stated, that, in case of a separation between the husband and wife, the latter should be allowed five pounds a year for her maintenance, was void; the modification made by the Court of Appeal not having in substance altered the decree of the Ordinary Court; so far from that, the modifications might serve as additional evidence of the soundness of the judgment of the Court below. The Court having, on the demand of one of the crown officers, decided three times during the two last terms, and at least five times during the past year, that an advocate had a right to answer a crown officer, in a case for defamation; it may now be considered a rule, that an advocate is entitled to reply to a crown officer; and the only right the latter can claim is, that he may answer such advocate without preventing the other crown officer, with whom that advocate may be adjoined, from being heard last, if pleading FOR THE DEFENDANT; if, on the contrary, he plead FOR THE PLAINTIFF, then, immediately after the advocate with whom he is adjoined, and before the crown officer to whom he is opposed. In this manner, the respective rights of crown officers and advocates are preserved, according to a regulation of Court made between them a few years back.

Such was, in substance, the result of many hours patient and laborious investigation on the part of the judicial body in this island, and yet, with a little care, in what a narrow compass may not the whole be confined.

MEMORABILIA OF GUERNSEY, FOR 1836.

JANUARY.

Royal Court. The decision of privy council, in the celebrated affair of the tax question, was made known to the public, by which the ancient mode of rating Foreign and English funds was confirmed, and declared to be the established law of the island.*-William Collings, esq. was re-elected supervisor of the harbour, and treasurer of the States. The king's weights were let to Mr. John Cochrane for one year, at a rent of £205, and £10 for the premises; also for one pound to the receiver. The contractor was bound to keep the whole in repair. The court decided that the old copper money of France should cease to be a legal tender, after a month's notice. -An ordinance was passed compelling the sellers of beer and cider, consumed on their premises, to pay eight pounds per annum for a licence, as the publicans do. ---In reference to the law of debtor and creditor, the court provisionally ordered, 1st. That every act or registry for a debt first due, obtained within fifteen days prior to insolvency, shall give no preference to a creditor who may have obtained it on the immoveable property of the debtor, except for the money out of pocket in obtaining such registry, which shall be paid in full. 2ndly. That the precise date of the insolvency shall be fixed by the court, according to the circumstances of the case, and that such

* For full particulars, the reader is referred to page 113 of our first volume.

date shall be from a day when acts or registries shall have been passed for debts precedently due in actions against the debtor, to obtain confirmation of arrests for sums sufficiently considerable in reference to the estates of the debtor, in order that a reasonable presumption may be established, that his affairs were then in so disastrous a state, that he could not meet the claims of his creditors. 3rdly. That every creditor, whether he shall have made an arrest or not, who resolves to declare the insolvency, must either oppose the sale of the debtor's goods, or present himself before the commis of the court, before whom the other creditors may have been sent to prove their respective demands and preferences, or demand an intervention in the cause in any action on the part of an arresting creditor against a third party, in whose hands the arrest is made, for the purpose of declaring what he may owe or have in hand belonging to the debtor.

Abrogation of dilatory pleas.-1st. The default of vers à dix-huit sous' abolished, in civil causes. 2ndly. The delays of'aux frais pour n'avoir pas instruit son avocat,' and 'aux frais pour n'avoir pas ses pièces,' shall no longer be granted to a defendant, after an act of 'vers biens,' ofvers désobéissance,' of vers reconnu,' of vers arrêt confirmé,' or of vers signification confirmée.' 3rdly. That in every action to obtain payment of bills of exchange, and other negociable securities, or of billets passed before the

In the ordinary court.-When there are no witnesses, guarantees, or parties ordered to intervene in a cause, the summonses to the principal parties shall be served at least two days before the cause can be heard; on the Thursday for the Saturday, and on the Friday for the Monday; but if there be witnesses, &c., then the summons must be served on the principal parties three days before the cause can be heard.

In the admiralty and criminal court.When there are no witnesses, &c., one day before the trial is sufficient, except in special cases, when the time must be three days at least.

