An invalid or not enforceable agreement to forbear is not a good consideration; for suit may be brought immediately after the promise is made. The forbearance must be an enforce able agreement for a reasonable time. Hardr. 5; 4 East, 455; 4 Mees. & W. Exch. 795; 4 Me. 387 ; 3 Penn. 282; 9 Vt. 233.
The prevention of litigation is a valid and sufficient consideration ; for the law favors the settlement of disputes. Thus, a compro mise or mutual submission of demands to arbitration is a highly favored considers" tion at law. 1 Chanc. Rep. 158; 1 Atli. Ch. 3; 4 Pick. Mass. 507. 17 id. 470 ; 2 Strobh. Eq. So. C. 258 ; 2 Mich. 145 ; 1 Watts, Penn. 216; 6 id. 421 ; 2 Penn. 531; 6 Mun£ Va. 406 ; 1 Bibb, Ky. 168 ; 2 id. 448 ; 4 Hawks, No. C. 178 ; 1 Watts & S. Penn. 456; 8 id. 31; 9 id. 69. 14 Conn. 12 ; 4 Mete. Mass. 270 ; 35 N. H. 556; 11 Vt. 483 ; 28 id. 796. 28 Miss. 56. 4 Jones, No. C. 359 ; 27 Me. 2/..)2 •, 18 Ala. 549; 21 Ala. N. s. 424; 14 Conn. 12; 2 M. Mull. So. C. 356 ; 4 Ill. 378 ; S. Dan. Ky. 45; 21 Eng. L. & Eq. 199; 2 Rand. Va. 442; 5 Watts, Penn. 259 ; 5, Barnew. & Ald. 117.
S. The assignment of a debt or chose in action (unless void by reason of maintenance) with the consent of the debtor, is a good con sideration for the debtor's promise to pay the assignee. It is merely a promise to pay a debt due, and the consideration is the dis charge of the debtor's liability to the assignor. 1 Sid. 212; 2 W. Blackst. 820; 4 Barnew. & C. 525; 7 Dowl. & R. 14; 13 Q. B. 548 ; 23 Vt. 532; 7 Tex. 47; 22 N. H. 185 ; 10 J. B. Moore, 34; 2 Bingh. 437. 1 Crompt. M. & R. Exch. 430; 5 Tyrwh. 116 ; 4 Term, 690; 4 Taunt. 326; 22 Me. 484; 7 N. H. 549. Work and service are perhaps the most common considerations.
In the case of deposit or mandate, it seems that the bailee is bound to restore the thing bailed to its owner. Jones, Bailm.; Edwards, Bailm.; Story, Bailin. 75, 76; Yelv. 50; Croke Jac. 667. 2 Ld. Raym. 920 ; Doct. & Stud. 2, e. 24. Though it was once held that in these contracts there was no consideration, Yelv. 4, 128; Croke Eliz. 883, the reverse is now •universally maintained. 10 J. B. Moore, 192; 2 Bingh. 464; 2 Mees. & W.
Exch. 143 ; M'Clell. & Y. Exch. Dowl. & R. 443; 4 Barnew. & C. 345 ; 13 No.
C. 39 ; 24 Conn. 484 ; 1 Perr. & D. 3 ; 1 Smith, Lead. Cos. (1841 ed.) 96.
In these cases there does not appear to be any benefit arising from the bailment to the promisor. The definitions of mandate and deposit exclude this. Nor does any injury at the time accrue to the promisee; the bail ment is for his benefit entirely.
Trust and confidence in another are said to be the considerations which support this con tract.. But we think parting with the posses sion of a thing may be considered an injury to the promisee, for which the prospect of re turn was the consideration held out by the promisor.
9. Mutual promises made at the same time are concurrent considerations, and will support each other if both be legal and bind ing. Hob. 188; 1 Sid. 180; 4 Leon. 3; Croke Ehz. 543 ; 6 Barnew. & C. 255 ; 9 id. 840. 3 Barnew. & Ad. 703; 9 Bingh. 68; Peake, 227; 3 Eno. L. & Eq. 420 ; 2 Maule & S. 205; 5 Mees. £ W. Exch. 241; 12 How. 126 ; 8 Miss. 508; 17 Me. 372; 19 id. 74; 4 Ind. 257; 6 id. 3 Iowa, 527 ; 4 Jones, No. C. 7 Ohio St. 270; 3 Humphr. Tenn. 19; 5 Tex. 572; 2 Hall, N. Y..405 ; 12 Barb. N. Y. 502 ; 1 Gaines, N. Y. 45 ; 1 Murph. So. C. 287 ; 13 Ill. 140; 8 Mo. 574. Yet the promise of an infant is a consideration for the promise of an adult. The infant may avoid his contract, but the adult cannot. 9 Mete. Mass. 519; 7 Watts, Penn. 412; 5 Cow. N. Y. 475; 7 id. 22; 1 D. Chipm. Vt. 252; 1 A. K. Marsh. Ky. 76 ; 2 Bail. So. C. 497 ; 3 Maule & S. 205 ; 2 Strange, 937.
Marriage is now settled to be a valuable consideration, though it is not convertible into money or pecuniarily valuable. 3 Cow. N. Y. 537; 1 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 261; Add.
Penn. 276; 11 Leigh, Va. 136; 7 Pet. 348; 6 Dan. Ky. 89 ; 22 Me. 374.
10. Subscriptions to take shares in a char tered company are said to rest upon sufficient consideration ; for the company is obliged to give the subscriber his shares, and ho must pay for them. Parsons, Contr. 377; 16 Mass. 94; 8 id. 138 ; 21 N. H. 247; 34 Me. 360 ; 15 Barb. N. Y. 249 5 Ala. N. s. 787 ; 22 Me. 84 ; 9 Vt. 289.