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Gc 974.702 N422La v.3 1136709
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 1710
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofn03lamb_0
history of the City of New york.
-
INJ
HISTORY
OF THE
CITY OF NEW YORK:
ITS ORIGIN RISE, AND PROGRESS.
BY MRS. MARTHA J. LAMB AND
MRS. BURTON HARRISON.
Illustrated.
IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III.
NEW YORK : A. S. BARNES AND COMPANY.
Copyright, 1877, 1880, 1896, by A. S. Barnes & Co.
University Press : JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U. S.A.
CONTENTS.
1136709
CHAPTER XXXIX.
President Washington. - Life in New York. - The John Street Theater. - Social Celebrities. - New Year's Day. - The Treasury Department. - The National Debt. - Oliver Wolcott. The President and his Secretaries. - The McComb Mansion in Broadway. - Origin of the Tammany Society. - Hamilton's Financial System. - Indian War in Ohio. - Indian Chiefs in New York City. - Vermont. - Arrival of Jefferson. - The City Treasurer. - Death of Franklin. - Chancellor Livingston. - The Favorite Drive of New York. - Political Ques- tions. - The Permanent Seat of Government. - Aaron Burr. - New York Men and Meas- ures. - The Tontine Association. - New York Election 351-389
CHAPTER XL.
Gouverneur Morris in France. - Effects of the French Revolution in New York. - Citizen Genet. - Hamilton and Jefferson. - The Two Political Parties. - Gouverneur Morris re- called. - War in Prospect. - Chief Justice Jay in England. - " Bedford House." - Family of Chief Justice Jay. - The Whiskey Rebellion. - Robespierre. - Hamilton's Retirement from the Treasury. - Lieutenant-Governor Van Cortlandt. - General Philip Van Cortlandt. - The Election of Governor Jay. - The Jay Treaty. - Events of the Summer of 1795. - The Yellow Fever in New York. - Appropriation for Public Schools. - The New York Society Library. - City Improvements. - The Subject of Slavery. - The Fresh Water Pond. - Steam Navigation. - Political Affairs . 390-432
CHAPTER XLI.
Contemporaneous Description of the City. - The Streets and Buildings. - The Broadway. - The Government House. - The Park Theater. - The Drama. - Commerce of New York. - The City of Hudson and its Founders. - Society. - Intellectual Pursuits. - Marriages in High Life. - The Barclay Family. - A Love Romance. - General Jacob Morton. - The Ludlows. - Princes and Noblemen in New York. - Re-election of Governor Jav. - Lieu- tenant-Governor Van Rensselaer. -- The French Directory. - Money or War. - The Alien and Sedition Laws. - War Measures. - Duels. - Aaron Burr's Bank -The Commer- cial Advertiser. - Burr and Hamilton. - Death of Washington. - Personal Sketches - Richard Varick. - Edward Livingston 433 - 471
CHAPTER XLII.
" The Presidential Tie. - Jefferson and Burr. - The New Cabinet. - The New York Contest for Governor. - Defeat of the Federalists. - The Livingstons in Power. - The Mayoralty of the City. - Duel of Philip Hamilton. - The Evening Post. - The Newspaper War. - Duel-
(3 mal)
Leary
vi
CONTENTS.
ing. - Coleman and Cheetham. - President Jefferson. - The Grange. - Theodosia Burr. - Dinner to the Indian Chief. - Burr's Independent Party. - Duel of De Witt Clinton and Swartwout. - Chancellor Livingston secures Louisiana. - De Witt Clinton appointed Mayor. - Burr's Struggle for the Governorship. - Results of the Stormy Election. - Hamil- ton's Libel Suit. - Burr challenges Hamilton. - Duel of Burr and Hamilton. - Sorrowful Scenes. - Death of Hamilton. - Burr's Movements. - Public Sentiment. - Tomb of Ham- ilton
472-503
CHAPTER XLIII.
New York Historical Society. - Its Founders. - Judge Egbert Benson. - John Pintard. - Origin of Historical Societies in America. - The Men of Letters. - The Elgin Botanical Garden. - Dr. Samuel Latham Mitchill. - Clubs. - Origin of the Free School. Society. - Its Purpose. - Its Founders. - Thomas Eddy. - Insane Asylum. - Some of the Public- spirited Merchants. - The Friendly Club. - Philanthropic Ladies. - The Orphan Asylum. - Thirty-three Charitable Institutions. - The Academy of Fine Arts. - The Medical College. - Newspapers. - Salmagundi. - Washington Irving. - First Steamboat on the Hudson. - Robert Fulton. - Colonel John Stevens. - Inventions and Experiments. - Ocean Steam Navigation. - The Embargo of Jefferson 504-541
CHAPTER XLIV.
