Vlll PREFACE. 



along with the account of the uses of the articles described, 

 that quality and price do not constitute the only interesting 

 points in their history. 



My experience in matters connected with commercial 

 materials has been somewhat extensive : besides twelve 

 years' employment in the Import department of the Cus- 

 toms, which has brought me into contact with most of the 

 articles of foreign produce, I also formed the extensive col- 

 lection of Liverpool Imports which was exhibited at the 

 Great Industrial Exhibition of 1851, for which I received 

 the Prize Medal and Certificate. Since then I have been 

 acting for the directors of the New Crystal Palace at Sy- 

 denham, as their agent for the collection of raw produce ; 

 and in these occupations I have obtained some information 

 which I 'trust may be useful, and obtain for me a lenient 

 judgment for the literary defects of the book. 



T. C. A. 



Higher Tranmere, Cheshire, 

 May, 1853. 



