Commentaries On American Law Vol 2
Commentaries On American Law Vol 2
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COMMENTARIES
ON
AMERICAN
LAW;
BY JAMES KENT.
VOLUME It.
PUBLISHED BY O. HALSTEO
,1827.
" J C
L16982
ApR.l
1940
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
hereafter be, avoided as much as possible ; for the
knowledge that is intended to ber communicated in
these volumes, is believed to be,
in most cases, of
CONTENTS.
PART IV.
OP THE LAW CONCERNING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS.
Page
Lecture XXIV Of the Absolute Rights of Persons,
1
1. The history and character of bills of rights, ib.
2. The right of personal security,
9
S. The law concerning slander and libels, .... 12
4. The right of personal liberty, and the writ
of habeas corpus,
22
Lecture XXV.Of Aliens and A'atives,
33
1 Of natives,
H,
2. The doctrine of allegiance and expatria
tion,
3G
3. Of aliens,
43
Lecture XXVI. Of the Law concerning Marriage,
C5
1. Marriages, when void for lunacy or fraud, . ib
2. The age of consent
67*
3. Bigamy,
68
4. Marriage between near relations,
70
5. The consent of parents,
73
6. The form of marriage,
75
7. Foreign marriages
73
Lecture XXVII. Of the Law concerning Divorce, .... 81
1. Divorce a vinculo, .
ft.
2. Foreign divorces,
89
I 3. Effect of foreign judgments,
101
4. Divorce a mensa el thoro,
104)
Lecture XXVIII.Of Husband and Wife
109
1. The husband's right by marriage in the property of the wife,
110
2. The dutias of the husband,..
121
VI
CONTENTS.
Page
3. The wife's power at law to act as a feme
sole,
127
4. Her capacity in equity
136
5. Oilier rights and disabilities incident to the
marriage union,
149
Lecture XXIX. Of Parent and Child
159
1. The duties of parents,
ib.
2. The rights of parents,
169
3. Of illegitimate children,
173
Lecture XXX. Of Guardian and Ward,
181
1. Guardian by nature,
ib.
2. Guardian by nurture,
182
3. Guardian in socage,
ib.
4. Testamentary guardians
184
5. Guardians judicially appointed,
185
6. The duty and responsibility of guardians, 187
Lecture XXXI.Of InfantsAnd herein of their acts,
when void, when voidable, and when
valid
191
Lecture XXXII.Of Master and Servant,
201
1. Slaves, domestic slavery, and its extinction
in this state
ib.
2. Hired servants,
209
3. Apprentices,
211
Lecture XXXIII.Of Corporations,
215
1. The history of corporations,
2l6
2. The various kinds of corporations
220
3. Their powers and opacities,
224
4. The visitation of them,
240
5. Their dissolution,
245
PART V.
OF THE LAW CONCERNING PERSONAL PROPERTY.
Lecture XXXIV
CONTENTS.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Page
Of markets overt,
26l
1'he right of alienation,
264
Of sumptuary laws,
266
Of taxation,
268
Of the claim fur improvements on land, ... 271
The rijiht of government to assume proper
ty, and control its use,
274
363
ib.
364
S67
CONTENTS.
Page
4. Of the implied warranty of the articles sold, 374
5. Of the duly of mutual disclosure of mate
rial facts,
S77
6. Of passing the title by deliver) ,
Sb7
7; Of the memorandum required by the statute
of frauds,
402
8. Of sales of goods as affected byfiuid, .... 403
9. Of sales at auction,
423
10. 01 ihc vendor's right of stoppage in transitu, 427
Lecture XL Of Bailment,
437
1. Of depositum,
ib.
2. Of mandatum,
443
3. Of commodatum,
446
4. Of pledging,
449
5. Of locatum, or hiring for a reward.And
herein of the law concerning innkeepers
474
ib.
481
495
504
515
3. Of the maritime legislation of the moderns, 522
LECTURE XXIV*
OF THE ABSOLUTE RIGHTS OF PERSONS*
[Part IV;
[Part IV,
.S
[Part IV.
and be is not bound to take and follow the advice of bis constituents
upon any particular point, unless be thinks it proper or prudent so to
do. (4 Inst. 14- 1 Blackt. Com. 159.) The] people cannot debate
in tbeir collective capacity. They can only deliberate and make laws
by tbeir representatives ; and in the ordinary course of human affairs,
the exercise of their sovereignty, and the means of their safety, will
consist in the discreet selection of the rulers, who are to administer the
government of their choiceSo, it is declared, in some of the state constitutions, as Maryland^
North Carolina, and Tennewee, that " monopolies are contrary to
the genius of a free government, and ought not to be allowed. * 1 bis
would seem to restrain the legislature from granting any exclusive
privilege even for a limited time, and prevent them from encouraging
the introduction and prosecution of hazardous and expensive experi
ments in some art, science, or business, calculated to be extensively
useful. " A temporary monopoly of that kind," says Doctor Adam
Smith, {Inquiry into the Wealth of Nations, vol. ii. 272.) " may be
vindicated upon the same principles upon which a like monopoly of a
new machine is granted to its inventor, and that of a new book to its
author." If the principle be correct, that all monopolies are contrary
to the genius of a free state, it would condemn the power given to
Congress to secure to authors, and inventors the exclusive right to
tbeir writings and discoveries, and which species of monopoly is deem
ed to be exceedingly just and useful. Again ; it is made an article
in the declaration of rights, in the constitution of JllinoU, that thereshall be no other banks or moneyed institutions in the, state, but those
already provided by law, except a state bank and its branches-" This
is too general and too indefinite a restraint upon the exercise of legis
lative discretion, and the subject seems scarcely of sufficient import
ance to have been classed among the " general, great, and essential
principles of liberty and free government." In a commercial state,
it would lead to the loss of many useful moneyed establishments, or
what is more probable, it would be a temptation to efforts to elude
the force of the article by evasive constructions. So, the provision
in the declaration of rights in the constitution of Mississippi, that
" no citizen shall be prevented from emigrating on any pretence
icnai'ver," seems to be stated in terms too strong and unqualified,
and it would require some latitude of interpretation to prevent the
unjust application of the injunction to the case of person* emigrating
[Part IV,
with the fraudulent Resign of avoiding the payment of debt, or the dis
charge of a known duty, as the reliefof bail or security. It is declared
in the constitution of Ohio, that " every association of persons, being
regularly formed, and having given themselves a name, may, on appli
cation to the legislature, be entitled to letters of incorporation to enable
them to hold estates, real and personal, for the support of their schools
academies, colleges, universities, and other piirposrs." The provision is
too indefinitely expressed, and relates to a case of ordinary legislative
discretion, and if literally carried into execution, it would be produc
tive of great inconvenience. It does not seem to be deserving of a*place
among " the essential principles of liberty and free government to be for
ever unalterably established."
a Conttitution qf 1777, art. ! 13. 41*
Lecture XXVI.]
10
[Part IV.
a Cb. 20.
b 2 Inst. SO.
11
J2
[Part IV.
JLecture XXIV.]
IS
curacy, has collected the material provisions in the Roman lair on the
object. Since the publication of that note, the view of the \ <w of defa
mation among the ancients has been extensively considered in Holft
Law ofLibel, b. i. cb. 1.
a Villers v. Monsley, 2 Wilt. 403.
b 4 Matt. Rep. 168. 2 Picketing'! Rep. 115,
c 1 Hawk. P. C. b. i. cji. 73.
14
[Part IV.
a 2 Inst. 227.
b Lib. 3. de Actionibus, ch. if.
c 30 Au. 29. RceveU Hitl. Englith Law, vol. in- 90d Statute of 3 E. I., 2 R. II., and 12 R. II.
2 Mod. 161. 166.
/A Co. 110112.
15
frequent. The remedy was applied to a variety of eases and in a private action ofslander for damages, and even in
the action of scandalum magnatum, the defendant.jsaa-allowed to justify, by showing the truth of the fact charged,
for if the words we,re tpi<>1 it waa men k case of damnum"
absque injuria, according to the Hist opinion of* Faulus, in
the civil law.a But in the case of a public prosecution for""
a libel, it became the established principle of the English
law, as declared in the Court of Star Chamber, about the
beginning of the reign of James I.* that the truth of the
libel could not be shown by way of justification, because,
whether true or false, it was equally dangerous to the
public peace. The same doctrine remains in England
to this day unshaken ; and in the case of The King v.
JBurdett,c it was held, that where a libel imputes to others
the commission of a triable crime, the evidence of the
truth of it was inadmissible, and that the intention was
to be collected from the paper itself, unless explained by
the mode of publication, or other circumstances, and that
if the contents were likely to produce mischief, the defen
dant must be presumed to intend that which his act was
likely to produce. " The liberty of the press," as one of
the judges in that case observed, " cannot impute crimi
nal conduct to others without violatingthe right of charac
ter, and that right can only be attacked in a court of jus
tice, where the party attacked has a fair opportunity of
defending himself. Whqjw vitnpffmtinn begins, the liber
ty of the press ends." Whether the rule of the English
law was founded on a just basis, and whether it was ap
plicable to the free press and free institutions in this coun
try, has been a question extensively and laboriously discuss
ed in several cases which have been brought before our
American tribunals.
16
[Part IV.
Lecture XXIV.]
if
18
[Part IV*
good. Since the decision in 1825, the legislature of Massachusetts have interposed, alia1 by an act passed in March".
1827, have allowed the truth to be given in evidence in all
prosecutions tor libels, but with H |)l'UTftWthat such evidence
should not be a justification, unless it should be made satis
factorily to appear upon the trial, that the matter charged
as libellous was published with good motives, and for justi
fiable ends.
The constitutions of
ftf tf"* TTiittd fftntrg htf
made special provjsioq in fjiYPi"- "f,giving th" truth in cvidence in public prosecutions, for labels. In the constitu
tions of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, it is declared, that in prosecu
tions for libels on men in respect to their public official con
duct, the truth may be given in evidence, when the matter
published was proper for public information. In the con
stitutions of Mississippi and Missouri, the extension of the
right to give the truth in evidence is more at large, and ap
plies to all prosecutions or indictments for libels, without
any qualifications annexed in restraint of the privilege; and
an act of the legislature of New-Jersey, in 1799, allowed
the same unrestricted privilege. The legislature of Penn
sylvania, in 1309, ' went far beyond their own constitution,
and declared by statute, that no person should be indictable
for a publication on the official conduct of men in public
trust ; and that in all actions or criminal prosecutions for a
libel, the defendant might plead the trull) mystification, or
give it in evidence. The decision of the Court of Errors
of this state, in Thorn v. Blanchardfi carried the toleration
of a libellous publication to as great an extent as the Penn
sylvania law; for it appeared to be the doctrine of a majo
rity of the court, that where a personpetitioned the council
of appointment to remove a puhlic officer for corruption in
office, public policy would not permit the officer libelled to
19
ao
[Part IV
[Part IV.
S3
a 3 Bute. 27.
6 See, for instance, tbe habeas corput act, in Massachusetts, of 16th
March, 1785, referred to in 2 Mass. Rep. 550; and the habcat corput
act of South. Carolina, of 17! 2, and referred to in 2 Bay, 563. and 2
Const. Rep. 698.; and the habeas corjtu-i act of Pennsylvania, of 18th
February, 1785, and referred to in 1 Bmney, 374 ; and the habeat cor
put act of New- York, I R. Lavs, 354. ; and the habeas corpus set of
New-Jersey, referred to in 3 Halsted, 121.
c See vol. i. 322.
d Constitutions of Math York and New-Jersey,
e Pmnryhania and f irginia.
24
[Part IV.
26
[Part IV-
27
28
[Part IV
29
30
[Part IV,
a LawsN- Y-sess. 36. ch. 57. s. 10. Act of 1R16. supra, e-4, 5.
b Constitutions of Vermont, Ohio, Illinois, and Mississippi*
St
32
[Part IV.
LECTURE XXV.
OF ALIENS AND NATIVES.
We are next to consider the rights and d^|mfcgjtiaaMM
"in their domestic relations, as distinguished from the abso
lute rights of moTvlcfuaTs^f which we have already treat
ed. Most of these relations arc derived from the law of
nature, and they are familiar to the institutions ol'every""
country, anu consist of husband and wife, parent and child,
guardian ana" ward7 and niast^r^fflcTTIrvant. Vo these
may lie added, an examination of certain artificial per
sons created By law, under the well known name of cor
porations^ There is a still more general division of the
inhabitants of every country, under the comprehensive
title of aliens and natives, and to the consideration of
them our attention will be directed in the present lecture.
(1.) Natives are all persons born within the jurisdiction
of the United States. Ifthey were resident citizens at the
time of the declaration of independence, though born else
where, and deliberately yielded to it an express or implied
Sanction, they became parties to it, and are to be considered
as natives; their social tie being coeval with the existence
of the nation. If a person was born here before our inde
pendence, and before that period voluntarily withdrew into
other parts of the British dominions, and never returned ;
yet, it has been held, that bis allegiance accrued to thc-\
state in which he was born, as the lawful successor of the I
king ; and that be was to be considered a subject by birth. I
It was admitted, that this claim of the state to the allegi-
Vob. II.
34
[PartlV.
6. 1 Dallas, 5S.
Lecture XXV.]
35
[Part IV.
Lecture XXV ]
37
38
[Part IV,
a PatertoD, J.
89
a Ireddl, J.
"
40
[Part IV.
41
42
[Part IV.
43
a 1 Hates P. C. 68.
6 Pothier't Traite du droit At PropriiU, No. 94. Code Napoleon*
Sfo. 17. SI. Toullier, Droit civil Francait, torn. 1. No. 266.
c 7 Co. Calvin's case, IS. a.
d Hyde v. Hill, Cro- E. 3 Bro. tit. Descent, pL 47. tit. Denizen,
pl. 14.
*4
[Part IV.
Lecture XXV.]
48
a 5 Binney, 371.
46
[Part IV.
Lecture XXV.]
4f
inquest of office has been had; but upon his death, the land
would instantly, and of necessity, (as the freehold caanMIbe kept in ahpyflrn-p.) githout any inquest of office, escheat
and vest in the state, because he is incompetent to transmit
hereditary descent." If an alien, according to a case put
Lord Coke,6 arrives in England, and hath two sons born
there, they are of course natural born subjects ; and if one
of them purchases land, and dies without issue, his brother
cannot inherit as his heir, because he must deduce his title
by descent, through his father , who had no inheritable blood.
But the case- as put hv Coke, has been denied to be the law
by the majority of the court in Collingwood v. Pace f and
it was there held, that the sons of an alien could inherit to
each other, and derive title through the alien father^ The
elaborate opinion of Lord Ch. B. Hale, was distinguished*
by hisusual learning, though it was rendered somewhat per
plexing and obscure by the subtlety of his distinctions, and
the very artificial texture of his argument. Ttjj it'll! ad
mitted, hnwevfir. thaf a grandson cannot inherit to bis
grandfather, though both were natural born subjects, pro
vided the intermediate son was an alien, for the grandson
must, in that case, represent his father, and he had no in
heritable blood to be represented ; and the reason why the
ene brother may inherit from the other, is, that as to them
tbe descent is immediate, and they do not take by repre^
sentation from the father. The law according to Lord Hate^
respects only the mediate relation of the brothers as bro
thers, and not in respect of their father, though it be true
a Collingwood v. Pace, 1 Sid. 193. 1 Lev. 59. S. C. Co.LUt.2-bPlowd-229. b. 230. a. Jackson v. Luon, mpra. Fox v. Southack, IS
JtfaM. Rtp- 143. 8 ib- 445. Fairfax v. Hunter 7. Cranch, 603,619, 62C
Orr v. Hodgson, 4 Whealon, 453. GoTemeur v. RobertsoD, 1 1 Wkte.
ton, 333. In North Carolina, an alien may take by purchase, bat be
cannot take by dense, any more than he can inherit. 2 Hwjvood, 37.
104. 108.
b Co. LUt. 8. a.
I Sid. 193. I Fent. 413.
48
[Tart IV.
49
a 1 Vent. 427.
6 Co- Lit. 3. a. Com. Dig. lit Alien, c. ]. Orr v. Hodgson, 4 Whca'Ion, 453- Jackson v. Jackson, 7 John*. Rep 214.
c 7 Co. 1. p. 27.
d Apthorp r. Dackus, Kjrby't R?p. 413. Kinsej, Ch. J. in Den v.
Brown, 2 [Iahtcad,33T. Kelly v. Harrison, 2 Johns. Cos. 2. Jacksom,
v, Lnnn, 3 Johns. Cas> 109. S(orv, J., 9 Church, 59.
Vol. II.
7
60
[Fart IV.
5i
a Vol. i. 382.
b 2 Barnewall Sf Creiswell, 779.
C Jackson v. Wriglit, 4 Johns. Rep. 75.
52
[Part IV
Lecture XXV.]
<r 4 Leon. 84. SliepparcTs Touchstone, by Preston, 56. 232. 7. Wheaton, 515
b. Oriffith't Law Register, tit. Virginia.
c Laws of JV. Y. sess. 49. ch. 297. sec. 3.
d Co. Lilt. 2. b.
c Harg. Co. Lilt. n. 9. to b. I.
[Part IV-
Lecture XXV-]
35
56
[Part IV.
I
j
J
I
58
[Part IV.
59
60
[Pari IV-
fil
62
[Part IV-
63
LECTURE XXVI.
OF THE LAW CONCERNING MARRIAGE. '
Th E primary a ml^m ost important. of the^do^esttf T^Irt.
tions, is that of husband and wife. It has its foundation in
,
is the only lawful relation by which Prov idence
has permitted the continuance of the human race. In
every age it has had a propitious influence on the moral
improvement and happiness of mankind. It is one of the
rhif-f foundations of social order. We may justly place to
the credit of the institution of marriage, a great share of
the blessings which flow from refinement of manners, the
education of children, the sense ofjustice, and the cultiva
tion of the liberal arts." In the examination of this inte
resting contract, I shall, in the first place, consider how a
marriage may be lawfully made, and, secondly, how it
may be lawfully dissolved ; and, lastly, I shall 588a view
of the rights and duties which belong to that relation.
(1.) All persons who have not the regular use of the"
understanding, sufficient to deal with discretion in the com
mon affairs of life, as idiots and lunatics, (except in their"
66
[Part IV,
Lecture XXVI.]
6j
68
[Part IV
[Part IV.
a 4 Blanks. Com, 163, 164. This point was raised and discussed in
Porter's case, Cro. Car. 461. and while the court admitted the second
marriage to be unlawful and void, yet they did not decide whether the
statute penalty would attach upon such a case of bigamy.
6 Harg. Co. Litt. lib. 2. n. 48.
c Barrington on lite Statutes, p. 401.
d No. 147.
e Foley's Moral Philosophy, b. 3. o. 6.
/ 2 Potter's Greek Antiq. 264. Taylor's Elem Civil Law, 340344.
g Cie. de Oral.. 1.40. Suet. Jul. 52. hut. I. 10. b. ad Jin- Taylor,
ibid. 44347. The more ancient laws of Borne, prohibiting divorces,
were extremely praised by Dwnysius ofHalycarnassus, lib. 2.
r
Lecture XXVI.]
