( 330 ) 



Others with more prudence accommodated themselves to circum- 

 stances, and were not offended at being asked for a pair of boots or 

 a hat. These persons reaped all the advantage of the trade, as they 

 got their price by selling to those whose necessities prompted them 

 to purchase, and were ever ready to sell by the package when op- 

 portunity offered. Many of these gentlemen, it is true, have been 

 much blamed by the consignors, who have expressed great dissatis- 

 faction at their proceedings, both in the disposal of the property 

 sent to them, and in purchase of merchandise to return ; these com- 

 plaints were, perhaps, in some degree founded in reason, though 

 much may be said in extenuation of the former, not only on the 

 ground of their want of experience, but the unexampled situation of 

 affairs ; for a respectable and confidential clerk, however capable of 

 copying an invoice, going to Lloyd's, or casting up a page in a ledr; 

 ger, nmst make a very poor figure as a tradesman, being very inca- 

 pable of ascertaining or stating the merits of manufactured goods, 

 and still less qualified to purchase the staple articles and general 

 produce of the country. These severe and grievous disadvantages 

 frequently gave the Brazilians the double advantage, of buying below 

 the market-price, and of selling above it. - ■ > 



From, these and many other unfortunate and disastrous circum- 

 stances, the trade could not fail to become gradually worse and 

 worse; hence it is very natural to imagine that necessitous con- 

 signors, eager to see the gold which they had so long and so vainly 

 anticipated, became pressing for remittances. One disappointment 

 succeeded another; remonstrances were made; and powers of at- 

 torney were at length sent out almost by cargoes ; property was re- 

 moved from, one consignee to another, at great expence, but to no 

 purpose. At home the greatest confusion prevailed for want of 

 money, until that lamentable and unfortunate epoch, when the 

 columns of the Gazette were filled with the names of those very 

 respectable merchants, who, before those ruinous speculations, were 

 in a state of affluence. 



