New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS
EMINENT AMERICAN MERCHANTS.


The interchangeable editor of " Hunts Merchants'
4 cazine" has formed the design of issuing q &C.
ries of volumes devoted to American msrcantii,
biography. The first volume Of this series con-
tains the lives of twenty-one distinguished mer-
chants of this country, including that Of Peter q.
Brooks by Edward Everett, james Gore King a. :,
Samuel Ward by Charles King Nicholas Brown,
Stephen Girard, Matthew Carey by the Eiitor,
Jacob Lorard by Wm. Berrian, Samuel Apple
ton by Ephraim Peabody, Jonas ChickcFng ty
John L. Blake, Patrick T. Jackson by John A.
Lowell, and others. The second work named at
the head of this article consists Of the Memoir &
Col Perkins, prepared for the Mercantile Biogr-
ply. with several additions, chiefly Of extracts
from diaries and letters descriptive Of scenes in
foreign travel.
Mr.. Hunts project of illustrating the lives &
our most prominent mercantile cowtryu'en Is ono
which cannot fail to be received with satisfactiea
BY intelligent readers Of all classes. The nannee
Ia which the present specimen has been executed
is such as to inspire confidence in the accuracy
utility and popular interest Of the work. Con-
piled from ample materials, written, IL tho MAN.
without the exaggeration OF eulogy, and Astounding
10 details of sturdy, practical lie these sketches
present an instructive commentary on tho iniiu-
ence of free political institutions, and In several
instances a noble example, Of integrity, benevo-
lence and high mindedness in the pursuit of tho
commercial profession. large number OF tho
merchants COMMUNICATED in this volume we're of
humble origin, aud owed their fortunes to personal
enterprise, industry and sagacity. Few Of then
inherited either wealth or other facilities for sue
cess, but carved out their own prosperity by dint
of vigorous and ell.directed exertions. Peter G.
| Brooks, for instance, wellknown millionaire Or
Boston. was the son of q country clergyman
the State of Maine. At the decease Of his father
the family were left in narrow circumstances, and
for seine time his boyhood was occupied in the la
bors of farm. Stephen Girard left his native
country in the capacity Of cabin-boy with no
education but smattering of the elements OF
reading and writing. Samuel Ward, though de-
| scended from one of the most honored families IN
the annals of Rhode Island, was prevented by tho
restricted means OF his father from obtaining col.
leeiete education, and when he entered counting.
house at the age Of fourteen, had received only tho
ordinary instruction of an English school. Thomas
Eddy, who received by general consent the appel
lation of the Howard Of America" was fst
sent an apprentice to tanner in Burlington, Nd.
After two years experience in that line, no de-
cides upon seeking his fortune in New York, sad
came to this city with capital Of less than ono
| hundred dollars. For some time after Mia arrival
he was obliged to live by his wits" and found
it hard /" to defray his necessary expenses"
81 =. k,a ha haoo han
npt, though he subsequently paid every cent OF
ais just liabilities. Jacob Lorillard commenced
life without the advantages even Of an ordinary
education, and entered upon business with only
thousand dollars capital of his own. Gideon
Lee was a farmers boy in the employment OF an
ancle, &" feeding and milking cows, till he become
an apprentice to the tanning and shoemakinS bus-
ness. Many time" says he long before light
in the morning, / was started off in the cold and
snow without shoes TO my work and used to think
it luxury to warm my frozen feet on the spot just
just before occupied by the animal had roused'
Samuel Appleton was famous district schoolmas-
ter in little New-Hampshirc town. till he under
sook to clear up settlement in the wilderness Of
Maine BuS as handling the ak and guiding the
pillow" were not to his taste, he changes bis bust
ness 10 that of country trader and at length finds
his way to Boston, where he commenced acareer
| of signal prosperity.
Ire means by which most of the merchants,
whose lives here given, attained to wealth and
distinction, presents instructive lesson. They
we're not eager for sudden gains, embarked In ne
neutrality-suspicious. were not addicted to doubt
full or Legitimate of trade, but gained their
fortunes by the regular Accommodations of CONNER
| cial industry. Mr.. Brooks, We are informed, ab-
stained from speculative operations throughout his
active career After his retirement from business,
he pursued the same policy He never made pur-
chases of unproductye real estate, on calculation
| of future enhanced value. While wiling to lsnd
bis funds for the benefit Of solid, wellconducted
corporations, he was reluctant to engage in mann
features and regarded railroad stocks, generally
speaking, as precarious property. Nor would he
ever consent any pretense, to receive more than
legal interest for the loan of his money, though on
several occasions, for public objects, he lent lsye
| sums at an interest below the legal and currens
rate Connected with this habit was his rule never
to borrow money. With q single exception, hD
name was probably never subscribed to note OF
hand. What be could not accomplish by present
means he left uninterrupted. He was equally ayerse
to indorsing for olhers. However brilliant To
| promise of future gain, be summed every transec-
| tion which required the use OF borrowed means.
| NJ. Loriiard pursued similar course in The ae-
suisiiiOn of his immense wealth. 1t was fayorite
remark Of his that bis prosperity arose from nos
hsv,ng n,ede haste TO be rich He INDUCED In no