water, sulphuric acid, alum, Guinea pepper, horse-radish, and many of them without a single drop of alcoholic spirits. Dr. Cox warrants that there are not ten gallons of genuine port wine in Cincinnati. In his inspections of whisky, he has found only from 17 to 20 per cent of alcoholic spirits, when it should have 45 to 50, and some of it contains sulphuric acid enough in a quart to eat a hole through a man's stomach. As whisky is now the favorite beverage, these facts are worth consideration.

WHAT IS WANTED IN A MANCHESTER WAREHOUSE.

Oswyn, in his "Earnest Milman," thus describes the wants of a warehouse in Manchester, England :

Gentleman are not wanted in Manchester warehouses. There is no such word known as gentleman. Youths of education and intelligence become light porters, load-carriers, and so on; but gentleman! really there is no demand for the article in Cottonopolis-the animal is extinct. Manchester men, when they make use of the word gentlemen, mean a fool, who wears primrose colored kids, sports fancy neckerchiefs, grows a tuft on his chin, and who will not work for fear of crushing his collars. They do not know what a true gentleman is. They imagine that a youth of education will not work; for they think that he is as they phrase itabove his place. The commonest, strong-limbed, open mouthed, country gawky, who has not got a second idea, will, if he can only read and write, stand a much better chance of getting on, than the most refined and gentlemanly youth who was ever doomed to waste his precious days in a leveling Manchester warehouse. Strong bodies are wanted, not cultivated minds; rough scrubs, not educated gentleman.

COMMERCIAL RESOURCES OF PERSIA.

WILLIAM ARTHUR SHEPHERD, in his "Bombay to Bushire and Bussora," gives some interesting statements in regard to Persia and its resources, which may not be without interest to the readers of the Merchants' Magazine:

We know of no country with more undeveloped resources, or one which would more readily repay English enterprise, than Persia-both in natural productions, such as gold, silver, sulphur, niter, &c.; gems, such as pearls, diamonds, sapphires, turquoises, &c.; silks and wools, which make such rich dress fabrics and carpets of unrivaled beauty, thousands of which never pass their shores; many vegetable productions of a fibrous and convertible nature; fine grains, especia ly barley and wheat; besides horses, camels, and sheep in abundance and perfection, yielding the wool that forms the above-mentioned carpets; and wines, fruits, and valuable drugs. All these, even in this present state of neglect and uncultivation, abound, produced in different localities and spread over a large extent of country, but wanting concentration, the means of secure transit, and an available market. In days of yore, when resources and civilization had not reached by two or three generations our present advancement, a flourishing colony of Portuguese, at Hormuz, was established; and Kharrak, as we shall presently find, from a poor fishing port of two hundred souls, became an important Danish settlement of eleven thousand. Of these not a trace remains, except their ruined forts and some traditions.

Such a country seems to ask for cultivation and development, for which end it requires concentration, means of secure transit, and a certain market-all of which it would find in railways, English factories, and European trade; and it is devoutly to be wished that all these may be obtained and established by peaceful negotiation, without the aid of cannon. The anchor is away, the paddles are beating the waters, and we are fast approaching the island of Kharrak, slightly raised in the center, looking pleasantly green, though treeless, and showing a very fair beach, whereon the turtle love to bask. It is about twelve miles in length

and half that number in width, abounding in grapes, melons, and many kinds of vegetables, and feeding some few head of cattle. It is also abundantly supplied with water, and inhabited principally by Arab pilots and fishermen, who live within the old fort, built in 1753 by the Dutch Baron Kniphausen, under whom the island soon became a flourishing settlement, and in the course of eleven years had a population of over twelve thousand souls.

Beyond the several caves cut in the rocks that served for the tombs of the Ghebers, or ancient fire-worshipers, is a tomb erected in the year 1652 over the body of the celebrated Mahommedan saint, Meer Hunniffa, and the ruins of the village destroyed in the year 1814 by the Walabee Arabs. Kharrak is said to have been originally a Danish settlement, and the fair complexions and red beards of the fishermen and pilots may infinitesimally confirm the tradition of their origin. It was taken possession of by the East India Company in 1838, at the time that the Shah of Persia was paying more attention to Herat than was agreeable either to the town or the merchant princes, by whom it was held until the year 1841. The spot then selected for encampment will, in all probability, be again occupied by the present expedition, and is on the southeast side of the island. All firewood and provision must be obtained from the Main, with the exception of such goats and sheep as the small island of Kargs, in close proximity, can afford.

