ADVICE To the WOMEN and MAIDENS OF LONDON. Showing, that instead of their usual Pastime; and education in Needlework, Lace, and Point-making, it were far more Necessary and Profitable to apply themselves to the right Understanding and Practice of the method of keeping books of account: whereby, either single, or married, they may know their Estates, carry on their Trades, and avoid the Danger of a helpless and forlorn Condition, incident to Widows. With some Essays, or rudiments for young beginners; in twelve Articles. By one of that Sex. LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Billingssley at the Printing press in Cornhill, 1678. ADVICE To the WOMEN and MAIDENS OF LONDON. Ladies and Gentlewomen, PErmit one of your Sex to give you, as far as her small knowledge will reach some hints to the right understanding and use of Accounts: an Art so useful for all sorts, sexes and degrees of persons, especially for such as ever think to have to do in the world in any sort of Trade or Commerce, that next to a stock of Money, Wares and Credit, this is the most necessary thing. Nor let us be discouraged, or put by the inspection thereof by being bid meddle with our distaff, for I have heard it affirmed by those who have lived in foreign part, that Merchants and other trades men have no other Book-keepers than their Wives: who by this means (the Husband dying) are well acquainted with the nature and manner of the trade, and are so certain how, and where their stock is; that they need not be beholden to servants or friends for guidance. And for telling us that the government of the House appertains to us, and the trades to our Fathers or Husbands; (under favour) the one is to be minded, and the other not neglected, for there is not that danger of a families overthrow by the sauce wanting its right relish, or the Table or Stools misplaced, as by a widow's ignorance of her concern as to her estate, and I hope husbands will not oppose this when help and ease is intended to them whilst living; and safety to their name and posterity after death: except they have private trades (too much in mode) whereof they would have their wives wholly ignorant. In such a case indeed, one that knows not that one and two make three suits best. And let us not fear we shall want time and opportunity to manage the decencies of our house; for what is an hour in a day, or half a day in a week, to make inspection into that, that is to keep me and mine from ruin and poverty. Methinks now the objection may be that this art is too high and mysterious for the weaker Sex it will make them proud: Women had better keep to their Needlework, point laces, etc. and if they come to poverty, those small Crafts may give them some mean relief. To which I answer, That having in some measure practised both Needlework and Accounts I can aver, that I never found this Masculine Art harder or more difficult than the effeminate achievements of Lace-makeing, gum-work or the like, the attainment whereof need not make us proud: And God forbidden that the practice of an useful Virtue should prompt us to a contrary Vice. Therefore if I might advise you, you should let the poor serve you with these mean things, whilst by gaining or saving an estate you shall never be out of capacity to store yourselves more abundantly with those trifles, than your own industry in such matters could have ever blest ye And now Gentlewomen I give you those rudiments of Accounts which are the subject of this little pamphlet and transmit this learning to you the best I can, in the self same manner as it came to me. Know then that my Parents were very careful to cause me to learn writing and Arithmetic, and in that I proceeded as far as Reduction, the Rule of Three and Practice, with other Rules, for without the knowledge of these I was told I should not be capable of Trade and Book-keeping and in these