as much loss to him if his Letter be thus miscarried as if you should go on purpose and fling it in the River therefore be very careful when you receive your Letters where you put them and how you carry them and deliver them to the Post-Office your self when you come there trust not to others to give in your Letters but give them in your self and see that the Post-Man take them have a care that you do not keep back as too many unjust Rascals do the Mony for those Letters that are to pay and because you can put it off with a Lye and think no Body saw you you will never be found out Mistake it not for in eight days or fifteen days at most comes news from your Master 's Correspondent That that Letter did never come to his hands and then is your Roguery found out and instead of being advanced you are undone for no Master will keep such a Servant he that is not faithful in little shall not be made master of much When you receive your Letters from the Posthouse stand not gaping in the Street or playing with idle Boys thinking because you have gotten the Letters it is well enough for a quarter of an hours News before-hand is worth much and may get or lose your Master many hundred of pounds by the advice he may receive in the same Letter of the Rising or Falling of a Commodity beyond the Seas therefore be very careful in this first Work for it depends only on Care and Honesty and will draw your Master's Love to you I have stop'd longer upon this Point than I intended because many a careful laborious Master is undone by the negligence of a young careless Boy Yo. Now I see the Evils I must avoid and the things I must do I hope I shall follow the Good and avoid the Bad. But what will be the next Work I shall be put upon Mr. The next Work you will be put upon if you are careful and ingenious will be to Copy Letters and here if you give your mind unto it you will learn much experience for by the diligent Copying the Letters you will if your Master write a good Hand mend your Writing you will be able to understand the Method of a Letter to write good Sense and to judg of most things belonging to a Merchant This you must rather esteem an advantage unto you than a burthen as some foolish young Men do and think it long er'e the Letter be Copied and their Work over Yo. But pray Sir let me know what you mean by Copying of Letters for I know not what it means having never yet seen any thing like it Mr. Copying of Letters is this When your Master hath written a Letter then he gives it you and you take a Book he hath only for that purpose and copy the same words exactly word for word as your Master hath written it except that at the bottom of his Letter usually put to all Letters Your humble Servant T. B. This you leave out Yo. I am now satisfied in this particular of Copying of Letters and shall not think my time ill spent if I do copy many but shall endeavour to learn what I can out of them of the Custom of Merchants c. But what is the next Work I may expect Mr. The next Work you may expect is To be sent to the Water-side to take the weight of any Goods that are bought or sold by your Master and herein you must be very careful for here many Cheats and Inconveniences may be put upon you by several Persons as Carmen Porters Watermen Weighers or other Merchants Men older than yourself and longer vers'd in the way of Trade Yo. Pray Sir let me know how I can have any Cheat put upon me or how I may be wronged and I will endeavour to avoid it for I would very willingly acquit my self as I ought Mr. The Work you will be put upon at the Water-side will be weighing of Goods your Master hath bought And here you must have an especial eye to him that is the Weigher for nothing is more common than for him to receive a Bribe and slip out ½ a C. weight or ¼ C. to your prejudice more or less Yo. I know not what you mean by a Weigher Mr. I will explain it unto you Suppose you are weighing a parcel of Sugars there are a Crew they call them of Tackle-Porters they come and bring Scales and Weights and these Porters carry your Goods from the Warehouse to the Scale and there one of them is the Man that manages the Weights and when the Scales are even and ready to be unloaded comes another of the same Crew and they two tell out the ½ C. Weights in which telling they are very apt to mistake that which you have to do in that respect is to have an especial eye to the Scale and not to mind other rambling Objects for a Master is much wronged by his Servants negligence herein Another thing you must learn to graple with is unruly Carmen And that you may pretty well do if you keep in your Pocket from time to time an abstract of the Laws for their Regulation and the same for Watermen upon their unreasonable demands take but their Names or Number of the Carmens Carr and you will find a present alteration in them nay if you proceed you will find good Justice immediately done you without any charge Therefore to avoid being cheated by them be not run down with their damming and swearing Language nor do you ever make your self familiar with them for if you do make your self familiar they will presently crow over you therefore always keep such Fellows at a distance from you and sit not as some do too often to their Masters prejudice drinking c. with them Yo. This I will observe But wherein will my Work consist and what have I to do at the Water-side if my Master do buy or sell any Goods by weight Mr. Your Work is to have a small Pocket-Book in your Pocket and when the Scales are all fixed then to begin order the Porters to put the first Draught into the Scale and then when it is in the Scale do you look out the Mark and Number of it and set it down upon your small Paper-Book or a clean sheet of Paper for that purpose Yo. I know not what you mean by Mark and Number I pray Sir explain that unto me Mr. You must know every Merchant hath his particular Mark belonging to him by which his Goods āre known from another Mans sometimes the Letters of his Name sometimes a Star a Grape a Hand and many things and herein are most judicious Merchants cautious not of marking with any other Man's Marks but their own for many Inconveniencies may arise thereupon Lex Mercat pag. The Property of the Goods and Merchandize is judged to him by whose Mark they are marked or sealed Every Merchant is
Ledger 13. A Street-Book 14. A File of Waste-Papers Yo. Me-thinks Sir here are many Books and I have often heard say The fewer Books the better Mr. The fewer Books the better indeed but one that will be a true and exact Merchant must not have any of these abated to his Compting-house 'T is true some Men are great Traders and keep all their Business in 1 Book and it is as true that many an Oyster-Woman drives a continual Trade and keeps no Books at all If you will be a Merchant you must act as a Merchant and really I cannot see how any of them can well be abated Yo. What else must I have to make my Counting-house compleat for I would fain be exact in that Matter Mr. You must have Ruler Pens Ink Paper Seal Penknife c. and such odd Trifles not worth the naming Yo. Then Sir if you please I would willingly proceed and desire you to tell me what use I must make of these Books how they are to be ruled and to explain it so to me as that I may not be to seek in any thing or if my Master should not put things in a right Method that I may be able to do it as it should be for my Master hath much business and not at leisure to do things with that exactness they repuire Therefore I desire you Sir to let me know what use every Book is put unto and to begin with the first the copy-Copy-Book Mr. To begin with the copy-Copy-Book You are to have a