Borrekins v. Bevan & Porter

In all sales of goods there is an implied warranty, that the article delivered shall correspond in specie with the commodity sold, unless there are facts and circumstances to show that the purchaser took upon himself the risk of determining not only the quality of the article, but the land he purchased. Therefore if the defendant sell, and the plaintiff purchase an article as blue paint, and it is so described in the bill of parcels, this amounts to a warranty, that the article delivered, shall be blue paint, and not a different article. In order to sustain an action on an implied warranty in a contract for the sale of goods, it is not necessary that the plaintiff should, before bringing suit, redeliver or tender the-the article to the defendant.

IN ERROR. This was a writ of error to the District Court for the city and county of Philadelphia in a suit brought by the plaintiff in error, Henry P. Borrekins against the defendants in error, Maihew L. Bevan and William Porter, trading under the firm of Bevan and Porter, to recover damages on an implied warranty in the sale of an article as. blue On the trial of the cause before Judge Hallowell in the court below, on the 11st of October, 1826, it appeared in evidence, that the defendants, on or about the 1st May, 1820, sold to the plaintiff four casks of paints, and rendered to him a bill of parcels, of which the following is a copy, viz.— Mr. H. P. Borrekins, Philad. May, 1, 1820. Bought of Bevan and Porter, 4 casks paint, viz. . 1 cask blue, wt. 5. 0. 23 tare, 2. 4.. 2. 23, is 527 lbs a 50 cts. - - 263,50 1 do. 3. 2. 4 tare, 2. 3. 0. 4 is 340 lbs. a 25 cts. - - 85,— 1 do. do. “ 5. 3. 3 tare, 2. 5. 1. 3 is 591 lbs. a 12£ cts. - - 73,87 1 do. yellow, “ 6. 1. 19, tare, 2. 5. 3. 19, is 663 lbs. a 1-100 - - 6,63 Credit, 4, 6, and 8 months, Dollars 429, The plaintiff, thereupon, gave to the defendants his three promissory notes for the price payable in four, six, and eight months, which, were paid as they respectively, became due. The plaintiff examined as a witness on his behalf, Isaac W. Blanchard, who testified as follows: “ I was not present at the purchase by Mr. Borrehins. I believe it was made.at the defendants’ counting-house. The articles described in the bill of parcels were bought and carried to the manufactory. Some time, very near a twelvemonth afterwards', Mr. Borrehins brought a sample of this stuff (pointing to the specimen presented to him by the plaintiff’s counsel,) and directed me to go down to Messrs. Bevan and Porter. It was about March or April, I went, and I stated to Mr. Bevan, that Mr. Borrehins claimed the money paid because that article was not according to sample; 1 exhibited a sample to the defendants, and told Mr. Bevan, that that wasa sample of the blue, which Borrehins had purchased of him. Mr. Bevan took a little in his hand, and said, ‘ this is not blue: it does not look as if it even had been blue.’ He then stated, that there would be no difficulty about settling it: that Mr. Humphreys was not then in the city, but was expected shortly, and that then there was no doubt the matter would be adjusted amicably. Mr. Borrehins brought the sample, and showed it to me. I know that the cask remains there yet at the manufactory. My business did not lead to the manufactory; it led to the store.” On his cross-examination the witness said, “ The sample Borrehins showed me at the time of making the purchase was verditer blue.” George Wood, another witness called by the plaintiff, testified thus: “ This article (pointing to the specimen exhibited to the preceding witness,) was sent to me, and 1 received it as foreman of Mr. Borrehins’ factory. I received it at the latter end of 1820, as near as I can recollect. I received it with a cask of green; nothing else that I recollect. I do not know what that article (pointing as before,) is. It is not paint. I recollect only receiving the two casks, one blue, the other green. I saw a sample of this before 1 received the paint. The sample was a good article. It was sent for me to try if it was good. The sample was sent by Mr. Borrehins. I have tried this since. I could not do any thing with it. I judged of the sample by the looks ; it looked-very well; it did not look like this. I opened the cask myself. This is a fair sample of what the cask contains. I opened the cask about six or eight weeks after I received it.” Being cross-examined, he said, “ It ran generally through the cask like this. The sample which I saw, had all the appearance of being good verditer. This blue paint does not injure by keeping.” James Kearney, being then called as a witness for the plaintiff, swore as follows: “ I was at that time a workman in Borrehins’ factory. The cask of paint was received about the latter.end of 1820. We tried it; I cannot tell when, perhaps six or eight weeks after we received the cask. I rather think a cask of green was received at the same time. I cannot recollect whether any others about the same time. We had not received any other cask of blue for some time before, as I recollect. I do not recollect the purchase of any other cask of blue by Mr. Borreldns, at any time.” On his cross-examination he said, “ We used blue paint in the factory: we generally made the blue paint.” Isaac W. Blanchard, being again called, said: “ Mr. Borreldns used exclusively Prussian blue. He made all he used. Mr. Borreldns did not purchase any blue paint excepting this, while he was in