Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/27

 Ch. 1. diturbances and quarrels would frequently arie among individuals, contending about the acquiition of this pecies of property by firt occupancy, the law has therefore wiely cut up the root of diffenion, by veting the things themelves in the overeign of the tate; or ele in his repreentatives, appointed and authorized by him, being uually the lords of manors. And thus the legilature of England has univerally promoted the grand ends of civil ociety, the peace and ecurity of individuals, by teadily puruing that wie and orderly maxim, of aigning to every thing capable of ownerhip a legal and determinate owner.