The steam-engine, the railroad, and the telegraph, the characteristic features of the present day, are indeed preparing a quiet revolution for the world. Breaking down class interests, and substituting universal interests in their place, they are fast uniting in one bond of unity the entire human race, and are leading rapidly, to use the words of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, "to the accomplishment of that end to which indeed all history points, the realization of the unity of mankind." For ourselves it should not be sufficient that in the hands of a higher power than our own we are unconsciously working out the designs of Providence, but we should strive to discern the coming changes which are arising around us, that thus conscious whereunto our work is tending, we may be enabled to place ourselves in harmony therewith. That we have earnest workers amongst us, men working with noble aims, with no party, or merely national spirit, but in the great cause of humanity itself, the Exhibition of 1851 has clearly shown. May its promoters long be remembered with honor, and may the important benefits which it already appears to have conferred upon all our principal trades, be productive of the results for which its promoters so nobly worked.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

COMMERCIAL DIRECTORIES.

One of the first effects of Trade and Commerce upon society is to collect large numbers of mankind within small districts of country; in other words, it causes large cities, with all their bustle and activity, and crowded streets and dwellings, rapidly to to spring into existence. The necessity of a guide, or directory, to the place of business or residence of each individual is thus early felt. The first directory of New York was published more than fifty years ago. It was a small two-by-three-inch book, with a paper cover, and contained a few hundred names only. Since that period, the population has doubled itself several times, and the New York Directory has become a volume of several hundred pages, and contains about one hundred thousand

names.

The directory of Messrs. Wilson & Trow* for the city of New York, which has lately been published, consists of seven hundred and thirty-one pages. It was compiled during the month of May, or in the twenty-six working days which succeeded May 1st, and printed and bound. It is in advance of former years by nearly three weeks. But this unusual enterprise was doubtless greatly stimulated by competition. The fact that Wilson and Trow were the competitors gave immense impetus to their efforts The work which is first out, and which is the most accurate, full, and complete, is invariably the successful one.

This year both publishers issued their works on or about the same day. But the work of Wilson & Trow contains twenty-five thousand names more than any former directory, while the rival directory contains a few thousand less names than some of the previous directories. It is this fact which has given to the feat of these publishers its eclat.

We have examined some parts of this work with considerable care. The number of lines of names on each page is 180. If we suppose each line to contain a name, then this work contains 122,000 names. But each line does not in all cases contain a name. The aim is to state in each the name of the individual, his place of business, and his family residence. Of course, in many cases these statements are too long to come within the compass of a line. There will average on each page from fifteen to thirty

• Wilson & Trow's New York City Directory, 8vo., pp. 673. Appendix, 8vo., pp. 44 Wilson's Street and Avenue Directory, 8vo., pp. 14. New York: John F. Trow.

instances of this kind. If we suppose the number for each page to be twenty, and deduct accordingly from the volume, it will be found to contain 108,500 names.

The population of the city somewhat exceeds 500,000. This work, therefore, contains about one name out of five of the whole population. Six persons are generally considered as the average for families at large. In localities it may vary somewhat Females and children, and young persons not in business, and transitory individuals, compose that portion of the population whose names are not found in a directory. It is just, therefore, to conclude that the canvass for names on this work must have been very faithfully and thoroughly done. That it has not been so done in former years, is now manifest by the larger number of names which this directory contains over every other.

It would not be possible to estimate the names of mercantile firms, nor be worth the labor. The favorite name of Smith occupies eight pages, and Smith, John, nearly a page of double columns, while Michael, Patrick, James, Philip, Thomas, and William Smith, each occupy a large portion of a column.

There is Stevens and Stevenson, Stephens and Stephenson, Stephan and Stephani, and Stevins and Stephen, which are an example of the variations of an original word. The Mcs are an immense family of prefixes. They occupy twenty-three pages of the volume. McCarthy and McCarty are the most numerous branch, although they are run hard by the McGraths, McGuires, McGowans, McDonnells, and McCormicks. We have examined this work for correctness, within the range of our observation, and find it very accurate and reliable.

It is printed in a very handsome style, and is perhaps the most tasteful and finished directory in its appearance that was ever issued in the city of New York, as it is in the completeness, fullness, and accuracy of its contents.

MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF BOSTON.

