Among business letters may be cla.s.sed all correspondence relating to business, applications for situations, testimonials regarding the character of a servant or employe, letters requesting the loan of money or an article, and letters granting or denying the favor; while all forms of drawing up notes, drafts and receipts may properly be included.

The forms of some of these are here given.

LETTERS REQUESTING EMPLOYMENT.

A letter of this kind should be short, and written with care and neatness, that the writer may both show his penmanship and his business-like qualities, which are often judged of by the form of his letter. It may be after this fashion:

NEW YORK, March 1, 1880.

MESSRS. LORD & n.o.bLE,

DEAR SIRS:

Having heard that you are in need of more a.s.sistance in your establishment (or store, office) I venture to ask you for employment. I can refer you to Messrs. Jones & Smith, my late employers, as to my qualifications, should you decide to consider my application.

Yours truly, JAMES ROBERTS.

LETTERS REGARDING THE CHARACTER OF A SERVANT.

DEAR MADAM: Sarah Riley, having applied to me for the position of cook, refers me to you for a character. I feel particularly anxious to obtain a good servant for the coming winter, and shall therefore feel obliged by your making me acquainted with any particulars referring to her character, and remain, madam,

Your very obedient servant, MRS. GEORGE STONE.

TO MRS. ALFRED STARK.

MRS. GEORGE STONE,

DEAR MADAM: It gives me pleasure to say that Sarah Riley lived with me for two years, and during that time I found her active, diligent and efficient.

She is a superior cook, and I have full confidence in her honesty. I feel that I can recommend her with full confidence of her being likely to give you satisfaction. I am, madam,

Your very obedient servant, MRS. ALFRED STARK.

MRS. GEORGE STONE,

DEAR MADAM: In replying to your note of inquiry, I beg to inform you that Sarah Riley, who lived with me in the capacity of cook, left my services because I did not find her temper and habits in all respects satisfactory. She was thoroughly competent as a cook, but in other respects I cannot conscientiously recommend her. I remain,

Yours, very truly, MRS. ALFRED STARK.

NOTES, DRAFTS, BILLS AND RECEIPTS.

The following are forms of notes, drafts, receipts, etc.:

_Promissory Note Without Interest._

$500. CINCINNATI, O., June 6, 1880.

Sixty days after date, I promise to pay Samuel Archover, or order, at my office in Cincinnati, five hundred dollars, value received.

TIMOTHY MORTGRAVE.

_Promissory Note With Interest but not Negotiable._

$125.30. CHICAGO, Sept. 2, 1880.

For value received, I promise to pay Daniel Cartright one hundred and twenty-five dollars and thirty cents, on August 12th next, with interest at seven per cent. after January 1, 1881.

JOHN S. ALLBRIGHT.

_A Negotiable Note Payable to Bearer._

$75. DETROIT, MICH., Oct. 8, 1881.

Thirty days after date, for value received, I promise to pay Silas G. Smithers, or bearer, at my office in Detroit, seventy-five dollars with interest from date.

SAMUEL Q. PETTIBONE.

_Form of a Receipt._

$25. NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 1880.

Received from James O. Mitch.e.l.l, twenty-five dollars, to apply on account.

SMITH, JONES & CO.