But the converse of this proposition, that where the principal obligation remains, the promise is collateral, cannot be sustained, though there have been repeated dicta to that effect. Browne, Stat. Fr. 193 ; 12 Johns. N. Y. 291; 20 Wend. N. Y. 201; 2 Den. N. Y. 45; 4 Barb. N. Y. 131; denied in 21 N. Y. 415; 7 Ala. N. s. 54; 6 Vt. 666; 30 id. 641 ; 33 id. 132.
The main question arising in cases under this head is whether the debtor is discharged ; and this is to a great extent a question for the jury. But if in fact the principal debt is discharged by agreement and the new pro mise is made upon this consideration, then the promise is original, and not collateral. Fell, Guar. u. 9; 1 All. Mass. 405.
It has been held that the entry on the cre ditor's books of the debtor's discharge is suffi cient to prove it. 3 Hill, So. C. 41.
A discharge of the debtor from custody, or surrender of property taken on an execution, is a good discharge of the debt. 1 Barnew. & Ald. 297; 11 Mees. & W. Exch. 857; 1 Q. B. 937; 9 Vt. 137 ; 4 Dev. 261; 7 Johns. N. Y. 463; 10 Wend. N. Y. 461; 21 N. Y. 415.
Where the transaction amounts to a sale of the principal debt in consideration of the new promise, the debtor is discharged, and the promise is original. 4 Bos. & P. 124; 3 Barnew. & C. 855 ; 4 Dowl. & R. 7 ; 1 Crompt.
M. & R. Exch. 743.
So where a purchaser of goods transfers them to another, who promises the vendor to pay .for them, this is a substitution and an original promise. 5 Taunt. 450; 5 Me. 81; 9 Cow. N. Y. 266; 11 Ired. No. C. 298; 21 Me. 545; 10 Mo. 538; 7 Cush. Mass. 133.
A mere forbearance to press the principal debt is not such a discharge of the debtor as will make the promise original, 1 Smith, Lead. Cas. 5th Am. ed. 387 ; 4 Johns. N. Y.422 ; Lal.
N. Y. 47; 15 Wend. N. Y. 122, 343; 20 id. 201 ; 3 Mete. Mass. 396 ; 21 N. Y. 412; 2 Wils. 94; 13 B. Monr. Ky. 356; Buller, N. P. 281 ; but where the forbearance is so protracted as to discharge the debtor, it may be questioned whether the promise does not become original. 33 Vt. 132.
4. Second, the promise will be original if made in consideration of some new benefit moving from the promisee to the promisor. 3 Dutch. N. J. 371; 4 Cow. N. Y. 432; 2 Den.
N. Y. 45; 4 Barb. N. Y. 131; 29 id. 610; 4 Johns. N. Y. 422; 12 id. 291; Buller, Nisi P. 281.
5. Third, the promise is original where the consideration is some loss to the promisee or principal creditor ; but it is held in many such cases that the loss must also work tome benefit ta the promisor. 6 Ad. & E. 564; 2 East, 325; 3 Strobh. Eq. So. C. 177 ; 10 Wend. N. Y. 461; 24 id. 260; 4 Cow. N. Y. 432; 10 ..1,hns. N. Y. 412; 18 id. 12; 20 N. Y. 268; 2 Som. N. Y. 392. As to merely refraining from giving an execution to the sheriff, 14 Me. 140.
So the loss of a lien. 7 Johns. N. Y. 463; Lai. N. Y. 251; Addison, Contr. 38; Burge, Sur. 26; Fell, Guar. c. 7, 8. It would seem that a surrender of a lien merely is not a sufficient consideration, 3 Metc. Mass. 396; but it must appear that the surrender is in some way beneficial to the promisor.
The rule is Well settled that when the lead ing object of a promiSor is to induce a pro misee to forego some lien, interest, or advan tage, and thereby to confer on the promisor a privilege or benefit which he Would not other wise possess or enjoy, an agreement made under such circurastances and upon such a consideration is a new, original, and binding contract, althoUgh the effect of it may be to assume the debt and discharge the liability of another. Bigelow, C. J., 2 All. Mass. 417; 3 Burr. 1886; Maule & S. 204; 2 Barnew. & Ald. 613 ; 1 Gray, Mass. 391; 1 All. Masfi. 405. The advantage relinquished by the pro misee must directly enure to the benefit of the promisor, so as in effect to make it a par chase by the promisor. 5 Cush. Mass. 488; 2 Wils. 94; 12 Johns. N. Y. 291.
6. Fourth, the promise is original if made on a consideration moving from the debtor to the promisor. 10 Johns. N. Y. 412 ; 12 id. 291 ; 5 Wend. N. Y. 235 ; Browne, Stat. Fr. 170; 4 Cow. N. Y. 432 ; 9 id. 639; 2 Den. N. Y. 45 ; 8 Johns. N. Y. 39 ; 9 Cal. 92; 30 Ala. N. s. 599; 1 E. D. Smith, N. Y. 5 ; 2 id. 124; 16 Barb. N. Y. 645 ; 5 Me. 31 ; 1 Gray, Mass. 391.
For the rule in a class of cases quite ana logous, see 9 Ill. 40 ; 3 Conn. 272 ; 21 Me. 410; 1 South. N. J. 219 ; 1 Speers, So. C. 4 ; 2 Bosw. N. Y. 392; 13 Ired. No. C. 86; 5 Cranch, 666.