My place of business was in Market Square, — the firm was James Harris & Co. My partner resided in New York, he had married a lady of great wealth, from Albany. The brother of this lady was a very dissipated fellow, and had often enticed my partner into gambling houses where he had lost large sums. Still he was attentive to his business; we frequently had large consignments arriving at New York, the business of which was attended to with punctuality. About three years ago, 1811, I received a confidential note from a friend, advising me to come to New York, as my interest required it, and as I had not received my usual letters, I begin to suspect that something was wrong.
Accordingly I started for New York, went to our office in South street, and found all right apparently; except that Mr. P. had not been out for several days, being confined at home with rheumatism. Just as I had reached the door to go, the cashier stepped out, saying he wished to say a few words to me before seeing Mr. P. We went into a small lobby, and he then told me that probably my partner would not like to see me, as he had got into a difficulty where he had b^en obliged to use the name of the firm, for the present, ' and,' said the cashier, ' I have managed it thus far, and taken up all the paper as it came to maturity; but am not able to say how much more there is out with the firm's name, though it having nothing to do with the business of J.
Harris & Co.' He also informed me that Mr. P's. brother had requested him to take up the drafts, and be would see it all made right." Harris now paused a few moments. I readily saw that he was much agitated. He placed both hands to his face, resting his head on his knees. I waited patiently a few moments, when he again resumed, but seemed to forget where he had left off, and on my reminding him, he continued: "O, yes! Well, I called on P., who was sitting in the parlor, and in close conversation with a gentleman, who immediatelv left without mv being; introduced. As what I had heard at the store, had troubled me very much, and P. evidently saw my agitation, I thought I would commence the business without delay.
As soon as I began to enquire why the weekly letters had been discontinued, he burst into tears, and for ten minutes did not utter a word; at length he raised his head, saying, ' Harris, I am a ruined man, I have gambled away all my own property, and a great amount that belonged to my wife. O, those cursed cards! that damnable billiard table; and what makes it more distressing;, my wife's brother has been my ruin; he has actually led me to, and remained with me all night in houses of ill fame, thus deceiving my wife, by telling her I was detained on business. I have been diseased for a month, and that alone has almost tempted me to commit suicide.
Sherman has property, and has promised to see me out of tha scraoe. My wife knows all, and has forbidden her brother ever to enter the door again; the gentleman you saw when you came in, is a broker, who has engaged to raise what I need at present to keep the business of the firm straight.' " Here Harris paused again, and said he should like a little whiskey, as he felt a gnawing at his stomach. It was now nearly eleven o'clock, and neither of us had taken any breakfast, and I was determined at first that he should not have anything to drink, at least, until I had got his story, that is if I could help it.
But he insisted on going to his mess for the grog, which he drank, and of course rendered him unfit for further conversation at that time. When I conversed with him again, which was a few days after, he seemed to have forgotten me; but when I took his hand, and reverted to the conversation, the corner of his eye brightened up; he returned the squeeze of my hand, and said: " O, ves! yes! vou are my Boston friend." " Yes, my dear fellow," said I. " if I can befriend you in any way, I will most cheerfully do it. Come now, and tell me the rest of that story." He agreed to it, I took him into a snug place, and reminded him where he left off, but I found his mind was too much agitated to proceed in a regular manner, so I began the conversation.
" Well, how did you come out with your partner? ' "Oh! he died soon after this." " Well, how did your business matters turn out?7 " Oh, ruined! ruined! I lost everything in Boston, and then I o-ave myself up to intoxication. My wife died with grief. My oldest son supported me until a month ago. I came to New York, called on Sherman, my partner's brotherin-law, to see if he would give me some assistance, as he had been the cause of my ruin. He was much bloated, and looked badly. He ordered me out of his house. 1 told him I would not leave him until he had given me enough to buy a suit of clothes.