VIII. Dissolution of partnership X. English agent abroad, letter from XI. Death of partner GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 3. LXXII.-LXXX. Remittance 46-52 59-94 95-98 5. XCIII-XCV. Dishonoured bill 6. XCVI.-CXLVI. Trade between Fayal and London 7. CXLVII.-CLI. Speculation in exchanges 8. CLII.-CLVI. Adventure in flax CXCVII.--CCI. Loss of ship-recovery from 14. CCII.-CCIX. Bill dishonoured at Rio de Janeiro. 15. CCX.-CCXIII. Order for cargo of coals 16. CCXIV.-CCXVII. Sales of fruit by auction 18. CCXXIII.—CCXXV. Orders for British manufac- 22. CCXXXVIII.-CCXL. Sale of British manufac- tured goods in America 157--159 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. THE proper characteristics of the commercial style are neatness and perspicuity. Brevity also is desirable, as far as may be consistent with the latter quality; for a waste of words is a waste of time, both to him who writes and to him who reads a letter. To attain all this, I would recommend that the several subjects to be treated of, should be kept perfectly distinct. In replying to a letter, follow the same order that is observed therein, discussing one subject fully, and in a separate paragraph, before you proceed to the next. The want of a proper division of a letter into paragraphs, and a neglect of punctuation, will scarcely fail render it confused.* It is a point of chief importance, that all orders given should be clear and explicit; and if their execution depend upon any contingency, the correspondent must have full directions how to act under any change of circumstances that may be contemplated: this is necessary to obviate misunderstandings and disputes. With the same view, it is usual, especially in important matters, to recapitulate the principal subjects of the letter replied to. In this, however, merchants have also another object, which is to render their letter-books, as *Persons, and foreigners in particular, who are conscious of being deficient in style, would do well to study the principles of composition in Justin Brennan's Composition and Punctuation, |