DECIDED IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, ON APPEAL FROM THE COURTS OF SCOTLAND, 1826, 1827. REPORTED BY JAMES WILSON AND PATRICK SHAW, ESQUIRES, ADVOCATES. VOLUME II. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; T. CADELL, AND M. STEVENS AND SONS, BELL-YARD, MDCCCXXIX. IN presenting these Reports to the Public it would be extremely idle to expatiate on the importance and necessity of the publication of the Decisions of the Court of last resort. Suffice it to say, that from local circumstances, it is impossible that the people of Scotland can have the same facility of access to information relative to the Decisions of the House of Lords, which they have to those of the Courts situated in their own country; and that it must always be matter of deep interest to them to be made acquainted as early as possible with the opinions there entertained, and the judgments there pronounced on questions submitted to their consideration. But although this is admitted on all hands, yet the knowledge of these decisions has been hitherto very sparingly, and very tardily, communicated to them; and no collection (at least of those of more recent date) has been made, devoted exclusively to Scottish cases, and embracing all those in which judgment has been pronounced. To obviate in some degree this defect, a series of Reports was lately commenced from February 1821, which it is proposed to continue, and to form part of those which are now offered to the Public. Instead, however, of de |