from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MEMORANDUM OR NOTE. These words are use in the 4th section of the statute 29
Charles II., c. 3, commonly called the statute of frauds and perjuries,
which enact, that "no action shall be brought whereby to charge any person
upon any agreement made upon consideration of marriage, or upon any contract
or sale of lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or any interest in or
concerning them, unless the agreement upon which such action shall he
brought, or some memorandum or note thereof, Shall be in writing," &c.
2. Many cases have arisen out of the words of this part of the statute;
the general rule seems to be that the contract must be stated with
reasonable certainty in the memorandum or note so that it can be understood
from the writing itself, without having recourse to parol proof. 3 John., R.
399; 2 Kent, Com. 402; Cruise, Dig. t. 32, c. 3, s. 18. See 1 N. R. 252; 3
Taunt. 169; 15 East, 103; 2 M. & R. 222; 8 M. & W. 834 6 M. & W. 109.