transferred, is matter in pais. 2 Bl). Comm. 294.—Act of attainder. A legislative act, attainting a person. See ATTAINDER.—Act of bankruptcy. Any act which renders a person liable to be proceeded against as a bankrupt, or for which he may be adjudged bankrupt. These acts are usually defined and classified in statutes on the subject. Duncan vy. Landis, 106 Fed. 839, 45 C. C. A. 666; In re Chapman (D. C.) 99 Fed. 395.—Act of curatory. In Scotch law. The act extracted by the clerk, upon any one’s acceptance of being curator. Forb. Inst. pt. 1, b. 1, ce. 2. tit. 2. 2 Kames, Eq. 291. Corresponding with the order for the appointment of a guardian, in English and American practice —Act of God. Inevitable accident; vis major. Any misadventure or casualty is said to be caused by the “act of God” when it happens by the direct, immediate, and exclusive operation of the forces of nature, uncontrolled or uninfluenced by the power of man and without human intervention, and is of such a character that it could not have been prevented or escaped from by any amount of foresight or prudence, or by any reasonable degree of care or diligence, or by the aid of any appliances which the situation of the party might reasonably require him to use. Inevitable accident, or casualty; any accident produced by any physical cause which is irresistible, such as lightning, tempests, perils of the seas, an inundation, or earthquake; and also the sudden illness or death of persons. New Brunswick, etc., Transp Co. v. Tiers, 24 ; Law, 714 Am. Dec. 394; Williams v. Grant, 1 Conn. 487, 7 Am. Dec. 283: Hays v. Kennedy, 41 Pa. 378, 80 Am. Dec. 627; Merritt v. Karle, 29 N. Y. 115. 86 Am. Dec. 292; Story, Bailm. § 25; 2 Bl. Comm. 122; Broom, Max. 108.—Act of grace. In Scotch law. A term applied to the act of 1696, c. 32, by which it was provided that where a person imprisoned for a civil debt is so poor that he cannot -aliment [maintain] himself, and will make oath to that effect, it shall be in the power of the magistrates to cause the creditor by whom he is incarcerated to provide an aliment for him, or consent to his liberation; which, if the creditor delay to do for 10 days, the magistrate is authorized to set the debtor at liberty. Bell. The term is often used to designate a general act of parliament, originating with the crown, such as has often been passed at the commencement of a new reign, or at the close of a period of civil troubles, declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders. Abbott.—Act of hone or. When a bill has been protested, and a third person wishes to take it up, or accept it, for honor of one or more of the parties, the notary draws up an instrument, evidencing the transaction, called by this name.—Act of ine demnity. A statute by which those who have committed illegal acts which subject them to penalties are protected from the consequences of such acts—Act of insolvency. ithin the meaning of the national currency act, an act of insolvency is an act which shows the bank to be insolvent; such as non-payment of its circulating notes, bills of exchange, or certificates of deposit; failure to make good the impairment of capital. or to keep good its surplus or reserve; in fact, any act which shows that the bank is unable to meet its liabilities as they mature, or to perform those duties which the law imposes for the purpose of sustaining its credit. In re Manufacturers’ Nat. Bank, 5 Biss. 504, Fed. Cas. No. 9,051; Hayden v. Chemical Nat. Bank, 84 Fed. 874, 28 C. C. A. 0418.—Act of law. The operation of fixed legal rules upon given facts or occurrences, producin consequences independent of the design or wil of the parties concerned; as distinguished from “act of parties.” Also an act performed by judicial authority which prevents or precludes a party from fulfilling a contract or other engagement. Taylor v. Taintor, 16 Wall. 366, 21