Captain FABERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the usual practice of Somerset House, after the accounts of a deceased man, together with the will, have been submitted and an affidavit made that the debts shown were true and incurred for value received, to write throwing doubt on the accuracy of the executors, thus running up interest to 737W be paid to Somerset House and delaying proceedings; and whether probate should be at once granted in such cases?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is the usual practice in the case of a debt, large in proportion to the estate; or of an exceptional nature, to require reasonable explanations before the affidavit is passed. This practice is necessary to safeguard the revenue, and only involves delaying the probate for the time the executors take in furnishing the explanations. No additional interest is charged by reason of such delay where the explanations are satisfactory, and there is no delay at all where, in the first instance, the affidavit is self-explanatory.