§ 166. Powers of trustees. The said trustees shall have power:

1. To sue in their own names or otherwise, and recover all the estate, debts and things in action, belonging or due to such debtor, in the same manner and with the like effect as such debtor might or could have done if no trustees had been appointed, and no set-off shall be allowed in any such suit, for any debt, unless it was owing to such creditor, by such debtor, before presenting the petition of the insolvent under said articles. But no suit in equity shall be brought by assignees of insolvents under the third or fourth articles, without the consent of the creditors having a major part of the debts which shall have been exhibited and allowed, unless the sum in controversy exceeds five hundred dollars;

2. To take into their hands, all the estate of such debtor, whether delivered to them, or afterwards discovered; and all books, vouchers and securities relating to the same;

3. From time to time, to sell at public auction, all the estate, real and personal, vested in them, which shall come to their hands, after giving at least fourteen days' public notice of the time and place of sale, and also publishing the same for two weeks in a newspaper, printed in the county, where the sale shall be made, if there be one;

4. To allow such credit on the sale of real property by them, as they shall deem reasonable, not exceeding eighteen months, for not more than three-fourths of the purchase money; which credit shall be secured by a bond or note of the purchaser, and a mortgage on the property sold;

5. On such sales, to execute the necessary conveyances and bills of sale;

6. To redeem all real or personal property subject to a security interest or mortgage, and to satisfy any judgments which may be an incumbrance on any property so sold by them; or to sell such property subject to such mortgages, security interests or judgments;

7. To settle all matters and accounts between such debtor, and his debtors, or creditors, and to examine any person touching such matters and accounts, on oath, to be administered by either of them;

8. Under the order of the court appointing them, to compound with any person indebted to such debtor, and thereupon to discharge all demands against such person.