A view most tersely summed up by Sir Henry Maine, " our modern English conception of absolute property in land is really descended from the special proprietorship enjoyed by the Lord, and more anciently by the tribal chief, in his own Domain." "Manors," Sir William Blackstone, tells us "are in substance as ancient as the Saxon Constitution, though perhaps differing a little in some immaterial circumstances from those which exist at this day ; just as we observed of feuds, that they were partly known to our ancestors, even before the Norman Conquest."'

Originating before the feudal system itself, that system when it became fully developed and consolidated in England under its Norman Kings, gave its own coloring and imparted its own features to the manor land-system of the England of the Saxons.

The impression is very common, especially in America, that the Manor system is purely of feudal origin. Writers who have referred to the New York manors, as a rule, describe them as the same as the

feudal manors of England. Not aware that manors have not been created in England since 1290, not aware that the law of England at the time of the wresting of New Netherland from the Batch, prohibited the existence in the New Province of JVeiv York of feudal Manors, they have indulged, and do indulge, in a great deal of fine, and sometimes indignant, writing on this subject, which had, and has, no real basis whatever.

The word ' iManor ' is an English corruption of the French word, ' Manoir,' a habitation, or mausi&n, in which the owner of land dwelt permanently ; and that is derived from the Latin verb ' Maneo,' to remain, to abide in a place, to dwell there. In Latin a Manor was termed ' Alanerium' vvhich signifies the same as the French ' Manoir.' It has, however, been stated to be a synonym of ' Manurium,' because it was labored by handy work,* ' Manas ' being the Latin for 'hand:' but this signification is very doubtful.