FAMILY MEETINGS. Family councils, or family meetings in Louisiana, are meetings of at least five relations, or in default of relations of minors¹ or other persons on whose interest they are called upon to deliberate, then of the friends of such minors or other persons.

2. The appointment of the members of the family meeting is made by, the judge. The relations or friends must be selected from among those domiciliated in the parish in which the meeting is held; the relations are selected according to their proximity², beginning with the nearest. The relation is preferred to the connexion in the same degree, and among relations of the same degree, the eldest³ is preferred. The under tutor must also be present. 6 N. S. 455.

3. The family meeting is held before a justice of the peace, or notary⁴ public, appointed by the judge for the purpose. It is called for a fixed⁵ day and hour, by citations⁶ delivered at least three days before the day appointed for the purpose.'

4. The members of the family meeting, before commencing their deliberations, take an oath before the officer before whom the meeting is held,, to give their advice according to the best of their knowledge, touching⁷ the interests of the person on whom they are called upon to deliberate. The officer before whom the family meeting is held, must make a particular process-verbal of the deliberations, cause the members of the family meeting to sign it, if they know how to sign, he must sign it himself, and deliver a copy to the parties that they may have it homologated. Civil Code of Louis. B. 1, tit. 8, c. 1, s. 6, art. 305 to 311; Code Civ. B. 1, tit. 10, c. 2, A. 4.

FAMOSUS LIBELLUS. Among the civilians⁸ these words signified that species of injuria which corresponds nearly to libel or slander⁹.

FANEGA, Spanish law. A measure of land, which is not the same in every province. Diccionario de la Acad.; 2 White's Coll. 49. In Spanish America, the fanega consisted of six thousand and four hundred square varas or yards. 2 White's Coll. 138.

FARE. It signifies a voyage or passage; in its modern application, it is the money paid for a passage. 1 Bouv. Inst. n. 1036.

FARM, estates. A portion or tract¹⁰ of land, some of which is cultivated. 2 Binn. 238. In parlance¹¹, and for the purpose of description in a deed, a farm means: a messuage with out-buildings, gardens, orchard¹², yard, and land usually occupied with the same for agricultural purposes; Plowd. 195 Touch. 93; 1 Tho. Co. Litt. 208, 209, n. N; but in the English law, and particularly in a description in a declaration in ejectment, it denotes a leasehold¹³ interest for years in any real property, and means anything which is held by a person who stands in the relation of tenant¹⁴ to a landlord. 6 T. R. 532; 2 Chit. Pl. 879, n. e.

2. By the conveyance¹⁵ of a farm, will pass a messuage, arable¹⁶ land, meadow, pasture, wood, &c., belonging to or used with it. 1 Inst. 5, a; Touch. 93; 4 Cruise, 321; Bro. Grants, 155; Plowd. 167.

3. In a will, the word farm may pass a freehold, if it appear that such was the intention of the testator. 6 T. R. 345; 9 East, 448. See 6 East, 604, n; 8 East, 339.