Case: HEPBURN and DUNDAS, plaintiffs in error, v. COLIN AULD, defendants in error; and HEPBURN and DUNDAS, appellants, v. COLIN AULD, appellee
Abbreviation: Hepburn & Dundas v. Auld
Decision Date: 1809-02
Docket Number: 
Citation: 5 Cranch 262
Volume: 9
Reporter: United States Reports
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: HEPBURN and DUNDAS, plaintiffs in error, v. COLIN AULD, defendants in error; and HEPBURN and DUNDAS, appellants, v. COLIN AULD, appellee.
Judges: Marshall, Ch. J. declared the opinion of the court, in the action at law, to be, that the tender of the assignment of Graham’s contract, and the power of attorney, was good as pleaded, and that Auld ought to have accepted it.
Pages: 262–280

Head Matter:
HEPBURN and DUNDAS, plaintiffs in error, v. COLIN AULD, defendants in error; and HEPBURN and DUNDAS, appellants, v. COLIN AULD, appellee.
posseSou^m severalty a tillon may1'be presumed. In equity, dispensed with if it be not of the, contract, A vendor Epeuifie°cxecution of a eonsnle ofíand11"»' he is able’ to give a good u-tie at the time <d' the decree, although he title at the time when, by the contract, the land ought to have been con%eiiut a court of equity wiu opecifie,Ul>peiv iormauee unless the.vendor can make a good title to all the land contracted to be sold.
THE first of these cases was a writ of error to the judgment of thq circuit court of the district of Co-in an action .of debt at common law brought by Auld, agent and attorney in fact for Dunlop. & Co. against Hepburn and Dundas for 45,000 dollárs, the penalty or the same articles ot agreement which are recited in the case of Hepburn and Dundas v. dillldy dTltC^ VOl• 1* p• 321»
The second of these cases was an appeal from a decree of the same court dismissing the bill in equity brought by Hepburn and Dundas against Colin Auld, to compel him to accept the land, and pay tjje difference between the agreed value of the land , a and the award, The questions in the two cases being substantially the same, they were heard and argued together, 7 J °
The breaches assigned in the declaration, in the act’on of debt by Auld were, that Hepburn and Dundas did not, on the 2d of January, 1800, pay the amount °f the award in cash, nor bills of exchange, and did not on that day assign and transfer to Auld, the contract of Graham, with full powers, &c. 7
Hepburn and Dundas pleadéd a tender of the . *■ ~ „ , . , * . , t rr‘ assignment of Graham s contract in three dilterent pleas, the pleadings upon which ended in demurrers. The first raised the' question whether Auld was obliged to accept a deed of assignment, the preamble of which stated a part of the consideration of the assignment to be “ a full acquittance and discharge of all the claims and demands of the said* John Dunlop & Co. against them being made and executed by the said. Colin Aukl.” .The other two . demurrers brought into view the title of Hepburn and Dundas to the land sold to Graham.
The bill of Hepburn and Dundas alleges that the agreement by Auld to accept an assignment of Graham’s contract towards' the discharge of .the debt due from them to Dunlop Es? Co. and to' give an acquittance and discharge of that debt, and of all demands, was the inducement for them to submit the accounts to arbitration. It also states the acts and letters of Auld subsequent to the tender, to show that he considered himself bound to accept the assignment. That on the 27'th of June, 1801, after recovering judgment in ejectment against Graham’s heirs, Hepburn and Dundas offered to make him a deed for the land, but he refused to accept it.
The answer of Auld denies that- he was bound to accept an assignment of Graham’s contract which should bind him to give an acquittance and discharge of all demands of Dunlop Es? Co. against Hepburn and Dundas. ■ He endeavours to explain his conduct, and letters subsequent to the tender by saying that he was induced to do it by the representations of Hepburn and Dundas that it was necessary, and that the money due to them by Graham might be sooner recovered, or raised, by sale of the land, than by any contest at law relative to the transaction of the 2d of January, 1800. He denies that he ever considered the tender as good, but was willing to cooperate with them in bringing to an end the suit with Graham, until which time it would be doubtful whether a sufficient title in fee-simple could be obtained from them.
