[Whenever the subject of correspondence produces much excitement, write the letter which relates to it, and delay forwarding it till the next day.]

Of caution in setting up.

When, therefore, the term of your indenture is expired, and you grow ambitious of appearing your own master, I advise you, in the most earnest and serious manner, to consider it as an affair that is to influence your whole future life. Many, by their haste and precipitation in this particular, have only hastened their own undoing; and, to get rid of a gentle subjection, have rendered themselves the perpetual slaves of want and wretchedness. To set up, and miscarry, is like the blast to the blossom; if it does not absolutely kill, it leaves it diseased, and the fruit is both worthless and despised. Hold the rein, then, tight on your impatience, and examine the ground over and over again, before you start for the prize. It has been observed, that few or none thrive, who set up the moment they are out of the leading-strings, as it were: hope has too great an ascendancy at that time of life, and the stripling is sanguine enough to begin where his old master left off. But the ship that sets out with all sail and no ballast, is sure to turn bottom upwards: and, as I have before more at large laid down, curiBb

osity, pleasure and expense have so strong an influence upon the inexperienced mind, that solicitude and application, though the best friends a tradesman has, are dismissed without a hear. ing.

To serve first as Journeyman.

Would you, therefore, be prevailed on to tread in the same steps that have carried me through life with credit to myself, and prosperity to my family, serve a year or two as journeyman to the shrewdest and most experienced person in your profession. You will learn more dexterity and address in the procuring and despatch of business, during that interval, than in the whole seven years you had served already. It will, beside, give you leisure to look round for a proper place to settle in, where there is a vacancy in trade that you may hope to fill with success; as, likewise, to select those dealers who are likeliest to serve you best on one hand, and to court those customers who are the surest pay, and give the largest orders, on the other. Or, if you are too weary of servitude and dependence to endure it any longer, enter into partnership with such a one as is above described and though you may expect he will manage so that the contract shall rather incline to his advantage, you will be a gainer upon the whole thenceforward, his experience, bis ad

dress and his sagacity will be yours; and, for the sake of his own interest and character, he will be equally vigilant of yours.

of great Rents.

But, if no such opportunity offers, and you prepare to set out wholly on your own bottom, do not incumber yourself with a house of a greater rent than the current profits of your business will easily pay. Many young beginners have half undone themselves by want of foresight in this one article. Quarter-days are clamorous visitants, and their dues must be sliced off from the capital stock, if the product does not swell in proportion to the demand. Before, therefore, you attempt the dangerous experiment, make the exactest estimate possible, of the expenses you may incur, and the prospects you have to make the balance even; and rather trade within your compass, than beyond it; it is easy to enlarge your risk, but not to contract it; and, once out of your depth, it is great hazard if ever you recover your footing any more.

It is a plain, but sensible rustic saying, Eat your brown bread first: nor is there a better rule for a young man's out-set in the world. While you continue single, you may live within as narrow bounds as you please: and it is then you must begin to save, in order to be

provided for the more enlarged expense of your future family. Beside, a plain, frugal life is then supported most cheerfully; it is your own choice, it is to be justified on the best and honestest of principles of the world; and you have no body's pride to struggle with, or appetites to master, but your own. As you advance in life and success, it will be expected you should give yourself greater indulgence; and you may then be allowed to do it, both reasonably and safely.

[If you wish to escape a great deal of embarrassment, that might otherwise result, whatever may be your income, be sure to live upon less. Absolute enjoyment, is much augmented, by diminishing our wants. "Luxury is artifi cial poverty." An ancient philosopher, in passing through a market, where a great variety of merchandise was exposed for sale, exclaimed, “How many things are there here, which I do not want!"

Of fine Shops.

Beware, likewise, of an ostentatious beginning; a huge, unwieldly, tawdry sign, and of laying out as much to adorn a shop, as to fill it. There is, here and there, a street in this town, where the shops are set out with looking-glasses, carvings, gildings, columns, and all the ornaments of architecture; where both masters

and men are beaux in their way, and make it a science to inveigle customers by their civilities, as well as their outside finery: and yet more younger sons, of good families and fortunes, from two to ten thousand pounds, are here wrecked by these prodigal stratagems, than in half the town beside; and all for want of proper fore-thought in estimating the certain issues and the uncertain gains, with proper allowance for unavoidable losses, by some customers who cannot pay, and others who will not; some, who are above the reach of the law, and others beneath it. And truly, from their wretched examples, I have often been induced to conclude, that young sparks, who set up with a large and affluent fortune, are not in so sure a road to thrive, as those who are limited to a more scanty pattern. For the first think they may command fortune, and therefore launch into expenses without fear or wit; nor believe they can be undone till it is too late to prevent it: whereas the last, by being ever in fear of ruin, make use of all their wit, application and industry, to be above the danger; and hence get into such a habit of temperance, solicitude and frugality, that no prosperity can get the better of; whence, in process of time, every pound becomes a hundred, every hundred a thousand, and the labour of one life enriches a whole family for ages.