I found no discouragement for though Arithmetic set my brains at work, Yet there was much delight in seeing the end, and how each question produced a fair answer and informed me of things I knew not. Afterwards I was put to keep an exact account of the expense of House-keeping, and other petty Charges, my Father made it my office to call all persons to an account every night what they had laid out, and to reimburse it them, and set all down in a book, and this is the way to make one a Cashier as they are termed, and one that can keep a fair account of receipts and payments of Money or Cash-book, is in a good way towards the understanding of Book-keeping: She that is so well versed in this as to keep the accounts of her Cash right and daily entered in a book fair without blotting, will soon be fit for greater undertake. Now in regard that other learnings do depend upon this petty Cash account; I find it therefore convenient to give you an example of a month's expense, and you will thereby see what further use may be made of it afterwards. Therefore to begin, my Father gives me at several times in the month of January, the sum of 21 l. 17 s. 11 d. the account of the expenses whereof is as followeth. Expenses in January 1676. fol l. s. d. January 1. Paid for a book to keep these accounts 12 — — 4 For 3 dozen of Candles 10 — 16 9 To the Scavenger 3/ m to Christmas last 11 — 1 6 For 2 bushels of Meal 9 — 11 — For a hood, scarf, apron and gloves 11 — 18 6 Coach hire to Westminster 12 — 1 6 For 12 larks and 18 snits 8 — 2 10 Given a Maid that brought a present 12 — 1 — Borachia Beaf and Bacon 8 — 4 4 For 30 Eggs 9 — 1 6 For Roots and Herbs 9 — — 8 For drinking glasses 11 — 1 6 For Oysters 8 — 1 6 For a Knife and Fork 11 — 1 8 3. Given to new Bedlam 12 — 2 — For Almonds and Rice 10 — 1 — For Eyewater 10 — — 4 4. For a Leg of Veal 8 — 7 — For Salt Fish and Smelts 8 — 5 6 For Herbs and Salad 9 — 1 — For a pound of Butter 9 — — 9 For earthen ware 11 — — 5 For oil, Vinegar and Anchovies 10 — 1 6 For mending a hearth 10 — 1 7 For a pound of Sauciges' 8 — — 8 carried over — 4 6 4 1676. Brought over 4 4 6 4 Janu. 5. Given to the poor 12 — 1 — For a quart of white-wine 8 — 1 — To a Physician 10 — 10 — For thread lace's 11 — — 6 To two washer women 10 — 3 — For 2 pound of Sauciges' 8 — 1 — 6. For Fish 8 — — 6 For a twelf-tide cake 9 — 3 9 For Bread 9 — 2 — For Soap and Bluing 10 — 1 — For Ale 8 — — 4 For Faggots 10 — — 4 For Needles 11 — — 1 For Trolly lace 11 — 7 6 For Bacon 8 — 1 6 For Eggs 9 — — 6 8. For Meal and Flower 9 — 11 6 For a piece of Tape 11 — 1 2 For Fish 8 — 1 3 For Sand and Fuller's earth 11 — 1 4 For Salt 10 — — 8 For a Mop and brooms 11 — 1 5 9 For Ribbon and Tape 11 — 6 2 For Soap 10 — — 8 For a knuckle of Veal 8 — 1 — For mending the Floor 10 — 1 6 For Mustard 10 — — 2 For Apples, Roots and Herbs 9 — — 9 10. For small coal and matches 10 — — 8 For Brand 9 — — 4 carried over 7 8 11 Brought over 5 7 8 11 1676 To a Porter 12 — — 6 Janu. 11. Oatcakes and wheat 9 — 1 1 For thirty eggs 9 — 1 6 For Saucidges and links 8 — 2 4 For a Mum-glass 11 — — 5 To the poor 12 — 1 — For Veal for broth 8 — 1 1 12. For fish and Anchovies 8 — 3 4 For bread and barley 9 — — 4 For salad and shalots 9 — — 3 Paid the milk-womans' score 9 — 1 2 For two pound of Sugar 10 — 1 1 13. For a Chalder of Coals 10 1 1 6 For bonelace 11 — 2 2 For Veal, Pork, tripe, etc. 8 — 17 6 For Mutton 8 — 16 — For Oatmeal 9 — 1 — For Herbs 9 — — 9 15. For a hood, tape, and thread 11 — 10 3 To a porter 12 — — 6 For two pound of butter 9 — 1 — For fish 8 — 2 4 For a bottle of Vinegar 10 — — 6 A quarters wages to the Maid end. Christm. 