Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

196

CHARTER

CHARITY

promotion of philanthropicand humanitarian purposes. The meaning of the word "charily," in its legal sense, is different from the signification which it ordinarily bears. In its legal sense, it includes not only gifts for the benefit of the poor, but endow ments for the advancement of learning, or institu tions for the encouragement of science and art, and, it is said, for any other useful and public pur pose. 25 Ohio St. 243. Charity, in its widest sense, denotes all the good affections men ought to bear towards each other; in a restricted and common sense, relief of the poor. 9 Ves. 399. Charity, as used in the Massachusetts Sunday law, includes whatever proceeds from a sense of moral duty or a feeling of kindness and humanity, and is intended wholly for the purpose of the relief or comfort of another, and not for one's own bene fit or pleasure. 118 Mass. 195,197. CHARHE OF LEAD. A quantity con sisting of 36 pigs of lead, each pig weighing about 70 pounds. CHART. The word "chart," as used in the copyright law, does not include sheets of paper exhibiting tabulated or methodically arranged information. 24 Fed. Rep. 632. CHARTA. In old English law. A charter or deed; an instrument written and sealed; the formal evidence of conveyances and contracts. Also any signal or token by which an estate was held. The term came to be applied, by way of eminence, to such documents as procec ded from the sovereign, granting liberties or privileges, and either where the recipient of the grant was the whole nation, as in the case otMagna Charta, or a public body, or private individual, in which case it corresponded to the modern word "charter." In the civil law. Paper, suitable for the inscription of documents or books; hence, any instrument or writing. See Dig. 32, 52, 6; Nov. 44, 2. CHARTA COMMUNIS. In old English law. A common or mutual charter or deed; one containing mutual covenants, or involv ing mutuality of obligation; one to which both parties might have occasion to refer, to establish their respective rights. Bract. Ms. 336, 34. CHARTA CYROGRAPHATA. In old English law. A chirographed charter; a char ter executed in two parts, and cut through the middle, (scinditur per medium,) where the word "cyrographum," or "chirograph urn," was written in large letters. Bract, fol. 34; Fleta, lib. 3, c. 14, § 3.

CHARTA DE FORESTA. A collection of the laws of the forest, made in the 9th Hen. III., and said to have been originally a part of Magnet Charta. Charta de non ente non valet. Co. Litt. 36. A charter concerning a thing not in existence avails not. CHARTA DE UNA PARTE. A deed poll. Charta non est nisi vestimentum do nationis. A deed is nothing else than tiie vestment of a gift. Co. Litt. 36. CHARTA PARTITA. (Literally, a deed divided.) A charter-party. 3 Kent, Comm. 201. CHARTS LIBERTATUM. These are Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta. Chartarum super fidem, mortuis tes tibus, ad patriam de neoessitudine re currendum est. Co. Litt. 36. The wit nesses being dead, the truth of charters must of necessity be referred to the country, i. 0., a jury. CHARTE. A chart, or plan, which mar iners use at sea. CHARTE-PARTIE. Fr. In French marine law. A charter-party. CHARTEL. A challenge to a single combat; also an instrument or writing be tween two states for settling the exchange of prisoners of war. CHARTER, t>. In mercantile law. To hire or lease a vessel for a voyage. A "char tered" is distinguished from a "seeking" ship. 7 East, 24. CHARTER, n. An instrument emanating from the sovereign power, in the nature of a grant, either to the whole nation, or to 1 class or portion of the people, or to a colon] or dependency, and assuring to them certaii rights, liberties, or powers. Such was th "Great Ciiarter" or "Magna Charta," an< such also were the charters granted to certai of the English colonies in America. Se Story, Const. § 161. An act of the legislative department < government, creating a corporation, is calif the "charter" of the corporation. In old English law. The term denott a deed or other written instrument und seal; a conveyance, covenant, or contract. In old Scotch law. A disposition ma by a superior to his vassal, for something

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