LETTER FROM ALEXANDER VATTEMARE TO THE EDITOR.

THE WORLD'S FAIR.-A UNIFORM STANDARD OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, &c. &c. Although the following letter from ALEXANDER VATTEMARE to the Editor of this Magazine, has already been published in leading journals north and south, we cannot resist the temptation of laying it before our readers; for aside from the personal allusions, it will be read with interest, " exhibiting, as it does, that catholic feeling which a Frenchman, animated with generous impulses, knows so well how to express." In introducing this letter to its readers, the Editor of the New York Mirror justly remarks:

"Aside from the tribute bestowed by leading men in Europe upon the labors of Mr. Hunt, the letter will be found to contain much that will interest every American reader who has at heart the fame and glory of his country. The cosmopolitan spirit of Mr. Vattemare stands out in bold relief in every line and paragraph of his interesting letter, and we are rejoiced to find that his enthusiasm in the noble cause in which he has been engaged, is not abated or diminished one iota since its inception some ten or twelve years since."

Another cotemporary introduces the letter of Mr. Vattemare with the following, among other, remarks:

"It is now nearly fifteen years since Mr. VATTEMARE conceived the noble idea of bringing about a system for the international exchange of the works of Art, Science, and Literature, in the Two Hemispheres.' Since that he has crossed the Atlantic several times, and visited almost every state in the Union; opening an exchange with the several governments of our states and cities, receiving from them whatever of literature and art they might have to bestow, and in return supplying some of the choicest productions o France. Nor have Mr. Vattemare's labors been confined to this country alone; he has visited every point of importance on the continent of Europe, and in a true cosmopolitan spirit, enlisted the great minds of the world in his noble cause. While in this country, our friend FREEMAN HUNT, the Editor of the Merchants' Magazine, in the same cosmopolitan spirit, heartily co-operated with Mr. Vattemare in his disinterested efforts to promote peace and good will among men,' by the interchange of the choice and varied productions of Luman genius.”

But for the letter:

AGENCE CENTRALE DES EXCHANGE, INTERNATIONAUX, PARIS, May 10th, 1853.

DEAR SIR-I have the pleasure of addressing you a parcel, containing with the "Documents du Commerce Exterieur" for the months from June to December, 1852, and from January to March, 1853, presented to you in the name of His Excellency, the Minister of the Interior, a series of pamphlets relative to statistics, commerce and industry, by Mr. HEUSHLING, of Belgium, one of the most distinguished staticians of the Old World, and a great appreciator of the services you are rendering to the scientific and commercial world by your most valuable Magazine.

Owing to the neglect of one of my clerks who had charge of them, I am sorry to see that, during my absence from Paris, the "Documents du Commerce" have not been forwarded to you more promptly; but now I have taken measures so as to have them sent regularly as the numbers will appear.

It is with very great gratification that I see our plans for a World's Fair realized upon so large a scale, and it must be agreeable to you likewise to remember that the first mention of such a plan was published in your magazine in August, 1847. While speaking of my mission to the United States, you recollect the warm reception made by the American Institute to my proposals, and the readiness with which they were seconded by this patriotic and learned society. To America, therefore, is due the honor of having been the first in adopting the means to realize it at once; and if to Great Britain belongs the honor of having had the first Fair, she must share with

America, and perhaps a little with France, the merit of the original idea; for I am an humble son of France. It is true that I was then speaking of an American fair in Paris; but a simultaneous and similar appeal was to be made to all the civilized nations of the earth, and the intention of the government was to erect in Paris a large and splendid building, where the productions of the inventive genius of the world would have been classified, assigning to each nation a separate room; and this great building was to be called the " Museum of the Industry of the two Hemispheres,” in which these objects would have formed a public and permanent World's Fair (see my letter to you of July 11th, 1847, published in August of the same year in your magazine).

