explain its history and progress, its consistency or inconsistency with moral abstract justice, and with the prin ciples of liberty, sound policy, and good government. Our proficiency in it as a science will be in proportion to our attainment of that knowledge. The system of the bankrupt law now forms the most extensive and important branch of the mercantile law of the United Kingdom; and though much has been done, it is probable that it is capable of greater improvement; and I shall feel a pleasing satisfaction, if I should have reason to reflect that my labours have not been in vain; but have contributed in some degree to enable the learned members of my profession to carry the English law as a liberal science to a state of still higher perfection. Field Court, Gray's Inn, EDWARD CHRISTIAN. THERE being a perpetual reference to the Chancellors in the following work; a list of them, since the 1st of Eliz. may probably be thought useful. Lord Chancellors, Lord Keepers, and Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of Great Britain, with the dates of their respective appointments, from the year 1559. STATUTES. 31 & 35 Hen. 8. cap. 4. 1542. AN ACT AGAINST SUCH PERSONS AS DO MAKE BANKRUPT.(1) WHERE divers and sundry persons, craftily obtaining Preamble, into their hands great substance of other men's goods, do suddenly flee to parts unknown, or keep their houses, (2) not minding to pay or restore to any their creditors, their duties, but at their own wills and pleasures consume debts and the substance obtained by credit of other men, for their own pleasure and delicate living, against all reason, equity, and good conscience: Be it therefore enacted by the authority of this present parliament, That the Lord Chancellor of England, or Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord President, Lord Privy Seal, and other of the King's most honourable Privy Council, the Chief Justices of either Bench for the time being, or three of them at the least, whereof the Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the Great Seal, Lord Treasurer, Lord President, or the Lord Privy Seal, (1) See observations upon the derivation and origin of the word bankrupt, and the translation of it into Latin, 2 Bl. Com. 472. (2) The two acts of bankruptcy, specified in this statute are fleeing to parts unknown, and keeping house, not minding to pay their creditors. Until one of these acts was done by the debtor, the Lord Chancellor, the two Chief Justices, and the other high officers of state named in the statute, had no authority to proceed conformably to the provisions of it. These are still continued throughout all the subsequent bankrupt statutes to the present day, as the chief and most general acts of bankruptcy. |