business. The verditer blue which this is, is a different article from the Prussian. This is the only cask of such stuff in our factory. An account of stock has been taken every .year, and this is the identical cask.” On his cross-examination the witness said : “ Borreldns never used verditer blue in his factory. It was a very scarce article. He used 'the Prussian blue. He could not obtain the verditer of a quality sufficiently good. Some verditer will not work in water, but will in oil. I do not recollect making trial of the verditer. The other witnesses are mistaken as to its being the latter end of the year.” Henry Troth, another witness examined on the part of the plaintiff, said: “ I have been accustomed to deal in paints, and verditer among the rest. I am something of a judge. This (pointing to the specimen before referred to,) might be called blue paint, but it does not resemble any paint we sell under that name. This is a mixture of some blue, paint with a part dirt, different from any thing we are accustomed to deal in. I think there is inferior blue verditer among it mixed in with dirt. I should not consider this any paint: verditer is not called a high priced paint, Fifty cents is about a fair price. That used to be the price about six years ago. My impression is that was a fair price. It is not apt to injure by keeping. I never saw or heard that it was.” The defendants then offered in evidence a book of original entries made by their clerk at the time, for the purpose of showing that the sale was made in the first instance of three kegs of paint at certain prices, and that afterwards four kegs were included in the sale, and the price of one of them greatly reduced. An objection was made by the counsel for the plaintiff) to the admission of the book in evidence for the purpose for which it was offered, but the Judge overruled the objection, and an exception was taken to his opinion. The defendants then called.and examined as a witness May Humphreys, whose testimony was as follows: “ I have no interest in this question. This blue paint was originally Junius Smith’s of London, and was sent out to Adams and Swift of Baltimore. After the failure of Adams and Swift, it came into my hands as agent. I was ignorant of the value of paints. I brought samples to Philadelphia, and with Mr. Bevan, exhibited them to Mr. Borrekins. Mr. Borrekins declined coming to any arrangement at that time; but enough passed between us to induce me to send them to this market. On my return to Baltimore, I sent the paints to Bevan and Porter to be subject to a re-examination. There were one or two more that samples had been exhibited of. The cask of green was sold at a reduction of fifty per cent, from what I had originally stated. Bevan and Porter settled with me and paid me the proceeds after they became due. They paid me many months before I heard of any objection being made to them. I was not present at the final sale. The first was indefinite, but was to become absolute, if on delivery, the articles corresponded with the samples. I accounted with my principal before I had knowledge of any objection. I accounted to Adams and Swift, in the settlement of an account with them. 1 think it was a twelvemonth after the sale, before I heard of any objection.” When the evidence was closed, his Honour charged the Jury, “ that the law was, that the plaintiff could not recover, unless an express warranty or fraud were proved ; that a description in a bill of parcels of an article sold as blue paint, does not amount to a warranty that it is so ; and that in order to support his action, it is incumbent on the plaintiff to show, that before bringing suit, he tendered or redelivered the article to the defendants.” To this charge the counsel for the plaintiff tendered a bill of exceptions, which was sealed by the Judge. In this court the following errors were assigned, viz:— 1. That the court below erred in permitting the defendants to give in evidence a book of original entries made by their clerk, for the purpose of showing the time and circumstances of a certain sale made by them to the plaintiff, and the quantity sold, and the price agreed upon therefor; and for the purpose of showing also, that the quantity Sold was afterwards increased, and the price thereof reduced. 2. That the court erred in charging the Jury, that the plaintiff could not recover unless express warranty or fraud were proved. 3. That the court erred in charging the Jury, that the description in the bill of parcels of the article sold, as blue paint, does not amount to a warranty that it is so. 4. That the court erred in charging the Jury, that in order to support his action, it was incumbent on the plaintiff to show, that before bringing suit, he tendered or redelivered the article to the defendants. 