ROYAL VISITS TO THE INNS OF feast, and would seem almost incredible,

In the 10th of Henry 7th, on the 16th of November, Holingshead informs us that the Serjeants' feast was held at Ely House, where dined the King, Queen, and all the chief Lords of England. Also in the 19th of Henry 7th, 19th November, the Serjeants' feast was held in the palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth, where dined the King and all his nobles. This feast was kept at the charge of ten learned men, whose names the historian gives.b

In the 23d of Hen. 8th the Serjeants' feast was kept in Ely House, and on the principal day King Henry and Queen Catharine dined there. " It were tedious," says Dugdale, "to set forth the preparations of fish, flesh, and other victuals, spent on the

474

Royal Visits to the Inns of Court.

time of his landing till he entered the Hall; This is true, and certainly the account of where he was received with twenty violins, the last revel ever held, which is given us in which continued as long as his Majesty stayed. Dinner was brought up by fifty select gentlea note, is absurd enough. men of the society, in their gowns, who gave their attention all dinner while, none other appearing in the Hall but themselves; the King and the Duke of York, sitting under a canopy of state, at a table set at the upper end of the Hall; advanced three steps above the rest. The Lord Chancellour, with the rest of the noblemen, sitting at a long table on the right side of the Hall; and the Reader, with those at the Society on the other side. On the 3d of November following, to the further honour of this Society, his Royal Highness the Duke of York, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Dorset, and Sir William Morice, Knight, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, were admitted of this house; the Duke of York being then called to the Bar and Bench. And on the 4th of November, 14 Charles II, his Highness Rupert, Prince Palatine, Thomas Earl of Cleveland, Jocelyn Lord Percy, John Lord Berkley, of Stratton, with Henry and Bernard Howard, of Norfolk, were admitted of this Society."

In the 11th of James the 1st, the Society of Lincoln's Inn presented a grand masque before the King on the occasion of the marriage of the Lady Elizabeth, his daughter, with the Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine. And also another in the 9th of Charles the 1st, which latter was so acceptable to that monarch, that we are told that his Majesty, besides expressing his thanks, invited a hundred and twenty gentlemen of the four Inns of Court unto a masque at Whitehall.f

Nor was Gray's Inn behind hand in these solemnities. We find that the gentlemen of this house were among the actors in the great masque at the marriage of the Princess Elizabeth with the Count Palatine, which we have already mentioned.

Of these feasts, Mr. Wynne, the author of Eunomus,h says, our judgment on matters of ancient story, is too apt to take a tincture from the manners of the age in which we live, and then if they happen widely to differ from our own, they must in this light appear deformed and ridiculous. The masques and revels were not ridiculous as used by our ancestors, but would be so if kept up now, because the diversions which must always conform to the humour of the age, are as different now from what they were a century or two back, as the language, the dress, and general prevailing manners of those times are from the present."

Dug. Orig. 246. g Dug. Orig. 286. h P, 294, 5th edit.

held in honour of Mr. Talbot, when he took "This took place in the Inner Temple, leave of that house, of which he was a bencher, on having the Great Seal delivered to him. A friend, who was present during the whole entertainment, obliged Mr. Wynne with the following account, which, with some circumstances supplied by another gentleman, then likewise present, seemed worth adding here, by way of comparison with those in former times, and as it may probably be the last of the kind. On the 2d of February 1733, the Lord Chancellor came into the Inner Temple Hall, about two of the clock, preceded by the Master of the Revels, (Mr. Wollaston,) and followed by the Master of the Temple, (Dr. Sherlock,) then Bishop of Bangor, and by the Judges and Sergeants who had been members of that house. There was a very elegant dinner provided for them and the Lord Chancellor's officers; but the barristers and students of the house had no other dinner got for them than what is usual on all grand days, but common allowance of port and sack. Foureach mess had a flask of claret, besides the teen students waited at the bench table, among whom was Mr. Talbot, the Lord Chancellor's eldest son; and by their means any sort of provision was easily obtained from the upper table by those at the rest. A large gallery ladies, who came for the most part a considerwas built over the skreen, and was filled with able time before the dinner began; and the music was played in the little gallery at the upper end of the hall, and played all dinnertime. As soon as dinner was ended, the play began, which was Love for Love, with the farce of the Devil to Pay. The actors who perin chairs, ready dressed; and as it was said, formed in them all came from the Haymarket refused any gratuity for their trouble, looking upon the honour of distinguishing themselves on this occasion as sufficient. After the play, the Lord Chancellor, Master of the Temple, Judges, and Benchers, retired into their Parliament Chamber, and in about half an hour afterwards came into the Hall again, and a (but no fire or embers were in it). Then the large ring was formed around the fire-place, Master of the Revels, who went first, took the Lord Chancellor by the right hand, and he, with his left, took Mr. J. Page, who joined to the other Judges, Serjeants, and Benchers present, danced, or rather walked, round about the coal fire, according to the old cereaided in the figure of the dance by Mr. George mony, three times, during which they were Cooke, the Prothonotary, then of sixty: and all the time of the dance, the ancient song, accompanied with music, was sung by one Toby Aston, dressed in a bar gown, whose father had been formerly Master of the Plea Office, in the King's Bench. When this was over, the ladies came down from the gallery, went into the Parliament Chamber, and stayed about a

