11. Distinguished Men of Modern Times. In two volumes. Harper's Family Library. New York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 324-324. 1840.

These comprehensive volumes give us, in a clear and succinct form, the prominent facts connected with the lives of eminent men who have figured in Europe. Although the work is comprised of a selection from a more extensive series, published by the British Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge, that first appeared in the British Gallery of Portraits, this selection is judicious. Biographical sketches of distinguished Americans have been omitted, as the publishers have an American work upon that subject in preparation. The distinguished lights of past times here flit before us, and we perceive the causes which bore upon them and contributed to form their character, as well as the gradual development of their minds to the full vigor of matured strength.

12. The Book of Jasher. Referred to in Joshua and Samuel: faithfully translated from the original Hebrew into English. New York: published by M. M. Noah, and A. J. Gould. 8vo. pp. 267.

This singular work, the subject of much controversial discussion, professes to be the identical volume referred to in the Bible. In Joshua, x. 13, it is asked, "Is not this written in the book of Jasher?" Without attempting to decide the merits of the question, we yet have the testimony of several Hebrew scholars of high reputation, that it is a faithful and elegant translation of the Rabbinnical Hebrew, with much of the Bible idiom. But whether it is in fact genuine or not, it must be admitted that it is a singular work, to be regarded among the "Curiosities of Literature."

13. American Melodies: containing a single selection from the productions of two hundred writers. Compiled by GEORGE P. MORRIS. With illustrations designed and engraved by L. P. Clover, jr. New York: Linen & Fennel. 18mo. pp. 286.

This is an interesting compilation. Although the selections are made from the lighter efforts of American poetry, they are in the main judicious, and carry out the objects that are designed by the publication. It presents, of course, a great variety of topic as well as of talent, and we perceive scattered through the work, very many brilliant gems. In keeping with its literary value, is its mechanical execution.

14. Hope on, Hope Ever. A Tale. By MARY HOWETT. Boston: James Munro & Co. 16mo. pp. 225. 1840.

15. Strive and Thrive. A Tale. By MARY HOWETT. Boston: James Munro & Co. 16mo. pp. 175. 1840.

16. Sowing and Reaping, or, What will come of it. By MARY HOWETT. Boston: James Munro & Co. 16mo. pp. 216. 1840.

These three neat little volumes, from the pen of a very popular writer, exhibit important truths and maxims in the familiar and beautiful form of tales. The style of the narration is chaste and graphic, presenting much of the fascination of romance, and also those facts and illustrations which are true to

nature.

17. Constance, or the Merchant's Daughter. A Tale of our own times. New York: Gould, Newman, and Saxton. pp. 160. 1841.

The little volume whose title we have here quoted, is a tale that will be interesting to the children of our merchants; its scene being laid in those facts that naturally spring from mercantile habitudes. As such we commend it to that class of readers.

ANECDOTES OF COMMERCE.

COMMERCIAL INTEGRITY.

The Spanish galleons destined to supply Terra Firma, and the kingdoms of Peru and Chili, with almost every article of necessary consumption, used to touch first at Carthagena, and then at Porto Bello. In the latter place a fair was opened; the wealth of America was exchanged for the manufactures of Europe; and during its prescribed term of forty days, the richest traffic on the face of the earth was begun and finished with unbounded confidence, and the utmost simplicity of transaction. No bale of goods was ever opened, no chest of treasure examined; both were received on the credit of the persons to whom they belonged; and only one instance of fraud is recorded, during the long period in which trade was carried on with this liberal confidence. All the coined silver which was brought from Peru to Porto Bello, in the year 1654, was found to be adulterated, and to be mingled with a fifth part of base metal. The Spanish merchants, with their usual integrity, sustained the whole loss, and indemnified the foreigners by whom they were employed. The fraud was detected, and the treasurer of the revenue in Peru, the author of it, was publicly burnt.

MAKING CONDITIONS.

During the reign of James the First a great dearth of corn happened, which obliged his majesty to send for the Eastland Company. He told them, that to obviate the present scarcity, they must load their homeward-bound ships with corn; which they promised to do, and so retired. One of the lords of the council said to the king, that such a promise signified little, unless they agreed at what price it should be sold; on which they were all called back, and acquainted that the king desired a more explicit answer. The deputy replied, "Sir, we will freight and buy our corn as cheap as we can, and sell it here as we can afford it; but to be confined to any certain price, we cannot." Being pressed for a more distinct answer, the deputy, who was a great fox-hunter, said to the king, "Sir, your majesty is a lover of the noble sport of hunting; so am I, and I keep a few dogs; but if my dogs do not love the sport as well as me, I might as well hunt with hogs as with dogs.” The king replied, “Say no more, man, thou art in the right; go and do as well as you can, but be sure you bring the corn."

EXCLUSION OF THE INQUISITION FROM ANTWERP.

