24 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
gether, 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.” He was now in a 
happy position—a rich man, free to indulge his hobbies and 
blessed with an untroubled home life. Being an active man, 
full of energy and faith, he looked around for something to 
interest him. He had recently moved a few blocks north to 
Gramercy Park and had built a house, later called 123 East 
Twenty-First street, on the north side of that aristocratic 
square. ‘There were only a few other buildings around him at 
first, although his brother David occupied the next house. 
Forty years were to be spent at this convenient headquarters. 
In 1849 there had been a trip to Europe on the advice of the 
family physician, who feared overwork and business strain. 
Leaving their four small daughters in care of an aunt at New 
Haven, Field and his wife visited England, after a crossing of 
eighteen days; then Scotland, Ireland, and the Continent. 
At a church in Scotland, when Mrs. Field gaily offered to 
share her book of Psalms with her husband, a stern old lady, 
assuming that the young couple were not married, reproved 
them by saying: “Remember that you are in the house of 
God.” 
On the Continent they paid visits to Paris, Geneva, the 
Italian cities, Vienna, Germany including a Rhine voyage, 
and Brussels. They were able to see the after-effects of the 
democratic uprisings of 1848 and to compare the social con- 
ditions with those in America. On the steamer home they 
met George Bancroft, the historian, who proved a life-long 
friend. 
Field’s daughter, Isabella Field Judson, reported that the 
family life in New York was simple and smooth-running. 
During the summers there were rides to the picturesque 
