Charter land

( Eng. Law. ) Same as BOCLAND, q. v. Charter-party, n. [Fr. charte - partie, a divided charter, from the old practice of cutting the instrument in two, and giving one part to each contractor.] ( Mar. Law.) A contract by which the owner, or master, of a ship lets the whole or principal part of it to a freighter for the conveyance of goods, under certain specified conditions, for a determined voyage to one or more places. A C. is generally under seal; but a printed or written instrument signed by the parties, called a memorandum of charter - party, is binding if no charter-party be executed. A voyage may be performed in part under a C., and in part under a parol agreement; but the terms of the C. cannot be altered by parol evidence, although they may be explained by mercantile usage. The instrument expre es the freight to be paid, and generally, but not nece arily, the burden of the ship; together with some usual covenants, and others at the discretion of tho parties interested. - See FREIGHT.