Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

rOST-NUPTIAL SETTLEM^flx

917

POSTHUMOUS CHILD

statute of Marlbridge, 52 Hen. III. c. 30, which provided that when the number of alienations or descents exceeded the usual degrees, a new writ should be allowed, with out any mention of degrees at all. POSTAGE. The fee charged by law for carrying letters, packets, and documents by the public mails. POSTAGE STAMP. A ticket issued by government, to be attached to mail-matter, and representing the postage or fee paid for the transmission of such matter through the public mails. POSTAL. Relating to the mails; pertain ing to the post-office. POSTAL CURRENCY. During a brief period following soon after the commence ment of the civil war in the United States, when specie change was scarce, postage stamps were popularly used as a substitute; and the first issues of paper representatives of parts of a dollar, issued by authority of congress, were called "postal currency." This issue was soon merged in others of a more permanent character, for which the later and more appropriate name is "fractional cur rency. " Abbott. POSTEA. In the common-law practice, a formal statement, indorsed on the nisi prius lecord, which gives an account of the proceedings at the trial of the action. Smith, Act. 167. POSTERIORES. This term was used by the Romans to denote the descendants in a direct line beyond the sixth degree. POSTERIORITY. This is a word of comparison and relation in tenure, the cor relative of which is the word "priority." Thus, a man who held lands or tenements of two lords was said to hold of his more an cient lord by priority, and of his less ancient lord by posteriority. Old Nat. Brev. 94. It has also a general application in law con sistent with its etymological meaning, and, as so used, it is likewise opposed to priority. Brown. POSTERITY. All the descendants of a person in a direct line to the remotest gen eration. 8 Bush, 527. POSTHUMOUS CHILD. One born after the death of its father; or, when the Csesarean operation is performed, after that of the mother.

after the marriage of his daughter, by which he engages to make a provision for her, would be termed a "post-nuptial agreement" Brown. POST-NUPTIAL SETTLEMENT. A settlement made after marriage upon a wife or children; otherwise called a "voluntary" settlement. 2 Kent, Comm. 173. POST OBIT BOND. A bond given by an expectant, to become due on the death of a person from whom he will have property. A bond or agreement given by a borrower of money, by which h^ undertakes to pay a larger sum, exceeding the legal rate of inter est, on or after the death of a person from whom he has expectations, in case of surviv ing him. 2 Ves. ST., 125. POST-OFFICE. A bureau or depart ment of government, or under governmental superintendence, whose office is to receive, transmit, and deliver letters, papers, and other mail-matter sent by post. Also the of fice established by government in any city or town for the local operations of the postal system, for the receipt and distribution of mail from other places, the forwarding of mail there deposited, the sale of postage stamps, etc. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. The name of one of the departments of the ex ecutive branch of the government of the United States, which has charge of the trans mission of the mails and the general postal business of the country. POST-OFFICE ORDER. A letter of credit furnished by the government, at a small chaige, to facilitate the transmission of money. POST PROLEM SUSCITATAM. Aft er issue born, (raised.) Co. Litt. 196. POST ROAD, or ROUTE. A road, route, or line of travel, designated by law to be pursued by contractors and conveyances in the transportation of the mails. POST-TERMINAL SITTINGS, tings after term. See SITTINGS. Sit POST TERMINUM. After term, or post-term. The return of a writ not only after the day assigned for its return, but aft er the term also, for which a fee was due. Cowell. POST, WRIT OF ENTRY IN. In English law. An abolished writ given by

Archive CD Books USA