He avers that the compromise made with Graham’s heirs was without his consent, and may be set aside when they come of age.
He says the offer of a deed on the 27th of June, 1801,- was after he had brought suit' against them upon the award, and when it was apparent that their title was bad, or at all events doubtful.
In an amended answer, he states that he had requested them to exhibit tp him their title papers, which they refused to do ; and requires that they shpuld produce them, in court. Hp avers his belief that their title is defective.
Hepburn and Dundas filed a supplemental bill which states their title. It avers possession ever simfe 1773, and refers to certain title papers; they say that they verily believe their title to be good, and never heard a doubt till, long after the tender of the assignment; that as sopii as the objections were made known they took pains to remove them, and have lately obtained deeds of confirmation from the surviving patentees. That the title of Sarah, one of the co-devisees of John Went, after her death in 1795, descended upon her brothers Thomas, John and Hugh, and her -sister Catharine, and that John, Hugh, and Catharine have lately confirmed their title, and refer to the deeds ; and they suppose that Thomas had passed all his title to Sarah's part by a deed executed before her death.
The title which they show in their supplemental bill is as follows, viz.
The six thousand acres were included in a patent for 51,302 acres f land, granted on the 15th of December, 1772, by the State of Virginia to George JVTuse, Adam Stephen, Andrew Lewis, Peter Hog, John West, John Poison, and Andrew Waggoner. This tract of 51,302 .acres was in 1773 divided between the patentees who have occupied in severalty ever since. One of the shares containing 6,000 acres, was allotted tp John West, who die'd seised thereof, and devised all his Ohio lands to be equally divided among his children Thomas, John, Hugh, Catharine, Sarah and Francina, excepting that Hugh was to have 1,000 acres more than any of the other children. The, testator had but two tracts on the waters of the Ohio, viz. that of 6,000 acres on the banks of the Ohio, ánd one of 1,400 acres on Pokitallico créek¿ The devisees made a partition among themselves; Francina’s one thousand acres were allotted to her out of the 1,400 acres on P.okitallico creek, and she, and. those claiming under her, have ever since held and enjoyed the same exclusively.
The tract of 6,000 was divided between the others; Hugh having 2,000, and the other four haying 1,000 each.
Thomas, by deed of 20th of May, 1788, conveyed biis l,000‘ acres to Hepburn and Dundas.
John, by deed of 21st of February, 1790, also-conveyed his 1,000 acres, in which deed Thomas was a party.
Hugh. also, by deed of 24th of April, 1788, conveyed his 2,000 acres.
Catharine intermarried with Baldwin Dade, who, with her and Thomas West, by deed of 20th of June, 1788, conveyed to Hepburn and Dundas her 1,000. acres.
Sarah intermarried with John Bronaugh, who, with her and Thomas West, conveyed to Hepburn and Dundas her 1,000 acres, by deed of 21st of February, 1790.
Thomas, also, by deed of 25.th of April, 1788, •quitclaimed to Hepburn and Dundas the 2,000 acres conveyed by Hugh.
By virtue of these deeds Hepburn and Dundas aver that they were seised of the 6,000 acres, and so" continued seised and possessed until the contract with Graham.
They then proceed to ‘answer some objections to their title which had been suggested by Auld. They say that he had objected that the original patentees were joint-tenants, and that it does not appear that partition was made among them by deed.
To this they answer, first, that after such a lapse of time a deed ought to be presumed* And, secondly, that upon linquiry they 'found, that George Muse, Andrew Lewis, and Peter Hog died before 1787; that Adam Stephen died since 1787, and Andrew Waggoner and John Poison were still alive, who made deeds of confirmation to Hepburn arid Dundas. That they also obtained a like deed from the residuary devisee of Adam Stephen.
They also state that Auld had objected, that the partition between the devisees of John West,.not being by deed, was not valid; and that Francina, although she had consented to take her thousand acres .on Pokitaihco creek, might yet claim a share of the 6.000 acres.
Ti this they answer, that a parol partition among the devisees was valid.
They state that it. was further objected by Auld, that Sarah Bronaugh had never duly conveyed her 1.000 acres to Hepburn and Dundas, and that she was not privily examined according to the laws of Virginia.