large Book in Folio unruled and herein you are to copy every word verbatim as I told you page 9. that your Master writes Yo. But suppose Sir my Master never saw the exact way of a Merchant's writing Letters must I follow his Rule Pray let me know how I may discern between Good and Bad and whether my Master is in the right or wrong way Mr. To distinguish betwixt Good and Bad you must know that there are several things to be observed in writing a Letter and in placing every thing in its proper place and like a Merchant 1. You must mention his Name you write unto 2. You must mention the place you write from 3. You must mention the Date you write 4. You must mention the Title you put on him you write unto 5. You must mention when you writ last to him or when you received the last Letter from him 6. You must answer every thing that your Friend desires to know or you must give him a punctual account of every thing you desire to have of him 7. Then must you conclude with your own Name 8. And at the bottom his Title again 9. The price of the Exchange Yo. This Sir I do pretty well comprehend but yet I should understand it far better if you would let me see an Example before me of a Letter written upon any Trading account wherein there is mention made of somewhat received and somewhat sent forth by which I may better judg then now in this description you have made me and I will gladly follow it Mr. That I will do and here observe then what follows Lond. 3d. May 1677. Mr. Sam. Shaw Sir YOurs of 27th past I received and perceive you have loaded on board the William and James for this place 40 Hogsheads of Sugars When they come to hand I shall do for you as for my self in the disposal thereof I have according to your former order shipt aboard the Simon your 10 Bayl 's of Cloth amounting as by the Invoice inclosed to the sum of l. 117 10 4d The Bills of Lading you shall have by the next Post In the intrim I am SIR Your humble Servant J. Johnson Paris 54 d. ¼ usually But your own Reason must be the best guide you can have for none can so well judg as your self You must answer always fully and yet as pithy and concise as may be and be sure omit nothing material As for Complements Merchants are wiser Men than to lose their time in making of them and therefore be not studious of that but rather to know the just prices of Goods c. Yo. Having thus Understood from you Sir what belongs to me as I am a Copier of Letters pray let me know at present what belongs to the next Book that you call a Copy-Book of Goods you send outwards Mr. This Book is made of good midling Paper and is ruled with a large Margent with pounds shillings and pence in this manner The manner of using this Factory-Book is thus As soon as you have any Factory or Invoice of Goods for any Friend beyond the Seas go you immediately and enter the Factory and Contents of it word for word as it stands Yo. I cannot tell what you mean by Factory or Invoice I desire you would explain that to me and how it 's made Mr. To the making an Invoice there is required several things 1. The Name Factory or Invoice 2. The quantity of Goods being Butts Packs c. 3. The Person whose Accompt they are for 4. The Ships Name they are laden upon 5. The place they are bound for 6. The particulars of Pieces Weights Measures c. 7. The Price bought at 8. The Charges on them until shipped 9. The Provision 10. The Date Yo. Suppose my Master hath sent a Man at Roan 10 Packs of Calve-Skins how will the Factory stand Mr. Observe to set it thus and it will be well Factory of 10 Packs of Calve-Skins for account of Mr. Will. P. of Roan shipped for his Account and Risque on board the Samuel John Hunter Master Marked and Numbred as in the Margent      N o. 1. to 10. No 1 5 doz 160 lb      2 5 172      3 5 161      4 5 176      5 5 189      6 5 172      7 5 174      8 5 182      9 5 173      10 5 184      50 1754 lb at 1 s. l.  87 14 00  Custom 7 10 7 10 0     Petty Charges 0 14 6     Packing c. 1 7 2       9 11 08  For my Commission of l. 97 5 8. at 2 per C.  1 18 10  Lond. 16. May 1677.  l. 99 04 6d  J. Johnson     Yo. This I understand perfectly and shall observe But there is one thing in it I know not how to do but by the Rule of Three which is very tedious Mr. What is that Yo. It is the Commission at 2 per Cent. how must I do that Mr. You must 1. Take out your sum of Mony that the Goods amount unto thus 2. Having taken it so multiply it by 2 for
what you mean by your next Book which you call a Cash-Book Mr. By a Cash-Book I mean a small Book that is ruled Pounds Shillings and Pence and is Folio'd not Paged because there is a Debtor and a Creditor both appear before you Yo. What use is a cash-Cash-Book put unto and who uses it Master or Servant Mr. He that keeps the Money is Master of the cash-Cash-Book and he is to write all himself in the Cash-Book on the one side and on the other side what is paid out to be put on the right side and what is received put on the left Yo. Pray Sir let me see some Instances of this cash-Cash-Book in what nature it is 1676.      Cash Dr.      l.   May 1 Received of Thomas Long 100 7 Received of Samuel Webb 234 9 Received of David Knowles 74 8 6 17 Received of James Kiffin 122 1 4   520 9 10 1676.      Cash Cr.      l.   May 4 Paid Thomas Winter a Bill AP 25 6 4 11 Paid William Web for Tallow 96 4 3 17 Paid Sam. Jobson in full 73 6 8 24 Paid James Buck a Bill 100 28 Paid Maid for House-keeping 5    300 00 3 Thus you may see an Instance of this Book and here by adding up each side you see presently the quantity of Money that you have by you in Cash Yo. How doth that appear Mr. Thus add up the left side which is the Money received and you will find that to be l. 520 9 10 d. and add up the Creditor side and you will find that to be l. 300 0 3 d. Then substract the lesser from the greater and you will find the Sum to be l. 220 9 7 d. which is just what is in Money by you at the time of your making this Addition and when you have done this you are as well satisfied as if you had taken your Money and told it if your cash-Cash-Book be right Yo. Pray explain to me what I must write on either side of this Cash-Book Mr. You must when you receive any Money take the Cash-Book and on the left-hand side or Debtor side 1. Set the Month. 2. The Day of the Month. 3. Of whom received and for what as much as one Line will well contain 4. The Sum of Money in the Margent As May 1. Received of John Long l. 100 0 0 And so just in the same nature for the Credit side of the cash-Cash-Book unto whom paid Yo. But may not my Master write in this cash-Cash-Book as well as my self Mr. I have known this Case examined and found the Master cast Which may serve as a Rule for all Masters not to meddle with their Mens cash-Cash-Books that when a Master hath written as well as the Man the Servant hath been acquitted and the Cash could not be called his because his Master had put down what he pleased although in truth the Master had done nothing but set down two or three Sums which he had received and given the Man at his coming in Therefore this may serve for caution unto Masters Yo. What mean you Sir by this Book which you call a Book of Petty-Expences and who keeps it Master or Servant Mr. This Book is generally kept by the youngest Apprentice and is a thing very easie to be understood Example The Man that keeps the Cash is not to trouble himself with putting down such small frivolous things and therefore this Book is provided to hinder the filling of the said cash-Cash-Book Yo. Pray Sir let me see in what mānner is this Book made and what must I write in it Mr. That you shall and here you must note That when you go to the Custom-house and have entred any Goods inwards or outwards you must before you put the Charges down in your Cash-Book if the Sum be great be sure to make a Note of all the Particulars and put that Note upon the File of Waste-Papers The Note is made thus Suppose your Master hath sent you to ship off 10 Bayl 's of Calves-Skins aboard a Ship for France 1. Specifie the Ships Name 2. The Masters Name 3. Where She is bound 4. His Name you enter the Goods in 5. The quantity of Bayl 's Packs Barrels and Marks 6. The quantity of Goods 7. The Custom you pay 8. The other Petty-Charges In the James William Pope bound for Roan Tho. Johnson Draper AP. N o. 10 Bayl 's Cont. 50 dozen of Calves-skins 20 June 1677. 