¶1The demurrers of the appellees to the appellants’ declaration, were sustained by the court below, and, instead of standing by the pleading, the plaintiffs moved the court for leave to file an amended declaration, and obtained said leave. Afterward, appellants sought to amend by filing a bill in chancery, in place of the declaration, and thus changing the proceeding from an action at law to a suit in chancery. Leave to file the bill in the action at law was denied, and the action was dismissed out of court.
¶2Appellants assign for error the sustaining of the demurrer to the declaration, and the refusal of the court to allow the amendment changing the proceedings to a suit in equity.
¶3By electing to take leave to file an amended declaration, instead of standing by the declaration to which the demurrer was sustained, the plaintiffs abandoned their declaration, and can not assign the sustaining of demurrer for error.
¶4It has been repeatedly decided that when judgment is given against a party on demurrer to a pleading, such party, if he wishes to obtain a review of the judgment, must stand by his pleading in the court below, otherwise he will be precluded from assigning the judgment for error. Gilbert v. Maggord, 1 Scam. 471; Snyder v. Gaither, 3 Scam. 91; Gardner v. Haynie, 42 Ill. 291; Snell et al. v. Cottingham, 72 Ill. 161; McFadden v. Fortier, 20 Ill. 515 ; Camp v. Small, 44 Ill. 37.
¶5Counsel contend that the court erred in refusing leave to file the bill of complaint and change the form of the action to a suit in chancery, and argue that section 24, Chap. 110, R. S. 1874, authorizes the amendment and change proposed.
¶6Courts of chancery and courts of law are, in this State distinct tribunals. Though they may be presided over by the same judge, “they possess separate and distinct jurisdiction.” Ross v. Buchanan, 13 Ill. 55.
¶7This distinction has been constantly recognized by the legislature, and at the same session at which the “ act in regard to practice in courts of record,” from which counsel cites, was enacted, an “ act to regulate the practice in courts of chancery ” was passed.
¶8Section 37 of the last named act authorizes amendments of chancery pleading, and is, in that regard and as governing that court, a complete code in itself.
¶9By section 24 of the Practice Act, the amendment of proceedings in the law courts is provided for, and while the language is broad, and authorizes changes from one form of action to another, it can hardly be construed as authorizing, by amendment of the pleadings, a change from one jurisdiction to another. It is true, as counsel states, that the intention of the Jaw-makers constitutes the law, but that which is within the letter is not within the statute, unless within the intention.
¶10We apprehend that whenever the legislature of this State shall see fit to introduce such a change as counsel is contending has been made, it will be so done that there will he a perfect accord between the letter and the spirit of the statute.
¶11The ruling of the circuit court was correct and must be affirmed.
¶12Affirmed.