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eery," the issuing of equitable process regulated, and it was provided that proceedIn October, 1779, the Superior Court was ings should be "conformable to the rules constituted a court of equity in all matters if and precedents established in courts of the amount involved £20, and did not ex chancery in the kingdom of Great Britain, ceed £4000 lawful money, and in case the so far as the same shall be consistent with "demands, dues, matters or cause in dis the constitution and laws of this State." pute " exceeded the sum of £4000, the case The Supreme Court continued a court of should be heard by the Governor and Leg equity until the revision of the statutes in

islature; an appeal 1839, each judge from the Superior being a chancellor, Court was permitted and the court at its in all cases if " no sessions hearing the title of land is con- • causes. At the time - cerned," and it was of the revision in further provided that 1 839 a court of chan all causes then pend cery was constituted ing before the Gen in each county, with eral Assembly in two sessions annual matters not exceed ly, held at the same ing £4000 should be time as the county referred to the Super court sessions. Each ior Court. The first judge of the Supreme Council of Censors, Court was constituted criticising the powers a chancellor, and the assumed by the Leg court was held by the islature, especially judge wno presided the act constituting in the county court. the Legislature a An appeal was al court of equity, that lowed from the court part of the act author of chancery to the izing the Legislature Supreme Court, and LAFORHKST H. THOMPSON to hear equity causes such is now the pres was repealed. Courts ent system. The- Su of law were given authority, in many cases, to preme Court, sitting as an appellate court, can chancer bonds, recognizances, etc. In 1788 hear a chancery cause and dispose of all the questions of fact upon testimony taken be a court of equity was constituted with ses sions, as to time and place, as those of the fore a master, and the law; but the court Supreme Court, and the judges of that court of chancery has power upon the application were made chancellors. The process in of either party to appoint a master, whose duty it is to hear the evidence and report equity causes was to be governed conform ably to the rules and precedents established the facts; in such case, only the legal ques in the courts of chancery in the kingdom tions arise in the Supreme Court, sitting as a court of equity. From 1850 to 1857 the of Great Britain. In 1797 a court of chan cery was constituted, with the judges of the circuit judges were chancellors, the Su Supreme Court as chancellors, to possess preme Court judges sitting only as a court "all powers incident to a court of chan- of appeal. COURTS OF EQUITY.