To this they answer, .that-they believe she was privily , examined, but the commission is lost or mislaid''so .that they cannot find. it. And further that Sarah Bronaugh died in 1795, without issue; and Francina, who had intermarried with Charles Turner, died without issue in 1796, and her husband in 1802, by which deaths the interest of those ladies in the 6,000 acres, if any they had, devolved upon their brothers Thomas, John, and- Hugh, and their sister Catharine Dade, whereupon Hepburn and Dundas .obtained from John and Hugh, and Baldwin Dade and Catharine Dade, deeds of- confirmation as to the shares ;of Sarah and Francina. They did not get such a deed from Thomas, because he had before conveyed to them his' interest in those lands.
Auld’s answer to the supplemental bill, denies that any division ever took place between the devisees of John West, under his will, and avers that Francina always refused to sell her interest in the Ohio lands to Hepburn and Dundas, and that it was settled upon her husband Charles Turner, who died leaving' two children by a second marriage.
That the interest of Sarah Bronaugh never passed from her to Hepburn and Dundas, for want of her privy examination.
That the deeds from Hugh West and Thomas West, were not recorded within the eight months, so as to be valid against creditors or subsequent purchasers without notice. That Thomas was embarrassed in his circumstances for many years previous to his death, and there are still debts due from him by bonds and judgments, which bind any lands which descended to him from his sisters Sarah and Francina.
Swann and P. B. Key, for the appellants.
E. J. Lee and C. Lee, for the appellee.
On the part of the appellants, it was contended,
1. That Hepburn and Dundas had done every thing on their part necessary to entitle them to a specific execution of the agreement, and to compel Auld to accept the land and give a release of all demands of Dunlop & Co. against them.
That they were entitled to such a release upon making the assignment of Graham’s contract.
Upon this point the argument took nearly the .same course as in the case between the same ’ parties, ante, vol. 1. p. 324.
They further attempted to show, from the evidence, that it was the intention of the parties that such a release should be given in cáse of the assignment of Graham’s contract, and that instructions to that effect were given to the scrivener who drew the articles of agreement. In support of their right to prove those facts by parol evidence, they cited 1 Fonb. 188. 2 Atk. 203. 3 Atk. 388. 1 Ves. jun. 456.
2. That it was not necessary that Hepburn and Dundas should have had a complete legal title in fee-simple at the time of the agreement, nor at the time of the tender of the assignment of Graham’s contract.- But'it is sufficient to entitle them to a specific execution of the agreement if they can now give a good title. Sugden’s Law of Vendors, 249, 250.
Where time is not of the essence of the contract, the lapse of time is no bar to a specific execution, 1 Atk. 12. Sug. 246. 248. 2 P. Wms. 630. Longford v. Pitt. 2 Pow. 266. Newland, 230. 236. 238, 241.
Even if in this case time were material, Auld ha, waived it by his subsequent conduct. He never Objected on account of defect of title. He never asked for the title papers till 1804,. nor has the defect of title caused any delay,. The title was never questioned until March, 1805, long after the present bill was filed.
The title is now complete. The only question which can possibly be raised is as to any supposed interest which may have descended from Sarah Bronaugh and Francina Turner, upon Thomas West. But Thomas West, by joining in the deed from Mrs. Bronaugh, as well as by his own -deed, has estopped himself from claiming any title. 5 Bac. Abr. 440. 445. tit. Warranty.
A deed of partition between the original patentees ought now to béj presumed after thirty-six years’ possession in severalty.. Sup-. 213. 4 Term Rep. 482. Cowp. 216, 21?;.
It is not necessary under the law of Virginia that a deed of partition should be recorded.
For the appellee, it was said,
.. That Auld is a defendant. He does not come here to ask any thing. A court of equity will not decree that to be done which in equity and conscience ought not to be done. He is a mere agent. The intention of the,parties was to pay a debt, not to purchase land. The agreement was that Graham’s contract should be so assigned to Auld that he should either have the land, or the money, at his option. In order to do that, Hepburn and Dundas ought then to have had a good title j for Auld could not compel Graham to pay the money, if Hepburn and Dundas had not a good title. Auld did every thing that he ought to have done. He offered to receive such an assignment, and to give such a receipt, as were conformable to the agreement.
