Vlll 



PEErACE. 



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 Prze 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. 



Higher Tr4Nmere, Cheshire, 

 May, 1853. 



T. C. A. 



