Montgomerie (Lord and Lady) v. Wauchope [1816] UKHL 4_Dow_109

UKHL
Montgomerie (Lord and Lady) v. Wauchope
[1816] UKHL 4_Dow_109
REPORTS OF APPEAL CASES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, During the Session , 1816.56 Geo . III.SCOTLAND.APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF SESSION.

No. 7

Montgomerie (Lord and Lady) Appellants v. Wauchope Respondent

March 27 , 29 ; April 1 , 8 , 1816 .Subject_ TRUSTEES, TUTORS, CURATORS — HOW TO ACCOUNT.accounts made up under the directions of one alone of the parties as a ground for judicial proceeding, that the appointment of a trustee by co-trustees to be cashier and agent to the trust to be paid as cashier and agent could hardly be supported in England, that a trustee ought to keep his accounts so regularly at least as to enable the Court to judge how far the assistance of professional accountants might be necessary in the particular case, but that a trustee acting bonâ fide bonâ fide with a view to the interest of the cestui que trust ought not to suffer for mistake unless he very grossly miscarried.A trustee , tutor, and curator, appointed cashier and agent to the trust by co-trustees, and when called upon to account, produces accounts made up by accountants from his own instructions. Lord Ordinary appoints objections of a general and preliminary nature to be stated to the accounts, reserving the examination of particulars and vouchers till these should be disposed of. Objections given in that the accounts were not annually balanced, that interest was allowed only at 3 ½ per cent., whereas interest ought to have been calculated at three per cent de die in diem from time of receipt till three months after the annual balance, and then on the balance at five per cent. and the right to demand all the profits stated but not insisted on, that a charge was made for the service of the accountants which ought to be paid by the trustee and agent as it was by his negligence in not keeping the accounts himself that their services became necessary, that his charge for his own trouble in the management was excessive, and that a charge made for making up titles to certain lands by adjudications in implement, without general service and decree of constitution, ought not to be allowed, as the titles were improperly completed and therefore useless. After several proceedings, final interlocutor below approving the accounts in toto without any examination of particulars. This last interlocutor reversed as inconsistent with the reservation in the Lord Ordinary's interlocutor which was not appealed from, and the cause remitted for review as to the rest, so that the claim for all the profits might be insisted upon if that question was still open.The Lord Chancellor observing that he could not conceive how it came to be imagined that the accounts ought not to be annually balanced, that it was new in principle to take

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This was a question as to the principle and mode of accounting by a tutor, curator, and trustee, who was also agent and cashier for his colleagues in the guardianship and trust, with the pupil and truster.1796, death of Lord Eglinton, and leaving two daughters, the elder ten years of age.Appointment of trustees, tutors, and curators, of whom Respondent was one.Archibald, late Earl of Eglinton, died in 1796, leaving two daughters. Before and at the time of his death he was entitled to and possessed of a very large estate real and personal of his own acquisition, besides two entailed estates, one of which by the destination went to his cousin the succeeding Earl of Eglinton, the other to his elder daughter Lady Mary Montgomery. By a deed of nomination of Feb. 8, 1788, and a disposition and settlement of Jan. 18, 1791, Earl Archibald had appointed Sir James Montgomery the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, in Scotland, Sir Archibald Macdonald, then Solicitor General, afterwards Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in England, and others, amongst whom was John Wauchope writer to the signet, to be tutors and curators of his daughters, and trustees of his fortune for their benefit.Respondent appointed cashier and agent by his co-trustees, &c.