9 1 — — 17. For Beef and Mutton 8 — 4 — For a Pullet 8 — 1 3 For herbs and roots 9 — 1 5 19 For a petticoat 11 1 13 — For bread 9 — — 4 For fish 8 — — 4 For Broadcloth 11 — 18 6 20. For Ribbon 11 — 1 8 carried over 15 17 — brought over 6 15 17 2 1676. To a servant that brought a present 12 — 1 — Janu. 20. For soap and fullers Earth 10 — — 6 Yeast for brewing 8 — — 4 A pint of white wine 8 — — 6 22. For ten bushels of Malt 8 1 10 — For bread 9 — — 4 23. For Veal, Calf's Head, etc. 8 — 5 6 For Calico and Sewing Silk 11 — 1 — 25. Given a Child 12 — — 6 For Ribbon, Silk, and Pearl 11 — 4 9 For Fish 8 — 1 10 27 For Pease 9 — — 9 For Anniseed-water 10 — — 5 For Meal and Flower 9 — 13 — 29. For Shoes to the Children 11 — 3 4 To the Minister 11 — 12 — For Paving the Street 11 1 1 6 A Quarter to the Poor, due at Christmas 11 — 2 6 30. To a Physician 10 — 10 — To the Apothecary 10 — 5 6 31. For the River-water; to Christmas 11 — 5 8 Total 21 17 11 Thus much for the particular Account of the Expenses in January, amounting to 21 l. 17 s. 11 d. Which (being past and allowed) I am required to draw out in another form, and to make out, in particulars, how much thereof is Expended in Meat, how much in Bread and Meal, how much in Fish, etc. And so to subdivide, and branch out this Account into as many parcels as is convenient, to show which way my Money goes, and put me upon Considering how I may lessen my Expenses for the time to come. The Form of this Account, is as followeth. See the Reason of the Figures preceding the Column of Money in pag. 14. Flesh. fol l. s. d. 4 — 2 10 4 — 4 4 4 — 7 — 4 — — 8 5 — 1 — 5 — 1 6 5 — 1 — 6 — 2 4 6 — 1 1 6 — 17 6 6 — 16 — 6 — 4 — 6 — 1 3 7 — 5 6 3 6 — Fish. 4 — 1 6 4 — 5 6 5 — — 6 5 — 1 3 6 — 3 4 6 — 2 4 6 — — 4 7 — 1 10 — 16 7 Drink. 5 — 1 — 5 — — 4 7 — — 4 7 — — 4 7 — — 6 7 1 10 — 1. 12. 2 Bread and Meal. fol l. s. d. 4 — 11 — 5 — 3 9 5 — 2 — 5 — 11 6 5 — — 4 6 — 1 1 6 — — 4 6 — 1 — 6 — — 4 7 — — 4 7 — — 9 7 — 13 — 2. 5. 5. Butter, Cheese, Milk, Eggs. 4 — 1 6 4 — — 9 5 — — 6 6 — 1 6 6 — 1 2 6 — 1 — — 6. 5. Fruits, Roots, Herbs. 4 — — 8 4 — 1 — 5 — — 9 6 — — 3 6 — — 9 6 — 1 5 — 4. 10 Wages. 6 1 — — Oil, Salteries, and Pickles. fol l. s. d. 4 — 1 6 5 — — 8 5 — — 2 6 — — 6 — 2 10 Groceries. 4 — 1 — 6 — 1 1 — 2 1 Fire and Candle. 4 — 16 9 5 — — 4 5 — — 8 6 1 1 6 1. 19 3 Laundry. 5 — 3 — 5 — 1 — 5 — — 8 7 — — 6 — 5 2 Physic. 4 — — 4 5 — 10 — 7 — — 5 7 — 10 — 7 — 5 6 1. 6. 3 Repair of House & Goods. 4 — 1 7 5 — 1 6 — 3. 1. 〈◊〉 Ware. fol. l. s. d. 4 — 1 6 4 — — 5 5 — 1 4 5 — 1 5 6 — — 5 — 5. 1 Durable Householdstuff. 4 1 8 Apparel. 4 — 18 6 5 — — 6 5 — — 1 5 — 7 6 5 — 1 2 5 — 6 2 6 — 2 2 6 — 10 3 6 1 13 — 6 — 18 6 6 — 1 8 7 — 1 — 7 — 4 9 7 — 3 4 5. 8 7 Taxes and Rent: 4 — 1 6 7 — 12 — 7 1 1 6 7 — 2 6 7 — 5 8 2. 3. 2 Schooling & Books. fol. l. s. d. 4 — — 4 Gifts and Charities. 4 1 — 4 2 — 5 1 — 6 1 — 7 1 — 7 — 6 6. 6 Promiscuous Incident Charges. 4 1 6 6 — 6 6 — 6 2. 6 Total of January. Pag. l. s. d. 8. Flesh. 3 6 — 8. Fish. — 16 7 8. Drink. 1 12 2 9 Bread, etc. 2 5 5 9 Butter, etc. — 6 5 9 Fruit, etc. — 4 10 9 Wages. 1 — — 10. Salteries. — 2 10 10. Groceries. — 2 1 10. Fire, etc. 1 19 3 10. Laundry. — 5 2 10 Physic. 1 6 3 10. Repairs. — 3 1 11. Brittle W. — 5 1 11. House-stuff. — 1 8 11. Apparel. 5 8 7 11. Rend & Tax. 2 3 2 12. Scho. & Book — — 4 12. Charities. — 6 6 12. Promiscuous. — 2 6 Tot. 21 17 11 I know not any thing that wants Explanation in these two several Accounts, except the Reason of the Figures preceding each Sum of Money: The Use thereof is this. In the first Account, pag. 4. The first Article is 4 d. paid for a Book; and the note of Reference thereto is 12. To show that you have that Sum, and that parcel passed to Account in page 12. And in page 12, under the Title of Books and Schooling, I find the number of Reference to be 4, showing that the said Entry of 4 d. for a Book, was there Originally Entered, viz. in pag. 4. Now, why all this, you'll say? I Answer, were there no other reason than that, I might (from the second Account, wherein I do only set the Sum, and not recite for what) turn the readilier to the first Account, and see