of her body, even those by a former husband, although the property was solely acquired by the second husband; but should the wife die before her husband without issue, the personal property remains wholly with the husband; and in case she leaves children, they, at the age of fourteen, are entitled to, and may sue for their respective shares of the personality. These relative rights may, notwithstanding, be altered or annihilated by any settlement or agreement in writing which may be made by the parties, either before or after marriage. The husband is not only subject to debts contracted by his wife before marriage, but also to debts contracted by her for necessaries after the marriage, except she elopes from him, or has a separate maintenance, and then he is not chargeable. But if the husband without cause discards his wife, he will be liable to pay for necessaries provided for her; for, by the moral and positive laws of all civilized countries, he is bound to maintain her. As to crimes and misdemeanors, if the husband commits a felony, by which his part of the personal goods is forfeited to the lord, yet the wife shall not forfeit her part thereof, and. vice versa if the wife commits felony; although in the latter case the husband becomes accessory by receiving his guilty wife, in consequence of which rigorous law, he is equally liable to all the penal consequences, unless he adopts the alternative of discarding her. The next great domestic relation to be mentioned is that of parent and child. In the Isle of Man children arrive at the age of majority when they have completed fourteen years, so far as relates to personal property, to the pos session of which they are then entitled; and at this period the legal power of the parent or guardian ceases (except with regard to marriage), and the child may dispose of himself and his effects at pleasure, and, may sue for assets in the ecclesiastical court; at this age he may also be sued for any debts contracted by him; but he must attain the age of twenty-one years before he is entitled to the possession of real property, or can recover the same by suit in the common law courts. of By an ordinance of 1585," The deemsters, with the advice of the Twenty-four Keys, give for law, that it is not lawful for any overseer (or guardian) to sell the cottage or farm-ground any infant for any longer term than during his minority, that is to say, until he be fourteen years old, except in case of extremity, that is, when there are no other goods left to pay debts, or bring up the children, and that all other friends refuse to bring them up. In this case it is lawful for the overseer to set or sell at his pleasure, and not otherwise." With respect to a guardian, he has a complete interest and authority in the estate of the ward during the continuance of his power and trust; he therefore may receive the rents and profits for the heir's use, and may lease during the minority, and bring an action of trespass in his own name. By the Manks law a parent may by will appoint a guardian for the child during its mino G rity, and when this is not done, the chancellor, on petition, has authority to appoint him, as to real property, until the ward attains the age of twenty-one, and as to personal effects, until the age of fourteen years *. * Appen. Children. |