BANQUE

Fr. A bench; the table or counter of a trader, merchant, or banker. Banque route; a broken bench or counter; bankrupt. BANS OF MATRIMONY, A public announcement of an intended marriage, required by the English law to be made in a church or chapel, during service, on three consecutive Sun days before the marriage is ·celebrated. The object is to afford an oppor· tunity for any person to interpose an objection 1f he knows of any Impediment or other just, cause why the marriage should not take place. The publication of the bans may be dispensed with by procuring a special license to marry. BANYAN, In East Indian law. A Hin• doo -merchant or shop-keeper. The word 1s used in Bengal to denote the native who man• ages the money concerns of a European, and sometimes serves him as an interpI"eter. BAR. l, A partition or railing running acro a court-room; intended to separate the general public from the space occupied by 'the judges, counsel, jury, and others concerned in the trial of a cause. In the English courts it is the partition behind which all outer-bar- PLEA IN BAR. [s. 125]