Wauchope had in the Earl's life time been his

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1803. Marriage of elder daughter at age of sixteen years.1806. The elder daughter and her husband proceed to close the trust.Action of multiplepoinding.Lady Mary the elder daughter, who was only ten years of age in 1796 when her father died, was in 1803 at the age of sixteen or seventeen years married to her cousin Lord Montgomerie, son of the present Earl of Eglinton; her father's wishes expressed in his last illness being in that respect complied with. Lady Susan, the other daughter, died in 1805, in minority. In 1806 Lord and Lady Montgomerie determined to settle with the trustees, and for the purposes of that settlement an action of multiple-poinding was in 1807 instituted in the names of the trustees, in which all proper parties were called, that the trustees might account and be judicially exonered.Respondent produces accounts made up by accountants under his own instructions.Wauchope, by appointment of the Lord Ordinary, then produced an account of his intromissions as cashier and agent, prepared under his own instructions, by Messrs. Keith and Wilson, professional accountants. Wauchope, it appeared, had not made up his accounts annually, and had rendered none to the tutors and trustees till 1806, and in the accounts prepared by Keith and Wilson no annual rests had been made, nor annual balances struck.Jan. 25, 1811. Interlocutor of Lord Ordinary, ordering objections to the accounts to be stated, if they should appear objectionable.Four objections stated.The Lord Ordinary by interlocutor of Jan. 25,

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Interlocutor of Lord Ordinary, Nov. 1812.The Lord Ordinary by interlocutor, Nov. 12, 1811, first in part appealed from, found that the accounts ought to be annually balanced; and that interest on the balances ought to be charged at the rate of 4 per cent. and repelled the other objections.Interlocutor of Court, July 2, 1812.Representations having been given in by both parties against this interlocutor, the Lord Ordinary made avizandum with the cause to the Lords of the first division, and informations having been lodged, the Court, by interlocutor, July 2, 1812, (second in part appealed from), found that the accounts must

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Interlocutor of the Court, Nov. 12, 1812.Both parties reclaimed, and the Court, Nov. 12, 1812, ordered the petition for Lord and Lady Montgomerie to be answered, with the exception of the point of the expense of making up the titles as to which they adhered, and this part of the interlocutor was appealed from.Interlocutor of the Court, Feb. 2, 1813.Appeal.After answers put in, the Court by interlocutor, Feb. 2, 1813, (fourth appealed from) approved of the whole accounts of Keith and Wilson, as they stood without examination of particulars or vouchers, and Lord and Lady Montgomerie appealed.Argument.The point chiefly contended for below on the part of the Appellants, after the matter of annual balance, was that interest should be charged on the sums received at the rate of 3 per cent. de die in diem , from the time of receipt until three months after the annual balance should be struck, and from that time at the rate of 5 per cent .—There were some passages in the pleadings below, touching upon the right of the Appellants to an account of all the profits made by the Respondent of the trust money; but this appeared to be stated rather as a right which might be, than as one which actually was, insisted upon.

Forbes v. Ross , 2 Bro Ch. Ca. 430

N. B. In this case a remuneration was not objected to, but only the amount of the charge.When the cause, however, came to be heard upon appeal, the point chiefly insisted upon for the Appellants was, that the Respondent ought to account

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11 Ves. 92.For the Respondent it was argued, that the account of all the profits made, had never been asked below, and the Appellants had even made a merit

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In reply it was contended that the Appellants had made an offer to account on a certain principle, which was not accepted, and not having been accepted, it was no waiver of the right to insist on the whole profits made. (Lord Eldon , (C.) Then what had the judges to do with it?) Merely to say whether this was not a fair principle. ( Lord Eldon , (C.) I do not understand this: Wauchope brings in his account; the Lord Ordinary orders you to state any preliminary and general objections you may have to it. You might then say—“We will have nothing to do with this account, and insist on the general principle, and all the profits made.” But instead of that, you proceeded to take the opinion

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Mr. Wetherell and Mr. A, Murray for Appellants; Sir S. Romilly and Mr. Leach for Respondents.April 8, 1816. Judgment.Lord Eldon . (C.) This is a singular proceeding, and one which, according to my notions of legal proceedings, I am as little able clearly to comprehend, as any that ever came before me in the course of my judicial experience.Ersk. Mor. Ed. p. 811. Lib. 4. T. 3. S. 23.The case was originally brought into Court by action of multiple-poinding, and your Lordships have heard passages read at the bar from the books, from which it appears that the nature of that action in general proceedings is well understood.Summons.

