Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 5.djvu/596

specially to another banker as Ms agent for collection. _ If a cheque is crossed generally, the banker on whom it is drawn shall not pay it otherwise than to a banker; if crossed specially, not otherwise than to the banker specially named in the crossing or his agent for collection. When a cheque is crossed specially to more than one banker (except when crossed to an agent for collection) the banker on whom it is drawn shall refuse payment thereof. When a crossed cheque has been paid, either to the special banker in case of a special crossing, or to some banker in case of a general crossing, the banker and (if the cheque has come to the hands of the payee) the drawer shall be in the same position as if the cheque had been paid to and recovered by the true owner thereof. A banker paying crossed cheques otherwise than as authorized by this Act shall be liable to the true owner for any loss he may sustain. When a cheque is presented for payment which does not appear at the time to be crossed, or to have had a crossing which has been obliterated, or to have been altered other wise than as authorized by the Act, a banker paying the same in good faith and without negligence shall not be liable by reason of the cheque having been crossed, obliter ated, or altered, or by reason of payment having been made otherwise than to some banker, or to the banker named in the special crossing. If the crossed cheque bears the words not negotiable, * the person taking it takes and can give no better title to it than the person had from

whom he took it.

A cheque is payment unless dishonoured ; but on the question whether a debt has been paid, it is not sufficient to produce a cheque drawn by the debtor in favour of the creditor, and paid by the banker, unless it can be shown to have passed through the creditor s hands. Where a check has been fraudulently altered, and a banker pays a larger sum than that originally written, he must bear the loss, and cannot charge his customer unless some act of his facilitated the forgery. Where a cheque was filled up in such a way as to make deception easy, the customer was held responsible for the loss.

A new description of draft on a banker is introduced by the Act 16 and 17 Viet, c. 59, 19.

CHER, a central department of France, embracing the eastern part of the ancient province of Berry and part of Bourbonnais, bounded N. by the department of Loire, W. by Loir-et-Cher and Indre, S. by Allier and Creuse, and E. by Nievre and Loire. It is situated between 46 18 and 47 41 N. lat. and between 1 50 and 3 6 E. long., and has an area of 2780 square miles. The surface of the department in general is extremely level, the only elevated districts being on the northern and north-western frontiers, which are skirted by a range of low hills. The prin cipal rivers, besides the Cher and its tributaries, are the Grande Sauldre and Petite Sauldre on the N., but the Loire and Allier, though not falling within the department, drain the eastern districts, and are available for navigation. The Cher itself becomes navigable when it receives the Arnon and Yevre, and the communications of the province are greatly facilitated by the Canal du Berry, which traverses it in all its length, the lateral canal of the Loire which stretches from Digoin to Briare, and the canal of the Sauldre. Except in the Sologne, a sandy and sterile tract in the north-west, the soil is generally fertile, but varies considerably in different localities. The most pro ductive region is that on the east, which belongs to the valley of the Loire ; the central districts are tolerably fertile but marshy, being often flooded by the Cher ; while in the south and south-west there is a considerable extent of dry and fertile land. The department contains a com paratively large extent of pasturage, which has given rise to a considerable trade in horses, cattle, sheep, and wool for the northern markets. Among the agricultural produc tions hemp holds the first place ; but wine, fruits, chestnuts, and truffles are also important articles of traffic. Mines of iron and coal are wrought ; and marble, millstones, lithographic stones, manganese, gypsum, porcelain clay, and peat are procured in different parts. The smelting of iron-ore and the manufacture of steel and cutlery are carried on to a considerable extent. The other manufactures are of coarse cloth and canvas, cotton and woollen gauze, porcelain and toys. The department is divided into three arrondissements, cognominal with the chief towns of Bourges, Saint-Amand, and Sancerre, of which the first is the principal seat of administration. The total population in 1851 was 261,892, and in 1872, 335,392.

CHERASCO, a town of Italy, in the province of Cunea and district of Mondovia, near the junction of the Stura and the Tanaro, 30 miles south-east of Turin, with which it is connected by railway. It is well built and is surrounded by walls. A canal from the Stura supplies it with water. The church of the Madonna del Popolo, which was com pleted in the 18th century, is worthy of notice ; and there are two large triumphal arches and some fine mansions of the nobility. The principal manufacture is silk, and there is some trade in corn, wine, and truffles.

Cherasco (Clerascum, or Cairascum) is only two miles from the site of the old Roman town of Pollentia, where there are still remains of a theatre, an amphitheatre, a temple, and other huildings. In the Middle Ages it was one of the strongest fortresses of Northern Italy, and for a time it ranked as a free city. In 1631, it gave its name to a treaty hetwecn Spain, France, and Rome, in regard to the duchies of Montferrat and Mantua ; and in 1633, to the peace hetween France and Savoy. In 1801, its fortifications were dis mantled hy the French. Top. 8886.

Plan of Cherbourg (4 "2 miles N. to S., 5 35 E, to W.)

CHERBOURG, a naval station, fortified town, and

seaport of France, in the department of La Manche, on the northern shore of the peninsula of Cotentin, at the mouth of the small River Divette, in 49 38 N. lat., 1 38 W. long. It stands on a bay formed by Cape Levi on the E. and Cape La Hogue on the W.,and is distant 75 miles from the Isle of Wight, 41 miles W. by N. from St Lo, and 212 in the same direction from Paris. The town in itself is small and unimportant. Its houses are built of stone and roofed with slate ; but the streets are narrow, and the only public buildings of any interest are the tower (a remnant of the old fortifications), the church of La Trinite , in front of which is the colossal statue of Napoleon I. by Level ; the Chapelle de Notre Dame du Voeu, formerly part of the abbey founded by the Empress Maude in the 12th century ; the Hotel de Ville, which contains the Henry Museum and the library; the bathing establishments, opened in

1827 ; and the theatre. The town is supplied with water