If the vendor has not a good title at the time when the agreement is to be performed, and the vendee brings an action at law upon the articles, the vendor cannot have a decree for a specific performance, although he afterwards obtain a good title before judgment in the suit at law.-
In April, 1801, Auld brought his suit at law upon the articles, and, as late as 1806, Hepburn and Dundas had not a good title.
The original patentees were joint-tenants. The will of John West did not sever the joint-tenancy, but all his interest Vested in the survivors. They could only sever hiy deed. 2 Bl. Com. 186.
Neither joint-tenants nor tenants in common in Virginia, could make partition by parol since the statutes for recording deeds.
That the completion of the title in Hepburn and Dundas, after suit brought by Auld upon the articles, was too late to entitle them to a specific execution. The counsel for Auld cited Newland on Contracts, 206, 207. 227. Sugd. 90, 91. 2 Pow. 19. 37. 69. 75. 79. 221. 267. 4 Ves. jun. 849. 5 Ves. jun. 818. 3 Atk. 388. 573. 1 Hen. & Munf. 131. 2 Bro. Chan. Cas. 343. 1 Bro. Chan. Cas. 93. 440. 2 Pow. 14. 2 Ves. 389. Sugd. 165. 5 East, 198. 1 Wash. 14. 1 Vern. 366. 1 Ves. 319. 1 Fonb. 107. 7 Ves. 211.
Even if there be only doubts about the title, a court of equity will not compel the purchaser to take it.
Parol testimony cannot be admitted to vary the written agreement. 1 Ves. 319. 426. 3 Call, 139. 2 Bro. Chan. Cas. 343. 4 Ves. jun. 849. 1 Fonb. 129.
The title as to Thomas West’s part of Sarah Bronaugh’s and Francina Turner’s shares of the 6,000 acres, is <clearly defective. He is'not estopped by his deed to claim under a title which he has since acquired.

Opinion:
March 14.
Marshall, Ch. J.
delivered the opinion of the court as follows, viz.
By the agreement of the 27th of September, 1799, the plaintiffs bound themselves, in the event of not páying, on the 2d of January, in bills of exchange, or money, the amount of the award to be rendered between the parties, to assign and transfer, on that day, to the defendant, a contract they had made with Graham, by which they had sold to him a tract of land containing 6,000 acres for the sum of 18,000 dollars, payable at differenttimes, with interest. They also bound themselves to execute an irrevocable power pf attorney enabling the defendant, in their names, to recover the possession of the-land, or to enforce, the payment of the purchase-money, at his election.
. The defendant covenanted to accept this assignment, towards the discharge of the award, and, if it fehould exceed the amount thereof, to pay the excess.
On the part of the defendant it has been contended that this assignment was to be received as security for, and not as payment of, the debt due to Dunlop & Co. But on this point it is impossible tip entertain a doubt. The contract itself is conclusive. The word towards" was obviously introduced because, the award not being then made, it was uncertain whether the assignment would completely discharge its amount. But the words of the agreement admit of no other construction than that it was to bé received either in part or in full payment, as the sum awarded might be of a greater or less amount than the stipulated value of the contract to be assigned, All.the testimony connected with the agreement of September, 1799, tends to confirm this construction.
The( next inquiry respects the transactions of the 2d of January,, 1800. The plaintiffs insist, and the defendant denies, that the tender made by Hepburn and Dundas on that day was a legal offer Jo do, what they had covenanted'to perform.,
. The efficacy of the assignment itself is not questioned ; but it is contended on the part of the defendant that the instrument is vitiated by the'clause which is introduced into it, reciting, as a part of the consideration on which it was'jhade, that a release of all claims and demands whatsoever, on. the part of John Dunlop & Co. against them, had been given.
The contract of September, 1799, certainly does not,,.in'terms, stipulate; for sucha release; and if this recital in the deed of assignment could possibly prejudice John Dunlop & Co. that circumstance would unquestionably invalidate the tender. But if it should be deemed an unimportant recital, .then the tender is a substantial performance of the contract, so far as it was to be performed on the 2d of January, 1800, and at least imposed on Colin Auld the duty of preparing an unexceptionable deed, and demanding its execution.