The summons states:—

Augustus Cunynghame, of Livingstone, Baronet; Sir Archibald Macdonald, Lord Chief Baron of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, in England; Sir James Montgomery, of Stanhope, Baronet; William Fullarton, of Fullarton, Esquire; and John Wauchope, writer to the signet;—that where the pursuers as trustees under two trust dispositions and deeds of settlement, executed by the now deceased Archibald, Earl of Eglinton, the one dated January 18, 1791, and the other dated November 5, 1795; and likewise as tutors appointed by the said Archibald, Earl of Eglinton, to his daughter, stand vested in, and are possessed of, certain lands and sums of money and effects, the extent and amount whereof will be specified, and condescended upon, in the course of the action to follow hereon; that the pursuers are willing and desirous to account for their management, intromissions, and transactions, as trustees, and tutors, and curators, and to pay over and convey to the person or persons who may be found to have best right thereto the sums of money and lands, &c.; but they are distressed, and threatened to be pursued for the same, not only at the instance of the Right Hon. Lady Mary Montgomerie, the only surviving daughter of the said deceased Archibald, Earl of Eglinton, and spouse of the Right Hon. Archibald, Lord Montgomerie, and the said Archibald, Lord Montgomerie, for his interest, who pretend to have right to the said lands and other funds in virtue of the foresaid trust, dispositions, and settlements, or otherwise; and also by Hugh, now Earl of Eglington, Archibald Montgomery, Esquire, late of Stair, and the pursuers, the saids Sir Archibald M'Donald, Sir James Montgomery, and John Wauchope, who pretend to have right to the said trust funds and estate, or part thereof, in virtue of the contract of marriage entered into between the saids Archibald, Lord Montgomerie, and Lady Mary Montgomerie; therefore the saids, &c. &c. ought, and should be convened before the Lords of our Council and Session, and it ought, and should be found, and declared by decree, &c. that the pursuers are only liable in once and single payment, &c.; and that to such of the said defenders or to the pursuers , & c . as shall be found to have best right thereto at discussing their preferences , & c ; and the pursuers as trustees, and tutors, and curators, appointed by the said Archibald, Earl of Eglinton, &c., ought to be decerned and ordained to make payment, &c. to such of the defenders, or others, as shall be so found to have best right thereto, and in like manner to denude of and convey to, &c. such of the said defenders, or others, as may be found to have best right thereto, the whole lands, &c. or other funds or effects vested in their persons or in their possession, as trustees, or tutors, or curators foresaid; and upon the pursuers acccounting for their said intromissions, and lodging in process a conveyance in favour of the person or persons so preferred, of the lands and others foresaid, they ought and should by decree foresaid, be exonered and dis— charged of the offices of trustees, and tutors, and curators foresaid, and their whole of management and intromissions in virtue thereof. &c. &c.”

“Whereas, it is humbly meant and shown to us by our lovite, Sir William

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Stripping this of the technical form, I take the object and meaning to be, that all who had any claims should be called into Court, that the claims should be there stated, and discussed, and decided upon, and that the trustees should be decreed to pay the trust moneys, and to convey the trust lands according as the rights should be established.Respondent appointed cashier and agent by his co-trustees, with directions to keep his accounts as before.Whether such an appointment would be permitted in England, considering the incompatible nature of the duties.One circumstance is material—that, in the life time of the late Earl of Eglinton, Mr. Wauchope acted as his cashier and agent; and, after the Earl's death, the trustees, who attended their first meeting, November 29, 1796, resolved, “that Mr. Wauchope's powers, as cashier and agent, ought to be renewed, but they delayed giving directions about making out the commissions till their colleagues were advised, and their opinion of the measure known,”—and then they recommended to him, in case his powers should be so renewed, “ to continue to keep his accounts in the same, regular manner as before .” All the trustees afterwards agreed that the powers held by Mr. Wauchope from the late Earl should be renewed, and commissions, appointing him cashier and agent, were accordingly made out and executed. Mr. Wauchope himself was one of these trustees, and I am too well aware of the distinction between the law of Scotland and that of England to take upon myself confidently to say that this was an appointment which ought not to have taken place, though I cannot but observe that it is a sort of proceeding at which, in this country, we should look with very great jealousy, when we came to consider that it must be his duty, in his character of trustee, to overlook, check, and control his own management