quarter of an hour, while the Hall was putting | corporated by such letters patent, any privilege in order; then they went into the Hall, and or privileges which, according to the Rules of danced a few minutes. Country dances began the Common Law, it would be competent to about ten, and at twelve, a very fine collation her Majesty, her heirs and successors, to was provided for the whole company; from grant to any such company or body of persons which they returned to dancing, which they in and by any charter of incorporation. (s. 2.) continued as long as they pleased; and the The letters patent so granted may provide whole day's entertainment was generally thought that suits shall be carried on in the name of to be very genteelly and liberally conducted. one of the officers of any company appointed The Prince of Wales honoured the perform-for that purpose.-That in any such letters ance with his company part of the time: he came into the music gallery incog. about the middle of the play, and went away as soon as the farce of walking round the coal fire was over."

We have no wish to revive the days"When my Lord Keeper led the brawls, And seals and maces danced before him ;" But it may be worthy of consideration, whether the Inns of Court might not, out of their ample revenues, afford an entertainment to her Majesty, worthy of her and

of them.

CHANGES IN THE LAW IN THE LAST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT, 1837.

No. XXVII.

CHARTERS FOR PUBLIC COMPANIES. 1 Vict. c. 73.

patent so to be granted as aforesaid by her Majesty, her heirs or successors, to any such company or body of persons so associated together as aforesaid, but not incorporated, it shall and may be lawful, in and by such letters patent, either expressly or by a general or special reference to this act, to provide and declare that all suits and proceedings, whether at law, in equity, or in bankruptcy or sequestration, or otherwise howsoever, as well in Great Britain and Ireland as in the colonies and dependencies thereof, by or on behalf of such company or body, or any person or persons as trustee or trustees for such company or body, against any person or persons whether bodies politic or others, and whether members or not of such company or body, shall be commenced and prosecuted in the name of one of the two officers for the time being to be appointed to sue and be sued on behalf of such company or body, and registered in pursuance of the directions of such appointment and registration respectively herein-after contained; and that all suits and proceedings, whether at law or in equity, by or on behalf of any person or persons, whether bodies politic or others, and whether or not members of such company or body, against such company or body, shall be commenced and prosecuted against one of such officers, or if there shall be no such officer for the time being, then against any member of such company or body: provided nevertheless, that nothing in this act or in such letters patent contained or to be contained shall prevent the plaintiff from joining any member of such So much of 6 G. 4, c. 91, as is hereinbefore set company or body with such officer as a defendforth, and the 4 & 5 W. 4, c. 94, repealed.-ant in equity, for the purpose of discovery, or That so much of the said act of the sixth year in case of fraud. (s. 3.) of the reign of his Majesty King George the Individual liability of members of a company Fourth as is herein-before set forth, and also may be restricted by letters patent. That it the said recited act of the session of Parlia-shall and may be lawful, in and by such letters ment held in the fourth and fifth years of the patent so to be granted to any such body or reign of his late Majesty King William the company as aforesaid, to declare and provide Fourth, shall be and they are hereby respec- that the members of such company or body so tively repealed. (s. 1.) associated as aforesaid shall be individually Privileges may be granted by Letters Patent liable in their persons and property for the to Persons associated for trading or other pur-debts, contracts, engagements, and liabilities poses. That it shall and may be lawful for her Majesty, her heirs and successors, by letters patent to be from time to time for that purpose issued under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or in Scotland under the seal appointed by the articles of the union to be used instead of the great seal thereof, to grant to any company or body of persons associated together for any trading or other purposes whatsoever, and to the heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns of any such persons, although not in

This act passed on the 17th of July last, and is intituled "an Act for better enabling her Majesty to confer certain Powers and Immunities on Trading and other Companies." It recites 6 G. 4, c. 91, by which the members were rendered individually liable, and 4 & 5 W. 4, c. 94, and enacts as follows:

of such company or body to such extent only per share as shall be declared and limited in and by such letters patent; and the members of such company or body shall accordingly be individually liable for such debts, contracts, engagements, and liabilities respectively to such extent only per share as in such letters patent shall be declared and limited; such liability nevertheless to be enforced in such manner and subject to such provisions as are herein. after contained. (s 4.)

