THE Tradesman's Director; Or, a Short and Easy METHOD Of Keeping his BOOKS of accounts; So as readily to know at any Time the State of his Affairs, upon any particular account, whether of Men, Money, or Goods. Also how to bring his Books to a balance, and to know his Profits or Losses in the whole Course of his Trade. By CHARLES SNELL, Master of the Free-Writing-School, in Foster-Lane, near Cheap-side, LONDON.  
LONDON, Printed: And Sold by Richard Baldwin, near the Oxford Arms, in Warwick-Lane, MDCXCVII.   

To the Worshipful Mr. William Snell, ALDERMAN of the City of COVENTRY.  
SIR,  
NONE can better demonstrate the Usefulness of Methodical and Concise Book-keeping than a Good accountant. Your Dealings have sufficiently gained You the Reputation of One; therefore I make bold to prefix Your Name to the following Sheets, as a means to recommend them to some of the Many Trading-People, who want Directions of that Kind. I hope, that as You always chiefly consult the public Good, neither my presumption, nor the shortness of the Piece, which may make it of more general use, will influence You to give it a worse Reception; the rather since I have been long ambitious of an opportunity to express in as public a manner as possible the Obligations I have to You, and the hearty Zeal and deep Respect of  
SIR, Your most obliged and most obedient Nephew, CHARIES SNELL.   

INSTRUCTIONS to the READER.  
THE supposed Inventory or account taken here of your Goods, Ready-Money, Debts to you owing, and of Debts by you owing, from whence this account takes its Beginning, is as follows.  
        l. s. d. In Ready Money       315 10 07. In Goods valued at       3157 16 10. Due to me by A.       57 16 11. Due to me by B.       200 00 00.         3731 04 04.   l. s. d.       Due by me to C. 17 12 09.       And to D. 100 00 00.               117 12 09. The neat Stock       3613 11 07.  

Of the BOOKS that are Necessary, and their Use.  
The Books Necessary are Four, viz.  

1. A Day-Book.  
2. A Ledger.  
3. A Cash-Book.  
4. A Book of Goods Bought and Sold.   
Their Use is as follows.  
In the First, or Day-Book are entered all Dealings as they occur, as of Goods Bought, or Sold, Money received, or Paid, &c. observing in each Article or Parcel to Express the Date, Action, Person, Quantity, and Quality of the Goods, Price, Agreement, and Total.  
In the second, or Ledger are entered the Names of all those you Deal with upon Trust; allowing each a convenient space to Enter or Post such Dealings as shall be had with him, viz. On the Left-hand to Post all Articles for which he is Indebted or Chargeable, and on the Right all such for which he ought to have Credit, or whereby he Discharges himself.  
In the Third, or Cash-Book are entered on the Left-hand all Receipts of Money; on the Right, all Payments; and on Both, the Time when, of whom, and to whom.  
In the Fourth and Last, or Book of Goods Bought and Sold are entered on the left-hand all Goods Bought or Received; and on the Right all Goods Sold or delivered.  
What is here omitted in the Explanation of the Use of these Books is more easily learned by the Examples in Each; for which Reason you are refen'd thither, where you may observe the way of Ruling each Book.   

