Roberts v. Opdyke

1 Rob. 287
CourtThe Superior Court of New York City
DecidedNovember 28, 1863
StatusPublished

This text of 1 Rob. 287 (Roberts v. Opdyke) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering The Superior Court of New York City primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Roberts v. Opdyke, 1 Rob. 287 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1863).

Opinion

Bosworth, Ch. J.

The defendant insists that hy the terms of the contract, the plaintiff was hound to carry out to Hew Orleans 700 tons measurement of assorted cargo; that the defendant was prepared to load the vessel, to that extent, hut that when she was loaded with 361 tons of such cargo, the plaintiff, against the demand of the defendant to he állowed to load her to the extent agreed upon, refused to receive on board the vessel any greater amount than 361 tons, and the vessel thereupon embarked on her voyage to Hew Orleans- with that amount, and no more.”

That the contract is entire, and if the foregoing interpretation of its meaning he correct, then the plaintiff has not proved performance hy him of the conditions precedent, and can not therefore recover.”

The defect in the defendant’s case is that it does not appear that the steamer could not carry seven hundred tons measurement of assorted cargo,” without drawing over fourteen feet of water. The admission at the trial is cautious and guarded, and seems to have been drawn in the form agreed upon, with a view to exclude the idea that the 361.95 tons laden on board was “ assorted cargo ” within the meaning of the clause in the charter party, the construction of which is now in question. That clause seems to contemplate by the assorted cargo ” of • which it speaks, such cargo as usually pays freight according to its measurement tonnage, and not upon its weight.

The admission seems to favor this view; for while it is admitted that the defendant was “ prepared to load the steamer ■with 700 tons measurement of assorted cargo,” it is further admitted that, when she was loaded to the extent of 361.95 tons, with the goods contained in schedule No. 1, the plaintiff refused to carry more, on' the ground that she drew full fourteen feet of water,” and' that the vessel with such cargo did, in fact, draw full fourteen feet of water. It is carefully ex-[291]*291eluded from the admission that this cargo was an “ assorted cargo.”

It does not appear that the defendant 'then complained that the ground taken by the plaintiff was inconsistent with his duty, or the defendant’s rights, under the charter party.

The exhibit, in its description of the tonnage of the cargo, specifies forty-four tons by weight, and 91-g- tons by measurement:, and as to the residue makes no mention how "its number of tons was ascertained, unless it is to be inferred from the figures, “225, 34rA0.”

It is admitted that the tonnage of the steamer was, as stated in the complaint, viz: “ that the measurement of said steamer was more than a thousand tons.” It is quite obvious that lead and iron might make the steamer draw fourteen feet of water, when consisting of less than 300 tons measurement, while 700 tons of goods, known as “ assorted cargo,” might not make her draw fourteen feet of water.

The plaintiff, certainly, does not contract that the steamer can cany 700 tons measurement of every kind of cargo. His contract, if there be any, as to the number of tons the steamer could carry, is that she can carry 700 tons measurement of “ assorted cargo.”

The court, so far as I am advised, is not presumed to know, judicially, that the cargo “ contained in schedule No. 1,” is such as is commonly known, in the carrying trade,' as an “ assorted cargo.” Until that fact is proved or admitted, the defendant has not in his case the facts necessary to raise the question, which, in his behalf, is now pressed on the consideration of the court.

The allegation in his answer is, that the 361 tons consisted of “ an assorted cargo.” This he has failed to prove. The written admission, on which the trial was had, did not state that it was “assorted cargo but on the contrary, seems to imply, in connection with the schedule No. 1, forming part of the admission, that it was not cargo ,of that description.

There is no complaint that the steamer, on the return from [292]*292New Orleans to New York, did not bring back “six hundred hogsheads of sugar, or its equivalent.”

It does not, indeed, appear that she brought back any cargo. But the fact remains that, no complaint is made, or defense •attempted, on any failure or incapacity of the steamer to bring back all that, under any construction of the charter party, it can be insisted that. the plaintiff covenanted she should or could bring back.

The only defense is, that that the cargo actually laden on board at Hew York, being 361.95 tons by weight and measurement, made the steamer draw fourteen feet of water ; and on that' ground the plaintiff refused to receive more cargo on board, to which act the defendant does not appear to have made any objection, or taken any exception at the time.

For the reasons already stated, I think the defendant has not shown that the vessel could not carry seven hundred tons measurement of “ assorted cargo and that the just inference, from the pleadings and the admissions at the trial, is, that the 361 tons laden at Hew York was not an “assorted cargo,” according to the parties’ understanding of those words, as used in the charter party.

I think, therefore, that the motion for a new trial should be denied, and that the plaintiff should have judgment on the verdict.

But even if it be assumed or conceded that the cargo contained in schedule Ho. 1, was an “assorted cargo,” I think that the plaintiff is, nevertheless, entitled to recover.

The concluding clause of the provision in question is, that it is understood that the steamer is “ to bring back six hundred hogshead of sugar, or its equivalent, or more, in case her draft of water does not exceed fourteen feet.” It is quite clear that, whether she was to bring back full six hundred hogsheads of sugar, was made dependent on the fact whether she would be made, thereby, to draw over fourteen feet. That she should not be made, thereby, to draw over fourteen feet, is as much a condition to her being required to bring back [293]*293six hundred hogsheads of sugar, as to bring back “its equivalent,” or to bring back more.

The tonnage of the vessel was such as to admit of her containing seven hundred tons of measurement goods; but to what extent her draft should be affected by the cargo put on board, seems to be a point in regard to which the plaintiff desired to protect himself and his vessel.

' He seems willing' that she might be so laden as to draw fourteen feet of water, but no more. The words, “or its equivalent,” are not of very obvious import, in the place they occupy. They can not mean equivalent in tulle, without reference to the specific gravity of the equivalent cargo. The number of hogsheads of sugar she was to bring back had no limit, except their effect on the draft of the vessel. And that was not to exceed fourteen feet, whether that result was produced by five "hundred and fifty or seven hundred, or the equivalent of either. I think the words, “ its equivalent,” as used, mean any thing else of like weight; and that was qualified by the condition as to the draft of water.

Hence, the.

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Bluebook (online)
1 Rob. 287, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/roberts-v-opdyke-nysuperctnyc-1863.