I am very sorry that time will not allow me to cross once more the Atlantic, to visit again your most hospitable shores, particularly during the World's Fair; but, alas, my duties to my system, and its full realization, require imperatively my presence in the centre of my operations. But my hearty good wishes and grateful recollections will be with you; and if a World's Fair takes place in Paris, I will use all my efforts and little influence to advocate the cause of America, and have the glorious specimens of her genius fairly exhibited to the world; and thus realize the patriotic hopes so eloquently expressed by Hon. HENRY A. WISE, in a letter addressed to me in 1850, in which he says:

"I delight in a plan which promises the opportunity to this young republican nation, of displaying her choice gifts and graces to Europe, where her riches, beauties and powers are not known, and where she cannot, without throwing away her modesty, claim her own-too often attributed to her English mother, because of nearly the same language, laws and religion."

Under a literary and scientific point of view, the Hon. Mr. Wise's hopes are completely realized, thanks to the intellectual riches I brought with me from America in 1850. These have astonished and convinced many a St. Thomas-now that they have seen they believe, and their admiration for America knows no bounds. And I hope that full justice will be done to the American genius, in a report which M. Guizot intends to make in the month of November next, to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, about my mission to the United States, and the system of in ternational exchange in general, but particularly about the intellectual treasures for which France is indebted to American liberality.

In the same parcel you will find two able reports of the standard Weights and Measures, and Currency of France, made for me by Mr. Silberman, Trustee of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, and Durand, Commissary General of the Mints of France. The great question just now agitated in Europe about the adoption, by and by, of a uniformity of weights, measures, and currency by the civilized nations of the earth, may render these documents of interest to Political Economists, and to the numerous subscribers to your publication. In the Morning Courier & Enquirer of July 24th, 1852, you will find a long article on the French Metrical System, by W. W. Mann, Esq., containing the greater part of Mr. Silberman's report.

I am happy to have this opportunity to congratulate you for the increasing success and popularity of your great publication, and to express once more my gratitude for the kindness and fraternal hospitality with which you treated me while in America, and to assure you that it will give me the greatest pleasure if you would put my good

• These reports were prepared to accompany the series of Standards, Weights and Measures, and Currencies, I have had the honor of transmitting to the Federal Government last year, in the name of His Excellency the Minister of the Interior, as a grateful acknowledgment for the splendid series of the United States Standard Weights and Measures, I was instructed by an act of the first session of the 30th Congress, to present to France.

will and sincerity to the test, by enabling me to do something for you here, and use my humble efforts in serving the interests of Hunt's Merchants' Magazine.

Hoping that you will honor me with a few lines, acknowledging the receipt of the small parcel, and informing me of your wants, if you have any, of publications of interest to the specialty of your Magazine.

I am, dear sir, your very humble servant, and grateful friend,

FREEMAN HUNT, Esq., Editor Merchant's Magazine.

A SHORT NOTE ON A

ALEXANDER VATTEMARE.

SERMON OF COMMERCE."

FREEMAN HUNT, Editor Merchants' Magazine, etc. :—

SIR-In the "Sermon on Commerce," published in your last number, is the following passage: “It is an interesting question, worthy of consideration, what would have been the influence upon the nations of antiquity had Carthage conquered Rome, or Napoleon conquered Wellington at Waterloo? Who can doubt, for a moment, that the former would have been far more beneficial to the old world, and the latter far more injurious to the modern?" Is not the preacher here putting himself before his master? Had he been ruler of the universe, Hannibal would have beaten Scipio! Rome might have sunk in Tiber, and we should never have seen either the Coliseum or St. Peter's! We are inclined at present to take the opposite side of this question, which, with reverence be it spoken, is also the safe one. We think that at that stage of the world, the courage, chastity, and temperance of the Roman, which made both his strength and his religion, were a more valuable possession and bequest than the punic faith and sensual refinement of the Carthagenian. The brave and pious David was a better prince than the wise, rich, mercantile, and idolatrous Solomon, and the Jewish nation were more favored and progressive under the father than the son. Besides the Commercial has never yet been a primitive state of our race-it is always sequent and transitory-Esau must always be born before Jacob.

Of such speculations, we think the following passage in an old book, not now much read, is a good exposition. I give it at length.

