CHA 
places. If the given parallel is near the 
north or south extremity of the^ chart, the 
following method may be used. Take an 
extent of a few degrees from tt-t part of 
the meridian where the given pr del is the 
middle of the extent ; then the umber of 
extents, and parts of an extent^ contained 
between the given places, being multiplied 
by the length of an extent, will give the 
required distance. 
E, rumple . — Required the distance be- 
tween Cape Canton and Funchal, both ly- 
ing nearly in the same parallel. By pro- 
ceeding as directed above, the distance 
will be found to be 6° 44', or 404 miles. 
3. When the given places differ both in 
latitude and longitude. 
Rule . — Find the difference of- latitude 
between the given places, and take it from 
the equator or graduated parallel ; then lay 
the edge of a scale over the given places, 
and move or slide one point of the compass 
along the edge of the scale, until the other 
point just touches a parallel. Now, the 
distance between the place where the point 
of the compass rested, and the point of in- 
tersection of the edge of the scale and pa- 
rallel being applied to the equator, or divi- 
ded parallel, will give the distance between 
the places in degrees and parts of a de- 
gree ; which, multiplied by 60, will give 
the distance in miles. 
Example. — Required the distance be- 
tween Cape Finisterre and Porto Santo. 
Take the difference of latitude between 
the given places, viz. 9" 54', from the gra- 
duated parallel, and move one point of the 
compass along the edge of the scale, laid 
previously over these places, until the other 
point just touches a parallel ; nowf, the in- 
terval between the place where the point 
of the compass rested, and the point of in- 
tersection of the scale and parallel, being 
applied to the divided parallel, will mea- 
sure ll" 24', or 684 miles. 
CHARTA, magna,an ancient instrument, 
containing several privileges and liberties 
granted to the church and state by Edward 
the Confessor, together with others relating 
to the feuded laws of William the Con- 
queror, granted by Henry I. all confirnied 
by the succeeding princes. See Magna 
Chart A, 
CHARTER, in law, a written instru- 
ment or evidence of things acted between 
one person and another. 
CHARTER-party, is a contract under hand 
and seal, executed by the freighter and tlie 
CHA 
master or owner of the ship, containing tiic 
terms upon which the ship is hired Jo 
freight; the masters and owners usually 
bind themselves, the ship, tackle, and fur- 
niture, that the goods freighted shall be de- 
livered (dangers of the sea excepted) well 
conditioned at the place of the discharge; 
and they also coyenant to provide mari- 
ners, tackle, &c. and to equip the ship com- 
plete and adequate to the voyage. The 
freighter stipulates to pay the considera- 
tion-money for the freight, and penalties 
are annexed to enforce the recijrrocal co- 
venants. A charter-party is the same in 
the civil law as an indenture at common 
law; and is distinguished from a bill of 
lading, inasmuch as the former adjusts the 
term of the freight, and the latter ascertains 
the contents of the cargo. 
Charters of community, were certain 
privileges first obtained by violence or pur- 
chase, and afterwards freely bestowed by 
emperors, kings, and barons ; whereby the 
inhabitants of towns and cities were enfran- 
chised, all marks of servitude abolished, 
and these cities, &c. were formed into cor- 
porations and bodies politic, to be govern- 
ed by a council and magistrates of their 
own nomination. The first person who 
conferred these privileges was Lewis tiie 
Gross in France, about the beginning of the 
twelfth century ; and his example was soon 
very generally followed. These charters 
convey a very striking representation of the 
wretciied condition of cities previous to the 
institution of communities, when they were 
subject to the judges appointed by the su- 
perior lords of whom they held, and had 
scarcely any other law but their will. 
Charter of the forest, is that wherein 
the laws of the forest are comprised and es- 
tablished. In the time of King John, and 
that of his son, Henry HI., the rigours of 
the feodal tenures and the forest laws were 
so warmly maintained, that they occasioned 
many insurrections of the barons or princi- 
pal feudatories; which at last produced 
this effect, that first King John, and after- 
wards his son, consented to the two famous 
charters of English liberties, Magna Carta, 
and Carta de Foresta. The latter, in par- 
ticular, was well calculated to redress many 
grievances and encroachments of the crown, 
in the exertion of forest law. This charter, 
as well as the other, was established, con- 
firmed, and settled in the reign of Ed- 
ward I. - 
Charter governments in the British co- 
lonies, are in .the nature of civil corpora- 
