DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS, ACADEMIES AND INTING•
HOUSES, IN THE UNITED-STATES.

BY B. SHEYS, ACCOUNTANT.

New-Pork:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY COLLINS AND co. 189, PEARL-STREET.

1818.

BE IT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, ss.

EMBERED, That on the tenth day of Decembe in the forty second year of the Independence of the United States of America, B. SHEYS, of the said district, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"The American Book-Keeper; comprising a complete system of Book-keeping, in the true Italian form, or by Double Entry; both by theory and prac tice, with the principal auxiliary books annexed: together with a new method of posting and proving the books. Designed for the use of schools, academies and counting-houses in the United States. By B. SHEYS, Accountant."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled " An act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an act, entitled "An act, supplementary to an act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints."

JAMES DILL,

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

Shot L Leaf

DEDICATION.

To the worthy Instructers of Youth in the United

GENTLEMEN,

States.

Allow me to present to your consideration, the following System of Book-keeping, by double entry, which is intended as another auxiliary to your pupils, in the useful department of mercantile education. The author flatters himself you will encourage the undertaking, it being wholly composed for the ease of the teacher and benefit of the scholar.

The plan of teaching, exhibited in the following sheets, being theory and practice combined, is different from all which have hitherto been published, and can be communicated, from the lectures presented, by the principal to his pupil with the greatest success, which experience will sufficiently demonstrate.

Here, nothing appears obscure or mysterious, but all is made plain and easy. The several sets being adapted, and made applicable to all sorts of business, by the introduction of the auxiliary books, with their uses complete in practice. The proof journal, by the use of which, if the books be posted from it, one Ledger will contain as much as twelve by the common way. If an error has been committed it will be immediately discovered, and known to what account it belongs.

As the American Book-keeper, part the first, has been well received and approved, the author indulges a hope that the following sheets will meet with a similar encouragement, both being written with the same view, that is, the ease of the Instructer and benefit of the Learner.

I remain, Gentlemen,

Yours, respectfully,

New-York, December 10th, 1817.

B. SHEYS.

M151185

PREFACE.

IN the commercial world, dispatch in business is no small accomplishment, which being the result of experience, and a well directed education, it will not be amiss, in a treatise of this kind, to touch upon those parts of it which are more immediately requisite to form the Merchant.

After the learner has been employed some time in reading his native language, and proper care has been taken of his orthography, and to inform him of the meaning of words, the next step is to initiate him in the rudiments of writing, in which the teacher will find sufficient cause to exercise his vigilance against the ill habits his pupil will be apt to contract in this performance.

Writing must always be regarded as a principal part of every day's employment, because the masterly and clerk-like mode of writing, fit for the ready dispatch of business, is not to be acquired by speculative notions, but by gradual practice, under the direction of an able master; nor can any other means be depended on to make the hand easy, bold and free.

Arithmetic is next to be entered upon; in the mercantile part of which the student must, at least, be well informed.Computing bills of parcels, and such other examples as occur in practice, and which are of use to illustrate the practical rules, and apply them to business, are to be well attended to.

Transcribing and computing invoices, and such other mercantile proedents, with calculations of interest on notes, bonds and accounts current, will yield him no less profitable exercise, and contribute, in a great measure, to the understanding the practice of book-keeping; an art so universally useful, that without keeping regular books, the Merchant risks an improvable fortune to negligence and chance; the man in office is exposed to numberless difficulties; and none can be a judge of mercantile concerns whose abilities, however considerable, are not aided by a knowledge and insight therein.

Book-Keeping is an art of daily use in life, and of the greatest importance in all commercial transactions, both foreign and domestic. To be well acquainted with it, both in theory and practice, is a necessary qualification to every man of bu siness, in which all persons are more or less concerned. It enables one readily, and at any time, to ascertain the exact state of his affairs; and also to make a just, precise, and equitable adjustment of all his dealings. Success in trade principally depends on a complete knowledge of the art, and in a strict conformity to its rules. Ignorance and inattention in this department, are rocks upon which thousands have split, and made shipwreck, not only of fortune, but of honesty and good conscience.

There are many branches of education whose first principles must be learnt in schools. If the foundation be not well laid in early life, it will excite sorrow in riper years. The art of book-keeping belongs to this class.

A thorough knowledge of accounts will enable one at any time, the more easily to reckon, not only with others, but with himself; it will greatly contribute to prevent some of the severest evils in life, such as vexatious lawsuits, perplexed arbitrations, loss of property, loss of friendship and good fellowship.

As the four principal difficulties in book-keeping are1. Journalizing; 2. Proving the books; 3. Detecting errors; 4. Closing accounts by all the various ways that occur in practice. Such rules and instructions, in the introductory part of thework, have been given, as will render the first of these obvious to any capacity, at least under the inspection of a teacher, who can give his pupil further elucidations on the subject by pertinent remarks. The second and third are completely elucidated by the proof journal. The fourth, in the notes subjoined to the accounts in the ledger, annexed to the third set. The whole being the result, in part, of the lectures formerly exhibited by the author, when he taught this valuable and useful science. But to introduce them into this work in as full and copious a manner as when teaching, would increase the book beyond its contemplated limits..

Perhaps it may not be improper to observe, that to those into whose hands this work may happen to fall, that it was not written for the use of those who are well acquainted with the art of Book-keeping, but for the benefit of such persons as really want instruction, and have not an opportunity, or leisure to acquire it in any other way: The several explanations it contains must not, therefore, be considered unnecessary by adepts, for whom they were never designed.