"An Act of Parliament, giving a new name, does not take away
the former name: a legacy given by that name might be taken.
In most of the Acts of Parliament for this purpose there is
a special proviso to prevent the loss of the former name. The
King's licence is nothing more than permission to take the
name, and does not give it. A name, therefore, taken in that
way is by voluntary assumption." (15 Ves. Jun., p. 100.)

This case decided that the assumption of a name by a person, by the
King's license, would not entitle him to take under a limitation in a
will "unto the first and nearest of my kindred, being male, and of my
name and blood." The same rule would no doubt hold as to a change of
name by Act of Parliament. (See Pyot _v._ Pyot, 1 _Ves. Sen._ 335.)

These extracts from the highest authorities will sufficiently show
of how little use is an Act of Parliament, or the royal license, for
effecting a change of name; indeed, the chief, perhaps I might almost
say the only, advantage of these costly forms, except, of course,
where they are required by the express terms of a will, is the
facility they afford in case it should become necessary to prove that
John White was ten years ago John Brown.

Arun.

* * * * *

QUERIES ANSWERED, NO. 6.

There is no class of books which it more behoves future compilers