71
a 1 Poller's Greek Anliq. 107. 2 Bid. 267, 268, 269. Tacit. Ann. 12.
ec. 4, 5, 6, 7.
6 Co. Lilt. 235. a. Gibson^ Cod.4',2. 1 PMUimortU Rep. 201.355.
c JWitfor<Ps IlisL of Greece, vol. vii. p. 3*4.
d Burgess v. Burgess, I Haggard, 3K6. ucb n connexion was hc)S
in equal abomination by Justinian's code. Cerfe, 5. 0. 2.
78
[Part IV,
73
74
[Part IV.
a RrWne' Inst. vol. i 8891. JWDouaWs Inst. vol. i. H2. 2 jjrfdam's Rtj>. 375. 1 lhid 64.
b The' rigour of the act of Geo. II. was somewhat softened by the
new marriage act of 3 Geo. IV. c. 75., aod the provisions rendering
void all marriages solemnized by license, by minors, without consent,
was repealed, aod marriages had by previous publication of banns were
rendered valid , though there had been false names used in the publica
tion of the banns. 1 AddanCs Rep. 28. 94. 479.
c Intl. I. 10. Pr. TaylorU Elements of Hit CivilLaw, 310313.
d Potter's Greek Anliq- vol. ii. 270,271.
75
[Part IV.
a 6 Mod- 155. 2 Salk. 437 S. C. Dalrymplc v. Dalrj triple, 2 HagS"rd, 54. La Tour v. Teesdale, 8 Taunton, 830. FcDton t. Feed, 4
Johns. Rep. 52.
6 1 Salk. 119. 4 Burr. 2057 Doug, 171. Tlie Kiag v. Slockland,
Ilurr. Sett. Catei, 500. CuDniogliami v. Cunninghams. 2 Doic. 48?..
M'Adam r. Walker, 1 Dow, 148. Fentonv. Reed, 4 Johnt. Rep.
c 1 Erik. Inst. 91. 93. MWouaWs Inst. vol. i. 112.
d Se:din's Uxor Ebraica, b. 2. c. 1. 2 Potter'1! Greek Antiq. "79".
583. Dr. Taylor's Elem. 275. 278.
?7
78
[PartlV.
79
SO
[Part IV.
LECTURE XXVII.
82
[Part IV.
83
34
[Part IV.
&6
a OughlonU Ordo, ub. supra, burn's Eccle. Law, lit. Manage, sec.
xj. I Ersk. Inst. 113, 114. 6 Matt. Rep. 147. anon. Williamson v.
Williamson, 1 Johns. Ch. Rep. 492.
6 Williamson v. Williamson, ub. tupra. 2 Phillimore,\6l. Beat v.
Best. 2 Haggard, 313. Mortimer r. Mortimer.
e PlutarcWt lift of Alcibiadet. 2 PotterU Greek Antiq. 296, 29T.
Taylo^i Elements of the CMl Law, 352, 353.
S6
[Part IV.
is solemnly laid down in the pandects, that bona gratia matrimonium dissohitur.** We find the Roman lawyers, dis
cussing questions of property depending uiftrrrllnwj-yoluntary divorces, or in which Titia divortium a Seio fecit. Ma
ma Titio repudium misitJ' This facility ofseparation tended
to destroy all mutual confidence, and to inflame every (ri
fling dispute. The abuse of divorce prevailed in the most
polished ages of the Roman republic, and it was unknown
in its early history. Though the twelve tables gave to the
husband the freedom of divorce, yet the republic had sub
sisted 500 years when the first instance of a divorce oc
curred. The Emperor Augustus endeavoured by law to
put some restraint upon the facility of divorce ; ' but the
check was overpowered by the influence and corruption of
manners. Voluntary divorces were abolished by one of
the novels of Justinian, and they were afterwards revived
by another novel of the Emperor Justin.* In the novel
restoring the unlimited freedom of divorce, the reasons
for it are assigned; and while it was admitted, that nothing
ought to be held so sacred in civil society as marriage, it
was declared, that the hatred, misery, and crimes, which
often flowed from indissoluble connexions, required as a ne
cessary remedy, the restoration of the old law, by which
marriage was dissolved by mutual will and consent./ This
practice of divorce is understood to have continued in the
Byzantine or eastern empire, to the 9th or 10th century,
87
88
[Part IV*.
yo
[Part IV.
91
[Part IV.
94
[Part IV.
95
96
[Part IV.
af'crgmsan, p. 226.
6 Fergusson, p. 276.
97
98
[Part IV.
and foreign courts are not bound to inquire after that will,
or after the municipal law to which it may correspond.
They are bound to look to their own law, and to hold it
paramount, especially in the administration of that depart
ment of internal jurisprudence, which operates directly od
public morals and domestic manners.
The consequen
ces would be embarrassing, and probably inextricable,
if the personal capacities of individuals, as of majors
and minors, the competency to contract marriages, and
infringe matrimonial obligations, and the rights of domes
tic authority and service, weie to be regulated by foreign
laws and customs, with which the mass of the population
must be utterly unacquainted. The whole order of socie
ty would be disjointed, were the positive institutions of fo
reign nations concerning the domestic relation's admitted
to operate universally, and form privileged casts living
each under separate laws. Though marriage, contracted
according to the lex luci, be valid all the world liver, yel
many of its rights and dTities are regulated and enforcou*
by public law, which is imperative on all who are domiciled within its jurisdiction. The laws of divorceare consTdered as 01 tne utmost importance as public laWH, affecting"
the dearest intercstso'f society ; and they are not to he
relaxed us to a person domiciled in Scotland, because his
marriage was contracted out of it. If two natives of
Scotland were married in France or Prussia, the marriage
would be valid in Scotland ; but would the parties be en
titled to come into court, and insist on a divorce a vinculo,
because their tempers were not suitable, or for any of the
great variety of whimsical and absurd grounds for a di
vorce allowed by the Prussian code of 1795 ? certainly
not ; and the conclusion was, that the law of divorce must
bo governed by the law of Scotland. whennv-Ar the party "
was sufficiently domiciled there to enable .the court to sus
tain jurisdiction ofthc cause.
I have thus gi ven, for the benefit of the student, a pret
ty enlarged view of the discussions in Scotland, on this
great question, touching the power of divorce in one coun
try upon marriage in another. The same question was
Lecture XXVII.]
99
1 DouPsRep. 117.
100
[Fait IV.
101
102
[Part IV.
103
United States." There is one exception in the iurisprudence of some of the states, as to the force and effect of
fo7cTgnsentP"^f| j" th pri^ m^ of admiral^ bearing iipnri neutral rjghta. While those sentences are regarded in the courts of the United States as binding and
conclusive upon the same questions,6 there has been some
difference of opinion, and some collisions on this point, in
the decisions in the state courts. c The weight of judicial
authority appears, however, to be decidedly in favour oJT
the binding force and universal application of the doctrine
ofthe" English law.*'
104
[Part IV.
the judgments, Frenchmen, against whom they might have been render
ed, should not be affected by them, but be entitled to have their rights
discussed de novo, equally as if no such judgment had been rc n ie ed
Emerigon, (Traile des An- cb. iv. sect. 8. ch. xii. sect. 20 ) said, that
the rule applied equally in favour of strangers domiciled in France, and
it applied, whether the Frenchman be the plaintiff or defendant ; hut as
to foreign judgments between strangers, they might be executed in
France, without any examination of the merits.
It has, however, been a vexed question, whether foreign judgments,
as between strangers, were entitled to any notice whatever, or were to
receive a blind execution, without looking into their merits.. There
seems to have been much vibration of opinion, and doubt and uncertain
ty, on this point
In the elaborate argument, which Jf. Jllerljn delivered before the
Court of Cassation, in the case of Spohrer v. Mm, and which he has
preserved entire in his Question* de Droit, tit. Jugement, sect. 14, he
showed by many judicial precedents, that the French law ^jurispru
dence dei arreti,) had been uniform from the date of the royal ordi
nance, down to this day ; that nothing which had been judicially decided
under a foreign jurisdiction, had any effect in France, and did not afford
any ground or colour, even for the exceptio reijudicata. He maintain
ed, that the law did not distinguish between cases, lor that all foreign
judgments, whoever might be the parties, whether in favour or against
a Frenchman with a stranger, or whether between strangers, and
whether the judgment was by default, or upon confession or trial, were
of no avail in France, and the juriiprudence dct arrets rejected every
such distinction. Whenever this rule had been suspended, it had
been occasioned by the force of special treaties, such as that between
France and the Swiss cantons, in 1777; or accorded by way of re
ciprocity to a particular power, inch as in the case of the Duke of
Lorrain, in 1738. The judgment of the Court of Cassation, on appeal,
rendered in the year 12 of the French republic, was, that the foreign
judgment, in that case, in which a Frenchman was one of the parties,
and a Norwegian the oiher, was of no effect whatever. {Vide Re
pertoire de juriiprudence, tit. Jugement, sect 6. Questions de Droit, h. t.
sect.14.) Afterwards, in the case of Holker, v. Hollcer, decided in th
a LsiwsofJV. Y. sess.36. ch. 102. sect. 10, 11.
105
106
[Part IV.
French courts have taken cognizance of the merits of them, and hare
acted in respect to them in the nature ofa court of appeal. The rule ap
plies to all foreign judgments without distinction, and the French courts
will admit the proofs taken in the foreign courts, locus regit actum. Vide
Toullier's Droit Civil Francait, suivant fordredu Code, tome 10. No. 76
to P.O. The French and the English law hare now at last approached
very Dear to each other on this interesting head ofnational jurisprudence.
They agree perfectly when the foreign judgment is sought tobe enforced;
but I do not know whether the French courts will permit, as tbey cer
tainly ought, a plea of a foreign judgment in bar of a new suit for the
tame cause, to be conclusive, if fairly pronounced by a ibreujn court,
having a jurisdiction confessedly competent for the case.
a Lord Eldon. 1 1 Vesey, 532,
h I Hdggard,Ho.
107
[Part IV.
a i Sa/jfc. 123.
b BurtuP Eccl. Law. tit. Marriage, cli. 1 1. sec. 4. Barrere v. Barrere,
4 Jo us. Ch. Rep. 196. l'J8. Vanvegbten v. Vanveghtuo, ibid. p. 601.
e 2 Haggard, 1 54.
d Laws f Jf. Y. sess. 36- ch ina. s. 11. sess. 38. ch. 221. Barrere
Barren-, 4 Johns. Ch- Rip. 197.
e Rtact1 Domestic Relation, ch. 16. Thompson v. Thompson, 2 Dal
las, 128. Warren v. Warren, 8 Mats. Rep. 321.
LECTURE
XXVIII.
110
[Part IV-
Ill
the estate goes to the wife, or her heirs; and in all these
cases, the emblements growing upon the land, at the ter
mination of the husband's estate, go to him, or his repre
sentatives.
During the continuance of the life estate ofthe husband,
he sues in his own name for an injury to the profits of the
land ; but for an injury to the inheritance, the wife must
join in tn"e"suit,and"tfthe husband dies before recovery, the
right of action survives to the wife. If the husband himself
commits waste, the coverture is a suspension of the com
mon law remedy of the wife against him. If the assignee,
or creditor of the husband, who^akea possession of the
estate, on a sale on execution of his freehold interest, com
mits waste, the wife has her action against him, in which
the husband must join ; for though |yqh assignee succeeds
to the husband's right to the rents and profits, he cannot
commit waste with impunity." So, also, the heirof the wife
may sue the husband for the waste, and no doubt the Court
of Chancery would stay by injunction the husband's waste,
on behalf ofthe wife herself. But it seems, that from want
of privity, the heir of the wife cannot bring an action of
waste against the assignee of the husband.'' The subtle
distinction in Walker's case,0 and which we have followed,
was, that ifthe tenant by the curtesy assigns over his estate,
the heir of the wife can sue him for waste done after the
assignment ; but if the heir grants over the reversion, the
grantee cannot sue the husband, for the privity of the ac^
tion is destroyed. He can only sue the assignee of the hus
band, for as between them there is^^rivity of estate.
If an estate in land be given to the husband and wife, or
a joint purchase be made by them, during coverture, they
are not properly joint tenants, nor tenants in common, for
they are but one person injlaw, and cannot take by tnoietie.?.
They are both seised of the entirety, and neither can sell
112
[Part IV.
wiftout the consent of the other, and the survivor takes the
janole. The same words of conveyance, which would make
ffwo other persons joint tenants, will make the husband and
wife tenants of the entirety. This is a nice distinction laid
down in the old bookstand it^ continues to this day to be
the law." The husband alone may grant or charge the
wife's land during their joint lives, and if 'he be tenant by
the curtesy, during his own life. He cannot alienor in
cumber it, so as to prevent the wife, or her heirs, after his
death, from enjoying it, discharged from his debts and en
gagements. But from the authorities, when closely exa
mined, says Mr. Prestoji,6 it seems, that the husband has
the power to transfer the whole estate of his wife, and the
estate will be in the alienee of the husband, subject to the
right of entry of the wife, or her heirs, and which entry is
necessary to revest the estate after the husband discontinues
it. She was driven at common law to her writ of rigru^jjs
her only remedy ; but Lord Coke says,c he found that
in the times of Bracton and Flefa, the writ of entry cut in
vita) was given to the wife, upon the alienation of her hus
band, and this was her only remedy in the age of Littleton. &
That writ became obsolete after the remedial statute of
32 Hen. VIII. c. 28., which reserved to the wife ber right
of entry, notwithstanding her husband's alienation; and
the writ of entry jay even if she had joined with her husband in a conveyance by feoffment or bargain and sale, for
such conveyances were deemed the sole act of the husband,
as the wife was not separately examined,*
a Litl. sect. 291. 665. Co Lilt 1R7. b. 188 a. 351. Bro Ahr. tit.
Cut in ta/o, 8, 2 Black: Rep. 1214. 16 Johns. Rep 115. 5 Johns- Ch.
Rep. 437.
6 Essay on Abstracts of Title, vol. i. 334. 435, 436.
c 2 Inst. 341
d Lilt. sect. 594. The extent of the remedy under lliis ancient writ,may be seen in Bro. Abr, tit. Cut in vita, and F. N. B. 193. h. t.
e Co. Litl. 326. a.
US
tatc for her life, or for the life of another person, the hus
band becomes seised of such an estate in right of his wife,
and is entitled to the profit-, during the marriage. On the
death of the wife, the estate for her own life is gone, and
the husband has no further interest in it. But if she have
an estate for the life of another person, who survives her,
the husband becomes a special occupant of the land during
the life of such other person. After the estate for life has
ended, the land goes to the person entitled in reversion or
remainder, and the husband, quasi husband, has no more
concern with if. This estate the husband can only ft^Hy
charge to the extent of his interest in it. and big represen
tatives take as emblements the crops growing at his death.
(3.) The husband, upon marriage, becomes possessed,
also, or me cnatiels real of the wife, as leases for years,
and the law gives' 1J 1 111 power, without her, to sell, assign,
mortgage, or otherwise dispose of the same as he pleases,
by any act in his lifetime ;* except it be such an interest as
the wife hath, by the provision or consent of her husband,
by way of settlement.6 Such chattels real are also liable
to be sold on execut ion for his debts if he makes no dis
position of the same in his lifetime, he cannot devise the
chattels real by will;' and the wife, after his death, will
take the same in her own right, without being executrix or
administratrix to her husband. If he grants a rent charge
out of the same, without altering the estate, the rent charge
becomes void ut his death. If he survives his wife, the law
gives him her chattels real, absolutely, by survivorship;
for he was in possession of the chattel real during the co
verture, by a kind of joint tenancy with the wife.rf
(4.) As to debts due to the wife, at the time of her mar*
a Co Lilt. 46. b.
6 Sir Edward Turner's case, 1 Vem- 7.
e Co. Lilt. 351. a.
dCo. LiU. 351.. b. Bu'lerU note, 304. to Co. LUt. lib. 3. 3S1. a.
1 Rol. Abr. 345. pi. 40Vol. II.
15
114
[Part IV.
115
[Part IV.
llf
a Howard r. Moffatt, 2 Johnt. Ch. Rep. 2C6. \Edcn,s Rep. 67. 370,
.371. 2 All<. 420. 421, 422. lj Vtxey, 17. 20, 21. 1 Madd Ck. Rep.
362. Clann/U Essay,passim;
b2Atic. 419.
118
[Part IV,
li
126
[Part IV.
a 1 Vern. 396. 3 Ler. 403. Howell v- Maine. But Mr. Preston, in lu'i
Essay oi Abstracts of Title, vol. i. 348. condemns the doctrine in this
case in l.evinx, and denies that a husband can sue alone on a bond given
to the wife alone.
6 Butler's note, 304. to lib. 3. Co. Lilt. 1 Vern. 396. note 5. Garforth
v. Bradley. 2 Vescy, 677. Meredith v. Wyrm, Eq Ca. Mr. 70. pi. 15.
Packer v. Windham. Prec. in CA. 412. Druce v- Dennison, 6 Vrsey, 395.
r. Clcland v. Clcland, Ptcc. in Ch. 63. Carr v. Taj lor, 10 Vesty, 579.
151
122
[Part IV.
1J3
124
[Part IV*
a 4 B. Sf Aid. 252.
6 Robinson v. Gren old, 1 Saltc. 119. Morris v. Martin, Str. 647.
Child v. Har.lymao. Str. 875. Maoby v. Scott, 1 Mod. 124. 1 Sid.
109. 1 Lev. 4. S. C. 12 Johnson, 293. 3 Pickering, 289. Kirkpatrick, Ch. J. 2 Hahted, 146.
e M ( utclien v. M'Gahay, 11 John*. Rep. 881.
d 2 Str. 875.
125
126
[Part IV.
aStr. 1214.
6 Montague v. Benedict, 3 Barn. 4" Creu. 631.
c M'Cutcben r. M'Gahay, 1 1 Johns. Rep. 281.
ii 8 Blacks. Com. 414.
127
taken, the court will not let her lie in prison alone." If
the tort or offence be punished criminally by imprison
ment, or other corporal punishment, the wife alone is to
be punished, unless there be evidence of coercion, from
the fact, that the offence was committed in the presence,
or by command of the husband. This indulgence is carried so far as to excuse the wife from punishment tor thelt
committed in the presence, or by the command of her hus
band.6 But the coercion which is supposed to be con
veyed by the command or presence of the husband, is only
a presumption of law, and, like other presumptions, may
be repelled.
III. How far the wife has a capacity at law during cover'
tare, to act as a feme sole.
"'
"
The disability of the wife to contract so as to bind her
self,"aTuMls"T*cTTMri",w^
because she
has entered into an indissoluble connexftn, by which she is
placed under the power and protectio^of her husband,
and because she has not the administrator^. of property,
but has given up to him all personal Itf^netty in posses
sion, and the right to receive all such amflay be reduced
into possession. r- But this general rulers subject to cer
tain exceptions, when the principle of the rule could not
biTapplied, and when reason and justice dictate a depar
ture from it.