what it is for; this would recompense the trouble: But there is a further and great use thereof to be made in the keeping an Account of Trade, as shall be shown in due place. And I do not doubt, but, that if Parents and Superiors employ their Children or Servants (one at a time, That is, one in one Year, and another in another) in this or the like way of keeping the Accounts of House Expenses, or other petty Charges (besides the satisfaction they will have to see how, and which way their Money goes.) They will also train up their Children to be regular and handy in Accounts of greater Moment. I have not further to say, concerning this Account of House-Expences, but, (that at the Years end, when the Account is past and approved) there should be a Scheme thereof drawn out of the said Account, in manner following, viz. The several Gradations how the aforesaid Years Expenses did arise. January. February March. April. May. June. July. August. Septemb. October. Novemb. Decemb. Total. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. Flesh. 3 6 6 9 6 11 4 11 11 3 16 11 12 9 1 1 12 11 4 14 9 4 15 9 6 16 11 4 5 10 3 13 4 62 5 1 Fish. — 16 7 12 1 10 9 1 3 1 17 5 1 5 5 — 13 10 1 1 3 — 18 — — 15 — — 17 6 — 6 1 9 17 10 Drink. 1 12 2 15 2 1 6 15 10 10 2 6 8 9 8 2 7 1 14 2 3 8 7 — 10 7 2 18 — 26 17 6 Bread and Meal. 2 5 5 2 2 9 4 5 6 15 2 1 3 8 1 3 5 — 17 2 — 12 1 2 4 8 4 — 8 2 1 8 1 15 6 23 7 8 Butter, Cheese, etc. — 6 5 18 6 7 2 17 10 6 3 10 1 12 1 1 1 3 13 10 4 — 4 — 14 8 3 0 3 2 1 10 2 25 6 2 Fruit, Herbs, Roots. — 4 10 6 2 4 2 3 8 5 14 3 — 13 2 1 8 6 1 11 2 — 13 6 — 6 7 — 7 7 6 18 7 Wages. 1 — 1 15 6 2 — — 1 — — 2 — — 7 15 6 Salteries, Pickles. — 2 10 3 2 1 4 3 2 2 9 7 — 7 — — 5 5 — 4 8 — 10 1 — 2 4 — 2 8 2 12 5 Groceries. — 2 1 3 3 3 4 2 4 2 3 8 2 — — 7 — 17 5 — 11 11 — 4 5 — 10 6 — 4 7 3 10 10 Fire and Candle. 1 19 3 2 11 6 2 4 11 1 10 6 6 5 7 — — 2 1 9 10 11 3 1 — 11 10 — 11 10 1 16 8 24 11 2 Laundry. — 5 2 16 7 11 7 6 5 16 10 6 5 — 4 10 — 13 4 — 9 11 — 5 2 — 10 3 — 11 6 6 8 — Physic. 1 6 3 10 9 1 3 3 4 7 6 — 5 — 1 8 3 — 8 9 — 11 — — 1 4 — 5 3 5 12 4 Repairs. — 3 1 10 1 11 2 2 2 1 11 — 1 9 — 1 10 1 12 — Brittle Ware. — 5 1 6 1 6 3 6 10 9 — 4 — — 8 1 — — 11 — 2 8 — — 6 1 8 4 Householdstuff. — 1 8 2 4 1 10 1 9 3 11 1 5 8 — — 4 1 — — 1 4 6 — 14 8 — 2 6 — 8 6 6 12 2 Apparel. 5 8 7 7 9 4 2 7 9 6 10 10 10 9 5 9 10 7 2 10 8 9 1 8 3 14 4 4 13 3 4 13 2 4 2 6 70 12 1 Rent and Taxes. 2 3 2 5 3 2 6 5 5 1 5 8 4 9 — — 4 10 — 6 6 — 9 — 6 1 6 25 10 2 Schooling & Books. — 4 7 4 2 8 8 10 4 — 9 3 — 1 4 1 6 2 2 18 1 Gifts and Charities. — 6 6 7 6 4 6 17 4 — 1 — — 5 9 — 4 6 — 11 7 1 3 5 4 2 1 Incident Charges. — 2 6 1 9 1 13 5 10 6 1 3 16 2 — 16 3 — 5 1 3 8 8 1 12 11 1 4 2 3 15 10 16 9 3 21 17 11 30 1 6 20 17 9 24 14 10 26 15 3 40 9 4 9 9 9 40 — 4 39 1 5 26 6 4 21 — 11 33 11 11 334 7 3 This foregoing Scheme hath two principal Aspects: First, you see the Total Expense of each Month at the bottom thereof, viz. January 21 l. 17 s. 11. Febr. 30 l. 1 s. 6 d. etc. Secondly, you see the Total Years Expense of each Commodity in the last Column; and so the Years Expense for Flesh-meat is 62 l. 5 s. 1 d. And for Fish 9 l 17 s. 10. etc. And the Total of the whole Years Charge, at the foot of all, to be 334 l. 7 s. 3. Note, That the Account of Promiscuous Incident Charges (amounting in the Year to 16 l. 9 s. 3 d.) may be, if you will, distinguished into other several heads, as Port of Letters, Boat and Coach-hire, Travelling-charges, and the like. And thus much may serve to be spoken concerning this petty-charge Account: In the Practice whereof two things are to be minded, viz. Exactness and Neatness; without Exactness it is an insignificant thing, a labour in vain. And without Neatness, the Accountant doth but manifest her unaptness, and unreadiness. Therefore, if one Year do not render the Accountants exact and neat, let them Practise it two Years: For if a