MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

SECTARIANISM IN BUSINESS.

It seems that the editor of the Advocate, published at Memphis, Tennessee, a journal with which we do not exchange, has been recommending his religious brethren to trade only with church members. Now, if that part of mankind were the exclusively honest and upright dealers in "goods, wares and merchandise," there would be some propriety in the advice of the editor of the Advocate; but a large majority of sensible people have, ere this, discovered that the profession of religion, even that deemed the most orthodox, does not always keep men, in mercantile transactions, free from the trickeries, and petty dishonesties of trade. Phrenologists tell us that some men have large veneration and marvelousness, with very small conscientiousness and firmness. Such men may be very religious, and yet not very nice in their discrimination between the right and the wrong in trade. But it was not our purpose to discuss the subject, but merely to copy the common-sense remarks of the Memphis Express upon the narrow and sectarian views of a cotemporary.

HARMONY NECESSARY TO THE BUSINESS SUCCESS OF A COMMUNITY.

"Our neighbor of the Advocate furnishes us with elaborate disquisitions in its last number upon matters and things in general and trade in particular-the horizon of its views in the latter being within the rather limited area of a church membership. We do not design to argue this topic further. We have said all that we thought necessary in condemnation of a principle which we consider anti-American, as its practice would be ruinous to general prosperity. We are content to leave the question among practical business men. They can determine the effect upon commercial prosperity, of the splitting of the community into a thousand little fragments, and precluding business intercourse between all persons, not belonging to the same religious body. There would indeed be an end of enterprise! The arena of industry and energy would be so narrowed down that both would be hopelessly crippled. Traffic would be stagnated, large establishments would cease to flourish, for they would not be required to supply such limited circles of customers, confidence and co-operation would cease, and a universal decrepitude fall upon all departments of industrial pursuits. Cannot any one see that such would be the inevitable result of the general acceptance of these recommendations of the Advocate? Could a more tremendous or crushing blow be leveled against the prosperity of this young and rising city of Memphis, than to paralyze its industry, its enterprise and its capital, by depriving their possessors of all sphere for the action of these qualities, save within the limits of the churches to which the individuals respectively_belonged?

Away with it! To prosper we must harmonize, must be united, must direct our exertions to the attainment of the general welfare. To do this, honesty, industry, enterprise and intelligence, must be the criterions of success. Change this criterion to that suggested by Mr. Chapman and the Advocate, and you invert social order, fill the avenues of business with selfish hypocrites, and deprive merit of its just reward and rights.

It does seem to us that one with half an eye can see that these results must ensue if such a course as that we are condemning is persevered in.

If it be necessary, as the Advocate and Mr. Chapman assert, that church members should deal only with their fellow members, their frequent association, consequent on their duties as members of the same church, would sufficiently lead to that result. The natural tendency would be that they would from choice deal with each other. Where then is the use of quickening this proclivity into a morbid and injurious activity, by such recommendations as those of Mr. Chapman and the Advocate? Counseling them to do that from a principle of selfish clannishness, which they were already disposed to do from the natural force of circumstances, but which they would not have carried into a spirit of exclusiveness.

We regard the course of Mr. Chapman and the Advocate as most unfortunate. If it is acted upon, no extended business could be carried on in Memphis, for such busine

must always look to the general patronage for support. If, however, society here is to be cut up into as many coteries as there are denominations of christians, it is evident that no one of them could support these extensive establishments which form the germs from which all great cities spring. We would have no scope for capital, no room for its profitable investment, and our city would soon droop into insignificance, as enterprise and industry found themselves without inducement for exertion.

It is ridiculously absurd to attempt to make this question one of isolated sectarian concern. It comes home to the practical every day business transactions of life. Its discussion falls within the province of all interested in the general prosperity.

We now dismiss the subject definitely; remarking that our object has been neither hostility to one church nor partiality to another. If we know ourselves we have no such motives to gratify. Our sole aim has been to point out an evil which common sense is sufficient to perceive would operate seriously and permanently against the growth and prosperity of Memphis.

PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF A BREMEN MERCHANT.

We furnish, happily, more frequently in the pages of the Merchants' Magazine' biographical sketches of merchants, who, by their enterprise, industry, economy and last but not least, integrity, have reached the "golden gate" of success in commer cial life. Such examples are not lost in their influence on the rising generation of merchants. Nor will, in our judgment, the subjoined curious narrative of a Bremen merchant, translated from the Zolnische Zeitung of September 11, 1851.