1. The book of the defendants was not competent evidence, and ought not to have been admitted. The plaintiff had proved the contract of sale by exhibiting the bill of parcels rendered by the defendants, and assented to by the plaintiff,’who had given his notes in accordance with it, and paid them at maturity. The defendants then offered their book of original entries to prove the nature and circumstances of the transaction, the time when the negociation originated, and the modifications it underwent, before the contract was finally adjusted. Books are not evidence for purposes of this kind. They are evidence to prove the sale and delivery of goods, and the performance of work, but not to prove the negociation, which led to the sale, or any other matter merely incidental or collateral. The necessity which gave rise to the admission of evidence of this description, in the limited transactions of early times, when few clerks were kept, cannot be considered as applicable to the transactions of a great commercial house, whose numerous clerks and assistants enable them to produce witnesses to any matter connected with its. business, which it may be necessary to prove. The policy of our courts has latterly been, to circumscribe, rather than enlarge the limits of the rule. There is no reason why the books of one party to a contract should be evidence more than those of another. There is certainly no reason why, when the tradesman’s habits of business are dropt, and the necessity for such evidence has ceased, the merchant should have the privilege, given by necessity to the small shop-keeper. Large sales are now more fre-, quently made at the counting-room of the purchaser, than at the warehouse of the seller, and the true co-temporaneous record of the transaction, would be the books of the purchaser; yet they are never admitted. A sale differs from a barter only in the consideration, it being merchandize in the one case, and in the other money; yet courts do not permit cash paid to be proved by the books of the party. The reason is, that the custom was not extended so far in early times, and policy forbids an enlargement of its ancient boundaries. The uniform effort of our courts for a long time past has been to multiply exceptions to a rule which is itself an exception to the general principles of evidence. Baisch v. Hoff 1 Yeates, 198. Poultney v. Ross, 1 Dallas, 238. Sterrett v. Bull, 1 Binn. 234. Cooper v. Morrel, 4 Yeates, 341. Rogers v. Old, 5 Serg. Rawle, 409. Smith v. Lane, 12 Serg. ¿p Raiole, 80. The principle on which these cases have gone is, that wherever by the custom of trade, or the circumstances of the particular case, it appears that better evidence can be procured, books are not admitted. Thus, where there is a collateral undertaking, it is usual to make it in writing; where money is paid, a receipt is given ; where goods are received for sale on commission, they are, by the usage of merchants, accompanied by instructions; where invoices have been copied, they can be produced; where receipts are by custom signed on the delivery of goods, the original receipts can be produced ; and, as in this case, where a bill of parcels is rendered, tha't can be exhibited; in all these and similar cases, books are inadmissible. The admission of the books of the defendants in the present case, was calculated to lead to error and confusion. They exhibited two transactions, one on the 6th April, the other on the 11th May. One or the other w'as not in question, and consequently the entry relating to it, could not properly be evidence. The first was in fact not a sale, but a mere inchoate bargain as is proved by Humphreys, and was recorded, like the transaction in Rogers v. Old, as part of the pending business of the defendants, but not intended to charge the plaintiff It was of course not evidence. Another fatal objection to the admissibility of the books is, that the contract had been defined and fixed by the bill of parcels. It was the defendants’ own written exposition of the contract, and. cannot now be varied, controverted, or explained away by the uncommunicated memoranda to be found in their private'books. Vandevoort v. Smith, 2 Caines, 161. Mumford v. McPherson, 1 John. Rep. 418. Dean v. Mason, 4 Day, 428. Osgood v. Lewis, 2 Harris Gill, 522. Yates v. Pym, 6 Taunt. 446. If then the evidence of witnesses cannot be received to vary a contract thus reduced to writing, still less can a secret record made by the party himself, for his own purposes, be adduced, to prove negociations, which are merged in the bill of parcels, or that the contract was different from his own exposition of it, communicated to and accepted by the opposite party. There is a distinction between a bill of parcels and an invoice. The invoice, as was said in Jones v. Bright, 5 Bing. 533, is frequently not sent till long after the contract is completed, and in such cases, “ whatever was not matter of previous discussion, but formed part of the contract, may be given in evidence.” The bill of parcels, on the other hand, is the co-temporaneous evidence of the contract. In the case before the court, it is dated on the very day of the contract, and ten days before the entry in the book, offered in evidence. 2. and 3. No fraud is imputed to any of the parties, who participated in the sale of the article in question, but it is insisted, the plaintiffis entitled to recover, because he had what amounted to a warranty, first, in the sample, and secondly, in the bill of parcels, the general principle being, that a sample, or a description in a sale note, advertisement, bill of parcels or invoice, is equivalent to an express warranty, not of the quality of the goods, but that they are of the kind they are represented to be. This is a question, which, however well settled by the usage and understanding of merchants, has never been judicially decided. Jackson v. Wetherill, 7 Serg. ¿y Rawle, 480, which was relied upon by the Judge of the District Court does not touch it. That was a question of warranty as to quality ; as to the habits of a horse, and the decision of the court was nothing more, than