บ.

nor even that it was a copy of any thing, but had mere- FERGUSON ly stated that "the foregoing was truly taken from the record of proceedings in that Court.

2. That the Court ought to have admitted the copy of the docket entries of Prince George's county Court to be read in evidence, because they were certified by the clerk in the same manner to be truly taken" from the same proceedings.

66

3. That the Court ought not to have admitted the agreement in evidence to support the first count in the declaration, because it varied from the agreement set forth in that count, in the following particulars: 1. The agreement produced in evidence states that the Defendant in error, Harwood, should be allowed the highest credit price, &c. for the tobacco, whereas the agreement set forth in the count, is that the Plaintiff in error, Ferguson, should be allowed the highest credit price, &c. for the tobacco: and 2. The agreement produced in evidence states that the Plaintiff in error was to return the tobacco if the property should not be recovered “in the aforesaid bond of conveyance." But the count charges that the Plaintiff in error, Ferguson, agreed to return the tobacco if the property, in the bond of convey ance mentioned, should not be recovered in the suit then pending for the recovery thereof.

In support of this bill of exceptions, he cited the following cases: 1 T. R. 240. 2 Bos. and Pull. 116. 4 T.

R. 560. 2 East, 2 and 450.

J. LAW, for the Defendant in error.

On the first exception, cited 2 Harris's Entries, 221, 227 and 263, to show that the clerk's certificate annexed to the transcript of the record of Prince George's County Court, was in due form, according to the practice of the Courts in Maryland.

On the second exception, he cited Peake's Law of Evidence, 34, 55 and 66, to show that the docket entries of one Court were not evidence in another Court.

On the third exception, to show how far it is necessary to set forth the agreement in the declaration, he

HARWOOD.

FERGUSON cited 6 East, 564, Clarke v. Marsden. 4 T. R. 558, 2. Frith v. Gray, in the note to Drewry v. Twiss, 3 Wils. HARWOOD. 40, Richard v. Symonds. Doug. 640, Bristow v. Wright.

And to show that words of surplussage are to be rejected, he cited 2 H. Bl. 113. 1 Ț. R. 235, King v. Pippett. 4 Williams's Dig. 707.

To show that omissions may be supplied, he cited King v. Beach, Cowp. 229. King v. Máy, Doug. 183,

And to show that a variance in an immaterial averment is not fatal, he cited 5 T. R. 496, Peppin v. Solomans. T. R. 558, Drewry p. Twiss.

March 5th....STORY, J. delivered the opinion of the Court as follows:

Several exceptions have been taken in this cause. The first proceeds on the ground that the record was not authenticated by the clerk in due form of law. The statute of the United States of the 26th of May, 1790, declares that the records and judicial proceedings of the Courts of any state shall be proved and admitted in any other Court within the United States by the attestation of the clerk and the seal of the Court annexed, if there be a seal, together with a certificate of the judge, chief justice, or presiding magistrate, as the case may be, that the said attestation is in due form of law. It is conceded that such a certificate accompanied the record objected to. It is therefore a case within the words of the law, and the Court below were precluded from receiving any other evidence to show that the attestation was not in due form of law. The record so authenticated was properly admitted in evidence.

Even if the points had been open, the Court are not satisfied that any material variance existed between the attestations of the different clerks.

The Court are also of opinion that the second exception cannot be sustained. The writing produced did not purport to be a record; but a mere transcript of minutes extracted from the docket of the Court. There is no foundation laid to show its admissibility in the

cause.

The third exception has presented the chief difficulty FERGUSON which we have felt in deciding the cause. It is addressed to the variances between the declaration and the con- HARWOOD. tract produced in evidence. The inducement of the declaration alleges that the said Walter as one of the administrators of William E. Berry, deceased, on, &c. at, &c. delivered unto the said Enos in part of his claim against the estate of the said William three hogsheads of crop tobacco, &c. he, the said Enos, to be allowed per cent. therefor the highest six month's credit price at the place aforesaid during that time after rescinding the embargo." The contract produced in evidence is without the words "he the said Enos." There is therefore a literal variance, and its effect depends upon the consideration whether it materially changes the contract.

In general, Courts of law lean against an extension of the principles appli d to cases of variance. Mistakes of this nature are usually mere slips of attornies, and do not touch the merits of the case. Lord Mansfield has well observed that it is extremely hard upon the party to be turned round and put to expense from such mistakes of his counsel, and it is hard also upon the profession.

