sent, he will be liable as a general partner; but not if his name be used without his consent. In another New York case, the amount contributed by the special partner was by mistake of the printer, stated at $5,000, instead of $2,000, and it was held that the associates were liable as general partners, although the plaintiff did not show that he was actually misled by the error. In still another New York case, it was held that an assignment of the partnership property, providing for the payment of a debt due the special partner, rateably with the other creditors of the firm, or before all the other creditors are satisfied in full for their debts, is void as against the creditors; but it would be valid as against the assignor and those creditors who think proper to affirm it. LETTER TO MY COUNTRY YOUNG FRIEND ON SEEKING A SITUATION IN THE CITY.* NEW YORK, April 15, 1864. MY YOUNG FRIEND,-You express to me your purpose to seek your fortune, in the way of mercantile pursuits, in the city. As your mind is made up you only seek counsel of the best methods of success in the plans you have laid out for yourself. I am glad to find you in this position, as I have marked it as a fact that no advice or encouragement of friends in the city ever succeeded in making a successful business man of a country boy, who had not the original element of enterprise in his own nature. I make it a uniform rule to encourage no one in such a purpose, as you express, who has not enterprise and self-reliance enough to carry him forward, slowly perhaps, but surely independent of his friends. Otherwise, I might charge myself with responsibility for his inevitable failure of success. But in your plans you ask my friendly directions, and such suggestions as my observation and knowledge of the subject, and of those so engaged, may enable me to give, shall be at your service. You are to learn at the outset that self-reliance is a very different quality from any inflated idea of your self consequence. If you have supposed there was any magic in city life that can make a great man or eminent merchant out of a very obscure country youth, the sooner you undeceive yourself the better. The sooner you forget the flatteries and attentions of your country friends, as a basis of your hopes, the less you will be disappointed and mortified in discovering the small position and its laborjous toils, that must lay the foundation of your success in your proposed under * Letters from young men in all parts of the country reach us asking advice as to their future course. To reply to them separately is clearly impossible: nor can one answer be framed that will suit all cases. In the Sketches of the Lives of Eminent Merchants and Bankers, published every other month, good council will be found from which our younger readers will reap advantage if they will only study and follow. What man has done man can do. But, besides these sketches, we endeavor to present, from time to time, words of caution and advice in other forms. The letter we now give furnishes many good practical suggestions of particular value to the class addressed, and will suit the case of some who have written us.-ED. HUNT'S MERCHANT'S MAGAZINE. taking. It will indeed be well if high and honorable motives and aims shall guide your conduct and prompt your exertions. But modesty and satisfaction with reasonable expectations are, generally, the result of the highest moral qualities of human nature. They indicate a sound judgment-an essential endowment to success in mercantile life. If you come to the city to make your fortune, you should not expect to find it already made to your hands. Success is really the result of humble beginnings, patient perseverance, laborious industry, and a careful improvement of such opportunities as may come in one's way. A person who has no plan, or fixed purpose of life, should remain in the country, where indecision and a lack of enterprise do not leave their possessors so much of a burden to themselves and others. It is pitiable to see young men, with an appearance of ability, come to the city, and wait weeks or months to find situations, while the object of their wishes is made more and more uncertain of attainment, by their intimating views of employment wholly above the situation which an inexperienced youth can fill with profit to his employers. It has been said that there is no royal road to mathematics; there is certainly none to an elevated position in business in our cities; and the young man who, at the outset, is too proud or too indolent to do the drudgery of a porter, will seldom make a competent salesman or a responsible supervisor of a mercantile establishment. But in seeking a situation. above all things avoid a begging, servile habit or manner, for these annihilate the confidence of others both as to your ability or integrity. Whether just or otherwise, the popular conclusion is, that the mind that has no shame to beg, would steal, if an opportunity offered. Sympathy for one's misfortunes or condition never carries with it a business confidence. True confidence, once established, may survive mis fortunes, and sympathy may then command a noble and generous aid; but pity is the last sentiment to be excited in the mind of a stranger, whose interest and confidence is sought to be commanded. You need not under-rate your ability, por seek a lower situation than it would naturally command; but a lower situation, with a useful dilligence in. the same, is often the only available path to the higher; and is far preferable to none, while waiting for an opportunity to jump into the better place. But, whatever available situation you may obtain, endeavor to learn fully its duties, and to discharge them well, and you will learn in the result