42 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE [x. 



fee was ceasing to be a retainer, and becoming simply 

 the property of the vassal, subject to certain financial 

 rights of his lord ; whilst at this time, the death of a 

 vassal leaving male issue being an event much more 

 usual, than the death of a vassal leaving only several 

 daughters, the succession of the eldest son had been 

 too firmly established, by custom, to be altered by 

 considerations of equity, when the rule with regard 

 to daughters was settled. 



It appears, I think, from these considerations, that 

 the introduction of the feudal system must have had 

 a tendency to preserve large estates, by discouraging 

 alienation inter vivos, forbidding alienation by will, 

 and, in some instances, giving to one son lands 

 which, by custom, might have been divisible 

 among several. 



Much interesting information on the subject of 

 primogeniture may be found in two essays by C. S. 

 Kenny and P. M. Laurence, Cambridge, 1878, which 

 divided the Yorke prize. 



