334                   THE   OLD  MERCHAATTS
 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Among the list of names of eminent commercial firms
in the city of New York, published in the last chapter,
as contributors to the loan to our Government in the
war of 1812, will be found many French names, who
were members of commercial houses. One was Majah¬
re & Tardy ; they kept at 80 Broad street.

They contributed $10,000.

John S. Roulet subscribed $10,000. He was of the
firm of Rossler & Roulet, No. 21 Broadway. They
were among the largest merchants of the city, and In
their day were as eminent as Goodhue & Co. in this.
Their house commenced business as early as the year
1800, and their business was immense. They retired
about forty years ago. I am not aware that they left
any descendants.

Joseph Icard was another. He gave $20,000. He
was a heavy French merchant. He first started in busi¬
ness here at 85 Greenwich street, corner of Rector, in
1798. He afterwards moved to 14 Rector street, and
lived at 808 Broadway. After the downfall of the Em¬
peror Napoleon, he went back to Paris, and became a
celebrated man. He took a contract for cleaning the
streets of Paris, and made a million of francs.