Step 1: Understanding the Question:
• Clayton's rule (Devaynes v. Noble, 1816) deals with how a payment is applied when a debtor owes several debts to the same creditor. We must find the statement that is not part of the rule.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• First, the payment is applied to the debt that the debtor names (Option A is correct).
• Second, if the debtor gives no instruction, the creditor may apply it to any debt that is due (Option B is correct).
• Third, if neither party gives any direction, the payment is applied to the debts in the order in which they were incurred, the earliest debt first (Option C is correct).
• Option D says that the principal is discharged first and the interest after it. This is not a part of Clayton's rule; where interest is due, payment is applied first to the interest and then to the principal. So Option D is incorrect.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is Option (D).