The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-02 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, May 31.

IMPERIAL GAS COMPANY V. LONDON GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
An action had been brought by the plaintiffs against
the defendants for cutting their pipes and affixing ser-
vice pipes of their own to the plaintiffs' mains, thus
allowing the plaintiffs' gas to flow into the defendants'
pipes.
The defendants pleaded the Statute of Limitations.
The plaintiffs, by their replication, stated that the de-
fendants, by secret and fraudulent means—namely, by
cutting off the service pipes which they had thus affixed,
and stopping up the holes in the plaintiffs' mains, had
within six years endeavoured to prevent, and, in fact,
prevented the plaintiffs from discovering their cause of
action. To this replication the defendants demurred.
A second count in the plaintiffs' declaration stated the
trespass of plugging up the pipes, and the fraudulent
concealment thereby of the cause of action, and alleged
the loss of the right of action as consequential damage.
To this count the defendants demurred also, but ob-
tained leave to plead as well as demur.
The demurrer was supported by Mr. Bovill, and Mr. I
Wilder appeared for the Imperial Company.
The question in the first place was, whether if a de-
fendant wilfully and fraudulently had taken means to
prevent the plaintiff from discovering his right of action
for six years, the defendant could plead the statute, or
whether the time did not run from the discovery only of
the right of action. A second question rose on the
second count, as to whether, if, by the fraudulent act
and trespass of the defendant within six years the right
of action was concealed until it was barred, this trespass
did not give a new right of action in which the measure
of the damages would be the loss of the former right.
The Court unanimously held that the statute ran un-
conditionally, and stated that a contrary decision would
be attended with the utmost alarming consequences.
The demurrer to the replication must be allowed. The
second count of the declaration was clearly good, as it
alleged a trespass within six years ; but it would be for
the judge who should try the case to direct the jury as
to the measure of damages. If the defendants were em•
barrassed by the wording of the count they might go
before a judge at chambers.. This demurrer must be
overruled.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-JUNE 1.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BILL.

Amendment proposed, in line 16, to leave out the words
" admitted to all tho privileges of the University with-
out being of necessity." Question put, " That tho words
' admitted to all tho privileges' stand part of the clause."
The committee divided—Ayes 205, Noes 113.

