6G                       THE OLD MERCHAJVTS
 

CHAPTER   VII.

I have alluded on several occasions when writing
about old merchants to the vast number that have come
to this city from the six New England States. The im¬
migration has been going on ever since the Revolution.
At that time, or about eighty or ninety years ago, Bos¬
ton, Salem and several other along-shore places did a
heavy business in navigation. A great part of the ton¬
nage of the United States was owned East. These am¬
bitious young men could stay at home. Not so in aftei
years, when New York city, like a fast race-horse, took
the bit in her mouth, and went ahead with terrific com¬
mercial speed. Every city has been distanced in this
mercantile race. Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and
all other Atlantic ports are nowhere when mentioned in
contrast with New York. So soon as this last city fairly
started ahead, the talent, enterprise, genius and smartness
of the entire Union began to pour into New York, 30
that now, if a pestilence was to break out in this city to¬
morrow, there is not a house however lofty, nor a cot¬
tage so humble, but would be affected by the sad news.
All are represented or connected in some way with the
Empire City. This is particularly the case in the New
England towns. Almost every family has sent here
one or more representatives.    All do not succeed, bu'