Chapter IX

The house of John F. Delaplaine & Co. was at one time a commercial house of considerable eminence. John resided in Broadway, nearly opposite the old Grace church, corner of Rector street. He had a brother and partner named Isaac. The counting house of the Delaplaines was on the corner of Old Slip and Water street. Of course this house was a rich one, and had a reputation at home and abroad. The firm was largely in the Mediterranean trade, and dealt in drugs specially, as well as in general merchandise. Both of the Delaplaines died rich, and left sons and daughters. One son, Isaac, married a daughter of the celebrated Billy Post, the paint dealer in Water street. He is now a member of Congress from this city. Post kept for many years in an old shanty that was covered with green moss, and refused to burn whenever there was a tire in the vicinity. Its escapes were almost miraculous, and it was only torn down after the death of its owner.

At one time Mr. Post made all his neighbors laugh, by telling them of his intention to put a granite front to the old wooden store. Post was a miser, and died rich.

Another ancient firm was that of Tucker & Lauries,—all English, or rather Bermudians. Richard Tucker lived for many years in Bond street. He was a stately merchant of the old school. He had sons, well known in New York fashionable life, one was Thomas Tucker, or rather Tom Tucker as he was familiarly called by Ogden Hoffman, Ned Curtiss, Willis Hall, Charley Hoffman, Sargent, Minthorne Tompkins, and the set of Tom's friend who had rooms at 84 Broadway. When old Richard Tucker died, the style of his house changed; it became the firm of Henry & George Laurie, or in short—II. & G. Laurie. They did a safe commission business, and piled up money, although in small piles at a time. Eventually they became very rich, gave up business—both bachelors—and retired to Geneva in Switzerland, where they live on the income of their American property, real estate, bank and other stocks, for which they draw an interest of $50,000 annually. The Lauries were fashionable men in their day, and regularly attended the City Hall balls, in white and spotless kids.

They had their intimate friends, and cliqued together. Rupert J. Cochrane was one. He was said to be the very looking glass of fashion, and the mould of form. He was a splendid, princely fellow, was Cochrane. He was largely in the coal business. In one of these chapters allusion was made to George Douglas, and to the fact that he did a very heavy business in 1832 at No. 22 Broad st. Cochrane occupied a part of the same store, and he too retired rich, and is ruralizing in the West, if alive.

William MacLeod belonged to the same private set as the Lauries and Cochrane. His firm was Gillespie & MacLeod. He prided himself upon his pure Highland descent, his father, Col. MacLeod, having been killed at Waterloo. MacLeod came to this city with two sisters, from Canada. He had held a commission in the British service, but having a considerable capital was induced to go into mercantile business, throw up his commission, and take up his home in New York.

Handsome, elegant in manners, an ex-British officer, son of a Waterloo hero, rich in purse, and with hieland blud! Doing a large business, what could not William MacLeod do? He was beloved by women and envied by men. He despised wealth, except as it enabled him to make others happy. He was surrounded by those who flattered and plucked him. He led the fashion in everything, and no affair of honor could be decided without him. He was the second to Barton when he shot Graham, one of the editors of the New York Courier, in a duel at Hoboken. Mr. Barton had married Cora Livingston, a daughter of the Hon. Edward Livingston, minister to France in Jackson's days, and to whom Barton was secretary of legation. Cora Livingston was the great belle of her day in this city before she married Mr. Barton.

I do not remember now the precise matter that occasioned the difficulty between Barton and Graham. The latter was a dead shot, but Barton was lucky in having for his second an experienced man like MacLeod, who had fought several duels on his own account. The duel was fought on the old duelling ground at Hoboken, and what is very singular, the identical pistols were used that were held by Burr and Hamilton in an earlier part of the century, when the great statesman was shot.

MacLeod's instructions to Barton were graphic. His opponent was on a footpath, in a dead straight line. Mac told him to place the butt of the pistol to his middle, and when the word was given to elevate the barrel to a level and fire along the line. He did so, and Graham had to turn up his toes in consequence. MacLeod, when in his glory, courted a fair lady, the daughter of one of our richest merchants, said to be the late John G. Coster. Mac was a favored suitor, and the damsel referred him to papa. To properly understand the point of Mr. Coster's reply, it is necessary to say that MacLeod had, like other fashionable men, committed the great folly of keeping a mistress. Mr. Coster, unknown to Mac, was aware of it when MacLeod made his proposition for the hand of the "fair daughter." He stated that he was doing well in business, possessed property, a name unquestioned, old family, and all that sort of thing. Old John G. looked at him quietly and listened calmly to all Mac had to say. When it was finished, the old merchant replied:

"That is doubtless all so. I should be pleased under certain circumstances to have you for a son-in-law, but, as a prudent man, I shall be forced to decline your flattering offer in a most positive manner. I will not give my consent."

