a coming to, applied where one object comes into conjunction with another, as the accession of a dynasty to a throne, an accession of a field to an estate.

In Law, it is a method of acquiring property, by which, in things that have a close connection or dependence upon one another, the property of the principal draws after it the property of the accessory; thus, the owner of a cow becomes likewise the owner of the calf. It sometimes likewise signifies consent or acquiescence. Thus, in the bankrupt law of Scotland, when there is a settlement by a trust-deed, it is accepted on the part of each creditor by a deed of accession.

The most important application of the term is its historical and constitutional, in reference to monarchical government. The beginning of every monarch's reign may be called his accession, but it is generally said of a monarch that he "succeeds," and the term is more distinctively applied to the epoch of a new dynasty, as the accession of the House of Capet in France, of the House of Austria or of Bourbon in Spain, and of the House of Stuart or of Hanover in England. Such accessions are very frequent in European history. In France alone, besides late changes, we have the accession of the Carlovingian dynasty in Pepin (752), of the Capetian in Hugh Capet (987), of the House of Valois in Philip VI. (1328), and of the House of Bourbon in Henry IV. (1485). A fixed principle of succession by which the heir of a childless monarch is indicated with certainty, is a great preservative of peace among monarchies. Accessory The most desolating wars have arisen from disputed successions. In Oriental despotisms, even the first step in certainty—the indication of the particular son who shall succeed his father—is often wanting, and it has been usual to put to death or mutilate the brethren of the selected one, to prevent contention. Even in this country it was long ere the principle of succession was so well established, as to apply with certainty to distant relations. The great war of independence in Scotland arose from the question, whether a grandchild by the eldest child had any preference over a younger. The same difficulty created the great wars of the Roses. Edward III. had three sons, the Black Prince, Lionel Duke of Clarence, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. On the death of Richard II., the son of the Black Prince, the descendant of his elder uncle, the Duke of Clarence, should have succeeded by scientific principles of descent, but Henry IV., the son of John of Gaunt, made good his accession.

The highest perfection in peaceful constitutional accession is reached when the legislature of a country requires to change the line of monarchs, and fixes beforehand on another line, which, by virtue of the selection, has a peaceful accession. This has been only accomplished in our own country, when it was twice effected within a very short interval, when at the Revolution the crown was settled on William and Mary, and the Princess Anne and her heirs. On the death of her last child it was necessary to make a new settlement, and going back to the descendants of King James I., the grandson of his daughter the Queen of Bohemia, was selected and made the accession of the House of Hanover.