Effects of the Embargo in New York. - Political Animosities. - Election of Governor Tomp- kıns. - The First Woolen Mills in New York. - Livingston Homes on the Hudson. - Oppo- sition to the Embargo. - Fashions of the Period. - Madison's Election. - Party Strifes in New York. - The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Discovery of Manhattan Island. - The Banquet. - The New City Hall. - City Hall Park. - George Frederick Cooke. - Church Edifices of the City in 1812. - Canal Street. - The Grading and Extension of Streets. - Laying out of the whole Island into Streets and Avenues. - The Aldermen. - Colonel Nicholas Fish. - The Erie Canal in Contemplation. - Surveys. - War Prospects. - Cele- 542 - 586 brated Characters
CHAPTER XLV.
Insecurity of New York. - Condition of Europe. - Hostility to the War. - New York Priva- teers. - Plan of the Campaign. - Officers of the Army. - Hull's Expedition to Detroit. - The New York Army, - General Van Rensselaer. - Alexander Macomb. - Death of Vice- President George Clinton. - Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer. - The Niagara Frontier in 1812. - Surrender of Detroit. - Massacre of Chicago. - Savages coming East. - Creating an Inland Navy - Captain Isaac Chauncy. - New York Shipbuilders on the Lakes, - Elliott's daring Exploit. - Storming of Queenstown. - Defeat of the Americans. - Election of President - Commodore Hull's Capture of the Guerriere. - Jones' Capture of the Frolic. - Decatur's Capture of the Macedonian. - The Victory of Bainbridge. - Banquet to the Vic- tors. - Peculiar Situation of New York City. - Shocking Massacre at Frenchtown. - Law- rence's Capture of the Peacock. - Celebration of Victory in New York. - Combat of the Chesapeake and Shannon. - Death of Lawrence. - Exploits on the St. Lawrence. - Perry's Victory on Lake Erie. - Recovery of Detroit. - Battle of the Thames. - Tecumseh killed. - Storming of Fort George. - The Blockade of New York City. - Gardiner's Island. - The Creek War. - The Embargo 587- 640
CHAPTER XLVI.
Peace Commissioners. - The Battle of Chippewa. - Battle of Lundy's Lane. - Sortie from Fort Erie. - Honors to the Heroic Commanders. - The City of New York in Alarm. - Citizens working on the Fortifications. - Cadwallader David Colden. - Burning of the City of Washington. - New York City Currency. - Financial Affairs. - The September of Blood. The Temper of New York. - Baltimore Assailed. - Invasion of New York through Lake Champlain. - Great Victory of McDonough and Macomb. - Privateers. - Captain Sam- uel Chester Reid. - Thrilling Defense of the General Armstrong. - Jackson's Defense of New Orleans. - The Fortifications of New York City. - New England's Opposition to the National Government. - Naval Affairs. - Military Parade in New York City. - Darkness and Gloom. - The Treaty of Peace. - The Sabbath of Thanksgiving 641-664
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLVII.
