16 FEBRUARY 1929, Page 30

The late seventeenth-century business correspondence-t

Ahnoit strictly, business, but with the occasional gracious -touch of " kisse your hands and remains . . ."-of Mr. Williarli :Bolton, a Madeira wine-shipper and general merchant, with his agents in England does not at first blush sound attrac- tive. But shining through the dry details is revealed a sterling - solid English character; and in addition there is in The Boni* 'Letters (Laurie, Vol. I., 7s: 6d.) for those who are interested in the commercial history of the period (16951700) a vast .tleal of information concerning the tride carried on between ;Ireland (which in those days exported wheat), England,

Madeira, the West Indies, and the American Plantations.

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