The commissariat might be well supplied from the Arabian coast, (that portion of it under the Turkish government, at the entrance of the Bussora River,) where cattle, sheep, and corn are to be had in abundance, and cheaply; and might easily be carried thence by the small steamers of the Indian navy. Kharrak, which may be considered a healthy and pleasant island, possesses pearl oyster banks that have been for years unworked, and that for fineness and abundance would rival those of Barhen. It is situated in lat. 29° 15′ 20′′ N., and lon. 50° 18′ 50′′ E.; distance from Bushire about 15 miles, whose governor it now acknowledges.

THE VOCABULARY OF STOCKBROKING AND THE BROKERS.

We agree with a conscientious cotemporary who thinks that commercial papers are not the best, or most reliable authorities for the speculative value of stocks, but we presume the Herald may be relied on for a very full and comprehensive dictionary of the vocabulary of the Wall-street brokers. At all events, we venture to give the readers of the Merchants' Magazine, who may not be initiated into the technical mysteries of the Stock Exchange, the following lucid explanations :

BULLS, in Wall-street parlance, is an operator in stocks for a rise. He buys either for cash, on time, his own or the seller's option, with the expectation that prices will advance, and with the hope of making more or less by that advance.

BEARS operate for a fall in prices. This class of speculators never buy stock for any other purpose than for delivery on maturing contracts. The bear sells principally on time, his own or buyer's option, and generally waits until called upon to deliver before purchasing. It is of course for his interest that the market should fluctuate largely and suddenly. Operators of the longest experience in Wall-street are found among this class of speculators.

BUYER'S OPTION. A purchaser of stocks at the brokers' board, buyers' option, thirty, sixty, or ninety days, can call for the stock any day within that time, or wait until its expiration. He pays interest at the rate of 6 per cent up to the time he calls. A purchase on buyer's option is generally a fraction above the

cash price.

SELLER'S OPTION. This gives the seller the option to deliver any time within the time of his contract, or at its maturity, and the buyer is required to take it when offered. The buyer in this case, as in the other, pays interest up to delivery. Sales at seller's option are generally a fraction below the current cash price. The speculator who sells stocks either on his own or the buyer's option draws interest on his contract for the date until it is closed.

CORNER. When a party is made up to buy a large amount of stock, a larger quantity than is known to be at the time on the market, it is called a corner. The plan is generally kept very private. As soon as the clique is formed. the brokers purchase gradually large lots of stock on time, buyer's option. After this has been fixed, they sell on time, seller's option, if possible nearly to the extent of their purchases on buyer's option. The object of this is to provide a market for this stock after the corner has run out. This having been all arranged, the clique commences buying for cash, and in so doing put up prices rapidly. Having inflated the market pretty well, they make a sudden call for several thousand shares of stock on their buyer's option, and then there comes a sharp time among the sellers, who are generally all short. This creates an active demand, and the cli ue sells their cash stock to the bears or shorts, who purchase at high rates for delivery at much lower prices to the very parties selling it. It will be seen by these operations that the bears, who have sold stock on time, buyer's option, at low prices, buy it in again at high prices for cash from the very parties who hold their time contracts. As soon as these deliveries are all made, the parties who have received it at low prices immediately turn about and deliver on their contracts at high prices, made some time before on seller's option. The object is to get the bears to make contracts to deliver on call more stock than is known to be in the market, and compel them to pay enormous prices for cash stock. Parties getting up these corners must be connected with the managers of stock cornered, for they must have access to the stock and transfer books, to see how much stock is on the market and who holds it, and to calculate the chances of new supplies coming in. Corners are dangerous affairs, and result injuriously to the stock and the parties immediately concerned. As prices advance under the large purchases small holders sell out, and frequently the supply of new stock from the country is sufficient to defeat all the plans of the combination. The bears manage generally to get the best of it in the end.