RULES and DIRECTIONS.  
1. For the Goods I have when I Begin New Books, I Enter them in my Fourth Book of Goods Bought and Sold, on the Left-side, saying To balance, &c. for their Total Amount; and on the Right-side of balance in the same Book, By Goods, &c. for their Amount, as you may see upon those two accounts in the Fourth Book.  
2. For my Ready Money, I Enter under the Title of Cash in my Third Book on the Left-side, To balance, &c. and on the Right-side of balance in my Fourth Book, By Cash, &c. as may be seen in those two Books.  
3. For the Money Due to me by any Person or Persons, I Enter on the Left-side of their accounts in my Second Book, To balance due by him, her, or them; and on the Right-side of balance in my Fourth Book; By( mentioning the Name of the Person Indebted,) due by him, her, or them, as may be seen in those two Books.  
4. For the Money due by Me to any Person or Persons, I enter on the Left-side of balance in my Fourth Book, To( mentioning the Name of the Person to whom I am Indebted) due to him, or her; and on the Right-side of the account of the Person in my Second Book, By balance due to him, or her, as may be seen in those two Books.  
Thus much for the Beginning of the Books: I proceed now to Dealings as they lie in the Day-Book, viz.  
5. For Goods Sold by Me on Trust, I Enter on the Left-side of the account of the Person to whom Sold in my Second Book, To Goods, &c. Sold him, her, or them; and on the Right-side of account of Goods Bought and Sold in my Fourth Book, By( mentioning the Name of the Person to whom Sold) Sold him, her, or them, as may be seen in those two Books.  
6. For Money Received by Me, I Enter on the Left-side of my Third Book, viz. Cash-Book, To( mentioning the Name of the Person for whose account received) received in part, or in full; and on the Right-side of that Persons account in my Ledger or Second Book, By Cash Received of him, her, or them in Part, or in Full, as may be seen in those two Books.  
7. For Goods Bought by Me for Ready Money, I enter on the Left-side of the account of Goods Bought and Sold in my Fourth Book, To Cash Bought( of such a one if you know his Name and think it necessary to mention it,) and on the Right-side of Cash in my Third Book, By Goods, &c. Bought( of such a one if you please,) as may be seen in those two Books.  
8. For Money Paid by Me, 

Goods Sold by Me for Ready Money, and  
Goods Bought by Me on Trust, they are in their Posting or Entry the Contra to Rules 6, 7, and 5, as may be seen by Examining them in the several Books.    
9. For Abatements made By you to Debtors, and To you by Creditors entered in your Ledger, you may, to avoid a Multitude of Entries in your Book of Goods Bought and Sold, only put the Abatements on the Debtor or Creditor of each Persons account when you Post them; as may be seen in the Ledger: And on a sheet of Paper Divided into two Columns and Titled, Abatements made By me, and Abatements made To me, you may Enter the Abatements in Figures only, under their Proper Column; and, when the Sheet is full written, Sum up Each Column, entering on the Debtor-side or Left-hand of Goods Bought and Sold, in your Fourth Book, To several accounts for Abatements made By me; and on the Creditor or Right-side of the same account of Goods Bought and Sold, By several accounts for Abatements made To me; as may be seen in that account in the Fourth Book.  
10. For expenses of House-keeping, Rent, Pocket, &c. You may Enter them Weekly or Monthly as in this account, saying on the Debtor or Left-side of Goods Bought and Sold in the Fourth-Book, To Cash, &c. for the expenses of that Week or Month, and on the Creditor or Right-side of your account of Cash for that Week or Month in your Third or Cash-Book, say, By Goods, &c. for the expenses of the said Week or Month.  
These Instructions,( well understood) are sufficient for the Right Stating and Posting of any Tradesman's Books of accounts: I go on now to the Order of balancing your Books.   

The Order of balancing your Books.  
1. Add up the Debtor or Left, and Creditor or Right-side of Each Person's account in your Second Book or Ledger, Substracting that side of Each account which is Least from the other, and Enter the Remainder on the Left or Debtor-side of the account of balance in your Fourth Book, if he, she, or they owe you Money, and on the Right or Creditor-side of the Person's account: But, if you owe the Person Money, then on the Right or Creditor-side of the account of balance in your Fourth Book, and on the Left or Debtor-side of the Person's account; as may be seen in the several accounts in the Ledger or Second Book, and in the account of balance in the Fourth Book.  
2. Add up the Debtor and Creditor-sides of your account of Cash in your Third or Cash-Book; and, Substracting the Amount of the Creditor from that of the Debtor, Enter upon the Creditor-side of the said account of Cash, By balance for somuch Ready Money; and on the Debtor-side of balance in your Fourth Book, To Cash, &c. as may be seen in those two accounts.  
3. To balance your account of Goods Bought and Sold in your Fourth Book, you must look over your Goods Remaining in your Shop, &c. and set the value they cost you upon a Sheet of Paper, which when added into one Total Sum must be entered on the Creditor-side of your account of Goods Bought and Sold, saying, By balance for Goods Remaining, and on the Debtor-side of balance, To Goods for Remainders.  
4. Then Add up your account of Goods Bought and Sold in your Fourth Book, and if the Creditor-side Exceeds the Debtor, somuch is gained Neat, which must be entered on the Debtor-side of account of Goods Bought and Sold, saying, To balance gained Neat, and on the Creditor-side of balance, saying, By Goods for the Neat Gains: But if the Debtor-side of the account of Goods Bought and Sold in your Fourth Book Exceeds the Creditor, somuch is Lost, which must be entered on the Creditor-side of the account of Goods Bought and Sold in your Fourth Book, saying, By balance for somuch Lost, and on the Debtor-side of balance, To Goods for somuch Lost: Having done thus much, if you have proceeded Right in your Posting, the Total of your account of balance will Amount to the same on Each side; if it does not, you have committed some Error in Posting, which may be found in the following manner, and must be corrected.   

