BILL OF LADING
SEPTEMBER 29.--Captain Huntly's bill of lading, that is to say, the
document that describes the Chancellor's cargo and the conditions of
transport, is couched in the following terms:
Bronsfield and Co., Agents, Charleston:
I, John Silas Huntly, of Dundee, Scotland, commander
of the ship Chancellor, of about 900 tons burden, now at Charleston, do
purpose, by the blessing of God, at the earliest convenient season, and
by the direct route, to sail for the port of Liverpool, where I shall
obtain my discharge. I do hereby acknowledge that I have received from
you, Messrs. Bronsfield and Co., Commission Agents, Charleston, and
have placed the same under the gun-deck of the aforesaid ship,
seventeen hundred bales of cotton, of the estimated value of 26,000 L.,
all in good condition, marked and numbered as in the margin; which
goods I do undertake to transport to Liverpool, and there to deliver,
free from injury (save only such injury as shall have been caused by
the chances of the sea), to Messrs. Laird Brothers, or to their order,
or to their representatives, who shall on due delivery of the said
freight pay me the sum of 2,000 L. inclusive, according to the
charter-party, and damages in addition, according to the usages and
customs of the sea.
And for the fulfillment of the above covenant, I have pledged and do
pledge my person, my property, and my interest in the vessel aforesaid,
with all its appurtenances. In witness whereof, I have signed three
agreements all of the same purport, on the condition that when the
terms of one are accomplished, the other two shall be absolutely null
and void.
Given at Charleston, September 13th, 1869.
J. S. HUNTLY.
From the foregoing document it will be understood that the Chancellor
is conveying 1,700 bales of cotton to Liverpool; that the shippers are
Bronsfield, of Charleston, and the consignees are Laird Brothers of
Liverpool. The ship was constructed with the especial design of
carrying cotton, and the entire hold, with the exception of a very
limited space reserved for passenger's luggage, is closely packed with
the bales. The lading was performed with the utmost care, each bale
being pressed into its proper place by the aid of screw-jacks, so that
the whole freight forms one solid and compact mass; not an inch of
space is wasted, and the vessel is thus made capable of carrying her
full complement of cargo.