The first three methods here specified have been treated with more or less fulness in earlier parts of this work, but something may here be added regarding a division of the first method - payment - so far as concerns application of payments and tender; and it then remains to consider the other methods. A distinction may be taken between the discharge of a contract and the discharge of a right of action that has arisen from breach of a contract, but as the principles applicable to the two cases are in general the same, it has been thought simpler to treat the questions together. Where the requirements of law differ according as the contract has or has not been broken, attention is called to the difference.