Montes Pietatis

or MONTS DE PIete. Institutions established by public authority for lendii;ig money upon pledge of goods. In these establishments a fund is provided, with suitable warehouses, and all necessary accommodations. They are managed by directors. When the money for which the goods pledged is not returned in proper time, the goods are sold to reimburse the institutions. They are found principally on the continent of Europe. With us, private persons, called "pawnbrokers," perform this office, — sometimes with doubtful fidelity. See Bell, Inst. 5. 2. 2. •

Public pawnbroking establishments; institutions established by government, in some European countries, for lending small sums of money on pledges of personal property. Im France they are called “montis de picté.” according as one or another of the following varieties of months is intended: Astronomical, containing one-twelfth of the time occupied by the sun in through ea the entire zodiac. Calendar, civil, ar solar, which is one of the months in the Gregorian calendar,—January, February, Mareh, ete.,—-which are of unequal length. Zunar, being the period of one revolution of the mvon, or twenty-eight days.