English, Smith, Mackall & Hoffman v. Foxall, 27 U.S. 595 (1829)

Syllabus

U.S. Supreme Court

English, Smith, Mackall & Hoffman v. Foxall, 27 U.S. 2 Pet. 595 595 (1829)

English, Smith, Mackall & Hoffman v. Foxall

27 U.S. (2 Pet.) 595

Syllabus

A marriage settlement provided that the trustees, after the death of the husband, should stand possessed of a bond executed to them by the husband and of the sum of $37,038 to be received by them upon trust to place out the same when it shall come into their hands at interest on freehold securities, or invest it or any part of it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America or bank stock there, with the approbation of the wife, and to call in and replace the same and reinvest the same and the produce thereof from time to time upon or in such securities or stock, with the approbation of the wife.

It is not an unreasonable interpretation to say that the wife, who survived the husband, was to have a controlling agency within the limitation prescribed by the contract. She has not an arbitrary and unlimited discretion. The investment is restricted to three objects -- freehold securities, United States stock, or bank stock, and the trustees are not authorized to make any other investment. The trustees are bound "to make the investment in any one of the funds mentioned which the wife might request or direct."

The husband by his will confirmed the marriage settlement, and he further declared

"That if the sum of $37,038 secured to be paid to the trustees should at any time be found insufficient to raise and bring into the hands of the trustees the clear annual sum of $2,222.22, the annuity secured to be paid to his wife by the settlement, then the trustees of his will shall from time to time transfer to themselves, as trustees of the settlement, out of the residuum of his estate, such sum or sums of money as may from time to time be found necessary to make up any deficiency there may happen to be between the current amount of the interest and produce of the principal sum and the amount of the annuity, so that in no event less than $2,222.22 shall be raised annually for his wife or for her benefit in the United States."

The personal estate of the husband, exclusive of the sum placed in the hands of the trustees of the annuity, was so invested as to produce six percentum per annum, and the direction of the wife to keep invested in six, percent stock of the United States the $37,038 produced a deficiency in the annuity which she claimed to have made up from the residuary estate. The wife has a right to claim this deficiency to be so made up.

There is no doubt but that under the general prayer in a bill in chancery for general relief, other relief may be granted than that which is particularly prayed for, but such relief must be agreeable to the case made by the bill.

Page 27 U. S. 596

The appellee in these cases is the widow of Henry Foxall, and the appellants in the first case are the trustees named in a marriage settlement executed by Henry Foxall at the time of his marriage with the appellee, and in the second they are the trustees, executors, and legatees named in the will.

On the marriage of Henry Foxall with the appellee in England in 1816, a contract was entered into for an annual income of �500 sterling, or $2,222.22, for the life of Mrs. Foxall, to commence at his death; for her jointure, and in lieu of her dower, and, on the decease of Mr. Foxall, the sum of $37,038, was then to be raised and paid to the trustees for the purpose of securing the same.

In the settlement it is declared that upon the treaty for the marriage, it was agreed between the parties thereto, Henry Foxall and Catharine Holland, that should she survive him, he would provide and settle on her an annual income of �500 sterling, equal to $2,222.22, in the nature of a jointure for life, and in bar of dower; that he should devise to her his messuage in Georgetown, and assign her his furniture and carriage for life in increase of her jointure; that her property, which was wholly personal, should vest in her, but that all future property should be at her disposal as if she were a femme sole; and that the children of the marriage as well as a present daughter of Henry Foxall should be dependent on him for support. The marriage settlement also recites that in part performance of the same, Henry Foxall had made his bond in the penalty of $74,116 to the trustees, to be void on payment by his executors, within six months from his death, of $37,038, with interest at six percent

It is then declared by the deed that in case the appellee should survive said Henry Foxall, the said trustees should stand possessed of said bond, and said $37,038 to be received by them

"upon trust to place out the same, when it shall come into their hands, at interest on freehold securities or invest it or any part of it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America or bank stock there, with the approbation of said Catharine Holland, and to call in

Page 27 U. S. 597

and replace and reinvest the same and the produce thereof from time to time upon or in such securities or stock, with the approbation of said Catharine Holland, and to pay the interest and dividends of the said sum, securities, or stocks from time to time as the same should be received to her the said Catharine Holland or her assigns, or permit her or them to receive such interest or dividends for her life, for her separate use,"

&c. And after her death upon trust to pay, transfer, and assign said $37,038, and the securities or stocks in or upon which it should be placed out or invested, and the dividends, &c., unto the executors or assigns of the said Henry Foxall.

Mr. Foxall died in England in 1823, having left a will dated 12 April, 1823. The first clause in the will is in these words:

"First, I do hereby ratify and confirm in every respect the settlement made upon my marriage with my dear wife Catharine, and do direct the provisions and trusts of the same and the condition of the bond entered into by me upon my said marriage, to be faithfully performed and observed:"

and afterwards,

"I do further direct that if the sum of $37,038, secured to be paid to the trustees of said settlement, should at any time and from time to time be found insufficient to raise, within these United States and bring into the hands of the said trustees of said settlement there the clear annual sum of $2,222.22, the annuity secured to be paid to my said wife by the said settlement, then and in such case the trustees of this my will do and shall from time to time transfer to themselves, as trustees of said settlement, out of the residuum of my estate, such sum or sums of money as may from time to time be found necessary to make up any deficiency there may happen to be between the current amount of the interest and produce of said principal sum and the amount of said annuity, so as that in no event less than the said sum of $2,222.22 shall be annually raised for my said wife, or for her benefit within the United States."

