A

VALUABLE ASSISTANT TO EVERY MAN:

7

OR THE

American Clerk's Magazine.

Containing the most useful and neceffary

FORMS OF WRITINGS,

Which commonly occur between Man and Man, under the Names of

CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES,

AND ARE MADE CONFORMABLE TO LAW.

BY SAMUEL FREEMAN, ESQ. Compiler of the Town Officer, Probate Auxiliary, and Massachusetts Juftice.

SIXTH EDITION, REVISED AND IMPROVED.

Published according to Act of Congress.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY THOMAS & ANDREWS, FAUST'S STATUE,

NO. 45, NEWBURY-STREET.

================

J. T. Buckingham, Printer.

Sept. 1805.

PREFACE.

OF F the ufe and benefit of precedents, to affift the draftsman, and expedite his bufinefs in drawing Agreements, Bonds, Conveyances, Declarations and other inftruments in writing, every practitioner must be convinced.

The many collections of this kind which have been publified in Great-Britain, and re-printed in America, evince the truth of this remark. The precedents therein contained are chiefly grounded upon the laws of England, and do not all apply to the laws established in this country.

Thefe confiderations have induced the Editor to collect from British publications (he knows of none fimilar thereto, which have originated here) fuch precedents as he judged useful in thefe States. Thofe which needed no alteration, are inferted entire as they ftand in other bocks. Such as required alteration, are made conformable to our laws; and a number of others are entirely new.

Although, in this collection, a few of the Forms may, by fome, be judged fuperfluous, it is probable, that, on account of their variety, it will to others be more acceptable. If, however, it fhould meet with general acceptance, the end of the Compiler will be anfwered, and his wifhes gratified. He pretends. not that it is perfect, but he hopes that whatever imperfections or defects fhould be found therein, they will be viewed with that candour which he thinks is due to those who wish to ferve the publick in this way.

He flatters himself that this book will be found ufeful to young ftudents as well as others, who have frequent occafion to ferve them felves and others, by drawing inftruments fimilar to thofe which are here prefented for their guide. Or, in the words of another, who once published a useful collection of this kind, he hopes that it "will be thought of fervice to practitioners, who, tempted by the cheapnefs and "compendious fize of it as well as by its ufeful. contents, may condefcend to take it into their "portmanteaus: At least, that it may be fo to cler

gymen, gentlemen, and others, who, if they place. "it in their studies, and have command of the pen, "might often fave to themfelves, or their poor neigh"bours, the trouble and expenfe of applying, upon "fmall occafions, to thofe of the profeffion."

Most of the precedents may be included under the five general heads before mentioned, viz. Agreements, Bonds, Conveyances, Declarations, and other Inftruments of a particular kind. According to thefe, this book. might have been divided; and under them the precedents proper for each, might have been respectively inferted; but the Compiler has chofen rather to ar range them in alphabetical order, and to annex thereto a particular Index, by which any of them, may be easily found.

He has alfo added an exact and expeditious method of afcertaining Intereft, occafions for which frequently occur; together with feveral Tables refpecting the currency, which he thinks will be found ufeful.