OF ATEW  YORK CITY.                     385
 

CHAPTER XLII.

During the last month of 1814, previous to the close
of the war with England, every one was aware that
when peace should be declared, all persons who had a
large stock of goods on hand would suffer terribly, as
prices would fall at once; but no one dreamed then of
an early peace.

Sometime in January, 1815, a large lot of dry goods
was advertised to be sold at auction, at the Tontine
Coffee House, on a specified day, 1 y Plones & Town,
61 Wall street, who were the auctioneers. The mem¬
bers of that great firm were John and Philip Hone and
Charles Town.

I do not recollect the precise day when the sale was
to come off, but it was a Saturday. Tliere was a thou¬
sand cases of dry goods to be ; old. Whether they had
un the blockade safely, or been smuggled through Can-
da, I cannot say.

Tho goods were at a warehouse in Pine street. They
had been exhibited a week. There were buyers here
from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, Albany, and
every city around.

John Robins had examined the goods, and expected
to buy largely, and had so manned his catalogue. He,
Philip HonCj and Pelatiah Perit, now president of the
17