Henry Engelbert Haase, now sixty-eight years of age, having, when five years old, been left the orphan of a small trader in Bremen, was adopted by a near relative of his mother and brought up by him as his own son. This person, whose name was Geisler, afterwards took him as a partner in business, and when he died, in 1806, Haase continued the business in connection with Geisler's widow, for about twenty years, when the establishment was closed, Haase being considered as a man of large property. He was one of the most highly respected men in Bremen-holding several public offices, a trustee of the school fund, of the Missionary and Bible Societies, an administrator on the estates of many deceased persons, and a guardian of several orphan children. He gave the impression of the most active benevolence, and the the highest integrity, and abounded in both public and private charities. No one ever sought his aid in vain. He always gave with great liberality. Obliging in the highest degree, he was always the man to whom his friends entrusted their obligations when they were absent, on journeys or otherwise, from the city. Whatever was placed in the hands of Haase was deemed perfectly safe. In 1813 he married into an old Bremen family, but his wife died on the birth of her first child in 1814. Since 1830, in which year he inherited $80,000 from the widow of Geisler, he was an alderman of the city. A certain coxcombry-for instance, he wore jewels and lace, which was not usual, and took every means to conceal his age-was forgiven him on account of the high esteem which he universally enjoyed. No one ever ventured in the slightest degree to ridicule Alderman Haase-in the opinion of every one, he stood firmer than any man in Bremen. With remarkable hospitality, he entertained, every week, a distinguished company of both sexes, and it was considered a great honor to be invited to his parties. A degree of luxury was exhibited at his dinners which was excusable only in a rich man without children. He pursued this course since 1806. His reputation for honesty was perfect; but at that time he had commenced a career of swindling on a large scale. In the very first year of his establishment, he spent a great portion of the property of the widow, deceiving her with false accounts, and paying interest on sums which were no longer in existence. In taking possession of the Geisler legacy, he paid the tax of $8,000 to the State, although the property had been previously made away with. This tax was paid with the public money, which, since that time, he had used for himself, squandering it both in luxury and charity.

The whole amount of his defalcation is not yet fully known. But it is certain that there is a deficit of $100,000 in the School Fund, $8,000 in the Fund of St. Stephen's Church, which he attended twice every Sunday, and $9,000 in the Missionary Socety. In his annual statement of the different funds, he solicited the inspection of the books, and often pretended that the value of the property had increased by advantageous purchase and sale of stocks, frequently offering the overseers to show them

the certificates in various closets and oaken chests. It was naturally deemed a gross imputation on such an accurate accountant to accept the offer. In order to preserve the honor of the city several of the inhabitants were willing to advance $10,000 or even $20,000 to hush up the matter; but it was too late; the affair had already got wind. Justice must accordingly take its course. Every one sees that it is a great misfortune for Bremen, the consequences of which cannot as yet be fully calculated. On Saturday, when the explosion took place, men wept like children; they were pale as death when they met on the Exchange, and all business came to a stand still. The streets were perfectly hushed; people stood in groups, speaking to each other in whispers of the astounding disclosures. The demeanor of Haase at the examination greatly surprised the judges. With great composure he listened to the charge, displaying no traces of distraction; and he still remains in a state of self deception, persuaded that he will receive pardon, as he confessed the crime and yielded himself to justice when he gave up the accounts and resigned his office.

SKETCH OF A BALTIMORE MERCHANT.

We take great pleasure in recording in the pages of the Merchants' Magazine, notices of the character of men whose lives have been devoted to mercantile pursuits, especially when that character has been free from the blemishes which detract from the reputation of the intelligent and upright merchant. With this view we extract from the Baltimore Price Current, the following brief sketch of JAMES BEATTY, one of Baltimore's "oldest and best merchants," recently deceased.

Mr. B. was a man of no ordinary mind; It had been much improved in his earlier years, by extensive travel, and remained active and vigorous to the last. His long life was well spent, and those who had known him say that in all his relations he had never failed to perform his duty faithfully; and it was remarked by him only a few days before his death that he knew of no act to regret, and if he had his life to live anew, he did not think he could improve upon it. Throughout a mercantile career of more than sixty years, he had been universally admired and esteemed; and now when it is fully realized that his valuable life is closed, and his presence lost to the community with which he had been so long identified, a blank the most profound is felt at the sad though common dispensation. He has gone, but the light of his influence still shines brightly and his memory will be longest kept fresh among those who knew him best.

Mr. Beatty was born in Fredericktown, Md., in 1770, and came to Baltimore about the year 1786. For a considerable length of time he was associated in business with Gen. Stricker, upon whose resignation as navy agent at Baltimore, under President Jefferson, he succeeded to that office, which he filled with the greatest ability until the administration of Gen. Jackson, a period of nearly twenty years.