He also gives her, over and above the provisions made for her benefit by said settlement, a legacy of $500, the

Page 27 U. S. 598

plate, &c., purchased since the marriage, and all his servants.

He then gives the $37,038 "stipulated to be raised and paid to the trustees of his marriage settlement" after the death of his said wife "to the children of the marriage absolutely," and if none, directs it after the death of his wife to sink into the residuum of his estate.

The will contained a proviso that any depreciation in the value of his property should be borne equally by all his legatees, "his wife, and any child or children he might have by her, excepted."

Hoffman, Smith, McCall and McKenney were appointed executors of the will. There were no children of the marriage, and but one daughter, Mrs. McKenney, by a former wife. The estimate placed by Mr. Foxall upon his property at the time of his decease was $270,000. In December, 1827, the trustees valued the real estate at $70,000 and the personalty at $88,000.

At the decease of Mr. Foxall in 1823, $32,645 of six percent stock of the United States stood in his name, and at that time the government stocks were as much above par as they were when this bill was filed. Mr. Foxall was at that time well acquainted with the price of government stocks and of the stocks of the local banks, the latter of which, it was in evidence, could have been purchased at that time at ninety-six percent

On 17 July, 1824, Mrs. Foxall being then in England, the executors addressed the following letter to her:

"The executors of your late husband are desirous of paying over to the trustees of the marriage settlement the sum of $37,038 according to the directions in the will. It is deemed necessary that you should give instructions to the trustees named in the marriage settlement before they can feel themselves authorized to invest the money. You will please to communicate, at as early a date as convenient your wishes on this subject."

And on the same day the trustees addressed the following:

"The executors of your late husband, the Rev. Henry

Page 27 U. S. 599

Foxall, are ready to pay over to us, the trustees named in the marriage settlement, the sum of $37,038 for the purpose of providing the annuity secured to you in said settlement. In said settlement it is stipulated that we are to place it out"

"at interest on freehold security, or invest it, or any part of it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America, or bank stock there, with the approbation of Mrs. Foxall."

"We are therefore compelled to wait for your instructions. The will, you will doubtless have perceived, has made provision that in case the said fund of $37,038 should not produce in interest, the annual payment to be made to you of $2,222.22, there shall be provided from his estates whatever may be deficient, so that in no case shall you receive a less amount."

"It is presumed, therefore, you will give the trustees a general authority to manage said trust fund so as to produce the best interest which can be safely done; unless such general authority be given, we should have to wait for new instructions whenever any payment of principal may come into our hands. It is highly probable that when you answer the letter sent with a copy of the will, you will give such directions as we have alluded to. If you have not, you will perceive the necessity of having it done without delay, as we cannot move in the business until we have your directions, which may be given either by letter or any other authentic writing. It will be necessary, in case you do not come to this country, that you authorize some person here to receive for you the annuity, as we are bound to pay it within the United States. We are thus particular, as it takes at least three or four months to get an answer from the interior of England."

To these letters the following answer was written by Mrs. Foxall and received by the executors and trustees:

"Gentlemen: In reply to your letter of 17 July last, in which you request my approbation relative to the investment of the $37,038, to provide my annuity according to my marriage settlement, I acquaint you that in the judgment of my late husband and according to my own, the stock of the United States of North America is preferred by

Page 27 U. S. 600

me to freehold security or bank stock, and that I shall approve of the investment of the principal sum in that fund, and not on real security or bank stock, and beg it may be so invested."

Mrs. Foxall returned to the United States in December, 1824, and a similar application was made to her by the trustees, with the same effect, and she remained in the belief that the investment was made according to her wishes in stocks of the United States. $10,645, six percent stock, were afterwards paid off by the government without the knowledge of Mrs. Foxall, and of this sum $10,000 was also, without her knowledge, loaned to one of the trustees and to another person on their promissory note, secured by a pledge of $12,000 stock of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown.

In 1826, Mrs. Foxall came to know that no separate investment had been made for her annuity, and she then, in writing, requested that the sum of $37,038 should be invested in stock of the United States for that purpose. This was refused by the executors and trustees, they contending that the right was with them to make the investment as they should think best, free from the control of Mrs. Foxall and without her approbation.

Upon this refusal, Mrs. Foxall filed the bill in the circuit court against the trustees, claiming to have the provisions of the marriage settlement carried into effect and to have the amount of the same invested in some of the government stocks in her and their joint names. The bill calls for a discovery where the $37,038 had been invested, and to whom in particular it had been loaned, and for general relief.

The trustees, in their answer, submit themselves to the court, admitting they have ample funds for the purpose, but raise the question whether Mrs. Foxall has the right to have the $37,038 invested in the stock of the United States, referring to a cross-bill filed by them for the reasons why they suppose she has not that right. They state that $22,000 was then invested in United States stock, and that all the residue of the personal estate was in their hands and vested in real

Page 27 U. S. 601

securities of the most undoubted safety, producing an interest of six percentum per annum.