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Accounts given in by Respondent.In April, 1806, Mr. Wauchope communicated to the then Lord Chief Baron, Macdonald, a state of his intromissions from the time of the late Earl Eglinton's death, to October 1805, and this, according to the paper now before me, appears to have consisted of the following accounts, viz. 1st. Account, charge, and discharge of Mr. Wauchope's intromissions as cashier for the late Earl, from May 21, 1796, to May 21, 1797. 2d. Mr. Wauchope's account as cashier for the trustees, comprising accounts from October 30, 1796, to March 13, 1801, with a continuation from March 13, 1801, to February 16, 1805. 3d. Mr. Wauchope's account as cashier for the tutors and curators of Lady Mary Montgomery, from February 11, 1797, to April 7, 1801, with a continuation from April 7, 1801, to March 31, 1803. 4th. Mr. Wauchope's accounts as cashier for Lord and Lady Montgomerie, from March 31, 1803, to February 16, 1805. These were the accounts delivered on that occasion. When the action came into Court, Mr. Wauchope produced a continuation of his accounts down to February 3, 1807, and the Lord Ordinary ordered the trustees in the mean time to make over to the Appellants securities belonging to the trust estate, to the amount of 20,000 l .Final account.It is farther stated in the Appellants' case that the Appellants, by their marriage contract, had become bound to provide a certain sum for the younger children of the marriage, and that the trustees, before

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Proposed reference to arbitration, ineffectual.Interlocutor of the Lord Ordinary (not appealed from) an. 25, 1811; proceeding on the footing of the Respondent's accounts, and appointing any preliminary and general objections to them to be stated before examining particulars.Then some proposition was made by the Appellants to have the different objections which they had to state to Mr. Wauchope's accounts determined by arbitration, and they proposed a reference to counsel for that purpose. Mr. Wauchope proposed a reference to accountants; but, there being certain points of law to be settled, and it appearing that accountants would not be the most

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A Court of Justice in England would hardly proceed on the footing of an account made up under the controul and directions of one of the parties only.It is new in principle to take an account made up by one of the parties as of equal effect as a ground of judicial proceeding, with an account made up under a reference from the Court in the presence and under the check of both parties.If that had been a proceeding in the Courts of this country, it is difficult to conceive how it could be supported. The mode here would be to call upon all who considered themselves interested to state their claims; and I think it obvious, that we could not call upon them to state their claims, till the Court had before it some such authentic accounts in a judicial form, as might properly be taken as the recorded statement of such accounts. In this case, however, the accounts mentioned in the Lord Ordinary's interlocutor are accounts drawn up by the accountants Keith and Wilson, for and at the instance of Mr. Wauchope; and the Court, by its final judgment, adopts the whole of these accounts so prepared by Keith and Wilson, although, in drawing up such accounts they acted, not under a

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But suppose the interlocutor right, it only calls for general and preliminary objections, reserving the consideration of particulars.The conclusion was that the accounts were approved without examination of particulars.The words of the interlocutor, your Lordships will observe, are, “appoints Lady Montgomerie and her husband to give into process any objections of a preliminary and general nature , which she may have to state to the accounts produced by the pursuers, and upon which it may be wished to obtain the judgment of the Lord Ordinary before entering upon an examination of the particular articles of the said accounts and the vouchers thereof ” Now, suppose this to be in all respects a perfectly regular and proper proceeding, the interlocutor calls for nothing more than objections of a preliminary and general nature before entering upon an examination of the particulars

