keepers living in the State, for boats which they use in conveying, from a landing in the State, passengers and goods across a navigable river to a landing in another State.1 Any person who invades the rights of the owner of a ferry franchise by running a ferry himself, is liable for any damages he causes the owner, and may be restrained from a continuance. But, probably, the courts would not restrain the operation of a ferry demanded by public convenience simply because the rightful owner of the franchise neglects or refuses to use it. Such franchise does not include the carrying of merchandise without the presence of the owners; this is the business of a common carrier, and may be done without interference with such franchise. The grant of a franchise may be perpetual.2 SEC BRIDGE; CARRIER, Common; COMMERCE; FRANCHISE, 1; LICENSE, 3; NUISANCE; TOLL, 2; TONNAGE; Land held of a superior, on condition of rendering him service. Opposed to allodium, the absolute or ultimate property, which continued to reside in the superior.4 See ALLODIAL. A tract of land held by a voluntary and gratuitous donation, on condition of fidelity and certain services.5 The constitution of feuds originated in the military policy of the Celtic nations, a policy which was continued in their acquisitions after the fall of the Roman empire. To secure those acquisitions, large districts of land were allotted by the conquering general to his superior officers, and by them, in smaller parcels, to the inferior officers and most deserving soldiers. These allotments were called feods, feoda, feoffs, feus, fiefs, fieus, and fees - conditional stipends or rewards. The condition annexed was, that the possessor should do service faithfully, at home and in war, to him by whom they were given; for which purpose he took the oath of fealty (q. v.), and for a breach of this condition and oath, by not performing the stipulated service or by deserting the lord in battle, the lands were to revert to him who granted them. Allotments, thus acquired, mutually engaged such as accepted them to defend them; and, as they all sprang from the same right of conquest, no part could subsist independently of the whole; wherefore, all givers as well as all receivers were mutually bound to defend each other's possessions. But as that could not be done effectually in a tumultuous, irregular way, government, and, to that purpose, subordination, was 1 Wiggins Ferry Co. v, East St. Louis, 107 U. S. 365, 370 (1882), Woods, J. 2 Mayor of New York v. Starin, 106 N. Y. 1, 9 (1887), cases. L. fides, faith, and Teut. ead, odh, or od, property, estate in land, or, vieh, cattle, property; i. e., land held on pecuniary consideration: A. S. feah, cattle. 4 [2 Bl. Com. 105. * Wallace v. Harmstad, 44 Pa. 499 (1863). 2 Bl. Com. 45-46. necessary. Every receiver of lands was therefore bound, when called upon by his benefactor, or the immediate lord of his feud or fee, to do all in his power to defend him. Such benefactor or lord was likewise subordinate to and under command of his immediate benefactor or superior; and so upward to the prince or general himself; and the several lords were also reciprocally bound, in their respective gradations, to protect the possessions they had given.1 Feudal; feodal. Relating to a feud or feuds: as, feudal services or tenures, the feudal law or system. Feudalism. The feudal system; the principles and constitution of feuds. Feudalize. To reduce to feudal tenure. Feudary. Held by or concerning feudal tenure: also, the tenant of a feud. Feudatory; feudatary. A feudal proprietor, or person who received a feud. Feudist. One versed in feudal law. Feudal system. A system of military tenure of landed property, adopted by the general assembly of the principal landholders of the realm (Brittany) for self-protection. Prevailed from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries, attaining maturity under the Conqueror-10661087. Something similar had been in use among the Saxons. The fundamental maxim was, all lands were originally granted by the sovereign, and are, therefore, held mediately or immediately of the crown. The grantor was the proprietor or lord; the king was "lord paramount; "his immediate tenants were "lords mesne" - tenants in capite, in chief; their tenants were "tenants paravail: " they made profit (avail) out of the land. At first, grants were held at the will of the lord; then, for a certain period; next, by the grantee and one or more sons; about 1000 A. D., they became hereditary. Ceremonies observed were: presentation of the prospective tenant; the grant - dedi et concessi, I have given and granted; corporal investiture-putting a robe on the tenant, before witnesses; homage or manhood-professing to "become his (the lord's) man of life, and limb and earthly honor." The service to be rendered was called the rent. See DELIVERY, 1. The grant was made upon the personal ability of the grantee to serve in war, and do suit at court. Hence, he could not alien, nor exchange, nor devise, nor encumber, without consent of the lord. For those reasons, also, women and monks were never made grantees. The grantor assumed to protect the grantee in his enjoyment of the land, and was to supply other land of equal value if the tenant was deprived of the grant. The services were: free-such as a freeman or soldier might perform; or base-fit for one of servile rank. In quantity and time they were also certain or uncertain. 12 Bl. Com. 45-46.