New York City and Harbor. - Effects of the War. - Grand Ball in New York. - The Treaty of Ghent. - Napoleon's Return from Elba. - The Commercial Convention. - Diplomatic Affairs. - Philanthropy. - Importance of New York in History. - The Erie Canal Project. - De Witt Clinton. - The Canal Meeting. - Clinton's Celebrated Memorial. - Action of the Legislature. - The Canal Commissioners. - Importations. - Finances. - Slavery. -- The new Canal Bill of 1817. - Incredulity. - Opposition. - The Battle of the Bill. - Breaking Ground. - Charities. -- The Deaf and Dumb Asylum. - Societies. - Sabbath Schools. - The Common-School System. - Emigration. - Pauperism in the City. - Designing the Na- tional Flag. - The First Savings Bank. - The Yellow Fever. - Charles Matthews. - Ed- mund Kean. - Interior of the Park Theater. - Social Life of New York. - President Mon- roe. - The Gouverneurs of New York. - Great Political Blunder of 1824. - Re-election of Governor Clinton. - Lafayette's Arrival in New York City. - Breaking Ground for the Ohio Canal. - Lafayette's Tour through the Country. The Van Cortlandt Manor-house 665-695
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Preparations for Canal Celebration in New York City. - Opening of the Erie Canal. - The First Canal-boats reaching the Metropolis. - The Aquatic Display. - The Ceremony of uniting the Waters of Lake Erie and Atlantic Ocean. - Procession in the City. - The Illu- mination. - The Ball. - The Medals. - Modern New York. - Mayor Philip Hone. - Founding of the Mercantile Library. - The New York Athenaeum. - Literary Men. - Early Clubs of New York. - Residences of Prominent New-Yorkers in 1826. - Public Buildings erected. - Death of Adams and Jefferson. - The two Great New York Rivals. - Clinton's Re-election. - The Leake and Watts Orphan Home. - John Watts. - Albert Gallatin. - Death of Clinton. - The Apprentices' Library. - Right Rev. John Henry Hobart. - Epis- copal Theological Seminary. - University of the City of New York. - Washington Square. - The Union Theological Seminary. - Institution for the Blind. - First Horse-rail- road in the City. - Steam Locomotives. - Return of Washington Irving from Europe. - Riots and Disturbances. - The Great Fire of 1835
696-726
CHAPTER XLIX.
New York suffering for Water. - Introduction of Gas. - The Croton Aqueduct. - Murray Hill Reservoir. - Croton River flowing into the City. - Celebration of the great Achievement. - Election of Martin Van Buren to the Presidency. - Financial Crisis of 1837. - Failures. - Suspension of Specie Payments by all the Banks in America. - Influence of James G. King. - England sending Gold to New York. - The Country Relieved. - Banks of 1880. - Moneyed Institutions. - Prisons. - The Tombs. - City Correctional and Charitable Insti- tions. - Penny Journalism. - The Great Newspaper System. - Founding of the Prominent New York Journals. - The Italian Opera. - Poets of 1837. - Columbia College Anniver- sary. - Dedication of the University. - Invention of the Magnetic Telegraph. - Adoption of the Morse System. - Professor Samuel F. B. Morse. - Honors of the World. - Great Political Excitement of the Decade. - Victory of the Whigs. - The Great Fire of 1845 in
727 -747 New York City
CHAPTER L.
Contrasts. - Area of the City. - The Harbor in 1880. - Population. - Union Square. - Madison Square. - War with Mexico. - Discovery of Gold in California. - The Astor Place Riot. - The Seventh Regiment. - The Astor Library. - John Jacob Astor. - The Crystal Palace. - The Waddell Mansion. - Murray Hill. - Glimpse of Social Life. - Fifth Avenue Residences. - The Churches of New York. - Church Architecture. - Rev. Dr. William Adams. - Sabbath Schools of the City in 1880. - Philanthropy. - Tenement Houses. - Association for improving the Condition of the Poor. - Asylums. - Hospitals. - Five Points. - Archibald Russell. - Central Park. - Financial Crisis of 1857. - Police Riots. - The Atlantic Cable. - The Civil War. - Action of New York. - The Draft Riot. - Academy of Design. - Williani Cullen Bryant. - Assassination of Lincoln. - Union League Club. - Lenox Library. - Metropolitan Museum of Art. - Museum of Natural History. - Cooper Institute. - Merchants and Public-spirited Citizens. - The Elevated Railroads. - The Brooklyn Bridge. - Conclusion 748-787
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LI
Page
Continuation of the General History. - "Thumb-Nail " Sketches. - Method of Treat- ment. - " The Capital City of America."- Results of " Greater New York " Movement. - Complications. - Advance in the Arts. - Development of Architecture. - Criticism of Street Paving and Street Lighting. -- Department of Street Cleaning. - Blizzard of 1888. - Centennial Celebration of Washington's Inauguration as President. - Washington Memo- rial Arch. - Centennial Celebration of the Supreme Court of the United States. - Colum- bian Celebration. - Naval Parade. - Grant Birthday Dinner. - Naval Exhibition. - Street-Car Disturbances. - Increased Facilities for Travel. - Surface Improvement. - Cleopatra's Needle. - Completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. - Contemplation of other Bridges. - New York Harbor. - Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World. - " The New Colossus." - New System of Docks. - Immigration. - Marine Passenger Traffic. - Telephone System, - System of Incandescent Electric Lighting. - Development of Elec- tricity. - Military. - Fire Department. - Police Force. - Municipal Machinery. - Post Office Department. - Educational Institutions. - Churches and Mission Houses. - Do- mestic Life. - Hotels and Restaurants. - Charitable Work. - Clubs. - Amusements. - Acquisitiveness in Pictorial Art. - Collections of Rare and Fine Art. - Libraries. - Hos- pitals. - Valediction 789-866
APPENDIX 867
INDEXES 871
.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FULL-PAGE ENGRAVINGS.