They deny the right of Mrs. Foxall to the benefit of the provision of the settlement requiring her approbation to the investment, and of that of the will throwing the loss of such investment upon the residue of the estate, averring them to be inconsistent, and require that she be held to elect between them. And that if her bill, already filed, be considered as an election to take under the settlement and the investment prayed by her shall be decreed, that it shall be further decreed that she shall receive the interest of the same, so to be invested, in bar of all claim upon the residuum of the estate, under the provision of the will for any deficiency.

In December, 1827, a statement was filed by the trustees showing the nature of the securities in which the estate was invested and to whom the moneys paid in had been loaned.

The trustees in the marriage settlement, the executors of the will of Mr. Foxall, and the daughter of Mr. Foxall with her husband Samuel McKinney, filed a bill against Mrs. Foxall, the appellee, the object of which is to keep the $37,038 in the hands of the trustees of the will mixed up with the general mass of Mr. Foxall's estate, and to prevent the investment of that sum in the stock of the United States, because, so invested, the stocks being above par, it would not produce the full amount of the annuity. The bill denies the right of Mrs. Foxall to select the fund for the investment of the sum of $37,038, and asserts that if she has that right, she must forego the same in order to enjoy the benefit of the provisions in the will, asserting that the testator, by inserting that clause in his will, providing that every deficiency in the amount of the annuity should be borne by his general estate, intended to curtail the rights of the settlement, and that she must be put to her election between the provisions of the will and those of the settlement.

The answer of Mrs. Foxall to this bill denies the inconsistency between the provisions of the settlement and the will; contends that she is entitled to the benefit of both; that the has a right to choose the funds for investment, and to call on the residuum of the estate to make good the deficiency

Page 27 U. S. 602

that may arise from its not producing six percentum to pay her annuity, and declaring that her husband always advised and recommended her to invest it in United States stock, and intimates her desire to insist on its being so done, even if the loss to arise from it is to fall upon her.

The causes were, by consent, heard together in the circuit court, and that court decreed in the first cause that the investment of the $37,038 should be made as she desired and the interest paid annually to her, and that if such interest fell short of producing $2,222.22 (that is, 6 percent) per annum, the deficiency should be paid to her annually out of the residuum of the estate in the hands of the trustees.

In the second case, the court decreed the bill to be dismissed.

From these decrees the defendants in the court below in the first case, and the complainants in the second case, appealed to this Court.

Page 27 U. S. 603


Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

English, Smith, Mackall & Hoffman v. Foxall, 27 U.S. 2 Pet. 595 595 (1829) English, Smith, Mackall & Hoffman v. Foxall

27 U.S. (2 Pet.) 595

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT

OF THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON

Syllabus

A marriage settlement provided that the trustees, after the death of the husband, should stand possessed of a bond executed to them by the husband and of the sum of $37,038 to be received by them upon trust to place out the same when it shall come into their hands at interest on freehold securities, or invest it or any part of it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America or bank stock there, with the approbation of the wife, and to call in and replace the same and reinvest the same and the produce thereof from time to time upon or in such securities or stock, with the approbation of the wife.

It is not an unreasonable interpretation to say that the wife, who survived the husband, was to have a controlling agency within the limitation prescribed by the contract. She has not an arbitrary and unlimited discretion. The investment is restricted to three objects -- freehold securities, United States stock, or bank stock, and the trustees are not authorized to make any other investment. The trustees are bound "to make the investment in any one of the funds mentioned which the wife might request or direct."

The husband by his will confirmed the marriage settlement, and he further declared

"That if the sum of $37,038 secured to be paid to the trustees should at any time be found insufficient to raise and bring into the hands of the trustees the clear annual sum of $2,222.22, the annuity secured to be paid to his wife by the settlement, then the trustees of his will shall from time to time transfer to themselves, as trustees of the settlement, out of the residuum of his estate, such sum or sums of money as may from time to time be found necessary to make up any deficiency there may happen to be between the current amount of the interest and produce of the principal sum and the amount of the annuity, so that in no event less than $2,222.22 shall be raised annually for his wife or for her benefit in the United States."

The personal estate of the husband, exclusive of the sum placed in the hands of the trustees of the annuity, was so invested as to produce six percentum per annum, and the direction of the wife to keep invested in six, percent stock of the United States the $37,038 produced a deficiency in the annuity which she claimed to have made up from the residuary estate. The wife has a right to claim this deficiency to be so made up.

There is no doubt but that under the general prayer in a bill in chancery for general relief, other relief may be granted than that which is particularly prayed for, but such relief must be agreeable to the case made by the bill.

Page 27 U. S. 596

The appellee in these cases is the widow of Henry Foxall, and the appellants in the first case are the trustees named in a marriage settlement executed by Henry Foxall at the time of his marriage with the appellee, and in the second they are the trustees, executors, and legatees named in the will.

On the marriage of Henry Foxall with the appellee in England in 1816, a contract was entered into for an annual income of �500 sterling, or $2,222.22, for the life of Mrs. Foxall, to commence at his death; for her jointure, and in lieu of her dower, and, on the decease of Mr. Foxall, the sum of $37,038, was then to be raised and paid to the trustees for the purpose of securing the same.

