A'gent, in law, a person employed to act for another, called the principal, the relation between them being called agency. With reference to the authority conferred upon him, an agent may be general or special, the latter having authority to act for his principal only in a special business. No particular form of appointment is required, except in a few special cases; for instance, an instrument under seal is necessary to confer authority to do an act in the name of the principal under seal. Such an instrument, and the authority conferred by it, is called power of attorney. The agent may bind his principal by acts within the scope of his authority. He is personally liable to third persons on contracts made as the agent, when he does not disclose the principal for whom he is acting, but not otherwise, unless he exceed his authority. Public agents are not usually themselves liable upon contracts made in their official capacity. The principal is generally liable to third persons for civil offenses committed by the agent when acting within the scope of his agency; but this does not relieve the agent of personal liability himself. As against the principal, an agent is entitled to compensation for his services and reimbursement for the expenses of his agency, and for personal loss or damage in properly transacting the business thereof. As a means of enforcing these rights, the law gives him a lien upon the property of the principal in his hands. See CONTRACT; LIEN.