(1)  Contracts  of  record  consist  of  judgments,  re-
cognizances, and  statutes  merchant  and  staple,  A
judgment  lays  an  obligation  upon  the  one  party  to
pay  something  or  do  something  for  the  benefit  of

{a)  For  full  definitiou  and  discussion  of  them,  see  Anson  on
Contracts,  p.  9  ;  and  the  opening-  chapter  of  Chitty's  Contracts.
M.
f


Z  GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  LAW  OF  CONTRACTS.
tlie  other.  A  recognizance  is  a  contract  "  made
"with  the  Crown  in  its  judicial  capacity,"  e.g.,  to
keep  the  peace.  Statutes  merchant  and  staple  are
of  historic  interest  merely  {h).  The  characteristics
of  record  contracts  are  :  (i.)  they  are  proved  conclu-
sively by  production  of  the  record  ;  (ii.)  they  merge
in  themselves  any  previous  rights  with  which  they
deal ;  (iii.)  no  consideration  is  required.