In the first place, a wife may pass her freehold estate by
a fine, and this was the only way in which she could, at
common law, convey her real estate. ShVWiay, by a fine,
and a declaration of the uses thereof, declare a use for her
husband's benefit. So, ifthe husband and vAfe levy a fine,
a declaration of the uses by the husband alone, will bind
the wife and her heirs, unless she disagrees to the uses,d The
husband must be a party with the wife to her conveyance,
a
6
e
d
128
[Part IV.
but if she levy a fine as a feme sole, without her husband,it will be good as against her and her heirs,0 though the hus
band may avoid it during coverture, for the benefit of the
wife, ns well as for himself.6 The wife, however, may, as
an attorney to another, convey an estate in the same man
ner as her principal could, and she may execute a power
simply collateral, and, in some cases, a power c up ed
with an interest, without the concurrence of her husband.c
She may also transfer a trust estate, by lease and release,
las a feme soleA
The conveyance of land by femes covert, under the go
vernment of the colony of New- York, was, in point of
fact, by died, and not by fine, and upon the single ac
knowledgment of the wife before a competent officer,
without a private examination. Such loose modes of con
veyance were mentioned in the act of the 16th of Februa
ry, 1771, and"^re|e confirmed; but it was declared, that
in future, no estate of a feme covert should pass by deed
without h,ffr prpvi"j' private acknowledgment before the
officer, that she otcecuted the deed freely without any fear
or compulsioivjlf her husband.
The deeds of femes
covert, in the^'ljrm used in other cases, accompanied
by such an examination, have ever since been held
sufficient to convey their estates, or any future centingent interest in real property. If the wife resides^
out of the state, she may unite with her husband,
and convey all her'right and interest, present and contin
gent, equally as if she were a feme sole, and without any
sueh special acknowledgment."
This substitute of a deed forja, convey""^ by finf-_
has prevailed throughout t\\<j United, Spates, as the
a Brn. Ahr- tit. Fines, pi. 75. Complon i, Perkins, sect- 21*
b Preston on Abstracts of Title, vol. i. 336.
r Sugdcn on Powers, 148.
A Burnaby v. Griffin, 3 Fesey, 266.
Amrs of JV. Y. scss. 36. cb. 97. s. 2.
1J9
130
[Part IV.
v. Lady Weyland," it was held, 2 Hen. IV. 7., that the wife
of a man exiled or banished, could sue alone, though that
exception was regarded at that day almostTHni prodigy;'
and someone exclaimed, ecctmodomirum, quod faminafert
breve regis, non nominando virum conjunctum robore Itgis .
Lord Coke seems to put the capacity of the wife to sue as
afeme sole, upon tne ground, that the abjuration or banishment of the husband, amounted to a civil death. But if the
husband be banished for a limited time only, though it be
no civil death, the bettor opin'"" tf> Thnt thr consequences
as to the wife are tne same, and she can sue and be sued
asa femesole.1' And if the husband beanalien living abroad.,,
the reason of the exception also applies ; and it was held
in the case of Detrly v. Duchess of Mazarines that in such
a case, the wife was suable as a feme sole, in like manner
as if the husband had abjured the realm. Though it was
mentioned in that case, that the husband was an alien ene
my, and had been divorced in France, yet, as Lord Lough
borough siiid,'' the decision did not rest on cither of those
grounds, but solely and properly on the ground, that the
wife lived id EnglUlnl, nfl B fortune of her own, and sepa
rate from her husband, who had always resided abroad as
an alien.
Again, in fValfordv. the Duchess ofPienne,* Lord Kenyon held, that the wife was liable as a feme sole, for goods
sold, when the husband was a foreigner, residing abroad,
and that this case came within the principle of the common
law, applicable to the case of the husband abjuring the realm.
131
[Part IV
135
134
{Part IV.
135
13*
[Part IV.
137
*j38
[Part IV.
139
140
[Part IV.
141
and though the question in these cases arose while the wife
was still married, yet the objection went to destroy alto
gether the effect of the covenant. So also, in Jackson v.
Vanderheyden,a it was declared, that the wife could not bind
herself personally by a covenant, and that a covenant of
warranty inserted in her deed, would not even stop her
from asserting a subsequently acquired interest in the same
lands.
Though a wife may convey her estate by deed, she will not
be bound by a covenant or agreement to levy a fine, or con
vey her estate. The agreement by a fime covert, with the
assent of her husband, tor a~"f?fi1e""oTTTe~r''re'aT estate, is""
absolutely void at law, anJtfie Courts of Eqmtyjiever en
force such a contract against her.0 In the execution of a
fine, or oilier conveyance, the~w"TPe is privately examined,
whether she acts freely ; and without such an examination,
the act is invalid. But a covenant tojco^v^Jg.jaade.Atulifc.
out any examination "ancTto hold the wife bound by it,
would be contrary to first ^nn^ipTes on tlVis subject, for the ^
wite is deeuiedincompcte'nt to make a contract, unless it
be in her character of trustee, and"wTicn she ."jftfifl fUlLpOF*
sess any ISeTn^lic^n'nlelPSnnTier own right. The Chancery jurisdiction is applied to the cases of property settled
to the separate use of the wife by deed or will, with a power
of appointment, and rendered subject to her disposition.
On the other hand, the husband has frequently been com
pelled, by decree, to fulfil his covenant, that his wife should
levy a fine of her real estate, or else to suffer by imprison
ment the penalty of his default.* But Lord Cowper once
refused to compel the husband to procure his wife to levy a
fine, as being an unreasonable coercion, since it was not
142
[Part IV.
143
144
[Part IV.
Lecture XXVIII.]
145
[Part IV.
147
148
[Part W.
a Mr. Butler.
6 In addition to the general abridgments, there are several pro
fessed treatises recently published on this bead, as JUherleyU Trea
tise on the Law of Marri ige, and othtr Family Settlements , publish-
149
100
[Part IV.
f. Walkins," that for security of the peace ex necessile wife might make an affidavit against her husband,
At he did not know one other case, either at law, or
ncery, where the wife was allowed to be a witness
it her husband.
But where the wife acts as her husband's agent, herdcclarations have been admitted in evidence to charge the
husband; for if he permits the wife to act for him as"nTs*
agent in any particular business, he adopts, and is bound by
her acts and admissions, and they may be given in evidence
against him.6 So, also, where the husband permitted his
wife to deal as a feme $oh, her testimony was admitted,
where she acted as agent, to charge her husband.0 In
the case, likewise, of Fennerv. Lewis,1* where the husband
and wife had agreed to articles of separation, and a third
person became a party to the agreement as the wife's trus
tee, and provision was made for her maintenance und en
joyment of separate property, it was held, that the decla
mations and confessions of the wife were admissible in fa[ vour of her husband in a suit against the trustee. Tn such a
' case, the law so far regarded the separation, as not to bold
the husband any longer liable for her support/ The po
licy of the rule excluding the husband and wife from being
witnesses for or against each other, whether founded, ac"cording^ to Lord Kenyon,/ on the supposed bias arising
from the marriage, or, according to Lord Hardwicke,? in
a 1 Pewy.jun. 49.
b Anon. I Sir. 527. Emerson v. Blanden, 1 Esp. JV. P. Rep. 143.
Paletliorp v. Furnish. 2 Und. 511. note.
c Rlitten v. Ballwin, 1 Eq. Cos. Abr. 226, 227. ; but Lord Eldon said,
in 15 Vesey, 165. that be bad great difficulty in acceding to that case, to
that extent.
d 10 Johns. Rep. 38e Baker v. Barney, 8 Johns- Rep. 72.
/4 Term Rep. 67i
g Baker r- Dixie, Cases temp. Hardte. 252.
151
c 6 Beat, 18*.
152
[Part IV.
153
'
154
[Part IV.
155
136
[Part IV.
157
LECTURE
XXIX.
160
[Part IV
a foUer't Greek Antiq. vol. ii. 351. Dig- 28. 2. 30. Novel, 115.
fcb. 3.
ifJI
162
[Part IV.
Lecture XXIX.]
163
J64
[Part IV.
the child. Thqy will even control the right of the father
to tiie possession and education ol BtB eh'rkl, when the na
ture of the case appears to warrant it." 'The father mav_
nUii maj|itain t^egpaja
'ftjjn^infant child, provjr
ded he can show a loss of service^ for that is the gist of the
action by the father,6
.
The duty of educating, children in a manner suitable to
their station and calling, is another branch of parental
duty, of imperfect obligation generally in the eye of the
municipal law, but of very great importance to the wel
fare of the state. Without some preparation made in
youth for the sequel of life, children of all conditions would
probably become idle and yjcjpuj tfhan they grow up,
either from the want of good habits, and the means of
subsistence, or from want of rationafand useful occupa
tion. A parent who sends his son into the world unedu
cated, and without skill in any art or science, does a great
injury to mankind, as well as to his own family, for he de
frauds the community of a useful citizen, and bequeaths
to it a nuisance. This parental duty is strongly and per
suasively inculcated by the writers on natural law.c Solon
was so deeply impressed with the force of the obligation,
that he even excused the children of Athens from main
taining their parents, if they had neglected to train
them up to some art or profession.*' Several of the
states of antiquity were too solicitous to form their
youth for the various duties of civil life, to entrust
their education solely to the parent. Public institu-
a Archer's case, 1 Lord Iiaym. 673. Rex v. Smith, Str. 982. Bex
r. Delaval, 3 Burr, 1434. Commonwealth v Addicks, 5 Binncy, 520The case of M'DoHes, !! Johns. Rep. 32fl. Commoowealth v. Nutt,
.1 Brown's Pmn. Rrp. 143. Crcuzcr v. Hunter, 2 Car'* Cases, 242.
Ve Manneville v. D' Mvinneville, 10 Vesey, S3.
6 Hall v. Hallander. 4 Barn. Cress 660.
c Pfjjfendurf, b. 4. c. II. 8. 5. PaUifs Aoral Philosophy, p. 2?4,
22 >.
Plutarch's Life of Solon.
168
166
[Part IV.
liberal donations have been made for the support of prammar schools, ordained by law in every town of the state of
a certain size. The legislature of Virginia, also, some
years ago, appropriated the greater part of the income of
a literary fund, to the establishment of schools for the edu
cation of the poor throughout the state.
The laws of our own state were formerly exceedingly
deficient on this subject, and we had no legal provision for
the establishment of town schools, or the common educa
tion of children, except the very Unimportant authority
given to the overseers of the poor, and two justices,
to bind out poor children as apprentices, according to their
degree and ability, and the obligation imposed upon their
masters to learn them to read and write. But since the
year 1795, a new and bright light shines upon our domes
tic annals, and from that era we date the commencement
of a great and spirited effort on the part of government,
to encourage common schools throughout the state. The
annual sum of 50,000 dollars was appropriated for five
years, and distributed equitably among the several towns,
for the establishment and encouragement of schools, for
167
1G8
[Part IV,
\C&
17
[Part IV.
IJZ
[Part IV
III. Of the dutits of Children. The duties that urc enjoined upon children to their pa
rents, are obedience and assistance during their own mino
rity, and gratitude and reverenCB during the rest of their
lives. This, as well as the other primary duties of domes
tic life, have generally been the objects of municipal law.
Disobedience to parents was punished under the Jewish
law with death ; and with the Hindoos, it was attended
with the loss of the child's inheritance.6 Nor can the clas
sical scholar be at a loss to recollect how assiduously the
ancient Greeks provided for the exercise of filial gratitude.
They considered the neglect ofittobc extremely impious,
and attended with the most certain effects of divine ven
geance^ It was also an object of civil animadversion.
Solon ordered all persons who refused to make due provi
sions for their parents, to be punished with infamy ; and
the same penalty was incurred for personal violence to
wards them/' When children undertook any hazardous
enterprise, it was customary to engage a friend to main
tain and protect their parents; and we have a beautiful
allusion to this custom in the speech which Virgil puts into
the mouth of Euryalus, when rushinginto danger. e
The laws of ib>s state have, in some small degree, taken
[care to enfotce this duty, not only by leaving it in the power
|of the parent, in his discretion, totally to disinherit, by will,
his ungrateful children ; but by compelling the children, and
a Deut c. 21. 18
b Cenloo Cod*, by Ilttlhed, p. 64. The first emigrants to Massachu
setts made filial disobedience a capital crime, according to the Jewish
law. Governor Hutchinson, in his History of JllastaclntsrtU, vol. i. 441.
lays, that he had met with but one conviction under that sanguinary law>
and that offender was reprieved.
e Jliid, b. 9. t. 454. Odyss. b. 2. v. 134. HesioiPs Oprr. Ss Die. b. 1
v. IB* 86.
d Poller's Greek Aniiq vol. ii. 347351.
e Tu, oro, tolare inopan el tuccurre redclee. &nt'd, 9. 583.
173
174
[Part IV.
175
a Cro. Jac. 541. Co. IML 244. a. 1 Blade: Com. 450, 457.
6 3 P. Wm: 275, 276. Str. 925. SaJk. 123. Harg- vote, >"o. 193
to lib. 2. Co- Lilt. Butler^ nofe,No. 178. to lib. 3. Co. Lid. 4 Term.
Ittp 251. 35G. 4 Brn. 90. 8 East, U3. Co lr.Y*po!con, No. 312318.
Com. Dig tit. Bastard, A. It.
c Co LiU- 123. a.
Jlntl |. 10. 12.
e 1 Blncki. Com 459-
176
[Part IV.
177
1T8
[Part IV.
179
which the courts of equity have withheld from the illegitimate child every favourable intendment which the lawful
heir would have been entitled to as of course. Thus, in
Furtaktr v. Robinson," a natural daughter brought her
bill against the heir at law to supply a defective convey
ance from her ftither to her, but the Chancellor refused to
assist her, on the ground that she was a mere stranger,
being nullius filia, and not taken notice of bv the law as a
daiigl)terTatTffttfht the father wus not under any legal ob
ligation to provide for her as a child, though he might be
obliged by the law of nature, and so the conveyance was
voluntary, and without any consideration. Tjiislhard decision was made by Lord Cowper in 1717; but tlW lyi!"*
guage of Lord Ch. King, in a subsequent cas, to which I
have just alluded,'1 is certainly much more conformable
to justice and hujaajity "
" HllTnf" co1'
"does
mislead an innocent woman, it is both reason and justice
that he should muke her reparation. The case is stronger
in respect to the innocent child, whom the father has oc
casioned to be brought into the world in this shameful
manner, and for whom, injustice, he ought to provide."
a Prec. in Cb. 475. 1 Eq. Cat. Abr. 123. pi. 9. Gilb. Eq. Rip.
139. Gilb. F. R. 236.
I 2 P- Wmi- 432.-
LECTURE
XXX.
182
[Part IV.
183
184
[Part IV.
Lecturs'XXX.]
* 186
[Part IV.
aHarg. n. 70. to lib. 2 Co. Lilt. 2Fonb. Tr. Eq. 228. tn. 10.
Vetey, 63.
t In the Matter of NicolJ, 1 Johni. Ch. Rtp. 25.
e Law of JV. J", tess. 36. ch. 79. . 30.
rf In the Matter of Andrews, 1 Johtu. Ch. Rep. 99. Ex parte Crnmb,
C John. Ch.Rep. 439. Doke of Beaufort r. Berly, 1 P. Wmt.'Oi.
187
J68
fPart IV-
from the use oft he ward's money. Hecannot act for his own
benefit in any contiact, or purchase, or sale, as to the sub
ject of the trust. If he settles a debt upon beneficial
terms, or purchases it al a discount, the advantage is to ac
crue entirely to the infant's benefit. He is liable to an
action of account at common law, by the infant, alter he
comes of age ; and the infant, while under age, may, by
his next friend, call the guardian to account by a bill in
chancery. If the guardian has been guilty of negligence
in the keeping or disposition of the infant's money, where
by the estate has incurred loss, the guardian will be obli
ged to sustain'that loss^ Thejguardian must-unf fgpir
the personal estate of the infant into real, or buy land with
the infant's money, without the direction of the Court of*
Chancery. If he does, the infant, when he arrives at full
age, will be enulled, HI -bis, election, to take the land, or
the money, with interest ; and if he elects the latter)
rhnnPr^_ve\)] tpLp rqj-p that justice be done, by consider
ing the ward as trustee for the guardian of the lands
standing in his name, and will direct the ward to conv.ey.
And if the guardian puts the ward's money in trade, the
ward will be equally entitled to elect to take the profits
of the trade, or the principal, with compound interest, to
meet those profits when the guardian will not disclose
them. So, if he neglects to put the ward's money at in
terest, but negligently, and for an unreasonable time, suf
fers it to lie idle, or mingle it with his own, the court will
charge him with simple interest, and, in cases of gross de
linquency, with compound interest. Thggg priimipUa nrn
understood to be well established in jhg_ English equity
system, and tbe^ftncTpal authorities upon which they rest
were collected and reviewed in the chancery decisions
in this sttxte, to which, I apprehend, it will be sufficient
to refer, as they have recognised the same doctrine.0
a Green t. Winter, 1 Johni. Ck. Rep. 26. DuDscomb t. Dunscomb, ibid. 508. Scbieffelin v. Stewart, ibid. 620. Holdridg*
Lecture XXX.]
18$
LECTURE XXXI.
OF INFANTS.
The necessity of guardians results from the inability of
in i
''
i " ii try ii .-.II Tit
i
infants to take care of themselves land this inability con
tinues, in contemplation of iawTtuSirtb.e infant has attained
the age of twenty-one years. Within that period, minors
cannot7^xce|rtinTnew^
cases,' rriffke iTWridlftg
contracTTTrnTess^T'Tlie'T^
marriage. Nor
can they do any act to the injury of their property, which
they may not avoid, or rescind, when they arrive at full age.
The responsibility of infants for crimes by them commit
ted, depends less on their age, than on the extent of
their discretion and capacity to discern right and wrong.
Most of the acts of infants are voidable only, and not ab
solutely void ; and it is deemed sufficient, if the infant be
allowed, when he attains maturity, the privilege to affirm
or avoid, in his discretion,"tils acts aone,and contracts made^
in infancy, nut when we attempt to ascertain from the
books the precise line of distinction between void and
voidable acts, and between the cases which require some
act to affirm a contract, in order to make it good, and some
act to disaffirm it, in order to get rid of its operation, we
meet with much contradiction and confusion. A late writer,
who has compiled a professed treatise on the law of infancy,
concludes, from a review of ihe cases, that the only safe
criterion by which we can ascertain, whether the act ofan
infant be void or voidable, is, "that nets which are capa
ble of being legally ratified are voidable only; and acts which~
are incapable of being legally ratified are absolutely void,"
192.
[Part IV
But, the criterion here given, does not appear to free the
question from its embarrassment, or afford a clear and
definite test. All the books are said to agree in one result,
that whenever the act done may be for the benefit of the
infant, it shall not be considered void, but he shall have
his election when he rnmBa nf nye. to affirm or avoid it j
and this, says Ch. J. Parker," is the only clear and defi
nite proposition, which can be extracted from the authori
ties. But we are involved in difficulty, ns that learned
judge admits, when we come also to the application of thi*
principle. In Zouch v. Parsons,^ it was held by the K.. B.,
after a full discussion and great consideration of the case*
that an infant's conveyance by lease and release, was voida
ble only; and yet Mr. Prestone condemns that decision in the
most peremptory terms, as confounding all distinctions and
authorities on the point ; and he says, that Lord Eldon re
peatedly questioned its accuracy. On the other hand, Mr.
