OUT OF DEBT--A VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA
(1853)
Although upon the failure for which he was not responsible of the firm
of which he was a member Mr. Field had effected a compromise with the
creditors of the firm which had procured his release from all legal
obligations, and which satisfied them as the best that they could hope
for, it did not satisfy him. He felt that in reality he was still their
debtor, and one of the chief incentives to his intense devotion to
business in the years following his fresh start was the hope of clearing
off the debt, so that no man should have lost by trusting him. In this
he succeeded. He himself says in the incomplete autobiography already
cited:
"There was no luck about my success, which was remarkable. It was not
due to the control or use of large capital, to the help of friends, to
speculations or to fortunate turns of events, it was by constant labor
and with the ambition to be a successful merchant; and I was rewarded by
seeing a steady, even growth of business. I had prospered so that on the
1st of January, 1853, I was worth over $250,000. I then turned to my
books for a list of the old claims which I had settled by compromising
ten years before, found the amount which my generous creditors had
deducted from their claims, added to each one interest for that time,
and sent to every man a check for the whole amount principal and with
seven per cent. interest, a sum amounting in all to many thousands of
dollars."
The letters that follow tell their own story and how the money was
received. Two of them indicate that he made use of his prosperity to
release his own debtors at the same time that he was paying in full his
creditors:
"HARTFORD, CONN., _2d March, 1853_.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq., New York:
"_Dear Sir_,--Your favor of yesterday's date was duly received, and
we would now acknowledge the same, and with no ordinary feeling of
satisfaction, for in these degenerate days it is in truth a rare
occurrence to find men who like yourself--as is evidenced by this
act--are honest from principle, and who never consider themselves
morally quit of a just debt, even though legally released, until
the debt is paid in full. We would now express to you our thanks
for the sum enclosed, not so much for the value thereof in currency
as for the proof it affords that 'honesty still dwells among men.'
With our best wishes for your continued prosperity and an assurance
of our high regard,
"We are truly your friends,
"WOODRUFF & CO.,
"By Sam. Woodruff."
"LOWELL, _March 3, 1853_.
"C. W. FIELD, Esq.:
"_Dear Sir_,--Yours of the 1st inst. was duly received, with check
enclosed for $114 41, for which please accept my grateful
acknowledgments.
"I congratulate you upon the success of your business pursuits,
which has enabled you thus honorably to liquidate your by-gone
pecuniary obligations, and I hope your life and health may be long
continued in the enjoyment of the well-earned fruits of your
persevering enterprise.
"It will always give me great pleasure to see you at my house in
Lowell, and I hope to find opportunity during the coming season to
visit the Empire City and the World's Fair and to avail myself of
that occasion to call upon you.
"With much regard, I remain
"Yours truly,
"JOHN WRIGHT."
"PITTSFIELD, _March 3, 1853_.
"_My dear Friend_,--The many and various exhibitions of kindness
and good-feeling from you heretofore have placed me under very
great obligations.
"Language fails me to express my feelings on the receipt of your
letter of the 1st, and this morning with your check for $317 20 for
a claim amicably and satisfactorily adjusted about ten years since,
and for which I have no legal or moral claim on you, nor, indeed,
had it entered my mind for several years.
"This act, entirely voluntary on your part, exhibits moral honesty,
that all fair men approve, but few make known by their acts. I
value it the more because it exhibits in my friend a conscience
alive to right. You have made this present (for I have no claim)
not because you considered I needed it, but because the ability
that did not exist in 1843 does exist in 1853, and the act itself
would be carrying out the principles of the Golden Rule. Please
accept my warmest thanks for this token of love and friendship. May
peace, prosperity, and happiness attend you all your days.
"I am truly your friend,
"WALTER LAFLIN.
"To CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq., New York."
"SPRINGFIELD, MASS., _March 5, 1853_.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq., New York City:
"_Dear Sir_,--Allow me hereby to acknowledge the receipt of yours
of March 1st with its contents.
