ii42                    THE OLD MERCHAJVTS
 

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Thomas Eddy was one of the commissioners appoint¬
ed March 26, 1796, to build one of the State prisons In
New York. His associates were John Watts, Matthew
Clarkson, Col. Isaac Stoutenburgh and John Murray.
They went to work soon after their appointment, and
November 27, 1797, they had completed, ready to re¬
ceive prisoners, the New York prison, known as New--
gate. Eddy and his associates surrendered their powers
to the Inspector, February 15, 1799. A portion of the
old prison is still standing. It was found totally inade¬
quate to the purpose for which It was erected, the re¬
form of offenders, and for which Thomas Eddj- — his
heart overflowing with humanity — was anxious. It
was crowded. In 1816, a new prison was commenced
at Auburn. It worked so well, that on the 9th of
March, 1825, a new set of commissioners —■ Stephen
Allen, George TIbbits and Samuel M. Hopkins — were
appointed to build a new prison at Sing Sing, and sell
, the old one in New York, to defray the expenses of the
new one.

Mr. Eddy commenced business as a merchant about
1780. His parents were Irish. His father was largely
engaged in the shipping business until 1766, when he
died.    Young Eddy was born In PhUadelphIa In 1728.