FINANCE, INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTATION. 



483 



time, they form a good basis for calculation as to the 

 comparative volume of trade from week to week. They 

 really indicate the growth or shrinkage of trade. 



Bequest. A testamentary disposition of personal 

 estate. 



Bear. A stock exchange phrase used to designate a 

 man who, having sold more stock than he possesses, 

 endeavors to depress its value, that he may buy at a low 

 rate, and so make good his deficiency. 



Bigamy. The criminal offense of a married man or 

 woman pretending to marry again, his wife or her hus- 

 band (as the case may be) being still alive. 



Bill. The term applied to an intended statute when 

 passing through Congress, prior to its becoming law. 



Bill of Exceptions. A mode of appealing from the 

 decision of a judge on a point of law. 



Bill of Exchange. A written order for payment of 

 money by one person (called the drawer), upon another 

 (termed the drawee). When the drawee has undertaken 

 to pay the bill,which he does by writing his name across 

 it, he is termed the acceptor. Bills of exchange are 

 negotiable, i. e., they confer on the holder the right of 

 suing upon it, which he could not do in the case of a 

 mere ordinary contract, for the want of that privity 

 which the law in ordinary cases requires between the 

 parties to a contract. The law as to bills of exchange 

 is governed by the Law Merchant. (See Law Merchant.) 



Bill of Lading. A memorandum or receipt signed 

 by the master of a ship, acknowledging the shipment 

 of goods, which are usually made deliverable to the 

 consignee by post. By indorsing the bill of lading the 



Eroperty in the goods is passed to the indorsee, and so 

 rom hand to hand. The bill of lading, properly in- 

 dorsed, forms, in fact, the title to the goods, and with- 

 out the production ol' which the captain would not 

 deliver the goods. 



Bill of Sale. An assij. nment of goods and chattels, 

 by writing; generally, but not necessarily, under hand 

 and seal. 



Bill of Lading. A negotiable receipt for goods de- 

 livered to a transportation company for carriage. 



Bill of Parcels. A written statement given by the 

 seller to the buyer, containing particulars of the goods 

 bought and their prices. 



Bills Discounted. Promissory notes, acceptances, 

 or bills of exchange discounted for the accommodation 

 of an indorser by bankers. 



Bills Payable. Promissory notes or drafts held by a 

 merchant against others for future payment. 



Bills Receivable. Promissory notes or drafts due to 

 a merchant by others. 



Bill of Rights. A bill permitting an importer to ex- 

 amine his goods at the custom house. 



Block. A number of shares, say 5,000 or 10,000, massed 

 together and sold or bought in a lump. 



Bona Fide. With good faith. 



Bond. A written obligation, under seal. If for the 

 payment of a sum of money upon or after the death of 

 a person, it is then termed a post-obit bond. The per- 

 son making a bond is called the obligor, and he to 

 whom it is given, the obligee. 



Borough. A town having now, or having formerly 

 had, corporate rights. 



Bottomry. The borrowing of money by the master 

 on the bottom or Irull of a ship ; to be paid with interest, 

 if the ship return in safety, but otherwise to be lost or 

 forfeited. 



Board of Trade. A voluntary association of busi- 

 ness men for the regulation and advancement of com- 

 mercial interests. 



Bond. An instrument tinder seal, by which the 

 maker binds himself, and usually his heirs, executors, 

 and administrators, to do or not to do a specified act. 

 A certificate of ownership of a specified portion of a 

 capital debt due by a government, a city, a railroad, or 

 other corporation, to individual holders, and usually 

 bearing a fixed rate of interest. 



Bonded Goods. Imported goods left in a bonded 

 warehouse until the duties are paid. 



Bonded Warehouse. A government warehouse in 

 which bonded goods are stored until the duties thereon 

 are paid. 



Bonus. A premium on a loan ; something extra or in 

 addition. 



Boom. A rush of business. A quick inflation of 

 values. 



