CURIOUS WHOLESALES. 113 
indeed all measurable goods, except sce 
and the like, sometimes enter at the 
rate. I have heard of some still more Secten 
contracts in these measurement sales, particu- 
larly in Santa Fé, me the early periods of 
the American trade. Everything was some- 
times rated by the vara—not only all textures 
but even hats, cutlery, trinkets, and so on! 
In such cases, very singular disputes would 
frequently arise as to the mode of measu 
some particular articles: for instance, whe- 
ther pieces of riband should be measured in 
bulk, or unrolled, and yard by yard; looking- 
glasses, cross or op ie pe pocket-knives, 
shut or open; writing-paper, in the ream, in 
the quire, or by the single he and then, 
whether the longer or shorter way of the pa- 
per; and many others. 
Before the end of October, 1839, I had an 
opportunity of selling out my stock of goods 
to a couple of English merchants, which re- 
lieved me from the delays, to say nothing of 
the inconveniences attending a retail trade: 
such, for, instance, as the accumulation of 
copper coin, which forms almost the exclusive 
rare in petty dealings. Some thousands — 
dollars’ worth are frequently accumulated 
epont the hands of the merchant in this way, 
and as the copper of one department is worth- 
less in another, except for its intrinsic value, 
which is seldom more than ten per cent. of 
the nominal value, the holders are subjected 
to a great deal of trouble and annoyance. 
With regard to the city, there is but little to 
10” 