that certain expressions used by the seller, were merely declarations of his opinion, and not a warranty of the qualities of the animal sold. Curcier v. Pennock, 14 Serg. Sy Rawle, 51, was not the case of a described article, bargained for by a fixed name, but of an article exhibited to the buyer. It was called “ Cayenne money,” on the plaintiff’s books, but its genuineness had been throughout matter of question, and had been the subject of separate enquiry by the receiver, who took it on speculation, at his own risk. It was decided on the particular circumstances of the case, and no question was raised as to the article delivered, being the same in kind as that contracted for. The Pennsylvania cases then, it is clear, do not sustain the opinion of the court below. In admitting that the question is res integra here, all is admitted that can be asked on the opposite side. It can be solved only by reference to the laws of other countries, whose interests are analogous.to our own, and by an enquiry into the policy of those laws. In France, and wherever the civil law prevails, that is, throughout the commercial portion of the continent of Europe, the law is what the plaintiff now contends for. Poihier de Vente, sec. 202. p. 121. The seller is bound by the very nature of the contract of sale, to guarranty, that the thing sold is free from such defects as would render it useless or injurious for the purpose for which it is sold; and without any other warranty than that which is implied in the very nature of the contract, the buyer has his action for redress. Civil Code JVap. Art. 1640, 1641. The law of implied warranty, it is true, does not apply to patent defects, against which, by the common law, even an express warranty, affords no protection. 3 Bl. Corn. 165. In England at a very early day, the rule which governed real property, was applied to the transactions of commerce. At first little injury resulted from this circumstance, because trade was very limited in amount, and generally conducted in market overt, and there were few articles which could not be judged of by inspection at the Chapman’s Stall. In the year 1600, or thereabouts, the case of Chandelor v. Lopus, Cro. Jac. 4, was decided on this principle. But as commerce increased, the rule was found intolerable; for commerce cannot exist without confidence, which can be secured only by compelling every contracting party to do that which at the time of contracting, he professed his intention to do. A multitude of more recent decisions in England, have placed the doctrine on a footing more in accordance with the necessities of the extended commerce of that country, and the laws of other commercial states. Hibbert v. Skee, 1 Camp. 113. Laing v. Fidgeon, 2 Taunt. 108. 1 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 327. Parker v. Palmer, 4 Barn. Aid. 387. 6 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 456. Bridge v. Wain, 1 Stark. 504. 2 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 488. Rowe v. Osborne, 1 Stark. 140. 2 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 329. Yates v. Pym, 6 Taunt. 446. 1 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 446. Gardener v. Gray, 4 Camp. 144. Bosserv. Hooper, 1 Moore, 106. Jones v. Boaden, 4 Taunt. 853. Dye v. Fynmore, 3 Camp. 162. Peake’s Ev. 228. 3 T. R. 57. Shepherd v. Kain, 5 Barn, dp Aid. 240. 7 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 82. Hern v. Nichols, 1 Salk. 289. Paley on Agency, 229. Fortune v. Lingham, 2 Campb. 416. Gray v. Coze, 10 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 283. Jones v. Bright, 5 Bing. 533. 15 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 529. Salmon v. Ward, 12 Eng. Com. Lato Rep. 95. The more recent decisions in New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland, and the other commercial states of the Union, are in harmony with the principles of the modern English cases. Bradford v. Manly, 13 Mass. Rep. 145. Sands v. Taylor, 5 Johns. Rep. 395. 404. Willing v. Consequa, 1 Peters, 317. Sioett v. Colgate, 20 Johns. Rep. 196. Oneida Company v. Lawrence, 4 Cowd. 440. Andrews v. Neelin, 6 Cowd. 354. 357. Blastings v. Levering, 2 Pick. 214. Conner v. Henderson, 15 Mass. Rep. 319. Henderson v. Sevey, 2 Greenl. 139. Chapman v. March, 19 John. Rep. 290. Roberts v. Morgan, 2 Cowd. 438. Higgins v. Livermore, 14 Mass. Rep. 106. Hastings v. Lowering, 2 Pick. 214. Lewis v. Thacher, 15 Mass. Rep. 431. Osgood v. Leiois, 2 Harris Sp Gill. 495. 518. Williams y. Spafford, 8 Pick. 250. The question, therefore, for the determination of this court is, whether the law of Pennsylvania on the subject of implied warranty, shall correspond with that of France, England, and the commercial states of this country, as it exists at the present day, or whether it shall be a transcript of the law as introduced into England some centuries ago, which has been repealed, and repudiated in favour of the commercial necessities of that country. As to the policy of the rule now contended for by the plaintiff, it is impossible to entertain a doubt, for no one can deny that a man should so execute his contract as to comply with the just expectations of the other contracting party, and with his own declared intentions. If a man purchase tea from a China merchant, and having sold it to a Western trader, it turns out that the box contains chaff, he is bound by the unvarying usage of trade, in such cases, to refund the price. Even the law of