1 to 10.  Custom 7 10 0 Cocket 0 3 4 Searchers 0 5 0 Carmen 0 2 6 Boat-hire 0 1 0 Key and Crane 0 2 0  8 3 10 This l. 8 3 10 you must carry to your Book of Petty-Expences or Cash-Book which you think most convenient 1676.      Petty Expence Dr. l.   Novemb. 19 Received of Cash-keeper J. D. 20 24 Received of Cash-keeper W. G. 25 27 Received of my Master J. J. 5 1676.      Cr. l.   Novemb. 20 Paid for Post-Letters 9 4 Paid Porterage of Goods bought of W. G. 1 7 Paid Charges on 10 Bayl 's of Skins AP. 1. on File 8 7 10 27 Paid the Stationer for Paper 3 17 6 Decemb. 10 Paid Letters from Plantations 1 7 2 14 Paid Rent of 4 Cellers Wapping 7 19 4 Having thus put these several Sums of Money received and paid it is much after the Nature of a Cash-Book and you may if you please have such a Book or not Great Traders as I said before will not have their Cash-Book cluttered with so many small and frivolous Articles and indeed it is not fit for a Cash-keeper or a Man of considerable Business in the House to have to do with such small and such inconsiderable Trifles as these are Yo. That may be as my Master pleaseth I see it is in the same nature as a cash-Cash-Book and I shall observe your Rule But what is your next Book that you call a Receipt-Book Mr. This Book is of no trouble at all but is exceeding useful and much Money is carelesly lost for want of it For if you take Receipts for Money upon Papers and then scatter them carelesly you are subject to lose them or when you want them cannot find them without much trouble therefore a Receipt-Book is convenient and here an ordinary midling Book will serve a Man 20 years time Yo. Pray Sir be pleased to let me see the Method of it and how it ought to be kept Mr. This Book ought to be bound long-ways instead of broad-ways as other Books are for generally Receipts are short and little Paper serves and therefore it would be but waste to Rule it and Bind it broad-ways but let it be long-ways and ruled with a Margent and Pounds Shillings and Pence and instead of being Folio'd let it be Paged and so if you have occasion
Business be compleated and having paid your Mony in the Morning if you go to the Ship in the Afternoon you will find there a Warrant for the delivering your Goods unto you Yo. Wherefore then do Men say That there is much dammage to be gotten by going to the Custom-house and many a young Man is ruined thereby therefore I pray Sir tell me what I must do to avoid this danger Mr. Certain it is That there is much dammage to be gotten by going to the Custom-house and many a Man is ruined thereby and there are several ways to ruin a Man if he hath not an especial eye over his Actions there For Example 1. There is opportunity the Master cannot judg of the Servants time here so well as at another place for sometimes his Business may be dispatcht in half an hour that at another time cannot be dispatcht in two hours and here the Servant although he tarries two or three hours cannot be blamed But then the misery is there is a parcel of poor Fellows that hang about the Custom-house that for 6 d. or 1 s. will take your Note and Mony and whilst the Servant sits in an Alehouse will do his Work herein Although the Master is not dammaged his Work being done yet the Servant gets idle Haunts and comes acquainted with idle Company and is many times by this acquaintance drawn into such Inconveniencies that is not to be imagined Another Injury he is liable unto is That many times by such Fellows means Business is not quite gone through with or they meet many times with disappointments and then both Servant and Master too are injured Again the Servant having command of Monies is tempted to be spending that which is not his own and if so then he is forc'd to make it up again by many unlawful ways as entring Goods short or entring one Commodity for another and many little pilfering things that are not minded by them because they pass many times undiscovered and sometimes again are found out and then it is too late or else they to patch up that as the Tinker make another Hole far greater which is not yet perceivable but in short time after makes the Remedy then used worse than the Disease It hath been observed for many years that Merchants Men have gained the most of their Ill-habits by the loss of their time in such kind of Company Besides there are several things in which they are much outwitted by reason of their ignorance by Land-Waiters Tydes-Men c. And therefore you are to have an especial care of being tempted to enter Goods too short or of landing Goods before the Customs be duly paid for there are many crafty Blades will endeavour to perswade you there is no danger in it and you being young will think so until you are caught which thing brings many a sober Lad into much trouble and his Master to great dammage Yo. But now Sir having been in this manner taught what I am to do at the Water-side c. in shipping or unlading Goods I desire you to return again to the Compting-house and shew me what I shall be imployed in next Mr. The next thing your Master may find you fit for may be for copying of Accompts or Factories into his Books before the Originals go away Yo. Before I go any further I desire you Sir to let me know what is requisite to the making up a Compleat Compting-house for by that means I shall be the better able to remember my Work when I know what Tools I shall work withal And therefore I desire to know the Nature and all the Materials as well Books as Papers c. that belong to a Compting-house Mr. As to a Compting-house almost so many Merchants so many Minds or Fashions but although they differ in trivial Things yet in the substantial Things they do not disagree much In a well-govern'd Compting-house there must be these following Things Viz. 1. A good handsome large Room lightsome and pleasant about ten or twelve foot square there being nothing more agreeable to a Merchant that minds his business than room for there 's no pleasure in being squeezed up to a narrow place where much business is to be done 2. There must be two convenient Tables one for the Master another for the Man or Servant either made shelving as Desks or else flat which you are best used to 3. There must be convenient places for your Letters you receive and herein Men differ much some are for folding up their Letters and endorsing on the back-sides from whence they come when received and when answered and then putting them up in square Boxes for that purpose like Pigeon-holes before them And others are for having so many Files as they have Places they receive Letters from and file them up as soon as they are answered Yo. Which way will you advise me then to take of the two Mr. Truly of the two I think filing them up is the best for there you turn to the Letter in a minute and find out the Passage without having the trouble of folding or unfolding Letters to look for what you have occasion but have recourse to them immediately and so hang them up again but whether they