"We are perfectly conscious that in a legal point of view we had no
claim upon you for this very unexpected document, but to your
personal high sense of honor we are indebted for it, and for this
act of honesty and fairness you have our very grateful
acknowledgments.
"With the best wishes for your future prosperity and good health,
we remain,
"Dear sir, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servants,
"PARKER, DOUGLASS & CO.
"Per O. O. Parker."
"P. S.--I shall be in your city soon and will be pleased to call
upon you.
"S. PARKER.
"Per O. O. Parker."
"HOUSATONIC BANK, _March 7, 1853_.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq.:
"_Dear Sir_,--At the request of the Board of Directors of the
Housatonic Bank I enclose resolutions passed by them this day.
"Allow me to add, individually, my sincere thanks; and I am
requested to ask if you will allow us to make mention of it, to
show that such high moral principles in business have much to do
with a man's prosperity.
"With great respect I remain,
"Your obedient servant,
"J. D. ADAMS, Cashier."
"At a meeting of the directors of the Housatonic Bank, held at
their banking-house on the 7th day of March, 1853, the cashier laid
before the board a letter from Cyrus W. Field, Esq., dated 1st of
March instant, enclosing a check on the Union Bank, New York, for
seven hundred 62-100 dollars, being an unpaid balance and the
interest in full on a note against the late firm of E. Root & Co.,
due in 1841, which note had long since been given up to Mr. Field,
the firm having become insolvent. Whereupon it was unanimously
"_Resolved_, That the conduct of Mr. Field in voluntarily paying a
debt for which the bank had no claim evinces a high degree of moral
integrity, alike honorable to him as a merchant and gentleman.
"_Resolved_, That such an instance of high-minded magnanimity
should be held up as an example worthy of the more commendation
because of rare occurrence.
"_Resolved_, That we tender to Mr. Field our congratulations in
view of his present prosperity, and our best wishes for its
continuance.
"_Voted_, That the foregoing resolutions be entered on the records
of the board, and a copy signed by the president and cashier
transmitted to Mr. Field.
"C. M. OWEN, President.
"J. D. ADAMS, Cashier."
"LEE BANK, _March 7th, 1853_.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq.:
"_Dear Sir_,--Your favor of 1st inst. was duly received, with draft
on Union Bank, $1142 49.
"I have been delaying acknowledging receipt of same, hoping to get
our directors together and lay the matter before them, that I might
communicate to you their feelings, but have not as yet been able to
do so; shall have an opportunity soon.
"Our stockholders will appreciate your generosity, and permit me to
thank you in their behalf, as well as my own, for your magnanimity
exercised towards us.
"I remain
"Truly yours,
"L. A. BLISS."
"LEE BANK, _March 8th, 1853_.
"At a meeting of the directors of the Lee Bank held at their
banking-house this day the following resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
"_Whereas_, During the last week, a draft was received by the
cashier of this bank from Cyrus W. Field, Esq., of New York,
amounting to eleven hundred forty two 49-100 dollars, it being the
balance with principal and interest due upon a draft given by E.
Root & Co. in 1841 of fifteen hundred dollars; and
"_Whereas_, The Lee Bank had given Mr. Field a full discharge of
the above debt by his paying the sum of nine hundred forty-two
7-100 dollars in the year 1845; therefore
"_Resolved_, That the full payment of a debt by the junior partner,
having been contracted in the commencement of his business life and
by misfortunes which rendered him unable to pay the same, is a
mark of strict honesty and integrity, and is worthy of all
commendation.
"_Resolved_, That the foregoing resolutions be entered upon the
records of this board, and a copy sent to Mr. Field.
"LEONARD CHURCH, President."
"HUDSON, _March 8th, 1853_.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq.:
"_Sir_,--Yours of 7th February conveying your check on the Union
Bank for three hundred eleven 68-100 is received. The receipt of
the above is especially gratifying to me as an evidence that there
are some honorable exceptions to the rule that legal obligations
are the only ones binding on the community. If in the course of any
of your business transactions I can be of any service to you, it
will be a sincere gratification to me to render to you any personal
favors in my power.