Washington visiting Congress in Wall Street
Page 359
The Collect, or Fresh-Water Pond 424
Duel between Hamilton and Burr 492
The First Steamboat on its way to Albany 532
Canal Street as originally designed
567
Illustration of the War of 1812 621
Celebration of the Completion of the Erie Canal . Introduction of the Croton Water into New York City
680
The Bay of New York
749
Greater New York and Vicinity .
789
Madison Cottage .
Bird's Eye View looking South from General Grant's Tomb
795
View in City Hall Park
808
Cathedral of St. John the Divine 66
839
Fourth Avenue looking North from Southeast Corner of Twenty-first Street
844
The Plaza Hotel, Metropolitan Club, Netherland Hotel, Savoy Hotel . 846
Roof and Tower, Madison Square Garden . 66
854
St. Luke's Hospital. The Library of Columbia College
66
862
ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT.
Page
1. Portrait of Mrs. Ralph Izard . 353
2. Wolcott Arms . 357
3. The McComb Mansion 362
4. Specimen of Paper Money 367 5. Portrait of Chancellor Livingston 371
6. Jay Arms 387
7. Residence of General Matthew
· Clarkson . 389
8. Residence of Chief-Justice Jay 400
9. Library of Chief-Justice Jay 402
10. Testimonial to Lieutenant-Gover- nor Van Cortlandt 407
11. Portrait of General Philip Van Cortlandt 408
12. Van Wyck Arms .
409
13. New York Society Library Build- ing, 1795 418
14. Portrait of Aaron Burr 432
15. The Government House . 435
16. The Ludlow Mansion 445
17. Ludlow Arms . 446
18. Portrait of Stephen Van Rensselaer 449
19. Bridge at Canal Street in 1800 467
20. Hammersley Arms 469
731
Fifth Avenue at Madison Square
To face 791
791
Police Parade .
831
Page
X
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT. - Continued.
Page
21. Steam-Engine House 471
22. Portrait of Richard Varick . 476
23. One-Horse Chair, 1802 . 481
24. Hamilton's Country-Seat 482
25. Portrait of Theodosia Burr 484
26. Tomb of Hamilton 503
27. Portrait of Judge Egbert Benson . 505
28. First Free-School Building . 517
29. Residence of Archibald Gracie 521
30. The Coster Mansion 522
31. Portrait of Washington Irving 529
32. Portrait of Robert Fulton 534
33. Trevithick's Locomotive, 1804 537
34. Portrait of Daniel D. Tompkins 544
35. City Hotel, Trinity Church, and Grace Church 554
36. City Hall Park 557
37. St. John's Church 561
38. Foot of Canal Street and Hudson River . 565
39. " Corporation Improvements 570
40. Portrait of Colonel Nicholas Fish 576 83. St. Patrick's Cathedral 759
41. Portrait of Dr. David Hosack . . 582
42. Portrait of General Alexander Macomb . · 594
43. George Clinton's Tomb 596
44. Portrait of Colonel Solonion Van Rensselaer 599
45. Portrait of Captain Isaac Chauncey 605
46. Griswold Arms 612
·
47. Portrait of Commodore Isaac Hull 615
48. Portrait of Commodore Decatur . 618
49. The Bainbridge Urn . 622
50. Portrait of Captain James Law- rence . 624
51. Portrait of Commodore Perry . 630
52. Portraits of Lord and Lady Gar- diner 633
53. Autograph and Seal of Lion Gar- diner . 635
54. Diodati Arms 636
55. Thompson Arms 637
56. Death of the Terrapin or the Em- bargo 640
57. General Brown's Gold Box . 646
58. New York Paper Currency . 648
59. Portrait of Cadwallader D. Colden 650
60. Portrait of Captain Samuel C. Reid 655
61. Silverware presented to Captain Reid . 659
62. Portrait of De Witt Clinton 669
63. Deaf and Dumb Asylum 679
Page
64. Interior of Park Theatre, 1822 . 684
65. Portrait of Dr. Samuel Mitchill . 690 66. Silverware of the Van Cortlandts 695
67. Keg with Lake Erie Water 699
68. Design upon Ball-Ticket 702
