In conjunction with these ledgers should be mentioned the Bill-books, Empties ledgers, Stock-books, and impersonal ledgers. The latter will be separately treated in a special article which should be read together with the article on DOUBLE ENTRY. The should be : one for the entry of bills of exchange taken as payment by the business, and another for bills given in payment. The main object of these books is to show what bills are running, and when they are due for presentation and payment. In the debtor's ledger they have probably been credited to the customer as cash, so it will be in the bill-book that they must be watched. Even if dis honoured, they would not necessitate alteration in the ledger, for they can be sued upon by themselves without reference to the account which gave rise to them.
The Empties ledgers are in some trades of almost equal importance with the ordinary ledger. Thus a firm of brewers and wine merchants would keep very elaborate accounts of the casks, bottles, cases, syphons, &c., sent to their customers. The numbers and marks on each article would be noted, and in case of non-return, certain fixed charges would be made. A similar book would be kept for empties received and returnable. The is an other book which may be usefully kept by every trader. Accounts can be opened for certain goods or classes of goods, and debit and credit entries posted to them as in the case of the ordinary ledgers. But whether such a book is kept in this form or not, it is necessary that there should be a stock book to show the results of the periodical stock-takings, and from which the general balance-sheet may be supplied with the requisite balances in respect to stock.
The Cash-book is the last chief book of account we shall refer to. This is the journal devoted to the payment and receipt of cash. It is in fact a ledger in which cash is regarded as goods, a customer, or any other subject of a ledger account. But with a system of single entry book-keeping in a small and not complex business it presents little need for explanation. It should, however, be supplemented by a petty cash-book. The keeper of this book should have a certain sum of money deposited with him sufficient to last a particular time. It should be checked regularly with the cash in hand, and when the balance is running down, the same amount should be again supplied. By this method there is a certain automatic check preserved against unusual expenditure.
From the above, and having before him those books ruled as sold by the stationer, the reader should have no difficulty in commencing a system of single entry book-keeping ; and after reference to the article on the BALANCE-SHEET, he should be in a position to make out a satisfactory balance-sheet, Before attempting book-keeping by double entry, he should thoroughly grasp its principles as set out in the article on that subject ; but whether he does this or not, there need be no further excuse to vainly strive to make a waste day-book serve the purpose of a proper set of books.