BAR, practice. A place in a court where the counsellors and advocates stand to make their addresses to the court and jury; it is so called because formerly1 it was closed with a bar. Figuratively the counsellors and attorneys at law are called the bar of Philadelphia, the New York bar.
2. A place in a court having criminal jurisdiction2, to which prisoners are called to plead to the indictment3, is also called, the bar. Vide Merl. Repert. mot Barreau, and Dupin, Profession d Avocat, tom. i. p. 451, for some eloquent4 advice to gentlemen of the bar.
BAR, contracts. An obstacle or opposition5. 2. Some bars arise from circumstances, and others from persons. Kindred within the prohibited degree, for example, is a bar to a marriage between the persons related; but the fact that A is married, and cannot therefore marry B, is a circumstance which operates as a bar as long as it subsists6; for without it the parties might marry.
BAR FEE, Eng. law. A fee taken time out of mind by the sheriff for every prisoner who is acquitted7. Bac. Ab. Extortion.
BARBICAN. An ancient word to signify a watch-tower. Barbicanage was money given for the support of a barbican.
BARGAIN AND SALE, conveyancing, contracts. A contract in writing to convey lands to another person; or rather it is the sale of a use therein. In strictness it is not an absolute conveyance8 of the seizin, as a feoffment. Watk. Prin. Conv. by Preston, 190, 191. The consideration must be of money or money s worth. Id. 237.
2. In consequence of this conveyance a use arises to a bargainee, and the statute9 27 Henry VIII. immediately transfers the˜20legal estate and possession to him.
3. A bargain and sale, may be in fee, for life, or for years.
4. The proper and technical words of this conveyance are bargain and sale, but any other words that would have been sufficient to raise a use, upon a valuable consideration, before the statute, are now sufficient to constitute a good bargain and sale. Proper words of limitation must, however, be inserted. Cruise Dig. tit. 32, c. 9; Bac. Ab. h. t. Com. Dig. h. t.; and the cases there cited; Nels. Ab. h. t. 2 Bl. Com. 338.
5. This is the most common mode of conveyance in the United States. 4 Kent, Com. 483; 3 Pick. R. 529; 3 N. H. Rep. 260; 6 Harr. & John. 465; 3 Wash. C. C. Rep. 376; 4 Mass. R. 66; 4 Yeates, R. 295; 1 Yeates, R. 828; 3 John. R. 388; 4 Cowen s R. 325; 10 John. R. 456, 505; 3 N. H. Rep. 261; 14 John. R. 126; 2 Harr. & John. 230; 2 Bouv. Inst. n. 207 7 8.
BARGAINEE. A person to whom a bargain is made; one who receives the advantages of a bargain.
BARGAINOR. A person who makes a a bargain, and who becomes bound to perform it.