"Twenty dollars in my pocket, but feeling richer than I had ever felt before, or have felt since; so rich that I gave the man who came with me two dollars to save him from any expense, and insure him against loss by his spending two days on the journey here and back (for which he was glad of an excuse)."
His object was to make acquaintances, and to establish a credit which would enable him to commence business in Groton on his own account, in company with a fellow-apprentice.
A few days after his arrival in Boston, he received the offer of a clerkship from a respectable house; and, wishing to familiarize himself with the modes of conducting mercantile affairs in the metropolis, and with the desire of extending his acquaintance with business men, he accepted the offer. His employers were so well satisfied with the capacity of their new clerk, that, in the course of a few months, they made a proposition to admit him into partnership. Without any very definite knowledge of their affairs, he, much to their surprise, declined the offer. He did not consider the principles on which the business was conducted as the true ones. The result showed his sagacity; for, in the course of a few months, the firm became insolvent, and he was appointed by the creditors to settle their affairs. This he did to their satisfaction; and, having no further occupation, decided upon commencing business on his own account. He accordingly hired a small store in what was then called Cornhill, and furnished it by means of the credit which he had been able to obtain through the confidence with which he had inspired those whose acquaintance he had made during his brief sojourn in Boston.
On the 17th of December, 1807, he commenced business, after having engaged as his clerk Henry Whiting, in after years well and honorably known as Brigadier-General Whiting, of the United States Army.
Mr. Lawrence writes to General Whiting, in 1849, as follows:
"I have just looked into my first sales-book, and there see the entries made by you more than forty-one years ago. Ever since, you have been going up from the cornet of dragoons to the present station. Abbott, who took your place, is now the representative of his country at the Court of St. James."