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1 Va. 98

Long v. Colston

Court of Appeals of Virginia

Decided June 15, 1820

Court of Appeals of Virginia · decided 1820-06-15

This is a declaration in covenant, containing two counts. The 1st sets forth, that Long and Colston on the 8th July 1797, entered into a covenant which recited, that Chilcott Symmes of G. Britain, on the 24th June 1742, devised certain lands, &c., to Richard Chichester in fee; that Richard Chichester devised them to his son John; that John Chichester died under age, leaving a daughter, (Mary) his only child, who married Burgess Ball: and died, leaving two children, a son…

Decided 1820-06-15

By the court.*

¶1The court is of opinion, that upon the true construction of the covenant upon which this suit is brought, the appellant was entitled, on the facts set forth in the bill of exceptions, to this action against the appellee; and that his recovery in this action cannot, in any manner be affected by a regard to what may be the value of the estates in England, the appellee being bound immediately on the execution of the deed, as contemplated in the covenant, to pay the $5000 in cash, and $15,000 in lands at the price of $2 per acre, as stipulated in the covenant, whatever may be the real value of the estates in England. As to the objection on the part of the appellee, that this action did not lie until the title to the English estate was conveyed by means of fine and recovery, according to what is alleged to be requisite by the laws of England to pass the estates aforesaid: that objection is equally repro-bated by the terms of the covenant itself; by the cotemporaneous exposition of the parties in relation thereto; and by the delay of the appellee for so great a length of time, to take the objection aforesaid.

¶2*But while the court is of opinion that the recovery of the appellant in this action, is not to be delayed for the final adjustment of the estates in England, and that the amount of the recovery in this action, cannot be at all affected by what may be the value of the said estates, yet the court for the satisfaction of the parties, expresses its opinion to be, that if it shall appear on the final adjustment of the said estates, that the value thereof is less than $20,000, the appellee will be entitled to relief for such deficiency ; the court being of opinion that the $20,000 aforesaid was only intended as an advance, subject to. the final adjustment of the value of the said estates, and not as a gross sum intended to be given therefor.

¶3The judgment of the General court is therefore to be reversed, and the cause to be remanded for a new trial, on which the instructions formerly refused, are to be given if required. _

¶4Bbooke absent.

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