Pleas of inheritance. - When there are no witnesses, &c., the summonses to the principal parties shall be served, at latest, on Thursday; but when there are, then they must be served on the Wednesday for the following Tuesday, and four days before the day fixed for arbitrations or opposition to legal claims, In judgment, whether in admiralty or otherwise, the summons must be served four days before the cause is passed.

In vue de justice, whether in admiralty or otherwise, the summonses to the principal parties must be served at the least four days before the hearing of the cause.

court, or two magistrates, whether paya- discretion of the court, and in matters ble to order or otherwise, the delay 66 aux relating to shipping :frais pour n'avoir pas instruit son avocat,' be annulled. 4thly. That in all actions to obtain division of an inheritance, the delays "aux frais pour n'avoir pas instruit son avocat,” and “aux frais pour a'avoir pas ses pièces," be refused to the defendant. 5thly. That when a creditor, who has obtained permission to issue a warrant or summons on the real estate of his debtor, (exploiter) shall put a cause against him "à lui indiquer un fonds sur lequel il puisse exploiter," it shall be lawfal for the creditor, if the debtor makes default, either to arrest his person, or to take the following appointment: "vers et est permis de se saisir de tout et tel héritage comme peut appartenir au dit défendeur.” 6thly. That when a defendant is absent from the island, it shall be sufficient to call on him to appear (évoquer), on two consecutive Sundays, after the performance of divine service at his parish, and then to appoint an attorney. as his representative. 7thly. That when a necessary witness is absent from the island, the first delay shall be "sursoira quinze jours," and the second, the time being fixed by the court according to the circumstances of the case, "sursoira pour autre terme." 8thly. That in every vue de justice, that is to say, when the judges personally inspect the subject matter in dispute, be it land or building, the cause shall be decided by a single default, the plaintiff proving that the defendant had regular notice by summons. 9thly. That all leases and sales of rents, before commis, shall take place after the second publication, instead of the third. 10thly. That no letting on rent, or sale of rent, before commis, shall take place, before the subject has been advertized in oue of the French gazettes printed in the island, except in urgent cases specially sanctioned by the court. 11thly. That the proceedings in the pleas of inheritance to ratify and confirm a renunciation made in the mobiliary court, be reduced to two defaults, instead of three, to wit, "vers premier défaut, et sera le prevôt partie," and "prevôt du roi amerci, ratific, et corrobore, soit partie présente, soit après avoir fait évoquer le défendeur." 12thly. That after renunciation in the mobiliary court, the period during which the registry of the saisie shall remain open, shall be reduced from nine months to six months. 13thly. That in order to prevent improper defaults being taken, and to give the party summoned ample time to give due notice to his witnesses, the ajours shall be served in the following manner, except in urgent cases, at the

The court further decreed that the present ordinance in no respect invalidates those clauses of the ordinance of the 23rd May, 1797, which regulate the time in which ajours and significations ought to be served to reduce, into writing, depositions made in præsenti, to be considered in futuro.

The court empowered the constables to remove such scrapers, as jutted out from houses in the public streets, when they seemed dangerous.

Parochial Meetings.-Mr. Charles Lauga was elected constable for St. Peter's Port, to replace Mr. Havilland Carey. He protested against the election, on the score of bad health. Mr. John Vidamour was elected treasurer of the town hospital, Mr. William Brock, vice-treasurer, Messrs. Burley, Guerin, and Jones, directors. Messrs. Le Page, Le Normand, and Dorey, were elected collectors of the poor. A vote of thanks was unanimously given to Mr. H. De Garis Agnew, for his services as treasurer.

Official Appointments.-Mr. H.Tupper, one of the advocates of the royal court, was nominated agent to Lloyd's, in room of Mr. A. Isemonger. Messrs. Roussel, Brouard, Le Lacheur, and Sarre, were named collectors of the poor of St. Andrew's,

Parochial Meeting. — A meeting was held of the heads of families of the town and parish of St. Peter-Port, when it was decided by a large majority, that the town church should be lighted with gas.

