CHAPTER XLVII. OF BOOK I.

OF THE SELECT QUESTIONS OF VINNIUS.

Whether what is paid, without being due by an Error of Law, is fubject to Repetition.

THE question is how to expound what is laid down simply, and generally, that what is paid by mistake, without being due, may be reclaimed; whether it is confined to error of fact, or extends alfo to error of law. For error is twofold, being either of fact or law. An error of fact takes place, either when fome fact which really exists is unknown, or some fact is fuppofed to exift which really does not. On the other hand, when a perfon is truly acquainted with the exiftence or non-existence of the facts, but is ignorant of the legal confequences, he is under an error of law. L. 1. ff. de jur. et fact. ign. (a). If a perfon makes a payment knowing that he is not indebted, it is agreed on all hands that he has not any right of repetition. L. 1. § 1. (b). L. .fi non fortem 26. § indebitum 3. (c). de cond. indeb. for a payment which is fubject to repetition, if made by mistake, amounts to a donation, if made with full knowledge. L. Cujus, 53. ff. de reg. jur. (d). And on the other hand it is a clear rule of law, that a perfon is intitled to repetition who pays what he does not owe, believing through a mistake of fact that he does. L. 6. (e) L. 7. C. de cond. indeb. (f). L. Error, 7. C. de juris et facti ignorantia. (g). The

(✔) Ignorantia vel facti vel juris est, § 1. Nam fi quis nefciat deceffiffe eum, cujus bonorum poffeffio defertur, non cedit ei tempus. Sed fi fciat quidem defunctum effe cogna tum, nefciat autem proximitatis nomine bonorum poffeffionem fibi deferri; aut fe fciat fcriptum heredem, nefciat autem quod fcriptis heredibus bonorum poffeffionem prætor promittit, cedit ei tempus, quia in jure errat. Idem eft & frater confanguineus defuncti credat matrem potiorem effe.

(6) Et quidem, fi quis indebitum ignorans folvit, per hanc actionem condicere poteft : fed fi fciens fe non debere folvit, ceffat repetitio.

(c) Indebitum autem folutum accipimus non folum fi omnino non debeatur, sed et si per aliquam exceptionem perpetuam peti non poterat ; quare hoc quoque repeti poterit ; nifi fciens se tutum exceptione, folvit.

(d) Cujus per errorem dati repetitio eft, ejus confulto dati donatio eft.

(e) Si per ignorantiam facti not debitam quantitatem pro alio folvisti, et hoc adito recto re provinciæ fuerit probatum, hanc ei; cujus nomine soluta eft, reftituti eo agente providebit.

(f) Fidei commiffum vel legatum indebitum per errorem facti folutum, repeti poffe explorati juris eft.

(g) Eiror facti, necdum finito negotio, nemini nocet: nam caufa decifa velamento tali non in tau a ur.

only question is, whether a perfon is intitled to condiction or repetition, who has paid what he did not owe, being misled by an error of law. Moft of the later writers are in favour of the negative. Cuj. 5.obf. 39. Duar. ad tit. de cond. indeb. c. 7. Donell. I comm. 21. Brenchorft, 2 a 36. Perez in cod. de cond. indeb. 12. The ancient interpreters take the affirmative fide of the question, and are followed by Zas. ad rubr. de cond. indeb. n. 5. Sichard, ad rubr. et L. cod. eod. Wefenb. par eod. n. 9.Thulden, L. eod. n. 4. Grotius, lib. 3. introd. ad jurifp. Batav. c. 30. Chriftin. Vol. 3. decif. 8. Bachov. difput. 4. de act. thef. 17. But before we open our own opinion, fince the question relates to a payment of what is undue, (indebitum,) it will be worth while to examine what juridical writers means by that term. And no body doubts that, that is to be confidered as undue, which is not due either civilly or naturally. But fuppofe a debt is due civilly but not naturally, or e converfo? If it is only due civilly, that is, if it is due by an obligation, which produces no equitable claim; so that fummo jure, it is fubject to a right of action, but may be repelled by a perpetual exception, it is confidered as really undue, and if it is paid by mistake may as fuch be reclaimed. L. fi non fortem, 26. § 3. (a). L. qui exceptionem, 40. (b). L. fi quis, 43. (c). L. ex his omnibus, 54. (d). ff. de cond. indeb. For fuch a demand is only nominally, and not really due; not being due by the law of nature, nor in effect by the civil law. L. 3. §. 1. ff. de pecun. conftit. (c). L. nibil intereft. 112. ff. de reg. jur. (f). But what is naturally due, although fummo jure it is not civilly fo, is in this respect confidered as a real debt, and therefore although it cannot be recovered, when it is actually paid, even under a belief that it might have been so, it cannot be reclaimed; as appears by feveral authorities. L. naturales, 10. ff. de obl. et act. (g). L. indebiti. 15. (b). L. f pana 19. (i). L. fi non fortem. 26. § (ibertus. 12, (k) L. Julia(a) Vide ante, P. 437.