Bingham'' undertakes to show, from reason and authority,
that the decision in Burrow is well founded ; and he in
sists* that all the deeds, and nets, and contracts of an in
fant, except an account stated, a warrant of nttorney, a
will of lands, a release as executor, and u conveyance to
his guardian, are, in judgment of law, voidable only, and
1 not absolutely void. But the modern as well as ancient
cases, are much broader in their exception. Thus it is beld,
that a negotiable note, given by an infant, even for neces
saries, is void ;/ and his acceptance of a hill of exchange
is void and his contract as security for another, is abso
lutely void and a bond, with a penalty, though given for
19S
194
[Part IV.
19k
10G
[Part IV.
197
[Part IV,
_____
a
b
e
d
1 Eden,39.
I Eden, 6076.
Trealue on Marriage Settlements, p. 284 1 .
18 rmeij, 259.
2 Bt9. Hi.
200
[Part IV.
>
LECTURE XXXII.
OF MASTER AND SERVANT.
The last relation in domeshcjife^ which remains to ba
examined, is tjiatToi'*master ami servant. The several
kinds of persons who come within the description of ser11
/
<far.-vv.
vants, may be subdivided into (J) slaves, (2) liiredjervants,
and (3Jjijiprcntices.
1. Of Slaves.
Slavery..according to Mr. Paley," may, consistently with
the law of nature, arise from three causes, viz. : from
crimes, captivity, and debt. In the institutes of Justinian,6
slaves are said to become such in three ways, viz. : by
birth, when the mother was a slave ; by captivity in war ;
and by the voluntary sale of himself as a slave, by a free
man of the age of twenty. Sir William lilHckstone<" ex
amines these causes of slavery, by the civil law, and shows
them all to rest on unsound foundations ; and he insists,
that a state of slavery is repugnant to reason, and the
principles of natural law. The'c'ivil law^' admitted it to
be contrary to natural right, though it was conformable to
the usage of nations. The law of England will not en
dure the existence of slavery within the realm of Eng
land. The instant a slave touches the soil, he becomes
free, so as to be entitled to be protected in the enjoyment
of his person and property, though he may still continue
202
[Part IV.
a
b
c
4
[Part IV.
505
206
[Part IV.
20?
a
6
e
d
a
?0S
[Part IV.
200
[Part IV.
2U
"*
212
[Part IV.
213
214
[Part IV.
LECTURE XXXIII*
OF CORPORATIONS.
216
Part IV
217
a Ad Aug. 32.
6 Suet. J. Ccesar, 42.
c Bpitt. b. 10- Letters 42, 43.
d 1 Brown's Civil Sf Aim. Lav), 1428. WooiU hit. of th* Civil
Kaw. 134.
Vol. II.
28
218
[PartlV.
2l<t
a Smith's Inquiry into the Wealth of Nations, vol. i. 495501. 1 Fobertson's Charles V. 31. 4. Hallam on the MiiioU Ages, vol. ii. 7880.
h Inquiry, vol. i. 62. 121. 130. 132, 139- 46.
520
[Part IV.
221
a Co. Lilt. 8. b. 9 a.
b Ibid. 94. b. and note 46. and note 47. to lib. 1 Co- Lilt. Viner, tit
Estate, U.
c 1 Kyd oi Corporations, 76, 77. Co. Lilt. 46. b.
d i Term Rep. 667.
7 Mass. Rep. 187. 1 Grcenleaf, 361.
/ Act of 5tb April, IS13, L A". T. vol. it 2!t.
222
[Part IV.
223
a 2 Atk. 88.
b Sirtton's Hospital, 10 Co. 23. Lord*Hardwiclre, in 2 M: 87. Lord
Holt, in Philips v. Bury, 2 Term Rep. 252. The opinions of the Judges
in Dartmouth College r. Woodward, 4 JVkeihn, 518.
224
[Part IV,
226
226
[Part IV.
227
828
[Part IV,
limited to purchase and hold real estate, and then to degtmise, lease and improve the same for the use of the con||frogation. This limitation of the corporate power to sell,
is confined to religious corporations ; and all others ran
', buy and sell at pleasure, except so far as they may bespeJjcially restricted by their charters, or by statute.
In England, corporations are rendered incapable of
purchasing lands without the king's license; and this re
striction extends equally to ecclesiastical and lay corpora
tions, and is founded upon a succession of statutes from.
matgajpffllJuSLklen. HI. to 9 Geo. II.. which took awayj
entirely the capacity which was vested in corporations by
the common law. These statutes are known by thf
name of the statutes rf ffinrtTiHynir1 they were intro
duced during the establishment and grandeur of the Ro
man church, to check the ecclesiastics from absorbing in
perpetuity, in hands that never die, all the lands of th
kingdom, and thereby withdrawing them from public and
feudal charges. The earlier statutes of mortmain were
originally levelled at the religious houses ; but the sta
tute of 15 R. II. c. 5. declared, that civil or lay corpora
tions were equally within the mischief, and within the pro
hibition ; and this statute made lands conveyed to any
third person, for the use of a corporation, liable to forfei
ture, in like manner as if conveyed directly in mortmain.'*
\VjJuitfiuaQtje-enacted the statutes of mortmain in this
state ; and the only legal check to the acquisition of lands
by corporations, consists in those special restrictions con
tained in the acts by which they are incorporated, and
which usually confine the capacity to purchase real estate
to specified and necessary objects : and to the force to be
given to the exception, of corporations out of the statute of
22$
a
b
r.
d
280
[Part IV:
231
233
[Part IV-
$33
,.,
*i
234
[Part IV.
a 8 Wlitalm, 338.
235
a 9 Wheaton, 730.
6 Eastman r. Coos Bank, I JV. //. Rep. 26. The Proprietors of the
Canal Bridge v. Gordon, 1 Pickering, 297. Matt v. Hicks, 1 Cowen,
513. The Baptist Church v. Mulford, 3 Halried, 18*. The Chesnat
Hill Turnpike v. Ratter, 4 Serg. 4r Rial. 16. Duncan, J. in Bank of
Northern Liberties v. Cresson, 12 Serg. Sf Rawl. 312. Colcock vGarvey, 1 JVott if M'Cortt, 231. Bank of U. S. v. Dandridgc.
J2 Wheaton,64.
c 1 Leon- 13. 1 Kyd. 234. 237. 250. 2i3.
d 10 Co. 57. b. Case of the Chancellor of Oxford.
835
[Part IV
2$t
338
[Part IV.
239
n 1 Sir. 891.
6 I Burr. 517.
c The King v, Lyme Regis, Doug. 149.
d Hid. and 3 Burr. 1837. For the various causes that have been ad
judged sufficient or insufficient for the removal or disfranchisement of a
member of a corporation, see 2 Kyd on Corporation*. C294. Com
monwealth v. St. Patrick's Society, 2 hinney. 441. The same v. Philan
thropic Society, 6 ibid. 4f!6. The same r. Pennsylvania Beneficial So
ciety, 2 Scrg. ifjiawl. 141.
240
[Part IV.
241
242
{Part IV.
tt 4 Wheaton, 518.
6 Story, J. in 4 Wheuton, 674, 675. Blacks. Com. 482. Case of
Sntton Hospital, 10 Co. 33. a. b. Philips T. Bury, w>rr. Green t.
Kot' erforth, 1 Fetey, 462. Attorney General r. M JJletoo, 2 Viicy, 337.
243
244
[Part IV.
245
346
[Pan IV.
247
a 1 Lev. 937. Edmunds v. Brown & Siilard. Co. Lilt. 13. b. UTiurr:
1868. arg. 1 B.'ack). Com. 484. 2 Kyd on Corp. 516b Art. 7. s. 0.
S48
[Part IV
!is not to alter the charter ; but they could not reduce the
capital to a nominal sum, and deprive the company of a
capacity to move, without the assent of two thirds, because
that would be to alter. The constitution is susceptible of
- a more liberal and reasonable construction ; and no char
ter, under any reservation, can be dissolved by a legislative act, witfiout the" constitutional majority oftwothirdi
of each house.
A corporation mnv. nl*", hflJissolved, when an integral
part of the corporation is gone, without whose' existence
the functions of the corporation cannot be exercised, and
when the corporation has no means of supplying that inte
gral part, and has become incapable of acting. The corpor
ation becomes then virtually dead or extinguished." But in
the case of The King v. Pasmort,1' in which this,subject was
most extensively and learnedly discussed, the K. B. seem
ed to consider such a dissolution not entirely absolute, but
only a dissolution to certain puqwses. The king could
interfere and grant a new charter, and he could renovate
the corporation, either with the old, or with new corpora
tors. If renovated in the sense of that case, all the former
rights would revive and attach on the new corporation, and,
among others, a right to sue on a bond given to the old cor
poration. But if not renovated, then the dissolution be
comes absolute, because the corporation has berome incapa
ble of acting. In the case of a new incorporation, upon
the dissolution of an old one, the title to the lands belong
ing to the old corporation does not revive in the new cor
poration, except as against the state. In England, it would
require an act of Parliament to revive the title as against
the original grantor, or his heirs but it would be at least
questionable whether any statute with us could work such
an entire renovation, because vested rights cannot be de-
a 1 Rol.Mr. 514. 1. 1.
bSTermJtep. 190.
c I Prcslim on Mttracl of TUlct, p. 273.
24*>
350
[Fart IV.
85 1
<IM
(PartlY*
a Lord Kej nou. and Ashhurst, J. in Rex v. Pasmore, 3 Term Rep. 199.
h Rex v. Stevenson, Veto, i'JO. Commonwealth v. Union Insurance
Company, 5 .Mass. Rep. 230.
c Seas. 48 cb 335.
d 3 John. Rep- 134. Van Ness, J. 5 John: Ch. Rep. 380. Slee r.
Bloom \1 Veiey, 491. Attorney General t. Earl of Clarendon. 1 Eg.
Cat. Abr. 131. pi. 10 Attorney General v. Reynolds. 2 John*. Ch. Rep.
376. 37s 38*. Attorney General v. Utica Insurance Company. 6 Term
Rep. 85. The King v. WhitwelL
e L. JV. Y. (ess. 40. ch. 146. and sess. 44. ch. 148.
258
PART V.
OP THE LAW CONCERNING PERSONAL
PROPERTY.
LECTURE XXXIV.
F THE HISTORY, PROGRESS, AND ABSOLUTE RIGHTS
OF PROPERTT.
Having concluded a series of lectures on the various
rights ofpersons, I proceed next to the examination of the
law of property, which has always occupied a pre-eminent
place in the municipal codes of every civilized people. I
purpose to begin with the \&w ofpersonal property, as it has
appeared to me to be the moat natunilanTWsy*transu"ion,
from the subjects which we have already discussed. This
is the species of^property which first arises, and is culti
vated in the rudest ages ; and when commerce and the arts
have ascended to distinguished heights, it maintains its
level if it does not rise even superior to property in land
itself, in the influence which it exercises over the talents,
the passions, and the destiny of mankind.
To suppose a state of man prior to the existence of any
notions of separate property, when all things were common,
and when men, throughout the world, lived without law or
government, in innocence and simplicity, is quite fanciful,
if it be not altogether a dream of the imagination. It is the
golden age of the poets, which forms such a delightful pic
ture in the fictions, adorned by the muse of Hesiod, Lu
cretius, Ovid, and Virgil. It has been truly observed, that
256
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
tm first man who was born into the world, killed the
Afccund ; and when did the times of simplicity begin ? And
7yet we find the Roman historians and philosophers," ri
valling the language of poetry in their descriptions of soma
imaginary srate of nature, which it was impossible to
know, and idle to conjecture. No such state was intend d
for man in the benevolent dispensations of pro ounce;
and in following the migrations of nations, apart from ue
book of Genesis, human curjosity is unable to penetrate
beyond the pages of genuine history ; and Homer, Hero
dotus, and Livy, carry us back to the confines of the fabu
lous ages. The sense of ptoperty is inherent in the humau breast, and the gradual enlargement and ( ttltivToloTr
of that sense, from its feeble force in the savage state, to
its full vigour and maturity among polished nations, forms
a very, instructive portion of the history of civil society.'
Miin was-fitted and intended by the author of his being,
for society apJgovern'm^tr^aTuTTnir"flie 'aT^tiisinonju^,
enjoyment of property. It is, to speak correctly, the law
of his nature; and by obedience to this law, he brings all
his faculties into exercise, and is enabled to display the
various and exalted powers of the human mind.
Occupancy, doubtless, gavethe first title to property in
lands and moveables. It is the naturaland prjjjnp1 t^<l
of ncquiring it ; and upon the principles of universal law,
that title continues so longasocc parity continues^ There
is no person, even in his rudest state, who does not feel
and acknowledge, in a greater or less degree, the justico
of this title. The right of property, founded on occupancy,
is suggested to the human mind, by feeling and reason,
prjor to the influence of positive institutions. There have
been modern theorists, who have considered separate and
a Sallust Cat. sect. 6. J'igur sect. 18. Tacit. Ann. L 3. sec. 26.
Cic. Oral pro P- Srxtio, sect 42 Justin, lib. -!3. cb. 1
6 Lord Karnes considers the sense of properly to be a Datura] appetite,
and in its nature, a great blessing. Sketches of the History of Man, b,
l.sb. 2.
r Grotius, Jure C. St P. b. 2. c. 3. sec. 4.
157.
258
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a Groliut, b. 2. c. 6. s. 1.
6 Opera, torn. 5- part 2. p. 180. 181.
c This wns by the perpetual edict extending- trie actio mclut, which
differed in nothing, but in Dame, from the rei vindicaiio. Lord JKame^
Historical Law Tracts, tit. Property, lmt. 2. 6. 2.
259
a
b
c
d
260
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a (l/y for the trim owner, to whom the came is to be de\i/f ed on his paying reasonable salvage ; and if the goods
Ac not reclaimed by that day, they shall be sold, and the
^proceeds accounted for to the state."1 In the case of Ha
milton and Smyth v. Dath,b the very question arose in the
K. B., whether the real owner was entitled to reclaim his
shipwrecked goods, though no living creature had come
alive from the ship to the shore. The grantee under the
crown claimed the goods as a wreck, because the ship was
totally , lost, and no living animal was saved ; and his very
distinguished counsel, consisting of Mr. Dunning, (after
wards Lord A^hhurton,) and Mr. Kcnyon, (afterwards
Lord Ch. J. of the K. B ,) insisted, that, according to all
the writers, from the Mirror to Blackstone inclusive, it
was a lawful wreck, as no living creature had come to the
shore, and that Bracton stood unsupported by any other
writer. But Lord Mansfield, with a sagacity and spirit
that did him infinite honour, reprobated the doctrine urged
on the part of the defendant, and declared, that there was
no case adjudging that the goods were forfeited, because
no dog, or cat, or other animal, came alive to the shore ;
that any such determination would be contrary to the prin
ciples of law, justice, and humanity ; that the very idea
was shocking ; and that the coming ashore of a dog, or
a cat, alive, was no better proof of ownership, than if they
should come ashore dead ; that the whole inquiry wns a
qu estion of ownership ; and that if no owner coUlfl be discovered,Thc goods' Belonged to the king, and not other
wise; and that the statute of 3 Edw. I. was not to receive any
a Lavs ofN. Y. stss. 10. ch. 28- The colony laws of Massachusetts
also prescr ed all wrecks for the owner, and did not follow (lie English
law. Dane'i Abr, vol. 3. 144. Probably the statute law of other itale8
'a equally just.
b S Burr. 2735-
Lecture XXXIV.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
26*
aS Co. 83. 12Mrd. 521. Bacon's Ute of the Law, p. 157. Unit.
*J3- Com. Dig. tit. Market,. B,
262
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXIV.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
263
2Gi
Of PERSONAL PROPERTY-.
[Part V.
a Grotius, b. 2. c. 6. s. 14.
M Recurs Hist, of f'e l. . Law, p.. 1 1
OP PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
267
2G8
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
269
370
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IPartV.
271
a 8 Whcnlon, 1.
* Frcar v. Hardenbergli, 5 Johns. Pep. S75.-
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a 3 Alk. 134.
b 2 Johns. Cases, 441.
e L. JV. Y. April 8th, 1813, rh. 80.
d Jones v. Carter, 12 JUass. Rep. 314. Withington v. Corey, 2 JV.
//. Rep. 1 15.
Lecture XXXIV.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
273
27*
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY:-
[Part V.
275
276
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V .
LECTURE XXXV.
OF THE NATURE AND VARIOUS KINDS OF PERSONAL
PROPERTY.
Personal property consists of things temporary and
movable, and includes all subjects of property not of a
freehold nature, nor descendible to the heirs at law. . ,
The division of property into real and persona), tor
moveable and immoveable, is too obvious not to have ex
isted in every system of municipal law. Except, however,
in the term of prescription, the civil law scarcely nmde
any difference in the regulation of real and personal pro
perty. But the jurisprudence of the middle ages was al
most entirely occupied with the government of reul estates,
which were the great source of political power, and the
foundation of feudal grandeur. In consequence of this
policy, a technical and very artificial system was erected,
upon which the several gradations of title to land depend
ed. Chattels were rarely an object of notice, either in
the treatises or reports of the times, prior to the reign of
Henry VI." They continued in a state of insignificance
until the revivafof trade and manufactures, the decline of
the feudal tenures, and the increase of industry, wealth,
and refinement, had contributed to fix the affections upon
personal property, and to render the acquisition of it an
object of growing solicitude. It became, of course, a sub
ject of interesting discussion in the courts of juctice ; and
being less complicated in its tenure, and rising under the
278
OF PERSONAL PORPETRY.
[Part V-
Lecture XXXV.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
279
280
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY,
[Part V,
rule obtains with the most rigour in favour nf thn inpfi-itance, and against the right to consider us a personal chattel any thing which has been affixed to the freehold*
2. Between the^ executor of the tenant for life, aud .'he
remainder man or reversioner ; and here the ri^hr to fix
tures is considered more favourably for the executors.
i im
* " '
1
3. Between l;u|d lord, and tenant ; and here the clu ni to
have articles considered as personal property, is received
with the greatest latitude and indulgence. Lord Ellenborough, in Elwesv. Maw,a tvent through all the cases
from the time of the year books, and the court concluded,
that I here was a distinction betweenannexaTioiisTo iii'c*
freehhold for the purposes of trade or manufacture, and
those made for the purposes of agriculture, and the right
ef the tenant to remove was strong in the one case, and
not. in the other. It was held, that an agricultural tenant
who had erected, for the convenient occupation of his
farm, several buildings, was not entitled to remove them.