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Objections stated to the accounts pursuant to Lord Ordinary's interlocutor.Then four preliminary objections were stated, and on these preliminary objections the Lord Ordinary and the Court of Session pronounced several interlocutors; one of which is wholly, and some are partly, appealed from. But the result is that the accounts, prepared by the accountants Keith and Wilson, are right upon the whole matter without any examination of particulars.Argument of the Appellants that the proceedings and judgment of the Court ought to go for nothing, and that as the judgment on the ground which they first took is against, they have a right to commence again on a new ground.Thus then we have the judgment of the Court below upon the points of law arising out of these four preliminary objections. But now we are told that all this is to go for nothing; and so told to my no small astonishment; for it is saying neither more nor less than this; “If you, the Judges of the Court of Session, should be for us upon these points, all is well; but if not, then your opinion goes for nothing at all.” This may be consistent with their practice, but it bears no analogy to any

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Objections.A. 26, Information for Appellants.Whether a trustee, appointed by his co-trustees agent and manager of the trust fund, can support a claim to an allowance for his services as agent.A trustee acting bonâ fide bonâ fide in the trust is not to suffer for mistake, unless there has been very gross ignorance and miscarriage.First then, they say that it was the duty of the Respondent, as cashier and manager for the trustees, and tutors, and curators, to have rendered his account annually, in order that the large balances in his hands might have been ascertained: and that the interest against him might have been annually calculated; and then they state that his account, as cashier for the trustees, is balanced only twice in nine years, and his account as cashier for the tutors and curators only thrice in the same period.—2d. they say that the cashier, instead of stocking out the savings of the estate (by stocking out they mean putting out at interest) had kept in his hands immense balances, for which there was no occasion in the ordinary administration of the estate, and of

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Question as to the trustees accounting for all the profits made by him of the trust fund.By the law of England, a trustee can make no profits for himself of the trust.Whether the rule of law as to profits actually made by a trustee, out of the trust fund, is not the same in Scotland, as in England.Then, as to the 2d objection—I do not mean to say, but that some words may be found sparsim in these formal papers, which may open the question whether a trustee is bound to account for all the profits which he has actually made of the trust fund, if pushed to the full extent which the terms would bear. But, although the argument chiefly

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“No. You must account to me for all the profits you have made of my money, and I have a right to know from you what profits you have actually made of it, and, if you have made 10 per cent., I am entitled to it. If the use you made of it was to make any particular rate of interest, then you must pay me that interest. If you have mixed my money with your own, so that you cannot distinguish what is yours, and what is mine, and cannot tell what profit you have made of my money, less than the legal interest, you shall pay me interest at 5 per cent.”
But, when we come to these doctrines about stocking out, and when it ought to be done, and when interest ought to commence, according to the law of Scotland, I feel a difficulty. And yet it may be well worth while to consider whether, when a trustee has made use of the trust money for his own benefit, these doctrines apply to the question as to profits actually made, and whether on that point the

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Interlocutor of the Lord Ordinary, of 12th November, 1811, in part appealed from.Then the Lord Ordinary pronounced this interlocutor:

in implement; repels this objection, &c.”

“Having considered the accounts given in by Mr. Wauchope, with the objections thereto for Lord and Lady Montgomerie, answers, replies, and duplies, and writings produced, and whole process, finds that, though from various circumstances stated in the answers, it may have been difficult for Mr. Wauchope to make up a complete balance at the end of every year, yet the actual balance at the end of every year may still be ascertained, and that each balance, when ascertained, will be the sum on which the interest ought to be charged.—2d, Considering the rules laid down in law for the employment of the money of minors, by their tutors and curators, on the one hand, and the eventual demands for sums of money which might be made, though not to the extent of the balances now in question, on the other, finds that interest ought to be charged at the rate of 4 per cent., instead of 3 ½ per cent. as stated in the accounts; finds nothing so explicitly stated on the part of the objectors, as should induce the Lord Ordinary to reduce the allowances for trouble below the rate which was fixed by Messrs. Keith and Wilson; finds that in accounts of such magnitude, it was proper and necessary to take the assistance of professional accountants—repels the third objection accordingly. On the fourth objection, finds it at least doubtful, whether a general charge and decree of constitution were necessary in deducing adjudication