The METHOD of Examining your BOOKS to sinned out an ERROR.  
Begin at the first Article in your Day-Book, and examine whether it has been Posted upon two several and proper accounts in your other Books, upon the one, Debtor; and on the other, Creditor for the Sum that the Article carries in your Day-Book: If you find it has, so far you have Posted right, and may against the Sum in those two accounts make a Tittle. Then proceed to the next Article in your Day-Book, and do the same with that, still making a Tittle to the Sum, as well on the account were 'twas Posted Debtor as on that where 'twas Posted Creditor; and when you have thus gone thro' your Day-Book, then see whether against every Sum in your other Books you find a Tittle; for, where the Tittle is wanting, 'tis there you have committed an Error.   

The way of Correcting an Error in Posting.  
1. Suppose you have Posted in your Ledger, Cash-Book, or Book of Goods Bought and Sold a Debtor without a Creditor, or a Creditor without a Debtor; or suppose,  
2. That an account is Posted Debtor when it should be Creditor, or Creditor when it should be Debtor, or  
3. That you have made an Entrance under a False Title.  
For the First, it being sound out as before directed, you may easily rectify it by entering the Omission in its proper account, whether Debtor or Creditor.  
For the Second, if you have Posted an Article to the Debtor of any account instead of the Creditor, you may on the Debtor-side before the Article wrong entered make this for any other Mark to signify its wrong Entrance, and on the Creditor of the same account you must writ, By an Error as per Contra, entering the same Sum as on the Debtor, and prefixing the same Mark. Thus having corrected that Error without blotting or scraping it out, you must Enter the Article right; but if you have Posted to the Creditor instead of the Debtor, you must do on the Creditor-side as in the former Instance you did on the Debtorside; and on the Debtor-side of the same account you must writ, To an Error as per Contra;( not forgetting to prefix this Mark †, or some other, and to Enter the same Sum on the Debtor, as you had falsely entered on the Creditor,) and then Post the Article right.  
For the Third or Last, viz. An Entrance made under a False Title, you may make this †, or any other Mark against it; and then on the opposite side say, To, or By an Error as per Contra. Thus is that Error corrected, and then you must Enter the Parcel under its proper Title.  
Note, If any one shall find that Four Books are inconvenient,( that number being only proposed necessary for Dispatch in Posting) they may keep the Three last all in one Book.  
Since the writing of these Sheets I have met with an Objection, used by some tradesman against balancing their Books once a Year, viz. That the time of their Country Chapmens coming to Town being uncertain,( with whom it is customary to make a Rest upon their accounts signed by themselves,) makes it impracticable: But if they would well consider what I have said in Rule 9. upon the subject of Abatements, they'd find nothing more weak than that Objection; but to be more plain I'll instance an Example; Suppose say they that we balance our Books, and A. comes to Town some time after, and desiring a View of his account, finds by our balance that he is indebted l. 10: 6: 8: examines the particulars and will have Abatement upon some of them, as suppose of l. 0: 15: 09: in the whole; how say they( if we comply to it,) shall we make our Books right for him to Sign? I answer that there's nothing more easy; viz. Upon the Paper of Abatements under the Title of Abatements made by me, to Enter the l. 0: 15: 09: and on the Credit of the Persons account the same Sum, viz. Abated l. 0: 15: 09: Then on the said Credit Enter By balance carried to new account in such a Folio l. 9: 10: 11, and upon the Debit of the New account of the Person Enter To balance of Old account brought from such a Folio, and Acknowledged to be due to— by( here let the Person Sign) l. 9: 10: 11. Thus you'll find the New account of the Person to stand to your content.  
Thus much I have ventured to writ upon this Subject, not finding it done by any other hand before, and knowing the Great Want of it, but refer itis further Improvement to those that have more leisure and skill: And, as I am not at present conscious of any Material Fault in these or the following Pages, so I hope for smaller ones( if any) to have your Pardon.  
C. S.    

