¶1Motion for a mandamus to the district judge of the United States for the southern district of New York» to set aside a judgment entered by default, on an inquest finding a forfeiture of goods to the United States, against which an information had been filed for a violation of the revenue laws. By the court: this is not a proper case for the interposition of this court by way of mandamus. The application to the district court to set aside the default and inquest, was an application to the discretion of the district court.
¶2IN the matter of the United States, upon the information of M. M. Noah, Surveyor of the port of New York v. Certain Cases of Cloth, marked P. Joseph, and marked S. Roberts, and George Adshead, claimant, in the court of the United States · Case Law">district court of the United States for the southern district of New York; Mr Beardsley, of counsel for the claimants, in these cases, in pursuance of written notice to the counsel of the United States in the district court, moved the court for a writ of mandamus, to be directed to the district court for the southern district of New York, commanding the said district court to set aside the verdict or judgment taken by default in those causes against a number of the cases of cloth which were the subject of the information; or commanding the said district court to show cause why. the said verdict or judgment by defáult ought not to be set aside: and further moved the court for such. nfher and further relief in the premises'as this court shall deem just and proper.
¶3In the district court for the southern district of' New York, an information was filed by the district attorney on behalf of the United States upon the information of M. M. Noah, surveyor of the port of New York, against certain cases of cloth seized as forfeited to the United States under the act of congress of the 28th of May 1830; upon the ground that the invoices under which the same were imported were made by a falsé valuation, extension, or otherwise, to defraud the United States.
¶4• These cloths were claimed by Joseph Roberts and' George Adshead; and, after various proceedings in the district court, *217they were, on the 4th day of January . 1S32, .on an inquest by default in the cause, condemned as forfeited to the United States.. An application was afterwards made to the district court to set aside the inquest, on the ground that regular notice of the day of the trial of the same had not been given to the proctors of the claimants. The court refused to set aside the same, and an .affidavit of one of the proctors of the claimants, stating the circumstances of the cases, and the proceedings of the attorney of the United States in the district court, was laid, before this court as the foundation of this motion for a mandamus. The district-attorney of the United States also made affidavit of the proceedings, which was presented by Mr Taney, attorney-general of the United States.
¶5The motion for a mandamus was argued in writing by Mr Beardsley, as counsel for the claimants.
¶7delivered the opinion of the Court.
¶8The court is of opinión that the present is not a proper case for the interposition of this court, by way of mandamus. The application to set aside the default and inquest, was an.application to the discretion of the district court; and is not distinguishable in principle from- applications to grant new trials. This court has always considered such applications as r'ésting In the sound discretion of the court where the cause is depending, and not a matter for a mandamus or writ of err'or.