Chapter XXI
of the tradesman letting his wife be acquainted with his business

Chapter XXII
of the dignity of trade in England more than in other countries

Chapter xxiii
of the inland trade of England, its magnitude, and the great advantage
it is to the nation in general

Chapter XXIV
of credit in trade, and how A tradesman ought to value and improve it: 
How easily lost, and how hard it is to be recovered

Chapter XXV
of the tradesman’s punctual paying his bills and promissory notes under
his hand, and the credit he gains by it

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

The title of this work is an index of the performance.  It is a collection of useful instructions for a young tradesman.  The world is grown so wise of late, or (if you will) fancy themselves so, are so opiniatre, as the French well express it, so self-wise, that I expect some will tell us beforehand they know every thing already, and want none of my instructions; and to such, indeed, these instructions are not written.

Had I not, in a few years’ experience, seen many young tradesmen miscarry, for want of those very cautions which are here given, I should have thought this work needless, and I am sure had never gone about to write it; but as the contrary is manifest, I thought, and think still, the world greatly wanted it.

And be it that those unfortunate creatures that have thus blown themselves up in trade, have miscarried for want of knowing, or for want of practising, what is here offered for their direction, whether for want of wit, or by too much wit, the thing is the same, and the direction is equally needful to both.

An old experienced pilot sometimes loses a ship by his assurance and over confidence of his knowledge, as effectually as a young pilot does by his ignorance and want of experience—­this very thing, as I have been informed, was the occasion of the fatal disaster in which Sir Cloudesley Shovel, and so many hundred brave fellows, lost their lives in a moment upon the rocks of Scilly.[1]

He that is above informing himself when he is in danger, is above pity when he miscarries—­a young tradesman who sets up thus full of himself, and scorning advice from those who have gone before him, like a horse that rushes into the battle, is only fearless of danger because he does not understand it.