It will be recollected that this does not purport on the face of the declaration to be a description of a written instrument, nor the recital of a deed or record in hæc verba. In respect to the latter, trifling variances have been deemed fatal: but as to the former, a more liberal rule has been adopted. In setting forth the material parts of a deed or other written instruments, it is not necessary to do it in letters and words. It will be sufficient to state the substance and legal effect. Whatever, however, is alleged should be truly alleged. A contract substantially different in description or effect would not support the averment of the declaration.

In the case at bar, it is very clear that the word "Enos" was by a mere slip inserted instead of "Walter." It is repugnant to the sense and meaning of the contract that the creditor who received the tobacco at a stipulated price in part payment of his debt, should allow to himself that price. From the nature of the transaction the debtor must be entitled to the allowance.

v.

the

FERGUSON If the same words had been introduced into the written contract itself, they must have been rejected as nonsenHARWOOD. sical or repugnant, or have had imposed upon them a sense exactly the same as if the words had been said Walter." And a declaration which should altogether have omitted the words, or have given that legal sense, would have well supported an action. Can a different result take place, where the repugnancy is not in the contract, but in the declaration? A majority of the Court are clearly of opinion that it cannot. The words of a contract stated in a declaration, must have the same legal construction as they would have in the contract itself.

The context manifestly, in this case, shows the repugnancy. It is impossible to read the declaration and not to perceive that the price is to be allowed to the debtor, and not to the creditor. Many cases have been cited where the variance has been held fatal, but no one comes up to the present. The case of Bristow v. Wright, (Doug. 665) is the strongest. There the demise was alleged to be at a yearly rent payable quarterly. The demise proved was without any stipulation as to the times of payment. The Court held that the demise laid and that proved were not the same. But if the demise had been truly laid, and the declaration had proceeded to allege that the rent was to be paid by the lessor to the lessee, we think that the action might well have been maintained notwithstanding the repugnancy. That in effect would be the same as the present case.

In King v. Pippet, 1 T. R. 235, where the declaration set forth a precept and improperly inserted the word "if," which made it conditional, the Court rejected the word, and held the variance immaterial. The Court said it was impossible to read the declaration and not to know what it should be. There are other cases to the like effect..

We are therefore satisfied that the variance is immaterial, because it does not change the nature of the contract, which must receive the same legal construction, whether the words be in or out of the declaration.

A second variance is supposed in the allegation that the promise was to return the tobacco or its value, if

the property in the bond of conveyance mentioned in FERGUSON the declaration was not recovered in the suit then de- v. pending for the recovery thereof; whereas the contract HARWOOD. produced in evidence contained no limitation to a recovery in that particular suit. We are satisfied however that the Plaintiff has declared according to the true intent of the parties as apparent on the contract. It could never have been their intention to postpone the right to a return of the tobacco or its value, beyond the time of a recovery or failure in the suit then depending. Any other construction would have left the rights of the parties in suspense for an indefinite period, wholly inconsistent with the avowed objects of the contract.

On the whole, it is the opinion of the Court that the judgment be affirmed with costs.

BIAYS
2.

1813.

THE CHESAPEAKE INSURANCE COMPANY. Feb. 24th.

Absent....TODD, J.

po

cargo consist

ERROR to the Circuit Court for the district of There cannot Maryland, in an action of covenant upon a policy of in- be a total loss surance on hides, which by the memorandum in the of part of a licy, are declared to be free from average, unless gene- ing of memoral. The policy contains the usual stipulation "that randum arti❝ in case of loss or damage, the assured shall labor, &c. one species, cles of only "for the preservation of the property, to the expenses (such as hides.) "of which the assurers will contribute." Nor are the The voyage underwriters was to Amsterdam. The vessel arrived at a place cal- liable for salled "Niew Diep ;" where, according to the usage of the vage upon trade, the hides were put into several lighters to be sent under the to Amsterdam. One of these lighters sunk, but some clause which of the hides contained in it were afterwards fished up insured to laand saved by the people of the place, for which a sal- bor and travel vage of 6,000 dollars was allowed and paid. The rest for the preser were totally lost. This action was brought to recover cargo, unless for those totally lost, and for the salvage of those which perhaps in a were saved.

such articles,

authorises the

vation of the

case where the salvage may