In the settlement it is declared that upon the treaty for the marriage, it was agreed between the parties thereto, Henry Foxall and Catharine Holland, that should she survive him, he would provide and settle on her an annual income of �500 sterling, equal to $2,222.22, in the nature of a jointure for life, and in bar of dower; that he should devise to her his messuage in Georgetown, and assign her his furniture and carriage for life in increase of her jointure; that her property, which was wholly personal, should vest in her, but that all future property should be at her disposal as if she were a femme sole; and that the children of the marriage as well as a present daughter of Henry Foxall should be dependent on him for support. The marriage settlement also recites that in part performance of the same, Henry Foxall had made his bond in the penalty of $74,116 to the trustees, to be void on payment by his executors, within six months from his death, of $37,038, with interest at six percent

It is then declared by the deed that in case the appellee should survive said Henry Foxall, the said trustees should stand possessed of said bond, and said $37,038 to be received by them

"upon trust to place out the same, when it shall come into their hands, at interest on freehold securities or invest it or any part of it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America or bank stock there, with the approbation of said Catharine Holland, and to call in

Page 27 U. S. 597

and replace and reinvest the same and the produce thereof from time to time upon or in such securities or stock, with the approbation of said Catharine Holland, and to pay the interest and dividends of the said sum, securities, or stocks from time to time as the same should be received to her the said Catharine Holland or her assigns, or permit her or them to receive such interest or dividends for her life, for her separate use,"

&c. And after her death upon trust to pay, transfer, and assign said $37,038, and the securities or stocks in or upon which it should be placed out or invested, and the dividends, &c., unto the executors or assigns of the said Henry Foxall.

Mr. Foxall died in England in 1823, having left a will dated 12 April, 1823. The first clause in the will is in these words:

"First, I do hereby ratify and confirm in every respect the settlement made upon my marriage with my dear wife Catharine, and do direct the provisions and trusts of the same and the condition of the bond entered into by me upon my said marriage, to be faithfully performed and observed:"

and afterwards,

"I do further direct that if the sum of $37,038, secured to be paid to the trustees of said settlement, should at any time and from time to time be found insufficient to raise, within these United States and bring into the hands of the said trustees of said settlement there the clear annual sum of $2,222.22, the annuity secured to be paid to my said wife by the said settlement, then and in such case the trustees of this my will do and shall from time to time transfer to themselves, as trustees of said settlement, out of the residuum of my estate, such sum or sums of money as may from time to time be found necessary to make up any deficiency there may happen to be between the current amount of the interest and produce of said principal sum and the amount of said annuity, so as that in no event less than the said sum of $2,222.22 shall be annually raised for my said wife, or for her benefit within the United States."

He also gives her, over and above the provisions made for her benefit by said settlement, a legacy of $500, the

Page 27 U. S. 598

plate, &c., purchased since the marriage, and all his servants.

He then gives the $37,038 "stipulated to be raised and paid to the trustees of his marriage settlement" after the death of his said wife "to the children of the marriage absolutely," and if none, directs it after the death of his wife to sink into the residuum of his estate.

The will contained a proviso that any depreciation in the value of his property should be borne equally by all his legatees, "his wife, and any child or children he might have by her, excepted."

Hoffman, Smith, McCall and McKenney were appointed executors of the will. There were no children of the marriage, and but one daughter, Mrs. McKenney, by a former wife. The estimate placed by Mr. Foxall upon his property at the time of his decease was $270,000. In December, 1827, the trustees valued the real estate at $70,000 and the personalty at $88,000.

At the decease of Mr. Foxall in 1823, $32,645 of six percent stock of the United States stood in his name, and at that time the government stocks were as much above par as they were when this bill was filed. Mr. Foxall was at that time well acquainted with the price of government stocks and of the stocks of the local banks, the latter of which, it was in evidence, could have been purchased at that time at ninety-six percent

On 17 July, 1824, Mrs. Foxall being then in England, the executors addressed the following letter to her:

"The executors of your late husband are desirous of paying over to the trustees of the marriage settlement the sum of $37,038 according to the directions in the will. It is deemed necessary that you should give instructions to the trustees named in the marriage settlement before they can feel themselves authorized to invest the money. You will please to communicate, at as early a date as convenient your wishes on this subject."

And on the same day the trustees addressed the following:

"The executors of your late husband, the Rev. Henry

Page 27 U. S. 599

Foxall, are ready to pay over to us, the trustees named in the marriage settlement, the sum of $37,038 for the purpose of providing the annuity secured to you in said settlement. In said settlement it is stipulated that we are to place it out"

"at interest on freehold security, or invest it, or any part of it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America, or bank stock there, with the approbation of Mrs. Foxall."

"We are therefore compelled to wait for your instructions. The will, you will doubtless have perceived, has made provision that in case the said fund of $37,038 should not produce in interest, the annual payment to be made to you of $2,222.22, there shall be provided from his estates whatever may be deficient, so that in no case shall you receive a less amount."