It has already, been stated that, under the agreement- of September, 1799, the assignment of Graham's contract was to be received in payment, and consequently that assignment, accompanied with a proper power of attorney, would discharge the award as fully as a payment in bills of exchange or money. Had the deed, therefore, limited its recital to a discharge of all claims and demands under the award, it would have been. strictly correct; for to such a discharge Hepburn and Dundas were entitled. The deed of assignment, properly executed and received, and the power of attorney would, in law, have been a full payment of the award ; and the subsequent'claims of John Dunlop & Co. would grow' out of the agreement of September, 1799.
The inquiry,- whether the general terms of the recital.affords any substantial'objection to the deed, produces two questions.
1. Could John Dunlop & Co. have had any other claim's and demands on Hepburn and Dundas, than were comprehended in this award ?
2. Would this recital in the deed of assignment .impair those claims which grew out of the agreement ?
1. The papers themselves sufficiently show that every claim whatever of John Dunlop & Co. on Hepburn and Dundas was settled in the award. The general complexion of the agreement óf Septena her, 1799, provea this; hut the particular stipulation to give " a full receipt and discharge of alf claims and demands of John Dunlop & Co. against them," in the event of payment, of the award being made in money or bills of exchange, places the subject beyond any doubt. Dunlop & ,Cq. had no claims and demands on Hepburn and Dundas, which were not settled in the award*
2. Could this recital impair the rights of Dunlop & Co. under the agreement of 1799?
The covenants of that agreement which were not completely satisfied were, 1st. That Hepburn and Dundas would not, after executing the deed of assign-) xnent, interfere with the measures which Colin Auld might think proper to pursue for the recovery of either the land sold to Graham, or the money due under Graham's contract; 2d. That they would convey the said lands in fee-simple, after the termination of the suit then depending, to the person who should be decided to be entitled tp them*
1. The covenant not to interfere was not a present dutv. The obligation it created did not come into existence until after the execution of the deed of assignment. It was to be a consequence of that deed. At the time of its execution, this was not a claim or a demand. Taking the \yords in their most literal sense, the covenant not to interfere would »ot, in the opinion of the court, be released by them: but the court is also of opinion that, if this was in any degree doubtful, these general terms would be restrained by the manifest intent of the parties, apparent on the face of the papers.
2. This release could not discharge the obligation to convey the lands, after the termination of the suit with Graham; for the reasons assigned against the foregoing objection, and for this additional reason ; the deed intended to transfer tq Auld all the rights of Graham under the contract, an¡d is so expressed ; and.one of the covenants in the contract assigned .was* to make a conveyance with a general warranty of a title free from all encumbrances.-
The recital,, then, presents no solid objection to the deed of assignment^. because, it could not inipair the rights of Dunlop & Co. Yet it is unusual and unnecessary, and had Colin Auld prepared a deed which was perfectly unexceptionable^ and Hepburn and Dundas had refused to execute it, this court, although the tender might have been good at lav?, would probably have held them responsible for any injury which might have been sustained in consequence of such refusal.
The power of attorney, which was tendered at the same time with the deed of assignment, appears entirely unexceptionable.
It is, then, the opinion of the court that, on the 2d of January, 1800, Hepburn and Dundas offered to do every thing which it was at that time incumbent on them to, do ; and that the tender made on that day, with the refusal of that tender, do in law amount to a performance, so far as to place Hepburn and Dundas in the same situation, with regard to"the claims of. Dunlop. & Co. under the award, as if Colin Auld had accepted the deed. This, however, did not discharge them from the duty of executing a proper deed when required, nor from the duty of making conveyances for the land which was the subject of the agreement of September, 1799.
If a. doubt existed on this point, the subsequent conduct of Colin Auld would, in a court óf equity, •amount to a waiver of the day, so far as respects the tender of the deed, and a consent to accept such deed at an after day within a reasonable time.
