N. B. It is perceived that a considerable number of errors have escaped notice and correction, in the following pages; but as they affect only the orthography and the grammar, without detracting from the truth, or the moral of the story, I have thought it best to leave their correction to the intelligent and good humored reader, rather than mar a page with a formidable list of errata—except, that, in one instance, as a mere friendly suggestion, I would request the substitution, on 129th page, 7th line, of “_stewardship_” for “_friendship_.” CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.—THE ORIGIN OF JOINT STOCK COMPANIES AND BROKERS. As the practice of some readers is to begin in the middle and read a book backwards, I respectfully request those who may open here, to begin at the beginning and read the preface first. In case of any captiousness of disposition on their parts, they may thereby save themselves a good deal of ill nature, and quarrelling with the author. But if any one is perverse, and chooses to go on without taking my advice, I will not hold myself accountable for the preservation of his temper, nor even of this book; for I am not sure but he may throw it in the fire, before he gets through the first or second chapter. But, should he even persevere and go through, until he receives my parting “salaam,” still I request him to turn back and read the preface, that he may see what the writer thinks of his own book. HOW BOOKS ARE WONT TO BE MADE. It is usual with authors, in the outset of their story, to introduce to their readers their Hero and Heroine, with elaborate descriptions of their persons, manners, habits, dress, &c. &c.; all of which is intended, either to prepare the reader’s mind for the very interesting positions which these personages are designed to fill, or to amuse those who are fond of that kind of portraiture. But in this history of “a week in Wall-street,” there is neither hero nor heroine, but a great number and variety of characters, each of whom lives out his sunny hour, and passes again into oblivion. Some there are, it is true, who, from a crawling worm, pass into a chrysalis, and appear to be dead for a time, not only to revive again with new life and beauty, but to soar a lofty height into the world of fashion, and boast the gayest plumage among those who float on the wind of fortune’s fickle favors. The veritable history of Diedrich Knickerbocker was not a truer story than is every whit of this history of “a week in Wall-street;” but alas for the mutations in all human affairs!—a sad change has come over the waking dreams of the inhabitants of this goodly city, since the days when Petrus Stuyvesant surrendered the government of Niew-Amsterdam to the conquest-loving Briton. HOW NEW-YORK BECAME SO POPULOUS.