186                    THE   OLD  MERCHAJVTS
 

1
 

CHAPTER   XXIII.

Among the oldest commercial firms of this city, that
of Brown Brothers & Co., looms up proudly and grand¬
ly, and has done so for more than a third of a century.

It is a branch of an English house. In Liverpool
the firm Is William and James Brown & Co. There is
also a branch at New Orleans, and another at Mobile.

James and Stewart Brown are the two principal broth¬
ers, and members of the firm of Brown Brothers and
Co. in this city.

James Brown built for his dwelling-place a magnifi¬
cent palace in Leonard street. It was a large double
house, with a court, and an entrance for horses and car¬
riage from the street. It was located at No. 80 Leonard
street, half the block from Broadway towards Church
street. Thirty years ago, that part of the city was the
residence of the best people in town. A few doors be¬
low the residence of James Brown, was the old mansion
of Governor Morgan Lewis. Mr. Lewis was a great
man in this State. He beat Aaron Burr in the canvass
for Governor by 8,000 majority.

In the old place James Brown lived until it was no
longer fashionable ground, and then he moved up town
with the rest of the world.

Stewart Brown lives in Waverly Place.    He married