PREFACE.

When tlie writer prepared the first chapters of The
Old Merchants for the columns of the New York
Leader, it was with no intention of suhsequently making
a book of them ; but the unexpected popularity of the
papers, and the constantly increasing demand for back
numbers, have induced him to revise them carefully
and offer them to the reader in their present form.

The author feels justified in saying that he has spared
neither time nor expense in rendering the volume
valuable as a book of reference; though a work in¬
volving so much historical detail, and requiring such
laborious research, cannot, necessarily, be entirely free
from inaccuracies.

Walter Baeeett, Clerk.

No  63 West 27th street. New York.