Mr. Beatty was very fond of relating anecdotes of former days. Among numerous others which his remarkable memory retained, was one connected with the period of our last war with England, and which demonstrates the truth of our statements, in the obituary of James Wilson* in reference to the liberality of one of our old mercantile houses. It is not only an instance of liberality, but of the most disinterested patriotism. At the time of the approach of the British forces toward Baltimore, the U. S. navy agent, Mr. Beatty, was placed in a somewhat unpleasant situation by repeated threats from the soldiers in the regular army that unless they received, within a stated period, all the wages due them, they had determined to revolt. The amount of funds in his hands was far short of what was required, and the banks of the city were called upon to aid in making it up; but after this request had been complied with, there was still not enough to satisfy the demand. At this juncture, Mr. Beatty happening one day to meet Mr. James Wilson, the latter gentlemen made inquiry as to how matters stood with him in relation to the raising of the funds. Mr. B. related the circumstances, upon which Mr. Wilson requested him to step to his counting-room, and he would give him a check for the sum yet wanting, which was over $50,000. Mr. B. went to the bank, and the check was duly cashed-the soldiers returned to duty-the battle of North Point was fought shortly afterwards, the war was closed, and government again

In the Merchants' Magazine for April, 1851, (vol. xxiv., page 516,) we published, under the title of a merchant, philanthropist and christian," a brief biographical notice of Mr. James Wilson, the gentleman alluded to in the present sketch.

became enabled to discharge all its minor debts. Mr. Beatty made out a statement of the indebtedness of government to Mr. Wilson, including interest, which he presented to Mr. Wilson for his approval. "Mr. Beatty" said the patriotic merchant, "you have allowed me interest on the sum loaned; sir, I want no interest-the money was lying idle, and it was just as well that government should have the use of it."

COMMERCIAL HONESTY AT A DISCOUNT.

We find the following in the New York correspondence of the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin :

Cheseboro, Stearns & Co., (who failed a few days ago, but which I hesitated then to name to you,) are to declare to-day how much they can pay on their $700,000 of liability."They will pay twenty-five per cent," I heard a clerk in a store say this morning. They will be fools, if they do," exclaimed his employer, an old man in gold spectacles. "I suppose, sir," he added, turning to me, " that you will think it strange that I should say so. But they had better stow away all they can. They can as well put away two hundred thousand dollars as not, and the world will think better of them for doing it. Their honesty will not keep them from being despised if they are poor. Look at my own case," he continued. "On the night of the Great Fire' in shis city, was worth $200,000. The next morning the contents of my store, worth all that, were destroyed, and only $9,000 insured. I gave up all I had in the world to my creditors, including a home in Warren street worth $30,000. Not a cent was reserved. And was my honesty appreciated? Not at all. My poverty rendered me despised. One man whom I owed $6,000, which I paid, principal and interest, called me scoundrel,' though I paid a hundred cents on a dollar. That man, rich as he then was, has broken to pieces, and paid only twelve and a-half cents on a dollar. There's my friend who failed at the same time I did, and saved $150,000, and there is neighbor so and so, a similar case." And he went on and named over some half a dozen wealthy men, who have got rich by bankruptcy. "They ride in their carriages, and here I am keeping this little shop." I told him I had much rather be in his shoes than theirs, for conscious meanness must mar all their pleasure. "The world don't agree with you," he rejoined bitterly. I was sorry to see the old man have so much feeling on the subject. The rich men whom he named may flourish for a time, but "verily they will have their reward.”

THE EFFECT OF WAR ON COMMERCE.

The following statements, which we extract from Baine's History of Liverpool, strikingly illustrate the results of a naval war to the mercantile classes :

THE AMERICAN WAR AND THE COTTON TRADE.-In spite of the efforts of the merchants engaged in the American trade, of many of the ablest men in the country unconnected with Commerce, and of the urgent and angry remonstrances of the American Government, the English Government adhered resolutely to the policy of the orders in council, until the spring of 1812. According to a statement of President Madison to the American people, upward of a thousand American vessels were seized, under these orders, in the high seas. These were carried into English ports; many of them condemned, and all subjected to heavy losses. During the whole of this time, from 1807 to 1812, the American merchants of Liverpool continued to remonstrate against these orders, both on the ground of policy and principle. They contended that, by inducing the American Government to retaliate, they inflicted infinitely greater evils on England than on France; and, moreover, that however just they might be as measures of retaliation against France, they were altogether unjust in their operation on neutral nations. At the beginning of 1812, these remonstrances became more urgent, as the commercial and manufacturing distresses became greater; and as it became more evident that a perseverance in the policy of the orders in council would produce a war with America. In the years 1810 and 1811, the opponents of the orders of council obtained the powerful assistance of the present Lord Brougham, then Mr. Brougham, who was already pre-eminent among cotemporary statesmen and orators, for his great attainments and his powerful eloquence. By his advocacy, aided by the pressure of the mercantile and commercial classes, the English Government had resolved to suspend the orders in council. The repeal of the orders was celebrated in Liverpool by a public dinner, at which Mr. Brougham was present, and by a public