Source: https://chestofbooks.com/business/law/Law-Of-Contracts-2/Chapter-XI-On-Remedy-In-Equity-Or-Specific-Performance-Section-I-Of-The-Or.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 06:21:04+00:00

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This power was claimed and exercised by courts of equity, as all their powers were to enable them to supply a manifest insufficiency of the law; and the common principle of equity that it will not give relief where the plaintiff has an adequate remedy at law, is applied to specific performance, (aa) But as it would be obviously and extremely inexpedient to have two independent jurisdictions, one antagonistic to the other in its principles and its operation, equity has always preferred and professed to "follow the law."(b) * Nor was this profession insincere, or disregarded in practice; but the application of it has been attended with much difficulty. To "follow the law," meaning thereby to go only where that went, and do only what that did, would destroy the peculiar ability of the court of equity. To oppose and set aside, with direct contradiction, the rules and decisions of the law, would be open to still graver objection. And to avoid these extremes, - not to violate the law but to fulfil its purposes, - and to supply those wants which render its administration of its own principles imperfect, is the true purpose of equity; and it is equally important and difficult.
(a) Treatise on Equity, ch. 1, § 4. The jurisdiction to decree specific performance of contracts, unlike most other branches of equity, is said not to have had its origin in the Roman law, but to be purely the invention of the English clerical chancellors. 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 220, note (f). And to its exercise by the Court of Chancery in England, one of her most distinguished chancellors, Lord St. Leonards, has attributed that good faith which prevails among the English people in a degree not found in many other countries. See Lumley v. Wagner,1 De G. M. & G. 604, 619,13 Eng. L. & Eq. 557. He had made a similar observation when Lord Chancellor of Ireland. French v. Macale, 2 Drury ft W. 273.
(aa) Pennsylvania, etc. Co. v. Delaware, etc. Co. 31 N. Y. 91; Scott v. Billgerry, 40 Miss. 119; Columbus, etc R. R. Co. v. Watson, 26 Ind. 50; Jones v. Newhall, 115 Mass. 244.
(b) Equity in decreeing specific performance does, as a learned writer has remarked, but carry out the principles of the common law; giving that remedy which the courts of common-law would give if their mode of administering jus-See were adapted to the case. Mitf. PI.
118. And see Alley v. Deschamps, 13 Ves. 228. What is aimed at is the exact accomplishment of the intention of the parties. French v. Macale, 2 Drury & W. 272.
(c) See 2 Story, Eq Jur. § 724, n. 1.
(d) Lord Eldon, Ch., in White v. Damon, 7 Ves. 35 The conditions which should be fulfilled to entitle the plaintiff to a specific performance are stated very comprehensively and clearly by Lord Redesdale, Hernett v Yeilding, 2 Sch & L. 653-555. And the whole subject is fully considered in Willard v. Tayloe, 8 Wall. 557.
(e) Watson v. Marston, 4 De G. M. & G 230, 31 Eng. L & Eq. 167; Mortlock v. Buller, 10 Ves. 308, 1 Fonbl. Eq. B. 1, § 9, note (i); King v. Hamilton, 4 Pet 311; Waters v Howard, 1 Md. Ch Dec 112, 8 Gill, 262; Hennessy v. Wool worth, 128 U. S. 440; Blake v. Flatlev, 44 N. J. Eq. 228. The discretion exercised by a court of equity, when it refrains from executing a contract, is certainly not an arbitrary, but a judicial discretion. If it is a case proper for a specific performance, the court is not at liberty to refuse to grant it. This is what appears to have been the meaning of Sir William Grant, when he said: "Supposing the contract to have been entered into by a competent party, and to be, in the nature and circumstances of it, unobjectionable, it is as much of course in this court to decree a specific performance, as it is to give damages at law." Hall v. Warren, 9 Ves. 608. And see Bennett v. Smith, 10 Eng. L. & Eq. 274, 16 Jur. 422, per Turner, V. C.; Daniel v. Frazer, 40 Miss. 507.

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