The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-14 00:00:00

THE COURT.
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LA W tNTELLIOENCkt'
COURT OF CHANCERY, !Al is.

WANES V. C.OWSRD. 4 1,
In this cause an application was made to
solve two injunctions ''granted to • restrain tha pay-
ment of await:tee, imps the, following grounds :
The granter, being forty years of age, -had origin-
ally, by public advertise cent and auction, at Gar-
raway's, disposed of his reversionary right to an
annuity of 1001. upon the demise of u person, aged
dl, for two years purchase, and had two years sub-
sequent diaposed of anotber,,on the same contin-
gency, at a year and a hall's purchase. It was
now contended, by the Applicant, that a fair and
adequate price was given, and that the purchaser
entitled to have the injunction dissolved, and

to receive the annuities.
The Loan CHANCZLLOR took a comprehensive
view of the wisdom and policy of tl.e principle
which restricted and governed that Court in the
consideration of contracts, where young tact' took
upon themselves, from the force of present wauts,
to dispose of their future expectations. It was not
for bun then to say, whether that principle was
ultimately advantageous or rat; but he was still
prepared to assert, that it was the duty of the
Court to ascertain whether men so situated had
made a provident disposition of such expectations,
and had received a proper 4004 fide consideration ?
He wrialong of opinion, both in and out of Court,
indeed he had argued it at that bar, that by such
contracts the morals of young men thus situated
were peculiarly affected, inasmuch as an incli-
nation to cheat was as str,ogly evinced by
them, as by the persons who were the pur-
chasers on those occasions. However, it was the
sanctioned doctrine of that Court, to put upon
such contracts the most rigorous construction, and
to keep a jealous eye upon the interests attaching
to the purchasers of reversionary rights, post obits,
&c. under such circumstances. The parties them-
selves were so impri.ssed with that conviction, that
they in general took special care to fortify them-
selves, independent of the immediate contract, by
pecuniary indemnities and bonds. However, upon
the present occasion, he could see nothing on the
first contract, either to suppose fraud, improper
influence, or concealment. It was sold by public
auction, as it were calling on the public voice for
a declaration of its value. He theretere dissolved
the injunction upon that annuity.--With respect
to the other, there was a stroller feature of sus-
picion, from the circumstance, of giving a smaller
rate of purchase, as the probability 'of enjoying,*
became stronger, and of 'color* the contingency
lees, in consequence of the advancing old age of
the person upon whose death the iotarest was to
arise. Tnis suspicion warranted him in this case to
continue the injunction.
11AVAIS V. TILENIAIIITtrIL
This was an application on the part of the
Plaintiff, for a receiver. The bill bad been
different times amended, but never prayed for such
in effect. The question at issue was, vrhethit
the Defendant, as the steward of the father of the
Plaintiff, could receive as gifts certain assign-
ments of leases, to the value of 1301. per annum,
which were made to him ? The present application
was resisted on the grounds that there wu uo alle-
gation of waste, or any other apprehension, to jus-
tify the putting the Defendant out of possession:
The Loan CUANCSLLOR recommended both
parties to accelerate the hearing, as he *as anxious
not to create any prejudice previemly.
The Counsel complied, and *le hearing was
set down for the tine day of asusetfiktenn.