"It is presumed, therefore, you will give the trustees a general authority to manage said trust fund so as to produce the best interest which can be safely done; unless such general authority be given, we should have to wait for new instructions whenever any payment of principal may come into our hands. It is highly probable that when you answer the letter sent with a copy of the will, you will give such directions as we have alluded to. If you have not, you will perceive the necessity of having it done without delay, as we cannot move in the business until we have your directions, which may be given either by letter or any other authentic writing. It will be necessary, in case you do not come to this country, that you authorize some person here to receive for you the annuity, as we are bound to pay it within the United States. We are thus particular, as it takes at least three or four months to get an answer from the interior of England."

To these letters the following answer was written by Mrs. Foxall and received by the executors and trustees:

"Gentlemen: In reply to your letter of 17 July last, in which you request my approbation relative to the investment of the $37,038, to provide my annuity according to my marriage settlement, I acquaint you that in the judgment of my late husband and according to my own, the stock of the United States of North America is preferred by

Page 27 U. S. 600

me to freehold security or bank stock, and that I shall approve of the investment of the principal sum in that fund, and not on real security or bank stock, and beg it may be so invested."

Mrs. Foxall returned to the United States in December, 1824, and a similar application was made to her by the trustees, with the same effect, and she remained in the belief that the investment was made according to her wishes in stocks of the United States. $10,645, six percent stock, were afterwards paid off by the government without the knowledge of Mrs. Foxall, and of this sum $10,000 was also, without her knowledge, loaned to one of the trustees and to another person on their promissory note, secured by a pledge of $12,000 stock of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown.

In 1826, Mrs. Foxall came to know that no separate investment had been made for her annuity, and she then, in writing, requested that the sum of $37,038 should be invested in stock of the United States for that purpose. This was refused by the executors and trustees, they contending that the right was with them to make the investment as they should think best, free from the control of Mrs. Foxall and without her approbation.

Upon this refusal, Mrs. Foxall filed the bill in the circuit court against the trustees, claiming to have the provisions of the marriage settlement carried into effect and to have the amount of the same invested in some of the government stocks in her and their joint names. The bill calls for a discovery where the $37,038 had been invested, and to whom in particular it had been loaned, and for general relief.

The trustees, in their answer, submit themselves to the court, admitting they have ample funds for the purpose, but raise the question whether Mrs. Foxall has the right to have the $37,038 invested in the stock of the United States, referring to a cross-bill filed by them for the reasons why they suppose she has not that right. They state that $22,000 was then invested in United States stock, and that all the residue of the personal estate was in their hands and vested in real

Page 27 U. S. 601

securities of the most undoubted safety, producing an interest of six percentum per annum.

They deny the right of Mrs. Foxall to the benefit of the provision of the settlement requiring her approbation to the investment, and of that of the will throwing the loss of such investment upon the residue of the estate, averring them to be inconsistent, and require that she be held to elect between them. And that if her bill, already filed, be considered as an election to take under the settlement and the investment prayed by her shall be decreed, that it shall be further decreed that she shall receive the interest of the same, so to be invested, in bar of all claim upon the residuum of the estate, under the provision of the will for any deficiency.

In December, 1827, a statement was filed by the trustees showing the nature of the securities in which the estate was invested and to whom the moneys paid in had been loaned.

The trustees in the marriage settlement, the executors of the will of Mr. Foxall, and the daughter of Mr. Foxall with her husband Samuel McKinney, filed a bill against Mrs. Foxall, the appellee, the object of which is to keep the $37,038 in the hands of the trustees of the will mixed up with the general mass of Mr. Foxall's estate, and to prevent the investment of that sum in the stock of the United States, because, so invested, the stocks being above par, it would not produce the full amount of the annuity. The bill denies the right of Mrs. Foxall to select the fund for the investment of the sum of $37,038, and asserts that if she has that right, she must forego the same in order to enjoy the benefit of the provisions in the will, asserting that the testator, by inserting that clause in his will, providing that every deficiency in the amount of the annuity should be borne by his general estate, intended to curtail the rights of the settlement, and that she must be put to her election between the provisions of the will and those of the settlement.

The answer of Mrs. Foxall to this bill denies the inconsistency between the provisions of the settlement and the will; contends that she is entitled to the benefit of both; that the has a right to choose the funds for investment, and to call on the residuum of the estate to make good the deficiency

Page 27 U. S. 602

that may arise from its not producing six percentum to pay her annuity, and declaring that her husband always advised and recommended her to invest it in United States stock, and intimates her desire to insist on its being so done, even if the loss to arise from it is to fall upon her.

The causes were, by consent, heard together in the circuit court, and that court decreed in the first cause that the investment of the $37,038 should be made as she desired and the interest paid annually to her, and that if such interest fell short of producing $2,222.22 (that is, 6 percent) per annum, the deficiency should be paid to her annually out of the residuum of the estate in the hands of the trustees.

In the second case, the court decreed the bill to be dismissed.

From these decrees the defendants in the court below in the first case, and the complainants in the second case, appealed to this Court.

Page 27 U. S. 603

MR. JUSTICE THOMPSON delivered the opinion of the Court.