true Account be not kept without blots, it will never commend the Artist. I should now, in performance of my Promise in the Title Page, present you with some Essays or Rudiments of Accounts in the way of a Trade; but what can be expected in these few sheets? Or why should I here Copy the Works of others? The best Service I can do you, is to refer you to that Book lately Printed, whence I derive all my small stock of Learning in Accounts. The Title of the Book is, Debtor and Creditor made Easy; and is to be had of the Bookseller whose Name is affixed to the Front of this. But that I may do something, to acquit myself of this Engagement, I shall here Present you with some short Precepts, and a few useful Examples for a beginner, in the war of Trade; and leave you to Reap the Harvest of this Learning from better Authors. The General Precept therefore is this, That when any Goods are bought or sold, when any Money is received or paid; in short, when any Bargain is made, each Action or Contract is to be Entered in your Leaguer, or Book of Accounts twice, viz. Debtor and Creditor. For you must consider, that every Receipt or Payment, every Buying and Selling, or other Contract is a transferring of Property from one to another; so that the Person, or thing, who is the Receiver or Borrower, is intended here for the Debtor; and the Person who pays, or the thing delivered or lent, is the Creditor. But I cannot more aptly Explain my meaning, than in referring you to the Petty-charge Account before going; wherein you have this Rule of a double Entry plainly Demonstrated. For in the Month of January I Receive 21 l. 17 s. 11 d. This I disburse, as hath been shown. In Flesh 3 l. 6 s.— In Fish 16 s. 7 d. etc. Here now the Account of Flesh is Debtor, 3 l. 6 s. and the Account of Fish is Debtor 16 s. 7 d. etc. and that of Money or Cash is Creditor for all those Sums; and thus one answers th' other, and Balances the Account. Therefore to proceed: Imagine an Exchange-Woman, Shopkeeper, or the like, newly entering upon Trade, is desirous to keep her Accounts in an exact Method. The first thing she is to do is to draw an Inventory of her Estate, as followeth, viz. In Ready Money— 60 l.—.— A Piece of black A-la-mode, Containing 55 els, cost 3 s. per. Ell. 0● l. 05 s.— 20 Dozen of women's Gloves, cost 16 s. per Dozen— 16 l.— Due to her by Mrs. Martha Thorpe— 20 l.— So her whole Estate is— 104 l. 5 s.— These four Branches of her Stock are to be kept in so many several Heads of Accounts, as in the former Rules of House Accounts: So that first Money or Cash is to be made Debtor, and an Account of Stock, Creditor: Turn over to the Leaguer, which gins at page 28, and you'll see this done; the Debtor is always on the left hand, and the Creditor on the right. There you will find it so entered, viz. Cash in pag. 28, is Debtor to Stock, in pag. 29. And Stock, in pag. 29. is Creditor by Cash, in pag. 28. And in the like manner you will find the other three Parcels entered in pag. 30, 31. Having thus Posted your Account of Stock, and set open your shop, you begin your Trade after some such manner as this: And here I desire the Reader or Learner, as she reads these following Instructions, to cast her eye upon the Leaguer where the Parcels are entered. You sell by Retail for ready Money, five dozen of Gloves, at 20 s. per dozen— 5 l.— For this (having Received Money) your Cash is Debtor, Debtor 28. Creditor 31. and Account of Gloves is Creditor; as you see it done in pag. 28.31.— 5 l.— You have sold to Mrs. Thorp five dozen of Gloves, at 22 s. per dozen— 5 l. 10 s.— To Enter this, Mrs. Thorp (not yet having paid) is Debtor, Debtor 30. Creditor 31. and Account of Gloves Creditor, as will appear by the Figures of Reference in the Margin. 5 l. 10 s. Having given out 25 els of Allamode for making of Hoods, they now being returned in 30 Hoods, cost 2 s. 6 d. each Hood in stuff only, which is equivalent to 3 s. per Ell.