Predial Servitude

See "Praedial Servitude." PRE-Ei VlPTION.

In international law. The right of pre-emption is the right of a nation to detain the merchandise of strangence of purchase. 1 Chit. Com. Law, 103; 2 Bl. Comm. 287. This right is sometimes regulated by treaty. In that which was made between the XJnited States and Great Britain, bearing date the 19th day of November, 1794, ratified in 1795, it was agreed (article 18), after mentioning that the usual munitions of war, and also naval materials, should be confiscated as contraband, that "whereas the difficulty of agreeing on precise cases in which alone provisions and other articles not generally contraband may be regarded as such renders it expedient to provide against the inconveniences and misunderstandings which might thence arise, it is further agreed that whenever any such articles^ so being contraband according to the existing laws of nations shall for that reason be seized, the same shall not be confiscated, but the owners thereof shall be speedily and completely indemnified; and the captors, or, in their default, the government under whose authority they act, shall pay to the masters or owners of such vessel the full value of all articles, with a reasonable m.ercantile profit thereon, together with the freight, and also the damages incident to such detention." See Manning, Comm. bk. 3, c. 8.

See Praedial servitude.

A real or predial servitude is a charge laid on an estate for the use and utility of another estate belonging to another owner. Civll Co.de La. art. 647. See Prædial Servitude.