are folded or filed they must be both ways taken down at the Years end and put up in a large Box for that purpose and then you may have recourse unto them when you please to view any thing as you have occasion with the Date of the Year upon the Box. 4. The like may be done by your Bills of Exchange or Recepts for Money or any other odd Papers too tedious here to set down Yo. How often must I file up or fold up these Letters Mr. As often as your Time will permit you At the going away of each Post is the best time for then all your Letters are answered and you have nothing else to do with them 5. The next thing you are to have is to be provided with useful Books for your Compting-house such as are necessary for you and they are 1. A Copy-Book of Letters to copy out all the Letters that are sent out word for word 2. A Book wherein you copy out each Factory or Accompt that comes to your hands from beyond the Seas of Goods sent your Master 3. A Book to copy out all the Factories your Master sends out of England 4. A Bill-Book to see what Bills you have to pay and what to receive this is called a month-Month-Book 5. A small Book wherein you note all the Orders that are given you for the buying or selling of Goods 6. A Book wherein if you have much Commission-Business you put all the Goods you are to receive on board any Ships that comes for England or any other place where you live that you need not run to the Letters 7. A Cash-Book 8. A Book of petty Expences 9. A Receipt-Book 10. A Waste-Book 11. A Journal 12. A
Errors and bad Debts excepted carried to the Credit of his Accompt Currant   63 13 11    l. 76 10 9 1676       May 3. Sold James Web at 1 M.       N o. 126 24 ½      129 27 ¼      121 22 ½      123 22 ¼      127 25 ¼       121 ¾ at 7 s.  42 12 3 June 13. Sold James Long 1 M.       N o. 122 22 ½      124 23 ¾      125 24 0      128 26 ¾       97 at 8 s.  23 16 00  N o. 130 22 ½ at 9 s.  10 2 6    l. 76 10 9  Sent this Acc ballanc'd to A. P. Lond. 17 July 1676.         J. Johnson    Mr. Thus you see the Examples of two Accompts in this Book the one is where Goods are for your Accompt and the other is for your Friends Accompt and here you may observe much variety and pleasure for you can immediately see by this Book what is wanting in any Parcel of Goods that is to be sold c. Yo. Pray Sir explain to me a little more at large the meaning of these two Accompts I do understand some things of them and something I do not Mr. What is it you do understand of them Yo. I understand most of the left side c. 1. The Title 2. The Place they came from 3. The Particulars 4. The Marks and Numbers of the Cask 5. The Charges upon them and then the Additions of each side and the Provision at 2 per Cent. more or less that is to be taken The things I do not understand are the Figures before each Contents of Yards and Ells what they mean and then the Strokes against those Figures and the thing you call Brokerage with the Explication of all the right-hand side for I know it not Mr. For the first thing which you say you do not understand which are the Figures N o. 124 just before 24 Ells ¼ that N o. 124 and the Figures following in the same place are the Numbers of each Piece Mr. What do you mean by Numbers and of what use are they and what is their Intent Mr. Every Man that makes Goods hath his Number to begin As suppose a Fabriquer of Silks Stuffs c. do begin to make Silks or Stuffs he doth put upon the first Piece N o. 1. and the length the next Piece N o. 2. and the length and so to the last Piece that he makes of any Goods I have known some Fabriquants at Lions make Goods until they come to the Number of 35000 and odd The use of the said Numbers are When any Man hath occasion to find out any defect in the making any Piece or any manner of want in any Piece of the true Measure then you have reference to the Number and that gives you light into it or it shews you the Weaver that made it or the Man that Callendred it Or if a Piece be lost or stolen it tells you which it is and many other things very necessary Yo. What did you mean then by that which you call'd Marks and Numbers in the Margent Mr. The Marks and Numbers in the Margent are only in reference to the particular Pack or Barrel and not to the several Pieces or smaller Boxes or Parcels that are contain'd in it Yo. Well What mean you by the Stroke that is before each Piece or Number Mr. This it is a sign to me when I open my Books that there are some of my Goods sold and some are unsold For Example If this be the Number 124 24 ¼ and it be unsold it remains as it is but if it be sold then is the Number 124 24 ¼ thus set down 124 24 ¼ Some do thus 124 24 ¼ which way of these you please but they that are so marked are those that are sold and the other not sold so that you satisfie your curiosity in a moment and see what is and what is not sold. For Brokerage I shall explain it unto you in its due and proper place But for the Right side of either of these Accompts there you set down the Month you sold the Goods the Day you sold them the Man you sold them to and the Time that you sold them for as you see in the first of the Accompts May 2. Sold to George Crab at 1 M. Then do you set down the Numbers and length of each Piece with the Price you sold them for and at the end of each Price cast up the Sum of Money it comes unto and put it in the Margent as the Piece in the second Accompt N o. 130 22 ½ at 9 s. l. 10 2 6 And having so put down all the Right side see what it comes unto and take your Provision out at 2 per Cent. and add that as in the second Accompt to the Left side and add up both sides and add up the same sides and what is wanting on either side is Profit or Loss Yo. But how shall I know which is Profit and which is Loss Mr. When the Right-hand side where the Sale of the Goods are amounts to more than the Left-hand side by so much as it is more so much the Profit is as in the first Account the Profit is l. 30 8 10 d. but where the Left-hand side is more than the Right-hand side there it is so much Loss This is when it is for your own Accompt Yo. But what must I do when the Goods are for another Mans Accompt As for Example The second Accompt How must I do that Mr. In the second Accompt you see that the Right-hand side comes unto l. 76 10 9d so much the Goods were sold for and the Left-hand side was but l. 12 16 10 d. So the Ballance is l. 63 13 11. which must be carried to the Credit of your Friend Mr. Anthony Pelelyer that sent you the Goods and if there had proved loss as that the Goods should not have yeelded their Charges as sometimes it doth happen then you must carry the Ballance to his Debit Yo. What mean you by that word Ballance I do not understand it Mr. By the word Ballance I do understand That if the Credit side be l. 76 10 9d and the Debit side l. 12 16 10d then the Ballance is just so much Money as will make this l. 12 16 10d l. 76 10 9d because then both sides like a just Ballance are even l. 79 10 9d and this is the meaning of the word Ballance Yo. Now Sir pray let me know what you mean by those words Errors and bad Debts excepted
