individuals, and present them in Court, and to this end, to procure the assistance not only of police officers, but of all other persons whom in case of need he may call to his assistance; which persons shall be bound to afford the said officer all the assistance in their power, under pain of such fine and imprisonment as the case may be thought to deserve; and each of those who shall be punished by banishment, which shall not exceed the term of five years.

Art. 3.-If a police officer, or any other person acting under his orders, is opposed by force in the execution of the duties prescribed in the foreigoing article either in going to the spot where such illicit mob or assembly was held, or in the execu. tion of the functions on the spot itself where the crowd was assembled, or in the act of seizing, or after having seized, the refractory individuals, he or other persons acting under his directions, or who should have concurred or assisted therein, shall be punished by a banishment not exceeding 7 years, or by a more serious punishment in the event that such opposition were accompanied by ill treatment, or the wounding of the said police officer, or other person acting under his orders, according to the nature of the crime.

Art. 4.-If any damage is done to the house, goods, or property of any individual, by an illegal assembly or mob, or by any one of them, such damage, whatever it may be, that shall have taken place, shall be repaired at the expense of the parish wherein such damage shall have taken place, which ex pence shall be taken out of the parish rate, the parish being indemnified on the goods and chattels of the delinquents.

Art. 5..-The fines imposed by these regulations, are applicable one third to the King, one third to the General Hospital, and one third to the poor of the parish, where the contravention shall have been committed.

(Signed)

JOHN DE VEULLE, Greffier. Usury. By the old Norman Laws, an usurer not only could not recover a claim founded in usury, but forfeited all his goods and chattels to the King, or the feudal Lord. By the Laws of Jersey also, usury is prohibited. In Vicery v. Lempriere, (1830) the Plaintiff actioned Defendant for payment of a promissory note for £22 4s. 6d. which had been renewed from time to time, for about 2 years, the original sum having been £10, and the remainder for interest at 30 per cent, during that period. The Court found for defendant and directed plaintiff to pay costs. This decision is just the reverse of the English practise as the following case will show. If a promissory note be given for repayment of a sum lent with usurious interest, and

the note when due be taken up and another substituted for it, the offence of usury is not thereby committed. nor is the penalty incurred until the latter note be paid. [Maddock v. Hammett, 7. T. R. 184.]

Verdict.-Some of the most inconsistent verdicts imaginable are upon record. Take the following for example. In 1832, the Coroner's Jury returned the following verdict :-" That the death of William Coady was accidental, by having had his hand crushed between a wall and a wheel-barrow which he was wheeling, caused from a shock against the said barrow by a cart driven by Ph. Deslandes, without any malice or premediation on his part, but that it appears, that the said Des. landes conducted his cart with great negligence, refusing even to stop when requested by the said Coady before the accident, and also after to give him the assistance which he needed." In consequence of this verdict the prisoner was liberated on giving bail. In the Crown v. Vibert, Laffolet and others, 1835, the following precedent was cited :-In a criminal prosecution against three men accused of theft, the Jury were divided in opinion the Lieut. Bailiff De Carteret received the individual declaration of the members, and rendered a verdict of "Not Guilty." The Foreman of the Jury (Mr. De La Garde) observed that this was a mistake, for the Jury declared the prisoners Guilty." Mr. De Carteret re-examined the paper containing the declaration of those gentlemen, and was accordingly about to alter the verdict, but the Court decided that the declaration of "Not Guilty" having been made public, the prisoners acquired the benefit thereof, and they were consequently discharged.

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Verdict, influencing of.-In the case of Caillot, accused of the wilful murder of Mary Jane Williams, in 1836, it was alleged that the Bailiff De Veulle, in delivering his charge to the Jury, exercised an undue influence against the prisoner, by stating that, "if he formed one of the Jury he should not hesitate for a moment to declare that the prisoner was guilty of the whole accusation." The prisoner was consequently convicted,there being twenty against four, whereas had the re been nineteen against five, he would have been acquitted. In consequence of this, a petition was forwarded to the Privy Council, setting forth the fact, which was also certified in writing by the prisoner's Advocate, and corroborated by an affidavit from one of the Jury, on which his Majesty was pleased to commute the sentence to transportation for life to New South Wales.

Vinegar.-By C. O. June, 3, 1834. Vinegar the produce of Jersey and Guernsey, is, on importation, allowed to be shipped

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direct from the warehouses free of duty, for the stores of vessels outward bound, in the same mauner as other bonded goods are now permitted to be exported for that purpose.

Vinglenier is a police officer, who presides over a District or Vingtaine, into which each parish is divided, and is assistant to the Constable and Centeniers. The following is the oath he takes You swear and promise by the Faith and Oath that you owe to God, that well and faithfully you will execute the office of Vingtenier of the Vingtaine of

in

the Parish of that you shall make all lawful summons and records, and assist the Constable or Centeniers when you shall be required, and perform all other duties which appertain to the said office.

Viscount, his duty, in representing an absent party.—" It is ordered that henceforth, as soon the Viscount shall be made party for the absent person, that within the next ensuing Court after he shall have been constituted a party as aforesaid, he shallanswer, without having or taking any delay or prolongation, or default, more than the party would have had if he were present, unless it were that he, or they, for whom he would be constituted party, should have leisurely gone out of the Country anterior to their said summoning, for then the sand Viscount might take one default, and one delay only; and henceforth, those who fail in their causes shall be condemned to the expences of the adverse party, and to relieve them of all costs, charges, and interest, according to the award of the Justice, for whatsoever cause it may be, as well real as personal, or of whatsoever nature and condition it may be, for and to the end, that in future time no one should undertake or maintain any law-suit against another unless he feel the cause to be good, just, and loyal; and henceforth all summonses shall be in causes, and shall make full mention of the nature of the cause, and shall be dated and signed by him who shall issue them, to the end that he may be responsible if by his negligence any fault is found therein, and at the peril of the party. [Ordinance of Queen Elizabeth, 16th July, 1562. omitted to be registered on the Rolls. in order that it might not have force.] See Records, omission in.

Visitors of the Roads.-[La Visite des Chemins.] The following is the oath they take :-You swear and promise by the faith and oath you that you owe to God that you will conduct the Justice by the Queen's Roads, Lanes and public ways, where you believe there are any impediments or encroachments, which impediments and encroachments you shall declare