United Kingdom House of Lords Decisions

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Cite as: [1813] UKHL 1_Dow_259

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SCOTTISH_HoL_JURY_COURT

Page: 259↓

(1813) 1 Dow 259

REPORTS OF APPEAL CASES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS During the Session, 1812–13. 53 Geo. III.

FROM SCOTLAND.

SCOTLAND.

APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF SESSION.

No. 25

Haig Appellant

v.

Hannay Respondent

May 14, 1813.

AGENCY.

Haig desires Hannay to engage a vessel for the carriage of spirits, upon the understanding that the freight was as usual to be paid by the purchaser. No evidence of any authority given by the purchaser to Hannay, and therefore Haig, the seller, was held to be liable for the amount.

Circumstances on which the question depended, whether Hannay acted as agent to Haig, or Napier.

This was a question arising out of the transactions stated in the last case. The Respondent, a trader at Kirkcudbright, wrote to Haig to send him some spirits by the same vessel which was to carry Napier's larger quantity. Haig's clerk wrote to Hannay, stating that no vessel had as yet been got, and asking whether he, Hannay, could procure one. Hannay wrote in reply, that he could; and accordingly freighted a vessel, which arrived at Leith on the 18th July. For the reasons stated in the last case, the spirits were not shipped; and the owners of the vessel raised an action in the Admiralty Court

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against Hannay for freight and demurrage, for which he was found liable. Hannay made use of this as a reason of suspension against a charge given him at Haig's instance, on a bill due by him to Haig. The Court of Session sustained the reasons of suspension, holding that Haig was bound to relieve Hannay against the payment of the freight and demurrage, whereupon Haig appealed.

Mr. Adam and Mr. Leach (for the Appellant). Haig merely contracted to deliver the spirits free on board at Leith. He had nothing to do with the freight of the vessel, which was to have been paid by Napier, the Respondent in the last case. Napier therefore, and not Haig, was liable to Hannay for the amount.

Question depending 10 years, which a jury in England would have set at rest in half an hour.

Sir S. Romilly and Mr. Horner (for the Respondent). The question as to this sum of 97 l. which had now been depending 10 years, if brought before a jury in England would have been set at rest in half an hour. The single question was, Whether Hannay in freighting the vessel acted as the agent of Haig, or of Napier? Now there was no evidence whatever that Hannay had any connexion with Napier.

Monday, May 17, 1813. Judgment.

No sufficient evidence to make Napier liable.

Lord Eldon (Chancellor) and Lord Redesdale, after noticing the letters between the parties, of which the language, they said, was equivocal, observed that the former case ought to have no bearing upon this, which was to be decided on its own merits as they appeared in evidence. There was no

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evidence that any thing passed between Napier and Hannay that could make Napier liable. Whatever therefore their individual opinion might be, they saw no sufficient grounds upon this case to say judicially, that the decision of the Court below was wrong: that judgment ought therefore to be affirmed. Whether Haig might recover over from Napier was another question. He might have saved the demurrage by discharging the vessel immediately on her arrival at Leith.

Appeal dismissed, and interlocutors complained of affirmed.

Solicitors: Agent for the Appellant, Campbell.

Agent for the Respondent, Gordon.

1813

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