AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 211 



his brother to his own place. In seven years he rose to 

 be traveller, and his brother to be head warehouseman. 

 After being a few years in this position, his brother de- 

 termined to commence business on his own account. The 

 great risk attendant upon the long credit (five months) 

 then given to grocers, considerably enhanced the prices of 

 their goods. William Peek (the brother referred to) thought 

 that by buying through the brokers at one month's credit, 

 and selling for ready money to dealers who could pay cash, 

 a good and safe trade might be done. The system succeeded 

 admirably, with perseverance and application, and in about 

 eighteen months the prosperous state of the business induced 

 Richard to relinquish his situation, and join his brother 

 as partner, when the style of the firm was altered from 

 William Peek & Co. to Peek Brothers & Co., and a younger 

 brother was taken into partnership as soon as he came 

 of age. Soon after this, a large broker offered them a 

 permanent loan of £1500, which enabled them to buy 

 direct from the East India Company, for cash, and spread 

 their trade amongst a higher class of town and country 

 dealers. Since that time the business has been steadily 

 increasing, and is now divided into three large wholesale 

 houses, carried on by the sons of the original partners 

 and young men brought up in the house. 



Mr. Richard Peek early devoted much of his time to 

 public business and various charitable and religious objects. 

 He filled the offices of Common Councilman and Sheriff 

 of the City of London, having in the latter position been 

 the first returning officer after the passing of the Reform 

 Bill. Having been made a magistrate for his native county, 

 he retired to the residence he had built at Hazelwood, and 

 employed the remainder of his life in works of philanthropy 



