ALLOCATION, Eng. law. An allowance upon account in the Exchequer¹; or rather, placing or adding to a thing. Eucy. Lond.

ALLOCATIONE FACIENDA. Eng. law. A writ² commanding that an allowance be made to an accountant, for such moneys as he has lawfully³ expended⁴ in his office. It is directed to the lord treasurer⁵ and barons⁶ of the exchequer.

ALLOCATUR, practice. The allowance of a writ; e. g. when a writ of habeas corpus is prayed for, the judge directs it to be done, by writing the word allowed and signing his name; this is called the allocator⁷. In the English courts this word is used to indicate the master or prothonotary's allowance of a sum referred for his consideration, whether touching⁸ costs, damages, or matter of account. Lee's Dict. h, t.

ALLODIUM estates. Signifies an absolute estate of inheritance, in coutradistinction to a feud⁹.

2. In this country the title to land is essentially¹⁰ allodial, and every tenant¹¹ in fee simple has an absolute and perfect title, yet in technical language his estate is called an estate in fee simple, and the tenure¹² free and common socage. 3 Kent, Com. 390; Cruise, Prel. Dis. c. 1, 13; 2 Bl. Com. 45. For the etymology¹³ of this word, vide 3 Kent Com. 398 note; 2 Bouv. Inst. n. 1692.

ALLONGE, French law. When a bill of exchange, or other paper, is too small to receive the endorsements¹⁴ which are to be made on it, another piece of paper is added to it, and bears the name of allonge. Pard. n. 343; Story on P. N. 121, 151; Story on Bills, 204. See Rider.

ALLOTMENT. Distribution by lot; partition. Merl. Rep. h. t.

TO ALLOW, practice. To approve; to grant; as to allow a writ of error, is to approve of it, to grant it. Vide Allocatur. To allow an amount is to admit or approve of it.

ALLOWANCE TO A PRISONER. By the laws of, it is believed, all the states, when a poor debtor¹⁵ is in arrest in a civil suit, the plaintiff is compelled to pay an allowance regulated by law, for his maintenance and support, and in default of such payment at the time required, the prisoner is discharged. Notice must be given to the plaintiff before the defendant¹⁶ can be discharged.

ALLOY¹⁷, or ALLAY¹⁸. An inferior metal, used with gold. and silver in making coin or public money. Originally, it was one of the allowances known by the name of remedy for errors, in the weight and purity of coins. The practice of making such allowances continued in all European mints after the reasns, upon which they were originally founded, had, in a great measure, ceased. In the imperfection of the art of coining, the mixture of the metals used, and the striking of the coins, could not be effected with, perfect accuracy. There would be some variety in the mixture of metals made at different times, although intended to be in the same proportions, and in different pieces of coin, although struck by the same process and from the same die. But the art of coining metals has now so nearly attained¹⁹ perfection, that such allowances have become, if not altogether, in a great measure at least, unnecessary. The laws of the United States make no allowance for deficiencies of weight. See Report of the Secretary of State of the United States, to the Senate of the U. S., Feb. 22, 1821, pp. 63, 64.

2. The act of Congress of 2d of April, 1792, sect²⁰. 12, directs that the standard for all gold coins of the United States, shall be eleven parts fine to one part of alloy; and sect. 13, that the standard for all silver coins of the United States, shall be one thousand four hundred and eighty-five parts fine, to one hundred and seventy-nine parts alloy. 1 Story's L. U. S. 20. By the act of Congress, 18th Feb. 1831, 8, it is provided, that the standard for both gold and silver coin of the United States, shall be such, that of one thousand parts by weight, nine hundred shall be of pure metal, and one hundred of alloy; and the alloy of the silver coins shall be of copper²¹, and the alloy of gold coins shall be of copper and silver, provided, that the silver do not exceed one-half of the whole alloy. See also, Smith's Wealth of Nations, vol. i., pp. 49, 50.