Deeds of partnership to be executed. That

every such company or body to which any such | pany or body (except by means of the transfer

privileges or powers as herein-before mentioned shall be granted under the authority of this act shall be entered into or formed by a deed of partnership or association, or an agreement in writing of that nature; and the undertaking shall by such deed or agreement be divided into a certain number of shares to be therein specified; and in such deed or agreement, or in some schedule thereto, there shall be set forth the name or style of the said company or body, the names or styles of the members of the said company or body, the date of the commencement thereof, the business or purpose for which the said company or body is formed, and the principal or only place for carrying on such business; and in such deed or agreement there shall also be contained the appointment of two or more officers to sue or be sued on behalf of such company or body in manner herein-after mentioned. (s. 5.)

Return to be made as herein-after mentioned of the granting of letters patent, and style of company. That such company or body as aforesaid shall, within three calendar months after the grant of such letters patent as aforesaid, make or cause to be made a return to such one of the offices for enrolment hereinafter mentioned as shall be required under the provisions of this act, containing the date of the grant of such letters patent as aforesaid, the name or style of the said company or body, the business or purpose for which the said company or body is formed, the principal or only place for carrying on such business, the total number of shares in the said company or body (and each of which shares is to be distinguished by a separate number in regular succession), the amount to which each share shall render the holder thereof liable, the names and (except as to bodies politic) the places of abode of all the members thereof, and the distinctive number or numbers of the share or respective shares which each member holds; and such company or body shall also at the same tine make a return of the names and descriptions of the officers appointed by such company or body to sue and be sued on behalf thereof in manner aforesaid; such return to be made in the form in the schedule (A) to this act annexed. (s. 6.)

Name of company not to be changed after registry. If place of business changed, return to be made. That during the continuance of any such company or body after it shall have been so registered, no change shall be made in the name or style thereof; and if the principal or only place for carrying on the business of the said company or body shall be changed, the said company or body shall within three calender months after such change make or cause to be made a return to the said office as aforesaid of such change in the form in schedule (B.) to this act annexed. (s. 7.)

by deed or writing of any share therein), or in case of the addition of any person thereto (except by means of the transfer of any share as aforesaid), or of the change of the name of any member thereof by marriage or otherwise, the said company or body shall, within three calender months after information shall be received by the said company or body of any person so ceasing as aforesaid, or of such change or addition as aforesaid, make or cause to be made a return to the said office as aforesaid, containing the names and places of abode of all persons having ceased to be members thereof (except as aforesaid), and the names and places of abode of all persons having become members thereof (except as aforesaid), and specifying any change in the name of any member thereof by marriage or otherwise; such return to be made in one of the forms in the schedule (C.) to this act annexed, as the case may be. (s. 8.)

On transfer of shares, notice to be given to the company or corporation by transferee.-That on the transfer by deed or writing of any share in any such company or body as aforesaid, a notice in writing specifying the date of such transfer, the distinguishing number of the share transferred, the name and (-xcept in the case of a body politic) the place of abode of the person by whom or on whose behalf, and of the name and (except as aforesaid) the place of abode of the person to whom such transfer is made, shall be given to the said company or body, by leaving the transfer, when executed by both parties, or some note or memorandum thereof, signed by them, at the principal or only office of the said company or body. (s. 9.)

Company or corporation to make return within three months after receiving notice of transfer.— That in case of the transfer of any share in such company or body, the said company or body shall, within three calender months after receiving such notice as aforesaid of such transfer, make or cause to be made a return to the said office as aforesaid, containing the date of such transfer, the distinguishing number of the share transferred, the name and (except in the case of a body politic) the place of abode of the person by whom or on whose behalf such transfer is made, and of the person to whom such transfer is made, in the form in schedule (D.) to this act annexed; and such company or body are hereby required, on the request in writing of either of the parties, forthwith to make such return accordingly. (s. 10.)