that are thus in a Parenthesis Mr. These words are always expressed when Goods are sold for another Mans Accompt as this second Accompt is where there is l. 63 13 11 d. carried to his Credit But now if any Error should be made and it appear afterwards that there is but l. 53 13 11 d. or any manner of mistake it must be allowed on the one side or the other Or suppose that this James Web Break whatever is lost by him must be carried to the Debit of Mr. Pelelyer for whose Accompt the Goods were sold or what-ever loss happens of those Goods to any other Person unto whom you sell them and this is the meaning of that expression Errors and bad Debts excepted If any mistake in Accompt or any bad Debts the Party must be made Debtor for it And thus I have shewed you the use of the third Book called a Copy-Book of Accompts of Goods you sell for any Man Now some according to their quantity of Business and Trade will put both these Books into one and that may be done with ease the difficulty is only in the Paging some Leaves and Folioing of others Yo. Pray Sir proceed to the next which you call a Bill-Book and tell me what that is Mr. This Book is very useful for those that Trade much in Exchange because here they can immediately go and cast an Eye upon it and see what Bills they have to receive and what to pay each day of the Month and never have the trouble of looking over the Bills themselves Yo. I desire you would please to give me an Instance of this by shewing me the use of the said Book as you have done of the former three Books Mr. For the use of it Provide your self a Book of midling Paper ruled Pounds Shillings and Pence 1676.      January to Receive l.   4 Of Sim. Web 400 Cr. at 54 d. Per Cr. Bill 90 19 Of John Shaw from Exon. D. 5. Bill 150 23 Of James Web from Bristol P. 5. Bill 100 27 Of Peter Short from Amsterdam S. W. Bill 125 1676.      January to Pay l.   7 To David le Mew 150 Cr. at 56 d. AP. Bill 35 17 To David Perin 170 Cr. at 54 d. CD Bill 38 5 24 To Pr. Lawson H. Baudens Bill 170 29 To James Dockininé Goods 60 The Explication or meaning of this Book is this 1. The Book is ruled with a usual Margent and with Pounds Shillings and Pence 2. Your Book is Folio'd and not Paged 3. Your 12 Folio's are for the 12 Months of the Year beginning the first Folio January to Receive January to Pay and so forward to December 4. You put down the Date that your Bill of Exchange falls due the last day of the Bill 5. You put down as much of the Body of the Bill as you can in one Line that is to say from whence it was drawn and who sent it you and in the Margent the Sum of Money it comes unto 6. For Goods if you have sold any that you are to receive your Money for set it down here and by that means you will know all you are to receive each Month and the like you are to pay each Month and this will be a very great ease to you in your Business because here if you intend to be a Man of Reputation you will see when you are to receive any Money particularly Yo. Now Sir what is the next Book you treat of which you call a Book to note all the Orders of Buying and Selling Mr. This Book is not now in use by many Merchants but if you will weigh your own Reason you will find it to be a Book exceeding useful Example Suppose you receive 4 or 5 Letters in a Post some Men receive 20 30 or 40 and those Letters brings every one of them an Order for Goods some more some less to be bought for them Would you run to every one of these Letters to see what it orders No have your Order all writ out as soon as your Letters are read and when you have effected them then draw a Line cross each Order or mark what is effected and what not and so you will never burthen your Memory Yo. What kind of Book must this be and how must it be ruled Mr. This Book must be according to the quantity of Business you are like to have some more and some less and if any thing considerable then a good midling sort of Paper in Quarto or else a good large Octavo but it must not be ruled Yo. Pray Sir let me see one Example of it Suppose this Day my Master's Letters are come to hand and there is an Order for buying some Goods for a Man at Paris How must I set it down here Mr. To make a Memorandum set it thus Paris 24th April 1677. Out of Anthony Peloone's Letters AN Order for 124 dozen of Calve-Skins from 40 to 48 lb per dozen to be packt in 10 Packs and shipt for Roan consigned to T. L. G. marked with his Mark not to exceed 14 d. per lb 200 pair of Hose at 3 s. 2 d. per Pair of Browns making of Wells This is the nature of putting what you find ordered you in each Letter and when it is done Examine it against the Letter to see if it be right and it will prove of much ease to your Mind Yo. What mean you by the sixth Book for setting down Goods you expect from Friends Mr. This Book is much of the same nature with the other and for the right use of it you are to examine your Letters as soon as they come in and see what Goods are consign'd your Master and take out the Sum of the Letter into the Memorandum Book either from the Letter or from the Bills of Lading one of the two But it is very ill trusting to a Bill of Lading for Accidents do daily happen and I have known much dammage by trusting to a Bill of Lading Therefore as soon as your Masters Letters come in you may take the Book and enter them in this following manner Diepe 24th Septemb. 1677. From Madame le Jeune IN the London Merchant John Thomas 9 Bayl 's of Canvas Marked and Numbred AP. N o. 1. to 9 for Accompt of Anthony Peloone of Paris Cane 24th Septemb. 1677. From Peter Sanson IN the Providence James Martin 25 Bales of Paper Containing 1624 Reams for Accompt of John Degraves of St. Maloes Marked ADG N o. 1. to 50. Thus you see this Book is just in the nature of the former and if your Trade be not too big you may make the one end to put orders for buying Goods in at and the other end for the expectation of having Goods from beyond the Seas at but it is not so like a Merchant as to have two Books Yo. Having seen the use of this be pleased to let me know
well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said _____ his Executors Administrators or Assigns the full and entire Sunime of lawful Mony of England which the said Goods shall amount unto at the Rate and Price agreed upon aforesaid at or in the now dwelling-House or Shop of Mr. _____ before I shall receive the said Goods or any part or parcel thereof into my custody or possession in manner and form following _____ And then to receive and take away the said Goods out of the House or Ware-house wherein now they are at my own proper Cost and Charges without any delay pretence or pretences to the contrary whatsoever And for the true performance of all and singular the Premises and due paiment in manner and form aforesaid I do bind my self my Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns unto the said _____ his Executors and Assigns in the Sum of _____ of lawful Mony of England firmly by these Presents to be paid unto the said _____ his Executors or Assigns immediately after any default made contrary to the true intent and meaning of these Presents And furthermore upon any such default made I do by these Presents fully and absolutely for my self my Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns remise release and for ever quit claim and discharge unto the said _____ his Executors and Assigns all and singular my Right Title Interest Benefit Claim and Demand whatsoever of in and unto the said Goods or any part or parcel thereof which I ever had and which I my Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall or may have claim challenge or demand for or by reason occasion sorce or virtue or in respect of this present Sale or Agreement In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal Dated in London _____ Year of the Reign of Our Soveraign Lord Charles the 2d King of England c. and the Year of our Lord God Sealed Signed and Delivered in the presence of This being Sealed and Delivered doth remain in the hands of them that sell the Goods until such time as they fetch out the Goods they bought and then they have the Bond delivered them to cancel c. This way of selling Goods hath been used time out of mind and is an excellent