Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/416

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E are next to conider the title to things peronal, or the various means of acquiring, and of loing, uch property as may be had therein: both which coniderations of gain and los hall be blended together in one and the ame view, as was done in our obervations upon real property; ince it is for the mot part impoible to contemplate the one, without contem-plating the other alo. And thee methods of acquiition or los are principally twelve: i. By occupancy. 2. By prerogative. 3. By forfeiture. 4. By cutom. 5. By fucceion. 6. By marriage. 7. By judgment. 8. By gift. 9. By contract. 10. By bankruptcy. 11. By tetament. 12. By adminitration.

A, firl, a property in goods and chattels may be acquired by occupancy: which, we have more than once remarked, was the original and only primitive method of acquiring any property at all; but which has ince been retrained and abridged, by the poitive laws of fociety, in order to maintain peace and harmony among mankind. For this purpoe, by the laws of England, gifts, and contracts, tetaments, legacies, and adminitrations have been introduced and countenanced, in order to transfer and continue that property and poeion in things peronal, which Rh