Had the erections been made for the benefit of trade or
manufactures, there would seem to have been no doubt of"
the right of removal. The strict rule as to fixtures, that
applies between heir and executor, applies equally as be
tween vendor and vendee ; and fixtures erected by the
vendor for the purpose of trade and manufactures, as pot?
ash kettle* for manufacturing ashes, pass to the vendee
of the land.*
The civil law was much more natural, and murh less
complicated in the discrimination of things, than the com
mon lavv. It divided them into the obvious and universal
distinction of things moveable and immoveable. The
moveable goods of the civil law were, strictly speaking, the
chattels personal of the common law. Whatever was fixed
a 3 EnH, 38.
b Miller v. Plumb, G Coiccn, GG5.
2S1
2&2
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartY.
283
284
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V
I
;
7
S
283
286
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Tart V.
a Smith T- Clever, 2 Vern. 59. Hyde v. Parralt, 1 P. Wm>. I. Tissen v. Tissen, ibid. 500 Pleydell v. Pleydell, ibid- 74B. Porter v. Tournay, 3 Petty, 31 1. Randall v. Russell, 3 JUcrivale, 190.
6 Moffat v. Strong, 10 Johnt. Rep. 12. Westcott v. Cady, 5 Johns.
Cli. Rep. 334. Griggs r. Dodge, 2 Dai/a Rep. 20. Taber v. Packwood,
ibid. 52. Scott, v. Price, 2 Serg & Rawl. 59. Deihl v. King, 6 ibid
29. Reyall v. Eppes, 2 JHwf. 479. Mortimer Moffalt, 4 H. 6f JVuttf.
503. Logan r. Ladson, 1 S. C. Eq- Rep. 271.
c Randall v. Russell, 3 JWerivale, 194.
d Dyer, 7. pi. 8.
e Seale v. Seale 1 P. Wmt. 290. Chandless v. Prico, 3 Vesey, 99.
Brouncker v. Bagot, 1 Merirale, 271. Totliill v. Pitt, JtIoddock, ChRep. 48R. Garth v- Baldwin, 2 Vctty, 646-
Lecture XXXV.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
2sr
LECTURE XXXVI.
OF TITLE TO Pt-RSONAL PROPERTY, BY ORIGINAL
ACQUISITION.
Title to pergonal propefljf may accrue in three differ-1 *>
nt waysT 1*. By original acquisition ; 2. By transfer, by
act of the law; 3. By transfer, by act or" the parties.
It will not be possible to give to every part of so oxtrnaive a subject a minute examination, consistently with the
preservation of due symmetry in the arrangement ofthese
elementary disquisitions, t shall endeavour to bring every
part of the title at least into view, and reserve a full ex
amination for those branches of it which may appear to be
the most fruitful of instruction.
The right of original acquisition, mnj; te,cftfpprf>hfM
under the heads^of^ occupancy, accession, and intellectual
labour..
I. Of original acquisition ly occupancy.
The means ol'acajuVingi^sonaTpropeTty, by occupancy
are very limited. Though priority of occupancy was the
foundation of the right of property, in the primitive ages,
and though some of the ancient institutions contemplated
the right of occupancy as standing on broad ground,0 yet in
the progress of society, this original right was made to yield
290
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV-
a Finch's Law, 28. 178. Bra- tit. Property, pi. 18. 38. Wiishl, J. in
Morrough v. Comyns, 1 ff'ils. 211.
6 See vol ii. p. 05.
I 1 Blacks. Com 296.
d Armory v. Flynn, 10 Johns. Rep. 102.
Dig. 47. 2. 44. sect. 410.
291
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V*.
i
oi' conrnent .I Europe, that wrecks helonfj to the nation,
,.
>w nor does not appear. Hfinv- Elem. Jur. ord. Inst, a. 352,
;.m l iuaier, Droit Ctvii Francois, torn. 4. No. 4246.
Lecture XXXVI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
293
294
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
290
m Dig. 0. 1. St.
296
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a 6 Bm. VII. 15. 12 Hen. VIII. 10. Fit*. Abr. Bar. 144. Bro
tit. Property, 23.
h 6 Johns. Rep 348.
.
207
b Inst. 2. 1 . 25.
38
298
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXVI]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
299
a Art. 1. ect. 8.
300
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY:
[Part V.
a Acts of CoogreM, 21st Feb. 1793, ch. 11th , and 17tb April, 1800.
SOi
a Patents are no doubt procured in many cases for frivolous and use
less alterations in articles, implements, and machines in common use, un
der the name of improvements ; and the abuses arising from the facility
in suing out patents, and provoking litigation, were painted in glowing
colours by the district judge at New-York, in Thompson v. Haighl ; [U.
8. Lava Journal, vol. i. 563.) and yet the collection of models and ma
chines in the patent office relating to every possible subject, constitute*
a singularly curious mii-eiim of the arts, and one strongly illustrative of
the inventive and enterprising genius of our countrymen.
302
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
303
304
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY;
[Part V.
805
injunction, until the patentee has first established the >alidiiy ot his patent in a court of law.
OF PERSONAL PROPERTV.
[Part V-
law is well drawn and guarded, and is annexed to the Treatise ofJbT. Renmiard.
a Acts of Congress, May 31, 1790, ch. 15. and April ?9, 1802,ch. 36
-30-7
6F PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IPart V
99
lation of the copyright, and Merlin has preserved his elaborate and elo
quent argument in support of literary properly . In the case of Lahante
& Honnematson v. Sieher, the question was concerning the rights ot for
eign authors, and it was decided and settled on appeal, in March, 1810,
that the French assignee of a literary or musical work, not published
abroad, acquired in France, after conforming to the usual terms of the
French law. before any publication abroad, the exclusive copyright under
the law of 1793. See Questions de Droit, tit. ProprdU HUeraire. sect. 2.
It is understood lobe lawful to publish in France, without the permission
of the author a work already published in a foreign country. Repei toire,
ub. tup. sect. 10 The French law is truth more liberal in the protec
tion of intelle't tual productions to authors and their heirs, than either the
English or our American law ; and it is a curious fact in the history of
mankind, that the French national convention, in July, 17S.1. should hare
busied themselves with the project of a law of that hind when the
Whole republic was at that time in the most violent i onvoliions, and the
combined armies were invading France, and besieging Vdenciermet ?
wheu Parii was one scene of sedition, terror, proscription, imprison
ment and judicial massacre; under the forms of the revolutionary tribu
nal ; when t he convention had just been mutilated by its own v ioleot de
nunciation and imprisonment of the deputies of the Giromle party, and
the whole nation was preparing to rise in a mass to expel the invaders.
If the production of such a law, at such a crisis, be not resolvable into
mere vanity and affectation, then indeed we may well say, with Mr.
Hume, so inconsistent is human nature with itself, and so easily do gen
tle, pacific aod generous sentiments ally both with the most heroic cour
age, and the fiercest barbarity !
There is a disposition in France to enlarge stiH further the term of an
author's property in his works ; and the commissioners appointed by the
king to frame a new law on the subject, reported, in the summer of 1836,
the draft of a law, in which they propose to give to authors and artists of
works of all kinds, property in their works for life, and to their legal re
presentatives for fifty years, from their death ; and copyright in a work
to be protected trom piracy by representation, as well as from piracy by
publication. In Germany, copyright is perpetual ; but it cannot be of
mrjch value, for there it no one uniform Germanic legislation on the
31
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lectnro XXXVI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
31
S12
Of PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
313
314
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXVI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
315
LECTURE XXXVII,
OF TITLE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY, BY TRANSFER BY
ACT OF LAW.
Goods and chattels may change owners by act of law, in
the cases of forfeiture, succession, marriage, judgment, insolvencv.and intestacy. Those of succession and mamage
have already been considered, and I shall now confine my
self to the other means of acquiring title to chattels by act
of law.
I. By Forfeiture.
The title ofjro^ernment to goods by forfeiture, as a pu
nishment for crimes, is confined in this state to the case of
treason. The right, so far as it exists in this country, de
pends, probably, upon local statute law; and the tendency
of public opinion has been to condemn forfeiture of property, at least in cases' ot ieTony, as being an unnecessary
and hard punishment of the felon's posterity. Every per
son convicted of any manner of treason, under the laws of
this state, forfeits his goods and chattels, as well as his
lands and tenements ; but the rights of all third persons,
existing at the time of the commission of the treason, are
saved." Forfeitureof property for crimes in any otrtfirrt""'i
is expressly abolished ;J and evenThe attainder of treason
does not extend to corrupt the blood of the offender, or to
31S
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
319
j20
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Leeiure XXXVII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
S21
322
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
323
324
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V*.
326
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part T.
327
328
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[ParlV
ssg-
ciled here, and whose debt was not contracted within the
state.*
The court in which proceedings under the absconding
debtor act are pending, has an equitable jurisdiction .over
all claims between the trustees and the creditors. They
are liable to be called to account at the instance of cither
the debtor or creditor. Trustees, in this case, resemble
eommissioners under the English bankrupt laws, as they
are to liquidate all demands, and declare and pay divi
dends ; and the proper remedy against the trustees is,
either by a bill in chancery, or an applicaiion to the equi
table powers of the court in which the proceedings are
pending, to compel an account, and an adjustment. It
was accordingly held, in Peck v. RamlnllJ' that the ci edi
tor could not maintain a suit at law again* ti,e trustees
before the demand had been adjusted, nnd a dividend de
clared. In England, it is wel| nettled, m the analogous
case of a claim for dividends on a bankrupt's estate, that
a suit at law cannot be sustained for a dividend, and that
the creditor applies to the Court of Chancery for assist
ance to obtain it.
A grave and difficult question has been frequently dis
cussed in our American courts, respecting the conflicting
claims arising under our attachment laws, and under a fo
reign bankrupt assignment. If a debtor in England, owing
a house in this state, as well as creditors in England, be re
gularly declared a bankrupt in England, and his estate duly
assigned, and if the house in this state afterwards sues out
process of attachment against the estateofthe same debtor,
and trustees are appointed accordingly, the question is,
which class of trustees is entitled to distribute the fund,
SS
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
L first in time,
entitled to eoMmd^hc personal proper ty of the debtor existing id tliis state.
But whatever consideration miaht otherwise have been
due to the opinion in that case, and to the reasons and de
cisions on which it rested, the weight of American nutliority is decidedly the other way ; and it may now be considered
as part ot the semMljUllypTUdBiwce of this country, that a
prior assignment in bankruptcy, under a loreign law, will
noTbe permitted to prevail against a subsequent attaclimu'i'iT
331
332
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V-
Xectuie XXXVII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
3s<S
834
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY".
[Part V.
335
and nieces, who stand in equal degree ; 8. To cpuGrnnrlmothersare preferred to aunts, as nearer of kin;
for the grandmother stands in the second degree to the in
testate, and the aunt, in the third.6 If none of the next of
kin will accept, the surrogate may exercise his discretion
whom to appoint, and he usually decrees it to the claimant
who has the greater interest in the effects of the intestate.*
Jf no one offers, he must then appoint a mere trustee ad
colligendum "tb'collect and keep safe the effects of the in
testate ; and this last special appointment gives no power
to sell any part of the goods, not even perishable articles,
nor can the surrogate confer upon him that power.4*
The administrator {except it be the husband administer
ing on his wife's estate, or the public administrator in the
city of New- York) must enter into a bond before the surro
gate, with two sureties, for the faithful execution of his
trusts
The administrator being thuA-ilulv appointed, it is his
duty to proceed forthwith to the execution of his trust.
His powers and dmipg mny |^ g"TirnP"'ly fjftmpr,phended.'"
the following particulars: 1. He is to make an inventory of
the goods and chattels of the intestate, in the presence,
and with thediscretion of two persons who are creditors, or
next of kin, or discreet neighbours. Two copies of this
inventory are to be made and indented, and one copy is to
be lodged with the surrogate under the attestation of the
administrator's oath, and the other is to be retained. This
486
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a Dig 11. 7. 45. Ibid. 35. 2.72. 1 Brown's Vitio of the Civil
Laic,
6 Sco ShrppartT* Touchttone, by Preston, vol. ii. 475 4R0. and Ba
con'* .Vrridgmenl, tit. Et'cUots and Administrators, L. 2. for a succirct
view of (he rules of the common latv, touching the order of paying debts
hy executors and administrators.
S3 7
348
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V
cial and peculiar, and minute even beyond the rule of the
common law. In Maryland, judgments and decrees have
preference, aud all other debts are equal ; and in Mis
souri, expenses of the lust sickness, debts due to the state,
and judgments, have preference, and all other debts are
placed on an equality." In Pennsylvania, the order of ad
ministration is to pay, 1. Physic, funeral expenses, and
servant's wages ; 2. Rents, not exceeding one year ; 3.
Judgments ; 4. Recognisances ; 5. Bonds and special
ties ; (5. All other debts equally, except debts due to the
state, which are to be last paid.'When the debts arc paid, the administrator is bound,
.after the expiration"of a year from the granting of adminis
tration, to distribute the surplus property among the next
of kin. The statute^ dedgjff, .Hbfl1 after the debts, fu
neral charges and just expenses are deducted, a just and
equal distribution of what rcmaineth. clear of the goods
and personal estate of the intestate, shall be made amongst
the wife aj)d children, or children's children, if any
such there be, or otherwise to the next of kin to the in
testate, in equal degree, or legally representing their
stocks, that is to say, one third part of the surplusage to
the wife of the intestate, and all of the residue by equal
portions to aud amongst the children of the intestate,
and their representatives, if any of the children be dead,
other than such child or children who shall have any es
tate by settlement, or shall be advanced by the intestate
in his lifetime, by portion equal to the share which shall by
such distribution be allotted to the other children to whom
such distribution is to be made. And ifthe portion of any
child who hath had such settlement or portion/be not equaT
to the share due to the other children by the distribution,
the child so advanced is lb be made equal with the rest. If
33t>
a See vol. i. 503. note, and aho Carter r Crawley, T. Rnym. 498.
Palmer v. Allicock, 3 Mod- 58. Elward v. freeman, 2 P. fVmt- 436.
& Sir John Strange, in Lloyd v. Tencb, 2 Vtsuj.HZ.
340
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
ted equally with the whole blood, for they are equally at
near of km ; and the father succeeds tothe whole personal
estate of a child whodies intestate, and without wife or is*
sue, in exclusion of the brothers and sisters ; and the mo
ther would have equally so succeeded as against the col
laterals, had it not been fur a sav ing clause in the act, which
excludes her from all but a rateable share. She is ex
cluded, lest, by re-rhnrrying, she would carry all the per
sonal estate to another husband, in entire exclusion, for
ever, of the brothers and sisters. The K. B. declared, in
\JJlnck >orough v. Davis," that the father and mother had al
ways the preference before the brothers and sisters, in the
inheritance of the personal estate, as being esteemed
nearer of kin ; and for the same reason, the grandmother
is preferred to the aunt. The grandmother is preferred,
not because she is simply in the ascending Hue, for, under
he statute of distributions, a nearer collateral will be pre
ferred to a morn remote lineal, but because she is nearer
of kin, according to the computation of the civilinns, by one
degree. And in Moor v. Iiarham, decided by Sir Joseph,
Jekyll,* the grandfather on the father's side, and tho
grandmother on the mother's side, take in equal moieties
by the statute of distribution, as being the next of kin in
equal degree, and the half blood take equally with the
whole blood. A brother and a grandfather of the intes
tate are equally near of kin, and each i elated in the second
degree, and, therefore, it would seem, from the directions
in our act, that they would take equally ; but it has been
decided in England, and it is also the better construction
of the novel of Justinan, that the bioihrir if lh- intestate
will exclude the grandfather of the intestate. This was so
decided in Pool v. fVilshaw, in 1708 ; and Lord Hardwicke,
in Hoelyn v. Fvtlyn,c followed that determination as
..
a 1 P. Wnu. 41. 5 Vetey. i\h.
h Tiled iB I r. Wmt. A3.
e 3 Atk. 762. Jimb. 191. Bwru1 Eccl. /.mo, vol. it. 410.
342
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY:
[Part V.
sisters and their children be dead, leaving children, thoseII children cannot take by representation, for it does not exff tend so far, but they are all next of kin, and in thatjcharacier
II they would take per capita. Representat ion in thedesccndII ing lineal line proceeds on ad infinitum, restrained by no
' limits. It has also been decided, that if the intestate
leaves no wife or child, brother or sister, but his next of
kin are an uncle by his mother's side, and a son of a de
ceased aunt, the uncle takes the whole, and the repre
sentation is not carried down to the representatives of tho
aunt.a
It is the doctrine under the statute of distributions, that
theIII claimants
take
per stirpesliW^^^t^WB^y-iiiai'iflMfatKQ
only when they stand in unetill I i iiMrii.i
Hi ii'Jyflnn
qua! degrees, or claim by representation, and then the doctrine of representation is necessary. But wlicnttocy HIT
stand in equal degree, as three brothers, three grandchil
dren, three nephews, &e. they take per capita, or each an
equal share, because, in this case, representation, or taking
per stirpes, is not necessary to prevent the exclusion of those
in a remoter degree, and it would be contrary to the spirit
and policy of the statute, which aimed at a just and equal
distribution.* Aunts and nephews stand in the same thud
degree, and take equally per capital If a person dies
without children, leaving a widow, and mother, brother and
sister, and two nieces by a deceased brother, then, accord
ing to the established doctrine, the widow would take a
moiety, and the mother, brother, and sister, would each
take one fourth, and the two nieces the other one fourth of
the remaining moiety. This point was ruled in Keylway v.
348
a 2 P. Wmi. 344.
6 \ Alk. 457. The English doctrine of distribution ofpersonal property,
According to the statutes of 22.) and 23d Charles II., and 29 Charles II.,
and 1 James II.. is fully and clearly explained by Ch. J. Reeve, in his
Treatise on the Law of I escents, under the head of Introductory Ex
planation. It is the most comprehensive, neat, and accurate view of the
English law on the subject, that I have any where met with.
c This is the case in Tennessee, JVorlh-Carolina, Maryland, Delaware,
and Aete Jersey.
d This is tlie case in Maine, JVew-IIampshire, Vermont, (but there
the male children take double the portion of the females,) Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, (but there the whole blood are, in certain
cases, preferred to the half blood, and even when in equal degree,) Pen*ayhanii, Virginia, (but there the half blood inherit only half as much as
the whole blood,) Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri,
(but there brothers, and sisters, and parents, take equally.) Mississippi^
(but there brothers and sisters, and their descendants, take before pa
rents,) South Carolina, (but there parents, and brothers, and sisters,
take equally, and a brother of the half blood does not share with a mother,) and Alabama. See GriffiVCi Imw Register, h. t. 2 A". HampBrp. 46i. Dane's Abridgment, vol. iv. p. 538, 639. 5 Conn. Rep. 2321 M-Cot :,s S. C. hep 1(31. 450. Reeve's Law of Descents, passim. I
do not undertake to mark minutely, or in detail, the many smaller varia
tions from the English, and our New-York law of distributions, which
have been made by the statute law of the different slates. Such
a detail wonld bo inconsistent with t ie plan of liiese lectures, w'.ich were
344
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
*45
a Prcelec. part 1. lib. 3. De Succet*. ab. inst. coital, sect. 20. torn. i.
278. Ibid, part 2. lib. 1. tit. 3- De conJUAu legum, iect. 15. torn. 2,
542.