The thirty-second annual report of this association exhibits its affairs in a most prosperous and flourishing condition. Its means of usefulness have heen progressive, and its future prospects are regarded at this time as more brilliant than at any former period of its foundation. The additions made to the library during the year just closed, by purchase, have been 2,285; by donation, 161, and by binding of magazines and reviews, received and paid for during the year, 67—in all, 2,513, which, added to the number of volumes on the catalogue, per annual report of the previous year, (8,938,) makes the present number of volumes in the library of the association 11,451. The expenditures for books, magazines and reviews, and binding during the year, amounted to $2,294 23, being an increase over the amount expended during the previous year for the same purposes of $986 86. The following table shows the increase of the members of the institution for the last three years-years ending 1st of April:

By the Treasurer's report it appears the whole amount of receipts for the year ending April 1st, 1852, were $7,541 77, to which is to be added a balance received from the administration of 1850-51 of $452 58, making a total of $7,885 94. The expenditures during the year amounted to $6,385 94, besides which the association made an investment of $1,500, leaving a balance in the Treasury of $108 64. The institution is entirely free from pecuniary incumbrance, and has invested funds to the

amount of $17,600. Two courses of lectures were given, under the auspices of the ⚫ association, during the past season, which, after paying lecturers and all expenses, produced net proceeds amounting to $1,437. The Lecture Committee, in their report, mention with gratitude the kindness of that highly-accomplished merchant and educated gentleman, George R. RussELL, LL. D., who declined the pecuniary consideration tendered him for his lecture, and requested that the money should be invested in books for the library. The weekly exercises for debate, declamation, and composition, have, it appears from the report, been well attended during the past year. The benefit derived from a participation in these exercises can hardly be over-estimated by the members. The arrangements of the association for classes in bookkeeping, penmanship, and languages, are well calculated to promote a very beneficial object, employing the best teachers in the several branches. Among the teachers in bookkeeping and penmanship we notice the name of our accomplished friend, GEORGE N. COMER, Esq. The rooms of the association are regarded as quite inadequate to its wants, and the erection of a building suitable for its use has from time to time engrossed the attention of its officers. The invested funds ($17,600) will undoubtedly soon be appropriated for the erection of a building.

COMMERCIAL EDUCATION.

GEORGE N. COMER, of Boston, a thoroughly accomplished teacher of bookkeeping, penmanship, and other branches of commercial education, has recently published a new writing-book, containing a series of exercises for acquiring a beautiful, and what in our estimation is of more practical value, a clear and distinct handwriting. "The size of this book, (a copy of which is before us,) that of a letter-sheet, presents a practical advantage hitherto overlooked. The copies, being in a free, natural hand, and upon separate slips, precludes the necessity of dampening the paper to print upon, which renders it soft, fuzzy, and unfit for writing;-any number of pages of any one of the copies may be repeated at convenience." Mr. Comer brings to his task in teaching, (if that can be called a task with one who seems to enter the pursuit with an almost enthusiastic devotion to it,) genius, talent, and experience, that would command fame and fortune in almost any other walk in life. Mr. Comer has appended to his writing book some directions to teachers and pupils, forming a clear and comprehensive lecture upon the principles of penmanship, so that the book becomes, as it were, a most useful teacher. To young men just entering mercantile life, we would say, if your location or circumstances prevent you from availing yourselves of Mr. Comer's "Initiatory Counting-Rooms," procure the various works of that gentleman on bookkeeping and penmanship, and make them your study.

THE LONDON BOOKSELLING SYSTEM.

A deputation from the Booksellers' Association recently attended at Strathedenhouse, Kensington, the residence of Lord Campbell, to hear the decision of his lordship, Dr. Milman, and Mr. George Grote, on the question of "underselling" in the bookselling trade. Lord Campbell, in pronouncing the decision of the arbitrators, said: "The substance of the regulations submitted to us, we understand to be, that all booksellers keeping a shop in London, or within twelve miles of the General PostOffice, are to become members of the association, and are to receive a ticket entitling them to buy new books from the publishers; that the publishers of new books specify a retail price for each copy; that they sell copies to the retail booksellers at about 30 per cent under that price; that they require an engagement from the retail booksel

lers not to allow to their customers a larger discount than 10 per cent from the retail price; that, without this engagement, the retail dealers cannot be supplied with copies of new books; and that for a breach of this engagement they forfeit their tickets, and are cut off from any further dealings in new books with the publishers. Having listened to very able arguments, having read everything which has come within our reach on either side, and having considered the subject very deliberately, we have unanimously come to the conclusion that these regulations are unreasonable and inexpedient." His lordship then stated at considerable length the grounds of the opinion at which they had arrived. Mr. Longman and Mr. Chapman, on behalf of the two parties for whom they acted, severally thanked the noble lord and his co-arbiters for the time and attention they had devoted to the subject.

THE CINNAMON OF COMMERCE.

The cinnamon of Commerce is the inner bark of a tree closely resembling the laurel, or sweet bay, a native originally of Ceylon, but which is now grown in the other parts of the East Indies, and also in Jamaica and other West India Islands. The trees are usually left to grow unmolested until they are nine years old, at which time the young shoots or branches, that are about three years old, are lopped off. The bark is then slit on one side and removed from the branch, tied up in bundles until the next day, when it is loosened, and the skin or outer bark scraped off. It is then dried or rolled up into quills or pipes, about three feet long, which have a slit down one side where the bark was cut. The smallest quills are rolled up inside the larger; the whole are then tied up in bundles of 80 or 90 lbs. weight, and wrapped up in cloths, when they are ready for exportation. It is an astringent and highly aromatic and warm flavor, and yields by distillation an extremely fragrant and pungent volatile oil, kept for pharmaceutical use under the name of oil of cinnamon.

