120.
183
121.
and had acted upon the answers.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that the King's ship had been seized under the process of foreign attachment, which in itself is a departure from first principles as it deals with the property of absent owners; and which, as it is allowed only from necessity, ought in fairness to be carried out in perfect good faith. Yet the Court in this case, while treating the King and his officers almost as wrongdoers, has approved of the plaintiffs holding the ship for eighteen months without attempting to bring the cause for trial, and when the defendant in despair had pressed the case into the hearing paper, further approved of the plaintiff's moving for a stay of proceedings and a commission to Paris, involving another delay of six months, and condemned the defendant for asking that at any rate the jurisdiction of the Court might be first determined.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
John Bramston
Attorney General