BILL. 
banker gives to a person whom he can trust, 
impowering hint to receive money from his 
correspondents in foreign countries. Though 
bills of credit be different from bills of ex- 
change, yet they enjoy the same privileges , 
for the money paid in consequence of them 
is recoverable by law. 
Bill of entry, an account of the goods 
entered at the custom-house, both inwards 
and outwards. In this bill must be express- 
ed, the merchant exporting or importing; 
the quantity of merchandise, and the divers 
species thereof; and whither transported, 
or from whence. 
Bill of exchange, a piece of paper on 
which is written a short order, given by a 
merchant, &c. for paying to such a person, 
or his order, and in some countries to the 
bearer in a distant place, a sum of money 
equivalent to that which such a merchant, 
&c. has received in his dwelling-house. 
There are three things necessary to con- 
stitute a bill of exchange. 1. That it be 
drawn in one city upon another. 2. Ihat 
there be three persons concerned, the 
drawer, the presenter, or person for whom 
it is drawn, and the acceptor, or lie on 
whom it is drawn. And, 3. That it make 
mention, that the value which the drawer 
has received is either in bills of exchange, 
in money, merchandise, or other effects, 
which are to be expressed. 
These bills are made payable either at 
sight, or so many days, weeks, or months 
after date ; the space of a month being cal- 
led usance, and two or three months after 
date, double or treble usance. There is a 
difference between an inland bill and foreign 
bill ; for an inland bill of exchange is said to 
be only in the nature of a letter; but a 
foreign or outland bill is more regarded in 
law ; because it is for the advantage of com- 
merce with other countries, which makes it 
of a public concern. 
Not only the drawer, but every indprser 
of a bill is liable for the payment thereof; 
for an indorser charges himself in the same 
manner as if he had originally drawn the 
bill : and a plaintiff, in an action in such 
case, is not obliged to prove the diawei s 
hand, because the indorser is as a new 
drawer ; but he must make proof that he de- 
manded the money of the drawer, oi drawers, 
or that he sought after, and could not find 
them in convenient time : for, by the custom 
among merchants, the indorsee is to receive 
the money of the first drawer, if he can, and 
if he cannot, then, and not before, the in- 
dorser must answer it. 
The forging bills of exchange, or any ac- 
ceptance, and stealing such bills for money 
is felony. 
Bill of lading, an acknowledgment sign- 
ed by the master of a ship, and given to a 
merchant, &'c. containing an account of the 
goods which the master has received on 
board from that merchant, &c. with a pro- 
mise to deliver them at an intended place 
for a certain salary. Each bill of ladmg 
must be treble, one for the merchant who 
loads the goods, another to be sent to the 
person to whom they are consigned, and the 
third to remain in the hands of the master 
of the ship . It must be observed, however, 
that a bill of lading is used only when the 
goods sent on board a ship are but part of 
the cargo : for when a merchant loads a 
whole vessel for his own personal account, 
the deed passed between him and the master 
of the ship is called charter party. 
Bill of parcels, an account given by the 
seller to the buyer, containing the particu- 
lars of all the sorts and prices of the goods 
bought. 
Bill of sale, is when a person wanting a 
sum of money, delivers goods as a security 
to the lender, to whom he gives this bill, 
impowering him to sell the goods, in case 
the sum borrowed is not repaid, with in- 
terest, at the appointed time. 
Bill of store, a licence granted at the 
custom-house to merchants, by which they 
have liberty to carry, custom-free, all such 
stores and provisions as they may have occa- 
sion for during their voyage. 
Bill of sufferance, a licence granted to a 
merchant at the custom-house, suffering him 
to trade from one English port to another, 
without paying custom. 
Bill, bank, a private instrument, where- 
by private persons become entitled to a 
part in the bank stock. 
Bill, in law, a security for money under 
the hand, and sometimes the seal, of the 
debtor. It is of two sorts, a single bill with- 
out a penalty, or a bill with a penalty, called 
a penal bill; which last is all one with what 
we call a bond or obligation, only it has not 
a condition. . 
Bill denotes also a declaration, m writing, 
expressing either some wrong the com- 
plainant has suffered by the defendant, or 
else a fault that the party complained of has 
committed against some law or statute of 
the realm. 
This bill is sometimes exhibited to justices 
at the general assizes, by way of indictment, 
or referred to others having jurisdiction ; 
