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22 N.H. 97

French v. Gerrish

Superior Court of New Hampshire

Decided December 15, 1850

Superior Court of New Hampshire · decided 1850-12-15

Assumpsit for money had and received, and upon an account annexed for two charges, for the use of a horse and carriage. The plaintiff moved to amend the writ by adding a count, “ that the defendant, on the 27th of January, 1848, by his note of that date, for value received, promised the plaintiff to pay him or his order, one brass-mounted harness,” &c.

Decided 1850-12-15

Bell, J.

¶1By the 14th General Rule, no new count or amendment of a declaration shall be allowed, without the consent of the defendant, unless it be consistent with the original declaration, and for the same cause of action.”

¶2A promissory note is admissible in evidence under the count for money had and received. But a written promise for the delivery of specific articles, or for the payment of fnoney and the delivery of specific articles, is not technically a promissory .note. We-know of no decision, that such a note is admissible under the money counts. It furnishes a claim not for a certain sum of money, but for unliquidated damages for the non-performance of a special contract.

¶3*98The amendment desired would introduce a new cause of action, and is therefore inadmissible.

¶4Judgment for the defendant

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