LETTER OP LICENSE¹, contracts. An instrument or writing made by creditors³ to their insolvent⁴ debtor⁵, by which they bind⁶ themselves to allow him a longer time than he had a right to, for the payment of his debts and that they will not arrest or molest⁷ him in his person or property till after the expiration⁸ of such additional time.

LETTER OF MARQUE AND REPRRISAL, War. A commission granted by the government to a private individual, to take the property of a foreign state, or of the citizens or subjects of such state, as a reparation for an injury committed by such state, its citizens or subjects. A vessel⁹ loaded with merchandise, on a voyage to a friendly port, but armed for its own defence in case of attack by an enemy, is also called a letter of marque. 1 Bouly-Paty, tit. 3, s. 2, p. 300.

2. By the constitution, art. 1, s. 8, cl. 11, congress has power to grant letters of marque and reprisal¹⁰. Vide Chit. Law of Nat. 73; 1 Black. Com. 251; Vin. Ab. Prerogative¹¹, N a; Com. Dig. Prerogative, B 4; Molloy, B. 1, c. 2, s. 10; 2 Wooddes. 440; 6 Rob. Rep. 9; 5 Id. 360; 2 Rob. Reb. 224. And vide Reprisal.

LETTER missive, Engl. law. After a bill has been filed against a peer or peeress, or lord of parliament, a petition is presented to the lord chancellor¹² for his letter, called a letter missive, which requests the defendant¹³ to appear and answer to the bill. A neglect to attend to this, places the defendant, in relation to such suit, on the same ground as other defendants¹⁴, who are not peers, and a subpoena¹⁵ may then issue. Newl. Pr. 9; 2 Madd. Ch. Pr. 196; Coop. Eq. Pl. 16.

LETTER of RECFALL. A written document addressed by the executive of one government to the executive of another, informing the latter that a minister sent by the former to him, has been recalled.

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION, com. law. An instrument given by one person to another, addressed to a third, in which the bearer is represented as worthy¹⁶ of credit. 1 Bell's Com. 371, 6th, ed.; 9 T. R. 51; 7 Cranch, Rep. 69; Fell on Guar. c. 8; 6 Johns. R. 181; 13 Johns. R. 224; 1 Day's Cas. Er 22; and the article Recommendation.

LETTER OF RECREDENTIALS. A document delivered to a minister, by the secretary of state of the government to which he was accredited¹⁷. It is addressed to the executive of the minister's country. This is in reply to the letter of recall.

LETTERS CLOSE, Engl. law. Close letters are grants, of the king, and being of private concern, they are thus distinguished¹⁸ from letters patent.

LETTERS AD COLLIGENDUM BONA DE FUNCTI, practice. In default of the representatives and creditors to administer to the estate of an intestate, the officer entitled to grant letters of administration, may grant to such person as he approves, letters to collect the goods of the deceased, which neither make him executor nor administrator¹⁹; his only busness being to collect the goods and keep them in his safe custody²⁰. 2 Bl. Com. 505.

LETTERS PATENT. The name of an instrument granted by the government to convey a right to the patentee; as, a patent for a tract² of land; or to secure to him a right which he already possesses, as a patent for a new invention or discovery; Letters patent are a matter of record. They are so called because they are not sealed up, but are granted open. Vide Patent.