"Truly your friend,
"SAM. R. MILLER."
"WESTFIELD, MASS., _April 4th, 1853_.
"_My dear Sir_,--Yours of the 1st inst. was received this morning.
The time is so short before you leave the country that I shall not
probably have time to see all the persons to whom your letters with
the checks were enclosed. There is to be a town meeting this
afternoon, when perhaps I may see them all. I understand, however,
on inquiry at the post-office, that all the letters have been
received and duly distributed, and that all of the persons
interested have felt very grateful to you for your kindness and
generosity, and the reason why they have not answered your letters
and acknowledged the receipt of the money was probably that they
have been consulting as to the best _mode_ of acknowledgment, and,
I believe, have been preparing a public acknowledgment to be
published in our Westfield papers, but which has not as yet been
quite matured.
"I think you may, however, leave the city with a full assurance
that your good intentions in regard to these persons have been
fully accomplished and gratefully received, so that in various ways
much good will thereby have been done. Captain S. S. Amory has been
dead about two years, and his only son is now in California, but
his widow, a very worthy woman, is still living, and, I am very
sure, feels deeply grateful for this act of kindness, which will
aid her very much in her lonely state.
"With my own and Mrs. Fowler's best regards to yourself and wife,
and many wishes for your safe and happy return to your family,
"Truly your friend,
"I. S. FOWLER."
"MILL RIVER, _April 17, 1853_.
"MR. CYRUS W. FIELD:
"_Dear Sir_,--Your kind favor of March 1st was duly received, also
yours of the 1st inst. within sixteen days from date, and my
apology for not answering and acknowledging your first, with the
enclosed check which it contained, is that I supposed Mr. Brett
would do so, or had done so. I need not tell you that it was
thankfully received, and that we feel truly grateful to you for the
favor, and also feel happy that prosperity has smiled upon you.
"Accept, dear sir, my best wishes for your prosperity and welfare,
and believe me ever
"Truly yours with respect,
"EDWIN ADAMS,
"One of the firm of E. C. Brett."
"SO. HADLEY FALLS, _March 7th, 1853_.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq.:
"_My dear Sir_,--I have received your very kind favor of 1st inst.
Your offer to cancel the judgment which you hold against me is
conferring a favor which it is out of my power in any form to
reciprocate. Please accept my sincere thanks. Your untiring energy
and perseverance have been crowned with great success. You have an
ample estate, and no one deserves it more.
"In reply to some taunts of John Randolph, Henry Clay said his only
patrimony was a widowed mother with nine children.
"Your only inheritance was a load of debt, cast upon you at the
commencement of your business life, which was not caused by lack of
foresight or fault on your part. You bore up under this heavy
burden and paid it as not one in thousands could or would have
done, and by this very act you laid broad the basis of your
subsequent success. Should I ever again visit your city nothing
there will afford me so much pleasure as to meet your cordial
greeting and to accept your kind invitation.
"May your efforts be crowned with all the good-fortune you may
desire, even if it be to place you side by side with the biggest of
the big merchant princes of the Empire City, is the sincere prayer
of
"Your friend,
"WELLS LATHROP."
"SPRINGFIELD, MASS., _March 8, '53_.
"_My Dear Sir_,--Your very kind favor of the 7th is just received.
"I enclose a satisfaction or discharge of the judgment you hold
_vs._ H. & L., which, when you have dated and signed in presence of
a witness, will become perfect.
"If the pleasure of giving is greater than receiving then you are
far more happy than President Pierce or any of his Cabinet.
"Most sincerely, your friend,
"C. HOWARD.
"C. W. FIELD, Esq., New York."
"SPRINGFIELD, _March_ 10, '53.
