XXX. TEXAS.

I. Interest.-On all written contracts ascertaining the sums due, when no rate of interest is expressed, interest may be recovered at the rate of eight per cent. per annum.

The parties to any written contract may stipulate for any rate of interest, not exceeding twelve per cent. per annum.

Judgments bear eight per cent. interest, except where they are recovered on a contract in writing which stipulated for more, not exceeding twelve, in which case they bear the rate contracted for.

No interest on accounts, unless there be an express contract; but only eight per cent. can be recovered on a verbal contract.

Contracts to pay interest on account will not be presumed from previous course of dealing.

Penalty for Violation of the Usury Laws.-Forfeiture of all the interest paid or charged.

III. Damages on Bills.-An act giving damages upon protested drafts and bills of exchange drawn upon persons living out of the limits of the State, passed December, 1851.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the holder of any protested draft or bill of exchange, drawn within the limits of this State, upon any person or persons living beyond the limits of this State, shall, after having fixed the liability of the drawer or indorser of any such draft or bill of exchange, as provided for in the act of March 20, 1848, be entitled to recover and receive 10 per cent, on the amount of such draft or bill, as damages, together with interest and cost of suit thereon accruing. Provided, that the provisions of this act shall not be so construed as to embrace drafts drawn by persons other than merchants upon their agents or factors.

IV. Sight Bills.-By usage, grace is not generally allowed on bills, drafts, etc., payable at sight, but the rule is not invariable in this State.

Bills of Exchange. The general rule is that the holder of any bill of exchange may fix the liability of the drawer (where bill has been accepted) or any endorser, without protest or notice, by instituting suit against the acceptor before the first term of the district court to which suit can be brought, (or, if the amount do not exceed $100, exclusive of interest, by instituting suit before Justice of the Peace, within sixty days,) after the right of action accrues; or by instituting suit before the second term of said court, and showing good cause why the suit was not instituted before the first term.

The drawer of any bill of exchange which shall not be accepted when presented for acceptance, shall be immediately liable for the pay

ment thereof.

XXXI. WISCONSIN.

After January, 1863, the legal rate of interest, by an act of the legislature, is to be seven per cent. An usurious contract is void, and the party loaning the money is liable to a penalty of three times the usury in addition.

II. Penalty for Violation of the Usury Laws.-Whenever any person shall apply to any court in this State to be relieved in case of a usurious contract or security, or when any person shall set up the plea of usury in any action or suit instituted against him, such person, to be entitled to such relief or the benefit of such plea, shall prove a tender of the principal sum of money or thing loaned, to the party entitled to receive the same. Act March 29, 1856.

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III. Damages on Bills of Exchange. The damages on bills of exchange, drawn or indorsed in Wisconsin, payable in either of the States adjoining that State, and protested for non-acceptance or non-payment, 5 per cent. If drawn upon a person, or body politic or corporate, within either of the United States, and not adjoining to that State, the damages 10 per cent.

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IV. Foreign Bills.-The damages on bills of exchange, drawn or endorsed in Wisconsin, payable beyond the limits of the United States, and protested for non-acceptance or non-payment, are (R. S. 1849, p. 263) 5 per cent.

Together with the current rate of exchange at the time of demand. V. Sight Bills.-On all bills of exchange, payable at sight, or at a future day certain, grace shall be allowed (R. S. 1849, p. 263), but not on bills of exchange or notes payable on demand.

Decisions and Statute.

Promissory Notes.-Where in an action brought upon a promissory note, executed by the defendant as a trustee of a company, whereby he promised to pay, and also upon another note which he subscribed with his own proper name, but adding his representative name of trustee, a general demurrer to the declaration will not be sustained. Rupert vs. Madden, 1 Chandler's Supreme Court Reports, 1850, p. 146.

The addition in the body of the notes, as appended to the name of the maker subscribed thereto, is a mere descripto persone of the party making the note, and can not be so construed as to exempt him from personal liability. The description which he gives of himself, either in the note or in subscribing the same, is to be regarded as merely descriptive of his person; but can not be construed as relieving him from personal liability. Ibid.

Partnership.-Where a partnership exists between two persons, one of whom is a dormant partner, and the creditors of the firm have obtained judgments against the ostensible partner, founded upon debts created upon the partnership accounts, upon which executions have been issued nulla bond, a bill in equity, against both partners, will be sustained upon the allegation that the dormant partner had, by fraudulent connivance of the ostensible one, obtained the possession, and laid claim to all the partnership assets, in fraud of the creditors: the relief which equity will give is to subject the whole assets to the payment of such debts. Ibid., Vol. II, p. 222.

FOREIGN BILLS OF EXCHANGE.

Forms of Bills of Exchange ordinarily used in the French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Danish languages.

As many bills in foreign languages pass through the hands of numerous bankers, it may be useful to give a list of some of those words which express the amount and the time, the two main points in a bill of exchange:

In al the above languages, "at sight" is usually expressed by a vista, except the French, which expresses it by à vue. "At usance" is expressed by a uso or ad uso. The names of the months so nearly resemble the English, that a mistake can but rarely occur.

The following are forms of bills in each of the languages named:

Au vingt-cing Décembre prochain, Il vous plaira payer par ce mandat à fordre de nous-mêmes la somme de cent cinquante-huit livres sterlings 9 schellings valeur en nous-mêmes et que passerez suivant l'avis de

A Messieurs

à Londres.

GERMAN.

Nürnberg, den 28 October, 1848.

Pro £100 Sterling.

Zwei monate nach dato zahlen Sie gegen diesen Prima Wechsel an die Ordre des Herrn

Ein Hundert Pfund Sterling den

Werth erhalten und bringen solche auf Rechnung laut Bericht von.

Herren

London.

DUTCH.

Gruow, den 1st November, 1848.

Voor £59 17 6.

....

Twee maanden na dato gelieve UEd te betalen voor dezen onzen prima Wisselbrief de secunda niet betaald zynde aan de ordre van de Heeren negen & vyftig Ponden zeventien schelling en zespences sterling, de waarde in rekening UEd stelle het op rekening met of zonder advys van

A Tre mesi data pagate per questa prima di Cambio (una sol volta) all' ordine la somma di Lire cinque cento sterline valuta cambiata, e ponete in conto M. S. secondo l'avviso Addio.

SPANISH.

Malaga á 20 de Setb" de 1848.

Son £300.

A noventa dias fecha se serviran V' mandar pagar por este primera de cambio á la orden de los Sres Tres cientas libras Esterlinas en oro o plata valor recibido de dhos Sra que anotaran valor en cuenta segun aviso de

A los Sre

Londres

£600 Esterlinas.

PORTUGUESE.

Lisbon, aos 8 de Dezembro de 1848.

...

por esta nossa

A Sessenta dias de vista precizos pagará V unica via de Letra Segura à nós ou à nossa Ordem a quantia acima de Seis Centas Libras Esterlinas valor de nós recebido em Fazendas, que passara em Comta segundo o aviso de

elle ordres Etthundra

Nittio Dagar efter dato behagade H. H. emot denna prima Wexel (secunda obetald) betala till Herr

Pund Sterling som stalles i rakning enligt avis.

Herrar

London.

DANISH.

Kjobenhavn, 9 December, 1848.

Rixdalers R. M. 4,000.

Tre maaneder efter dato behager de at betale denne Prima Vexel, Secunda ikke, till Herr eller ordre med Fire Tusinde

Rixdalers R. M., Valutta modtaget og stilles i Regning ifôlge advis.

Herrer

London