Thomas Downing, for thirty years, in the city of New York, has been proprietor of one of the leading restaurants.  His establishment situated in the midst of the Wall street bankers, the business has always been of a leading and profitable character.  Mr. Downing has commanded great influence, and much means, and it is said of him that he has made “three fortunes.”  Benevolent, kind, and liberal minded, his head was always willing, his heart ready, and his hands open to “give.”  Mr. Downing is still very popular, doing a most excellent business, and highly respected throughout New York.  Indeed, you scarcely hear any other establishment of the kind spoken of than Downing’s.

Henry M. Collins, of the City of Pittsburg, stands among the men of note; and we could not complete this list of usefulness, without the name of Mr. Collins.  Raised a poor boy, thrown upon the uncertainties of chance, without example of precept, save such as the public at large presents; Mr. Collins quit his former vocation of a riverman, and without means, except one hundred and fifty dollars, and no assistance from any quarter, commenced speculating in real estate.  And though only rising forty, has done more to improve the Sixth Ward of Pittsburg, than any other individual, save one, Captain W., who built on Company capital.  Mr. Collins was the first person who commenced erecting an improved style of buildings; indeed, there was little else than old trees in that quarter of the city when Mr. Collins began.  He continued to build, and dispose of handsome dwellings, until a different class of citizens entirely, was attracted to that quarter of the town, among them, one of the oldest and most respectable and wealthy citizens, an ex-Alderman.  After this, the wealthy citizens turned their attention to the District; and now, it is one of the most fashionable quarters of the City, and bids fair to become, the preferred part for family residences.  Mr. Collins’ advice and counsel was solicited by some of the first lawyers, and land speculators, in matters of real estate.  He has left or contemplates leaving Pittsburg, in April, for California, where he intends entering extensively into land speculation, and doubtless, with the superior advantages of this place, if his success is but half what it was in the former, but a few years will find him counted among the wealthy.  Mr. Collins is a highly valuable man in any community in which he may live, and he leaves Pittsburg much to the regret of the leading citizens.  Without capital, he had established such a reputation, that his name and paper were good in some of the first Banking houses.