forming the man of business
The 18th century counting house was a site of movement—of goods, money, and information—all of which required the movement of pen on paper. Businessmen and their clerks needed to be skilled correspondents and record-keepers, and the multitude of manuals for “forming the man of business” published at this time attests to the need for employees who were literate, numerate, and trained in methods of bookkeeping.
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Edward Hatton. The merchant's magazine: or, Trades-man's treasury. London, 1697.
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Nicholas Brown’s handwriting practice book. 1743. |
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The Secretary's guide, or, Young mans companion, in four parts.[New York], 1728. |
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William Weston. The complete merchant’s clerk: or British and American compting-house. . . To which is added, an Appendix . . . London, 1754. |
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“. . . deficient in every part of Learning, which might properly qualify him for the Marcantile Line”: William Williams to Welcome Arnold, July 26, 1793. Arnold family business records. Apparently responding to a complaint from Welcome Arnold, Wrentham-based schoolmaster William Williams explains any lack in Arnold’s son Samuel’s training by asserting that Samuel’s “attention to his Studies was not so fixed as I could wish—his Genius, especially in Figures, moderate.” Indeed, Williams found Samuel “deficient in every part of Learning, which might properly qualify him for the Marcantile Line.” Three years later, Welcome Arnold attempted to place his son as an apprentice with the New York firm Hugh Pollock & Co. The letter from the company expressed that they expected “to find a young gentleman who writes a good hand and has a competent knowledge of accounts, leaving us nothing in short, to teach him but business, which we will do with particular care & attention.” The deal apparently fell through when the company realized that Samuel was nearly of age—which would prove a poor return on their investment in training him, as he would most likely leave to work in his father’s firm just as he became useful. In a letter expressing their regrets, the firm explained that “we had supposed him to be fifteen or sixteen years old”—a more typical age for a business apprentice. Young Samuel seems to have found his footing in any case, and was capable of taking over the family business upon his father’s death in 1798. “A few Days since Receiv’d your short, but comprehensive Letter, expressing your Mortification, that Saml. gerauld had made so little Improvement, whilst under my Tuition; which, I confess, hurt my feelings a little—not because, I was disappointed, in having judged him qualified for Business, when he left me; for I well knew he was not—neither because, upon Reflection, I had Reason to accuse myself of Partiallity or Neglect in his Instruction.—But because, it was the first Instance, as I recollect, in which I failed of giving Satisfaction.—When he first came to me, which was toward the last of Decemb.r. I was sensible the time proposed was a term, too short to answer your Expectations—he tarried at Home nearly a Month in the Winter,--and left my school in the Spring.—his attention to his Studies was not so [fixed?] as I could wish—his Genius, especially in Figures, moderate.—In short, I found him deficient in every part of Learning, which might properly qualify him for the Marcantile Line.—I attempted an Improvement, according to my usual Method & Abilities, in which, if I had been so happy as to have given you Satisfaction, & met your Approbation, I should now with the greatest pleasure, & highest Esteem Subscribe myself your Friend & very Humble Servt Wm. Williams” |
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Daniel Fenning. The ready reckoner, or, The trader's useful assistant, in buying and selling all sorts of commodities, either wholesale or retail. Shewing, at one view, the amount or value of any number or quantity of goods or merchandise, from half a farthing to 20s. either by the long or short hundred, half hundred, or quarter, pound or ounce, ell or yard, &c. &c. Newburyport, [Mass.], 1794. A tool for quickly calculating the cost of any quantity of a commodity, Fenning’s Ready Reckoner promises to present the amounts in “so plain and easy a manner, that persons quite unacquainted with arithmetic may hereby ascertain the value of any number of hundreds, pounds, ounces, ells or yards, &c. at any price whatever.” This edition of Fenning’s book also includes tables for calculating simple and compound interest. Other editions (and there were many) featured tables for converting currency, important weights and measures, and other calculating tools. The Library also holds a German translation of this edition. |
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Moses Brown (1775-1791). Cyphering book, ca. 1785. Brown family business records. |
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Exhibition may be seen in Reading Room from September 12 through Exhibition prepared by Kim Nusco, Reference and Manuscript Librarian, John Carter Brown Library |