Scoville, Joseph Alfred, The old merchants of New York City

(New York :  Carleton,  1864-70.)

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  Page 329  



OF A'EW   YORK CITY.                     329

uel Moore, who died In 1816, and the eminent Dr. Wil¬
liam Moore, father of Benjamin and William, and of
Mrs. De Rham.

Mr. De Rhain's commercial house has been in exis¬
tence over half a century. He has done an enormous
business, but in a quiet, unobtrusive way, not making
half the noise created by a Canal street shopkeeper
every spring. He had been the Swiss Consul many
years.

The concern has ever imported largely in dry goods,
lirincipally from France, Switzerland and Germany.
But they have also done a very large commission busi¬
ness, and sold cargoes of all kinds of merchandise.

They have been for many years the heaviest buyers
of " bills " in the market. Always buying exchanges
to remit to their correspondents in Europe. Recently
they have done a large and profitable banking business.

During the most prosperous times of the French
packet-ships, the owner, old Francis Depau, built and
named one of his crack packet-ships the " De Rham,"
after his friend, H. C. De Rham. She was commanded
by Captain De Peyster, the superintendent of the Sail¬
ors' Snug Harbor, at Staten Island.

God seems to bless and prosper patriots, and espe¬
cially patriotic merchants.

There were hard times In the war with England, in
1812 to 1814. It was with the greatest difficulty mon¬
ey could be had. Mr. Madison was President, and
George W. Campbell was Secretary of Treasury. On'
some occasions, the Government was very glad to bor¬
row small sums from different Individuals in this city.

On the 8th of February, 1818, Congress passed ail
act authorizing the borrowing of $16,000,000.
  Page 329