PRE-EMPTION, intern. law. The right of preemption is the right of a nation to detain the merchandise of strangers passing through her territories or s...
PRECIPUT, French law. An object which is ascertained by law or the agreement of the parties, and which is first to be taken out of property held in co...
PRECEDENTS. the decision of courts of justice; when exactly in point with a case before the court, they are generally held to have a binding authority...
PRECARIOUS RIGHT. The right which the owner of a thing transfers to another, to enjoy the same until it shall please the owner to revoke it. 2. If the...
PRAGMATIC SANCTION, French law. This expression is used to designate those ordinances which concern the most important object of the civil or ecclesia...
PRAEDIUM RUSTICUM, civil law. By this is understood all heritages whicb are not destined for the use of man's habitation; such, for example, as la...
POWER OF ATTORNEY. Vide Letter of attorney, and 1 Mood. Or. Cas. 57, 58. POYNING'S LAW, Engl. law. The name usually given to an act which was pass...
POUNDAGE, practice. The amount allowed to the sheriff, or other officer, for commissions on, the money made by virtue of an execution. This allowance ...
POT-DE-VIN, French law. A sum of money frequently paid, at the moment of entering into a contract, be=yond the price agreed upon. 2. It differs from a...
POSTMASTER GENERAL. The chief officer of the post office department of the United States. Various duties are imposed upon this officer by the acts of ...