Definition of Contents

The contents of a promissory note or other commercial instrument or chose in action means the specific sum named therein and payable by the terms of the instrument. Trading Co. v. Morrison, 178 U. S. 262, 20 Sup. Ch 869, 44 L. Ed. 1061; Sere v. Pitot, 6 Oranch, 335, 3 L. Ed. 240; Simons v. Paper Co.. (C. C.) 33 Fed. 195; Barney v. Bank, 2 Fed. Cas. 894; Corbin v. Black Hawk County, 105 U. S. 659, 26 L. Ed. 1136.
—Contents and not contents. In parliamentary law. The "contents" are those who, in the house of lords, express assent to a bill; the "not" or "non contents" dissent. May, Pari. Law, cc. 12, 357.—"Contents unknown." Words sometimes annexed to a bill of lading of goods in cases. Their meaning is that the master only means to acknowledge the shipment, la good order, of the cases, as to their external condition. Clark v. Barnwell, 12 How. 273, 13 It Ed. 985; Miller v. Railroad Co., 90 N. Y. 433, 43 Am. Rep. 179; The Columbo, 6 Fed. Cas. 178.