OF ATEW   YORK CITY.                     g29
 

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The firm of Arthur Tappan & Co., a large dry goods
concern, held a high position in this city thirty-five years
ago. We believe that Arthur was in business In this
city previous to 1820, and failed. If so, he recovered
himself again. But in 1820 he was living in poor cir¬
cumstances, and bought his family provisions in very
small quantities, as many of us have to do In 1862, viz.:
half a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, another of
coffee, at a time, and pay for it in cash.

In 1826, the house of Arthur Tappan & Co., was in
full blast, doing the largest silk business In the city.
Their store was at 122 Pearl street, in Hanover square.
It was a better class store than any of its neighbors,
being built of granite.

Lewis Tappan, a brother of Arthur, was a partner,
and so was Alfred Edwards, a nephew of the Tappans.

Alfred Edwards continued business after it ■was relin¬
quished by the Tappans, who both are living — aged
men.

Few are aware that these two men did more to origi¬
nate and push ahead the abolition movement than any
two hundred other men did, or could have done. In
connection with David Hale, Gerard Hallock and other
original abolitionists, the Tappans started the Journal
of Commerce. That paper noiselessly instilled aboli¬
tion ideas among the merchants for many years.