These cases come before the Court of Appeal from the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, and have been argued together. The first was a bill filed by Mrs. Foxall against the appellants as trustees in a marriage settlement contract entered into between her and her late husband, Henry Foxall, deceased. The object of this bill was to compel the trustees to carry into effect the marriage contract, according to her construction of it, by separating $37,038 from the general mass of her late husband's estate and investing the same in stock of the United States.

The appellants, in their answer, admit that they have received funds of the estate of Henry Foxall to a much larger amount than the $37,038, but allege that they are also trustees under the provisions of the will of Henry Foxall, and have not invested it in stock of the United States because it could not be done without great loss and that they considered such an investment injudicious and prejudicial to the estate and to the rights of others interested in the residuum of the estate and its income. And they aver that they have securely vested in real securities and bank stocks producing an interest of six percent the whole of the personal estate, except $22,645 in United States stock purchased by H. Foxall in his lifetime. They admit they have ample funds, and are willing to make the investment required by the appellee if the construction of the deed of settlement which she contends for should be deemed by the court to be correct.

With this answer and referring to it was filed the cross-bill in the second cause, in which the trustees in the marriage settlement, and Samuel McKinney, who are the executors named in the will of Henry Foxall, together with

Page 27 U. S. 604

sundry other persons who are the cestui que trusts under the will are complainants and Catharine Foxall defendant.

In this bill, the appellants set forth the will of Henry Foxall and aver that by it the whole real and personal estate of the testator is bound to secure to the appellee her annuity. That the investment in United States Stock of the $37,038 would occasion a loss in the income of the whole estate of six or seven hundred dollars a year, which would fall, according to the will, upon the other cestui que trusts. They deny the right of the appellee to claim the benefit of the provision of the settlement requiring her approbation to the investment, and also that of the will to make up the deficiency, and thereby throwing the loss of such investment upon the residue of the estate, averring the two provisions to be inconsistent and requiring the appellee to elect between them, and praying that if her bill, already filed, be considered an election to take under the settlement, and the investment prayed by her shall be decreed, that it may be further decreed that she shall receive the interest of the same, so to be invested, in bar of all claim upon the residuum of the estate, under the provisions of the will for any deficiency.

The answer in this case denies the inconsistency between the provisions of the will and the marriage settlement and claims that the appellee is entitled to the benefit of both. That she has the right to choose the funds for investment and to look to the residuum of the estate to make good the deficiency that may arise from the investment not producing six percent, so as to pay her annuity of $2,222.22.

The court below decreed in the first cause that the appellants, as trustees in the will, should transfer to themselves, as trustees in the marriage settlement, the sum of $37,038 and should invest the same in the purchase of stock of the United States and pay the dividends from time to time, as received, to Catharine Foxall, for and during the term of her life, and that the appellants should make the investment of the said principal sum, jointly to the names of themselves and the said Catharine, and cause the trust upon which the same is to be invested, to be expressed in the certificates of investment, and upon the books of the Treasury Department. And

Page 27 U. S. 605

further, in case the said principal sum of $37,038, so invested, should be found insufficient to raise and pay the annuity of $2,222.22, that the deficiency should from time to time be made good out of the residuum of the estate, &c. And in the second cause, the court decreed the bill to be dismissed. From both these decrees, appeals have been brought to this Court.

The two questions which arise upon these cases are:

1. Whether the appellee, Mrs. Foxall, has a right, under the marriage settlement, to require the trustees to separate the $37,038 from the general mass of the estate, and invest the same in stock of the United States.

2. If such investment should be insufficient to pay her the annuity of $2,222.22, has she a right to have the deficiency made up, out of the general estate, either under the marriage settlement or under the will of her deceased husband.

The answers to these questions will depend upon the construction to be given to the marriage settlement, and the will of Henry Foxall.

The settlement recites that a marriage was intended to be solemnized between Henry Foxall and the appellee, then Catharine Holland; that upon the treaty for such marriage, it was agreed between the said Henry Foxall and Catharine Holland, that he should provide and settle on her, in case she should survive him, an annual income of $2,222.22, equal to �500 sterling, in the nature of a jointure for her for life, and in bar of dower &c., and also reciting that in part performance of said agreement, the said Henry Foxall had made his bond, in the penalty of $74,116, to the trustees named in the settlement, to be void on payment by his executors, within six months from his death, to the said trustees of $37,038, with interest at six percent from his decease. It is then declared by the deed that in case the said Catharine Holland should survive the said Henry Foxall, the trustees should stand possessed of said bond, and the $37,038, to be received by them, upon trust, to place out the same, when it shall come into their hands at interest on freehold securities, or invest it or any part of it, in the purchase of stock

Page 27 U. S. 606

of the United States of North America, or bank stock there, with the approbation of said Catharine Holland, and to call in and replace, and reinvest the same, and the produce thereof, from time to time, upon or in such securities or stock, with the approbation of the said Catharine Holland, and to pay the interest and dividends of said sum, securities or stocks from time to time, as the same shall be received, to her or her assigns, or permit her or them to receive such interest or dividends for her life for her separate use.

That the appellee has a right to require the $37,038 to be separated from the general mass of the estate, and invested in funds for her use, according to the trusts declared in the marriage settlement, cannot admit of a doubt.

