The latter part of section 329 is material.] So Sheppard says (a), "Proviso, ita quod, and sub conditione, of their own nature make the estate conditional." If this had been a conveyance of a freehold interest, it would have been impossible to contend that the estate was not conditional. It will, perhaps, be said, that the same rule does not apply to a lease for years. But that which would work a forfeiture of a freehold, would, à fortiori, destroy an estate for years. This is expressly laid down in Co. Litt. 204, a (b). Nor can it make any difference whether the instrument creating the estate for years is under seal or not, for a condition may be by parol. Littleton says, s. S65, "But of chattels real, as of a lease for years, &c., a man may plead that such leases or grants were made upon condition, without shewing any writing of the condition." [Holroyd, J In old authors" writing" means a deed.] Several instances of conditions in instruments not under seal are mentioned in Viner (c). So in Plowd. 142 (d). [Littledale, J. Littleton, s. 331, is most material as to the necessity for a clause of re-entry. Holroyd, J. Where there are words of condition, and not of limitation, the right of re-entry would follow of course; but if these are words of limitation they would not operate without an express power of reentry. This is the clause in Litt. s. 329, which appeared to me to be material. Littledale, J. "Upon condition," is different from "it is conditioned" (e). If it had been "upon condition," there could have been no doubt.] "Ad "quod si contingat redditum prædictum a retro fore in parte vel in toto, quod tunc bene licebit for the feoffor and his heirs to enter, &c." This is a deed upon condition. (a) Touchstone, 120. (b)" But for the avoyding of a lease for yeares such precise words of condition are not so strictly required as in case of freehold and inheritance. For if a man by deed make a lease of a manor for ycares, in which there is a clause, 0. (c) 5 Vin. Abr. 67, Condition, (d) Argument of Catline, Serjt., in Browning v. Beston. (e) "To condition," is defined by Johnson, “to make terms, to 1828. DOE D. WATT. 1828. DOE 0. WATT. erudiendum" makes a condition (a). "Conditioned" must mean subject to a condition, particularly where they refer to a condition in the beginning. Any words by which the intention of the parties appears are sufficient, Butler v. Wegge (b). Here it is shewn to be, that defendant should have a lease subject to a condition. [Bayley, J. By" stipulate" and "agree," they seem to mean the same thing. Must not "conditioned and agreed" be understood to be used in the sense of " agreed?" (c)] Jeremy, contrà. Every condition ought to be created by the words of the grantor. Lord Cromwell's case (d). Here is only one party. But supposing the words to be the words of both, they are not sufficient to create a condition. Lord Coke (e) puts four clauses, and says, that "quod si contingat" requires further words of re-entry. Even" sub conditione" is not always sufficient. A condition should be for the benefit of the party stipulating. It must operate to destroy the whole estate, or it cannot operate at all. Corbet's case(f). Cowper v. Andrews (g). Conditions cannot take effect by piecemeal or pedetentim. A condition cannot be created but by deed. 5 Vin. Abr. 69. stipulate;" and cites from Ra- pulate" and "condition" would have been used in a lax and improper sense, and as equivalent to the term " agree." In this sense, indeed, the word "stipulate" is often used; though in strictness it relates to the act of the promisee in exacting and accepting the promise, promittenti assentire. (a) Plowd. 142, arg. And see (c) Vide ante, 697 (e). In Machel and Dunton's case (a), where a lessor devised lands to his lessee for a further term, yielding such rents and performing such covenants as the lessee held under by the former lease, the Court said that this could not make a condition, for a condition is a thing odious in law, which shall not be created without sufficient words. If this had been a lease, it would have been open to the plaintiff to have raised the point, but here the defendant is to take on lease. [Bayley, J. It is not " to have a lease of," but "to take on lease."] Supposing a condition to have been broken, the lessor of the plaintiff has waved the breach. [Bayley, J. It is rather a licence than a waver.] Cur, adv. vult. BAYLEY, J., now delivered the judgment of the Court. This was an ejectment brought upon the ground of a breach of a condition. Two questions arose; first, whether the agreement between the parties contained a condition or not, or whether there was any condition; and, secondly, whether the plaintiff had not destroyed all right in himself to insist upon and to say that there had been a breach of the condition, because nothing had been done except under his sanction and with his concurrence. Upon the argument, the Court felt very strongly that the latter question ought to have been presented to the consideration of the jury; and therefore, if there was a condition in the case, there ought to be a new trial; but if the agreement did not raise a condition, then, liberty having been reserved at the time of the trial to enter a nonsuit, a nonsuit ought to be entered (b). The question, therefore, is, whether there was a condition or not. The parties stood in the relation of landlord and tenant; and there was a memorandum of agreement made between George Watt, the defendant, and the lessor of the plaintiff, by which the defendant, in consideration of the rent and conditions (b) Vide ante, 246. (a) 2 Leon. 33. 1828. DOE v. WATT. 1828. DOE V. WATT. Then you come thereinafter mentioned, was to have part and parcel of the 66 In this case it was said at the commencement of it, that 1828. DOE 0. WATT. |