6 Qwest. Jir- Priv. lib. 1. ch. i6.
c Hein'cc. Opera, torn. 2. 972. De testament, jure Gtrm. sect. 30;
Opinion of JT. Target on the Dlicbess of Kingston's will, 1 Coll- Jurte240. Toutlier't Or >H Civil Frttitcnit, torn. |. No. 366.
d Droit des Gent, b. 2. c 8. sect. 103. 1 10.
e 2 Veiey, 36.
/ 2 B:,t. Sf Puller, 129. note.
g 3 Vaty, 198Vol. II.
44
346
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
b Vttey, 750.
6 t Att.iamU Rep. 14.
c What facts constitute a domicil of the person, lias been a qnestios
frequently discussed. There is no fixed or definite period of time re
quisite to create it. The residence to create it may be short or long',
according; to circumstances. It depends on the actual or presumed intention of the party. A person beiDg- at a place, is primafncie evidence
that he is domiciled there ; but it may be explained, and the presumptiou rebutted. The place where a man carries on his established busi
ness, or professional occupation, and has a home and residence, is bit
domicil, and he has all the privileges, and is bound by all the duties flow
ing thereftom. Though his family reside part of the year at another
place, such place is regarded only as a temporary residence, and tbe
home domicil for business takes away the character of domicil from tbe
other. The original domicil of the party always continues until be bas
fairly changed it for another ; and if a party has two contemporary domicils, and a residence in eacb alternately of equal portions of time, tbe
rule which Lord Alvanley was inclined to adopt was, that the place
where the party's business lay, should be considered his domicil. Lord
Thurlow, in Bruce v. Bruce, 2 Bo*. Puller, 229. note- 3 Vttey, 01,
202. 5 I'Hd. 786789. See also 1 Johru. Cat. 366. note, and 4 Coven,
416- note, for a collection of authorities on this question of domicil.
4f
348
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V,
be made abroad. Whether the court here ought to decree distribution, or remit the property abroad, was a
matter of judicial discretion, and there was no universal
or uniform rule on the subject.
The manner and extent of the execution of the rule was
recently considered in the Supreme Court of Massachu
setts." A pei miii was domiciled at Calcutta, and died there
insolvent, and his will was proved, and acted upon there.
Administration was taken out in Massachusetts on the pro
bate of the will in the East Indies, and assets came to the
hands of the administrator at Boston, sufficient to pay a
claim due citizens of the United S ates, and a judgment
debt due a British subject in England, but all the assets
were wanted to be applied, in the course of administration,
by the executor at Calcutta. It was held, that the admi
nistrator here was only ancillary to the executor in India,
and the assets ought to he remitted, unless he was compel
led by law to appropriate them here to pay debts. It was
not decided whether he was compelled to pay here ; but if it
were the cuse, it would only be the American creditors,
and the British creditor was not entitled to come here and
disturb the legal course of settlement of the estate in his
pwn country. If there were no legal claimants with us in
the character of creditors, legatees, or next of kin, the ad
ministrator would be bound to remit the assets to the foreign
executor, to be by him administered according to the law of
the testator's domicil ; and if any part of the assets were to,
be retained, it would form nn exception to the general rule,,
growing out of the duty of every government to protect its
own citizens in the recovery of their debts. The intima
tion has been strong, thltt |IMh "" ""vili.iry,ndm'"''str^t.(jirt
in the case_of at solvent eglate-JBaaAautuLto^iiDlY f hoasr
sets found here to pay debts due here, and that it would
34)r
S5
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecturo XXXVII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
351one or another person, according to age and sex, and manner ofthe death,
until the law was reduced to certainty by the cod* Napoleon- (ToullierU
Droit Civil Francois, torn. 4. No. 76.) By the Napoleon code, No. 720,
721, 728. when two of the next of kin perish together, without it being
possible to be known which died first, the presumption of survivorship is
- determined by circumstances. If the parties were both under fifteen
years of age, the eldest shall be presumed to have survived. If above six
ty, the youngest shall be presumed to have survived. If they were between the ages of fifteen and sixty, and of different sexes, the male shall
be presumed to have been the survivor, provided the ages were within a
year of each other. If of the same sax, than the youngest f the two is
presumed to have survived-.
LECTURE XXXVIII,
OF TITLE TO PERSONAL PROPKRTY, BY GIFT.
TiTLF. to personal property by transfer by art of the
party, may be acquired by gift, and by contract.
There has been much discussion among the writers on
the civil law, whether a gift was not properly a contract, in
asmuch as it is not perfect without delivery and accept-
ance, which imply a convention between the parties. In
the opinion of Toullter," every gifi is a contract, for it is
founded on agreement ; while, on the other hand, PufFendorf had excluded it from the class of contracts, out of de
ference to the Roman lawyers, who restrained the defini
tion of a contract to engagements resulting from wegotiation. Barbeyrac, in his notes to Puffendorf, insists, that
upon principles of natural law, a gift inter vivos, and which
ordinarily is expressed by the single term gift, is atrue con
tract; for the donor irrevocably devests himself of a right
to a thing, and transfers it gratuitously to another, who
accepts it, and which acceptance, he rationally contends, to
be necessary to the validity of the transfer. / The English
law does not consider a gift, strictly speaking, in the light
of a contract, because it is voluntary, and without consideration ; whereas' a contract is denned to be an agreement
upon sufficient consideration to do, or not to do, a particular
a DrM Civil Francaii. torn. 5. Dr* Donalioni enlre rift, ec 4. and 5and n I .
6 Droit i!et Gens, liv. 5. ch. 3. a. 10. note 8.
Vol. II.
45
354
OF'PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
855
,
P
C
(.
\
.
.
I
356
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
357
S58
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
359
360
[Pari V .
a l P. Wms. 401.
6 3 Atk. 214.
e 1 P. Wins. 440.
d 3 P. Wms. 35.
< Hill v. rimpman, 2 Bro. 612.
ft fetey, 431.
Lecture XXXVfll.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
361
3^
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
that there was no delivery, and the act was void as a gift
causa mortis, for there TTItlll* k " fifTE1"1"^ possession in
the donee until the death of the donor, and he may revoke
the donation any time before
ae ESSBI do not seem to be entirely reconcilable on
the subject of donations of chosts in acion. A delivery
of a note, as we have seen, was not good, because it was~
a mere chose in action; and yet in Swllgrove v. Baily," the
pit't of a bond causa mortii, was held good, and passed the
equitnhle interest ; and Lord Hardwicke afterwards, in
the greal case of /! ard v. Tumrr, said he adhered to
that decision ; and the same kind of gift has been held in
thi- country to be valid.''
By the admirable equity of the civil law, donations causa
mortis were not allowed te defeat t^ie lusTclaims^Tc^Hjr
tors, a nd they wer> vnid, hh Hyninut th>m, tyfin withouf a.
fraudulent intent. It is equally the language of the modern civilians, that donations cannot be sustained to ttiA.
prejudice of existing rreriitnra.d
a 3 Alk 214.
b Wells v. Tucker, 3 Binney, 366.
e Dig- 39. 6. 17.
d Voet. Com. ad Pand. 39. 6. sect. 20. Pothier, Traiti des donal
entre vi/s, sect 3. art. 1. ect. 2. ToullierU Droit Civil Francois, torn
S. p. 733.
LECTURE XXXIX.
OF THE CONTRACT OF SALE.
In entering upon so extensive and so complicated a field
of inquiry as that concerning contracts, we must neces
sarily confine our attention to a general outline of the sub
ject ; and endeavour to collect and arrange, in simple and
perspicuous order, those great fundamental principles
which govern the doctrine of contracts, and perrude them
under all their modifications and variety.
I. Ofthe different kinds of contracts.
An executory contrary L an agreement upon sufficient
consideration, to do or not to a particular thing.'1 The
agreement is either under seal, or not under fipnl V'un
der seal, it is denominated a specjaltv.. and if not under
senl, an agreement by parol ; and the latTer includes
equally verbal and written contracts not under seal.'' The
agreement conveys an interest either in pomfsum. or in
action. It', for instance, one person sells and delivers
goods to another for a price paid, the agreemenTis exe
cuted, and becomes complete and absolute ; but if the
vendor agrees to sell and deliver at a future time, and for
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V
s65
366
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
367
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.-
a Buller, J. 1 Term Rep. 136. and in Compton v. Burn, Esp. Dig. 13.
6 Morgan v. Richardson, 1 Campb. A". P. 40. note. Fleming r,
Simpson, ibid. Tje v. Gwynne, 2 Campb. JV. P. Rep. 346.
e Chambers v. Griffiths, 1 E*p. Rep. 130.
4 1 1 Johns. Rep. 525.
Vol. II.
47
37
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V-
371
a 3 Pikering. 452.
b 2 Wheiton, 13.
c 1 Bay. 278.
d Tanfielil, ("h. B. in Roswell v. Vaufjlian, fro. Jar. 196. Medina v.
Stoughton, 1 Sulk. 21 1. Bree v. Holbech, Doug. 654. Lord Alvanley,
in Johnson v. Johnson, 3 Iioi.Sf Pull. 170. (Jrmslon v. Pate, ritfid in
Sugden's Laic of Vendors, 3d. cd. 3:6. 347. and in 4 Cruise's Dig- 90.
and in Cooper's Eq. Rep- 311. 1 Fonli. 366. note.
e Frost v. Raymond, 1 Ciines1 Rep. 188. Abbot v. Allen, 2 Johns.
Oft. Rep. 523.
872
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
3^3
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
370
Dean v. Mason, 4 Conn. Rep. 428. Boyd v. Bopst, 2 Dallas, 91. Emerony. Brigbam, 10 Mass. Rep. 197. Swett v. Colgate, 20 John. Rep.
196. Kimmel v. Litchly, 3 Yeatet,<ZG2. Willing v. Consequa, 1 Pcleri>
Hep. 317. 12 Serg. Sr Raul. 181. Tilghman, Ch. J. Chisra v. Woods,
1 Hard. Ken. Rep. 531- Lanier v. Auld, 1 Murphy, 138. Erwin y.
Maxwell, 2 ibid. 245. Westmoreland y, Dixon, 4 Haywood's Tenn. Rep227.
a 2 Caines* Rep. 48.
I 20 John*. Rep. 196.
c Lai njj y. Fidgeon, 6 Taunton, 108 Gardiner v. <*ray, 4 CampbeWs
JV". P. !44. Hastings y Loyering, 2 Pickering, 2 1 4. Woodworth, J. in
8wett w. Colgate, 20 John*. Rep. 204.
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY:
[Part V.
377
378
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V-
379
380
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part \\
381
382
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[fart V.
3S
304
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY,
886
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
387
A
I
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PsriV.
S89
$90
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
sonable time after request, and pay for and take the goods,
flthe contract is dissolved, and the vendor is at liberty tosell
/{the goods to another person." If any thing remains to be
done, as between the seller and toe buyel.bWbre the goods
are to be delivered, a present right of property does not
attach in the buyer. This is a well established principle
in the doctrine of sales.6 feut when, %yfjy Wf'[f
the seller, even as to parcel of the quantity sold, to put the
goods in a deliverable state.the property, and consequently
the risk of that parcel, passto the ''nyer ; f nA ftp, |y jjfl'*"""11
of the entire quantity ;is requires further acts to be clone
on the part of the seller, the property and the risk remain
with the seller.0 1 The goods sold must be ascertained, de
signated, and separaTeaTronrTlie"^^
which they are niixe37DetoTeTn^!F8pWrjBn pass.'^ It
is a fundamental princijpjc pervading every where the
doctrine of Bales of chattels, that if the ^oods be sold by
number, weight or measure, the sale is incomplete, and the
risk continues with the seller, 7n~iuTtnespecn!c' property
be separated and identified.e
Where no time is agreed on for payment, the payment
and delivery are concurrent acts, and
me
id the vendor
ve
to deliver wTtnout payment. If he does deliver freely and
absolutely, anil Wllllblll any fraudulent contrivance on the
part ofthe vendee to obtain possession, and wit hout exacting
or expecting simultaneous payment, there is confidence and
credit bestowed, and the precedent condition of payment is
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
391
392
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a Haggerty v. Palmer, 6 John*. Ch. Rep. 437. and see Lord Sea.
forth's case. 19 Vesey, 235. in which the vendor's lien was carried at
least equally far.
6 InH. 8. I. 41. Potheir, Trtute du Contral de Venle, n. 322.
c Hid, n. 307.
d The Code Napo'eon. No. 1583. has dropped the rule of the civil
and followed that of the English common law, and it holJs, that the pro
perly passes to the buyer as soon as the sale is perfected without either
delivery or payment. The civil code of Louisiana, ar( 2431. follows the
worJs of the Napoleon code.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
94
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
395'
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
-397
393
OF PERSON AL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
tracts for a thing certain, as for all the wine of the vintage
of the vendor, and a contract for any thing indeterminate,
as a pair of gloves, a certain quantity of corn, wine, &c.
In the former case, the delivery is to be at the repository
where tlie wine was at the time of the contract, and this is
reasonably supposed to be the understanding of the parties,
as the purchaser would then be able to see that he had the
whole quantity agreeably to the contract. In the latter
case the property is to be delivered at the debtor's place or
residence, unless the parties lived near each other, and the
thing be portable, in which case the place of payment would
be the creditor's residence.9 The common law on the
subject of the delivery of specific articles which are |>orfiP
ble, makes a distinction between the contract of sale, and
the contract to pay a debt at another time in such articles.
No. 45, 46. 51, 52. Code Napoleon, n. 1609. ToullierU Droit Civil Fran
cois, torn. 7. n. 90. Civil code of Louisiana, art. 2460. Adams v. Minnick, cited in Wharton1* Dig. of Perm- Cam, tit. Vendor, u. 76. Lobdell v. Hopkins, 5 Coioen, 516. ChipmanU Estaij on the Law of Contraclt,p,29 30.
The code JVapnleon, in respect to the contract of sale, and in respect to
all other contracts, seems to be in a great degree a coucise abridgment or
summary of the writings of Pothier. The utility of the latter, and their
great merit in learning, perspicuity, and accuracy of illustration, are far
from being superseded or eclipsed by the simplicity and brevity of the
code. The aid of the French civilians of the former school has been
found as indispensable as ever. The Code Napoleon, and Code dc Com
merce, deal only in general rules and regulations. Th"y are not suffi
ciently minute and provisional to solve, without judicial discussion the
endless questions that constantly arise in the business of life. M- Toullier has undertaken a commentary upon the French civil law, according
to the order of the Code, which has already extended to twelve volumes,
and, asfaras I mav be permitted to julge from a very imperfect know
ledge of the French law, ho appears to rival even Pothier himself, in the
comprehensiveness of his plan, and in the felicity of its execution.
(i Pothier, Traite dee Ol>lig. No. 51?, 513.
Lecture XXXTX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
899
400
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
401
a Co. Liu. 207. a. Peyloe's cass, 9 Co. 79. a. Bro. tit. Touli tempt
pritl, pi- 31.
b Bro. ub. tup.
e Le Grew t. Cooke, 1 Bos. $ Puller, 332.
d 1 Jf. H. Rep. 295.
e Nicholas v. Whiting, 1 Root, 448. Rix v. Strong, 1 Hid. 55. Slingcr?
land r. Morse, 8 Johni. Rep.
7f
f Code Napoleon, No. 1257. Po&ier, Traiti da Oblig. No. 545.
g Mr. Cliipman, in tba able Essay t- which I have alrratly refer,,
led, supposes that the debtor may sell the goods which he so ret iio9, if
they be perishable articles, and he will be accountable for the net pro*
eedi- He has reasoned well, and upon sound legal principles, in sup,
port of his position, that on the tender and refusal of specific articles, the
4ebt is discharged on the one hand, and the title to the property transfersed to the creditor on the other.
Vol. IL
51
402
6f PERSONAL PROPERTY.
fPart V.
a Parkhurst v. Van Cortlandt, I Johns. Ch. Rtp. 28!. Abeel v Radcliff, 13 Johru. Rep. 97. It was said, upwards of sixty years ago. at
Westminster Hall, that the statute of frauds, of 29 Charles II , had not
been explained at a less expanse than 100,000 sterling. I should sup
pose from the numerous questions and decisions which hare since arisen
upon it, that we might put down the sum at a million and upwards. How
hazardous it would dow seem to be, to attempt to recast the statute in
new language, or to disturb the order and style of its composition, consi
dering how costly its judicial liquidation has been, and how applicable ita
provisions are to the daily contracts and practical affairs of mankind. It
bas been affirmed in England, that every line of it was worth a subsidy ;
and uuiform experience shows how difficult it is by new provisions, to
meet every contingency, and silence the tone of sharp, piercing criticism,
and the restless and reckless spirit of litigation.
6 Lord Mansfield. 1 Btrr. 474. Cowp 434. Cb. J. Dallas. 8 7hun*
(on. 678. BeaU v. Guernsey, 8 John*. Rep. 445. Duncan, J. 7 Serg.
tRitule, 80.
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY:
[Part V.
a 2.JI/ion 2)6.
6 ' rtiss v. Pctert, I Greenhaf, 376.
r Barnes v. Freelaad, 6 Term Rtp. 80. Richardson v.aGose, 3 Boi4 Pull. 119.
405
400
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PBrt V.
n S. Tmtch- p. 66.
b Prec. in Ch. 2S.
alFeMy(34t- I .ft*. 166.
407
a 1 Burr. 467.
i Cmop. Rep- 432.
e Haselinton v. Gill, 24 Get. III. 3 Term Rep. 650. note- Jarroao v.
Woolloton, 3 Term Rep. 619.
A 2 Term. Rep. 587.
40*
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
,t
I
I
I
vendee took an absolute bill ofsale to take effect immediately by the face of it, and agreed to leave the goods in the
possession of the vendor for a limited time, such an nbsolute conveyance without the possession, was such a cirumstance per te as made the transaction fraudulent in
B point of law. It was admitted, however, that if the want
of immediate possession be consistent with the deed as it
was in Buckland v. Ronton, and Lord Cadogan v. Kenntt,
and as it is if the deed be conditional, and the vendee is
not to have possession until he has performed the condi
tion, the sale was not fraudulent, for there the possession
accompanied and followed the deed within the meaning
of the rule.
' After the English rule on this subject had been discussled, declared and settled, it was repeatedly held, that an
jabsolute bill of sale of chattels, unaccompanied with pos
session, was fraudulent in law, and void as against credi
tors." The change of possession was required to be sub
stantial and exclusive, and not concurrently with the as
signor. But, on the other jhand, there have been many
exceptions taken, and many qualifications annexed to the
general rule ; and it has become difficult to determine when
the circumstance of possession not accompanying and fol
lowing the deed, be p>r se a fraud in the English law, or
only presumptive evidence of fraud, resting upon the facts
to be disclosed at the trial. It certainly is not any thing
more if the purchaser was not a creditor at the time, and
the goods were under execution, and the transaction noto
rious, and not, in point offact, either clandestine or fraudu*
lent.
