Though he traded with the British, Girard considered himself a true patriot, as indeed he was.  On the 27th of October, 1778, he took the oath of allegiance required by the State of Pennsylvania, and renewed it the year following.  The war almost annihilated the commerce of the country, which was slow in recovering its former prosperity; but, in spite of this discouraging circumstance, Girard worked on steadily, scorning no employment, however humble, that would yield a profit.  Already he had formed the plans which led to his immense wealth, and he was now patiently carrying out the most trying and disheartening preliminaries.  Whatever he undertook prospered, and though his gains were small, they were carefully husbanded, and at the proper time invested in such a manner as to produce a still greater yield.  Stephen Girard knew the value of little things, and he knew how to take advantage of the most trifling circumstance.  His career teaches what may be done with these little things, and shows how even a few dollars, properly managed, may be made to produce as many thousands.

In 1780, Mr. Girard again entered upon the New Orleans and St. Domingo trade, in which he was engaged at the breaking out of the Revolution.  He was very successful in his ventures, and was enabled in a year or two to greatly enlarge his operations.  In 1782, he took a lease of ten years on a range of frame buildings in Water Street, one of which he occupied himself, with the privilege of a renewal for a similar period.  Rents were very low at that time, as business was prostrated and people were despondent; but Girard, looking far beyond the present, saw a prosperous future.  He was satisfied that it would require but a short time to restore to Philadelphia its old commercial importance, and he was satisfied that his leases would be the best investment he had ever made.  The result proved the correctness of his views.  His profits on these leases were enormous.

About this time he entered into partnership with his brother, Captain John Girard, in the West India trade.  But the brothers could not conduct their affairs harmoniously, and in 1790 the firm was dissolved by mutual consent.  Stephen Girard’s share of the profits at the dissolution amounted to thirty thousand dollars.  His wealth was greatly increased by a terrible tragedy which happened soon afterward.

At the outbreak of the great insurrection in St. Domingo, Girard had two vessels lying in one of the ports of that island.  At the first signal of danger, a number of planters sent their valuables on board of these ships for safe-keeping, and went back to their estates for the purpose of securing more.  They never returned, doubtless falling victims to the fury of the brutal negroes, and when the vessels were ready to sail there was no one to claim the property they contained.  It was taken to Philadelphia, and was most liberally advertised by Mr. Girard, but as no owner ever appeared to demand it, it was sold, and the proceeds—­about fifty thousand dollars—­turned into the merchant’s own coffers.  This was a great assistance to him, and the next year he began the building of those splendid ships which enabled him to engage so actively in the Chinese and East India trades.