that, the mercantile world is not ungrateful in its use of any grade of talents. Our trading men are shrewd to discover the mental and moral qualities which fit a man for any particular department of business, and, as a commodity in the market, a person will not fail, if the habit of devotion to business is in him, to meet with those who will appreciate and appropriate his talents, and yield him a just remuneration for his labors. Then, in seeking a situation, the first rule is not to be willingly idle for a single day; and then, to follow the leadings of providence in the exercise of a sound judgment and discretion for the future. Do not imagine that any useful employment is degrading or disreputable in the city. The man who carries a hod, or who drives a cart, is respected not only as a contributor to public and private wealth, but for the personal qualities which his diligence and attention to his calling may show him to possess. It is your country quidnuncs who lounge about our city hotels who ridicule "low pursuits" and "small business," and talk with affected servility and obsequiousness of the great wealth of the Astors and Peter Coopers, and other city millionaires. Why should beginnings of life, similar to the antecedents of two-thirds of our successful merchants, be despised by them. Beginning life, as you may find yourself, in the city, struggling to hold on perhaps to the very lowest round of the ladder against the current of poverty and personal necessities which threaten to drive you back to the country, bereft of the last shadow of your cherished hopes, the necessity of the strictest economy of personal expenses will be fully appreciated. A respectable dress and appearance, suited to your business position, cannot be dispensed with. This is due to your employer, and is a part of the consideration for which your salary is paid. And then you must board and associate with people of respectability; certainly with none not of this character. To continue to do this you must keep out of debt. Hence your situation will require the strictest self-denial as to amusements and mere social entertainments. Our churches are sufficiently free, where all may spend the Sabbath together without reproach or humiliation on account of differences in worldly condition; and in the Sabbath schools and Bible classes, any well-behaved youth will meet with social kindness and respect, and an appreciation of his intellectual and moral worth. But while you will find a society within your means that shall be conservative of your highest good, and will not infringe on your moral and pecuniary obligations, it is important that for once, and all time, you deny yourself the amusements and associations of the self-styled fashionable society of the city. A morbid ambition to be admitted into these circles of fashionable life has proved the ruin of thousands of young men who have come from the country to seek their fortune with as honorable motives as your own. While hundreds of prosperous merchants have found it absolutely necessary to remove to the suburbs of New York to avoid the expenses incurred and entailed by Fifth Avenue soirees. How can sensible young men suppose it for their advantage to ruin their credit and the confidence of their employers by courting these expensive associations? These soirees are often gotten up by merchants of shattered credit to divert attention from the premonitions of the crash that is presently to sweep them away. To a sound business man society of this cast affords neither profit nor pleasure. It is only necessary to add a single suggestion. In whatever employment or pursuit you engage, make yourself contented and cheerful in its duties; fulfil your engagements with punctuality and integrity, to the completion of their full time. Provide for changes for the better to take effect when you shall become free from prior engagements. If you cheerfully complete your contracts, it is an affair of your own whether you will renew it, guided by such experience and knowledge of men and business as you shall have acquired. J. M. S. FINANCES OF THE STATES. (Continued from page 260.) MASSACHUSETTS. The revenue and expenses of the State of Massachusetts for the years 1862 and 1863, were as follows:-[This statement includes accounts unpaid as well as paid, accruing in or properly belonging to the years 1862 and 1863, as nearly as can be ascertained.] Below is a detailed statement of the total receipts and disbursements for 1863: Total receipts from all sources during 1863. Receipts as above, together with some items received accruing in 1862.... Receipts on account of various funds-Deposit loans 66 State loan funded debt... 66 $7,239,749 18 440,000 00 Temporary loans 375,000 00 849,000 00 Union loan sinking fund. 222,584 28 Western Railroad loan sinking fund..... 40,000 00 Norwich and Worcester Railroad loan sinking fund.. 10,000 00 Massachusetts school fund.... 453,305 66 1,422,512 37 Cash on hand January 1, 1863.. Total receipts from all sources during 1863.... Payments from ordinary revenue on account of ex- Payments on account of sundry funds-Back Bay Sales of Back Bay Lands.. Commissioners Public Lands... $13,993,108 26 $6,738,099 71 98,620 93 888,605 92 401,768 72 Essex Bridge fund-expenses... 3,043 68 Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company-paid interest on Scrip..... 24,000 00 Eastern Railroad Company, paid interest on scrip... missioners on account of Land Claims, expenses Returned allotments-received from sundry sources Income Todd Normal School fund-paid Treasurer Board of Education..... 891 00 funds, &c. ..... Cash on hand January 1, 1864, on account of various Total payments during 1863.. 621,476 86 31,380 60 77,587 92 754,000 00 1,573.417 02 $13,993,108 26 |