This section is from the book "The Law Of Contracts", by Samuel Williston. Also available from Amazon: Treatise on the Law of Contracts.
Nature and effect of release......................................... 1820
Early law......................................................... 1821
Effect of statutes in regard to seals................................... 1822
Covenant to forbear................................................ 1823
Conditional releases................................................ 1824
Construction...................................................... 1825
Elements of rescission by parol agreement............................ 1826
Restoration of the status quo........................................ 1827
Written contracts may be varied by subsequent oral agreement.......... 1828
Rescission of unilateral contracts.................................... 1829
English decisions on parol discharge of unilateral contracts.............. 1830
American decisions................................................. 1831
Parol discharge of a party to a negotiable instrument - English law....... 1832
American law..................................................... 1833
Rescission of contracts under seal.................................... 1834
Variation of covenant by subsequent contract or waiver................ 1835
Modern relaxation of early rule...................................... 1836
Accords and similar agreements...................................... 1837
Definition of accord and satisfaction................................. 1838
Accord held not a valid contract - Petoe's Case........................ 1839
Later decisions.................................................... 1840
Effect of accord on previous cause of actions - intention of parties........ 1841
Accord no defence at common law................................... 1842
Even though full performance tendered, or part performance rendered.... 1843
Equitable relief for breach of promise to forbear....................... 1844
Accord should be specifically enforced................................ 1845
Accord may itself be taken as satisfaction and is then a bar............. 1846
Presumption that accord is not intended as satisfaction................. 1847
Consequence of non-performance of accord............................ 1848
Sealed contracts................................................... 1849
Debts of record.................................................... 1850
Requisites of satisfaction like those of consideration.................... 1851
Reasonableness of satisfaction....................................... 1852
Cases where satisfaction is ineffectual................................ 1853
Check sent in payment of disputed claim............................. 1854
Principles governing the question.................................... 1855
Inability to deny that an act was done on the only terms authorised...... 1856
Accord and satisfaction with a third person - English cases.............. 1857
American cases.................................................... 1858
Ratification by the debtor.......................................... 1859
Equitable defence.................................................. 1860
Rescission of arrangement.......................................... 1861
Accounts stated................................................... 1862
Form and evidence of an account stated.............................. 1863
Conclusiveness of an account stated.................................. 1864
Novation......................................................... 1865
Analysis of simple novations........................................ 1866
Analysis of compound novation...................................... 1867
Decisions recognising novations..................................... 1868
Requisites for a novation.......................................... 1869
Necessity for the assent of all parties to a simple novation.............. 1870
Necessity of the assent of all parties to a compound novation........... 1871
Necessity of valid obligations........................................ 1872
Conditional novations.............................................. 1873
Subsequent promise of a surety given in conformity with prior agreement of principal..................................................... 1874
Evidence of novation.............................................. 1875
 
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