China gives redress. If one purchase plate of a silversmith, and on using it, it is discovered that the metal is base, the seller must return the money, and even ignorance of the fraud will not excuse him. So if one purchase a box of bullion, a bale of cotton, or a cask of paints, and it turns out, that the box contained pewter instead of bullion, the bale, stones or rubbish, instead of cotton, or the cask, dirt instead of paint, it cannot be law, that the party aggrieved is without redress; yet such is the result to which the doctrine of the court below must necessarily lead. If there is no redress without express warranty or fraud, there is no redress at all. As to fraud, the essential element of it is the scienter, and how can that be proved ? How can the purchaser show that the seller was a better judge of the article than himself? If he sold bullion, he was perhaps, no more of an alchemist than the buyer. If cotton, he probably never unpacked the bale, and knew nothing of its contents further than had been represented to him. The rule by which justice would be done to all, is that which gives a remedy to the buyer against the party from whom he immediately purchased, and refers him to the party from whom he had the article, and so on until the party guilty of the fraud is reached. Then, as to warranty ; men ask warranty of quality, but never of kind or character. In buying a horse, the purchaser asks warranty of soundness, because though blind or lame, the animal is still a horse. So in buying a ship, a warranty of seaworthiness is asked for, because though rotten in every timber, the vessel is nevertheless a ship; but who asks for a warranty, that a horse is really a horse, or a ship a ship ? Fraud, in cases like the present, can easily be proved if it exist, and often has no existence between the immediate parties; and such a thing as an express warranty, that the article described in the contract of sale, or the bill of parcels defining the contract, and the article really sold, are the same, was probably never heard of. To affirm the judgment of the court below is, therefore, equivalent to a decision, that in no case, can a party aggrieved in a contract of sale like that now under consideration, obtain redress in a court of justice. 4. The error in the charge of the court below, that it was incumbent on the plaintiff to show, .that before bringing suit, he tendered or redelivered the article to the defendants, arose from confounding two remedies, which were within the plaintiff’s reach, and between which he made his election. Where the consideration of a contract has been executed, and there is a failure to complete the performance, the party aggrieved may either rescind the contract, and recover back the consideration, or admit the contract, and recover damages for a breach of it. The consideration may be recovered back, by a special action on the case, or by an action for money had and received. To sustain either of these actions, with such an object, the plaintiff must show, that he has paid the consideration, and that by recovering it back, the defendant will not be placed in. a worse situation than he was before the contract, which the plaintiff cannot rescind to the prejudice of the defendant. He must, therefore, show, that before bringing suit, he re-delivered or re-paid what he received from the defendant, and has thus restored him to his former situation. But it is not always in the power of the party aggrieved, to rescind the contract, and recover back the consideration. The goods may have been shipped, or worked up, before the injury is ascertained, and .the return of the goods then becomes impossible. In such a case, the remedy is by a special action on the contract, alleging a breach, and demanding damages for it. In adopting this form of action, the plaintiff avoids the necessity of showing a re-delivery. These remedies accord with those of the civil law, from which most of our commercial principles are derived. Where the article sold differs in character from that described, the purchaser, by that law, has two remedies, 1st. Actio redhibitoria, in which he returns the article, and recovers back the price, and all expenses incurred by him, 2d. Actio quanto minoris, by which without a return of the article sold, the buyer obtains such a reduction of price, or a return of so much of it as is equal to the difference in value between the article described in the contract, and that delivered. Pothier Cont. de Vente, sec. 216. Art 4. p. 129. sec. 232. Art. 5. p. 135. The doctrine now contended for on behalf of the plaintiff is abundantly supported by authority. Many of the cases referred to in the examination 'of the 2d. and 3d. errors, sustain it, to which may be added Curtis v. Hannay, 3 Esp. 82, 83. Peake’s Ev. 230. Fielder v. Starkin, 1 H. Bl. 19. Poulson v. Lattimor'e, 17 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 373. This doctrine applies, not only to cases of express, but of implied warranty also. If it were other- ■ wis.e, it would be most ruinous doctrine. Fortunately the cases take no distinction between cases of express and implied warranty. In Steigleman v. Jeffries, 1 Serg. Sp Raiole, 478, Chief Justice Tilghman shows the result of the English cases in a few words, and explains how it is, that some of them at the first glance, wear an appearance at variance with the principle, which upon closer examination, they do not affect. The opposite doctrine would lead