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ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN.

WRITTEN ANNO 1784.

To my Friend A. B.

As you have defired it of me, I write the following hints, which have been of fervice to me, and may, if obferved be fo to you

R

EMEMBER that time is money.

He that can earn ten fhillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or fits idle one half of that day, though he spends but fixpence during his diverfion or idlenefs, ought not to rekon that the only expence; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five fhillings befides.

Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the intereft, or fo much as I can make of it during that time. This amounts to a confiderable fum where a man has good and large credit, and makes good ufe of it.

Remember that money is of a prolific generat ing nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and fo on. Five fhilings turned is fix; turned again, it is feven and three pence; and fo on till it becomes an hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces, every turning, fo that the profits rife quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding fow, deftroys all her offspring to the thoufandth generation. He that muders a crown, deftroys

all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.

Remember that fix pounds a year, is but a groat a day. For this little fum, which may be daily wafted either in time or expence, unperceived, a man of credit may, on his own fecurity, have the conftant poffeffion and ufe of an hundred pounds. So much in ftock, brifkly turned by an induftrious man, produces great advantages.

Remember this faying, "The good paymafter is lord of another man's purfe." He that is known to pay punctually and exacly to the time he promifes, may at any time, and on any occafion, raise all the money his friends can fpare. This is fometimes of great ufe.. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raifing of a young man in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings: therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promifed, left a difappointment fhut up your friend's purfe for

ever.

The moft trifling actions that affects a man's credit are to be regarded. The found of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him eafy fix months longer; but if he fees you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he fends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump.

It fhews, befides, that you are mindful of what you owe; it makes you appear a careful, as well as an honeft man, and that ftill increases your credit.

Beware of thinking all your own that you poffefs, and of living accordingly. It is a miftake

that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this keep an exact account, for fome time, both of your expenfes and your income. If you take the pains at firft to mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you will discover how wonderfully fmall trifling expences mount up to large fums, and will difcern what might have been, and may for the future be faved, without occafioning any great inconvenience.

He

In fhort, the way to wealth, if you defire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, wafle neither time nor money, but make the best ufe of both. Without induitry and frugality nothing will do, and with them every thing. that gets all he can honeftly, and faves all he gets, (neceffary expences excepted) will certainly be come rich-if that Being who governs the world to whom all fhould look for a bleffing on their ho neft endeavours, doth not, in his wife providence otherwife determine.

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HE ufe of money is all the advantage there is in having money.

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For fix pounds a year you may have the use of one hundred pounds, provided you are a man of known prudence and honefty.

He that spends a groat a day idly, fpends idly above fix pounds a year, which is the price for the ufe of one hundred pounds.

He that wastes idly a groat's worth of his time, per day, one day with another, waftes the privilege of ufing one hundred pounds each day.

He that idly lofes five fhillings worth of time, lofes five fhillings, and might as prudently throw five fhillings into the fea.

He that lofes five fhillings, not only lofes that um, but all the advantage that might be made by urning it in dealing, which, by the time that a joung man becomes old, will amount to a confilerable fum of money.

Again: he that fells upon credit, asks a price or what he fells equivalent to the principal and ntereft of his money for the time he is to he kept ut of it; therefore, he that buys upon credit, ays intereft for what he buys; and he that pays eady money, night let that money out to ufe: fo hat he that poffeffes any thing he has bought, ays intereft for the ufe of it.

Yet, in buying goods, it is beft to pay ready noney, because, he that fells upon credit, expects o loofe five per cent. by bad debts; therefore he charges, on all he fells upon credit, an advance hat fhall make up that deficiency.

Those who pay for what they buy upon credit pay their fhare of this advance.

He that pays ready money, efcapes, or may cape, that charge.

ef

A penny fav'd is two-pence clear;
♫ pin a day's a groat a year.

*****

THE WAY TO MAKE MONEY PLENTY IN EVERY MAN'S POCKET.

A

T this time, when the general complaint is that money is fcarce," it will be an act of kindnefs to inform the moneylefs how they may reinforce their pockets. I will acquaint them with the true fecret of money-catching-the certain way to fill empty purfes-and how to keep them always full. Two fimple rules, well obferved, will

do the bufincfs.

First, let honefty and industry be thy conftan companions; and,

Secondly, fpend one penny lefs than thy clea gains.

Then fhall thy hide-bound pocket foon begi to thrive, and will never again cry with the emp ty belly-ach; neither will creditors infult the nor want opprefs, nor hunger bite, nor nakedne freeze thee. The whole hemifphere will fhing brighter, and pleasure spring up in every corner thy heart. Now, therefore, embrace thefe rule and be happy. Banifh the bleak winds of forrow from thy mind, and live independent. Then tha thou be a man, and not hide thy face at the ap proach of the rich, nor suffer the pain of feeling little when the fons of fortune walk at thy right hand: for independency, whether with little or

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