ready, willing and able-1825

[Baker, John]

        It's a legal phrase.  I can take it back to 1813, but it's probably older than that.  "When a court is called upon to vacate a contract by reason of the non-execution thereof by the other party, the defendant has a right in equity to offer himself able, ready, and willing to perform it; and if he do so offer, the court ought to suffer him to perform, if time be not of the essence of the contract."  Hepburn & Dundas v. Auld, 11 F.Cas. 1191, 1192 (C.C.D.C. 1813) (No. 6389), rev'd sub nom. Hepburn & Dundas' Heirs v. Dunlop & Co., 14 U.S. (1 Wheat.) 179 (1816).

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
Of Sam Clements
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 7:18 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: ready, willing and able-1825


I found an 1825 newspaper cite, "..ready and willing and able.."

Most of my sources are silent on this phrase.  Anything earlier?

Sam Clements