In Kidd v Rawlinsonfi goods were purchased on execur
tion by a stranger, and left in possession J t!.c debtor for
41
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
&6. a perc?i tr"Y ,wni* his goods for another's use, and,
e/tept in cases of bankruptcy under the statute of 21 J. I.
Jttr y will be protected from the creditors of the person for
whose use they were supplied." In Steward v. Lombe,b so
late as 1820, the Court of C. B. even questioned very
strongly the general doctrine in Edwards v. Harben, that
actual possession was necessary to transfer the property in
a chattel, and the authority of the case itself was shaken.
The law on this subject is still more unsettled in this:
country than it is in England.
In the Supreme Court of the United States, the doctrine
in Edwards v. Harbtn has been explicitly and fully adopt
ed, and it is declared, that an absolute bill of.sale is itself a
fraud in law, unless possession accompanies and follow s the
deed.c ThisJecisioh, of course, leaves open for discus
sion the distinction taken in that case between a bill of sale
absolute, and one conditional upon its face, and also the
conclusions in the other cases where the continuance of
possession in the vendor is consistent with the deed. The
principle of the decision at Washington has been adopted
in the circuit courts of the United States, and we may con
sider it to be a settled principle in federal jurisprudence.
In pursuance of the rule, if property be abroad, and inca
pable ol ucMil Hl'llllJl V *l I lit! Uflfe, as in the case of a ship
at sea, the possession must be assumed as soon as possible
on the arrival of the vessel in port.**
In Virginia, the same principle has been directly and re
peatedly adjudged to be well settled; and it is declared,
that an absolute bill of sale of personal property, with pos
session continuing in the vendor, is fraudulent per se as to
412
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
413
414
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
fPart V.
41*
416
'
or PERSONAL PROPERTY".
(Tart V.
a 5 Serg. & Raie/e, 285. 5 Conn. Rep. 200b 19 Johns- Rep. 221.
c 3 Cowen, ICS.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
4l7
a The Chief Justice, in giving- his opinion in this case, says, that the
former Chief Justice who delivered the opinion of the Court in Sturtevant
v. Ballard, intended, no doubt, to say, that possession continuing in the
vendor is only prima facie evidence of fraud, and may be explained- I
apprehend, with great respect, that the present Chief Justice is mis
taken in his assumption. The Chief Justice who gave the opioion in
that case in 1812, must have intended to be understood to main
tain, that the fraud in the case of an absolute sale with possession con
tinuing in the vendor, was an inference of law, for the following1 reasons t
1. Because that was the whole drift and purport of his argument and au
thorities ; 2. Because he said, in so many words, that no reason appear
ed in that case for withholding delivery of possession, and ' the sale must,
therefore, be considered, in judgment of law, as fraudulent and void
against the creditor," ard that " fraud was a question of law when there
was no dispute about the facts, and that it was the judgment of law on
facts and intents;" 3. Because he concluded by saying, "a voluntary
sale of chattels, with an agreement, either in or out of the deed, that the
vendor may keep possession, is, except in special cases, and for special
reasons, to be shown to and approved of by the court, fraudulent and void
es against creditors."
1 1 Pickering, 283.
c 2 Barn. St Aid. 134.
Vl. II.
53
18
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
ifthey^djdjtjje^^
vened. But afterwards, in Holmes v. Crane," the court
recede from their former doctrine oii this point, and
they concede, that on an absolute sale or mortgage of
goods, the subsequent possession by vendor or mortgagor,
is only prima Jacie evidence of fraud, and may be explain
ed by proof ; and that a mortgagor of goods may retain
possession until the condition be broken, and that there
must be fraud in fact to make it void. The same relaxed
doctrine was declared in Wheeler v. Train.1' It was there
adjudged, that a debtor in failing circumstances, may con
vey furniture in payment, and stipulate with the creditor
to have a lease of it for a year. The possession by the
vendor, after a sale, wa&oply evidence of fraud to be explained to a jury, aii'fi a debtor m"ayTKT^'agT,^r"m^kean
absolute sale, under an agreement for possession for a
given time, and it would not be fraudper te, but only evi
dence of fraud.
The SupremeCourt of New-Hampshire have established
the same rules of law on this subject as those recently de
clared in Massachusetts and New-York, and they have
vindicated their opinion in a neat and able manner.0 They
insist that the principal cases in England and in this
country, on the other side, are borne down by the current
of opposite authority. The position that devolves the
question of fraud upon the court, requires the opinion to be
formed on a single circumstance, and admits no explana
tion. The other position, which refers the question of
fraud to a jury, looks to the whole transaction, and admits
of every honest apology and explanation. If the vendor
or mortgagor retains possession, no person suffers, un
less a new credit be given, or an old one extended, un
der a mistaken belief that the property remained unsold.
The few cases of that kind which may happen, oughr
not to introduce so stern a rule, as to make such con
veyances void against every description of creditors.
a 2 Pickering, 607.
c Haven r. Low. "
419
420
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a Pic k.tock v. I.ysler, 3 JHaule. <$ Se!w. 371 The King r. Watson,
3 Prite't Exiheq. Rep. 6. U ill v Franklin, 1 Binney, 50?. Henrlricks
v. l.nhiiMon, 2 Juhnt Ch. Rep. 307, 308. It is also said to have been
dcculcd n Connecticut, in 1826. in the case of Catlin v. The Savings
E nk th: t t'ie directors of an insolvent corporation may, equally with
in<'i' 'ul-, Rive preferences by :.--i^iei enl of their effects.
6 V i ':< 7 v 1 axkcll. ". Jl'its. Rrp. 144. Stevens v. Bell. 6 ibid. 339.
c Marbun . Itrooks, 7 Wheatan, 55C. Brooks v. Marburj, 1 1 ibid. 18.
if Brown v. Miuturn, 2 Gallison, 557.
421
tion of the trust for the benefit of the creditors, though they
be not, at the time, assenting and parties to the convey
ance.' The assent of absent persons to an assignment,
will be presumed, unless their disserrt be expressed, if it
be made for a valuable consideration, and be beneficial to
th< mJ'
It is ml nittfil, that the debtor may indirectly* exert s^oercion over the creditors through the influence of hope and
fear, by the insertion of a condition to the assignment,
that the creditors shall not be entitled to their order of
preference unless within a given and reasonable time (for
if no time, or an unreasonable time be prescribed, the
deed is fraudulent ) they execute a release of their debts
by becoming parties to the instrument of assignment con*
taininir such a release, or by the execution of a separate
deed to that effect.,l In Jackson v. Lamas,' there was a
proviso to the assignment, that in case any creditor should
not execute the trust deed, which contained, among other
things, a release of the debts, by a given day, he should
not be entitled to the benefit of the trust deed, and his share
was to be paid back to the debtor It seems to have been
assumed throughout that case, that such a provision would
not affect the validity of the assignment.
Whatever
might have been the understanding in that case, such a
conclusion is not well warranted by the language of the
American cases, and a deed with such a reservation
would be invalid in this country. The debtor mav deprive
the creditor who refuses to accede to his terms, of his prc-
422
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
423
424
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[ParlV'
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
4t&
a Cowp. 395.
* 6 Term Rep. 642.
e Condi/ r. Parsons, 3 Ftiey, 625. n.
<ey, 477.
rf 1 1 Serg. & Route, 86.
Vol. II.
54
Smith y. Clarke, 12 Vt
426
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV-
a 3 Vet y, 620.
6 Hazul v. Dunham, JV. Y, JUayor't Court, July, 1819. Moreuead
t. Hunt, 1 Badger Dev. JV. C- Rep. iu equity, 35.
Lecture XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
iij
a Re-enacted, Laws of JV. K.sess. 10. ch. 44. sec. 1 1. and 15.
b 3 Burr. 1921.
c Hiode v. Wliitehotise, 7 East, 558. Heafli, J. in 1 //. B'nclct. 05.
jbmmerson v. Healis, 2 Taunton, 38. White v. Proctor, 4 Taunlon. ?09.
Kemeys v. Proctor, 3 Ves. Sf Beam. 57. M'Comb v. Wright* 4 Johns.
("ft. Rrp- 659. Clea?es v. Foss, 4 GreenUaf, 1.
428
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY,
[Part V.
Lecturo XXXIX.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
439
a 2 Vern. 203.
6 Goodhart v. Loire, 2 Jnenli Sc Walker, 349.
cLudlowsr. Bowne & Eddy, 1 Johns- Rep. 16. Parker v. M'lver,
1 S. C Eq Rr- 881. Stubbs v. Lund, 7 Mass. Rep. 453. TlieJSt. Joze
Indiano, I Whealon, 212. Wood v. Roach, 2 Dallas, J80. Walter r.
B M Wharton's Dig. tit. Vendor, n. 80. 85. Howall v. Davis and
C. 5 JWitnf. 34.
d SifTken t. Wray, 6 East, 371.
D* Aquela v. Lambert, Amb. 399. Fcise v. Wray, 3 East, 93-
430
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
4S1
432
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
{Part V .
459
434
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V
435
436
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
liECTURE XL.
OF BAILMENT.
Bailment is a delivery of goods in trust, upon a coutra( t7^^rTsiela"l"0r'1lrtj'ifn;if, that the trust shall be duly
executed, and the goods restored by the bailee, as soon
as the purpose of the bailment shall be answered."
There are five aperies of bailment, according to Sir
William Jones, in hi* eon-octToT^jfT^ord Holt's enumera
tion of the different sorts of bailments. (1.) Depositum,
or a naked deposit without reward. (2.) Mandatum, or
commission, which is gratuitous, and by which the manda
tary undertakes to do some act about the thing bailed.
(3.) Commodatum, or loan for us'e without pay, and when
the thing is to be restored in specie. (4.) A pledge, as
when a thing is bailed to a creditor as a security for a debt.
(5.) Luijuiiar-ur hiring for a reward.6 I shall examine
each of them in their order.
I. Of depositum.
This is a bailment of goods to be kept for the bailor,
without a recompense ; and as the bailee_pr depositary de
rives no benefit from the bailment, lie is responsible, if
there be no special undertaking to the contrary, only for
j*
a 2 Black* Com. 45?. Pothier, Twite" du Contral tie DtpH, No. 1.
b .Tints' Enay on the Lau> of Bailment*, p. 27. 1st edit. !790.
4*8
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a Foster v. The Essex Bank, 17 JHasi. Rep. 479. in which tlie doc
trine of bailment was very ably and learnedly discussed.
6 Janet* Euay, p. 9093- Lord Holt, in Coggs v. Bernard, 2 Lord
Raym. 913.
c Year Boot, 8 Edw. II. Fitz. Mr. tit. Detinue, pi. 59. and cited by
Lord Holt in 2 Lord Raym- 914. and in Jonet on Bailment, p. 28.
d Wto&i JntlUutet of the Civil Law, 218.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
439
440
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY;
[Part V.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
*41
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PtrtV.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
443
a May v. Harvey, 13 Eatt, 197. Tlie Code Jfapolerm says, that the
depositary must not give up the thing deposited, encept to the order of
him who deposited it; and if he who made the deposit dies, and there
be several heirs, it must be yielded up to them each according to hii
share and portion; and if the thing deposited Ci>noot be divided, the
heirs must agree among themselves as to the receiving it. Art 1037. 1939.
The Civil Code of Louisitnn has adopted the same provisions ; art.
2920. 2923-, and both those codes leave the inference to be drawn, that
if the thing be indivisible, it cannot safely be delivered to one of two or
more claimants, without their joint agreement or consent.
6 WaixPi Inst, of the Civil Law, 542. Jones on Bailment, 40. 93.
Shlells v. Blacliburne, 1 H. Black*. 158.
.444
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part \\
'' - \ w v
Lecture XL-1
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
44,
b 1 B- Blacks. 1 6$
F PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartY.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
447
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part \r.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
449
edf he must pay for it, for this was a deceit practised upon
wic lender; and nothing would exempt him from this re
'ponsibility but the factthat he had previously disclosed to
his friend the truth of the case, and his disinclination to
hazard his own horse." The borrower is also responsible
for loss by inevitable accident, if he has detained the arti
cle borrowed beyond the time he ought to have returned
it, for the loss is then to be presumed to have arisen from
his breach of duty.6
I have taken these explanations of the degrees of re
sponsibility, in the case of a borrower for use without rewar<l, from Pothier. In Coggs v Bernard, Lord Ch. J.
Holt lays down the same rules precisely ; and he took
them from Bracton, who borrowed them from the civil law,
the great fountain from whence all the valuable principles
oriihe suTTJWt^OnTfese various kinds of bailments have
been extracted. It was reserved, however, for Pothier, to
methodize, vindicate, and illustrate those principles, by a
clearness of analysis which is admirable ; and to shed light
and lustre, by means of his chaste style and elegant taste,
upon this branch of the science of jurisprudence.
IV. OfpMging.
This is a bailment or delivery of goods by a debtor to.his
creditor, to be kept till the debt be discharged. It is the
pignori acceptum of ftbe civil law ; and, according to that
Jaw, the possession of the pledge (ptgnus) passed to the
creditor ; but the possession of the thing hypothecated
(hypotheca) did not.^The pawnee is bound to take ordinary
care, and is answerable fhr ojriinflrvnp.inftct. n nil no more :
for the bailment is beneficial to both the debtor and credi-
4iO
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
451
452
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V,
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
455
454
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
time of the notice and the manner of the sale. The Englisli law, especially in the e<||uijfr courts, is vigimnT^tntT
jea^uTuTTta circumspectionoftne conducToTtrusTeesr
By the lex commissoria at Rome, the debtor and creditor
might agree, that if the debtor did not pay at the day, t lie
pledge should become the absolute property of the creditor.
But a law of Constantine abolished this power, as unjust
and oppressive, and having a growing asperity in prac
tice." Every agreement preventing the right of redemp
tion, in mortgages of chattels as of lands, would, no doubt,
be equally condemned in the English law.
A lien upon a pawn may, by agreerppnt h <-roatnA
extend to cover subsequent advances. This has been considered to be the law in respect to mortgages and judg
ments ; but the power is subject to some qualification, as
respects the rights of third persons. Lord Chancellor
Covvper gave validity and operation to such a mortgage,
as against a subsequent mortgagee, who had notice of the
agreement-appearing on the face of the first mortgage ;c
and in Connecticut it has been justly held, that the mort
gage must contain within itself reasonable notice of the
incumbrances, by stating the nature of those thereafter
to arise, and the manner in which they were to be created,
so that collusion and fraud may, be avoided, and the
exlenTol' the incumbrances ascertained, by the exer
cise of ordinary discretion and diligence.1' Though there
be no express agreement that a pledge for a debt shall be
held as a security for future loans, yet if circumstances
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
455
45G
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V'
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
45?
458
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a 8 Co. 38.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
459
460
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Past Y.
a Dig. 4. 9. 1.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
46t
horses, and selling beer to them, and to none else, has been
held not to be a Winona
public inn." Itai*M^fcijMiigfwi
must be a house kept
open
11* *ar^
publirly for the lodging and entertainment of travellers in
general, for a reasonable compensation., TT a person ietfl
loggings only, and upon a previous contract with every
person who comes, and does not afford entertainment for
the public at large indiscriminately, it in not a common inn.
In Thompson v. Lacy,0 this subject was fully discussed ;
and it was decided, that a house of public entertainment
in London, where piovisions and beds were furnished for
travellers, and all others capable of paying a suitable com
pensation for the same, wa^jjubjhjjjoj^ The owner was
subject to nil the liabilities ofhii innkeeper, even though he
kept no stables, and was not frequented by stage coaches
and wagons from the country, and even though the guest
did not appear to have been a traveller, but to have pre
viously resided in furnished lodgings in the city. A lod^ging^wusek^ejier^as^ne^that made a contract with every
person that came ; iMJt^aj^jnji^iid one of the judges in
that case, is a house, the owner of which holds out, that
he will receive all travellers and sojourners who arc willing
to pay a price adequate to the sort of entertainment pro
vided, and who come in a situation in which they are fit to
be received. Ifa guest applies for a room in an inn forn
purpose of business distinct from his accommodation as a
guest, the particular responsibility docs not extend togoods
lost or stolen from that room.1" Though a Inrr"-1 cannot
exonerate himself by merely handing over a key to his
guest, yet if the guest takes the key, it will be a question
of fact, whether he took it animo custodiendi, so as to ex-r
empt the landlord.
m
a Parkhurst v. Foster, 1 Salk. 387. Carth. 417. S. C.
b 3 Barn. Sf Aid. 283.
c Burgess r. Clements, 4 Maule Sf Selte. 306. Farnwortb v. Paclrwood, 1 HolCt JV. P. 209.
4.62
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY;
fPart V.
a Act for regulating Inns and Taverns, Laws o/JV-T. tew. 24. ch. 164.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
465
4<*4
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
46fi
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
l?art V
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
declared in the same words that carriers and wMermen were subject to lb*
like obligations and duties as tavern keepers, and..thal they were respon
sible for goods intrust, d to them, against loss and damages by (belt or
otherwise, unless tliey could sliovv, th-.it the loss proceeded lfrom_/orM
majeure, or uncontiollahle events. ( ode Napoleon, art. 1929. 1953,
1954. \lSi. 1784. Code Loui, art. 27-.!2. 2725. 2910. 2939.
aTichtiurne v. White, I Sir. 145.
6 Gibbon v. Pa} num. 4 Burr. 2299. Clay r. Willao, 1 //. Blacly.
29H. Bslson v. Donovan, 4 Barn. Ic Aid 21.
c J\lo 'r? case, 12 Co. Smith v. Wright, 1 Caine? Rep. 43d Packard v. Getman, 6 Cowen, 757. and sec also Seltray v. IIolJpway, 1 Lord Raym. 46- Cobban v. Downe, 5 Esp. Rep. 41.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
469
470
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
i
t
i
j
471
a 5 East, 507.
6 4 Price Exch. Rep. 31.
c 5 Barn. Se Aid. 53.
d Ellis v. Turner, 8 TermRep. Sfjl. Berk v. Erans, 17 East, 247fmith v. Hone. 8 Tawi'nn, 141. Bickett v. Willan, 2 Barn. # Aid. 35*.
Batsoa v. Donovan, 4 Barn. ttAld.i1. Garnettv. WiIUd, 5 Barn,
Aid 52. Sleat v. Fagfr, 5 Barn, Aid. 242.
e See Smith v. Horne, a Taunton, 144.
/ Colt v. M'Mecben, 6 Johns. Rep. ICO. Scbiefielto v. Ilanrey, 6
Johns. Rep. 170 Elliott v. Itossc',1. 10 Johns. Rep. 1. Kemp v. Couglitr.v, 11 Joins. Rep. 107/
472
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V-
6 4 Binney, 127.
c 6 Cowcn, 2G6.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
473
474
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V
so.ls navigating tlie high seas as common carriers, to the cases of rob
bery, embezzlement, and actual default of the owner, master, or man
ners, bnt the bill was rejected in the House of Lords. Abbott on Ship
ping, part 3. ch. 4. s. 1 . note c.
a Christt/U Dig. tit. Carrier, n. 5.
b 1 Lord Raym. 646.
c Cotop. 754.
d Rowningr. Goodchild, 3 Will. 443.