(b) Vide ante, 4.6.

(c) Si quis quaflet fe dare non opportere, ab omni contentione difcedetur: atque ita folutam pecut iam repeti non poffe.

(d) Vide ante, 411.

(c) Si quis autem conftituerit, quod jure civili debebat, jure prætorio non debebat, id eft, per exceptionem: an conftituendo teneatur, quærimus? Et eft verum ut [&] Pomponius fcribit, eum non tereri: quia debita juribus non eft pecunia, quæ conftituta eft.

(f) Nihil intereft, ipfo jure quis actionem non habeat, an per exceptionem infirmetur. (g) Naturales obligationes non eo folo æftimantur, fi actio aliqua earum nomine competit: verumetiam eo, fi foluta pecunia repeti non poteft. (b) Indebiti foluti condictio naturalis eft. condictionem: ut puta partus qui ex ancilla;

Et ideo ei quod rei folutæ acceffit, venit in vel quod alluvione acceffit; imo et fructus

quos is, cui folutum eft, bona fide percepit, in condictionem venient.

(i) Libertus cum fe putaret operas patrono debere folvit, condicere eum non poße, quamvis putans fe obligatum. Julianus fcripfit, natura enim operas patrono debuit.

(4) Si pœnæ caufa ejus, cui debetur, debitor liberatus eft, naturalis obligatio manet; et ideo folutum repeti non poteft.

L

nus, 60. (a). ff. de cond. indeb. L. 3. § ult. ff. quod quisq. jur. (b). And fince that which is naturally due, may be made the subject of compenfation, it is highly reasonable that no repetition of it fhall be allowed when it is paid by mistake. But even where the debtor has a perpetual exception, if it is for a cause which does not deftroy the natural obligation, ftill there is no right to reclaim what has been paid by mistake. Such is the exceptio rei judicata; the fentence of the judge cannot deftroy the natural obligation, arifing from the confent of the party; and therefore, Julianus and Paulus have decided that a real debtor who has paid the debt, after having been discharged by a judgment, has no right of repetition. d. 1. Julianus, 60. de cond. indeb. To the fame principle, many refer the exception of the Senatus-confultum Macedonianum. For if a fon, while under the dominion of his father, borrows money, and pays it after he becomes his own master, he has no right of repetition, as he is under a natural obligation. L. 9. in fin. et L. feq. (c). ff. de fenatufc. Mac. Another reafon for denying the repetition, is affigned in qui exceptionem, 40. ff. de cond. indeb. (d). but that does not always apply, as appears by the before mentioned law of Julianus. And in this cafe, I think a distinction should always be made, between an error of law and of fact. L. ult. ff. de fenatufc. Mac. (e). And therefore, here the term debitum may be applied to what is due only naturally, and indebitum to what is only due by the strictness of civil law. We here apply the expreffion of a natural debt, according to its ancient fignification, as having all the effects as well of a civil as of a natural obligation; the right of action only excepted (f). But if even the natural obligation is expressly disapproved by the civil law, as in the cafe of a woman engaging as furety, L. fi mulier, 16. § 1. (g). ad

Sen.