Any person having made payment in respect of a share in a company under any judgment against such company to make a return thereof to Court of Chancery -That where the extent per share of the liability of the individual members of any such company or body shall have been limited by letters patent as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for any person who shall or may When persons cease to be members of company from time to time have advanced or paid any sum or corporation, except by transfer of shares, or in consequence or by virtue of any execution or of change of name of member, company to make diligence issued against him in respect of any return within three months.-That in case any share in such company or body, under any person shall cease to be a member of such com-judgment, decree, interlocutor, or order to be

obtained against any officer of the said company | provided always, that this clause shall not inor body, or any member thereof, in manner validate or prejudice any intermediate transacherein-after mentioned, to make a return tion or matter whatsoever which shall have boná thereof to such othee as aforesaid in the form fide taken place or proceeded upon the faith in the schedule (E.) to this act annexed; and of such erroneous or defective return, nor shall every such return shall be accompanied with the benefit of this clause extend to any error a proper voucher or vouchers of the fact of or omission which shall be fraudulent. (s. 15.) such payment, without which the same shall Returns to chat office to be made respectively not be registered as herein-after mentioned. in England, Scotland, or Ireland.-That where (s. 10.) the principal or only place for carrying on the business of any such company or body as aforesaid shall be situated in any part of England or Wales, the returns herein-before directed shall be made to the Enrolment Office of the Court of Chancery in England; and where such principal or only place for carrying on such business shall be situate in any part of Scotland, such returus shall be made to His Majesty's General Registry Office at Edinburgh; and where such principal or only place for carrying on such business shall be situated in any part of Ireland, such returns shall be made to the enrolment ofice of the Court of Chancerv in Ireland. (s. 16.)

Company to make return when repayment is made of money so advanced by any person.That if any sum or sums shall at any time be repaid by any such company or body as last aforesaid in respect of any such sum which may have been so advanced or paid by virtue of such execution or diligence, the said company or body shall forthwith make or cause to be made a return to such office as aforesaid, specifying the amount of such repayment, in the form in schedule (F.) to this act annexed. (s. 12.)

On death, resignation, or removal of officer appointed to sue and he sued on behalf of company or body, another to be appointed, and return made. That in case of the death or resignation or removal of any officer appointed to sue and be sued on behalf of any company or body to be formed in pursuance of any of the provisions of this act, the said company or body shall forthwith appoint in his stead another officer to sue and be sued on behalf of such company or body, and shall, within three ca lender months after the death, resignation, or removal of such officer as aforesaid, make or cause to be made a return to the said office as aforesaid, containing as well the name and description of the person who has ceased to be such officer in manner aforesaid as the name and description of the officer who has been appointed to sue and be sued on behalf of such company or body; such return to be made in the form in schedule (G.) to this act annexed. (s. 13)

Returns how to be signed and verified-That all Returns to be made in manner aforesaid by such company or body shall be signed by one of such officers, and shall be verified by a declaration of such officer made pursuant to the provisions of 5 W. 4, c. 62, except that if there shall be no such officer, or such officer shall refuse to act, then such return shall be signed and verified as aforesaid by some member of the said company or body. (s. 14.)

Return of names of members, &c. not to be rendered invalid by unintentional error.—That any return to be inade in manner aforesaid of the name or place of abode of any original member of such company or body, or of any | person to or in whom any share in such company or body shall be transferred or become vested, shall not be rendered invalid for the purposes of this act by any error or omission in the same, if the said company or body shall, within one calender month after information of such error or omission shall be received by such company or body, cause a correct return to be made to the said office as aforesaid in the form in schedule (F.) to this act annexed:

By whom returns are to be registered.—That all such returns as are herein-before directed to be made to the Enrolment Office of the Court of Chancery in England shall be registered by the Clerks of the Enrolments in Chancery or their deputy, and that all such returns as are herein-before directed to be made to the General Registry Office at Edinburgh shall be registered by the Lord Clerk Register or his deputy, and all such returns as are hereinbefore directed to be made to the Enrolment Office of the Court of Chancery in Ireland shall be registered by the Clerks of Enrolments in Chancery in Ireland, or their deputy, in books to be by them respectively kept for that purpose, and that an alphabetical index shall be kept of the names of such companies or bodies, with references to such returns, and that there shall be paid for the registering of each return a fee of sixpence per folio, and no more; and that any person shall be at liberty to inspect such books and index, and that there shall be paid for such inspection a fee of one shilling, and no more; and that any person shall be at liberty to require a copy of any such return, to be certified by the said clerks or their deputy, and that there shall be paid for such certificate a fee of one shilling and sixpence for each folio of such copy, and no more; and the day of the registration of every return to be made in pursuance of this act shall be written on such return by the said clerks or their deputy (s. 17.)

Certified Copy of such return, &c., to be received in Evidence. That a copy, so certified as aforesaid, of such return including the date to be marked on such return, shall be received in evidence in all proceedings, whether civil or criminal, and shall also be received as evidence of the day of the registering thereof. (s. 18)

Regulations as to forms of returns, and mode of keeping the Register, &c., by whom to be made. That such orders and directions as to the forms of the returns to be made in pur