CORRESPONDENCE IN FRENCH. 



147 





- climate. With living unimals we can o 

 hrir ^'o^niphiciil rflution, anil say, thin i.s H ir.ipi. 

 :-il, tisii, i.i- in-tvi; tlt'tt belongs to the frigid zone. 



Tin- more iniiiuii: our invesi the more is this 



i In individuality of every natural product, and of 

 niLiial adaptation of all tho conditions of IM-MIL", 

 conlii-mi'il. Tli structure of a bone enables our natu- 

 to build up the animal of which it is a part, to 

 ibe its habits, and to fix its proper position in the 

 domain of science. Professor Owen has demonstrated that 

 the dent ilo or tooth structure of every species of animal 

 met, and that, were our knowledge comprehensive 

 enough, it would unerringly guide us to the identifica- 

 tion of the animal. 



1'ioni these illustrations it will be seen that all raw 

 substances contain within them structural evidences of 

 the conditions under which they were developed; and 

 that by a scientific induction, possible only with in- 

 creased knowledge, we may learn to read these evidences, 

 and to apply our knowledge to the improvement of the 

 substance that is, to its increased utility. The history 

 of discovery shows that all advance was anticipated, that 

 new powers or properties were generally suspected, and 

 that they revealed themselves in answer to scientific 

 interrogation. Here we perceive the utility of museums, 

 wlu-iv economic substances from the three kingdoms of 

 nature are classified for comparison and study. Books 

 will not only show the knowledge already acquired, but 

 they will direct the student in his search for more. In 

 every civilised country there are museums ; and every 

 school should also be a repository of specimens of 

 raw produce, in the nature and use of which direct 

 instruction should be given. Early familiarity with 

 the substances themselves would lay the foundation of 

 knowledge, which would not only save the young man 

 of business the first weary years of learning, but would 

 send him forth into tho domain of nature, perhaps as a 

 discoverer of new materials, or of new properties or 

 adaptations, adding to the necessaries and conveniences 

 of life, and therefore to the health and happiness of 

 mankind. 



CORRESPONDENCE IN FRENCH. III. 



10. LETTER PROPOSING THE OPENING OF AN ACCOUNT. 



Havre, March 20ih, 1882 

 Messrs. Levris Frisby, McHenry & Co., New Orleans. 



Gentlemen, We have to acknowledge the receipt of your I 

 favour of the 10th of February, and hasten to reply. 



We willingly accept your proposals, and shall be delighted to 

 see relations established between our two houses that may prove 

 mutually advantageous. You may rest assured that wo will do 

 all in our power to merit the good opinion with which Mr. Rien 

 has inspired you, and show ourselves worthy of the confidence ; 

 reposed in us. 



We hasten to satisfy your wishes by sending you enclosed 

 a pro formd account sale, that may serve yon as a basis for j 

 future operations. Our terms are 2 per cent, commission, and 

 2 per cent, delcredere. 



We shall be ready to make advances to the extent of two- 

 thirds of the invoice amount of goods consigned to us for sale, 

 on receipt of invoice, bills of lading, and orders for insurance. 



It is unnecessary to observe that we shall send you accounts 

 of the state of the market by all the boats leaving for New 

 Orleans. 



We remain, Gentlemen, 



Your very obedient servants, 



A. J. SMITH, BROS. & Co. 



Le Havre, le 20 Mars, 1882- 

 Messieurs Lewis Frisby, McHenry et C 18 -, 



a la Nouvelle-Orleans. 



Messieurs, Nous accusons reception de votre honoree en 

 date dn 10 Fevrier t nous nous batons d'y repondre. 



Nous acceptons vos propositions aveo emprcssement, et nous 



erons oharme* da voir '<-Ublir entre noa deux "Ti^nt da* 

 rapport* nuivU et mriproqucment fructoeux. Croyez bian qua 

 noun ferouH tout oe qui dependnt da nooa poor repondro digna 

 munt a 1'opinion que M. Bien TOW a inapin-e et a la " n nfciiBB 

 dont vouij voulez nous honorer. 



