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 
