Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/175

 Ch. 11.

ITHERTO we have conidered etates olely with regard to their duration, or the quantity of interet which the owners have therein. We are now to conider them in another view; with regard to the time of their enjoyment, when the actual pernancy of the profits (that is, the taking, perception, or receipt, of the rents and other advantages ariing therefrom) begins. Etates therefore, with repect to this conideration, may either be in poeion, or in expectancy: and of expectancies there are two orts; one created by act of the parties, called a remainder; the other by act of law, and called a reverion.

I. etates in poeion, (which are ometimes called etates executed, whereby a preent interet paes to and reides in the tenant, not depending on any ubequent circumtance or contingency, as in the cae of etates executory) there is little or nothing peculiar to be oberved. All the etates we have hitherto poken of are of this kind; for, in laying down general rules, we uually apply them to uch etates as are then actually in the tenant's poeion. But the doctrine of etates in expectancy contains ome of the nicet and mot abtrue learning in the Englih law. Thee will therefore require a minute dicuion, and demand ome degree of attention. Rh