to the worst results, and in many cases operate as a bounty to fraud. If when a man has paid his money for a horse, which he contracted for by a certain description, and one of another and inferior description, is delivered to him, he must, before he can maintain an action for the fraud, return the animal he has received, he puts it in the power of the jockey to injure him still further, by keeping both the money and the horse, and thus depriving him even of the partial consideration for which he paid his money. It is making the operation of a legal right a species of gaming, to require, that before a man shall have a chance of recovering back, what he has been cheated of, he shall stake what he has received against the black legs. — This is one of the many cases in which by confining the attention to the exact matter of exception, injustice is done to the Judge and to the cause. To understand the charge, it is necessary, first to understand the case, and see what the facts were on which the charge was founded. This result will not be reached, by taking an abstract position in the charge, and making that, by itself, the subject of exception. The evidence is brought up for the purpose of elucidating the charge, and should be used for that purpose. A proposition may be stated by a judge, which in the abstract may be questionable, but which, taken in connection with other matter, may be correct. If taken in connection with the evidence, the charge of the judge in this case, will be found free from error. The sale was made in May 1820, and no complaint was made for nearly a year, and no suit was brought for nearly two years after. On the trial, the plaintiff endeavoured in the first place to prove a sale by sample, in which the evidence did not sustain him. The Judge charged, that a sale by sample implies a warranty, and left to the Jury the fact, whether or not the sale was by sample; stating his own impressions that it was not. It is not now matter of exception that the Judge did not leave this to the jury, nor could it be, for he did. It must therefore be considered that the jury found that it was not a sale by sample. Brown on Sales, 338. Meyer v. E'uerih, 4 Campb. 22. The plaintiff, in the second place, endeavoured to establish that the description in the bill of parcels, was a warranty that the article sold corresponded in character and quality, with the description. The Judge referred to the consideration of the jury, whether the plaintiff examined the article, and stated it to be clear that he did so, or had the opportunity of doing so. Under these circumstances he charged that this bill of parcels, evidently made after the purchase, was no more than a description, not a warranty, as in Jackson v. Wetherill, 7 Serg. fy Rawle, 480. The case then stood thus. It was for the jury to decide whether it was a sale by sample. If it was,, it was a case of warranty, and then the jury were to consider whether the bulk corresponded with the sample. If it was not a sale by sample, was it a case of warranty, by .means of the bill of parcels? Under the circumstances the Judge thought it was not, and the plaintiff did not declare upon it as such. The bill of parcels was not the contract, but a mere description. The purchaser bought either upon examination, or with opportunity to examine, and the bill of parcels was made and rendered after the sale. It is upon this state of things the Judge must be considered as having charged, that if there was neither warranty nor fraud, the plaintiff was not entitled to recover. In this he was right, First. Because this was not a sale by sample, and must be taken to have been so found by the jury. If it was such a sale, the charge was in favor of the plaintiff Second. It was a sale of a commodity in the usual course of business, where the purchaser had abundant opportunity to examine, and where it must be presumed he did examine the article, and the purchase was made on that examination, and not on any .warranty express or implied. Third. It was a sale on credit, made by agents, and the payments were made by the purchaser at four, six and eight months, without objection, and the agent has accounted with and paid over to his' principal. Fourth. It was not a sale upon warranty, and the purchaser, if he objected to the article, and was entitled to object, was bound to return or offer to return the article. First. It is unnecessary to spend a moment in the examination of the cases cited to shew that a sale by sample carries with it an implied warranty. The principle contended for was not denied by the Judge, nor is it-now. Second. Under the circumstances of this case, in the absence of fraud and warranty, neither of which is alleged, the purchaser stands nakedly on his own judgment of the article, and if he misses in that, he has no redress. The case is a fair one, to present the rule of law which is well settled, and is clear of the various exceptions which have been made to the rule. No rule can be more salutary or reasonable than that which the judge applied to this case. The seller and buyer were equally ignorant of the quality of the article, of its distinctive features and character. It was an article brought from a far country, paidfor by the seller under the same description, and sold with a full belief it was the article he undertook to sell. The buyer made the purchase under the same impression. It turns out to be of inferior quality, adulterated, and that a fraud has