BY WILLIAM WATERSTON, ACCOUNTANT. THE LAW ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED By JOHN HILL BURTON, ADVOCATE. EDINBURGH : OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT. 1843. PREFACE. THE object of this Cyclopædia is to present, in a popular and accessible form, a digest of the various subjects comprehended under its title. The Work is framed with the view not of instructing the merchant in relation to his own immediate and daily pursuits, but of placing within his reach information which it is always important, and often necessary, that he should possess,-which many engaged in active business might find it exceedingly difficult to procure elsewhere,—and which, being presented under an alphabetical arrangement, may be advantageously consulted even by those who have access to more expensive books. In regard to the matter of the Work, as distinct from its form, the Author's aim has been to give the greatest possible amount of facts in the smallest number of words. The plan excludes, in general, long essays and treatises; for even those subjects which require considerable space for their proper treatment, have in most cases been subdivided and discussed under separate heads, in a manner which, it is hoped, will be found better adapted for reference than if they had been wholly contained under one title. Thus, while Shipping is the subject of one general article, separate heads are devoted to Registry, Navigation Laws, Steam Navigation, Affreightment, Master, Seamen, Tonnage, Demurrage, Bill of Lading, Convoy, Blockade, Embargo, Salvage, Stranding, Barratry, and other matters relating to that department. It has in short been the leading object throughout to adapt the Work to the wants of mercantile men,-a class to whom ease and rapidity of consultation, if united with accuracy, are matters of pre-eminent importance. In following out this plan, the Author has endeavoured, to the best of his judgment, to discuss each subject under the particular head in connexion with which it is most likely to be sought. In the selection of these heads, however, considerable difficulty was experienced; for it was hardly possible to adopt any principle which would not either exclude something that ought to be admitted, or include articles of very little importance. The difficulty of forming a satisfactory list of titles can indeed be estimated by those only who have made the attempt. The Author cannot flatter himself that he has surmounted this difficulty; but he hopes that any blemishes will be found rather in the redundancy of articles than in their deficiency. Commodities are described under their English names; those which they bear in the other principal languages of the world being also given. The account embraces generally, not only a description of the commodity and its uses, but a notice of its growth or manufacture; of the marks by which its quality and genuineness are ascertained; and, in the case of the more important articles, the history, progress, and present state of the trade. The fiscal laws principally affecting each commodity will be found either under its name, or under the heads Customs Regulations, Warehouse, Colony, Excise, &c., according to circumstances. The Tariff of Duties is, for facility of consultation, placed at the end of the volume. The Commercial Statistics of the different countries of the world form another leading feature. After a brief description of the position, extent, population, and form of government of each country, there is furnished, in smaller type, according to the latest authorities, a succinct account of its physical character, productions, and manufactures; its inland trade; and its commerce with other countries, |