CALLS. Operations of this kind are made generally by those curb-stone brokers, who are under the impression that higher prices will soon rule in certain stocks. A speculator is desirous of making a little operation, and he offers to give $50 for the privilege of calling for 100 shares New York Central Railroad stock at 91 per cent in ten or fifteen days. The price fixed on the part of the buyer is always a fraction above the cash price. If the stock goes down ten, twenty, or thirty per cent, the party buying the call can only lose $50. If it goes up to 914, he gets his money back, and all above that is so much profit. This business is confined almost entirely to the curb-stone brokers-it is a species of betting about on a par with "roulette."

Purs. When a speculator thinks that stocks are going down, and wishes to make a small operation without incurring much risk, he gives a small sum for the privilege of delivering a small amount of stock at a certain price. For instance, if the cash price of Erie was 57 per cent, a speculator would give say $50 to "put" or deliver 100 shares at 564 per cent, say next week, ten days, or any short time. He can only lose his $50 if the market should go up, but if it goes down to 56 he gets his money back and all below that is so much profit. Operations of this kind are carried on principally among the curb-stone brokers, men who have strong speculative propensities and very little capital.

POWER AND CERTIFICATE. During the time the books of a company are closed for the payment of a dividend, for an election, or for any purpose, there can be no transfer of stock, or the issue of a new certificate. Most of the sales of stock made during the closing of the books, or deliverable on the opening; all contracts, whether buyer's or seller's option, that mature during the same time, are carried forward to the opening; but occasionally a sale is made where the buyer requires immediate delivery. In that case the old certificate is delivered with a power of attorney attached for the transfer on or after the opening of the books. These transactions are reported in the stock list, with the letters p and c, which means power and certificate. Sales for cash, made during the closing of the books, not marked p and c, are for the opening of the books, and are marked

opg.

CURB-STONE BROKERS. This is a very large class of speculators, and is composed of the oldest and most experienced operators in the street. Many of them have been members of the Stock Exchange, but from having failed to fulfill their contracts, during some of the numerous ups and downs of the market, have been compelled to vacate their seats and lost their membership. The curb-stone brokers have leased a large room directly under that occupied by the regular board, and during the session of the board a communication is kept up between the rooms, so that any transaction is known below as soon as made. Upon information derived in this way, the curb stone brokers operate among themselves, and frequently with and for the account of outsiders. This class of speculators are particularly fond of operating in puts and calls, and in fact resort to all the different methods of doing a large business on a small capital. The contracts of many of the curb-stone brokers are infinitely better than many of the regular board, and are taken more readily by outsiders. There are not more than fifty out of the two hundred members of the regular" Brokers' Board" who have actually any capital, and whose contract is considered first rate. It would be a good thing for the profession and for the community at large, if the regular board was reduced one-half by turning out about three-quarters of the present members, and making up the deficiency by admitting the most experienced and responsible of the present curb-stone board.

SPREAD EAGLE. This is a term frequently used among stock speculators. A broker, satisfied with small profits and not disposed to involve himself in large transactions, sells, say 100 shares Erie Railroad stock at 58, buyer 60 days, and at the same time buys the same quantity at 57, seller 60 days. The difference in this case in the price is one per cent, which would be so much profit, without any outlay of capital, provided both contracts run their full time. Having sold buyer's option 60 days, and bought seller's option 60 days, the time is equal, but it will be seen that he does not control the option in either case. The buyer can call when he pleases, which would compel the "spread eagle" operator to deliver, and the seller may deliver any time, which would compel the broker to receive. If he has capital to carry, the result would not differ from that first anticipated, but if not, he may be caught in a tight place, and suffer serious losses. It is on the whole rather dangerous business, but not to the same extent as buying or selling on time for a rise or fall in market value.

REGULAR WAY. Very often in the report of stock sales, the letters r. w. are attached to certain operations. This "regular way means the delivery of the stock sold the next day. All sales for cash are for immediate delivery.

THE STRYCHNINE OF COMMERCE.