“The king of Bohemia, an' pleas your honor," replied the corporal, was unfortunate as thus: that taking great pleasure and delight in navigation and all sorts of sea affairs, and there happening throughout the whole kingdom of Bohemia to be no seaport town whatever

"How the deuce should there, Trim," cried my uncle Toby, "for Bohemia being totally inland, it could have happened no otherwise." 'It might," said Trim, "if it had pleased God." My uncle Toby never spoke of the being and natural attributes of God, but with diffidence and hesitation. "I believe not," replied my uncle Toby, after some pause, "for being inland, as I said, and having Silesia and Moravia to the east, Lusatia and Upper Saxony to the north, Franconia to the west, and Bavaria to the south, Bohemia could not be propelled to the sea without ceasing to be Bohemia ; nor could the sea, on the other hand, have come up to Bohemia without overflowing a great part of Germany, and destroying millions of unfortunate inhabitants who could make no defense against it." 'Scandalous," cried Trim. Which would bespeak," added my uncle Toby, mildly, "such a want of compassion in him who is the father of it, that I think, Trim, the thing could have happened no way."*

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I was much gratified otherwise with the sermon, but in this age of progression and manifest destiny, we are apt to consider ourselves rather as artificers than instruments -the potter and not the clay. Do not the clergy, especially in our large cities, lead the way! They should sometimes take the text-“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind."

TIBERINUS.

Tristram Shandy, vol. iii, 19.

MERCANTILE HONOR.

TO FREEMAN HUNT, Editor Merchants' Magazine:

DEAR SIR-The facts herein mentioned came to my knowledge from private sources, and I wish to put them in your possession, that an act of justice to others, and one so highly honorable to the individual and the mercantile community, may have a record in your journal.

In 1836, Daniel Bingham and Amos P. Tapley were engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business in Boston, under the firm of Daniel Bingham & Co., and from causes they could not control were obliged to suspend payment, and compromise with their creditors for 40 per cent of their demands. They afterward resumed the business in the name of Bingham & Tapley, and continued it for several years with success, at different times making voluntary payments to their old creditors, until they had paid them 70 per cent of the original amount of their claims. Mr. Bingham retired from the firm in 1846, in consequence of ill health, and died soon afterward. Mr. Tapley continued the business, and on the 1st January, 1849, paid the balance remaining unpaid of his share of the debts of the old firm; and on the 1st January, 1853, he paid the interest on the same from 1836 to that time, making a fu'l payment of principal and interest on his share of the debts of Daniel Bingham & Co. He was a minor when he commenced business, and did not then incur any legal liability.

J. M. C.

"THE BEARINGS OF PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF

COMMERCE."

An article with the above title was published in the Merchants' Magazine for May, 1853. It was delivered, originally, as a Lecture, before the students of Mr. Comer's Initiatory Counting Room, in Boston, and first published in our journal, in compliance with the request of that gentleman, and the wishes of many who heard it. Our printer inadvertently, in making out the Table of Contents for the number, credited Mr. George N. Comer as the author, instead of RICHARD EDWARDS, Esq., who delivered the Lecture before Mr. Comer's students, as above stated. We make the correction in justice to Mr. Edwards, the author of that able and interesting article, which has been copied entire into the Western Journal, a judiciously conducted monthly magazine, published in St. Louis.

NECESSITIES OF TRADE.

"Trade has its artificial necessities."-ADAM SMITH,

Any one who will take the trouble to walk down to their daily paper and ask, will be astonished to learn, that their paper pays from $500 to $2.000 a year for telegraphs. Ask then, what the telegraphs pay them, and they will learn "nothing." "Why do you have them," says the merchant. "They are the necessaries of the daily press. If our cotemporaries did not have them we would not; but now we must have them or-lose ground." The merchants of Baltimore should recognize the analogy here in regard to ocean steamers, without the aid of FREEMAN HUNT OF ADAM SMITH. These steamers to Europe have become necessities of trade-expensive to be sure-but not the less absolute necessities. If New York, Boston, and Philadelphia had none, Baltimore could do without them, for they would then all be on an equal footing. But those cities having them, gives them an advantage over Baltimore. The necessity exists-is apparent has its effects upon trade. Baltimore has an extensive railroad communication westward, northward, and to the south. What outlet is there? There is a necessity this day for a line of steamers to Europe.-Baltimore Cotton-Plant.