So great was the influence of English merchant adventurers in 1550, that when the emperor Charles the Fifth was anxious to have the inquisition introduced into Antwerp, the citizens had no other means for effectually influencing the emperor against the measure, but to tell him, that the English merchants would certainly leave the country, if he brought the inquisition there. This threat was effectual, for the emperor, on a strict inquiry, found that the English merchants maintained or employed at least 20,000 persons in the city of Antwerp alone, besides 30,000 more in other parts of the Netherlands.

CURIOUS MODE OF BARTER.

At Temenhint, in Northern Africa, the inhabitants have a curious mode of barter. The person who has any goods to sell, mentions what he wishes in exchange for certain commodities, whether oil, liquid, butter, or shahm, which is a kind of salted fat, much resembling bad tallow in taste and smell. If liquids, he pours water into a pot, in proportion to the quantity of oil or butter he requires; if solids, he brings a stone of the size of the shahm, or other article demanded. The buyer pours out water, or sends for smaller stones, until he thinks a fair equivalent is offered. The quantities then agreed for are made up to the size of the stone or the depth of the water.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD INSURERS.

A deeper laid or more ingenious attempt to defraud underwriters, than that contained in the following communication from a highly respectable merchant of Boston, has never come to our knowledge. The facts here disclosed may be implicitly relied upon, as they were derived from Messrs. B. A. & Co., the firm innocently connected with the transaction.

To the Editor of the Merchants' Magazine :-

Solon, the Athenian legislator, would not enrol parricide in his catalogue of crimes, because so unnatural and so impossible to take place; and because, to name it, would imply that such a one was possible. So it is said, that to publish crimes of great enormity, committed with much ingenuity, would be instructing others in the commission of the same, or to make some improvement in iniquitous devices. It is certain that this principle, co-operating with experience, in the management of penitentiaries, has brought the public mind to condemn social and adopt solitary imprisonment. It was found that the prisoners communicated to each other all their villanous skill, and even plotted deeds of daring and of revenge, to be committed on their liberation. Practice, however, has not conformed to this principle. Dramatists and novel writers have exhibited crimes that never did take place, and such as could hardly be said to be possible. Newspapers, too, seem to publish crimes with less fastidiousness than formerly, believing, with a well-known poet, that vice, to be hated, needs but be seen. However, let the question of suppression and publication of crime be decided by philosophers and moralists. I waive the decision now, persuaded that in the publication of the case which I am about to introduce, the public good preponderates. Knowledge is the breastplate of defence. Underwriters may have been often defrauded, but, perhaps, never where there was so much forgery and deliberate arrangement.

The extensive commission house of B. A. & Co., in Boston, had been in correspondence with and had done some business for a person in the island of Cuba. To their knowledge, this person never visited Boston more than once, and then only a few hours, and if he had, they think he might not have been recognised. It seems, however, by the sequel of this narrative, that the youngest partner did recognise him. It is now recollected by them that he never drew for the proceeds of sales, but always ordered them remitted to different places in the United States, so as to avoid any occasion for his signature on drafts. All his proceedings appeared to be marked with the most perfect mercantile accuracy. In the year 1838, he addressed this house in Boston, requesting them to effect insurance on a cargo to the amount of $19,000, on board Spanish brig Diana, bound from Trinidad de Cuba to Boston. Soon after having effected the insurance, B. A. & Co. received numerous papers proving a total loss; such as American consuls' certificates, protest of the master and crew, invoice, bill of lading, and, indeed, every paper that could be thought of, to substantiate the answer to every possible question. They were prepared with such precision and skill, there was no room for doubt or cavil from insurers. The claim was admitted, and, according to the policy, was to be paid in sixty days; and by his request, B. A. & Co. remitted him, in advance, $6,000.

In the protest, it was stated, that soon after leaving Trinidad, the Diana encountered a violent gale, during which she lost her foremast, and being subsequently run into by another vessel, was thrown on her beam-ends, and completely waterlogged; and the hatches having bursted open, the in a great measure, was washed out. The capcargo, tain and crew were taken off by a British schooner, and carried into Kingston, Jamaica.

The evidence forwarded to prove the loss were, a document purporting to be the copy of a protest sworn to by the captain and several of the crew of the Diana, and attested by the captain and crew of the British schooner, called the Racer, before W. H. Harrison, U.S. Vice-consul at Kingston; and copy of a certificate purporting to have been signed by Thomas R. Gray, U. S. Consul at Trinidad, that the protest, &c., were true copies of originals. To the whole was attached a paper signed by N. P. Trist, U.S. Consul at Trinidad. Soon after this loss was known in Boston, another house, S. B. & Co., one of whom happened to be a director in the company where the insurance was effected, in a letter to a correspondent in Trinidad, either by accident or design, mentioned the loss of this brig. The reply was that no such vessel had sailed from thence, nor was any such one known there, neither was there any merchant of the name of the one who appeared as shipper of the cargo. This was made known to the parties concerned, and the consequence was, the insurers refused to pay any part of the pretended loss. The situation of B. A. & Co. thus became perplexing, they being in a fair way of losing the money advanced. The residence of the projector of this villanous scheme was not known, and possibly he might never be heard from again. Fortunately, in this dilemma and at this juncture, they received a letter from him requesting the balance of the loss to be remitted to him, at the postoffice in Baltimore. The crisis had now arrived when, to extricate themselves, energy, discretion, despatch, and considerable stratagem were necessary. They could not send the money, nor could they write in any manner without exciting his guilty fears, and then he might elude their grasp, as fast as wind and steam could carry him. The mode of proceeding was soon arranged, and turned out to have been well projected and admirably well executed.

