1 JO                    THE  OLD MERCHAJVTS
 

CHAPTER XVI.

One of the oldest firms in a particular species of mer¬
chandise business was that of Tweed & Bonnell, chair
merchants and chair manufacturers. It was founded by
Richard Tweed in 1814. He first commenced the bu¬
siness at 64 Rutgers street, now called Oak street. He
was born in that street, and I think made the first chair
in the house where he was born. He learned the art
from W. G. Skellon, who was a chair maker at 856
Pearl. He had as a fellow apprentice, Alexander
Welsh, who was sometimes called " Sandy Welsh " the
father of the really clever and distinguished Judge
James H. W'elsh. Mr. Welsh, Senior, and Mr. Tweed,
in after life, often talked over old times. Mr. Welsh
did not go into business until 1820. He then opened a
large place at 65 Broad street. He afterwards moved
to 86, where he had his factory for many years, living
at 17 Stone street. He did the largest business of the
kind in the lower part of the city.

When Mr. Tweed opened in Cherry street, in 1817,
at 1 Hague, a few doors from his old boss, at 856 — he
had been there twenty years — the latter complained
bitterly that he undersold him. Mr. Tweed replied
that he would bet an overcoat, that he sold his chairs at
the  same  price S. <lid.    Mr.  Skellon   took it.    The