curiosities of the city, would step in as they passed, marvelling at the sight of my balsams and geraniums.

In these visits, the strangers would sometimes express a wish to have a plant, but having far to go, could not carry them. Then they would ask if I had no flower-seeds; others again would inquire for cabbage, turnip, or radish seed, &c. until, from less to more, these frequent inquiries set me a thinking, that if I could get seeds, I should be able to sell them. But no one sold seed in New York; none of the farmers or gardeners saved more than they wanted for their own use. George Briars, however, told me, that he was then raising seeds, with the intention of selling them with his plants in the Fly-market next spring. Out of this grew a partnership between us, by which it was covenanted, that I should buy his seeds, and that he should stay at home and raise plants and seeds for me. I accordingly purchased his stock for fifteen dollars.

I then advertised garden-seeds for sale-in the newspapers, and my stock was soon sold off at a consolatory profit, which made me regret

that I could not replace it. But the darkest hour is the nearest to the dawn. At this juncture a neighbour came into the store with a stranger, whom he introduced to me as just arrived from London, with a small venture of seeds, which he was willing to dispose of at a moderate advance on the invoice. A bargain was soon struck, for his venture consisted of the very sorts for which I was daily applied to, and knew not where to obtain.

Next day, on opening one of the casks, I found a catalogue of seeds for sale, by William Spades and Co. of London. This was a prize indeed and it had marginal notes, stating the best time of sowing; valuable information, of which I was, till then, totally ignorant.

After this I published a catalogue of my own, and with the assistance of George Briars, adapted the time to suit the seasons of our climate; so that now, when my customers inquired when such and such seeds should be sown, I was able to give them the fullest information.

In the fall of the following year, I remitted a sum of money to Messrs. Spades and Co. with an order, which they honestly executed; and the

seeds arriving in good season, enabled me, with those which George Briars raised at Brocklyne, to take the field with great courage. My business increased apace, in so much that the grocery became secondary to it, so I began to let it gradually run out.

But although I had much reason for thankfulness, both for the manner in which I had been guided into the seed business, and for the issue thereof, it was like all other human concerns, liable to vexations. The gardeners seeing my advertisements, and hearing how I was topping in the trade, raised seeds to sell to me; and I having as yet but little skill in the quality, was often deceived by the knaves; the which molested me the more, as it made my customers dissatisfied. However, experience was daily instructing me, and my footing growing more steadfast I had a goodly prospect of a prosperous fortune. Alas! short-sighted mortals, we know not what a day may bring forth.

CHAPTER IV.

"Ring the alarm-bell.”

It is only remarkable men who are privileged to write their own histories; no doubt there are conceited persons who take upon them to do the same thing, but the world has little respect for such vanity. For my part, it would have been far from my heart to have thought of inditing this book, had I not discerned in the accidents of my life something that will be accounted extraordinary, to say nothing of the manner in which I have been. guided; itself a demonstration that Providence had a purpose for me-whether in the way of example, or as an agent, is not for me to determine. This much, however, I may affirm, that from the first hour I had a right notion of the condition

of man, I felt myself to be a something that was deemed deserving of special care and preservation, and what I have now to relate bears witness to the fact.

Close behind my house and store stood a large soap and candle manufactory, at which I never looked without receiving an intimation that it was ordained to be consumed by fire. This remarkable presentiment became at last so assured to me of fulfilment, that I spoke of it as I would do of any intent or business which must be performed. For months before the catastrophe came to pass, when the fire company, on the first Monday of every month, came to wash and clean their engine, at the pump near the corner of Liberty and Nassau-street, I often jocosely told them how I wished they would act when the candle-box, as I called the soapery, should take fire; and so persuaded was I of the sentence that had been passed upon it, that I insured my property. I had at the time a large stock on hand of early cabbage-seed lying open in the store it had been imported; but the long embargo being then laid on, rendered it doubtful when, if any