NEXT FRIEND is, in English law, the name given to the person in whose name, or rather by ivhose agency, an a person under the age of 21:---sues in the courts of law and equity. The object is chiefly to have some party responsible for costs in case the infant fails in the action. In practice, the father, if alive, is usually the next friend, hut any substantial person may be so. In the court of chancery, a married woman sues or appears by the interreation of a next friend, where she is personally interested.
NEY, Munism, a celebrated marshal of the first French empire, was the son of a cooper, and was born at Saarlouis, Jan. 10, 1769. He was a non-commissioned officer in a hussar regiment when the revolution began, and afterwards rapidly rose to high military rank. For the capture of _Mannheim by a coup de main, he was made a general of division in 1799. Ile was interim commander of the army of the Rhine for a short time. during which he frustrated by a bold diversion an important movement of the archduke Charles against Massena and the army of Switzerland. After the peace of Luueville, Benapar!e, anxious to win Ney, with other republicans, to his party, brought about his marriage with a young friend of Hortense Beauharnais, and appointed him inspector-general of cavalry. On the establishment of the empire, be was made a mar shal. In 1805 he stormeu the intrenchments of Elchingen, and was created duke of Elehingen. He afterwards rendered important service in the Tyrol; contributed much to the 'French successes of 1800 and 1807; and served in Spain with great ability in 1808 and 1809, till he was dismissed by Massena, the commander-in-chief, on a dispute about the plan of the campaign. Chagrined by this, and dissatisfied with Napoleon's despot
ism, he remained for some time maz.tive; but in 1812 received the command of the third corps d'unnee, and greatly distinguished himself at Smolensk and the Moskwa, in conse quence of which he was created prince of Moskwa. He also displayed great abilities in the French retreat. He had a principal part in the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, but after the capture of Paris, lie urged the emperor to abdicate, and submitted to Louis XVIII., who loaded him with favors. On Napoleon's return from Elba, Ney assured the king of his fidelity, and was sent against Napoleon at the head of 4,000 men; but finding the emperor to be received with general enthusiasm, and his own soldiers to be favorable to his cause, Ney went over to his side. In the battle of Waterloo, he com manded the center, .and had five horses shot under him. After the capitulation of Paris, he yielded to the entreaties of his family to retire to Switzerland; but a costly Egyptian saber, the gift of Napoleon, led to his being suspected by an official, and arrested. He was condemned to death for high treason, and was shot in the garden of the Luxembourg on the Dec. 7, 1815. He left three sons, who published his _Umpires (2 vols. Par. 1833).