BILL of Lading, an acknowledgement signed by the master of a ship, and given to a merchant, &c. containing an account of the goods which the master has received on board from that merchant, &c. with a promise to deliver them at an intended place for a certain salary. Each bill of lading must be treble, one for the merchant who loads the goods, another to be sent to the person to whom they are consigned, and the third to remain in the hands of the master of the ship. It must be observed, however, that a bill of lading is used only when the goods sent on board a ship are but part of the cargo: for when a merchant loads a whole vessel for his own personal account, the deed passed between him and the master of the ship is called charter-party. See CHARTER-PARTY.