way for the speedy dispatch of any Goods that lie on hand and if at the going out of the Candle as was before recited there happen any difference to arise the same is decided by five seven nine or more or less quantitie of Persons that are desired to attend the said Sale as Judges and the majority of their hands being lifted up decides the difference But if it shall so happen that they cannot decide the Difference because sometimes 20 30 or 40 People upon a good Lot will all speak together as it often happens then the same Lot is put up again and if possible better order is observed in the bidding but I have known a Lot many times set up five or six times one after the other before it could be sold so many have bid at once and then a Commodity advances much Yo. Then he that bids the last before the Candle goes out if he bids more or less hath he the Goods Mr. That he hath and if the Goods prove never so bad or a hard Bargain he is obliged to take them Yo. How doth that appear Mr. Because so soon as the Candle is out and the Parcel is sold the Party that bought it is presented with a Bond that he must sign Yo. Being now satisfied in this pray let me know next what that is that you call a Price-Current Mr. A Price-Current is a small piece of Paper that is printed in most Places where a Trade is used that specifies what all manner of Goods are worth and that is so printed once every week and sent by one Merchant to another and this is called a Price-Current Yo. What use may a Merchant make of these Price-Currents Mr. If the Price-Current be exact a Merchant may reap much advantage by it for he may look into it for any Commodity he hath a mind to bring from beyond the Seas and see what it is worth there the first peny then see what the Charges out of that Nation are and then he may see what the Fraight Custom and other Charges are here by a Book of Rates and if there is Mony to be gotten by it he may begin but if not he may let it alone and so he is at a certainty for it Yo. Pray let me know what you mean by that you call a Book of Rates Mr. A Book of Rates is a little Book which each Kingdom hath wherein is set down the Price that every Commodity shall pay at its Exportation or at its Importation And this is of great case and benefit to the Merchant for by this the Merchant examines if his Servants or Factors do cast up their Goods aright that they pay Custom for or as I said before they may see what any parcel of Goods comes unto for Custom in any Country before they send them away Yo. What mean you by the words Exportation and Importation Mr. The meaning of these words are That the Goods which are said to be Exported are Goods sent out from Home and the Goods Imported are those which are brought in and unloaded from any part beyond the Seas Yo. What is meant by those Bills I have heard much discourse of that are called the Custom-house Bills Mr. By a Custom-house Bill is meant a sheet of Paper that comes out every day except Holy days in which Paper there is set down all the Goods by themselves that are Imported and all them that are Exported by themselves and there is put the Place they are Imported from the Merchant's Name that Imports them and the quantity of Goods and so for the Exportation of Goods A thing exceeding prejudicial to Merchants and which makes the Trade and Mystery of a Merchant as free and open to a Cobler as to a Merchant that hath been bred forty years to the Trade for if I am a Merchant and have been at great charge and expence to find out a fitting Place for a Commodity to be sold at I must enter my Goods and the Place they are bound unto and then every Man knows what Commodities are fit for such and such Places by which means if any thing is to be gotten he that never knew any thing of Trade gets as good a price and as much for his Commodity as he that doth well understand it and hath spent many hundreds of pounds to find it out Yo. Pray Sir shew me by some Instance how this can be for I do not very well as yet understand what you mean Mr. The thing I mean is this Mr. W. S. is a Merchant and he Ships off it may be 1000 pieces of Serges for Spain and this stands in the Custom-house Bills thus Cadiz W. S. 1000 Serges Rouen D. B. 321
lb Ginger Amsterdam P. Q. 245 yd s. Diaper My Cobler he comes to read this and there he finds W. S. sends Serges for Spain and considers such a Man is a good Man and a wise standing Man and he would not send Goods if he did not get by them undoubtedly he gets well by them Well I will venture and send some too and so sends away a parcel likewise And so he that found the place out hath no more right to it than the meerest stranger But which is worse than this is by Traders knowing what comes into the Nation the Merchant lies open to the Shop-keeper that can tell what the Nation can expend and what it needs and if 100 Chests of China Oranges will serve the present necessity for three or four days the Shopkeeper knowing the Merchants have 4000 Chests shall buy no more than from Hand to Mouth and let the rest perish unless they can have them at their price So that submitting nevertheless to better judgments I think it were far better for Merchants the said Bills were not printed I am very confident they would have more incouragement to go on chearfully in Exporting and Importing most sorts of Commodities Yo. I have heard much discourse about prohibited Goods and Seizures are not all Goods lawful to be dealt in provided I pay for them Mr. No there are many Goods although you buy them and pay for them you cannot carry them out of the Nation or bring them into the Nation because they are by Act of Parliament expresly forbidden with Penalties upon any that shall presume to do it And a Merchant ought to be very well advised in what he deals for by ignorance herein many a Man hath had great losses by Seizures c. Yo. Pray Sir let me know what Commodities they are that are generally Forbidden or Prohibited to be brought into the Nation or go out and what you mean by Seizures Mr. The Commodities forbidden to be Imported are generally such as do hinder our own Natives from Work and there be many of them I shall name but few as Ribonds of Silk Laces white and black of Silk Thred or Silver Hats Gloves Clothes Stuffs Earthen Ware Bacon Toys c. And by a late Act all Goods and Commodities of the Growth Manufactory of France as Wines Silks Paper c. And for them that go out Mony either in Coin or Bullion of Gold or Silver Corn and any Provisions unless under such a rate Wooll and several other things that are too tedious to mention in this place but may be more largely seen in the Examining those Acts of Parliament and Statutes in force for that purpose As for Seizures By that word is meant the Man or Men that do find out and discover such Goods and take the same away and secure them as the Law doth direct either by carrying them to his Majesties Ware-house or else to the next Justice of the Peace or to the Constable's House this is called Seizing the Goods Yo. When this Officer hath thus seized them what doth he then do with them keep them for his own use Mr. No he hath no power over them but must in such a certain time enter them into his Majesties Court of Exchequer at Westminster by way of Information and then come to Trial and so the Law passes upon them either they are guilty or not guilty and if they are found guilty each Party hath his share as the Act of Parliament in that case doth direct as in some Goods his Majesty hath half and the Informer half in others the Poor of the Parish where they are seized have half and the Informer half and several other ways as the several Acts do recite Yo. What do they do