The source from whence this poison, which has gained so world-wide a celebrity recently, is obtained, is thus noticed in Dickens' Household Words :-

In Ceylon, and several districts of India, grows a moderate sized tree, with thick, shining leaves, and a short, crooked stem. In the fruit season it is readily recognized by its rich orange-colored berries, about as large as golden pippius. The rind is hard and smooth, and covers a white, soft pulp, the favorite food of many kinds of birds, within which are the flat, round seeds, not an inch in diameter, ash-gray in color, and covered with very silky hairs. The Germans fancy they can discover a resemblance in them to grey eyes, and call them crow's eyes, but the likeness is purely imaginary. The tree is the strychnine nux vomica, and the seed is the deadly poison nut. The latter was early used as a medicine by the Hindoos, and its nature and properties understood by Oriental doctors, long before it was known to foreign nations. Dog-killer" and "fish-scale" are two of its Arabic names. It is stated that at present the natives of Hindostan often take it for many months continuously, in much the same way as opium-eaters eat opium. They commence with taking the eighth of a nut a day, and gradually increasing their allowance to an entire nut, which would be about twenty grains. If they eat directly before or after food, no unpleasant effects are produced; but if they neglect this precaution, spasms' result.

THE BOOK TRADE.

1.—Colton's Atlas of the World; Illustrating Physical and Political Geography. By GEORGE W. COLTON. Accompanied by Descriptions, Geographical, Statistical, and Historical. By RICHARD SWAINSON FISHER, M. D. Volume 1, North and South America, etc. Volume 2, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceanica, etc. New York: J. H. Colton & Co

Colton's Atlas of the World may truly be called a magnificent work, and is much superior to any former production of a like nature. It consists of two volumes. of imperial folio size. The first is devoted to the American Continent, and contains sixty-three large maps, besides numerous plans of cities and small maps of vicinities of cities. The second is devoted to the Eastern Hemisphere, Oceanica, etc., and contains thirty-six large maps, including several charts illustrating physical geography. In both volumes the maps are severally accompanied by Dr. Fisher's descriptions of the countries represented. The entire work is distinguished by magnitude of design, and minuteness and accuracy of detail. In the preparation of all the maps the greatest care has been taken to obtain the most correct materials, and official publications were used, wherever possible, to the exclusion of all others. The maps referring to the United States have been, without exception, drawn from the public archives. The surveys made under the authority of the General Land-office and Coast Survey-office furnished the geographical and hydrographical outline of an extensive portion of the country. Some drawings have been founded on the surveys made by State authorities, by improvement companies, and other reliable parties. The delineations of the unsettled portions of the country are based on the maps and reports originally made by Fremont and other explorers. The maps of the several States exhibit the lines of canals and railroads, completed and in progress, also the post-roads. In the preparation of the maps of the countries of Central and South America and the West Indies, much information, not before incorporated into general maps, was obtained, and in numerous instances access was had to maps still in manuscript, and used only for government purposes. The several countries of Europe and other civilized portions of the Eastern Hemisphere have been accurately surveyed, and hence the maps representing them are eminently authentic. All the maps are engraved in the best style, their lettering is neat and distinct, and they are tastefully colored. The descriptive portions of the Atlas have been written by Richard S. Fisher, M. D., who, by his numerous works, is well known to the literary world as an accomplished geographer and eminent statistician. His descriptions are succinct accounts of all States and countries in the world, presenting that information which is the most desirable and useful respecting their geography, resources, commerce, and prominent interests, with an outline of their institutions, political, religious, and educational. The statistics relative to the several subjects treated upon are derived from authentic sources, and from the most recent censuses; and they appear to have been compiled with care and after diligent research.

2.-Scamparias: from Gibel Tarek to Stamboul. By HARRY GRINGO, (Lieut. Wise, United States Navy,) author of "Los Gringos" and "Tales for the Marines." 12mo., pp. 362. New York: Charles Scribner.

A light record of a cruise on board a ship-of-war in the Mediterranean. The title of Scampavias" was taken from the name given to the clipper dispatch vessels, used by the Knights of Malta in the olden times, and means literally Runaways. Lieut. Wise has furnished an account of his cruise which is much more interesting than ordinary books of travels. He does not appear to have met with many wonderful adventures, but his narrative is so lively that it throws the charm of adventure around all the incidents of his cruise and his visits on shore. His journal is illustrated from sketches taken on the spot by another officer of the navy.