an annual ground rent of three hundred unanimously elected surgeon of St. Sampand five quarters, two bushels of wheat. son's parish. -Mr. Peter Blampied was sworn in constable of St. Sampson.-John Guille, esq. our worthy lieutenant-bailiff, was deputed by the court to proceed to Jersey, for the purpose of presenting two silver vases to Messrs. Le Breton and Le Couteur, the Miscellaneous.-The Atalanta, steamcourt having declared, "That the States boat, arrived here for the first time from have resolved to present a token of their Southampton, on Wednesday, 24th inst. esteem to Messrs. Le Breton and Le Cou- A superb piece of plate valued at upwards teur, for the zeal they displayed on their of four hundred pounds was presented to deputation, in defending our privilege of John Jeremie, esq. formerly an advocate importing into England, free of duty, of the royal court of Guernsey, by the corn, the produce of the islands.- Mr. subscription of several of the most distinDaniel Le Mesurier was sworn in as one guished philantrophists in England, as a of the douzeniers of the Catel parish, in mark of their esteem for his exertions in room of Mr. Thomas Massy, resigned. the abolition of negro slavery.-Doctor P. Grut was thrown from his horse and unfortunately killed, to the great regret of a numerous circle of friends.

Official Appointments.-Mr. J. Thoume received his commission as lieutenant in the first or East regiment of infantry.

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Miscellaneous.-The portrait of the bailiff, voted by the States, for the various important services that he has rendered to his country, was placed in the court house. Mr. W. Machon launched a vessel of about seventy tons, and Mr. Parrot a cutter of about forty tons. - Mr. B. Hawkins arrived for the purpose of inspecting the state of the prison.-Lord De Saumarez laid the foundation stone of the new church at the Amballes. Died at Alderney, Mr. J. Le Cocq, aged seventy-two years, who had been a jurat of the court thirty years.

JULY.

Parochial Meeting.-The heads of families in the town and parish of St. Peter's Port held a meeting at which Mr. W. Brown was re-elected a director of the town hospital, and Messrs. T. Carré and J. Marche replaced Messrs. A. Bishop and W. Guille.-At the same meeting Messrs. De Beaugy, Angel and Brouard were elected collectors of the poor, in the room of Messrs. Grut, Collings, and Collenette.

Miscellaneous.-The medals struck in honour of our worthy bailiff, at the sole expense of Mr. P. Bienvenu, jun. arrived in the island from Birmingham.-The celebrated polar navigator, Sir John Ross, visited the island.-Died suddenly, the Rev. T. Grut, rector of St. Andrew.-Mr. Lucas Le Cocq was elected jurat of the royal court of Alderney, in the room of his deceased father, by a majority of 88

votes.

AUGUST.

Royal Court.-Mr. N. Mahy was sworn in constable of the Câtel.-Mr. J. De Putron was sworn in constable of St. Peter's-Port.

Official Appointment.-Dr. Bisson was

SEPTEMBER.

States Meeting.-The States voted a piece of Plate to his excellency major general Ross, as a mark of the public esteem, for his conduct during the period he has held the office of governor of this island.

The principal object of this meeting was to adopt precautionary measures of defence against the threatened attacks of the local banks against the States notes. A long and stormy discussion took place which terminated in the appointment of a financial committee, who were deputed to hold a conference with the proprietors of the two banks.

Official Appointments.-J. Gaudion, attorney-general in Alderney, was named judge of that court.-W. J. Sanford was named his Majesty's receiver in that island, and T. Barbenson was appointed successor to Mr. Gaudion, in the office of attorney general.-Mr. H. Price received a commission as lieutenant in the town regiment.-Doctor Bisson was elected surgeon of the country hospital, in the place of Doctor Grut deceased.—The Rev. E. Mourant took possession of the parish church of St. Andrew, vacant by the death of the Rev. Mr. Grut.-The Rev. D. Dobréc was appointed rector of the united parishes of the Forest and Torteval.-The Rev. F. Jeremie was elected minister of Trinity chapel by a majority of eight votes.

OCTOBER.

Royal Court.-At the chief pleas of Michaelmas term, the rents for the year 1835 were fixed at twelve shillings and sixpence a quarter; capons at 4s. 3d. a couple, and fowls at 2s. 10 d. a couple.The court after having heard the conclusions of the king's officer decreed, 1st. that