with the Men that they take these Goods from are they to have no punishment Mr. Yes in some cases it is Felony in others Imprisonment in others Fines in others treble the value of the Goods seized and all these different according to the Crime they are found guilty of Yo. What mean you by that they call Smugling and Smuglers I have heard it often talked of at the Water-side Mr. By Smuglers is meant the Men or Women that do convey these prohibited Goods from place to place and by Smugling is carrying them from place to place privately For Example If J. D. do live at Harwich and takes up Goods privately against Law he is the Smugler And if J. P. bring them in the Night to Colchester and there D. B. and he contrives to send them to London they are J. P. and D. B. both Smugling being ordering and sending forward their Goods for that purpose Yo. Well Sir now if you please let us consider of coming to the booking of every thing in such order as that when ever I have a mind I may presently see what I have in the World and see what is due to me and what I owe unto others Mr. That is very true and you will find much pleasure and satisfaction in it And to do that you must first be provided of these three great Books The Waste-Book mentioned page 38.  Fair Journal   Ledger  Which must be Ruled and made as I am going to direct you Yo. Pray Sir begin with the Waste-Book and shew me how that must be ruled and made Mr. The Waste-Book must be made of a good midling Paper not very fine nor very course and it must be ruled with a Margent and with Pounds Shillings and Pence and herein you must put every thing that you transact because from hence it is to be carried to the Fair Journal word for word and this Book is only kept to book things immediately because they may not be forgotten and because there may be amendments before they do come to be fairly posted into the Fair Journal The manner of Ruling this Wast-Book is thus Yo. Well Sir being provided of such a Book what is the first work that is to be done by me Mr. The first work is to make your Inventory Yo. What mean you by an Inventory I do not understand what it is Mr. An Inventory is properly an Accompt of all the Monies and Debts owing to you and all the Goods Ships Houses Plate c. at that time you have by you as likewise all the Monies you owe to any Persons Yo. And how must I make this Inventory Supposing I have l. 40 6 8 d. in Money l. 110 6 4 d. in Tobacco l. 119 6 3 d. in Sugar l. 16 10 4 d. due by a Man at Bristol l. 119 2 11 d. by one at Exon l. 100 0 0 by one at York a quarter of a Ship l. 250 a House l. 300 and l. 39 4 6 d. in Jewels and Plate how must these be booked in my Waste-Book Mr. To answer your Question how you shall enter this first parcel of an Inventory look but back to your own Reason and examine which must be the
Sir let me know what that is and I will endeavour to remember it Mr. Every Parcel consists and is made up of four several things Viz. 1. The Debit 2. The Credit 3. The Sum. 4. The Reason of it Yo. Pray explain this unto me by some Example that I may know it Mr. That I shall by this Example You have paid l. 100 0 0 d. for the Accompt of James Webster of Darby and in your Journal it is written thus London 25 May 1677. James Webster of Darby Debtor to Cash l. 100 for so much paid for him to Tho. W. of London as by his Order the 24th Instant is l. 100 0 0 Here you may observe 1. J. W. is the Debtor 2. Cash is the Creditor 3. l. 100 0 0 d. is the Sum. 4. The Reason of the Parcel it was for Mony paid to T. W. of London by his Order of the 24th of June 1677. And carrying this in your mind you will find an admirable advantage for whenever you are entring a Parcel and cannot remember it this will bring each part to your perfect memory because it is the Foundation-wall upon which all is built of each Parcel Yo. Well Sir having now perfectly learnt to enter every thing upon the Waste-Book or the Journal what is my next work I am to do Mr. The next work you have to do is to post out of the Fair Journal into the Ledger Yo. I know not what you mean by the Ledger pray explain it unto me Mr. The Ledger is the great Book that is the Judg of all the other and here you see presently what you owe to any one or what any one owes to you or what Goods you have by you that are not sold without going into any Ware-house or Celler what you have in any Factors Hands beyond the Seas and what you may have gotten in any time of your Trade at the very first opening of your Book Yo. This Book deserves looking after for that it is a rare thing to be satisfied presently upon any of these Questions But how shall I know this Book from the Journal or any other of the Books Mr. It is distinguished with much ease presently if you have respect but only to the ruling of it which is thus Yo. Pray let me see at present an Example of any thing how it stands upon the Journal and how it is upon the Ledger that I may know the difference more plainly Mr. You may remember in Page 216. how James Webster of Darby stands Debtor for l. 100 0 od Now if you post it to the said James Webster's Accompt upon the Ledger it will stand thus as underneath 1676. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â James Webster of Darby Dr. Â Â Â May 25 To Cash paid T. W. 6 100 00 Yo. Now you have set it down pray explain the meaning of it Mr. That I shall in every particular and that you may the better be able to comprehend it I have marked each Column with a Figure N o 1 2 3 c. I begin with the first Column N o 1. That is for the Month therein you only set the name of the Month. In the Column N o 2. you only put the Day of the Month in figures always In the third Colum you put the Matter of the Parcel be it of the Debit side or of the Credit side of each Parcel as you see in this last Parcel of James Webster In the fourth Column you see the figure of the Accompt you post unto and if you turn to that figure you will find out where that Accompt stands and the particulars The Column N o 5. is Pounds N o 6. is Shillings N o 7. is Pence Yo. Now I have seen what the Ledger is I would willingly be instructed how to post any Question but especially pray let me know how I shall post this of James Webster in Page 216 and 219. Mr. That you may the bettâ—â— understand it I will set down the Parcel again London 26 May 1677. 17 19 James Webster of Darby Dr. to Cash l. 100 00 00 d. for so much paid by his Order unto T. W. of London as by his Letter of the 24th Instant l. 100 00 00 In posting this observe these following Rules 1. Seek at the beginning of your Ledger for your Alphabet what Folio the said James Websters Accompt standeth in Suppose it stands in Folio 17 turn to that Folio and there proceed thus in the first Column put down May in the second Column put down the 26 in the third Column put down the Party to whom he is Debit to Cash with as much as you can of the Reason of the Parcel in one Line but be sure never make two Lines in the posting of any parcel in the Ledger upon any Accompt whatsoever and in the fourth Column put the Folio where Cash stands and that is Folio 19 and then set the Sum of Mony l. 100 0 0 and so the Parcel is posted And when you have posted it in this manner then return to your Journal and there you will find such a small stroke at the beginning of it as this is there you must put this mark of the Folio where James Webster's Accompt stands which is Folio 17 and then that stroke will stand thus 17 then have you done that part which is the Debit part of your Parcel and that is just the one half Then must you go unto the Credit of the Parcel thus You may turn to Folio 19 that is Cash and there you must name in the