123                    THE   OLD   MERCHA.YTS
 

CHAPTER  XVI.

In the preceding chapter, I alluded to the celebrated
Misses Fowle of Watertown, and stated, that one of
them married Mr. Britton of New Hampshire, and that
she was mother to Lloyel L. Britton, the present propri¬
etor of the Everett House in this city. Few are aware
that young Mr. Britton has had one of the most extra¬
ordinary of mercantile careers. His mother's sister,
Mrs. Welles of Paris persuaded her to send young Brit¬
ton abroad. He remained in Europe some time. On
his return to New York city he entered the counting
house of Fitch & Co., already spoken of. While there
in 1838 Mr. Samuel Welles came out from Paris. Wish¬
ing to see his nephew John Turner Welles Sargent of
Boston, establishsd in business as his other nephew
Ilenry W. Sargent had been, and to see the nephew of
his wife establishecL also, he consented to the establish¬
ment of the partnership of "Scoville & Britton." One
nephew being the general and the other the special
partner. The senior partner was Joseph A. Scoville,
who had been regularly educated in a counting-house
Mr. Welles Sargent remained in Boston, Mr. Scoville
in New York, and Mr. Britton went abroad. He visited
every port and city of note in Europe, and made busi¬
ness connections for the New York house,    Its bankers