Nevertheless, in the spring of 1854, the new bank was finished, and we removed to it, paying rents thereafter to our Mr.Lucas instead of to Adams & Co.

A man named Wright, during the same season, built a still finer building just across the street from us; Pioche, Bayerque & Co.

were already established on another corner of Jackson Street, and the new Metropolitan Theatre was in progress diagonally opposite us.
During the whole of 1854 our business steadily grew, our average deposits going up to half a million, and our sales of exchange and consequent shipment of bullion averaging two hundred thousand dollars per steamer.

I signed all bills of exchange, and insisted on Nisbet consulting me on loans and discounts.

Spite of every caution, however, we lost occasionally by bad loans, and worse by the steady depreciation of real estate.