Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-09-20
MERCANTILE AGENCIES.

(Eyidently written by one who has been
behind the seenes.)
"Socie,es for the prevention Of fraudulent
transactions by bankrupt merchants" or, as
they are styled in this country, Mercantile
Agencies" first originated in the city Of Lon
don, under the conduct of Mr. Henry Perry,
who, fily years since, was a clerk in a dry
goods exporting warehouse Of Cheapside, in
that city. The idea which he conceived, and
to some extent carried out, was not very com
prehensive, including ouly the system Of re-
publishing. in abstract form, the records in
bankruptcy and insolvency in England and Ire
land. and the sequestraions Of Scotland, from
the official eazet,es Of London, Dublin and Ed
inburg which included the notices Of all sus-
pension of payments, failures, and proceedings
in insolvency throughout the United Kingdom
of Grea, Britain and Ireland, so soon as olici-
al action was had in any court.
To this an Office was established 10 lronmon-
gers Lane, under the superinlendence Of the
above named Mr. Perry, as secretary. His
society, at lha, time, numbered twenty-lhree
members, including the prominent firms Of
Grocecock, Copesiake & CO.. lace dealers, OF
Bow Churchyard Caldcott, Powell & Co., Of
Cheapsidc Salmons, Of St. Paul's Church
yard Hitchcock, of the same place Ellis,
Eyin2,on & CO., of Ludgaie street Rogers,
Of Green Street, aud Waiting, Of Waiting
street. The several merchants so associated
agreed to keep all such information as should
be furnished them profound secret, and to pay
10 nsialmenis, when called upon, the sum Of
six hundred pounds sterling as a salary 10 the
secretary, and to liqnida,e all the expenses
Of the office. The publication of this "Iniel-
lieencer," as il was called, continued for some
time, and it being found moro easy Of refer
once, merchants recommended their friends to
the office and it grew up, onti az the death
of Mr. Perry, it numbered two hundred and
forty subscribers.
With US these societies have taken a more
extended range. They were originated here,
on a very small scale, by a Mr. Chase, who
entered into an agreement with several mer-
chants, for the sum Of twenty-five dollars each,
to furnish information respecting the respon-
sibility and standing Of merchants and traders
during annual tours to be made by him through
the South and West. Mr. Lewis Tappan, late
of New York city, now Of Staten Island, was
the first person to establish a regular "Mer;
camille Agency" He located, we believe, on
the corner OF Pine and Nassau streets. Pot
ter g. Co. followed in his steps, and Tappal
Church A. Co. started no soon alter. Levi,
T.nn,, cola o,, ,o his .on and pen;amin Douo,
lass and this firm has since beco,ne II. Dooo.
lass & Co.
wuhon, aelec,ing any nar,icniar one w,
shall describe the mode of CONDUCTING ,hess
agencies Ii is usual 10 have several rates q
charOes. in nropor,ion TO the supposed freouen
cy of the inquirers visits. The usual charge
in The ei,y is per centape of abou, one-ouar
ter upon The gross sales of the house. which
allows the subscribing firm TO reouire searche,
resnec,ing the standing of anv dealer ont nj
the civ An addtional fee. in pronortion II
the risk of libel and prosecution. is CHARGED tc
hermit searches respec,iuc merchants in IN,
;mmedia,e nsichborhood Tbe nerson admit.
led IN tho use of the agency is hound 10 secrec,
as 10 the rature of the information furnished
He pays sot, of initiation fee. and agrees ,c
o;ve in for colIection all accounts Jue TO him
fron, persons inouired Of. when LEGAL assistance
or aid is wanted. TO the agency. SO as to civ,
We, some further means of recompense.
The following are some of the means USED
for the purpose of obtaining information -
Liyinpston's Law Register furnishes a full lis
of s.coun selors and attorneys-at-lawn withir
the boundaries of the United States and Cana
das il is searched. and the selection made o
a LAWYER in the place where the agency is I,
be stationed. A circular is sen, to sound him
and offering 10 furnish TO him all the business
of the agency in that par, in return for
monthly report of all the law proceedings, COS
sin. and small talk that he can hear about an,
and every ,radesman in his vicinity. He is Ia
send Immediate notice of any thing that ma,
affec, the credi, of tho tradesman-any sion,
of shaking unusually slow trades. etc. whicl
he nav obtain and when inquired of from III,