244 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



some of the cases to -wliicli I hereafter refer are only 

 quoted to illustrate the principles on which these 

 rules are founded. But with a view to systematic 

 arrangement of the subject, I shall take it up from 

 its natural beginning, and consider very briefly the 

 origin of these rules : they are essentially founded 

 upon an act of 29 Char. II. cap. 3, usually called the 

 Statute of Frauds. By the 17th section of this act, 

 it is provided that no contract for the sale of any 

 goods for the price of £10 or upwards, shall be good, 

 except the buyer shall accept and actually receive 

 part of the goods so sold, or give something in earnest 

 to bind the bargain, or in part payment, or except 

 some note or memorandum in writing shall be made 

 and signed by the parties to the contract, or their 

 agents, lawfully authorized. By another act, the 

 9th Geo. IV. cap. 14, the enactments of the last 

 statute are extended to all contracts for the sale of 

 goods of the same value, although the delivery of 

 them may be intended to be made at a future time, 

 or although the goods may not at the time of the 

 contract be actually made or fit for delivery. It is 

 clear that the cases likely to arise upon these sta- 

 tutes, will turn principally upon what a delivery of 



