No change was made or efi'ectedby the American Revolution, except that the Independent Sovereign State of New York succeeded to the position of the King as ultimately entitled to all the land within its borders. On the 20th of February 1787, before the United States had an existence, before the Convention of Independent States out of which this Union proceeded, had been chosen, and two years and twelve days before the Constitution of the United States formed by that convention went into efiect, the Legislature of the State of New York, passed an " Act concerning Tenures " of a remarkable character. It would take too long to give its genesis here, interesting as it would be. It was passed ten years after the formation of the Constitution of the State. Its first section (there are six altogether) establishes and admits Manor grants, but calls the Lord of a Manor " the Chief Lord." It is as follows : " Be it Enacted by th e People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by Authority of the same. That it shall forever hereafter be lawful for every Freeholder to give, sell; or alien the Lands and Tenements whereof he or she is, or at any time hereafter shall be seized in Fee Simple, or any Part thereof, at his or her Pleasure, so always that the Purchaser shall hold the Lands or Tenements, so given, sold or aliened, of the Chief Lord, if there be any, of the same Fee, by the Same Services and Customs by which the Person or Persons, making such Gift, Sale or Alienation, before held the same Lands or Tenements.