"_My dear Sir_,--Your letter of the 9th with its highly prized
contents is received. I have no words to express my feelings for
your unsolicited gift and your kind offer to serve me in any way in
your power. This world is a wheel, and I rejoice that the spoke you
are on is so nearly at the highest point, though mine is nearly the
reverse. I hope that I shall never again be the direct or indirect,
innocent or guilty cause of loss to you; but most earnestly hope
that I may yet have it in my power to make some small return.
"There is no _legal_ claim against me of that enormous amount of
debt in which, seven years since, I most unexpectedly found myself
involved. Nevertheless, it is all as justly due as it was before
the Commissioner discharged me, and it would be the greatest
happiness I could enjoy in this world to pay every farthing. But
of this I have no hope. I have a small income from property
belonging to my wife, which, with great prudence and economy, will
just about pay for our bread and salt, and I can hardly expect to
ever earn another dollar.
* * * * *
"Pray pardon this long yarn of myself and accept the enclosed one
thousand dollars, being the same amount which I requested our
friend, Mr. Ashburner, to offer you three years ago, though he did
not, I believe, only _half_ do it. Accept also my most hearty good
wishes for your continued health and prosperity, a long life and a
glorious reward hereafter, and believe me,
"Most sincerely your friend,
"CHARLES HOWARD.
"CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq., Merchant, New York."
"I now wished," the autobiography goes on, "to retire from business
altogether, but at length I yielded to the solicitations of my junior
partner so far as to agree to leave my name at the head of the firm and
to leave in the business a capital of $100,000. But this was done with
the express understanding that I was not to be required to devote any
time to it."
His lot now seemed altogether enviable. He had retrieved the losses
incurred at the outset of his career; he could
"Look the whole world in the face,
For he owed not any man."
Not only this, but he was a rich man, as riches were counted forty years
ago. At all events, those who were dear to him seemed to be put beyond
the reach of want. His home life was, as it always had been and always
was to be, serene and untroubled. At the age of thirty-four, with his
energy and his faculties of enjoyment unimpaired, he found himself able
to retire from business, and to lead, if his nature had permitted him to
lead, a life of leisure. The first use he made of his release from the
cares of business was to project a long journey with his friend,
Frederick Church, the distinguished landscape-painter. He left New York
in April, 1853, for Central and South America. They took passage early
in the month in a sailing-vessel.
On the morning of the sailing he had said good-bye to his family, and
they were imagining him as already far down the bay, when a sudden ring
at the door was so like the one he was accustomed to give that one of
his children exclaimed, "There is papa!" and to the surprise of all he
walked into the room. The vessel had been detained in the harbor, and he
could not remain contentedly on board almost in sight of his home, and
so he came back to pass a few hours.
They sailed as far as Savanilla, New Granada (now Colombia), at the
mouth of the Magdalena, and from there up that river for six hundred
miles. Disembarking at the head of navigation, they passed four months
in mountain travel on mule-back, traversing the table-lands south to
Bogota, following the Andes to Quito, and crossing the equator and
Chimborazo, at last reaching the Pacific at Guayaquil. From Guayaquil
they were able to take steamers to Panama, but the railroad across the
isthmus was but partly built; for the rest of the crossing they had
again to resort to mules. This would be a difficult and toilsome journey
even now, and it was far more so forty years ago. But it had memorable
results, for it was at this time that Mr. Church made the sketches for
some of his most famous tropical landscapes. Before Mr. Field left New
York he had drawn the accompanying map and this paper, from which it
will be seen that he made most careful calculations of his expenses:
CYRUS W. FIELD'S ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES TO SOUTH AMERICA IN 1853.