AYES-205.
A'Court, C. Greville, Colonel F. Patten, J.
Aglionby, H. Grey, Rt. Hon. Sir G. Pechell, Sir G.
Annesley, Earl of GrOSVeROr, Ld. R. Peel, F.
Atherton, W. Hadfield. George Pa!lett, A.
Itaines, Rt. lion. M. Hall, Sir Benjamin Perry, Sir E.
Ball, J. Hankey, T. Philipps, J.
Bass, if. Haninar, Sir John Phillanorc, R. J.
Beamish, F. Harcourt, Geo. Phinn, T.
Bell, J. Beetle, Archd. Pigott, F.
Bethell, Sir It. Ileadiam, T. Pilkington, J.
Biggs, W. Heard. J. Pinney, W.
Blacke,t, J. F. B. Ileathcoate, Sir W. Pollard-Urquhart IV
Bland, L. H. Herbert, H. Ponsonby, A.
Boyle, Lt -Col. Herbert, S. Portal, H.
Brady, J. Ilervey, Lord A. Price, Sir R.
Brainston, T. W. Heywood, J. Ramsden, Sir J.
Brand, IL B. W. Higgins, G. 0. Ricardo, 0.
Brocklehurst. J. Bradley, C. Rice, E.
' Brockman, E. D. liorsma ~ E. Rich, 11.
Bruce, Lord E. Howard, Hon. C. Richardson, J.
Bruce, H. A. Hughes, W. Robartes, T.
Buckley, Gen. Hutt, W. Roebuck, J.
Byng, G. H. C. Ingham, R. Rushout, Capt. G.
Campbell, Sir A. I. Jackson, W. Ituss,ll, Lord J.
Cardwell. E. Johnstone, Sir J. Russell, F. C.
Caulfeild. Lt.-Col. J. Keating, B. Sadleir, James
Cavendish, C. C. Keogh, W. Sadleir, John
Cayley, E. S. Kershaw, J. Saute, C.
Challis, T. King, L. Scobell, Capt. G.
Clinton, Lord R. R. P. Kinnaird, A. Scully, F.
Cobbett, J. M. Kirk, W. Scully. N-
Cobden, R. Labouchere,RLHon.ll Seymour,
Lord
Cockburn, Sir A. J. E. Langston, .1 . H. Seymour. NV.
Cogan, W. H. F. Langton, IL G. She lley, Sirir J.
Collier, It. P. Lee, W. Smith, J
Colvile. C. R. Lemon, Sir C. Smith, J. B.
Cowper, W. Lewis, Sir T. F. Smith, R.
Craufurd, E. H.J. Loveden, P. Smith, Abel
Dashwood, Sir G. 11. Lowe, R. Smollett, A.
Davie, Sir HR. F. Luce T. Stafford, Marquis
Denison, J. E. ilcTaggart, Sir J. Stanley, W.
Dant, J. D. Maguire, J. F. Stirling, W.
Drumlanrig, Vis. Mangles, R. D. Strutt, E.
Lord D.
Duncan, G. Massey, W. Stuart,
Dunne, M. Matheson, A. Tapered, H,
H.
Elcho, Lord Mall, E. Thicknesse,
Ellice, E. Milligan, R. Thorneiv, T.
Elliot, J. E. Mills, T. Thonthill, W.
Ewart, W. Milner, W. Tomline, G.
Fergus. J. Michell, Dr. W. Towns end, Capt. J.
Ferguson, Sir R. hionck, Viscount Train, G.
Fitzgerald, W. Moncrieff, J. Vane, Lord H.
Fitzroy. lion. 11. Monsell, W. Vernon, G.
Foley, J. Morris, D. Vivian, 11. 11.
Forster, C. Moetyn, E. Walmsley, Sir J.
Forster J. Mulgrave, Earl of Walter, J.
Fortescue, C. Muntz, G. Whattnan, J.
Freestun, Col. More, Col. W. Whitbread, S.
Geach, C Murrough, J. Wickham, H.
Gladstone, W. Norreys, Lord Wilkinson, W.
Gladstone, Capt. J. North, F Williams, W.
Glyn, G. O'Connell, D. Wilson, J.
Goderich, Viscount O'Connell, J. Wood, Sir C.
Goodman, Sir G. O'Flaherty, A. Wortley, J. S.
Gower, F. Osborne, R. Young, Sir J.
Graham, Sir J. Otway, A.
Greene, Capt. John Paget, Lord A.
Greene, Thomas Paget, Lord G.
Gregson, Samuel Palmer, Roundel! Hayter, W.
Grenfell, Charles Palmerston, Viscount Berkeley, G.
NOES-113.
Arbuthnott, Lt.-G. H. Gwyn, 'Towel Parke, C.
A rchdall, M. Hale, Robert Pakington, Sir J.
Arkwright, G. Hall, Colonel John Palmer, Robert
Bailey, Sir J. Hamilton, G. A. Percy, J.
Bailey, C. Hamilton James, 11. Phi llimore, J. G.
Baldock, E. Hanbury,Capt. lion. C. Pritchard, J.
Bateson, Capt. T. Harcourt, Col. F. Repton, G.
Bennet, Capt. P. Hardinge, Hon. C. Sandars, G.
Bentinck, G. Henley, J. Seymer, 11.
Blair, Lieut -001.3.11. Hill, Lord A. E. Somerset, Capt. E.
Boldero, Lt.-Col. H. G. Hudson, G. Stafford, A.
Booker, T. W. Jolliffe, Rir W. Stanhope, J.
Sroolse, Sir A. B. Jones, Capt. T. Starkle, Le G.'
Buck, L. W. Jones, D. Taylor, Lt. C-01. T.
Burroughes, EL N. Ker, D. Tollemacbe, J.
Butt, I. Kerrison,'Sir E. Trollope, Sir J.
Chelsea, Viscount King, J. Tudway, R
Child, Smith Knatchbull, W. Tyler, Sir G.
Clinton, Lord C. P. P. Lacon, Sir E. Vance, J.
Cocks, T. S. Langton, W. H. P. G. Vane, Lord A.
Compton, H. C. Lennox., Lord A. F. Vansittart, G.
Deedes W. Leslie, C. P. Waddington, D.
Disraeli, Rt. Hon. B. Liddell, EL G. Waddington, 11.
Duncombe, llon.W.E. Lindsay Lt.-Col. J. Walcott, Rear-Ad.
Dunne, Lt.-Col F. Lisburne, Earl Walpole. S.
East, Sir J. Lockhart, NV. West. F.
Egerton E. Lowther. Capt. IL Whiteside, J.
Farnham, E. Mandeville, Viscount Whitmore, la.
Farrel, J. March, Earl of Wigram, Loftus T
Fellowes, E. Meux, 'zit* 11. Williams, T.
Floyer, J. Miles, W. Woodd, B.
Forester, Col. G. Montgomery, H. Wynn. Capt. 11.
Forster, Sir G. Montgomery, Sir G. Wynn, Sir W.
Galwey, Sir W. Mundy, W.
Galway, Viscount Naas, Lord
George, J. Neeld, John
Goddard. A. Neeld, Joseph
Goulhurn, H. North, Lt.-Col. J.
Graham, Lord M. Oakes, J.
Grogan, Edward Ossulston, Lord

TELLERS.

TELLzsts.

Newdegate, C.
owbray, J.