69. Portrait of Mayor Philip Hone 704
70. Residence of Mayor Philip Hone 708
71. Portrait of John Watts 712
72. Portrait of Bishop Hobart 718
73. University of the City of New York 719
74. Portrait of Cornelius , Law-
rence 723
75. Odgen Arms 726
76. Murray Hill Reservoir . 729
77. Portrait of James Gore King . 734
78. The Tombs 737
79. Dutch Reformed Church 740
80. Portrait of Professor Morse . 743
81. View from Union Square, North 749
82. Waddell Mansion 756
84. Portrait of Rev. Dr. Adams 761
85. Roosevelt Arms . 766
86. Portrait of William Cullen Bryant 776
87. Elevated Railways 784 88. Bird's-eye Glimpse of Broadway . 787
89. Corner of Nassau and Wall Streets 90. New Street 790
789
91. Broadway near Wall Street 793
92. Exchange Place 794
93. New York Street Cleaning under the Old and New Régime 797
94. Washington Arch 799
95. Vanderbilt Dwellings and Fifth Avenue Stage . 806
96. The Mall, Central Park 809
97. Brooklyn Bridge, crossing the East River . 811
98. Proposed North River Bridge at Twenty-second Street 812
99. Washington Bridge, Harlem River 815
100. Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty, Bedloe's Island 817
101. Bulk Head Plan of Construction 820
102. Immigrants Landing 822
103. Proposed New Piers and Arriving Steamers 825
104. Postman 833
105. Commodore Vanderbilt 846
106. New and Old Tenement House Contrasts 849
107. Yachting in the Lower Bay 852
xi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
MAPS.
Page
1. Map of Collect, or Fresh-Water Pond . 423
2. Map of a Portion of Broadway in 1810 . 572
ARTISTS.
CHARLES S. REINHART, ALFRED FREDERICKS, FELIX O. C. DARLEY, GEORGE GIBSON, C. E. H. BONVILLE, AUGUST WILL, C. R. PARSONS, THOMAS BEACH, ABRAM HOSIER.
ENGRAVERS.
A. BOBBIT, J. M. RICHARDSON, JOHN KARST, JOHN P. DAVIS, PHILIP MEEDER, JOS. HARLEY, JAMES S. FOY, D. C. HITCHCOCK, E. A. WINHAM, RICHARD M. SMART, CHRISTIAN WEBER, BOOKHOUT, GEORGE F. SMITH, THOMAS L. SMART.
351
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
1790-1793.
REMOVAL OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON. - LIFE IN NEW YORK. - THE JOHN STREET THEATER. -- SOCIAL CELEBRITIES. - NEW YEAR'S DAY. - THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. - THE NATIONAL DEBT. - OLIVER WOLCOTT. - THE PRESIDENT AND HIS SECRETARIES. - THE MCCOMB MANSION IN BROADWAY. - ORIGIN OF THE TAMMANY SOCIETY. - HAM- ILTON'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM. - INDIAN WAR IN OHIO. - INDIAN CHIEFS IN NEW YORK CITY. - VERMONT. - ARRIVAL OF JEFFERSON. - THE CITY TREASURER. - DEATH OF FRANKLIN. - CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON. - THE FAVORITE DRIVE OF NEW YORK. - POLITICAL QUESTIONS. - THE PERMANENT SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. - AARON BURR. -NEW YORK MEN AND MEASURES. - THE TONTINE ASSOCIATION. - NEW YORK ELECTION.
ITTHE winter of 1790 opened auspiciously. New York City was in promising health and picturesque attire. The weather until Feb- ruary was remarkably mild and lovely. " I see the President has returned fragrant with the odor of incense," wrote Trumbull to Wolcott in Decem- ber. "This tour has answered a good political purpose, and in a great measure stilled those who were clamoring about the wages of Congress." The community at large was full of pleasing anticipations. Peo- ple flocked into the metropolis from all quarters, and the presence 1790. of so much dignity of character, statesmanship, legal learning, culture, and social elegance produced new sensations, aspirations, and ambitions.