Nous nous empreMon* de *ati*faire a TO* dt'-nin en TOM 

 remettant sous oe pli le oompte de Tente ritnuld quo TOO* ootu 

 demandez, afin qu'U puiwe TOO* serrir de ba*e pour vo opem* 

 tions future*. No* condition* sent : 2 poor cent de commis- 

 sion et 2 poor cent de duerovre. 



Nous sommoB preta a fairo des avance poor let deux tien do 

 montant des consignations qui nous seront adre**ee* en rccevant 

 facture, connaiasement et 1'ordre de fairo 1'aosurance. 



Inutile de vous dire qne nous profiteronu de toiu le* naviren 

 en partanco pour la Nouvello-Orltjans pour TOO* t*"'r au courant 

 de 1'etat de notre marche. 



Agruez, Messieurs, 



1' assurance de notre estime, 



A. J. SMITH, FREBES &, (? 



11. A LETTER ADVISING THE EXECUTION or AN ORD 



, May 10th, 1882 

 Messrs. J. Ellison, Wine Merchants, London. 



Gentlemen, In pursuance of the order contained in your 

 letter of the 15th of April, and in accordance with the price* an<? 

 conditions laid down, I have bought for your account 20 tiercel 

 of brandy, 27 degrees, and forwarded them to your brother 

 in Paris. Enclosed yon will find the invoice, amounting to 

 80,760 fr., with which I debit you. In conformity with your 

 wishes, I have drawn this day on your account, on Messrs. J. 

 Lafitte, of Paris, at three months, payable to my order, for the 

 above amount. 



I wrote to you on the subject of your account with me at 

 length in my last, and have nothing more to add. 

 I remain, Gentlemen, 



Your very obedient servant, 



FRANCIS MARTIN. 



Cognac, le 10 Jfai, 1882 

 Messieurs J. Ellison, Negotiants en Vina, a Londres. 



Messieurs, En execution do 1'ordro contenu dans votre 

 honoree du 15 Anil, j'ai achete aux prix et conditions y fixes, 

 pour votre compte, 20 ticrcons eau-de-vie, 27 degn's, et je le* ai 

 expedios a M. votre frere a Paris. Vous en trouvercz sou* ce 

 pli la facture, s'elevant a 30,760 francs, portea a votre debit. 

 Pour me ooaformer a voe desire, je viens de disposer poor 

 votre oompte, sur MM. J. Lafitte de Paris ma traite en date 

 de oe jour pour la dite somme, a mon ordre, payable a trou 

 mois. 



Je me snis etendu dans ma derniere au sujet de Totre compte 

 chez moi, et je n'ai rien a ajonter a mes observations. 

 J'ai 1'honneur d'etre, Messieurs, 



Votre tres-humble serviteur, 



FRANCOIS MARTIN. 



12. LRTTKR KMBODTING AN OFFKR or SERVICES AS CLKRK, 



Melt, March Ibth, : 

 E. Merle, Esq., London. 



Sir, I take the liberty, upon recommendation of Mr. Leoon- 

 teur, with whom I have been working the hut five yean, of 

 writing to offer you my services. My only motive for quitting 

 a firm, to which I owe much, and for seeking a situation abroad, 

 is the desire of extending my knowledge of business and of per- 

 fecting myself in a language, the rudiment* of which I know 

 already. 



Having been engaged for three years in bookkeeping, I have 

 during the last two years filled the post of English and 

 German correspondent. At the same time I have devoted my 

 attention to the study of the Exchange, and I venture to hope 

 that I should satisfactorily discharge the duties of correspon- 

 dent or ledger-clerk. 



As regards my position in this firm, I beg to refer yon to Mr. 

 Lecouteur, who has kindly promised to write to you on mv 

 behalf. 



