Next morning we sallied forth, with the important card in our hand, “No. 33. Maiden Lane,” in search of Mr. Tongs, and at the head of the wharf we were stopped by a man, who told us his name was Anvil. He had seen us land; and, wonderful to relate, he enquired if our ship had brought any nail-makers over. Here already was a competition for us in the market!

We replied, we were nail-makers by trade, and informed him that we were then going to 33. Maiden Lane, where we expected to find employment.

He advised us, on hearing this, to go first and see his shop, which was hard by; and said he would employ us, and pay a penny a pound more for making nails than ever had been given before, as he was much in want of hands, all his men having gone to sea. We accordingly went, and found in his shop places for twelve men to work, but only one occupied. He made us many tempting offers, which we partly agreed to accept; only, as we had promised to give Mr. Tongs a call, we thought it would be but fair to hear his terms, before coming to a definitive treaty.

I thought, however, upon consideration, that as a bird in the hand is better than two in a bush, and especially as Mr. Anvil appeared to be a reasonable and liberal man, it would be as well to accept his terms, so I went back to the vessel: and my brother, to make good my promise, went to see how the land lay at Mr. Tongs’s. But when he returned and told me that Mr. Tongs and his wife were Scotch folks; that we could have the shop to ourselves, as it was quite empty; that he would do all for us that Anvil had promised, and that besides he was not given to swearing like the other, we concluded to go to him.