Experience is sometimes a very hard, but always an efficient teacher; and those who have suffered will have the satisfaction to know better hereafter, who to trust and what to trust, and taught to rely more on themselves. And if afraid of a panic in future, he will be able to prepare himself on the first appearance of the “premonitory symptoms,” and when he sees it coming on the wings of the wind, like the man in the simoon, he may then safely turn his back, hold his breath, and let it pass by. At any rate, like the people I described in the church, he will find himself more comfortable and happy to return, and take his seat, than to be wandering about in the cold, among the multitude without, to find out what has happened. AUTHOR’S LEAVE-TAKING. I have now finished six days in Wall-street, which, by the only book of Ethics that I have ever learned, are the whole of the week that is at my disposal. I can hardly suppose that any man in his senses, has followed me through all the descriptions of truth and villainy, fact and fiction, sense and nonsense, which I have here given; but if any one has been so patient, I am bound to take a courteous leave of him. First I am bound to thank him for the “high consideration” given me. And should his better feelings tell him that I am too severe, I only request him to ponder what is true— Nor set down aught in malice. But if when he shuts this book, he shall say, amen, he is entitled to my thanks for his patience and a double congee for his approval. No one will of course take any thing that is here written to himself, unless he discovers in it some features of his own portrait, and to those who can make such discovery, we owe neither apology nor sympathy. MORE YET TO COME. I have now taken leave of my venerable friend the Chronicler; but I have no doubt that while he lives, he will continue to visit Wall-street daily, as he does also some other popular places of resort, to “catch the manners living as they rise.” And although I shall not be favored with his oral communications any more, yet he has promised me the free use of his diary while he lives, and of his manuscripts when dead, which are said to contain many important histories, not only of things long past, but also of the current events of the day, together with many valuable reminiscences intended only for posthumous publication. But should the good people of Gotham, take so lively an interest in these revelations, as to invite their continuance, by buying this book, I can not say that such inducement will not call forth another compilation, from the mass of materials now at my disposal. * * * * * Transcriber’s Notes (continued)