An Irishman named Thomas HENRY applied to his Honour under the following circumstances. He said he had unfortunately been bound in the sum of £20 as a surety for a boy to serve Mr. Charles ARMSTRONG, builder, for a period of seven years. The boy ran away to Newcastle, and at last sitting of his Honour’s Court he (Henry) had been ordered to pay the £20. Since then he had brought the boy back to Carlisle, and offered him to Mr. ARMSTRONG, but that gentleman refused to take him again. The case was very hard upon him, and he now asked his Honour’s advice.

His Honour: I am afraid I cannot assist you, if Mr. ARMSTRONG will not take the boy back; but even if he were willing to do so, you have forfeited the £20, the boy having broken the indenture by running away.

HENRY: I will do whatever your Honour may order.

His Honour: Pay the money. You agreed to do so when the boy was bound.

Mr. SAUL: I appeared for Mr. ARMSTRONG at the last Court. The practice of which he complained is a very common one. Boys run away during the best of the season, and return in autumn, when there is little or nothing for them to do.

HENRY: Your Honour, I am but a poor man.

His Honour: Then it is unfortunate that you should have entered into such a heavy bond. I can’t assist you under the circumstances.

HENRY: I leave it to your Honour’s mercy.

His Honour: There is no mercy in it. The justice of the case requires that you should pay the money. You must endeavour to prevail upon Mr. ARMSTRONG to take something less than £20. The affair entirely rests with him.