Breach of Covenant. The doing of an act which a 

 party has covenanted not to do, or neglecting to do that 

 which he has covenanted to perform. 



Breach of the Peace. An act by which the public 



repose is disturbed, and the safety of the community 

 more or less endangered. 



Breach of Promise. The doing, or abstaining from 

 doing, something, contrary to an understanding or 

 contract. 



Breach of Trust. A neglect of duty by a trustee 

 or person standing in a fiduciary relation, in violation 

 of his trust. 



Bribery. The giving or receiving any reward for 

 corrupt purposes. 



Brief. An abridgment of a client's case, for the in- 

 struction of counsel on trial or hearing in court. 



Broker. An agent employed to buy or sell goods; a 

 sort of middleman between vendor and purchaser. He 

 is not, like a factor, intrusted with the possession of 

 the articles he vends. 



Brokerage. The commission paid to a broker. 



Brand. A trade -mark ; a particular kind of goods. 



Break. A quick, small decline. 



Burglary. The offense of entering a dwelling- 

 house, in the night, with the intent to commit felony. 



Bursar. The treasurer of a college. In Scotland it 

 is nearly synonymous with sizar in the English uni- 

 versities. 



Bucket Shop. A place where bets are made on 

 quotations of prices, established on legitimate Ex- 

 changes, and Boards of Trade'. Pretended trading. 

 Illegal in most States. 



Bulge. A quick, small advance. 



Bull. A person whose interest is to secure higher 

 prices ; a buyer for an advance. 



Bulling. Raising the price of stocks, etc. 



BUSINESS CHARACTERS. 



,, Ditto, the same. 



X 



I 1 



By, as 9 X 12. 



One and one fourth. 



1 2 , One and one half. 



1 3 , One and three fourths. 

 4- Addition. 



Subtraction. 

 X Multiplication. 

 -;- Division. 

 = Equal to. 



@ At. 

 % Account. 

 % Per cent. 

 $ Number. 

 $ Dollars. 

 # Cents. 

 *J Check mark. 

 d. Pence. 

 Pound sterling. 

 s. Shillings. 



Buyer Three. A Wall street expression signifying 

 that the buyer has three days in which to pay for his 

 purchase. 



Bullion. Uncoined gold or silver, including gold 

 dust, ingots, and bars. 



By-L,aw. A private law made by those duly author- 

 ized by charter, custom, or prescription; but such by- 

 law must be consonant to the public laws and statutes, 

 and for the common benefit. 



By-Bidder. One who bids at an auction in behalf of 

 the owner for the purpose of running up the price of 

 articles. 



Canon Law. A collection of ecclesiastical constitu- 

 tions, definitions, and rules, derived from the ancient 

 councils, the writings of the fathers, ordinances of 

 popes, etc. At the Reformation it was enacted that a 

 review should be had of the Canon Law ; but that, until 

 such review, the existing law 'should continue in force, 

 except as far as the same should be repugnant to the 

 law of the land or the Royal Prerogatives this still re- 

 mains the state of the law, such review never having 

 been made. The canons of 1G03 having been made by 

 the clergy, and confirmed by the king, James I., alone, 

 but not by Parliament, do not bind the laity. 



Capias. A -writ authorizing the arrest of a defend- 

 ant in a suit. It is issued, either after judgment, or 

 when it is satisfactorily shown that the defendant is 

 about to leave the realm before trial. 



Capias ad Satisfaciendum,or CA-SA. The writ of 

 capias when issued after judgment ; so termed, because 

 the defendant is taken to satisfy the plaintiff's de- 

 mands. 



Carrier. A person whose business it is to carry 

 goods for the proper delivery and safety of which he 

 is legally responsible. 



Caveat. A proceeding to prevent an act being done, 

 such as the granting of administration, without notice 

 to the party entering the caveat. 



Caveat Emptor. Let the purchaser beware. It 

 signifies that a vendor is not bound to answer* for the 

 goodness of his wares, unless he expressly warrants 

 them. 