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Whether a trustee is not bound to keep accounts of the trust fund, at least so regularly, as to enable the Court to judge whether it is necessary in the particular case to have recourse to professional accountants.As it is my intention to propose that this cause should be remitted for review, I shall say nothing as to the necessity of having recourse to the assistance of professional accountants in the present case, and as to certain propositions, as if trustees were at liberty to act so as never to keep regular accounts themselves—except this, that I think that to be a matter well worth re-consideration; as I apprehend that a trustee, and especially if he be also an agent, ought to keep his accounts at least so regularly, as to enable the Court, upon inspection of these accounts, to judge whether in that case it is necessary to employ professional accountants.Interlocutor of Court, 2d July, 1812, partly appealed from.The accounts ought to be annually balanced.Both parties were out of humour with this interlocutor, and represented against it; but the Lord Ordinary saw no ground to alter it in any respect. He, however, makes avizandum with the cause to the Lords of the first division, and on July 2, 1812, the Court pronounced the following interlocutor, which is partly appealed from:—
“Upon report of Lord Hermand, and having advised informations for the parties, the Lords find that Mr. Wauchope's accounts must still be brought to an annual balance.”
—I would just say, that I cannot conceive how it ever entered into any person's head that they ought not.—“And that, in striking such balance, the allowances to Mr. Wauchope for commission, trouble, and correspondence, as cashier and agent, under the trust and for the tutors and curators, and for Lord and Lady Montgomerie, are to be placed to his credit.”—So that it states, not merely that an allowance for commission, trouble,

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This, therefore, contains the opinion of the Court on those four preliminary objections, which the Appellants gave in under the appointment of the Lord

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Interlocutor 2d Feb. 1813 (appealed from), approving Wauchope's accounts, and putting an extinguisher on the Lord Ordinary's reservation as to the examination of particulars.Both parties petitioned against this interlocutor; —Mr. Wauchope, though he would have been contented with it, if the other party had been contented, petitioning pro forma , so as to have the whole matter open, and their way of shutting up the business is this:—
“They refuse the prayer of the petition for Lord and Lady Montgomerie, and on the petition of Mr. Wauchope they alter their former interlocutor, and repel the whole objections to the report of Messrs. Keith and Wilson, and approve of the said report in the whole heads and articles of the same, &c.”
—Thereby putting an entire extinguisher on the Lord Ordinary's reservation as to the examination of the particular articles of the accounts and the vouchers thereof; so that the result is, that there shall be no examination at all of the particular articles and vouchers; a result, which appears no less singular to an English lawyer than the principle contended for in behalf of the Appellants. They (the Appellants) acceded to the proposition of the Lord Ordinary to give in preliminary objections to Mr. Wauchope's accounts, upon which they might wish to have the Lord Ordinary's opinion. They accordingly gave in preliminary objections, and on these they have the Lord Ordinary's opinion. They

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Important to have the law on the subject distinctly and finally settled.With respect to the other interlocutors, the Lord Ordinary's intercolutor appointing the Appellants to give in objections is not appealed from, and some are partly appealed from, and some not at all. But seeing what is so strenuously asserted in regard to the principles of the law of Scotland as applying to questions of this description, I should be sorry

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11 Ves. 92.As to the case of Raphael v. Boehm , it does not apply. In that case the executors as trustees were bound by the very words of the trust reposed in them, by the very words of the instrument which created the trust, to accumulate the trust fund, by laying out the interest of it from time to time to form capital.I propose to your Lordships to reverse the last interlocutor, and to send back the rest for review, so far as they are complained of, And in a case of so much importance, I think we ought to avail ourselves of the clause in the act of parliament, inserted with that view by which we are authorized to require that the division, to which the cause is remitted, shall take the opinion of the other division, that we may know what the accumulated wisdom of the Court of Session will produce on this important subject.Last interlocutor reversed , and the others remitted for review, so far as complained of.