See Also: BILL PENAL, contracts(law)
BILL OF DEBT, BILL OBLIGATORY, contracts(law)
WAY BILL, contracts(law)
BILL, contracts(law)
BILL, SINGLE, contracts(law)
penal(dictionary)
LAW, PENAL(law)
penal(dictionary)
PENAL(law)
Penal Law(law)

Fish, Hamilton (sh) and BILL PENAL, contracts (law)


Fish, Hamilton (sh)




born Aug. 3, 1808, New York, N.Y., U.S.
died Sept. 6, 1893, New York City

U.S. secretary of state (1869-77).

He served New York state as lieutenant governor (1847-48), governor (1849-50), and U.S. senator (1851-57). As secretary of state in the administration of Pres. Ulysses S. Grant, he helped draft the Treaty of Washington (1871), which provided for international arbitration of the dispute with Britain over the Alabama claims; he also obtained an agreement with Spain regarding its seizure of the U.S. ship Virginius. As a respected member of Grant's cabinet, he worked to counter graft, improper appointments, and violations of the civil liberties of African Americans.


Hamilton Fish.

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.


BILL PENAL, contracts (law)


BILL PENAL, contracts. A written obligation, by which a debtor acknowledges himself indebted in a certain sum, may one hundred dollars, and for the himself indebted in a certain sum, may one hundred dollars, and for the payment of the Debt binds himself in a larger sum, say two hundred dollars. payment of the Debt binds himself in a larger sum, say two hundred dollars. Bills penal do not frequently occur in modern practice; bonds, with Bills penal do not frequently occur in modern practice; bonds, with conditions, have superseded them. Steph. on Pl. 265, note. See 2 Vent. 198. conditions, have superseded them. Steph. on Pl. 265, note. See 2 Vent. 198. Bills-penal are sometimes called bills obligatory. Cro. Car. 515; 2 Vent. Bills-penal are sometimes called bills obligatory. Cro. Car. 515; 2 Vent. 106. But a bill obligatory is not necessarily a bill penal. Com. Dig. 106. But a bill obligatory is not necessarily a bill penal. Com. Dig. Obligations, D. Obligations, D.