been practiced abroad. Reason and common convenience would say, that the seller and purchaser being on equal terms, the maxim caveat emptor must govern the case. It seems to be agreed, that if there be neither warranty nor fraud, the seller is not responsible for mere inferiority of quality, but it is contended he is bound to give a merchantable article of the kind and character he undertook to sell. There is no reason, however, for a distinction between the cases, where the purchaser has an opportunity to examine the article. If the article turns out to be of inferior quality, it is conceded, that the seller is not answerable, because the buyer purchased on his own judgment, and asked no The same with force to the case of admixture, of adulteration of different substances in whole or in part. Admixture, particularly such as occurred in this case, of blue paint and dirt, is as easily detected, perhaps more. so, than mere inferiority of quality. If the purchaser avails himself of the opportunity of examination, or buys as if he had examined, where is the reason for a difference between this case and that of mere inferiority of quality ? . If the rule be adopted at all, it must be throughout. But the rule of the Roman law, that sound price calls for sound goods, is not- the rule by which we are governed. The common lawiis our law. The rule of reason and that which is sanctioned by the best authority is, that when a sale is made of an article in the usual course of business, and a full opportunity is given to the purchaser for examination, and there is neither warranty nor fraud by the seller, the buyer cannot resort to the seller, on the ground of inferiority of quality, of adulteration, of admixture, or of any difference in the article. There are some cases, decided in later times, which either do not come within the rule, or may be considered as exceptions to it. One of these is, the purchase of a manufactured article from the manufacturer, who is considered as warranting that the article he sells or makes for the purchaser, is of a fair merchantable quality. Such were the cases of Laing v. Fidgeon, and Jones v. Bright. Anotherof these cases is that of a sale of articles not usually the subject of examination, or which cannot be examined. Thus if a wine merchant undertakes to sell Madiera, and sends Teneriffe, or if an apothecary professes to sell magnesia and delivers cream of tartar, the purchaser is not bound. There may be cases too, ruled by the custom of trade, with regard to which the court should be very cautious. Perhaps another case may be that of a sale of an article for a foreign market, or for a specific purpose, as in the case of Gray v'. Coxe. The present case may be considered one of mere inferiority of quality, which arises from various causes, of which it is sometimes very difficult to judge. Mr. Troth, the most skilful man examined, says the article, might be blue paint, but did not resemble any paint he sold under that name; it was a mixture of inferior blue paint and dirt. An examination of the books will shew, that the rule now proposed on behalf of the defendants in error, has the support not only of good sense, but of authority, although a case may now and then occur, or a sentiment be expressed by.a judge, wearing, a different aspect. (Mr. Chauncey here examined and explained a number of the cases cited by the counsel for the plaintiffin error, for the purpose of shewing that they sustained the principles for which he contended. He also referred to Parkinson v. Lee, 2 East, 314, 2 Kent’s Com. 274, 215. Wilson v. Shackleford, 4 Rand. R. 5.) The rule which may be fairly deduced from the cases, is that for which the defendants in error now contend, and which was applied by the court below to the present case. The plaintiff did not declare upon a warranty, nor was there any evidence that a warranty was expected, or intended to be given, but the contrary. The sale was made on inspection actually had, or opportunity offered for it.' The bill of parcels was given afterwards. In such a case it can be regarded as no more than a mere description of the thing sold, not even amounting to an affirmation that it really was what it was described to be, and still less to á warranty to that effect. Cases of a description before the sale, by advertisement, or in the contract by a sale note,-bill of parcels, or invoice, may involve a warranty, but it is impossible to infer a warranty from a description given after the sale is completed. In laying down the law to the jury, the judge founded himself upon Jackson v. Wetherill, 7 Serg. <§• Rawle, 480. Curcier v. Pennock, 14 Serg. dp Rawle, 51. Calhoun v. Vecchio, 3 Wash. C. C. R. 165. Barrett v. Hall, 1 Aik. Rep. 269. Brown on Sales, 409. The position of the judge who tried the cause, that it was necessary, to enable the plaintiffto support the action, to shew that he had previously returned or tendered the article, was sound, upon the ground that there was no express warranty, in which case alone, the plaintiff is at liberty to sue upon the warranty, or defend himself by means of if, without returning or offering to return the article. The reason of this distinction between express and implied warranties, is that the former affirms and the latter annuls the contract, and no case can be found in which the party can keep the article, where his claim or his defence annuls the contract. This position is fully sustained by authority. Brown on Sales, 341. 