Outfit $150 00
New York to Savanilla, per vessel 60 00
Savanilla to Barranquilla, per horse 10 00
Barranquilla to Honda, per steamer 90 00
Honda to Bogota, per mule 20 00
Bogota to Popayan, }
Popayan to Pasto, }
Pasto to Quito, } mule 200 00
Quito to Mount Chimborazo, }
M. C. to Volcano of Cotopaxi, }
Cotopaxi to Guayaquil, }
Guayaquil to Lima, per steamer 75 00
Lima to Valparaiso, per steamer 110 00
Valparaiso to Santiago, per carriage 20 00
Santiago to Valparaiso, per carriage 20 00
Valparaiso to Panama, per steamer 190 00
Panama to Aspinwall, per mule, railroad,
and steamer 30 00
Aspinwall to New York, per steamer 65 00
Sundries, say for 180 days @ $2 00 360 00
Extra premium on life-insurance 100 00
Sundries 100 00
---------
$1,600 00
On another paper was written:
PLACES OF INTEREST TO VISIT.
Emerald mines of Muzo.
Bogota 8,700 feet.
Falls of Tequendama 574 "
Bridges of Icononzo 320 "
Lake of Buga.
Gold mine.
Popayan.
Pasto.
Quito 9,500 feet.
Mount Chimborazo (Kun) 21,400 "
Volcano of Cotopaxi 18,900 "
Guayaquil.
Lima.
Potosi silver mines.
Valparaiso.
Santiago.
Panama.
Gold mines.
This page of directions was given to his family:
All letters to Cyrus W. Field by first steamer _via_ Aspinwall,
care of
1. Messrs. Hamburger Battis,
Barranquilla,
New Granada, S. A.
April 6th to 13th.
2. Hon. Yelvert P. King,
Chargé d'Affaires of the United States,
Bogota,
New Granada, S. A.
April 13th to 28th.
3. Chargé d'Affaires of the United States,
Quito,
Ecuador, S. A.
April 28th to May 20th.
4. United States Consul,
Guayaquil,
Ecuador, S. A.
May 20th to 28th.
5. Messrs. Alsop & Co.,
Lima,
Peru, S. A.
May 28th to June 20th.
6. Messrs. Alsop & Co.,
Valparaiso,
Chili, S. A.
June 20th to July 5th.
7. Messrs. Garrison & Fritz,
Panama,
New Granada, S. A.
July 5th to August 13th.
8. A. M. Hunkley, Esq.,
Agent Messrs. Adams & Co.,
Aspinwall, Navy Bay,
New Granada, S. A.
August 13th to September 5th.
These two sketches were made by Mr. Church and sent to Mrs. Field;
across the back of the larger one is written, "Mr. Field and Mr.
Church in the procession."
There is a Spanish proverb, "Never leave a river before you or your
baggage behind." One evening Mr. Field and Mr. Church forgot this, and
crossed, leaving the mules with their packs to follow in the morning.
During the night the river rose, and three weeks passed before it was
possible to bring over the baggage train, the weary travellers meanwhile
ruefully contemplating from day to day, from the opposite bank, their
inaccessible possessions.
In an Aspinwall paper of October, 1853, this was printed:
"Among the passengers arrived yesterday in the steamship _Bogota_
from Guayaquil are Messrs. Cyrus W. Field and F. E. Church, of New
York, who have been travelling for the last six months in South
America.
"They say that the scenery in some parts of the Andes is grand and
beautiful beyond description; and that words cannot express the
kindness and hospitality with which they have been treated; that
gold in large quantities can be obtained in Antioquia, and from the
beds of many of the small streams that run down the Andes into the
Pacific or the Amazon; and that the soil on the plains of Bogota
and in the valley of the Cauca is very rich; and that they have
been so much pleased with their journey that they intend soon to
return to the land of beautiful flowers and birds, and to the
continent for which the Almighty has done so much and man so
little.
"The following are some of the places of interest that they have
visited: Falls of Tequendama, Natural Bridge of Icononzo at Pandi;
silver mines of Santa Aña; emerald mines of Muzo; volcanoes of
Puracé, Pichincha, and Cotopaxi; cities of Mompox, Bogota, Ibaque,
Cartago, Buga, Cali, Popagan, Pasto, and Quito.
"They left Quito on the 9th of September. Stopped two days at
Cotopaxi, four at Chimborazo, and eight at Guayaquil, and will
leave in the next steamer for the United States."