7 Cranch, 24?.
Lecture XL.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
475
LECTURE XLI.
OF PRINCIPAL AND AGENT.
The law of principal and agent is of very general in
terest, and incessant application in the commercial world ;
and the rights and duties which belong to that relation
ought to be accurately, as well as universally understood.
And while recommending that title to the attention of the
student, as well as of the practising lawyer, I will give a
summary view of those general principles, which apply at
large to every branch of the subject, and more especially
to agencies that relate to commercial concerns.
(1.) Agency, how constituted*
Agency is founded upon a contract either esjjjn^sjpX.
implied, py wnicii one of Wti jiarlics confines to the other
the management oV some 'business, tol>TtransaTted in his
name, or on his account, and by which the other assumes
to do the business, and to render an account of it. The
authority of the agent may be created by deed, or writing,
or verbally without writing ; and for the ordinary pur
poses of business and coin mcice, the latter is sufficient."
The agency may be inferred from the relation of the par
ties, and the nature of the employment, without proof of
478
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V-
any express appointment." Itis sufficient, that there bsatisfactory evidence of the fact that the principal employ
ed the agent, and that the agent undertook the trust. Thel
extent of the authority of an agent will sometimes be ex-l
tended or varied on the ground of implied authority, ae-t
cording to tlie pressure of circumstances, connected with!
the business with which he is intrustfd.6 If an agent,
however, is to convey real estate, or any interest uTlalld,
or to make livery ol seisin, the appointment must be
*"-:>;"^ TfirnH'-ff a *K" statute of fn
II., and adopted with us ;e and where the conveyance if
required to be by deed, the, mit'"'"'')' '' "**~~">y to ex
ecute it must be commensurate in point of solemnity, and
be by deed also.**
The agency most be antecedently given, or be aubse*
I'iSiiiiiLji^SliiSi' ant* 1,1 tne 'atter case there must bo
some act of recognition. But an acquiescence in the as
sumed agency of another, when the acts of the airent are
brought to the knowledge of the principal, is equivalent
to an express authority,/ By permitting another to hold
himself out to the world as bis agent, the principal adopts
bis acts, and will be held bound to the person who gives
credit thereafter to the other in the capacity of his agent.
Thus, where a person sent his servant to a shopkeeper
for goods upon credit, and paid for them afterwards, and
sent the same servant again to the same place for goods,
and with money to pay for them, and the servant receives
the goods, but embezzles the cash, the master was held
answerable for the goods, for he had given credit to his
a Whitehead v. Tuckett. IS Eait, 400. Hooe v. Oxley, 1 Walk- 19Long v. Colbiirn, ub. tup.
b Judsonv Sturges, b Day, 556.
c Lam o/W. Y. *ess. 10. cb. 44 ic. 10.
d Co. Lilt. 52. a. Horsley v. Rush, cited in 7 Term Rep. 209. Cooper
r. Rankin, 5 Rinney, 613. Plummet* r. Itussel, 2 Bibb. 174. Sedgwick,
J. 5 Matt, litp. 40. Shamburger r. Kennedy, ) Badg. Sf Dec, 1. MelJen, CJ. J. in 2 Greenleaf, 260.
Lecture XLL]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
479
430
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY".
[Part V.
4*1
482
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY;
[Part V-
Lecture XLI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
48S
484
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part Y.
Lecture XLI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
485
486
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
fPait V.
Penn. Rep. tit. Agfent and Factor, art. 2. Burrill v. Phillips, 1 Galliam,
360. Willes, Ch. J. in Scott v. Surman, WiUt*1 Rrp 400. Leverick .
Meigs, 1 Cowen. 645. Greenly Bartlelt. I Oreenleaf, 172.
a Wiltshire v. Sims, 1 Campb. JV. P. Rep- 258.
6 Guy v. Oakley, \3Jokm- Rfj>. 332.
c Messier r. Amery, 1 Yeatet' Rrp. 540. Goodenotr v. Tyler, 7 Man.
Rep. 36.
d Kip v. Bank of N. V< 10 Johns. Rep 63. Garrett v. Cullam, cited
io Scott v. Surman, WilU*' Rep 405. and also by Chambre, J. in 3 But.
f Pul. 490.
A.
Lecture XL1.J
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
487
a
b
c
d
e
485
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XLL]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
489
499
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
Lecture XLI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
491
a The rule that a factor cannot pledge the goods consigned to liim for
sale, even for bonafide advances, in the regular course of commercial
dealing, originated in the case of Patlersnn v. Tank, in S Str. 1 178. which
was a nisiprius decision of Ch. J. Lee; though it has been suggested
that the report oflhat case was inaccurate. In the year 11*23, the me
rits of that rule were discussed in the (iritish 1'arliament. and a statute
passed in July of that year, for the better protection of (tie property of
merchants and others, in their dealings with fai'ors and agents, by which
a factor was authorized to pledge, to a certain extent, the goods of his
principal. A great deal may be propel ly said against the principle of
the rule; and with the exception of England, it is contrary to the policy
of all Ihe commercial nations of Europe. On Ihe European continent,
possession constitutes title to moveable property, so far as to secure bona
fide purchasers, and persons rn:d;ing advances of money or credit on
the pledge of property by the lawful possessor. The late Ch. Justice of
Pennsylvania, in l.amsatl v. Lippinrott, 6 Serp. Sf Raw/. 38b. while he
admitted the establishment of the rule that a factor cannol pledge, and
that it advanced the commercial credit of the countiv, declared it to
be an extremely hard rule, tie said il would seem reasonable, that the
loss should fall on him who put it in the power of ihe factor to deceive in
nocent persons who dealt witli him bonafide ; and that there was some
inconsistency in the law, which declares that a factor cannot pledge Ihe
goodsof his principal, and yet permits a purchaser who bats the (roods,
supposing them to be the property of ihe factor, to set off a dcht due from
the factor to himself ; for the principle of caveat emptor, which avoids.
492
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
(PartV.
Every contract made with an agent in relation to the buitieR III'lliL BgnMj^ia a contract with the principal y pro^ vidcd the agent acts in the name of his principal.yThe
party so dealing with the agent is hound to his principal,and the principal, and not the agent, is hound to the party.
It is a general rn|g itandingonstrongfoundations, and perevery system of jurisprudence, that where an agent
is duly constituted, anil names his principal, and contracts
in his name, the principal is responsible, and not the agent.0
The agent becomes personally liable, only when the principal is not known, or where there is n^rfi^BTJgnETT|)rih- '
cipal, or where the agent becomes liable by an undertaking
in his own name, .or when^he^exc^cj^
makes the contract in beliaVf ofhis'prmTipSl^inJ discloses
his name at the time, he is not personally liable, not even
though he should take a note for the goods sold payable to
the pledge, would forbid the sot oiT. An effort was made in this state io
the winter of 18-25, to relax the rule, to the extent, at least, of the
British statute ; and though the application was enforced by a memorial
from the New-YorU Chamber of Commerce, and by the strong- recom
mendation of Governor Clinton in his message, it failed of success.
There ma; be something in the commercial policy of the rule alluded to
by the English judges ; but it would seem lo be n conclusiou of superior
justice and wisdom, that a factor or commercial agent, clothed by his
principal with the apparent symbols of ownership of property, should be
deemed the true owner in respect to third persons, dealing with him fairly
in the course of business, as purchasers or mortgagees, and under an ig
norance of his real character.
a Emi rigon, Traite des Assurances, torn. 2, 465. Lord Erskine, 1?
Petty, 352. Davis v. M> Arthur, 4 Creenleaf, 82. note.
b Thomas v. Bishop, 2 Sir. 955 Leadbitter v. Fairow, 5 Maul. 6c Seltc.
945. Dusenbury v. Ellis, 3 Johns. Cat. 70. Parker, Ch. J. Stackpole
v. Arnold, 1 1 Matt. Rep 29. and Hastings r. Lovering, 2 Pickering, 231.
Hampton v. Speckengale, 9 Serg. 6c Rawl. 212.
Lecture XLL]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
4S
494
F PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XLI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
495
496
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Wture XLI.J
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
4Q7
498
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Psrt V-
a
b
e
d
Lecture XLI-]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY;
' 499
too
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XLI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
501
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XLL]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
503
504
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
Lecture XL1.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
305
SOS
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part Y-
Lcurture XLI.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
507
pentons dealing with him under the power, hare any certaW evidence short of a finding by inquisition of the date of
me mind of the principal ; and, in case of partnerships, it
would at least require a decree in chancery to dissolvethe
partnership on the ground of lunacy."
4. The authority of an agent. Hp-tarminon
\fa fjfH|Ju^_
his principal ; and1 a joint authority to two terminates by th^
net ritm.6
death ol orlfeV' This is the general and a settled doctrine.
By the civil law, and the law of those countries which have
adopted the civil law, the acts of an agent do^cjLvti ajlf[e
after the death of the principal, and befote notice* af^tiia
death, are valid and binding^ But tnis equitable principle
doe^notpr^airfrTt^^
; anftTuTTfe^tErorTn?1
pruicipalisan^Tn'sTai^^
the authority ot the agent, unless the power be coupTed
with anTntercsT" Lven n warrantTTatfimTeTHioconfesg
judgment, liiougli it bo not revocable by the act of the
party, is, nevertheless, revoked by his death; and all that
the courts can do is to permit the creditor to enter up judg-
508
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
LECTURE XLII.
OF THE HISTORY OF MARITIME LAW.
Before we enter more at large upon the subject of
commercial and maritime law, it may tend to facilitate
and enlighten our inquiries, if we take a brief view of the
origin, progress, and successive improvements of this
branch of legal learning. This will accordingly be at
tempted in the present lecture.
The marine law of_j0i^IInU,(LSi&t&8,. If_ the same a^
the marine law of Europe. Ins not _t h e Jaw ofa jm r1 1cular country^ butane genc-nil law of nations ; and Cord
MansSeT3 applied to its ui^eTsal'atfoptVon'^lhe'' expressive
language of Cicero, when speaking of the eternal laws of
justice : Ntc erit alia lex Roma, alia Alhanis ; alia nunc,
alia poilhac ; ttd et omncs gentes, et omni tempore una lex et
tempiterna, et immortalis contineliit."
In treating of this law, we refer to its pacific character
as the law of commerce and navigation in time of peace.
The respective rights of belligerents and neutrals in time
of war constitute the code of prize law, and that forms a
distinct subject of inquiry, which bus already been suffi
ciently discussed in the former volume. When Lord
Mansfield mentioned^the law of merchants as bei'iigir
breach of pulHtc "law, it was becuuse that law did not rest
essentially for its character and authority on the positive
institutions and local customs of any particular country,
310
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[PartV.
Lecture XLII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
511
514
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V,
Lecture XLIL]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
SU
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
tPa"vF*
law, affecting almost every interest and relaiion in human
life, we meet with only a few brief and borrowed details
on the interesting subject of maritime affairs. But those
titles atone for their brevity, by their excellent sense and
practical wisdom. They contain the elements of those
Very rules which have received the greatest expansion and
improvement in the maritime code9 of modern nations.
Whatever came from the pens of such sages as Papinian,
Paul, Julian, Laheo, Ulpian, and Sctrvola, carried with it
demonstrative proofs of the wisdom of their philosophy,
and the elegance of their taste."
a It may be useful to cast the eye for a moment over the most ma
terial principles and provisious in (be Eoman law, relative to maritime
rights.
The title Niutce, Ctwjiones. Stnhularii, vt rectpta restiluant, {Dig. 49.) related to the responsibility of mariners, inn, and stable keepers;
ami we meet lice with the principle which pervades the maritime lav
ol all modern nations for it has been as generally adopted, and as widely
difl'usf d, as the ftonian law. Masters of vessels were held responsible,
as common carriers, for every loss happening to property confided to
them, though the \i>a^ happened without their fault, unless it proceeded
from some piril of the sea or inevitable accident, nisi ei quid damno
fatmi miWail. vrl vis major itriitiizerit- L'lpian placed the rule on the
ground ot public policy, as it was necessary to confide largely in the
bonesi- of such people, who have uncomn'on opportunity to commit
secret and impenetrable frauds. The master was responsible for the acts
of Ins seamen, and each joint owner of the vessel was answerable in pro
portion io bis interest.
Tbe title Furli ndvertui JVautas, Cauponu, Slnhulariot, (Dig. 47. 5.)
related to the same subject, and the owner and master were there
in held answerable for thefts committed by any person employed under
then, in the ship. But the law distinguished between thefts by mariners
and b> passengers, and the master was not liable for thefts by the latter.
The title De Exeriitoria actione (Dig. 14. 1.) treated of the re
sponsibility of sl.ip owners for the acts of the master. This, said
TJlpiau, was a very reasonable and useful provision, for as the shipper
was obliged to deal with masters of vessels, it was right that tbe
SIS
owner, who appointed the master, and held him out to tlie world as an
agent worthy of confidence, should be bound by his acts. This responsi
bility extended to (very thing that the master did in pursuance of his
power and duty as master. It extended to his contracts tor wages, pro
visions, and repairs for the ship, and for the loan of money for the use of
the ship. The owner was not responsible, except for acts done hj the
master in his character ofmaster ; hut if he took up money for the me of
the ship, and afterwards converted it to his own use, the owner was hound
to respond, for he first gave credit to the master A case of occessitt for
the money must have existed ; and in that case only, the power to bor
row came within the master's general authority The lender was obliged
to make out at his peril, the existence of such necessity ; so then he
was entitled to recover of the owner, without being obhg d to prove the
actual application of the money to the purposes of t'ie vo x age. Ho
b
master went beyond his ordinary powers, as for instance, ,, ,: . ..as Hp.
pointed to a vessel employed to ca> ry goods of a narticnlir les'i iprion,
as hemp or vegetables, and he took 01 board shafts ofg._uiteor marble,
the owner was not answerable for his acts; for there were vessels des
tined on purpose to carry such articles, and other- to carry pasteiifera
and some to navigate on rivers, and others to go to sea. If several own
ers were concerned in the appointment of the master, they were each
responsible insolido for his contracts.
The title De I.rge Rhoilia de Jarlu (Dig 14. 5.) is the celebrated
fragment of the Hhodian law on the subject of jettison.
It was ordained, that if goods were thrown overho ird, or a mast cut
away in a storm, or other common danger, to lighten and save the vessel,
and the vessel be saved by reason of the sacrifice, .11 concerned must
contribute to bear tbe lo-s. as it was incurred voluntarily fprtl.e [food of
all, and it was extremely equitable that all should rateahl> bear (lie burden according to the value oftheir properly. There were some reasona
ble limitations to the rule. It did not apply to tbe pmont of the free
passengers on board, for the body of a freeman was said not to be suscep
tible of valuation ; and it did not apply to the provisions which were used
516
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V
Lect'-reXLII.l
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
3lf
518
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a Casaregis, who was one of the most competent and learned of com
mercial lawyers, says, io one of bis di' courses, (Dit. 213. n. 1?.) that
the Contolato had, in maritime matters, by universal custom, the force
of law among' all provinces and nations.
6 There has been a translation of two chapters on prize by Dr. Rob
inson, and of some chapters on the ancient consular or commercial
courts, and on re-captures, inserted in the 2d, 3d, and 4th volumes of
Hall's American Line Journal.
w.c Byhkershoeck, in his Quajxtiontt Jur. Pub. lib. 1. ch. S. praises the
justice ol some of its rules, while he, at the same time, speaks disrespect
fully and unjustly of the work at large, as afarrago legum nauticaruiH.
Lecture XLIL]
Of PERSONAL PROPERTY.
520
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
r See Walton v. Ttie Ship Ntptune, 1 Peters' Adm. Dec. 14?. Natterstrom v. Ship Hazard, in the District Court of Massachusetts, 2 HaWs
L. J- 359. Sims v. Jackson, 1 Peters' Adm Dec. 157. all of which
were decided on the authority of the laws of Oleron. Cleirac published
in the middle of the seventeenth century, (he laws of Oleron, in his work
entitled, Les Us el Coutumes de la Mer. with an excellent commentary.
They were translated into English, with the notes of Cleirac, considera
bly abridged, and published in the collection of sea laws made in the
reign of Queen Anne. They have likewise been published in this coun
try in the Appendix to the first volume of Peters' Admiralty Decision'/
from the copy in the Sea Laws. There is. likewise, annexed to these
reports, a copy of the laws of Wisbuy, of the Hanse Towns, and of tba
marine ordinances of Lewis XIV., and they have given increased inter
est to a valuable publication.
Lecturo XLII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
521
522
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY;
[Part V.
Lecture XLII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
523
524
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
who nsstimed the task of legislators, and compiled the ordinance, are unknown to fame ; and though the event be
of so recent a date, and occurred at the most polished and
literary era in French history, neither letters, nor grati
tude, nor national vanity, have been able to rescue their
naiees from oblivion.'^
Valin supposed ^he^hail discovered the source of the ma
te riaTs^TTne^rd^nanceiii n curious and vast compilation
of ancient maritime laws, among the manuscript collections
in the library of the Duke of Penthievre. The compilatinn consisted of the liliodian and Roman law ; of the Consolato, and of the use und customs of the sea ; of the otd'i-
Lecture XLII ]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
525
In addition to these <yeniflIsLfidg_of^commercial legislation. there have been a number of local ordinances of
distinguished credit, relating to nautical mallei's" BM Ilia* 1
ririe insurance, such as the ordinances of Barcelona, Flo
rence, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Copenhagen, and Konigsberg. There have also been several treatises on nautical
subjects by learned civilians in the several countries of
Europe, which are of great authority and reputation.0
I The English nation never had any general and solemn,
ly enacted code of maritime law, resembling those which
have been mentioned as belonging to the other European
nations. This deficiency was supplied, not only by several
extensive private compilations," but it has been more
eminently and more authoritatively supplied, by a series
of judicial decisions, commencing about the middle of the
last century. Those decisions have shown^ to the admi
ration of the worlo7 the masterly acquaintance of the Eng
lish judiciary with the principles and spirit of commer
cial policy and general jurisprudence, and they have af
forded undoubted proofs of the entire independence, im
partiality and purity of the administration of justice. The
tablished, by the inspiration of the greatest wan in History, the HeroPacifirator of Europe, while he was hearing his triumphant eaglet to the
hanks of Die astonished fistula ; and. jet, in contradiction to much of
this adulation and incense, the code iv ill be found, upon sober examina
tion, to be essentially a republication, in a new form, of the marine or
dinance of Louis XIV.. digested under the orders of Colbert, and illus
trated by the commentaries ofValin.
a Those ordinances are collected by Magens, in the second volume of
\ih Essiy on Insurances; and Mr. Gushing, in a learned note to big
translation of Puthier on Mirilime Contracts of Letting to Hire, publish
ed at Boston in
has alluded to the mast distinguished writers in
Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Germany, and Sweden, on
maritime law.
6 Among Mie private treatises, the most distinguished arc those of
Malynes, Molloy, Bcawes, Postlewaite, Magens, WesUct, Millar, Park,
Marshall, Abbott, Chitty, Holt, Lanes, and Benecke.
526"
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.
a 2 Burr. 882.
Lecture XLII.]
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
527
528
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[Part V.