ENGLISH TRADESMAN ***
Produced by Steven Gibbs and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
THE COMPLETE ENGLISH TRADESMAN
BY
_DANIEL DEFOE_
[LONDON 1726, EDINBURGH 1839]
CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I THE TRADESMAN IN HIS PREPARATIONS WHILE AN APPRENTICE
CHAPTER II THE TRADESMAN'S WRITING LETTERS
CHAPTER III THE TRADING STYLE
CHAPTER IV OF THE TRADESMAN ACQUAINTING HIMSELF WITH ALL BUSINESS IN GENERAL
CHAPTER V DILIGENCE AND APPLICATION IN BUSINESS
CHAPTER VI OVER-TRADING
CHAPTER VII OF THE TRADESMAN IN DISTRESS, AND BECOMING BANKRUPT
CHAPTER VIII THE ORDINARY OCCASIONS OF THE RUIN OF TRADESMEN
CHAPTER IX OF OTHER REASONS FOR THE TRADESMAN'S DISASTERS: AND, FIRST, OF INNOCENT DIVERSIONS
CHAPTER X OF EXTRAVAGANT AND EXPENSIVE LIVING; ANOTHER STEP TO A TRADESMAN'S DISASTER
CHAPTER XI OF THE TRADESMAN'S MARRYING TOO SOON
CHAPTER XII OF THE TRADESMAN'S LEAVING HIS BUSINESS TO SERVANTS
CHAPTER XIII OF TRADESMEN MAKING COMPOSITION WITH DEBTORS, OR WITH CREDITORS
CHAPTER XIV OF THE UNFORTUNATE TRADESMAN COMPOUNDING WITH HIS CREDITORS
CHAPTER XV OF TRADESMEN RUINING ONE ANOTHER BY RUMOUR AND CLAMOUR, BY SCANDAL AND REPROACH
CHAPTER XVI OF THE TRADESMAN'S ENTERING INTO PARTNERSHIP IN TRADE, AND THE MANY DANGERS ATTENDING IT
CHAPTER XVII OF HONESTY IN DEALING, AND LYING
CHAPTER XVIII OF THE CUSTOMARY FRAUDS OF TRADE, WHICH HONEST MEN ALLOW THEMSELVES TO PRACTISE, AND PRETEND TO JUSTIFY
CHAPTER XIX OF FINE SHOPS, AND FINE SHOWS
CHAPTER XX OF THE TRADESMAN'S KEEPING HIS BOOKS, AND CASTING UP HIS SHOP
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.
