Under  32  &  33  Vic.  ch.  7,  which  provides  that  the  printing,  binding  and
other  hke  work  required  for  the  several  departments  of  the  government
shall  be  done  and  furnished  under  contracts  to  be  entered  into  under
authority  of  the  Governor  in  Council  after  advertisement  for  tenders,  the
Under  Secretary  of  State  advertized  for  tenders  for  the  printing  "  required
by  the  several  departments  of  the  government."  The  suppliants  tendered
for  such  printing,  the  specifications  annexed  to  the  tender,  which  were  sup-
plied by  the  government,  containing  various  provisions  as  to  the  manner  of
performing  the  work  and  giving  of  security.  The  tenders  were  accepted  by
the  Governor  in  Council,  and  an  indenture  was  executed  between  the  sup-
pliants and  her  Majesty,  by  which  the  suppliants  agreed  to  perform  and
execute,  &c.,  "all  jobs  or  lots  of  printing  for  the  several  departments  of  the
Government  of  Canada,  of  reports,  &c.,  of  every  description  and  kind  soever
coming  within  the  denomination  of  Department  printing,  and  all  the  work  and
services  connected  therewith  and  appertaining  thereto,  as  set  forth  in  the
said  specification  hereunto  annexed,  in  such  numbers  and  quantities  as  may
be  specified  in  the  several  requisitions  which  may  be  made  upon  them  for
that  purpose  from  time  to  time  by  and  on  behalf  of  said  several  respective
departments."  Part  of  the  Departmental  printing  having  been  given  to
others,  the  suppliants,  by  their  petition,  claimed  compensation  by  way
of  damages,  contending  that  they  were  entitled  to  the  whole  of  said
printing.