ADULTERATION OF COFFEE IN PARIS.

A Paris correspondent of the National Intelligencer says that a manufactory of paste coffee has just been pounced upon by the police, that would do no discredit to the inventors of the wooden nutmegs, that gave so equivocal a fame to a certain portion of our own countrymen. It is chiefly for their benefit, and to prove to the world that Yankees do not enjoy the monopoly of dishonest ingenuity in this line which is generally attributed to them, that I note the commencement of the manufacture of coffee in Paris. Here is the process:

A paste is prepared of about the consistency of dough for bread, and perhaps of the same materials, only of adulterated or valueless flour. This paste or dough is, by means of molds skillfully prepared, made to assume the shape of grains of coffee, whether of Mocha, or Bourbon, or Martinique, to suit the taste of buyers. The artificial grain is then baked till it takes the color of parched coffee. It is then mixed in proper proportions with genuine parched coffee, and retailed as such, with great profit, in the grocery stores. The practice, very general in France, of buying from the grocers, coffee ready parched, facilitates this mode of falsification, otherwise impossible.

OUR COMMERCE WITH BRAZIL AND THE AMAZON.

Lieut. MAURY proposes, in a Memorial to Congress, that a line of steam communication be opened between some southern Atlantic port and the port of Para, in Brazil. Para is a port of considerable importance even now, and, situated at the outlet of the Amazon, would soon command a lucrative trade. A direct communication between it and some central port like Norfolk, already in close connection with New York, would save our merchants the labor and expense of transmission by way of England to Rio Janeiro,—a practice too commonly adopted, because of the length of

time consumed in sailing a voyage hence to Rio. Our commerce with Brazil is already greater than with any other country except England and France. Her imports from the United States, in 1835, amounted to $2,608,656, and since that period they have annually increased. Our exports thither in 1850-51 were $3,752,916, and the imports hither were $11,525,304. It is needless to argue the importance of keeping up a steady increase in this reciprocal system of exports and imports. Brazil produces sugar, coffee, chocolate, salt, nitrate of potash, gold, diamonds, topaz, beryl, tourmaline, amethysts, and precious commodities almost innumerable. Her agricul ture is not perfect. It needs the incitements of commerce and internal facilities; with an open line of communication from the Amazon to the Coast, emigration must pour in, and the resources of the country be developed in all their richness. The cattle trade of the region is a peculiar feature of its natural advantages. Ores of iron and copper, laid idle for years, must start into circulation, and employ the minds and hands of working, energetic men. The spice trade, the traffic in fruits, exportation of animals, all proffer opportunities of profit, waiting the turn of the tide to become productive. Viewing the question in these lights, the importance of the contemplated enterprise becomes so plainly manifest that it can scarcely fail to take the attention and invite the scrutiny of the commercial public.

HIGH PRICES OF MARKETING.

The Providence Journal alluding to the general complaints of the ruinous and increasing prices of marketing, remarks that there is something not right about the present system. The consumer pays enormous prices, and the producer gets but a moderate return. There are too many interests between the farmer and the people who buy his meats and vegetables. With the steam communication extending westward, with the low fares, the easy transportation, and the wonderful cheapness of agricultural productions, only two or three days' journey from us, there should not be such high prices of all that supplies the table. It is a subject worthy of serious consideration. The high prices which press upon men of moderate means, cut off the poorer classes from many kinds of wholesome food, and deprive them of many of the comforts of life. Something should be done to bring the producer and the consumer nearer together.

A BUSINESS PICTURE OF CINCINNATI.

A new paper, the Sun, just started in Cincinnati, gives the following picture of the business of that city:

Here, on the landing-lying side by side-are steamboats which have come from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Iowa, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Old States and new States-slave States and free States-Northern States and Southern States-are all here, lying quietly together, in the friendly embraces of Commerce. But, look again: from what countries came these cargoes of merchandise and produce? Is it not one and the same country? Here are the products of the Alleghanies-the grain of Ohio-the salt of Vir ginia-the tobacco of Kentucky-the lead of Missouri-the iron of Tennessee-the cotton of Mississippi and Arkansas-the sugar and molasses of Louisiana, and the rice of the Carolinas! And what are there returned for them? Bacon for the Negroes-sugar-mills for the planter-bread for the manufacturers-oil and lard for all countries. Can the most active imagination conceive of more elements of consolidation in national interests, and of fervent patriotism in a people?

A MAHOMEDAN'S IDEA OF A CHRISTIAN MERCHANT.

Some years ago a Philadelphia merchant sent a cargo of goods to Constantinople. After the supercargo saw the bales and boxes safely landed, he inquired where they could be stored.

"Leave them here, it won't rain to-night," was the reply.

"But I dare not leave them thus exposed; some of the goods might be stolen," said the supercargo.

The Mahomedan merchant burst into a loud laugh, as he replied

"Don't be alarmed, there ain't a Christian within fifty miles of here."