In January 1891 the plaintiff J. B. and one C. E. G., who were the then trustees of the estate of one B. deceased, lent to the defendant R. the sum of 40,000l. upon mortgage security of certain land under the Transfer of Land Act 1890. C. E. G. and one J. H. G. were members of the firm of T. & Co., who were appointed as solicitors on behalf of B.’s estate aforesaid and for a period of years carried out the whole of the business and financial transactions of the estate, and in whose books the accounts of the estate were kept. The plaintiff J. B. left the whole of the active management of B.’s estate to C. E. G.