Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/312

 296 a manner as to leave half the word on one part and half on the other. Deeds thus made were denominated yngrapha by the canonits ; and with us chirographa, or hand-writings ; the word cirographum or cyrographum being uually that which was divided in making the indenture: and this cutom is till preerved in making out the indentures of a fine, whereof hereafter. But at length indenting only has come into ue, without cutting through any letters at all; and it eems at preent to erve for little other purpoe, than to give name to the pecies of the deed. When the everal parts of an indenture are interchangeably executed by the everal parties, that part or copy which is executed by the grantor is uually called the original, and the ret are counterparts: though of late it is mot frequent for all the parties to execute every part; which renders them all originals. A deed made by one party only is not indented, but polled or haved quite even; and is therefore called a deed-poll, or a ingle deed.

II. are in the next place to conider the requiites of a deed. The firt of which is, that there be perons able to contract and be contracted with, for the purpoes intended by the deed; and alo a thing, or ubject matter to be contracted for; all which mut be expreed by ufficient names. So as in every grant there mut be a grantor, a grantee, and a thing granted; in every leae a leor, a leee, and a thing demied.

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 * the deed mut be founded upon good and ufficient conideration. Not upon an uurious contract ; nor upon fraud or colluion, either to deceive purchaors bona fide, or jut and lawful creditors ; any of which bad coniderations will vacate the deed. A deed alo, or other grant, made without any conideration, is, as it were, of no effect; for it is contrued to enure, or to be effectual, only to the ue of the grantor himelf.