ADVERTISEMENT.  
AT the WRITING-SCHOOL adjoining to St. Foster's-Church, in Foster-Lane, near Cheap-side, are Taught Writing in all the Hands of England, arithmetic, and Merchants accounts, by the Author; and for the convenience of Merchants and tradesman, who are desirous their Apprentices should improve themselves in the abovesaid Arts; he is willing to continue at his School for that End every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Evenings, from Six till Nine of the Clock.  
The Pen-man's Treasury opened, being a Copy-Book of all the usual Hands of England: And an Exact Copy of the Court and Chancery Hands, both done by the Author of this Book; are Sold by John Place, at Furnival's-Inn-Gate, in Holborn, and by the Widow Pask, behind the Royal-Exchange, LONDON.   

Day-book.  

LONDON, April the First, 1697.  
BOOK I.  Posted 1st. Sold to Mr. E— upon trust, viz. l. s d.     10 Yards of— at 4s. 6d. per Yard 2 05 00     15 Ditto— at 5s. 9d. 4 06 03       6 11 03 pt. 1st. Received of Mr. B. in part 100 00 00 pt. 5th. Bought of Mr. G— for ready Money, and paid, viz.           61 Ells of— at 8s. 4d. per Ell 25 08 04     27 Yards of— at 7s. 8d. per Yard 10 07 00     51 Ells of— at 4s. 7. per Ell 11 13 09       47 09 01 pt. 11th. Paid Mr. C— in part 10 00 00 pt. 13th. Sold Mr. H. for ready Money, and Received, viz.           21 Ells of— at 5s. 11d. per Ell 6 04 03     67 Yards of— at 7s. 9d. per Yard 25 19 03     102 Ells of— at 4s. 10d. per Ell 24 13 00     Abated 6d. 56 16 06 
LONDON, April the 19th, 1697.  Posted. 19th. Bought of Mrs. D— upon Trust, viz. l. s. d.     206 Ells of— at 4s. 10d. per Ell 49 15 08     307 Yards of— at 2s. 9d. pre Yard 42 04 03     417 Yards of— at 8s. 4d. 173 15 00     Abated 11d. 265 14 11 pt. 24th. Paid Mrs. D— in part 300 00 00 pt. 29th. Received of Mr. E— in full 6 10 00 pt. 30th. Received of Mr. A— in full 57 15 00     Expended this Month, as per account of expenses. 10 02 07 
May the 8th, 1697.  pt. 8th. Sold Mr. F— upon Trust, viz.           306 Yards of— at 8s. 4d. per Yard 127 10 00     165 Ells of— at 9s. 7d. per Ell 79 01 03     267 ditto— at 10s. 4d. 137 19 00       344 10 03 
LONDON, May the 10th, 1697.  Posted. 10th. Sold Mr. C— upon Trust, viz. l. s. d.       3 Ells ½ of— at 10s. 7d. per Ell 1 17 00 ½     5 Yards ⅞ of— at 8s. 4d. per Yard 2 08 11 ½     6 ditto 7 / 16 of— at 11s. 4d. 3 12 11 ½     2 ditto ⅜ of— at 7s. 11d. 0 18 09 ½     1 ditto 〈◇〉 of— at 6s. 9d. 0 10 11 ½     7 ditto ¾ of— at 8s. 4d. 3 04 07       2 ditto ¼ of— at 11s. 10d. 1 06 07 ½     7 ditto ⅞ of— at 8s. 6d. ¾ 3 07 04 ¾     2 ditto 1 / 16 of— at 11s. 4d. ½ 1 03 05 ¾     4 ditto ⅛ of— at 8s. 9d. 1 16 01 ¼       20 06 10 ¾ pt. 18th. Received of Mr. B— in part 40 00 00   pt. 23th. Received of Mr. F— in part 144 10 00   pt. 25th. Bought of Mr. C— upon Trust, viz.             169 Yards ¾ of— at 11s. 8d. per Yard 99 00 05       27 ditto ⅛ of— at 10s. 4d. 14 00 03 ½     197 ditto 7 / 16 of— at 10s. 6d. 103 13 01       216 ditto 3 / 16 of— at 4s. 9d. 51 06 10 ½     1000 ditto of— at 8s. 4d. ⅛ 417 03 09       271 ditto ½ of— at 2s. 10d. ⅞ 39 09 00 ¼     Abated 3s. 5d. ¼ 724 13 05 ¼ pt. 29th. Paid Mr. C— in part 200 00 00   pt. 31st. Received of Mr. F— in part 150 00 00   pt. 31st. Expended this Month, as per account of expenses 17 04 06   
LONDON, June the 4th, 1697.  Posted. 4th. Sold for ready Money, viz. l. s. d.       2 Yards ½ of— at 8s. 4d. per Yard 1 00 10   pt. 4th. Ditto.             4 Yards ¼ of— at 7s. 11d. per Yard 1 13 07 ¼     1 ditto ⅞ of— at 6s. 10d. 0 12 09 ¾     Abated 1d. ½. 2 06 05 ½ pt. 4th. Ditto.             3 Yards 7 / 16 of— at 10s. 7d. per Yard 1 16 04 ¼     Abated ¼.         pt. 4th. Sold Mr. A— upon Trust, viz.             9 Yards ⅞ of— at 8s. 4d. ⅞ per Yard 4 03 00 ½     10 Ells ¾ at 11s. 6d. per Ell 6 03 07 ½       10 06 08   pt. 4th. Sold for ready Money, viz.             16 Yards ⅝ of— at 10s. 10d. per Yard 9 00 01 ¼     2 ditto 1 / 16 of— at 8s. 7d. 0 17 08 ¼     Abated 3d. ½. 9 17 09 ½ pt. 4th. Sold for ready Money, viz.             3 Yards ½ of— at 11s. 4d. per Yard 1 19 08       2 ditto ⅞ of— at 5s. 7d. 0 16 00 ½     Abated 2d ½. 2 15 08 ½  