— 3 l. 15 s.— For this, make in your Leaguer an Account of Hoods, and let that be Debtor, and Allamode Creditor. 3 l. 15 s. Paid your Sempstress for Silk and making the said Hoods, Debtor 32. Creditor 31. at 6 d. a piece.— l.— 15 s.— Hoods is here Debtor to Cash— l.— 15 s.— Note, Debtor 32. Creditor 29 when I say Debtor to Cash, it is in short to express, that Hoods is Debtor, and Cash is Creditor. And here also Observe all along in your Leaguer, that every Debtors Parcel gins [To] and then mentions the Creditor; and every Creditor gins [By] and then mentions the Debtor. The first tells whither you are going, the second whence you come. You have Received of Mrs. Thorp, in part of her Debt— 15 l.— Make Cash Debtor, Debtor 28. Creditor 31. & Mrs. Thorp Creditor. 15 l.— Bought of Henry Garstang 20 dozen of Gloves, at 15 s. per dozen.— 15 l.— Here Gloves are Debtor, Debtor 30. Creditor 33 and you must state an Account for Henry Garstang, and make that Creditor. 15 l. You pay the said Garstang in Money 10 l. and by 30 Hoods, at 3 s. 4 d. per Hood.— 5 l.— 1. Henry Garstang is Debtor to Cash for the 10 l. paid him. Debtor 32. Creditor 29. Debtor 32. Creditor 33. — 10 l.— 2. The said Garstang is Debtor to Hoods 5 l. for 30 sold him. Bought of James Jones two Pieces of Bag-Holland, containing 60 els, at 5 s. per Ell.— 15 l.— Four Pieces of Cambric, at 40 s. per Piece. 8 l.— 23 l.— Make an Account of Linen Debtor, Debtor 32. Creditor 33 and James Jones, Creditor.— 23 l.— Both these must be new opened in the Leaguer. You pay Mr. Jones in Money— 12 l. 10 s.— And he is willing to accept of the Assignment upon Mrs. Thorp for the Debt she owes, being— 10 l. 10.— So he is paid in full— 23 l.— By this time I hope it is easy to be understood that Jones is Debtor, Debtor 32. Creditor 29. Debtor 32. Creditor 31. and Cash Creditor for the 12 l. 10 s. paid. And he is Debtor, and Mrs. Thorp Creditor for the Assignment of— 10 l. 10 s.— Your whole parcel of Linen is cut out, and made up into Handkerchiefs, Cravats, Cuffs, etc. the charge thereof, as by the Sempstress' Bill, amounts to, and you paid her— 2 l. 10 s.— This is easily put in Order thus. Debtor 32. Creditor 29. Linen Debtor, and Cash Creditor— 2 l. 10 s.— You meet with a Merchant going to Barbadoes, who hath occasion for about half of your Linen, and the parcel is made out, proportionable to his pay, which is not to be in Money, but in two Hogsheads of Sugar, weighing Net 14 C. 3 q. 14 l. The price 26 s. per C. amounting to 19 l. 6 s. 9 d. The Goods being Bartered and interchanged, you need only make an Account of Sugar, Debtor 34. Creditor 33. Debtor, and Linen Creditor— 19 l 6 s 9 d Your disbursements, for House-keeping, and all other petty charges, amounts to in a week past— 3 l 6 s 8 d. Make an Account in your Leaguer of House-keeping, Debtor 34. Creditor 29. and let that be Debtor to Cash— 3 l 6 s 8 d And thus I have done, as to carrying on a Trade, for I dare not swell this into a farther progress; this may suffice to give you a relish of an Art, which the more known, will yield the pleasanter taste. But all this will signify but little, unless you bring your Accounts to a certain conclusion or Balance, whereby to see how your new Stock differs from your Old. To accomplish this, there are two Accounts more to be stated in your Leaguer, which have not yet been opened; that is, the Account of Profit and Loss, and the Account of Balance. The first of these you could not have been without, if this Trade had been a little farther carried on. That of Balance is ever the last Account in the old Leaguer, and the first in the new, as experience will demonstrate. To effect this, look over your Leaguer from first to last, and single out the Accounts which remain open; I mean, such which are not even on both sides, as Thorps', Garstangs, and