Washington was the observed of all observers. His wonderful figure, which it has pleased the present age to clothe in cold and mythical dis- guises, was neither unreal nor marble. He stood six feet three inches in his slippers, well-proportioned, evenly developed, and straight as an arrow. He had a long muscular arm, and probably the largest hands of any man in New York. He was fifty-eight, with a character so firm and true, kindly and sweet, kingly and grand, as to remain unshaken as the air when a boy wings his arrow into it, through all subsequent history. His great will-power and gravity seem to have most attracted the attention of mankind. His abilities as a business man, the accuracy of his ac- counts, which through much of his life he kept with his own hand, and his boundless generosity should also be remembered. He took care of his
1
352
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
money ; at the same time he cast a fortune worth at least three quar- ters of a million into the scale - to be forfeited should the Revolution fail. But the greatest of all his traits was a manly self-poise founded upon the most perfect self-control. He was withal essentially human, full of feeling, emotional, sympathetic, and sometimes passionate. He was fond of society, conversed well, enjoyed humor in a quiet way, and was sensitive to the beauty and open to the appeal of a good story.
While loyal to every duty, and closeted with Jay, Hamilton, and Knox for hours each day in shaping the conduct of the departments, he found time for healthful recreation. The citizens of New York grew accustomed to his appearance upon the streets in one or another of his numerous equipages, or on horseback, and on foot. His diary throws many a domestic and private light upon the pleasing picture. He tells us, for instance, how after visiting the Vice-President and his wife one afternoon, at Richmond Hill, with Mrs. Washington, in the post-chaise, he walked to Rufus King's to make a social call, "and neither Mr. King nor his lady was at home, or to be seen." On another occasion he sent tickets to Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Greene, General Philip and Mrs. Schuyler, Secretary and Mrs. Hamilton, and Mr. and Mrs. Rufus King, inviting them to seats in his box at the little John Street theater. Music commenced and the audience rose the moment Washington and his friends entered the building. The play was Darby's Return, written by William Dunlap. Darby, an Irish lad, proceeded to recount his adventures in New York and elsewhere, to his friends in Ireland. Washington smiled at the humorous allusion to the change in the government : -
"Here, too, I saw some mighty pretty shows - A revolution without blood or blows ; For, as I understood, the cunning elves, The people all revolted from themselves."
But at the lines : -
" A man who fought to free the land from woe, Like me, had left his farm a soldiering to go, Then having gained his point, he had, like me, Returned, his own potato ground to see. But there he could not rest. With one accord He is called to be a kind of - not a lord - I don't know what ; he's not a great man, sure, For poor men love him just as he were poor" ;
the eyes of the audience were fixed curiously upon the President, who changed color slightly, and looked serious; when Kathleen asked,
" How looked he, Darby ? Was he short, or tall ?"
2
353
THE JOHN STREET THEATER.
and Darby replied that he did not see him, because he had mistaken a man " all lace and glitter, botherum and shine," for him, until the show was out of sight, Washington's features relaxed and he indulged in a rare and hearty laugh.
The next day, Washington says he called upon Chief Justice Jay and Secretary Knox on business, made informal visits to Governor Clinton, Mr. Ralph Izard, General Philip Schuyler, and Mrs. Dalton, entertained Dr. Johnson, lady and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Izard and son, and Chief Justice Jay at dinner; " after which went with Mrs. Washington to the dancing assembly, and remained until ten o'clock."
Mrs. Izard had spent several winters prior to the Revolution in the brilliant society of London, after which she had resided in Paris, accom- panied her husband to the Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and visited nearly all the points of interest on the Eu- ropean Continent. She was handsome, witty, and univer- sally admired. She was a New York lady, as the reader has hitherto learned, one of the famous De Lancey family so conspicuous in New York's public affairs, the granddaugh- ter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden, great-granddaughter of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the first lord of the manor, with a line of distinguished ancestry reaching backward to the very first little dorp on Manhattan Island. Her mar- riage with the accomplished Ralph Izard of Charleston, Mrs. Ralph Izard. Alice De Lancey. [From the painting by Gainsborough.] South Carolina, in 1767, whose education at the University of Cambridge had engendered foreign tastes, and whose liberal fortune had enabled him to gratify them, separated her in a measure from the influences conspiring to attach the De Lanceys to the Crown. Her affections and her sympathies must have been severely tried, for while she was moving in the honored circle of the most illustrious character in modern history, her favorite brother, who had commanded the forces raised to fight for the king in Westchester,
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