THE following LECTURES were delivered during the present month to the Students of the Working Men's College, Great Ormond Street, London. The author's object was humble: it was merely to give such a concise and simple sketch of the main outlines of a portion of our law, now receiving much public attention, as would interest non-professional men, to whom even the admirable class books of Mr. Joshua Williams are unknown. February, 1973. CONTENTS. LECTURE I. Necessity of some knowledge of the history of the land laws— Manner of holding land in England before the Conquest-Effect of the Conquest on the holding of land-Introduction of the Feudal System-Fundamental principle of the land lawsTenure-History and description of tenures-Different classes of estates Freeholds-Copyholds-Leases for terms of yearsVarieties of freehold estates-Estate for life PAGE .7 LECTURE II. Estates in tail-Their history-Recoveries-Barring entailsRights of the owner of an estate in tail-Estate in fee simpleIts history-History of the power of alienation of land inter vivos -Of the power of devising land by will-Rights of an owner in fee-Descent of estates of inheritance-Rights of husband and wife-Marriage settlements, their object and effect 20 |