The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-07-11 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON PLIAS, GUILD/I tt.L.

Sittings after Tern, before Sir JAMES Msr.srlEtD 417 d
a SpfCial Jury.
LODGE V. DEIDGE.S.

This was a case arising from a circumstance'
which long engaged the attention of the public ;
namely, the prosecution of a claim made by the
Defendant to the Peerage of Chandos. The Plain-
tiff, who is Lancaster Herald at Armc, was em-
ployed as a confidential agent on that occasion, and,
by the present adion, sought to recover 5381. 19s.
the amount of a bill for disbursements and charges
incurred in the progress of his attendance at di-
ferent places on the Defendant's business.

Setjeants SHIPIIERD and Besr, in support of the
Plaintiff's case, described Mr. Lodge as having me-
rited the most unlimited approbation from the De-
fendant for perseverance in a long and laborious
research after those documents absolutely necessary
to support a claim to the Barony of Chandos ; the
endeavours to procure which had also occupied the
time and attention of Mr. Townsend, Herald at
Arms, who preceded the Plaintiff in the business for
a period of near eight years, at the end of which
time the Defendant, having some reason to be dis-
satisfied with Mr. Townsend, the Plaintiff was re-
quested to undertake the further conduit of the
business ; and from then until the claim was de-
cided at the House of Peers, his assiduity had never
been diminished, as relating to the Defendant's in.
wrest. By the items in the Plaintiff's bill, it appear-
ed he had charged for searching no less than nine
hundred wills in the Prerogative Office, for a long
search at the British Museum, and various dis.
bursenieuts during attendance at the Heralds' Col-
lege, bringing the claim before the Lord Chan-
cellor, and finally to the House of Peers ; the whole
amount of which charges, it was contended, would
barely compensate for the time expended and soli-
citude which had been used. The Defendant, con-
vinced that the Plaintiff was entitled to a remune-
ration, had paid 33A. and, in the present instance,
had no inclination to withhold the h.,:ance, if the
different charges in the bill were subsr..atiated.
Mr. George Naylor, York Herald, and three
other heralds of the college, being called, examined
the bill, and deposed, that, according to the charges
in the Heralds' College, the items were reasonable.
Mr. Anthony koser Haden, an officer in the
Treasury, said, he had known the Plair.tiif ten
years, during seven of which he had been, to Wit-
ness's knowledge, conuantly eitgaged in the De-
fendant's business.

Mr. B ydges, brother to the Defendant, described
the prosecution of his brother's claim to the Peer-
age of Chandos, and expressed his entire 3a:iv-anion
with the Plaintiff's zeal and assiduity. Witness
thought the latter intiticd to a considerable temu-
neration for his services, but could not say to what
extent.

Mr. Serjeant Coe/mit. obscrred, it wig not the
inteniaoa of the Defendant to impute any thing im-
planer to the Plaintiff as relating to the bill ; the
Utteudaut only wanted to have the charge: made

ont by evidence, :Met which be would willingly
pay the Utmost that could be demanded. The
Learned Serjeant proceeded to ea 4 evidence to
prove the charges were exorbitant.'-‘O4ll Sir J A ligs
MA NSF I St. D observed the Plaintiff itieght to have
described in a regular manner the mins he had ex-
pended, which it did not appear he had done. There
was a proper way of doing hilliness, namely, by pre-
serving receipts and making memorandums ; and, if
such were neglected, the party became dependant
on the honour and generosny of the person liable
to pay ; the Plaintiff had produced no evidence of
that description, therefore it was fair to conclude the
3501. which had been considered sufficient by the
gentlemen of the Heralds' College, was an the
Plaintiff had a right to claim.
The Plaintiff was nonsuited, not being able to
prove his demand.