but to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed; and the next best thing to avoiding getting into a difficulty is to be able to find the means of getting out of one. These means it will be my endeavour to produce to you.

CHAPTER II.

AGENCY AND AGENTS.

PERSON acting for another who, on account of distance or other impediment, is unable to act for himself, is, in commercial language, an agent or factor. The latter name, in very common use formerly, is now seldom employed. That which is done under such circumstances and by substitute is called agency: which word, by a secondary meaning, is also used to express the remuneration an agent receives for so acting.

agents.

Generally speaking, agents act under instructions Authority of from their principals or employers; either special directions for some definite transaction, or under more general instructions, applicable to business in which the principal is engaged. Besides agents who act specially for one or more principals, there are, in most ports and cities and in many parts of the world, persons who make it their vocation to transact business of a more transient kind for others

of agents.

Various kinds who are either at a distance, or who, visiting the place where such an agent is established, are ignorant of the language, customs, and people there; are unknown themselves, or have no credit in the place; and are from these and other reasons incapable of effecting the business they require to be done there. General agents are particularly useful, indeed almost indispensable, where shipping is concerned. There is a good deal of routine work, entries and clearances at the customs, payments of dues, &c., which they can do for a shipmaster better than he can transact it himself; and it often happens that the master is engaged in duties on board, and cannot leave his vessel. Such agents also supply money in the currency of the country, for the payment of immediate outlays, or for the master's wants during his stay at a port. The same agents are generally prepared to execute business connected with ships, on a larger scale; as when vessels put into harbour under average, require repairs, &c. We shall have more to say on the subject of general agents.

Obligatory agency.

There is, besides, another agent: one created by emergencies; who is authorized and, indeed, is forced into his position by the necessities of the case. Such agency being unintended and almost involuntary, the agent has to act as well as he can, with little definite instruction, or none at all. A ship