GREAT CATTLE. By this, term, in the English law, is, meant all manner of beasts except sheep and yearlings. 2 Rolle's Rep. 173.
GREAT CHARTER. The name of the charter granted by the English King John, securing to the English people their principal liberties; magna charta. (q. v.)
GREAT LAW. The name of an act of the legislature of Pennsylvania, passed at Chester, immediately after the arrival of William Penn, December 7th, 1682. Serg. Land Laws of Penn. 24, 230.
GREE, obsolete1. It signified satisfaction; as, to make gree to the parties, is, to agree with, or satisfy them for, an offence done.
GREEN WAX, Eng. law. The name of the estreats of fines, issues, and amerce ments in the exchequer2, delivered to the sheriff under the seal of that court, which is made with green wax.
GROS BOIS, or GROSSE BOIS. Such wood as, by the common law or custom, is reputed timber. 2 hist. 642.
GROSS. Absolute; entire, not depending on another. Vide Common.
GROSS ADVENTURE. By this term the French lay writers signify a maritime4 loan, or bottomry. (q, v.) It is so called because the lender exposes his money to the perils5 of the sea; and contributes to the gross or general average. Poth. h. t.; Pard. Dr. Com . h. t.
GROSS AVERAGE, mar3. law. That kind of average which falls on the ship, cargo6, and freight, and. is distinguished7 from particular average. See Average.
GROSS NEGLIGENCE8. Lata culpa, or, as the Roman lawyers most accurately9 call it) dolo proxima, is, in practice, considered as equivalent to dolus or fraud itself, and consists, according to the best interpreters, in the omission10 of that care which even inattentive and thoughtless men never fail to take of their own property. Jones on Bailments, 20. It must not be confounded, however, with fraud, for it may exist consistently with good faith and honesty of intention, according to common law authorities.
GROSS WEIGHT. The total weight of goods or merchandise, with the chests, bags, and the like, from which. are to be deducted11 tare12 and tret.
GROUND RENT, estates. In Pennsylvania, this term is used to signify a perpetual rent issuing out of some real estate. This rent is redeemable13 where there is a covenant14 in the deed that, before the expiration15 of a period therein named, it may be redeemed16 by the payment of a certain sum of money; or it is irredeemable, when there is no such agreement; and, in the latter case, it cannot be redeemed without the consent of both parties. See 1 Whart. R. 837; 4 Watts17, R. 98; Cro. Jac. 510; 6 Halst. 262; 7 Wend. 463; 7 Pet. 596; 2 Bouv. Inst. n. 1659, and note, and Emphyteosis.
GROUNDAGE, mar. law. The consideration paid for standing18 a ship in a port. Jacobs, Dict. h. t., Vide Demurrage19.
GUARANTEE, contracts. He lo whom a guaranty is made.
2. The guarantee is entitled to receive payment, in the first place, from the debtor20, and, secondly21, from the guarantor. He must be careful not to give time beyond that stipulated22 in the original agreement, to the debtor, without the consent of the guarantor; the guarantee should, at the instance of the guarantor, bring an action against the principal for the recovery of the debt. 2 Johns. Oh. R. 554; 17 Johns. R. 384; 8 Serg. & Rawle, 116; 10 Serg. & Rawle, 33; 2 Bro. C. C. 579, 582; 2 Ves. jr. 542. But the mere23 omission of the guarantee to sue the principal debtor will not, in general, discharge the guarantor. 8 Serg. & Rawle, 112; 3 Yeates, R. 157; 6 Binn. R. 292, 300.