During the progress of this little volume through the press a most interesting fact relative to the history of trade has come to light. It appears from an old pamphlet that an “_Office of Addresses_” was started as early as 1650, by HENRY ROBINSON, a well known writer on matters of commerce and finance during the commonwealth period. The ideas of this worthy are so advanced and sound that it is more than probable that Sir William Petty, who soon after began to write upon these subjects, was indebted to him for some of his liberal views with regard to the extension of trade. Henry Robinson’s “Office in Threadneedle Street, over against the Castle Tavern, close to the Old Exchange in London,” comes out with a business-like precision in the very advertisement, that promises well for his work--the keeping _particular registers of all manner of addresses_. Then follows a catalogue of subjects of inquiry, so copious and so curious as to be a new proof that there is almost nothing new under the sun! _Sixpence_ was the fee, and for this small sum answers to all sorts of questions connected with business could be obtained. The whereabouts of merchants, the arrivals or departures of ships, the current price of certain commodities, were all to be ascertained by visiting this ancient Inquiry Office--the crude off-shoot of a commerce struggling to develope itself, and answering for a time the purposes of a broker’s office, the Stock-Exchange, and the modern newspaper teeming with trade advertisements. [Illustration: (Decorative banner)] _Licensed Octob. 11. 1677._ ROGER L’ESTRANGE. [Illustration: (Decorative banner)] A COLLECTION OF THE NAMES OF THE MERCHANTS Living in and about The City of LONDON; _Very Usefull and Necessary_. Carefully Collected for the Benefit of all Dealers that shall have occasion with any of them; Directing them at the first sight of their name, to the place of their abode. _LONDON_, Printed for _Sam. Lee_, and are to be sold at his Shop in _Lumbard-street_, near _Popes-head-Alley_: And _Dan. Major_ at the _Flying Horse_ in _Fleetstret_. 1677. PREFACE. _To the Merchants and Traders of the City of_ London. _Gentlemen_,