The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 5, 1847.

temporary raintenanoe to their families during satires ;
also in paying the funeral expenses of mashers,
and contributing towards the maintenance of their widows
and orphans. The members meet weekly to pay
their subscriptiona (averaging about one shilling •
fortnight), to receive applications for relief, and to decide
upon the expenditure of the funds. Deputies appointed by
the members of the lodges meet annually to reconsider the
various rules end regulationset the dianct associations, with
• view to their improvement The easociations are wholly
unconnected with each other in relation to the lodge funds,
and the enamel meeting of deputies is only for the pop-
per of advising and preserving harmony among the associa-
tions, confining with each other as to the best means of
promoting the objects of the association, and of recommend-
ing, on their return Item such annual meeting, to the mem-
bers of the various lodges, the adoption of such measures as
they may have agreed to be most desirable. The bill stated
the party:l4lam of the dispute which led to the expulsion of
the plinutiffs, but it is unnecessary to mention them, as the
case which was heard today upon a demurrer to the bill, Ira
principally argued upon the legality of the associations.
Mr. Rolt end Mr. R. Palmer for the defendants,:who were
the °deers of the Loyal Highland Leddie Lodge, and others
connected with the amosnation contended that the asso-
ciation was one which carefully excluded any contract
the members cognisable at law, or in equity, and
among
it WY not within the jurisdiction of the court.
The organisation was such as to render them illegal within
the act of George 111., unless the emaciation came within
one of the four exceptions pointed out by those acts. These
exceptions were Fr, enamor' societies, Quakers' societies,
relhaous institutions, and charitable institutions. The
Freemaeons' societies wen to be registered in • particular
way, and therefore the exception of them did not apply
here, there being no such registration of these aro-
ciatiOus. It may be said that it is a charitable
institution ; but it is no more such than a life or
fire insurance society, which provides a benefit for the sub-
scribers, upon a certain contingency. As, then, this case
does not come a ithin either of the e it as an illegal
associationassociationassociationwithin the swastimg of the n xceptions,th Geo. 111. e. 19,
which closets meow seethise sad m teal elect dele-
gates to meet and wroitherldt Mbar sederiee or delegates of
other societies.—The Vlso.Chathellor : That is what the
inns of court are ethelthly doing. They are voluntary
societies ooetiauily deputies to confer. I have
been party to i.sl p myself.—Mr. R. Palmer :
But the Imenlomalrostha of the act would apply it only to
those societies which have, r part of their rules, provisions
for regular and stated correspondence for the general
purser of their society, not to those which only
es particular cireuenstances may arise, depute some
atteair members to confer.—The VictoChantsellor I hope it
may be so.—Mr. Rolt The rules ad these associations pro.
vide der the settlement of their affairs by themselves, upon
=rniPof bretherly love, sad the defendants lel that if
illikles are brought balm a wart of justice, to be there
dheriel, the *Web of dr smothiss would be destroyed.
1 Vthrebeasther, at the semelebra of the rgmmnt for
W delodanth mid that he druid at ones decide. that if
he slowed the demerrer, be *sold give the plastids liberty
to nomad their bill somasly. Mr. -Rumen and Mr. Har-
grave for the plaiatff were wain to take the judgment of
tea imurt the = des association, if the dal s-
loth waive the bill. The
Ytholhomothlor milk that it waltim to
asatieramory to have
He ere argued ups that point sloth without having all
the materials before the court which could not be on the
rgunient of a demurrer. He theeld, too, be very unwill-
ing to decide such a question, without the misters of a
court of law. . . . .

—ltenstites arranged that She ball should be amended
within that. weeks.

PREROGATIVE_ COURT.

Noonan AOLIMIT DANIIL —Mr. Charles Stanhope, the
deceased in the cause, died on the 21et Jue,1845, at the ad-
vanced age of 85 years. The property left, real and personal,
amounted to about 24,0001. Mr. Daniel and his family
were benefited under a former paper, executed by the tes-
tator, and they oppose the last will which leaves the bulk of
the property to the Rev. Dr. Nome, the rector of Clapham
church, in the parish of which the deceased resided for some
years. It was objected that Mr. Stanhope bad had an
attack of paralyds, and was imbecile when he executed his
last will. Bir H. Jenner Must judged that the will and
codicils bore evidence of being valid, and they were executed
by the solicitor of the testator ; but would wish to hear
counsel in opposition. Upon this, Dr. Haggard commenced
his argument against the paper, Dr. Jenner being on the
muse aide.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.

B. r..

A BOOKULLBIL —The bankrupt, R. Weir, bookseller, in
Harley-stmt, Cavendish-equate' applied for hie certificate.
His debts were about 1,6001., and the assets 6001.—He was
supported by Mr. Lawrence, and opposed by Mr. Collett, on
the ground that the expeners exceeded the profits.—A letter,
signed by Mr. Chu. Collett, solicitor, and addressed to Mr.
Weir, Levine been handed to the court, kis Honour re-
marked that the conduct of Mr. Collett had been of •
moat improper nature respecting a bill for 2401., which he
(Collett) wanted the bankrupt to accept, and make payable
at a banking-house at which place, it appeared that the
bankrupt bad individually no assets. Such conduct, for a
professional man, could not be sanctioned by a mercantile
court. Under all the circumstances of the coae, considering
that there were many of a favourable nature to the bankrupt,
he (the learned commissioner) would, by way of example,
&dictum the certificate for six months; and, in order that Mr.
Weir should not be open to annoyance from Mr. Collett or
any one else, protection would be granted in the mean time.
TER Tatoo, RILDING, AND BASIKOIIT01.• RAILWAY.—
We have been informed that the creditors of this railway
sampan y have received 20e. in the pound,with interest at the
rate of four per cent.

desired to prom the wand indictment on amount of the
great public importance which attached to money orders.
During the last year no hoe a sum than ten millions had
been transmitted through the medium of the Post-office.
The prisoners were found Guilry, and a former conviction
wee proved against McPherson, but the jury recommended
him ta mercy, thinking be was an instrument in the bands
of the other men.—fteateuce, twelve months imprisonment.