LONDON, June the 6th, 1697.        l. s. d.   Posted. 6th. Paid Mrs. D— in full 65 14 00   pt. 10th. Paid Mr. C— in part 50 00 00   pt. 25th. Bought of Mr. F— upon Trust viz.             691 Yards ½ of— at 8s. 7d. ⅛ per Yard 297 02 06 ¾     267 ditto ⅜ of— at 4s. 11d. ⅞ 66 14 00 ½     169 ditto ⅞ of— at 10s. 7d. ⅛ 89 19 07       100 ditto of— at 4s. 11d. ½ 24 15 10       Abated 2s. 00 d. ¼. 478 12 00 ¼ pt. 28th. borrowed of Mrs. D— to pay her on demand 150 00 00   pt. 30th. Paid Mr. F— in part 250 00 00   pt. 30th. Expended this Month, as per account of expenses 12 11 02    
The End of the Day-Book.   

Ledger.  
BOOK II.  
1697.   A. 〈◇〉 Debtor. l. s. d.   Mar. 31th. To balance of old Books owing by him 57 16 11   June. 4th. To Goods, &c. Sold 10 06 08   1697.   B. 〈◇〉 Dr.         Mar. 31st. To balance owing by him 200 00 00   1697.   C. 〈◇〉 Dr.         April. 11th. To Cash paid him in part 10 00 00   May. 10th. To Goods &c. Sold him 20 06 10 ¾   29th. To Cash paid him in part 200 00 00   June. 10th. To ditto in part 50 00 00         280 06 10 ¾   30th. To balance due to him 461 15 10 ¼       742 02 09   1697.   D. 〈◇〉 Dr.         Apr. 24th. To Cash paid her in part 300 00 00   June. 6th. To ditto in full 65 14 00         365 14 00   June. 30th. To balance due to her on demand 150 00 00   1697.   E. Debtor. l. s. d.   April. 1st. To Goods, &c. Sold him 6 11 03   1697.   F. Dr.         May. 8th. To Goods, &c. Sold him 344 10 03   June. 30th. To Cash paid him in part 250 00 00     — To balance due to him 594 10 03         178 09 09         773 00 00    
The End of the Ledger.  