Jones' are. Then consider what may be the reason that the open Accounts are not closed as those last mentioned. And you'll find two main Reasons; first, for that there are still divers goods undisposed of. Secondly, in regard of a surplusage by Profit, or a diminution by Loss: In both these cases these two Accounts of Profit and Loss, and Balance will set all right. Begin therefore with the Account of Cash, and you will find that there is still remaining in your hands 50 l. 18 s. 4 d. To even therefore this Account, Debtor 34. Creditor 29. make Balance Debtor Cash 50 l. 18 s. 4. so close up that. The next is the Account of Alamode, wherein you see is remaining unsold 30 els, which at 3 s. an Ell is— 4 l. 10 s.— Make also Balance Debtor to Alamode 4 l. 10 s. and that is evened. Debtor 34. Creditor 31 The next Account is that of Gloves, which is not to be closed up without twice the Labour, as the former, for, in this, you have reference both to Profit and loss, and Balance. First, value the Gloves you have remaining, reckoning half of the first parcel 8 l. and all the last 15 l. both which being 23 l. carry to Account of Balance, as you did the two former, viz. Balance is Debtor to Gloves for 360 pair resting unsold— 23 l.— Debtor 34. Creditor 31. Then you'll find 50 s. wanting to make up the Debtor side, and that is clear Profit; for which, say, Gloves Debtor to Profit and Loss, Debtor 30. Creditor 35. 2 l. 10 s. gained upon that Account. The next is the Account of Hoods, which is to be closed up with Profit and Loss, Debtor 32. Creditor 35. 10 s. being so much gained upon that Account. The next is that of Linen, which must be evened just as the Account of Gloves was; therefore value the Linen remaining, at— 12 l. 15 s.— For this, Balance is Debtor, Debtor 34. Creditor 33 and Linen is Creditor— 12 l. 15 s.— And then you will find 6 l. 11 s. 9 d. Profit: Then say, Linen is Debtor to Profit and Loss— 6 l. 11 s. 9 d. Afterwards you come to your Account of Sugar, Debtor 32. Creditor 35 Debtor 34. Creditor 35 and that is all remaining; therefore say, Balance Debtor to Sugar— 19 l. 6 s. 9 d. Then your House-keeping Account, and that is to be placed on the losing side of Profit and Loss, thus, Profit and Loss Debtor to House-keep. Debtor 34. Creditor 35. — 3 l. 6, 8 d. And then compare your Account of Profit and Loss, and see which side weighs heaviest, and that is the Creditor side, amounting to 9 l. 11 s. 9 d. which is the Sum Total of this weeks gain, out of which deduct the charges of House-keeping, which is on the Debtor side, and the clear Profit is— 6 l. 5 s. 1 d. Carry this 6 l. 5 s. 1 d. to your Account of Stock, at pag. 29. being an apparent increase to that Account, which before was 104 l. 5. and now by this additon, is 110 l. 10 s. 1 d. thus, Profit and Loss Debtor to Account of Stock 6 l. 5 s. 1 d. Debtor 34. Creditor 29 Lastly, carry over the Account of Stock to Balance, thus, Stock is Debtor to Balance— 110 l. 10 s. 1 d. Debtor 28. Creditor 35 When this is done, if Balance Balances itself, and be alike on both sides, as you see it is, than you may conclude your Leaguer is right posted; else you must never cease till you find out the Error. And this Account of Balance (being that which demonstrates where your Estate lies) is all you need carry over to your new Book. The Reader is not to imagine that it is intended she should Balance her Accounts and have new Books every week, once a Year is often enough. And in this manner ought a Merchant's Leaguer appear, every Account therein Balanced to one Farthing, which will be both a Credit and a Delight to her. If a Retailing Shopkeeper Objects, That it were too painful to enter every pair of Gloves, etc. which he selleth, in his Leaguer after the aforesaid manner. I Answer, There is a ready way to comprise a weeks Retail, though consisting of many particulars, into a very short Method. But this and other difficulties are all removed in that Book, whence I derive my Learning. I Advise the Practitioners to take the pains, as they Read the Propositions and Instructions, not to satisfy themselves by looking in the Leaguer; but as they understand each Parcel, to post it themselves in a Paper Book till the whole be finished. The Alphabet to the ensuing LEAGUER. Page Alamode. 