in the Courts of the Madras Presidency. 



35 



dence which h&s long since been abolished, but it is singular- 

 ly difficult really to ascertain what it is. The works upon 

 Ecclesiastical Law are not in general written by lawyers, 

 and are so faulty in their arrangement that the point which 

 is wanted can hardly ever be found. What makes this blun- 

 der in the Letters Patent the more inexplicable is, that a 

 new and simple system of procedure had been lately intro- 

 duced into the Probate Court in London, which could with 

 the greatest ease have been transferred to the Indian Courts. 

 As it is we are left to grope through the Cimmerian gloom 

 of Oughton and Gibson, Rogers and Burns, and are denied 

 the benefit of the light which streams from that judicial 

 luminary Sir Cresswell Cresswell. The mind is still perplex- 

 ed with libels, condidits, and citations, personal answers, ne- 

 gative issues and responsive allegations. A man who in the 

 year 1883 wants to say 'that John Brown made his will a 

 month ago, is forced to use the following piece of monkish 

 jargon. 



^ " On which day Thompson in the name 



ins in Solemn form and as the lawful Proctor of the said Wil- 



of law the last will j« am grown and under that denomination 

 and testament 01 



John Brown, prose- exhibited the true and original last will 



BromihSonTgaSst and testament of the said John Brown 



James Brown the fa- deceased, bearing date, &c. &c, and by all 

 ther of the deceased. _ , = . 



better and more eitectual ways, means and 



methods, and to all intents and purposes in the law whatso- 

 ever, which may be most beneficial and effectual for his said 

 party, said, alleged, and in law articulately propounded as 

 follows, to wit, &c. &c. And this was and is true, and so 

 much the said James Brown, the other party in this cause, 

 doth know, or hath heard, or in his conscience believes, and 

 hath confessed to be true ; and the party proponent doth 

 allege and propound every thing in this and the subsequent 

 articles of this allegation contained, jointly and severally." 