Mac was taken all aback. He was perfectly astounded. Mr. Coster was asked for his reasons. He would not give any for a long time. At last he said:

"You may be wealthy. I do not dispute it. I hope so. I am rich, but I will tell you what it is, Mr. MacLeod, neither you, or me, or any other man, is rich enough to support two families.

"Good morning, Mr. Coster," replied Mac.

"I am perfectly satisfied with your reasons. I will never repeat the application, and I am too proud to attempt clandestinely to become your son-in-law against your wishes."

And he never did.

Mr. MacLeod was afterwards unfortunate in his commercial affairs, and failed. He left children when he died, and they are wealthy from their Scotch aunts, who allowed Mr. MacLeod an income while lie lived. He died at his old favorite haunt, the City Hotel. The friends of his later years were Henry W. Herbert, Dr. John Carnochan, and Frank Waddell. Very few English, Irish or Scotch officers visited New York that did not find out and make the acquaintance of MacLeod.

Two other intimates of MacLeod and the Lauries, were the brothers Oldfield. Granville Sharp Oldfield, was a grandson of the English Granville Sharp. He came to New York and formed a commercial House, under the firm of Oldfield, Bernard & Co. They had a large old-fashioned store, corner of Broad and Garden streets, (now Exchange Place). The senior Oldfield was a real merchant—devoted to business, and yet could be pleased with a good dinner, and good company. All the English notables stopped with Oldfield. When the Keans (father and son) were in New York, they were daily with Oldfield. He did a very heavy commission business. He was forced to suspend in consequence of acts of his partner. Mr. Bernard had a habit of pinching women in public places. He was a Dutch Jew, and did not believe there was a virtuous Christian woman in the United States. On one occasion, when the Woods were playing at the old Park theatre, in opera, Bernard was present. The opera was La "Somnambula." Mrs. Wood was singing "False one, I love thee still," when a thump was followed by a maddening shriek, to the astonishment of the whole house. The cause was known to but few. Mr. Bernard was seated in the rear of a lady and her husband. He commenced his curious antics. She whispered to her husband. The latter turned' around, and discovered the aggressor Bernard, who wore a pair of gold spectacles. The offence was repeated, and the wife again told her lord: he rose, and dashed his fist at the right eye of Monsieur Bernard, smashing the glass and driving the particles into the eye-ball of the maddened Bernard, who screamed with horror.

Mr. Bernard became insane, and was sent to the Bloomingdale or some other mad-house, where I believe he died, after a straight-jacket discipline of two years. The house of Oldfield, Bernard & Co. was dissolved, and the head of it, Mr. Oldfield, removed to Baltimore, where he acquired again a large fortune. His only son, Granville, had his arm shot off and died, and the senior Oldfield, although very wealthy, is to-day an inmate of the Baltimore Lunatic Asylum, and yet signs mad checks for the expense!

The other brother, "Tom," was a great favorite in New York with all who knew him, but Tom detested business. He was a genius, and would have made a fortune on the stage. Every actor in New York loved Tom. So did Rupert I. Cochran and William McLeod. So did Doctor Carnochan, and so did Tom's brother. It was of no use to try to change Tom's habits. W. D. Cuthbertson, an extensive merchant in Water street, (recently Vice President of the St George's Society,) employed Tom Oldfield at a high salary as a book-keeper. Tom would make his appearance at precisely two o'clock in the afternoon.

This went on for a week, when the merchant remarked the lateness of the hour when he arrived, and remonstrated.

"But, my dear sir, I don't get my breakfast until one o'clock; how can I come earlier?"

"Get your breakfast earlier," said the merchant.

"How can I? I don't get up until past twelve."

"Then get up earlier," said the merchant.

"How can I?" pleaded Tom, when I don't go to bed until daylight."

Further argument was useless, and Thomas left the employ of Mr. Cuthbertson. Poor Tom! He caught the small pox, and died at the small pox hospital on Staten Island. Among the set who adored him was the late Lewis C. Levin, who died in a hospital recently. They were nearly all "Washington Hall boys"—MacLeod, Cochran, Oldfield, Herbert, Waddell, the Wolcotts, and many others whose names occur to me, and who are indirectly, if not directly, connected with these old merchants.