the first (supposing them pounds sterling) is 4281. and ,705 parts. The second is 17. and ,4760 parts. And the third is 21. and ,14982 parts.

SUBTRACTION OF DECIMALS.

The numbers must be placed as before in Addition, and then proceed as in Subtraction of Numbers of one Denomination.

3125,0

1. pts. 46,51

9,24

37,27

1. pts.

140,42

91,7462

48,6738

51,7912

3073,2088

MULTIPLICATION OF DECIMALS.

Here the placing the numbers, and the operation, is the very same as in the whole numbers; remember only to point off, towards the right hand, so many places for decimals, as you have decimal places in both multiplicand and multiplier.

Note, That where there are not a competent number of figures, or places to point off, such defect is supplied with ciphers annexed to the left hand; as in the 5th, 6th, and 8th, examples, according to what was before hinted in reducing a Vulgar Fraction to a Decimal.

DIVISION OF DECIMALS

Is the same in operation as in whole numbers; the only difficulty is to know how many decimal places to point off, towards the left hand of the quotient; to which eud, remember this rule: Observe how many decimal places there are, both in the divisor and in the dividend, and find the difference; and whatsoever it is, so many places must be pointed to the right hand of the quotient. Example.

Divide 12,345670 by 6,789.

6,789) 12,345670 (1,818

6789

55566

54312

12547

6789

57580

54312

3268

In this example, the dividend hath three decimal places more than the divisor, wherefore I point off three places to the right hand of the quotient, viz. ,818; so the quotient is 1 integer, and S18 parts.

Divide 3,46000 by 1,23.

1,23) 3,46000 (2,813

246

1000

984

160

123

370

369

(1)

Here the difference between the decimal places in the divisor and dividend is three places, as in the foregoing example; there

fore 813 is pointed off for the decimal fraction; and the quotien is 2 integers, and 813 thousandths of an integer.

BOOKS ON ARITHMETIC.

Greig's, Bonnycastle's, Walkinghame's, and Hutton's Arithmetic, in 12mo. Tate's Arithmetic, however, is the best adapted to real business.

PART V.---BOOK-KEEPING.

BOOK-KEEPING is a branch of science, which teaches us record mercantile transactions in a regular and systematic manner A Merchant's books should exhibit the true state of his affairs, they should shew the particular success of each transaction, as well as the general result of the whole, and should afford a cor. rect and ready information upon every subject, for which they may be consulted. It is not without good reason, that most people of business and ingenuity are desirous to be masters of this art; for if we consider the satisfaction that naturally arises from an account well kept, the pleasure that accrues to a person by seeing what he gains by each species of goods he deals in, and his whole profit by a year's trade; and thereby also to know the true state of his affairs and circumstances; so that he may, ac. cording to discretion, retrench or enlarge his expences, &c. as he shall think fit.

Books may be kept either by Single or Double Entry.

Single Entry is chiefly used in retail business. It is the most simple and concise method of Book-keeping, but not the most perfect, being defective in some essential particulars.

Double Entry is used in wholesale and mercantile affairs, whence it is called Merchants' Accounts. This method is universally preferred in extensive commerce, being the most comprehensive in its principles, and the most certain in its conclusions.

In order to understand the elementary principles of Double Entry, some previous knowledge of Single Entry will be useful, as affording the most obvious and simple illustration of the nature of debtor and creditor, and of the application of those terms in the Ledger,

SINGLE ENTRY.

Single Entry chiefly records transactions on credit, and for this purpose two books are required, called the Day-Book and the Ledger,

The Day-Book begins with an account of the owner's property, debts, &c.; then follows a detail of the occurrences of trade, set down in the order of time in which they happened.

The name of the person or customer is first written with the term Dr. or Cr. annexed, according as he becomes debtor or creditor by the transaction; and this may be distinguished by the following general rule :

The person who receives is DR. and the person who gives or parts with any thing is CR.

Thus, if I sell goods on credit, I enter A. B. (the buyer) Dr. to the goods, specifying their quantity and value.

If I buy goods on credit, I enter C. D. (the seller) Cr. by the goods, specifying their quantity and value.

By the same rule, if I pay money, the person to whom I pay it is made Dr. to Cash, for the amount; and if I receive money, the person from whom I receive it, is made Cr. by Cash, for the

amount.

And if debts be contracted or discharged by any other means, the same rule is observed; the person who becomes indebted to me is entered Dr. and the person to whom I become indebted, Cr.; also, the person whose debt I discharge is made Dr. and he that discharges a debt due by me or to me, Cr.

The Ledger collects together the dispersed accounts of each person in the Day-Book, and places the Drs. and Crs. upon opposite pages of the same folio. The person's name is written in large characters as a title: on the left hand, or first page, he is styled Dr. and on the opposite, or right hand page, Cr. On these pages the transactions are entered as they stand Drs. or Crs. in the Day-Book. For instance, A. B. is debited for whatever he has bought of me on credit; and on the opposite page, he is credited for the payments he has made: in short, whatever I have given him is on the Dr. side, and what he has given me, on the Cr.; and the difference between these two sides is called the Balance.

A SHORT SPECIMEN OF SINGLE ENTRY.

January 1, 1814.

Suppose John Smith owes me 1007, which is my sole property, or the neat of my estate; and, on the 2nd of January, I buy of him 80 yards of cloth at 15s. per yard; on the 3rd, I sell James Taylor, on credit, 60 yards of the said cloth at 18s. 4d. per yard; and on the 4th James Taylor pays me in part, 401. Required the Day-Book and Ledger of the foregoing transactions, according to single entry, and also the Profit and Loss.

James Taylor Dr.

To Cloth for 60 yards, at 18s. 4d. per yard

4..

James Taylor, Cr.

By Cash received in part

To post the foregoing Accounts into the Ledger.

60 0 0

55 0 0

40 0 0

The Ledger being ruled in folio form, according to the following specimen, with the left side for Dr. and the right side for Cr. also a margin for the date, and near the money columns, one for reference to the Day-Book, proceed as follows:

Open an account for John Smith, and debit him, on the left hand page, for 100%.: and for the second day's transaction, credit him for 60%. on the opposite page.

For the 3rd day, open an account for James Taylor, debiting him for 557. and for the 4th day credit him for 401.

When every transaction is thus posted, each account is balanced, by subtracting the less sum, or side from the greater, and then putting the difference under the less sum, by which both sums are made equal.

1814.

LEDGER BY

Jan. 1 To Account from Ledger A

£. s. d.

100 00

James Taylor,

Dr.

Jan. 3. To Cloth, for 60 yards, at 18s. 4d.

per yard

55 0 0

By the foregoing Ledger it appears that the balances are in my favour, and these added to the cash I have in hand, and the goods