PRIVITY, in law, is a peculiar mu tual relation which subsists between indi vidualsconneeted in various ways; sot hat, besides those who are actually parties to a transaction, others connected with these parties are said to be privy to the trans action, and are bound by its consequen ces. Several sorts of privity are enu merated by writers on law; but those of most ordinary occurrence are three : privi ty of blood, or estate, and of contract. The former subsists between an ancestor and his heir ; the second between lessor and lessee, tenant for life and reversioner created by the same instrument; and privity of contracts between I hose who are parties to a contract, which species of privity is personal only.
PRIV Y-COUrCIL, in British polity, an executive body, with whose assistance the crown issues proclamations, which, if not contrary to law, are binding on the subject. Anciently, the privy council was a high court of justice ; but in mod ern times it seldom or never interferes with judicial matters, confining itself to the executive branch of government. A
privy-council is summoned on a warning of forty-four hours, and never held with out the presence of a secretary of state. In debates, the lowest delivers his opin ion first ; the sovereign, if present, last ; and though the privy-councillors thus give their opinions, it is that of the sov ereign alone which is deeisive.—Priry seal, a seal affixed by the or by the lord keeper of the privy-seal, to instru ments that afterwards pass the great seal. The word privy-seal, is also used ellipti cally for the person intrusted the privy-seal; as, "the qeeen's sign-man ual is the warrant to the privy-seal, who inches out a writ or warrant thereon to the chancery."