Adams V Lindsell - Judgment

Judgment

Law J said that if that was true it would be impossible to complete any contract through the post; if the defendants were not bound by their offer until the answer was received, then the plaintiffs would not be bound until they had received word that the defendants had received their acceptance, and this could go on indefinitely. Instead it must be considered that the offerors were making the offer to the plaintiffs during every moment that the letter was in the post. Then when the Offeree has placed his acceptance in the post there is a fictional meeting of minds, which concludes the offer and gives effect to the acceptance.

The acceptance did not arrive in course of post strictly speaking (all parties understood in course of post to refer to 7th of September). But because the delay was the default of the defendant it was taken that the acceptance did arrive in course of post.