Of the sail from Aspinwall to New York it was written:
"The voyage was pleasant, but every day's run was studied with
nervous anxiety by Mr. Field. He had hurried home in order to be in
Stockbridge on October 31st, the day on which his father and mother
were to celebrate their golden wedding; the steamer was delayed by
stormy weather, and he did not arrive in New York until late in the
afternoon of the 29th."
His family had watched almost as eagerly for his coming. Not only were
they anxious to see him, but their going to Stockbridge depended upon
it, and that could not be delayed beyond the morning of the 30th.
Mr. Field brought back a very miscellaneous assortment of the spoils of
travel; among them were some of the grass cloaks worn in South America.
He often amused his children by putting on these cloaks, and one day
they suggested that their father should show himself in this novel
costume to his sister, then living in the old home in Seventeenth
Street. Without thinking of the effect this might produce on the way, he
at once left his house, and had gone but a short distance when he found
that he was followed by a number of persons that soon swelled into a
crowd and gave chase, until at last he was obliged to take refuge in the
home of a friend.
He brought back also a live jaguar, specimen of a South American tiger,
and twenty-four living parroquets. The most interesting of all, however,
was an Indian boy of fourteen, whom he intended to have taught in the
United States, with the view of ultimately sending him back to his
native land as a missionary. The idea was good, but to carry it out was
quite impossible. Marcus was an imp. It was with almost magical rapidity
that he could plan and execute mischief. He succeeded in breaking the
collar-bone of the cook living in the family of Mr. David Dudley Field,
and his delight was to lay snares in dark halls and passages, and if he
was opposed he did not hesitate to seize a carving-knife and flourish it
frantically about. A civilized life was not attractive to him; and while
Mr. Field was in England in 1856, his relations, who had tried in vain
to Christianize the boy, decided to return him to his father, a
bull-fighter in South America.
But Mr. Field's special desire for returning home by an appointed day
was gratified. On October 31, 1853, all the descendants of Dr. and Mrs.
Field excepting their son Stephen and one grandson met in Stockbridge.
Thirty-nine of the family dined together in the old home, and that
afternoon all the friends and neighbors came to congratulate the former
minister and his wife. The house had, the year before, been bought by
their sons David Dudley and Cyrus, and had been put in perfect order,
and the younger son had had it completely furnished for his parents.
In writing to his mother on October 31, 1835, Mr. Field said: "Brother
Timothy sailed the day that I got back from Southwick; I received a
letter from him a few days ago. He sent his love to you, father, and all
friends, but had time to write only a few words as they passed a vessel.
He says the captain is a pious man, and that they have prayers morning
and evening." Later in the year came the news that Timothy had sailed
from New Orleans in the ship _Two Brothers_, and that vessel was never
heard from. For many years the family entertained the hope that he would
return, and his brother Cyrus spent "hundreds of dollars" advertising in
newspapers and offering a reward for tidings of him. About 1847 or 1848
a captain reported that he had had a shipmate named Field, whose father
was a clergyman, and who had many brothers who were not sailors. He also
said that his shipmate had married in South America, and was living
there a very wealthy planter. He gave these particulars to relieve the
anxiety felt by the family, and refused to take any reward. The news
caused great excitement among the brothers, and had a steamer sailed
that day one of them would probably have gone in her. But, failing that,
they consulted together and agreed to write. They not only sent letters
to their brother, but to the officials of the place. The letters were
returned, and the officials made answer that no such person lived there.
It was, however, with the same end in view that when rest was ordered
for Mr. Field, South America was chosen to be the country visited. The
search was a fruitless one, and no tidings were obtained. His mother did
not give up all hope of hearing from her son Timothy until she was told
that her son Cyrus had come home and had brought no news of him.
After Mr. Field's return to New York in November, 1853, he tried to
interest himself in work outside of his old business, and for one week
succeeded in staying away from his office in Cliff Street.
It was of this time that one of his brother's wrote, "I never saw Cyrus
so uneasy as when he was trying to keep still."