Case Name: French v. Gerrish
Court: New Hampshire Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
Decision Date: 1850-12
Citations: 22 N.H. 97
Docket Number: 
Parties: French v. Gerrish.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Hampshire Reports
Volume: 22
Pages: 97–98

Head Matter:
French v. Gerrish.
A count upon a note for specific articles cannot be admitted as an amendment of a declaration for money bad and received, and for the hbe of goods.
Assumpsit for money had and received, and upon an account annexed for two charges, for the use of a horse and carriage.
The plaintiff moved to amend the writ by adding a count, “ that the defendant, on the 27th of January, 1848, by his note of that date, for value received, promised the plaintiff to pay him or his order, one brass-mounted harness,” &c.

Opinion:
Bell, J.
By the 14th General Rule, " no new count or amendment of a declaration shall be allowed, without the consent of the defendant, unless it be consistent with the original declaration, and for the same cause of action."
A promissory note is admissible in evidence under the count for money had and received. But a written promise for the delivery of specific articles, or for the payment of fnoney and the delivery of specific articles, is not technically a promissory .note. We-know of no decision, that such a note is admissible under the money counts. It furnishes a claim not for a certain sum of money, but for unliquidated damages for the non-performance of a special contract.
The amendment desired would introduce a new cause of action, and is therefore inadmissible.
Judgment for the defendant