30 Balance. 34 Cash. 28 D. E. F. Gloves. 30 Garstang. 32 Hoods. 32 House-keeping. 34 Jones. 32 K. Linen 32 M. N. O. Profit &c Loss 34 Q. Stock 28 Sugar 34 Thorp 30 V. W. X. Y. Z. Stock Debtor fol l. s. d. To Balance 35 110 10 1 Cash Debtor To Stock remaining in my hands 29 60 To Gloves sold 5 does. 31 5 To Mrs. Thorp, of whom Recd. in part 31 15 80 Stock Creditor fol l. s. d. By Cash remaining in my hands 28 60 — — By Alamode 55 els, at 3 s. per Ell 30 8 5 — By Gloves 20 dozen, at 16 s. per does 30 16 — — By Mrs. Martha Thorp, who owes me 30 20 — — 104 5 By Profit and Loss a weeks gain 34 6 5 1 110 10 1 Cash Creditor By Hoods paid for making 30 32 — 15 — By Hen. Garstang paid in part 32 10 — — By James Jones an Account of Linen 32 12 10 — By Linen paid Mabel Owen, Sempstress 32 2 10 — By House-keep. charges for a week past 34 3 9 8 By Balance 34 50 18 4 80 — — Alamode Debtor Ells. fol l. s. d. To Stock Resting at 3 s. per el, 55 29 8 5 — Gloves Debtor Pair. To stock Resting. 20 Does. is 240. 29 16 — — To Hen. Garstang, of whom bought 240 33 15 — — To Profit and Loss gained 35 2 10 — 480 33 10 — Mrs. Martha Thorp Debtor To Stock which she owes me 29 20 — — To Gloves sold to her 5 does. 31 5 10 — 25 10 — Alamode Creditor Ells. fol l. s. d. By Hoods given out to the Sempstress 25 32 3 15 — By Balance Rest unsold— 30 34 4 10 — 55 8 5 — Gloves Creditor Pair. By Cash Received by Sale of— 60 28 5 — — By Mrs. Thorp, to whom sold— 60 30 5 10 — By Balance unsold, val. at— 360 34 23 — — 480 33 10 — Mrs. Martha Thorp Creditor By Cash Received of her 28 15 — — By James Jones Assigned the remainder 32 10 10 — 25 10 — Hoods Debtor Hoods. fol l. s. d. To Alamode 25 els, of which made 30 31 3 15 — To Cash, paid the Sempstress for making 29 — 15 — To Profit and Loss gained 35 — 10 — 5 — — Henry Garstang Debtor To Cash, paid him in part 29 10 — — To Hoods 30 sold him 33 5 — — 15 — — James Jones Debtor To Cash, paid him 29 12 10 — To Mrs. Thorp, on whom Assigned 31 10 10 — 23 — — Linen Debtor To James Jones for a parcel of Linen 33 23 — — To Cash, paid Mabel Owen the Sempstress 29 2 10 — To Profit and Loss gained by this Acc t. 35 6 11 9 32 1 9 Hoods Creditor Hoods. fol l. s. d. By Hen. Garstang, to whom sold 30 32 5 — — Henry Garstang Creditor By 20 dozen of Gloves bought of him 30 15 — — James Jones Creditor By Linen bought of him 32 23 — — Linen Creditor By Sugar, exchanged for Linen 34 19 6 9 By Balance I value half remaining 34 12 15 — 32 1 9 Sugar Debtor fol l. s. d. To Linen for two Hogsheads Received in Barter 33 19 6 9 House-keeping Debtor To Cash disbursed in a week past 29 3 6 8 Profit and Loss Debtor To House-keeping spent this last week 35 3 6 8 To Stock gained in all 29 6 5 1 9 11 9 Balance Debtor To Cash remaining 29 50 18 4 To Alamode remaining 30 els 31 4 10 — To Gloves remaining 360 pair 31 23 — — To Linen remaining, which I value at 33 12 15 — To Sugar two Hogsheads remaining 35 19 6 9 110 10 ● Sugar Creditor fol l. s. d. By Balance: rest unsold 34 19 6 9 House-keeping Creditor By Profit and Loss, to even this Account 34 3 6 8 Profit and Loss Creditor By Account of Gloves gained 30 2 10 — By Account of Hoods gained 32 — 10 — Ly Account of Linen gained 32 6 11 9 9 11 9 Balance Creditor By former Stock with Addition of this weeks clear Profit 28 110 10 1 If any Persons desire the Assistance of a Master to hasten them in this Learning, Mr. Randolph, Schoolmaster in Mugwel-street, near Chirurgeons-Hall, will Attend them, at home or abroad. FINIS.