(a) Julianus verum debitorem post litem conteftatam, manente adhuc judicio, negabat folventem repetere poffe: quia nec abfolutus, nec condemnatus repetere poffet. Licet enim abfolutus fit, natura tamen debitor permanet, fimilemque effe ei dicit qui ita pro. mifit five navis ex Afia venerit five non venerit : quia ex una caufa alterius folutionis origo proficifcitur.

(6) Ex hac caufa folutum repeti non poffe. Julianus putat : superesse enim naturalem caufam, quæ inhibet repetitionem.

(c) Et hi tamen, qui pro filio familias fine voluntate patris ejus intercefferunt non repetent; atquin perpetua exceptione tuti funt. Sed et ipfe filius et tamen non repetit: quia hi demum folutum non repetunt, qui ob pænam creditorum actione liberantur, non quoniam exonerare eos lex voluit. Quanquam autem folvendo non repetunt. L. 9. Quia naturalis obligatio manet. L. 10.

(d) Vide ante, 416.

(e) Si is, cui dum in poteftate patris effet, mutua pecunia data fuerat, paterfamilias factus, per ignorantiam faĉti, novatione facta eam pecuniam expromifit, fi petatur ex ea ftipulatione, in factum excipiendum erit.

(f) See the preceding Treatife, P. II. C. II. p. 108.

(2) Si ab ca muliere quæ contra fenatus confultum interceffiffet, fidejufforem accepif

fen. Vell. of a prodigal making any promife, L. 6. ff. de verb. obl. (a). or is deftitute of the affiftance of the civil law, in other refpects as well as the right of action, although it may admit of acceffions, as the obligation of a pupil, contracted without the authority of his tutor, repetition is without any natural reason allowed, in the fame manner, as if what is paid was not even naturally due, L. qui exceptionem, 40. (b). L. feq. (c). de cond. indeb. L. 9. Cod. ad fen. Vel. (d) d. 1. 6. ff. de verb. obl. Of the fame kind is the natural obligation, induced by the will of a teftator, not accompanied by the requifite folemnities, or giving a larger portion of his property than the law allows by way of legacy; although this has the effect of a natural obligation with respect to error of law. L. 9. C. ad leg. Felcid, (e). L. 7. C. de cond. indeb. (ƒ).

With respect to the question proposed, I subscribe to the opi nion of the old interpreters, that repetition fhould be allowed even of what is paid by error of law, provided there is not any natural obligation. In the first place, I am influenced by the confideration, that the condicio indebiti is introduced ex æquo et bono, L. pen. ff. de cond. indeb. (g). and therefore can only be excluded by exceptions founded upon equity on the oppofite fide. But what equity can a perfon pretend to, to whom any thing has been paid, which was not even naturally due, whether because the cause of the fuppofed debt was invalid ab initio, or because it had not effect, as in the cafe of a mere civil debt, or what colour has he for excepting to a claim of repetition? For as fuch a debt has not any of the effects of a real debt, it is not allowed in compenfation. L. 14. ff. de compenf. (h). it does not admit of accessions, L. 3.

fem; Gaius Caffius refpondit, ita demum fidejuffori exceptionem dandam, fi a muliere rogatus fuiffet. Julianus autem recte puta', fidejuffori exceptionem dandam etiamfi mandati actionem adverfus mulierem non habet; quia totam obligationem fenatus improbat, et a prætore reftituitur prior debitor creditori.

(a) Is cui boris interdiétum est, stipulando fibi adquirit, tradere vero non poteft, vel promittendo obligari, et ideo nec fidejuffori pro eo intercedere poterit, ficut nec pro furiofo.

(b) Vide ante, 416.

(c) Quod pupillus fine tutoris auctoritate ftipulanti promiferit, folverit, repetitio eft; quia nec natura debet.

(d) Quamvis mulier pro alio folvere poffit, fi præcedente obligatione quam fenatus confultum de interceffionibus efficacem effe non finit, folutionem fecerit, ejus fenatus confulti beneficio munitam fe ignorans, locum habet repetitio.