first Column May in the second 26 in the third by James Webster in the fourth the Folio James Webster's Accompt doth stand in and then the Sum of Mony which is l. 100 0 0 d. and so you return to the Journal and there you find the posting Line to stand thus 17 and now under this you must put this Folio of Cash N o 19 and then it will shew thus 17 19 and so your Parcel is quite done both for Debtor and Creditor and where-ever you meet with a Parcel that hath but one side of this Posting-line supplied with Figures then there is one side unposted Yo. Sir I do not well understand what it is to look into this Alphabet pray tell me what an Alphabet means Mr. An Alphabet is a Book of 24 Leaves sometimes 12 leaves or 24 left at the beginning of the Ledger and therein is contained the 24 Letters of your Alphabet from whence it derives its name if 24 leaves there 's 1 Letter for each Leaf but if but 12 Leaves then is there 2 Letters for each Leaf Yo. Pray let me see an Example of this Mr. It cannot be shewn but in the thing it self because this Book is too little but this is the manner of it A. C. E. Ascue James 1 Crouch Will. 3 Edmunds Jos. -5 B. D. F. Beek Samuel 2 Davis Sam. 4 French John 6 Now suppose you look
for any of these Mens Accompts James Ascue c. Samuel Beek  Will. Crouch  Sam. Davis  Jos. Edmunds  John French  Take the Surname and look under what Letter it is and the first is James Ascue say Ascue James under the Letter A and set Folio 1 Beek Samuel Beek under the Letter B Folio 2 and so for the following names Now when you have occasion to look out Samuel Davis his Accompt see Davis Sam. under the D. and you will find it to be Fol. 4. and so of the rest Yo. What is the meaning of pricking a pair of Books over Mr. By the pricking of a pair of Books is meant one Man's taking the Journal and calling that over against the Waste-Book that is read Article by Article by another Man and when they have done with that then to have one Man take the Journal and another Man the Ledger and repost every Parcel as if you were really posting it anew again and against each mark make a prick Yo. Pray let me see an Example of that that I may know how to do it Mr. You may suppose this Article of the 26th of May of James Webster to be the thing in question When you have posted the Debit the figures will stand thus .17 19 and when you have examined both Debit and Credit it will stand thus .17 .19 If you should have occasion to prick your Boooks twice before you find out the fault then will they stand thus ..17 ..19 or thus .17 .19 which you like best Yo. What is meant by the ballancing of a pair of Books Mr. By the ballancing of a pair of Books is meant taking a sheet of Paper and setting the Ballance of each Accompt under one another the Debit altogether and the Credit in like manner altogether and if both sides do equally ballance with one another then are the Books right but if they do not then the Books are wrong and you must prick them over until you find out the Error Yo. Having thus explained the meaning of the several Books unto me I desire you would now answer me two or three Questions which I find I am ignorant of Mr. What are they Yo. The first is Charter-Parties which I find mentioned by you but know not what you mean when you speak of them Mr. Charter-Party is the same thing to a Merchant as a Lease is betwixt Landlord and Tenant herein are all things necessary contained that belong to an Agreement betwixt a Merchant or Merchants in freighting of a Ship and the Master or Master and Owners sometimes of the said Ship Yo. For my further light into this Business I desire you Sir to let me know what it is and let me as you have done here in like cases see some form of a Charter-Party Mr. That you may do in the following form which is a Charter-Party word for word The Copy of a Charter-Party of Affreightment THis CHARTER-PARTY of Affreightment indented made the _____ of the Month of _____ Anno Domini _____ and in the _____ of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Between _____ Master under God of the good Ship or Vessel called the _____ of the Burthen of _____ Tuns or thereabouts now riding at Anchor in the River of Thames of the one part And _____ of London Merchants of the other part Witnesseth That the said Master hath granted and letten the said Ship to Freight unto the said Merchants And that they the said Merchants have accordingly hired Her for the Voyage and upon the Terms and Conditions following That is to say The said Master doth covenant promise and grant for himself his Executors and Administrators to and with the said Merchants and either of them their and either of their Executors Administrators and Assigns by these Presents That the said Ship strong and staunch and well and sufficiently Victualled Tackled Manned and Apparalled with all things meet needful and necessary for the performance of the Voyage hereafter mentioned Shall by the first and next fair Wind and Weather which God shall send after the Date of these Presents depart from the Port of _____ with all such Goods and Merchandizes as the said Merchants or their Assigns shall in the mean time lade and put on board Her And therewith directly sail and apply unto _____ as Wind and Weather shall best serve for the said Ship to sail And being arrived as near to the said place of _____ He the said Master or Assigns shall and will within _____ working days next from and after such Her arrival to be accompted not only unlade and deliver the said Goods and Merchandizes put on board the said Ship at _____ aforesaid unto the said Merchants their Factors or Assigns or some or one of them in safety and well conditioned the Dangers of the Seas and Restraint of Princes and Rulers excepted But also shall and will receive relade and take on board the said Ship of and from the said Merchants their Factors or Assigns or some or one of them all such Goods and Merchandizes as they or any of them shall there please to lade and put on board Her to the said Ships full and compleat Lading that is to say as much as can conveniently be stowed in the whole Hold and between Decks afore the Main-mast room only reserved for the said Ships Provisions Tackle and Apparel And the said _____ working days being expired or the said Ship there sooner dispatched which first shall happen He the said Master or his Assigns shall and will with the then next opportunity of Wind and Weather from Her said unlading and relading Port of _____ aforesaid directly sail return and come back with the said Ship and Lading unto the Port of _____ And here within _____ working days next after the said Ship shall be entered in the Custom-House of this said _____ he the said Master or his Assigns shall and will unlade and deliver the said Goods and Merchandizes laden on board the said Ship at her unlading and relading _____ aforesaid unto the said Merchants their Executors Administrators or Assigns in safety and well conditioned the Dangers ' of the Seas and Restraint of Princes and Rulers excepted and so end the said intended Voyage And the said Merchants do covenant promise and grant for themselves and either of them their and either of their Executors and Administrators to and with the said Master his Executors Administrators and Assigns by these Presents That _____ Executors Administrators Factors or Assigns shall and will not only unlade and relade the said Ship at her unlading and relading Port of _____ aforesaid and dispatch and discharge the same at this _____ in manner and form as above exprest and within the respective dayes and times above mentioned But also shall and will in full of all Freight to be due payable or