Beyond Sea

(Lat. extra, or trans mare;) BEYOND THE SEAS, (extra maria;) BEYOND THE FOUR SEAS, (extra quatuor maria.) Words of frequent occurrence in English statutes, treatises and reports; originally suggested, no doubt, by the geographical position of England, and more peculiarly appropriate to the whole island of Great Britain. See Four Seas. The phrase "beyond the seas" occurs, in particular, in the statute of limitations, 21 Jac. I. c. 16, and is said to have been introduced on the union of the crowns, in place of the phrase "out of the realm," which previously had always been used.

1 W. Bl. 286.

It does not seem, however, to have always been literally construed, and at the present time, no part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, nor the isles of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney or Sark, nor any islands adjacent to any of them, being part of the Queen's dominions, are deemed beyond the seas.

Holthouse.

Wharton's Lex. voc.

Limitation

The same phrase occurs in the statutes of limitations of several of the United States, which have generally been framed after the English statute, and without much regard, in this particular, to strict geographical propriety. In most of these, it has been construed to mean, "out of the state," or "without the limits of the state."

3 Wheaton's R. 541. 11 Id. 361. 14 Peters' R. 145.

In Pennsylvania, on the other hand, it has been construed to mean "without the limits of the United States," which approaches the literal signification.

2 Dallas' R. 217. 1 Yeates' R. 329, S. C. McLean, J., 6 Peters' R. 291, 300. Angell on Lim. 211.