The circumstance that the trustees are also executors named in the will cannot affect the rights of Mrs. Foxall. This contract was entered into in the year 1816, long before the will was made, or it could be known who would be appointed executors, and besides, the trustees are not the only executors. But it would be immaterial if they were. They are acting in separate and distinct capacities, and are bound to execute the respective trusts according to the provisions of the marriage settlement and the will. This settlement was accompanied with a bond given by H. Foxall, by which he bound his executors to pay over to the said trustees the $37,038, within six months from his death. And the settlement declares that the trustees shall stand possessed of said bond, and the $37,038 to be received by them upon trust to place out the same, when it shall come into their hands, at interest, &c., in the manner therein directed. Whether Mrs. Foxall had a right to control the investment of this money when it came into the hands of the trustees, may admit of more doubt.

The trust declared is that the $37,038, when it shall come into the hands of the trustees, shall be placed out at interest on freehold security, or invested in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America, or bank stock there, with the approbation of the said Catharine Holland, and the re-investments, when necessary, were to be made in like manner with her approbation, and the interest and

Page 27 U. S. 607

dividends to be paid to her during her life for her separate use.

The question is not whether she is at present in danger of losing her annuity, nor does she in her bill charge the trustees with misconduct. She is, in judgment of law, a purchaser of this annuity, her rights rest in contract, and she seeks to have that contract carried into execution. And whether this will work an injury to third persons or not cannot control her rights, secured to her by the marriage settlement. When this contract was entered into, there was no existing interest in any third parties. And no subsequent act of one of the contracting parties, can change the rights of the other. This fund, or the securities or stock in which it should be invested, were, after her death, to be transferred to the executors or assigns of Henry Foxall. But no disposition which he could make of them could abridge the rights of Mrs. Foxall under the settlement. What then is to be understood by the stipulation, that the investment was to be made with her approbation? That she was to have some agency in this investment, cannot be questioned. And is it an unreasonable interpretation to say that she was to have a controlling agency, within the limitation prescribed by the contract. She has not an arbitrary and unlimited discretion. The investment is restricted to three objects: freehold securities, United States stock, or bank stock, and the trustees are not authorized to make any other investment. Nor can she approve or disapprove of any other. All such acts, both in them and her, would be without authority. She is the party beneficially interested in the investment, and it is fairly to be presumed that her intended husband meant to leave it to her to elect between the different objects of investment. It cannot be presumed that she would withhold her approbation from all, and if she did, the loss would be her own, and not to the prejudice of anyone else. It is very probable that different persons, with equally honest and upright motives, might differ in opinion with respect to the three different modes of investment pointed out in the settlement. And when that occurs between Mrs. Foxall and the trustees, one

Page 27 U. S. 608

or the other party must yield, and the contract must determine their respective rights. That declares that the investment is to be made with her approbation, which would seem necessarily to imply that it could not be made without it, and at all events not directly against it. And such appears to have been the construction put upon it by the trustees themselves. For in July, 1824, after the death of her husband, they wrote her two letters, one in their character of executors and the other as trustees in the settlement. In the first, they say,

"The executors of your late husband are desirous of paying over to the trustees of the marriage settlement the sum of $37,038, according to the directions of the will. It is deemed necessary that you should give instructions to the trustees named in the marriage settlement, before they can feel themselves authorized to invest the money."

And in their letter, written as trustees, they say

"The executors are ready to pay over the sum of $37,038 to the trustees named in the marriage settlement for the purpose of providing the annuity secured to you in the settlement. In which it is stipulated that we are to place it out at interest, on freehold security, or invest it in the purchase of stock of the United States of North America or bank stock there with the approbation of Mrs. Foxall. We are therefore compelled to wait for your instructions."

In September following, she answered their letters, in which she says

"I acquaint you that in the judgment of my late husband, according with my own, the stock of the United States of North America is preferred by me, to freehold security or bank stock, and that I shall approve of the investment of the principal sum in that fund, and not on real security or bank stock, and beg it may be so invested."

We think the trustees were bound to make the investment according to this request. That it was a right secured to her under the marriage settlement.

We will not say but that a state of things might exist in which a court of chancery would be authorized to control her election, as if she should act from mere caprice, and with a manifest purpose of throwing a loss upon the residuum

Page 27 U. S. 609

of the estate. But there is nothing in this case to warrant such an imputation against her. And it is not very certain that she even erred in judgment if she had herself to sustain the loss. The object of the settlement was to give her a certain, safe, and secure income. And it was not unreasonable for her to place more confidence in government stock than in mortgages, where it is well known there is less punctuality in the payment of interest or in bank stock, with the hazard of insolvency. She acted, as she states in her letter to the trustees, according to the judgment of her late husband, and which no doubt had great influence with her in preferring such investment. And the sincerity of his advice is manifest from the circumstance that he left, as a part of his estate, upwards of $32,000 in United States stocks.

2. The next inquiry is whether, if the investment of the $37,038 in stock of the United States should be insufficient to raise the annuity of $2,222.22, the deficiency is chargeable upon the residuum of the estate.

In determining this question, it is unnecessary to say, how it would stand if the claim rested entirely upon the marriage settlement.

