DECREE of the Conseil du Cap, providing that the immovables and nègres of Vacant Estates may be sold or leased only by virtue of Decrees

UPON what was represented by the Procureur-Général du Roi, that an abuse is creeping in within the Jurisdictions dependent on this Conseil, on the part of the Curators of vacant estates, who, on mere Ordinances, often rendered without knowledge of the case by the local Juges, have the immovables and nègres belonging to the said estates sold judicially, which does considerable harm to the heirs when they come forward: THE CONSEIL has ordered and does order that the immovables belonging to estates that fall vacant, and even the nègres, may not be sold judicially in the absence of the heirs or representatives of the estate, except by an express permission, which the Curators of the said estates shall be bound to request from the Conseil, for reasons and motives that shall be explained; and meanwhile that the said immovables and nègres may be put out for rent in the ordinary manner and on the shortest terms, and that these may not be longer than three years.