70 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE [XVIL 



XVII. 



TRUSTEES TO PRESERVE CONTINGENT REMAINDERS. 



EVERY one conversant with the working of settle- 

 ments is aware, that the introduction of trustees to 

 preserve contingent remainders can have had any 

 effect in rare and exceptional instances only. But 

 the vast importance attached by so able and learned 

 a writer as Mr. Rogers to the change in the practice 

 of conveyances, which took place at the Restoration, 

 makes it desirable, that the nature of this change 

 and the extent of its operation should be clearly 

 and explicitly stated. 



When land was given to one for life, with 

 remainder after his decease to his sons and their 

 issue successively in the usual form, the interests 

 given to the sons were, previously to the birth of a 

 son, said to be contingent, because they could have 

 no immediate effect, in consequence of there then 

 being no one to take them. In such circumstances 

 it was possible, that the father, who had the life 

 interest, might acquire, by purchase or descent, 