The subsequent demand of a deed by Colin Auld, when he tendered the money which was due op ac .coant of the excess of value in the estimated price óf the land over the sum awarded to John Dunlop & Co. was made in a manner, and under circumstances, which are hot deemed reásonable. Hepburn and Dundas had a right to consider and to take counsel on the deed they were required to execute ; and although their delay was unnecessarily great, yet the offer they made might have been acceded to. In fact, they might reasonably insist on leaving the transaction on the ground on which it was placed by the contract of September, 1799, which would h^ve been done in a manner free from all exception by executing such a deed as that tendered on the 2d of January, 1800, after striking out that part of the recital which respected the release.
The interference of Hepburn and Dundas, in accommodating the suit with Graham, is also urged as an objection to their conduct. They had certainly no right to interfere without the consent of Colin Auld. But when the correspondence is inspected, and it is perceived that they interfered only to effect the object he had himself desired, and which he had avowed his own inability to effect without their consent, the interference must be considered as innocent in point of intention, and unproductive of injury in fact.
The court, then, perceive nothing in the conduct of the plaintiffs, up to the decision of the suit with Graham, which ought to defeat their right to demand a specific performance of this contract. Could they at that time have conveyed a good title, Colin Auld ought to have accepted it.
It is alleged that the title, sold by the heirs of West to Hepburn and Dundas, was not a title to 6,000 acres of land in severalty, but an undivided interest in a much larger tract, and that, as this purchase was made, not for the purpose of acquiring an estate, but for the purpose of immediately selling and paying a debt which Auld was authorized to collect, the time of executing the contract is very material.
it Js not to be denied that circumstances., máy bender the tinae material; and the court does ndt decide that this case is not of that description. But the majority of the court is of opinion, that the éstate is tó be considered s;s an estate held in severity.-
That a complete partition ibas made by an agreement; binding on all the parties who were interest-fed, Is in flail proof. This partition would unquestionably have been protected in equity, and the majority of the court conceive that after such a lapse Of time, ahd such a long sepárate possession, a deed of partition ought to be presumed; and that the feourt, in which the verdict in the ejectment against Graham was fotmd, might so have directed the jury'.
tt remains, then; Only to inquire whether Hepburn and Hundas hold a title under West, which is so free from exception that the defendant ought. to bfe decreed to take it.
Long previous to- the contract-with Colin Auld, Hepburn and Dundas had obtained deeds from all the devisees of John West, jun. who were entitled to undivided parts of the 6,000 acres lying On the Ohio. But the deeds from Thomas West, and Hugh West, were'not recorded; and the privy examination of MbS. Broiiaugh, One bf the devisees, does not appear. By her deed, therefore, nothing passed, and the deeds of Thomas and Hugh West Were liable to very serious objections.
Had Colin Auld refused to receive a conveyance froiti Hepburn and Dundas after the.termination of Graham's suit, because they were unable to make a good title; the objection would certainly have been entitled to very serious consideration. But his rejection of the conveyance then offered was not induced by any defect in the title. He previously determined not to receive a conveyance, because Graham's contract had not been assigned in such manner as he conceived to be a full execution of the agreement of September* 1799. These omissions, then, to record the deeds of Thomas and If ugh West, and the total want of title as to M'rs. Bronaugh's part, have produced no real inconvenience to Colin Auld. Had the title been unexceptionable, it would still have been refused; and this contest would still have been carried on with the same determined perseverance which marks the conduct of the parties; Under these circumstances, it is the opinion of the majority of the court, that this case ought to be governed by those general, principles which regulate the conduct of a court of chancery in decreeing a specific performance, if the defect of title, which existed at the time of contract, be cured before the decree.
Are Hepburn and Dundas now able to convey a perfect title ?
Mrs. Bronaugh and Mrs. Turner, two of. the devisees of John West, jun. are dead'. On the death of Mrs. Bronaugh, her real estate descended on her brothers and sisters, who were her coheirs. Deeds of confirmation from Hugh and John West, and from Dade and wife have been obtained. Thomas West joined in the deed from Bronaugh and wife for the purpose of releasing his supposed reversion; but there is no conveyance from Francina Turner.