475. Fisher v. Lancaster, 1 Campb. 190. Groning v. Mendham, 1 Starkie, 257. Rowe v. Osborne, 1 Starkie, 140. Ritchie v. Summers, 3 Yeates, 531. Thornton v. Wynn, 12 Wheat. 183. Burton v. Stewart, 3 Wend. 238. Saund. on PI. Sp Eo. 303, 304. Kimball v. Cunningham, 4 Mass. R. 502. Connor v. Henderson, 15 Mass. -R. 319. Curcier v. Pennock, 14 Serg. Sp Rawle, 51. Steigleman v. Jeffries, 1 Serg. Sp Rawle, 477. Grimaldi v. White, 4 Esp. JV. P. R. 95. Another conclusive objection to the plaintiff’s recovery, was that the defendants were agents, who had accounted with- their principal, and- paid over the proceeds of the sale, before any objection was made. Paley on Agency, 37, 45. In reply, the counsel for the plaintiff in error disclaimed any desire to avoid a discussion of the question under consideration, without full reference to every thing which could explain or vindicate the judgment of the court below. It would be attended with little advantage to do so, as, in case that judgment should be reversed, it would be easy for the counsel of the defendants in error to place upon the record' when it came up again, all the facts and circumstances, calculated to present the question to this court, in such a manner as he deemed essential to a proper determination of the question. The declaration was drawn before it was known what evidence would be given, and certainly without any view to a contest about technicalities ; and from what passed between the counsel on both sides, it was understood, that the cause was to be tried without regard to form; that if the plaintiff could recover on any declaration, he should on that which was filed, and that if the defendants could escape on any plea, those which were put in should protect them. In the same spirit, the cause was tried. Whether a sale is “ in the usual course of business,” and whether “ the purchaser had a full opportunity of examining, the article,” are questions of fact which should have been left to the decision of the jury, for unless decided by them affirmatively, the plaintiff’s right to recover would not be affected by the rule contended for on behalf of the defendants. But the court did not charge in the qualified language used by the counsel. The judge said nothing about “ the usual course of business,” or “ opportunity to examine,” but that “ the plaintiff could not rec.over without express warranty or fraud, and that a description in a bill of parcels was not equivalent to a warranty.” In this there was error even on the principles laid down on the opposite side. But these principles are themselves opposed by a host of English authorities, and to avoid their operation, the counsel introduces numerous and important exceptions, within which, however, it is impossible to bring many of the cases, with which he has to combat. If, however, the general principle be admitted to be correct, the exceptions are sufficient for the purposes of the plaintiff in error. How does it appear that paints are usually the subject of examination by the buyer ? It is certainly as usual and as natural for a purchaser of wine to taste and judge for himsélf, as for a manufacturer of paper hangings to explore every cask of paint he buys, yet it is admitted that he to whom wine is delivered of a different character from that which he contracted for, is entitled to redress. How too does it appear that the article was not sold for a specific purpose, another of the exceptions stated by the opposite counsel? The plaintiff is among the most extensive manufacturers of paper hangings in the United States, and if the court had qualified their doctrine as the counsel now does, the intent of the purchaser might have been understood by the jury, and their verdict different. Here again the charge works an injury to the plaintiff in error. Every purchaser has some purpose in view, and ought it to be assumed, because the specific purpose is not declared, that therefore the purchaser intended to buy what had no value for any purpose ? “ No man,” says Lord Elienborough, in Gardiner v. Gray, 4 Campb. 144, “ can be supposed to buy goods to lay them on a dunghill.” The difficulty of distinguishing between great inferiority of quality, and entire difference in the article, is no reason for breaking down the distinction to be found in the books. To say that trespass vi et armis is the remedy for deceit, and case for consequential injuries, is to make in many cases, a most puzzling distinction. Even to say that a sane man may make a will and that an insane one may not, is to establish a principle, which in its application sometimes splits a hair. Yet these distinctions, so difficult in application, are perfectly well settled in law. But the cases already referred to expressly decide, that whether the purchaser had an opportunity to examine, and whether he did examine or not, make no difference as to the responsibi-' lity of the seller. If then the general principle offered by the counsel for the defendants in error be not established in its extreme bearings, and if its exceptions be not narrowed down within the -limbs which he has himself prescribed for them, the authorities already cited may be reverted to to shew, that in England at this time, as in France, and Europe generally, the contract of sale implies a warranty, that the article sold shall correspond in character with the article described ; and that it shall correspond in quality with the sample,- if a sample has been- exhibited.