The provision intended to be made for Mrs. Foxall was clearly an annuity, and where that is the nature of the settlement, the cases in the books are very strong to show how far courts of equity will go to guard against any deficiency. But in the present case, the will of Henry Foxall puts that question at rest.

This will bears date 12 April, 1823, the first part of which is as follows:

"I do hereby ratify and confirm in every respect the settlement made upon my marriage with my dear wife Catharine, and do direct the provisions and trusts of the same, and the conditions of the bond entered into by me upon my said marriage, to be faithfully performed. I do further direct that if the sum of $37,038 secured to be paid to the trustees of said settlement, should at any time, and from time to time be found insufficient to raise within these United States and bring into the hands of the said trustees of said settlement, there, the clear annual sum

Page 27 U. S. 610

$2,222.22, the annuity secured to be paid to my said wife by the said settlement, then and in such case the trustees of this my will do and shall from time to time transfer to themselves as trustees of said settlement, and out of the residuum of my estate, such sum or sums of money, as may from time to time be found necessary, to make up any deficiency there may happen to be between the current amount of the interest and produce of said principal sum, and the amount of said annuity, so as that in no event less than the said sum of $2,222.22 shall be annually raised for my said wife or for her benefit within the United States."

It is difficult to conceive how a more ample provision could have been made to secure to the appellee the full amount of her annuity, and is a strong corroboration of what she stated to the trustees, that in selecting United States stock for the investment, she acted in accordance with the judgment of her late husband. For, it is admitted that when the will was made, government stock was above par, and that the stock of the local banks of the District of Columbia might be so purchased as to pay six percent interest, and that this was known to the testator, H. Foxall. A deficiency must therefore necessarily arise from an investment in government stock, but not from an investment in bank stock, and his being so very particular in providing by his will for a deficiency, shows he had reasons to believe it would occur.

It has been urged by the appellants' counsel that the provisions of the deed of settlement and of the will are inconsistent, and that the appellee is not entitled to the benefit of both, but must make her election between them. That she cannot choose the fund for investment under the deed and throw the loss from such investment upon others under the will.

It is not perceived how this can in any sense be considered a case for election. There is no inconsistency whatever between the two provisions. The will expressly refers to and confirms the settlement, and provides for any deficiency that might occur by reason of an investment that would not raise the stipulated annuity. There is nothing

Page 27 U. S. 611

in the will affording the least color for the conclusion that the testator intended any provision therein made for his widow, should be in satisfaction of the settlement, but clearly as an accumulated bounty over and above it.

Again, it is said the will only authorizes payment of the deficiency, when the funds shall be found insufficient to raise within the United States the clear income of $2,222.22, and that the proofs taken in the cause show that the funds are sufficient, and are now so invested as to produce that sum. The answer to this objection is given in the examination of the first point, that such investment was not authorized under the marriage settlement, it having been made without the approbation of the appellee, and directly against her instructions. We are accordingly of opinion that the appellee has a right to claim of the trustees in the marriage settlement by virtue of the will of her deceased husband, out of the residuum of his estate, whatever the annual amount of the product of $37,038, invested in stock of the United States, shall from time to time fall short of the annuity of $2,222.22, secured to her in the marriage settlement.

The merits are therefore with the appellee in both cases, and the only difficulty presented is as to the forms of the decree in the first cause.

The bill in that case, filed by Mrs. Foxall, is founded altogether upon the marriage settlement. It prays a discovery as to the situation of the fund of $37,038, and that the whole of it may be invested in stock of the United States, and concludes with a prayer for general relief, but sets up no claim under the will for any deficiency.

It is in the cross-bill that the question in relation to the deficiency arises, under the will. This bill was filed for the purpose of compelling Mrs. Foxall to elect between the provisions of the marriage settlement and those of the will. The appellants, in their answer to the first bill, refer to the cross-bill and the will set out therein, and pray that they may be taken as a part of their answer, and that the two causes may be heard and determined together. They are, however, two distinct causes, with additional parties in the

Page 27 U. S. 612

cross-bill, and require separate decrees. The decree as to the deficiency, cannot be sustained unless it can be done under the prayer for general relief. There is no doubt but that, under the general prayer, other relief may be granted than that which is particularly prayed for. But such relief must be agreeable to the case made by the bill, and there is nothing in the first bill to sustain the particular relief granted as to the deficiency. This part of the deed must therefore be

Reversed. The residue is affirmed, omitting the name of Mrs. Foxall in the investment directed to be made. There is nothing in the marriage settlement which entitles her to be joined with the trustees in the investment.

In the other cause, the decree dismissing the bill is affirmed.

In the first case, the following decree was rendered.

This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Columbia holden in and for the County of Washington, and was argued by counsel, on consideration whereof this Court is of opinion that the decree of the said circuit court in this cause is erroneous in this, that there is nothing in the first bill to sustain the particular relief granted as to the deficiency, whereupon it is considered, ordered and decreed by this Court that the decree of the said circuit court, so far as it grants the particular relief as to the deficiency in this cause, be, and the same is hereby reversed and annulled, and that the residue of said decree in all things else be, and the same is hereby affirmed, omitting the name of Mrs. Foxall in the investment directed to be made, and that the cause be and the same is hereby remanded to the said circuit court for further proceedings to be had therein according to law and justice.