158                  THE OLD MERCHAA'TS
 

CHAPTER XVI.

I have frequently alluded to hereditary commercial
houses. These are much more common in Europe than
here. There a firm continues from the founder down
two hundred and more years. The same name and
style being retained through this long period, and long
after any one bearing the name of the founder is con¬
nected with it, and none of the old name in it. This,
however, cannot occur here. A law passed by the
State Legislature, in 1833, prevents it. Now, to con¬
tinue the style of a house, parties of that name must be
connected with it. This makes not only a hereditary
commercial firm in name, but in fact. It is more diffi¬
cult now to keep even the same firm and same name
any number of years, but yet there are many firms that
do it. None, however, are more remarkable, than the
firm of N. L. & G. Griswold. It exists to-day in 1861,
and it existed in 1796, at 169 Front street, where the
house at that time kept a fiour store. George Griswold
came to this city about two years previous to his broth¬
er Nathaniel. At that period many well-known houses
of merchants did not find it necessary to put the num¬
ber of the street in which they lived. The city was
small, and in offering merchandize for sale, they made
it, adding, apply to N. L.   &  G.   Griswold.     Every-