BLOTTER, mer. law. A book among merchants, in which entries of sales, &c.;are first made.

2. This book, containing the original entries, is received in evidence, when supported by the oaths or affirmations of those who keep it. See Original entry.

BOARD. This word is used to designate all the magistrates¹ of a city or borough², or all the managers or directors of any institution; as, the board of aldermen; the board of directors of the Bank of North America. The majority of the board have in general the power to perform the acts of the whole board, but sometimes they are restrained by their charters, and it requires a greater number to perform certain acts.

BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY. A used in Vermont. This board is composed of the selectmen and justices of the peace of their respective towns. They are authorized³ to abate⁴ taxes, and the like.

BOCKLAND, Eng. law. The name of an ancient allodial tenure⁵, which was exempt⁶ from feudal⁷ services. Bac. Ab. Gavelkind, A Spelman's English Works, vol. 2, 233.

BODY. A person.

2. In practice, when the sheriff returns cepi corpus to a capias, the plaintiff may obtain a rule, before special bail⁸ has been entered, to bring in the body and this must be done either by committing the defendant⁹ or entering special bail. See Dead Body.

BODY POLITIC¹⁰, government, corporations. When applied¹¹ to the government this phrase signifies the state.

2. As to the persons who compose the body politic, they take collectively the name, of people, or nation; and individually they are citizens, when considered in relation to their political rights, and subjects as being submitted to the laws of the state.

3. When it refers to corporations, the term body politic means that the members of such corporations shall be considered as an artificial person.

BOILARY. A term used to denote the water which arises from a salt well, belonging to one who has no right to the soil. Ejectment may be maintained for it. 2 Hill, Ab. c. 14, §5; Co. Litt. 4 b.

BONA, goods and chattels¹². In the Roman law, it signifies every kind of property, real, personal, and mixed, but chiefly it was applied to real estates; chattels being chiefly distinguished¹³ by the words, effects, movables, &c. Bona were, however, divided into bona mobilia, and bona immobilia. It is taken in the civil law in nearly the sense of biens (q. v.) in the French law.