The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-30
NO. 1894.



Tho New York Hong Merchants.
In . city large this metropolis Of the Western
Continent New York ccmpriug as 1t does, within Its
limits population Of $50 600 living human beings
IL 10 . matter OF wonder to locker how they all
get honest livelihood or, rather. how they get
living all To many the doipgs in this great city
an unread book though living here they know no
thing aboutit To such these chapters will. trust,
be with interest Another class the strangers
who visit this city Many scenes will he opened
to their view which they know nothing about, and
which they would pass UNDECIDED by. not their
attention called to 1t in shape like tho present
In the great cities Of the Old World the traveller
arrives ct his hotel than "Strsugers Guide 10
furnished him. be there reads Of objects Of curiosity
and anussmsnt whish it is worth his while TO visit.
In addition to this, person attends upon him who 10
deeigns.ed as "compissionairs 4" The duty which
this person offers to perform il to conduct him through
the city, act interpreter. n necessary aud ct
any rate to chow him all the sights worth seeing many
of them not enumerated IN the guide book-for all
which . reasonable com psDsstion is demanded, and
Willingly given by the traveller Many Of these are at
tached to the principal boelsin fact, to all Of tho
hotels the continent # Europe We have such class
Of residing In the principal cities this side Of
the Atlantic Sometimes policeman volunteers for this
ueeul duty in places where IL would be dangerous to
go Wtbout one. There many interesting Spots IN
this city for stranger to vsit Among them the
Croton Aqueduct with its high bridge and large
vors; the Easworts toe churchss which win compare
In architecture and beauty with those found abroad
tho public charities the Deaf and Dumb Asylum; the
City Hospital aud its junot, the Bloomingdsle
Asylum, msdhouse; the Tombs which IL fruitful in
Of thought and interesting scenes Backwels
Island the hotels; the theatres the ship yards; the
boundaries; United States Offices and buildings, In
GLIDING the fortiaoatons in the harbor. This lesser
eetsblshments-from the magnificent billiard and
bowling saloons down to the common oyster shops
will be visited and tketchsd before these chapters
through with The amusements of the laboring poor,
and their places Of well those Of the rch
will receive equal share Of notices and Of these
two classes shall divide them between the vicious
and the good Of both
The principal support mainstsy OF our population
10 IL that that gives impulse to all other
classes socety in this metropolis and is the moving
principle of life here. Almost every other branch Of
liveh God derives its nourshment from 1t. The
chants of New York-th merchants, in thu broadcast
and most meaning OF the term-sre divided into
two classes The division OF the rst class the foreign
importing and shipping merchants composed prio-
oipsy Of New England men, and the other division Of
men born abroad who have to this country,
backed by wealthy merchants and traders in Europe
and have steady foreign business to commence with
The shipping and importing merchants principally
made theee two divisions mem few large
merchants in the present day from the Kpickerbocker
stock, old families Is obvious Most Of
our heavy houses, such as Goodhue, the Howlauds
the 0rinnells the Macys, whitlocks. Davis Brooks
the Griswolds, &c engaged In extensive shipping
business from New England and from that portion
of II where the people engaged in navigation The
foundation of their respective houses owing to this
vrh. hor. rv.A ala Wu.ut hav
engaged in business their unexions and friends in
New England would send them consignmcnts Of vessels
and prudence patience industry has enabled them
to build up large commercial houses which favor
ably known throughout the commercial world The
stores and ountng-roo Of these merchants are In
the lower wards Of the town aud mostly the East
River slde-in South, Front. Broad. Water, and the
slips. Their hsunts during moments OF relaxation In
business hours Delmoncos. Browns coffee house.
the Albsmbra and Downing's oyster saloon. Their
residences In the splendid palaces erected 10 the
upper parts Of the towu-n the 18th, 10th and 18th
wards. They among the upper ten" aud havo
pews IN the uptown fashionable churches and attend
on Sundays regularly. They no. regular patrons
Of the theatre unless It he fashionable season. Few
OF this class retire from business. Habit has made
busipees part Of their nstures. and they would
.oon think Of leaving their old haunts and the
regular routine In the countiog room, and going
into retirement leading the life OF private
wealthy gentleman. as they would Of goiRg into
one of their vaults at Greenwood, and lying there
quietly, before they were dead. singular set
these men In many respects. Business, freishts
stocks and merchandise are the alpha and omega Of
their existence In regard In politics they whigs,
Without showing Why and vote fit does not delay them
from business Asto the details Of politics primary
meetings and preparatory gatherings they terra
smeornda them. Their very and porters az
they wbigs) do understand those things aud perhaps
form portion Of the conventon that uominstes half
starved lawyers and sknning politicians foe their
ployers 20 vote for Rarely Is merchant OF the hrs
class nomipa,ed for Congress ~ the wings Moses H.
Crinnel had seat In Congress and when elected had
an Idea that he should create sensation In that body
but when he reschrd there, he found his level"
and TO quote the expressive Language Of late Chan
eeilor "Mos,s you ere d,ca If Jeisr esrns, b.,
If yo. hink yo, wiH f-'rish IN Csncr,ss, yoa
soa scfry Seesires you -H ., heard Of 4er you
rseh hsre until y, GET bsek re shop IN Front street
And 30 found H. and In disgust abandoned poll
teal and recommended the dollar aud cent life, In
which he could shipe TO his o-n satisfaction.
The leading merchants asa class. have rniitcsl
influence whatever and a Is not strange the history %
one Ia history Of all There is very intelligent boy
living eve miles from Salem In Masachuseets; his
father 4 farmer aud owns 100 ot land worth
$1,000 Jonathan his second is 10 years old aud
he has Eve brothers and three sisters. The eldest
Is stupid aud Of course, -i remain and Till the farm
when the old man gets old shofes OF his coil and
goes 20 sleep among the old red tomb stones over
his ancestors Jonathan IL old enough 10 do some
thing; since he eight years old he has ben
mile the district school house every day In the vim
ter, and worked the farm 10 the summer; he has
learned 20 read ard write aud cypher far the
rule Of three In Dsholl. parse respectfully. and
Knows enough 81 geography TO fully understand vhere
New York H.; for he has cousin Who IL clerk there
and comes home 70 see his mother once year With
these rudineut,, Jonathan commences; his father
gives him letter to New York merchant, Wis once