Toomer v. Dawson
Toomer v. Dawson
Opinion of the Court
Curia, per
Both parties were present when the entry was made. The plaintiff stated the terms of the contract in the presence of the defendant, and they were entered in the book accordingly. The terms were specifically
The case of Saunderson vs. Jackson et al. (2 Bos. & Pul. 238,) is full to the point. The plaintiff had bargained with the defendants for some gin which the latter refused to deliver. The plaintiff had received from them the following bill of parcels. “ London.—Bought of Jackson & Hankin, distillers, No. 8, Oxford-street,” (so much in print — then followed, in writing,) “ 1,000 gallons of gin, 1 in 5. Gin 7s. 350l.” About a month after, the defendant wrote this letter. “ Sir: We wish to know what time we shall send a part of your order, and shall be obliged for a little time for the delivery of the remainder.” Lord Eldon, Ch. J. said, “ this bill of parcels, though not the contract itself, may amount to a note or memorandum of the contract within the Statute of Frauds. The single question therefore is, whether, if a man be in the habit of printing instead of writing his name, he may not be said to sign by his printed name as well as his written name. At all events, connecting this bill of parcels with the subsequent letter of the defendants, I think the case is clearly taken out of the Statute of Frauds. For, although it be admitted that the letter, which does not contain the terms of the agreement, would not alone have been sufficient, yet, as the jury have connected it with something that is, and the letter is signed by the defendants, there is then a written note, or memorandum in writing,” &c. The case under consideration
I am, however, far from conceding that the memorandum made by the direction of one party, and acquiesced in by the other, was not sufficient to bind both; but it is unnecessary to go so far to decide the point involved in this case. For authorities upon it, see 4 Bos. & Pul. 252, and 5 Harris & Johnson R. 117.
Motion dismissed;
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.