The court-is not satisfied that Thomas West, by uniting in the deed for the purpose of conveying his reversionary interest, has conveyed a title which afterwards descended on him, or has estopped himself from asserting that title. To Thomas West's part of Mrs. Bronaugh's 1,000 acres, then, Hepburn and Dundas have no title.
On the death of Francina Turner, her interest in her sister Bronaugh's estate, passed to her brothers and sister, who were her coheirs. 16 Thomas West's share Hepburn and Dundas have no title.
The undivided interest of Thomas West, which descended on him, at the death of Mrs. Bronaugh, - is 166 2-3 acres ; and. the undivided interest whiph descended on him, at the death of Francina Turner, is 41 1-3 acres; making 208 acres, to which Hepburn and Dundas have, at this time, no title.
The omission to record the deed from Thomas West is. not cured; and this court is now to decide whether, under these circumstances, Hepburn and Dundas are entitled to. claim a specific performance.
Had there been simply a deficiency of 208 acres, the majority of the court would have considered it as. a case for compensation ; or had the parties entitled to this land been before the court, a division might possibly have been, directed, and compensation for that quantity ordered : but,- however this might be, as persons not before the court hold this interest, no order can be made respecting it; and it may very much embarrass those acts for asserting the title which -may possibly , be necessary. The part actually conveyed by Thomas West, too, never having been confirmed by a deed from himself or his heirs, properly recorded, might impose on Colin Auld the necessity of bringing a suit in chancery to perfect his title ; or of being subjected to the inconveniences constantly attending the establishment of a deed not recorded, and the risks inseparable fronv such a deed. '
This, therelore, is thought-by a majority of the court to be a case not proper for a specific performance ; and the bill is to be dismissed.
Livingston, J. expressed his non-concurrence in the reasoning of the court, in the latter part of the opinion just delivered by the chief justice. He would dismiss the bill, even -if a good title could now be given by the complainants. This court can no more dispense with punctuálity as to time, in Any case, than with any other part of the agreement. But in this particular case;, time, was of the. essertee of. the contract. The object was.payment of á debt; and frofn the anxiety of thé de- . fendant to resist a decree for a conveyance,' and the desire of the complainants to urge it upon him, it is. to be presumed that, the lands have fallen in valúe during this delay of the title. The remedy hy a decree for a specific performance is a departure from common law, and ought to be granted only in cases where the party who seeks it has strictly entitled himself to it. It is said that by the English authorities, the lapse of time may be disregarded in equity, in decreeing A specific execution of a contract for land. But there is a vast difference between contracts for land in that country and in. this. There the lands have a known, fixed, and stable value. Here the price is continually fluctuating and uncertain. A single day often makes a great difference; and in almost every case time is a very material circumstance.
H.e dissented also from another part of the opinion, which intimates that if this were simply a deficiency of a few hundred acres, it would be considered as a case of compensation. This part of the opinion does not seem to be necessary, and does not affect the present case; but this court can in no case compel a specific performance on terms and conditions. We'cannot decree a special, execution for part, and assess damages as to the residue.
This is like a contract for 5,000 bushels of wheat. A tender of 4,500 would not be good; and we cbuld not compel the purchaser to take a less quantity than 1 he contracted for. So here the contract was for .6,000 acres. The compláinants have a title tb a part only; vve could not compel the defendant to take that part, and gi've him damages for the non-conveyance of the residue.
Johnson, J. observed, that he had perhaps taken a peculiar view of this subject, but he should be irt favour of decreeing a specific performance gene rally; leaving Auld tó his remedy upon the warranty of the complainants for any defect of title which might appear. Auld, perhaps, thought it would be a good speculation, and had stipulated for a general warranty.
He acquiesced, however, in dismissing the bill, because he considered the judgment in the-action at law brought by Auld against the complainants, as equivalent to a decree for a specific execution of the agreement, inasmuch as it prevents him from obtaining satisfaction in any other way for the sum awarded.
Marshall, Ch. J. declared the opinion of the court, in the action at law, to be, that the tender of the assignment of Graham's contract, and the power of attorney, was good as pleaded, and that Auld ought to have accepted it.
Judgment reversed.