FIRST VENTURES IN BUSINESS 147 



ranted, before committing themselves to further devel- 

 opment. One-half the product of the mine and farm 

 was to be equally divided between them, and in order 

 to visualize clearly their profit and loss, they agreed to 

 keep a "special book for the purpose." "On one side," 

 their third "Article" read, "will be entered the items of 

 expense, day by day, and at the moment this is done, 

 on the other side [shall also be entered] the sales and 

 products of the farms, and of all that can result from 

 this business, in such a way that the profit shall be 

 always apparent by the addition of the items which 

 compose the debit and the credit." 



The house at "Mill Grove" was to be treated as an 

 object separate from all business, "in order," so the 

 "Articles" read, "that we may settle matters as com- 

 pletely as we desire." It was also agreed, in the fourth 

 "Article," that they should "add to the expenses of 

 this exploitation those necessary for life, and others of 

 a mutual character, so long as it should suit them to 

 live and dwell together." It was further stipulated that 

 even if the mine proved a failure, they should remain 

 six months on the farm, in order to gather useful infor- 

 mation from the country, before embarking in any form 

 of commerce, whether inland or maritime. The cost of 

 their journey to America was to be entered as the first 

 item of their "social expenses," and any expenditure 

 for travel in their mutual interests was to be considered 

 under the same head. In case they should persuade any 

 merchants in America to send goods to M. Rozier, 

 Senior, at Nantes, he should be entitled to one-half the 

 profits, while the partners should divide the other half 

 between them. All other profits and losses resulting 

 from their commercial transactions were to be shared 

 equally. The partners resolved to maintain friendship 