In order to be at the postoffice as soon as the expected letter might be inquired for, B. junior, of this firm, hastily departed, arrived at Baltimore, armed himself with the authority of the state, and stationed several police officers in the postoffice, in such a manner as to hear and see whoever might call for it. Two days they all waited and watched; and the officers had become so much discouraged and displeased with the job, that it required much persuasion to keep them at their post. Fortunately, the young gentleman persevered, they did not desert him, and on the evening of the third day, a messenger appeared, inquired for a letter, and departed. According to the concerted arrangement, the officers, with Mr. B., followed him to a house in the suburbs of the city, apparently not a resort of respectable foreign merchants. Mr. B. then changed his dress, to conform in some degree to the place, and to disguise himself so as not to be recognised by the supposed culprit, should he happen to be there, they having, as before mentioned, seen each other in Boston. The agreement with the officers was, that after he had mixed with the company and was sure he had found the right man, he was to make the signal, and they to advance and arrest him. His presence of mind did not forsake him as the critical moment approached. He soon fixed his eye on one, who, as he thought, was the person of whom he was in pursuit. He moderately approached him, so as to excite no attention, and was soon fortunate enough to be beside him, under the portico of the house, in full view of the officers. Entering into conversation with him, he addressed him by the name of Gassiot, to which he responded. His identity having thus become certain, the signal was made, and he immediately arrested. He took all this with as much composure as could be expected; and finding himself in the toils, and after lodging in jail one night, not a little unexpectedly to Mr. B., he refunded the money due B. A. & Co., in the old United States Bank bills. He made strong protestations of innocence, and promised shortly to be in Boston, and dissipate all suspicions against him. He has done nothing further towards redeeming this pledge than to write Messrs. B. A. & Co., from the island of Cuba, that it was still his intention to do it.

In course of inquiries respecting Mr. Gassiot among merchants at Baltimore, it was found that a loss amounting to $15,000 had been collected for him the year before, from insurance companies in that city; and, on perusal of the documents substantiating the loss, they were found to be almost verbatim copies of those respecting the Boston loss. The name of the vessel stated as bound to Baltimore was the Teneriffe, and the shipper of the cargo at Trinidad also bore another name. The Baltimore underwriters, being put upon the scent, were enabled to recover a part of their claim in cash, and security for the balance. He soon left the city, and it is understood that the security proved of no value.

NEW YORK MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

H. G.

The twentieth annual meeting of the members of the "Mercantile Library Association" was held at Clinton Hall, on Tuesday evening, 12th January, 1841.

The meeting having been called to order by the president, Philip Hone, Esq., was called to the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer read his annual report of the receipts and expenditures for the past year, which was, on motion, accepted.

The president read the "Twentieth Annual Report," which was, on motion of Charles Rolfe, Esq., unanimously adopted, and ordered to be printed.

After some pertinent remarks by Charles Rolfe, Esq., it was, on motion

Resolved, That all the members of this association be a committee to raise the necessary amount to purchase a copy of " Audubon's Ornithology."

On motion of Edmund Coffin, Esq.,

Resolved, That it is expedient to celebrate annually, in an appropriate manner, the anniversary of the establishment of the Mercantile Library Association of the city of New York.

Resolved, That the board of directors for the ensuing year be authorized and directed to make the necessary arrangements to effect this purpose.

On motion of the president

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be, and are hereby tendered to Philip Hone, Esq., for his courtesy and kindness in presiding at the meeting this evening.

On motion of Nicholas Carroll, Esq.,—

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be tendered to Augustus E. Silliman Esq., for his very able annual report, presented to the meeting this evening.

On motion of George C. Baker, Esq.,

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be tendered to the "Trustees of Clinton Hall Association," for their attendance this evening.

On motion of W. H. Stone,

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be, and are hereby tendered to the Trustees of Clinton Hall Association, for their liberal offer to contribute one hundred dollars towards the purchase of a copy of "Audubon's Ornithology," provided the required sum to within that amount be raised.

The meeting was addressed, in the course of the evening, by Messrs. Philip Hone, Charles Rolfe, Edmund Coffin, and E. R. Tremain.

On motion, adjourned.

LEWIS MCMULLEN, Recording Secretary.

PHILIP HONE, Chairman.