(e) Error facti, quartæ ex caufa fideri commiffæ non retentæ repetitionem ron im pedit. Is autem qui fciens fe poffe retinere [univerfum reftituit] condictionem non habet; Quinetiam jus ignoraverit ceffa repetitio.

(f) Vide ante, 437.

(g) Hæc condictio ex bono et æquo introducta quod alterius apud alterum fine caufa reprehenditur, revocare confuevit.

(*) Quæcunque per exceptionem perimi poffunt, in compenfationem non veniunt.

§ 1. ff. de pecun. conftit. (a). L. 7. ff. de fidej. (b). the prætor, if the fact is clear, does not allow an action for it; in a doubtful cafe he only allows it fubject to the exception, L. nam, poftquam. q. ff. de jurej. (c). by which he fhews that it is not considered as a debt, and who can fuppofe, that if it is paid by mistake, it is not subject to repetition? For it is a firft rule of equity, that one man ought not to be enriched by the detriment of another. L. nam hoc 14. de cond. indeb. (d). Therefore if any perfon fhould obtain a promife from another by fraud, I cannot think that what is paid on account of fuch a promise, although by error of law, can be retained, and that a man fhall be allowed to take advantage of his own iniquity, upon the mere pretext that the money was paid by the other party, under an ignorance that he would have been protected by an exception of fraud or fear. And that we may not appear to speak without authority, the text of L. 7. ff. de cond. ob turp. caufam. (e), where Pomponius fays, that, if money is exacted on account of a ftipulation extorted by force, it is a cafe for repetition, is evidently decifive upon that fubject. And Julianus anfwers after Nerva and Atilicinus, that money paid by a perfon who fuppofed himself to owe it, when he could have been protected by an exception of fraud, may be reclaimed. L. qui fe debere. 7. ff.de condic. caufa data. (f) There are fimilar paffages in L. cum. is 32. § 1. (g) L. fi quis 43. (b) L. fi fidej. 59. ff. de cond. indeb. (i) L. 5.

(a) Vide ante, 438.

cod.

(6) Quod enim folutum repeti non poteft, conveniens eft hujus naturalis obligationis fidejufforem accipi poffe.

(c) Nam poftquam juratum eft, denegatur actio: aut fi controverfio erit, id eft, fi ambigitur, an jusjurandum datum fit, exceptioni locus ett.

(d) Vide ante, 410.

(e) Ex ea ftipulatiore, quæ per vim extorta effet, fi exacta effet pecunia, repetitionem elle conftat.

(f) Qui fi debere pecuniam mulieri putabat, juffu ejus, dotis nomine promifit fponfo, et folvit ; nuptiæ deinde non intercefferunt: quæfitum eft, utrum iple poteft repetere, [eam] pecuniam, qui dediffet, an mulier? Nerva et Atilicinus refponderunt, quoniam putaffet quidem debere pecuniam, fed exceptione doli mali tueri fe potuiffet, infum repetiturum, fed fi cum fciret fe nihil mulieri debere promifit, mulieris effe actionem, quoniam pecunia ad eam pertineret ; fi autem vere debitor fuiffet, et ante nuptias solvisset, et nuptiæ fecutæ non fuiffent, ipfe poffit condicere, caufa debiti integra muliere ad hoc folum manente, ut ad nihil aliud debitor compellatur, nifi ut cedat ei condicitia actione.

(g) Fidejuffor, cum paciflitur, ne ab eo pecunia petatur, et per imprudentiam folverit condicere ftipulatori poterit: et ideo reus quidem manet obligatus, ipfe autem fua excepfione tutus eft ; nihil enim intereft fidejuffor an heres ejus folvat. Quod fi huic fidejuffori reus heres extiterit et folverit, nec repetet et liberabitur.

(b) Si quis juraffet fe dare non opportere, ab omni contentione difceditur: atque ita folutam pecuniam repeti poffe deienduum eft.

(i) Si fidejuffor jure liberatus, folverit errore pecuniam, repetenti non oberit; fi vero reus promittendi per errorem, et ipfe potea pecuniam folverit, non repetet, cum prior

folutio,