Long v. Colston

1 Va. 111
CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
DecidedNovember 15, 1806
StatusPublished

This text of 1 Va. 111 (Long v. Colston) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Long v. Colston, 1 Va. 111 (Va. 1806).

Opinion

Friday, November 7. The Judges delivered their opinions.

* Judge Tucker.

Before I enter upon the points which I purpose to consider in this case, I shall premise, that both from the bill and the evidence, I am fully satisfied that Lee and Colston were originally partners in this bargain, probably from its first inception, previous to Long's visit to Colston's house; and that Lee was from that period the agent of both, and that whatever Lee did in the business was binding upon Colston, being matured and concluded in his presence. That Lee was, probably, as well informed as Long, of the situation of the property in England, before the parties met at Alexandria; and that although there is a charge of misrepresentation made against Long in the bill, there is no proof of any representation whatever from him to Colston, in the character of a purchaser, or one treating for a purchase. That as Colston seems to have studiously concealed his participation with Lee, in the contract then in agitation between Lee and Long, and denied any intention to treat with Long for the purchase, the conversation between him and Long is not to be regarded as between persons treating about a bargain, but merely as between indifferent persons.

The original contract, after reciting the nature of Mrs. Long's title, and that the proceeds of her estate were invested in the English funds, (not particularizing which of them,) contains a covenant on the part of Long and wife, in consideration of the covenants therein after contained on the part of Colston, to assign and convey to him all the right, title and interest of Long and his wife therein, with a covenant for further assurance. &c. In consideration of [120]*120which, Colston agrees to pay Long 20,000 dollars down, upon the execution of the contract, viz. 5,000 dollars in cash, the “ residue in lands situate in the State of Kentucky “ and the territory N. W. of the river Ohio, to be selected “ from a schedule of locations and surveys thereto annexed, “ and part of the covenant, by Long, for which Colston “ is to be allowed two dollars per acre, and of which he is “ to make every necessary conveyance in fee-simple, “ against the claims of himself and his heirs, and inasmuch " as some of them are only entered, Colston to bear the “ burthen and expense of their being surveyed. And further, “ as the value of the said estate (in England) is not “ ascertained, and the parties mutually suppose that its “ value, when ascertained, will far exceed 20,000 dollars, “ Colston covenants to execute a bond to Long, to pay him “ whatever may be the excess beyond the 20,000 dollars, at “ the rate of one pound currency for a pound sterling, after “ deducting *by the same ratio the 20,000 dollars aforesaid.” Then follow some other covenants not material to consider; then a covenant that Long and wife shall execute a cotemporary power of attorney to Colston, empowering him to receive the value of the estate, &c. but the appointment of agents in England shall be made by both parties—and then this clause—" And further, the “ said Colston is to proceed with every possible dispatch to “ ascertain and secure the value of the estates thereby covenanted “ to be transferred, and to bear all expense attendant “ thereon. And further to avoid every opening for after construction, and render the meaning of the parties “ as explicit as possible, it is understood that Long and “ wife are only to convey their title and interest to the said “ estates, and that of their joint and several heirs. And " that if any change or convulsion in the government of “ Great Britain, should occur, as an obstacle to the recovery of the said estates or the proceeds thereof vested in the " funds, they are not to be contemplated as responsible “ therefor, and as to the sum paid, no reimbursement shall “ take place, and that if any such event should happen, the “ said Colston, on the other hand, is not to be bound by “ his bond.”

On the same day Colston with Lee his security executed a bond to Long in the penalty of 100,000 dollars, in the condition of which, after reciting the former part of the agreement, as far as the stipulation to pay a pound currency, for a pound sterling of whatever should be received in England by Colston, the words of the bond proceed thus, " whereby it was meant that for the entire value of the [121]*121“ said estates or stock in the funds in sterling money of the “ kingdom of G. Britain, the said Colston was only to give “ the said Long, only one pound Virginia currency, for “ one pound sterling, &c.

Where there is a written agreement, the whole sense of the parties is presumed to have been comprised therein, and it would be dangerous to make any addition in cases where there does not appear any fraud in leaving out any thing. This is a general rule. (5 Co. 68. 1 Fonb. 200.) But the parties to this instrument have taken uncommon pains to manifest their full sense of the bargain, as expressed in the original articles of agreement, by that clause which professes to avoid every opening for after construction, and render their meaning as explicit as possible. If then the agreement thus concluded and explained, can *admit of a satisfactory explanation, we are bound to give it that, and that only which the words will bear.

I shall premise, that the consideration and inducement to the agreement on the part of Long and wife, is not the payment of the sum of 20,000 dollars, in the manner proposed, as a sum or price in gross, but that he undertakes in consideration of the covenants therein after contained on the part of Colston; by which it appears clearly to my apprehension that the 20,000 dollars was considered by both parties as a partial payment only, for an estate, the value and amount of which depended upon future information and computation: for neither party professes to know the real value or amount of the estate, though both parties acknowledge their belief, that it will far exceed the value of the 20,000 dollars. Let us suppose a merchant anxious to purchase a large crop of wheat just cut, but not yet threshed out, was to agree with the owner of the wheat for the purchase of his whole crop, which both parties supposed would far exceed a thousand bushels, and to pay him down 1,000 dollars, on executing his contract, and at the same time to give his bond to the owner to pay him whatever might be the excess beyond 1,000 bushels, at the rate of one dollar per bushel, after deducting the 1,000 dollars paid by the same ratio. Could any one hesitate to pronounce that this was a bargain for the crop, at the rate of one dollar per bushel, and an advance made in part payment at the rate of one dollar per bushel, and to pay for any excess at the same rate ? Then would not equity say, in case the crop should fall short of 1,000 bushels, the owner must refund to the purchaser as many dollars, as the wheat falls short of the sum advanced? To my apprehension such a construction is irresistible. For as the bargain, was not to [122]*122pay

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1 Va. 111, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/long-v-colston-va-1806.