Ledger.  
BOOK II.  1697.   A. 〈◇〉 Creditor. l. s. d. April. 30th. By Cash received of him in full 57 15 00     Abated — 01 11 June. 30th. By balance due to me 10 06 08 1697.   B. 〈◇〉 Cr.       April. 1st. By Cash received of him in part 100 00 00 May. 18th. By ditto in part 40 00 00       140 00 00 June. 30th. By balance due to me 60 00 00       200 00 00 1697.   C. 〈◇〉 Cr.       Mar. 31th. By balance due to him 17 12 09 May. 25th. By Goods, &c. bought of him 724 10 00       742 02 09 1697.   D. 〈◇〉 Cr.       Mar. 31th. By balance due to her 100 00 00 April. 19th. By Goods &c. bought of her 265 14 00       365 14 00 June. 28th. By Cash borrowed of her to pay on demand 150 00 00 1697.   E. Creditor. l. s. d. April. 29th. By Cash received of him in full 6 10 00     Abated — 01 03       6 11 03 1697.   F. Cr.       May. 23th. By Cash received of him in part 144 10 00   31th. By ditto in part 150 00 00 June. 25th. By Goods &c. bought of him 478 10 00       773 00 00  
The End of the Ledger.   

Cash-book.  
BOOK III.  
1697.   Cash for April, 1697. Debtor. l. s. d. Mar. 31th. To balance of March in the old Cash-book 315 10 07 April. 1st. To B. received in part 100 00 00   13th. To Goods, &c. Sold to H. 56 16 00   29th. To E. received in full 6 10 00   30th. To A. received in full 57 15 00       536 11 07 1697   Cash for May, 1697. Dr.         — To balance of April 168 19 11 May. 18th. To B. received in part 40 00 00   23th. To F. received in part 144 10 00   31th. To D. in part 150 00 00       503 09 11 1697.   Cash for June, 1697. Dr.         — To balance of May 286 05 05 June. 4th. To Goods, &c. Sold 1 00 10   — To ditto 2 06 04   — To ditto 1 16 04   — To ditto 9 17 06   — To ditto 2 15 06   28th. To D. borrowed of her to pay on demand 150 00 00       454 01 11  
The End of the Cash-Book.  
1697.   Cash for April, 1697. Creditor. l. s. d. April. 5th. By Goods, &c. Bought of G. 47 09 01   11th. By C. paid him in part 10 00 00   24th. By D. paid her in part 300 00 00   30th. By Goods, &c. for expenses this Month 10 02 07       367 11 08   — By balance resting 168 19 11       536 11 07 1697.   Cash for May, 1697. Cr.       May 29th. By C. paid him in part 200 00 00   31th. By Goods, &c. for expenses this Mouth 17 04 06       217 04 06   — By balance resting 286 05 05       503 09 11 1697.   Cash for June, 1697. Cr.       June 6th By D. paid ber in full 65 14 00   10th. By C. paid him in part 50 00 00   30th. By F. paid him in part 250 00 00   — By Goods, &c. for expenses this Month 12 11 02       378 05 02   — By balance resting 75 16 09       454 01 11  
The End of the Cash-Book.   

Book of Goods Bought and Sold. BOOK IV.  
1697.   Goods Bought, &c. Debtor. l. s. d.   Mar. 31st. To balance, in Goods this Day 3157 16 10   April. 5th. To Cash bought of G 47 09 01     19th. To D. bought of her 265 14 00   30th. To several accounts for abatements, as per Paper, ending this Day — 03 08     — To Cash for expenses this Month 10 02 07   May 25th. To C. bought of him 724 10 00     31th. To Cash in expenses this Month 17 04 06 June 25th. To F. bought of him 478 10 00     30th. To Cash in expenses this Month 12 11 02     — To balance gained neat 96 14 07 ¾       4810 16 05 ¾ 1697.   balance. Dr.         R. Mar. 31th. To C. due to him 17 12 09   R.— — To D. due to her 100 00 00   B. June 30th. To Goods, &c. for remainders 4354 08 05   B.— — To Cash remaining 75 16 09   B.— — To A. due to me 10 06 08   B.— — To B. due to me 60 00 00         4618 04 07    
THE END.