One of the partners was a freeman, the other not.

The corporation, considering its rights invaded by a non-freeman exercising privileges only accorded to one of their body, brought an action in the Court of Session against the interloper, and his partner as aiding and abetting.

Mr.John Clerk, then an advocate, was engaged for the defendants.

How the cause was decided matters little.

What was really curious in the affair was the naively droll manner in which the advocate for the defence opened his pleading before the Lord Ordinary.