During the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States the British blockaded New Orleans which depressed the price of export goods like tobacco Organ a buyer of tobacco received private information that the war had ended by treaty so he called on a representative of the Laidlaw firm and offered to buy tobacco The representative of the Laidlaw firm was ignorant about the peace treaty so a contract was concluded between them at the depressed price The next day public notice was given in New