Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/388

 372 are ditinguihed from natives, decending to farther particulars when they come in coure.

alien born may purchae lands, or other etates: but not for his own ue; for the king is thereupon entitled to them. If an alien could acquire a permanent property in lands, he mut owe an allegiance, equally permanent with that property, to the king of England; which would probably be inconitent with that, which he owes to his own natural liege lord: beides that thereby the nation might in time be ubject to foreign influence, and feel many other inconveniences. Wherefore by the civil law uch contracts were alo made void : but the prince had no uch advantage of forfeiture thereby, as with us in England. Among other reaons, which might be given for our contitution, it eems to be intended by way of punihment for the alien's preumption, in attempting to acquire any landed property: for the vendor is not affected by it, he having reigned his right, and received an equivalent in exchange. Yet an alien may acquire a property in goods, money, and other peronal etate, or may hire a houe for his habitation : for peronal etate is of a tranitory and moveable nature; and, beides, this indulgence to trangers is neceary for the advancement of trade. Aliens alo may trade as freely as other people, only they are ubject to certain higher duties at the cutom-houe: and there are alo ome obolete tatutes of Henry VIII, prohibiting alien artificers to work for themelves in this kingdom; but it is generally held they were virtually repealed by tatute 5 Eliz. c. 7. Alo an alien may bring an action concerning peronal property, and may make a will, and dipoe of his peronal etate : not as it is in France, where the king at the death of an alien is entitled to all he is worth, by the droit d'aubaine or jus albinatus, unles he has a peculiar exemption. When I mention thee rights of an alien, I mut be undertood of alien-friends only, or uch whoe countries are in peace with ours; for Rh