The power of the court of chancery to interfere by injunction in the case of a private nuisance, from the inability of a court of law to afford adequate redress in all cases, is clearly established. It must nevertheless be admitted, that it belongs to the extraordinary powers of the court, and should be cautiously and sparingly exercised. We gave some consideration to this subject in the case of Rosser v. Randolph,
Is a blacksmith shop, in a small village, of this character ? In our opinion, it is not. A blacksmith might not be as desirable a neighbor as one following a more quiet trade, but
There is nothing in the argument that there was room elsewhere on the lot to build the shop, without putting it in the immediate vicinity of the plaintiff’s house. If it is a nuisance it is unimportant on what part of the lot it is erected. If it is a justifiable erection, the plaintiff has no right to dictate where it shall be placed. As to the objection of the danger of fire, from the sparks of the forge, it is an evil if it exists, incident to the contiguity of houses in towns and cities. Every one who builds on the margin of his lot, in a
The privation of light by the erection of the smith’s shop, is not sufficiently shown by the bill, to authorize the court to interfere. Although it is not necessary that there should be a total privation of-the light previously admitted through a window, to authorize the interposition of chancery, it is not sufficient that the light will be to some extent obstructed by the proposed building. It must be a material privation of the privilege before enjoyed. In this case it appears that the proposed building will stand at a right angle with the plaintiff’s house, and although it may to some extent impair the free circulation of air, and the passage of light, as previously enjoyed, it can scarcely be affirmed that it amounts to such a material privation as would justify the interference of a court of chancery. [See the case of the Atto. Gen. v. Nichol, 16 Vesey, 338.]
The foundation of this right is the privation of an ancient privilege, so long enjoyed as to become aright. Such is not the fact here. We must infer from the bill that the plaintiff’s building is a recent erection, and certainly one who erects a house in a city or town, on the margin oí his lot, with a window opening upon the lot of the adjoining proprietor, does not thereby acquire such a right to the use of his window, as to deprive the adjoining proprietor of the right to build on his lot, in any manner his judgment, or fancy may dictate. Such a right could only be presumed from long ac-quiesence in its enjoyment, which would thereby ripen into a title, and presupposes a grant. No such presumption exists in this case, and it was the folly of the plaintiff so to construct his house as to be dependent on the adjoining proprietor, for light and air. It can furnish no ground for an inter
Let the decree be affirmed.
