The tradesmen of London had been unduly and rather indelicately pressed to subscribe towards the Exposition; many were compelled to subscribe against their wishes. They saw few or none of the advantages which would accrue to them from it, and they believed, (erroneously,) that it would inundate the country with foreign and cheaper articles that would supplant their own trade. It was thought that, when the public became acquainted with the wholesale as well as with the retail price of articles, such knowledge would lead to a reduction of the retail profits. The public, it was argued, would be reluctant to make a fair allowance for the various items which contribute to swell the amount of the difference between the wholesale and retail price of commodities. § It may be useful then to state broadly the principle, that it is greatly for the advantage of the public, both as regards economy of time and of money, that there should always exist a sufficient number of middle-men of various orders. The shopkeeper, who is the one in immediate contact with the public, and therefore liable to the greatest misrepresentation, has, amongst others, the following expenses to add to the cost of production, which must necessarily increase the retail price:— 1. Commission to broker or other middle-man. 2. Cost of carriage from manufactory to shop. 3. Rent of shop itself, and perhaps, also of a warehouse. 4. Insurance of stock against fire. 5. Attendants to sell in shop. 6. Sending goods home to purchasers. 7. Expense of paper, string, &c. for packing goods delivered. 8. Loss by plunder of servants. 9. Expense of taking stock to diminish this loss. 10. Goods soiled or injured by exposing to sale. 11. Goods going out of fashion, cheapened by improved manufacture, or superseded by new inventions. 12. Giving long credit. 13. Bad debts. 14. Payment for his own personal services, as retail trader. 15. Interest on capital employed. § Admitting, however, that these grounds fully account for a large difference between the wholesale and retail price, they will by no means justify several practices which are too frequent at some shops at the west end of the town. Different prices for the very same article are often demanded by retail tradesmen, according to the supposed position of the purchaser. Fish, for example, which varies much in price, and is at times very cheap, will seldom be found charged in the household bill much below the average price, unless the housekeeper is honest and looks sharply after the matter. Few circumstances more annoy a customer or are more injurious to the tradesman than this offence of having two prices.