Ira Bower, and soon after a clerk in the book-selling and publishing house of Messrs. Mack, Andrus & Woodruff, at Ithaca. In the winter of 1838-39 he left the latter to take the position of confidential clerk for Judge Gere, a wealthy resident of the town, and in April, 1839, returned to New York, where his employer had established a large lumber-yard. His salary at this time was one hundred and twenty-five dollars a year. Mr. Dawson continued in this business, under successive employers, until May, 1844, when he was engaged by Messrs. Comstock & Co., of Cortlandt Street, large dealers in patent medicines, as bookkeeper. He also i)erformed the duties of their cashier and corresponding clerk. In June, 184r), he became book-keejier for Messrs. Gumming, Main & Co., druggists, with whom he remained one year.

Although Mr. Dawson had contributed articles for the daily press, generally on ])olitical topics, as early as the winter of 1840, his first pecuniary venture in literature was brought about in a rather singular way. Having, in 1845, while still employed by Comstock & Co., advanced some money to the proprietor of The Cnj»tnl Fount, a weekly temperance and literary new.spaper, he was obliged to take the printing-office and paper in repayment of his loan. For more than a year he edited and published the paper besides discharging his duties as book-keeper, and finding the work too burdensome, he finally, in 184G, gave up his position with Gumming, Main & Co., and devoted all his time to the newspaper. In November of the same year he was obliged to discontinue its publication with the loss, not only of the original loan, but