The biographical sketch of T. P. SHAFFNER, Esq, in the June number of the Merchants' Magazine, was erroneously attributed to GEO. D. PRENTICE, Esq., of the Louisville Journal. It was, we are informed, written by a gentleman connected with the press in Louisville, and hence the mistake,

THE BOOK TRADE.

1.-Discoveries in the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon: with travel in Armenia, Hindostan, and the Desert. Being the result of a second expedition undertaken for the Trustees of the British Museum by Austin H. Layard, M. P. With maps, plans, and illustrations. 8vo., pp 686. New York: G. P. Putnam.

This is in reality the second part of the famous work of Layard on Nineveh, in which those dreams and fancies awakened by the half-unfolded discoveries of the former volume become the most stupendous and wonderful realities. Since the publication of the first work much progress has been made in deciphering the cuneiform character and the contents of many highly interesting and important inscriptions, chiefly through the sagacity and learning of those English scholars, Col. Rawlinson and Dr. Hincks. An advantage has thus been derived from these interpretations, in the more recent explorations, and there cannot remain a doubt that its true reading is found. Independent investigators have arrived at the same results, and have not only detected numerous names of persons, nations, and cities, in historical and geographical series, but have found them mentioned in proper connection with events in sacred and profane writers. With this light before him, the author introduces us to the contents of various records discovered in the Assyrian palaces, which seem almost like one raised from the dead. As many illustrations from the Scriptures have been introduced as the limits of the work would admit. This is an English impression, bound in this country. It makes a very tasteful and elegant volume, full of interest from the first to last page. Indeed, those who are acquainted with Layard's former volumes need not be told of the high merit which this possesses.

2.-Rural Essays. By A. J. DOWNING. Edited, with a Memoir of the Author, by GEO. W. CURTIS, and a Letter to his Friends by FREDERICA BREMER. 8vo., pp. 557. New York: G. P. Putnam.

This posthumous volume edited by G. W. Curtis, completes the series of Mr. Downings works. Prefixed is a well written biography, and a consolatory letter addressed to the friends of the deceased, who was one of the victims on the Henry Clay, by Miss Bremer. His valuable publications on the various branches of rural economy have spread his name far and wide. He was elected corresponding member of the Royal Botanic Society of London, of the Horticultural Societies of Berlin, the Low Countries, etc., and was presented by Queen Anne of Denmark with a magnificent ring in testimony of the pleasure received from the perusal of his works. This volume before us forms a large octavo, with numerous plates, and is issued in a style creditable to the publishers, and worthy of the genius and talents of the author. The contents embrace six sections, horticulture, landscape gardening, rural architecture, trees, agriculture, fruit. Appended are some very interesting letters from England, descriptive of the baronial halls of present and past days: Warwick Castle, Kenilworth, Chatsworth, together with the professional observations on the exquisite beauties of Kew Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the parks of London.

3.-The Works of James Hall. Legends of the West. Author's revised edition. 12mo., pp. 434. New York: G. P. Putnam.

Admirable pictures of Western life and scenery enliven these spirited pages. The author has long been a resident in those distant parts, and has attempted to lay before us as truthful and accurate descriptions of the scenery and population as it was possible where the groundwork and plot has been fictitious. The era of these scenes was many years ago, in the early settlement of the West, in those rollicking, joyful days when judges rode long circuits, and the lawyers and jurors and suitors formed a jovial crowd on session days. The reader will find much entertainment and information in these pleasant pages.

4.-A Hand Book for American Travelers in Europe. By REV. ROSWELL PARK, D. D. New York: G. P. Putnam & Co.

A capital little book which no one will estimate fully until he becomes a traveler in Europe and finds that he is without one.