CORPORATION, a body politic, or in corporate, so called, because the persons or members are joined into one body, and are qualified to take and grant, &c. Cor porations are either spiritual or tempo ral: spiritual, as bishops, deans, arch-dea cons, parsons, vicars, &c. Temporal, as mayor, commonalty, bailiff, burgesses, &c. And some corporations are of a mix ed nature, composed of spiritual and tem poral persons, such as heads of colleges and hospitals, &c. All corporations are said to be ecclesiastical or lay: ecclesi astical are either regular, as abbies, pri ories, chapters, &c. or secular, as bishop rics, deaneries, archdeaconries, &c. lay, as those of cities, towns, companies, or communities of commerce, &c.
Corporations may be established three different ways, viz. by prescription, letters patent, or act of parliament ; but are most commonly established by patent or char ter. London is a corporation by prescrip tion: but though corporations may be by prescription, yet it shall be intended, that it did originally derive its authority by a grant from the king.
A corporation may be dissolved ; for it is created upon a trust, and if it be broken, it is forfeited. No person shall bear office in any corporation but such as have re ceived the sacrament, taken oaths, &c. and none are to execute in a corporation for more than a year. A corporation cannot sue or appear in person, but by an attor ney.
Ordinances made by corporations, to be observed on pain of imprisonment, forfei ture of goods, &c. are contrary to Magna Charta. Actions arising in any corpora tion may be tried in the corporation courts ; but if they try actions not within their jurisdictions, and encroach upon the common law, they are liable to be punish ed for it. The corporation of the city of London is to answer for all particular mis demeanors committed in any of the courts of justice within the city, and for all other general misdemeanors committed in the city.