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CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
SECTION I.-OF LAWS IN GENERAL.
Definition of law-Law of nature-Law of nations-Municipal law-
Regular forms of government-The British Constitution-Duty of
the supreme power to make laws-The several parts of every law.
SECTION II.-OF THE LAWS OF ENGLAND.
Early laws traditional-Alfred's Dom-boc-Laws of Edward the Con-
fessor-Unwritten or common law-Particular customs-Peculiar
laws-Civil and canon law-Written or statute law
PAGE
1
7
THE LAWS OF ENGLAND.
BOOK THE FIRST.-OF THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS.
CHAPTER I.
OF THE ABSOLUTE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS.
The English liberties-Right of personal security-Right of personal
liberty-Right of property-Securities for the enjoyment of these
rights
CHAPTER II.
OF THE PARLIAMENT.
Origin of parliament-Manner and time of assembling-Its constituent
parts-Its laws and customs-Its privileges-Laws and customs of
the Lords of the Commons: Money bills-Qualifications of electors,
and of members--Proceedings at elections-Method of making laws
-Adjournment-Prorogation-Dissolution
15
23
CHAPTER III.
OF THE SOVEREIGN AND HIS TITLE.
The crown hereditary-Title defeasible by act of parliament-Historical
view of the succession-Revolution of 1688-The Act of Settlement 40
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.
The Queen Consort-Dowager-The Prince of Wales
CHAPTER V.
OF THE ROYAL COUNCILS.
Parliament The Peers-The Privy Council-Its executive and legislative
duties The Judicial Committee
50
52
CHAPTER VI.
OF THE SOVEREIGN'S DUTY.
To govern according to law; to execute judgment in mercy; and to
maintain the established religion
CHAPTER VII.
OF THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE.
Sovereignty-Cannot be sued-Perfection, the king can do no wrong-
Perpetuity, the king never dies-Prerogative to send and receive
ambassadors To make peace and war-As generalissimo-As the
fountain of justice-And of honour-And as head of the church
54
56
CHAPTER VIII.
OF THE ROYAL REVENUE.
I. Ordinary: - Custody of temporalities of bishops - First-fruits and
tenths-Wine licenses-Mines -Treasure trove
Estrays-For-
feitures and Escheats- -II. Extraordinary :-Land-tax-Malt-tax
-Property and income-tax-Customs-Excise Post-office-Stamp
duties Succession Duties-Inhabited house duty-Assessed taxes-
Duty upon offices and pensions
CHAPTER IX.
OF SUBORDINATE MAGISTRATES.
The sheriff-The coroner-Justices of the peace-The constable-The
police force-The highway surveyor-Overseers and guardians of the
poor-The Poor Law Board.
67
76
CHAPTER X.
OF THE PEOPLE, WHETHER ALIENS, OR DENIZENS, OR NATIVES.
Allegiance, natural or local-Who are aliens-Denizens-Naturalization
CHAPTER XI.
OF THE CLERGY.
Archbishops and bishops-Dean and chapter-Archdeacons-Rural deans
-Parsons and vicars-Curates-Church wardens-Parish clerks and
sextons
83
86
CHAPTER XII.
OF THE CIVIL, MILITARY, AND MARITIME STATES.
-
I. Civil: Duke Marquis-Earl-Viscount — Baron-Knight-Esquire
-Gentleman-Yeoman.-II. Military: Militia-Army-Articles
of War - Yeomanry - Volunteers.- -III. Maritime: Navy
Articles of the Navy
93
CHAPTER XIII.
OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR PRIVATE RELATIONS.
I. Master and servant-Domestics-Apprentices-Labourers-Artificers
-Seamen-Factors and brokers-Wages-Truck Act- -II. Husband
and wife-Contract of marriage-How made-How dissolved-Its
legal consequences.- -III. Parent and child-Legitimate children-
Their rights and duties-Bastards.-IV. Guardian and ward-
Several kinds of guardians-Jurisdiction of Court of Chancery—
Incidents of infancy
99
CHAPTER XIV.
I. OF CORPORATIONS.
I. Corporations in general-Aggregate or sole-Ecclesiastical or lay—
Civil or eleemosynary-How created-Their powers, privileges, and
disabilities-How visited and how dissolved
IL-MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
The Municipal Corporations Reform Act-Its objects-The freemen-The
list of electors The town-council-Its powers and duties-Stipendiary
magistrates-Recorder-Local boards
III. TRADING CORPORATIONS.
The joint-stock principle—Limited liability-Registered companies—Dis-
solution and winding up of these associations
111
116
118
BOOK THE SECOND.-OF THE RIGHTS OF THINGS.
OF PROPERTY IN GENERAL.
Origin of property-Occupancy-Origin of rights of succession
OF REAL PROPERTY.
Definition of lands, tenements, and hereditaments:-Corporeal heredita-
ments or land Incorporeal hereditaments - Advowsons- Tithes
-Commons-Ways-Offices -
---
Dignities
Franchises-Corodies-
121
Annuities-Rents
125
OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.
Origin of feuds-Oath of fealty-Qualities of feuds-Ancient English
tenures-Knight-service and its consequences-Aids-Relief-Primer
seisin-Wardship-Knighthood-Marriage-Fines for alienation-
Escheat-Origin of scutages-Abolition of military tenures
OF THE MODERN ENGLISH TENURES.
Grand serjeanty-Petit serjeanty—Burgage· Gavelkind-Incidents of
socage Pure villenage-Manors-Book-land and folk-land-Copy-
hold-Tenancy in ancient demesne-Frankalmoign
FREEHOLD ESTATES.
Definition of freehold-Tenancy in fee-simple-Heirs-Qualified fees-
Conditional fees or entails-Origin of common recoveries-and of
fines-Tenancy for life-Its incidents-Tenant in tail after pos-
sibility of issue extinct-Tenant by the courtesy-Tenancy in dower
-Jointures
131
139
145
OF ESTATES LESS THAN FREEHOLD.
I. Estates for years-Origin of long leases-Emblements.-
-II. Estates
-III.
153
at will Notice to quit-Copyholds — Enfranchisement.-
Estates at sufferance