USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. I > Part 9
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Mr. Adams says of Chatham, " He died a martyr to his idol. He fell in the house of lords, with the sovereignty of parliament in his mouth." Yet, boys, you and other children have been taught to call this effort to rouse his countrymen to war to the death against this country, a speech in favour of American liberty !
John. Indeed, sir, I see the truth now. But it is hard that we should be taught so many falsehoods.
Un. It is, my good boy ; but our remedy must be to examine and judge for ourselves; determined to find the truth, and when we have found it, to tell it boldly. The undeserved reputations of individu- als will suffer, but the names of the worthy will shine more bright; and the cause of truth will gain in lustre.
John. Is it known, sir, what the inscription was on the statue of Chatham, or on its pedestal ?
Un. Yes: I have preserved a copy of it for the benefit of the curious. Here it is: Read it.
John. " A marble pedestrian statue of Lord Chat- ham was erected in Wall street, on the 7th of Sep- tember, 1770. The statue was in a Roman habit ; the right hand holding a scroll partly open, on which was inscribed, ' Articuli Magna Charta Liberta- tum.' The left hand is extended, in the attitude of one delivering an oration. On the south side of the pedestal is the following inscription cut in marble : . This statue of the right honourable William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, was erected as a publick testimo- ny of the grateful sense the colony of New York retains of the many eminent services he rendered to America, particularly in promoting the repeal of the stamp act, Anno Dom. 1770.'"
Un. Now we will adjourn until to-morrow. ·
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CHAPTER X.
John. Now, sir, please to go on : for the better I understand our history the greater is my anxiety to know more of it.
Un. That is the nature of all knowledge. The greater our acquirements, the more delightful is all subsequent study. Thus knowledge is "twice bless- ed." "The people of America were so delighted by the repeal of the stamp act that they took no notice of the declaration of parliament accompanying it. They had resisted; Great Britain had retracted-they tri- umphed. But of all places New York seemed to rejoice most. We have seen that they erected a statue to Pitt, but they likewise set up an image of his most gracious majesty George the Third ! They ordered these statues to be made in Europe, during the ebullition of gratitude for not having the collar and chain put on, seeming to forget that fear alone prevented the attempt to rivet the irons by force. These statues were ordered; but before they were set up the eyes of most men in America were freed from the films created by European jugglers. Still the people believed then, and long after, that Lord Chathamn was their friend, and huzzaed when the image was placed at the junction of William and Smith streets, in Wall street; but when the Bow- ling Green was prepared by the iron railing, still standing, and the equestrian statue of George the Third appeared in the centre, mounted on a marble pedestal, the event was celebrated only by his officers and their dependants ; it was soon tumbled to the dust, and has been so forgotten, that grave writers have said, "the statue that once stood in the Bowling Green of New York, was that of George the Second."
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John. While on the subject, please, sir, to tell us the history of this image of royalty.
Un. That it may not interrupt the chain of more interesting events, I will. The people, as you have heard, were so delighted with the success of their opposition to the stamp act, that they could not (or would not) see the meaning of the declaration that the British parliament had a right to bind the colo- nies in all cases whatsoever; their triumph dazzled their eyes, and they saw in Mr. Pitt and his master, two friends and benefactors. The assembly of New York voted money for an equestrian statue of the king, and a pedestrian representation of his minister. About three years after the statues of Pitt and his roy- al master were ordered, they arrived. The necessary preparations were made for erecting them, and the place of honour, the Bowling Green in front of Fort George, was selected for his sacred majesty's image, on the spot where the people had burnt the effigy of Governor Colden. It was pompously announced that this monument was intended to perpetuate the memory of the gratitude of his loyal subjects to the best of kings. It lasted five vears. I suppose all was not ready on the 4th of June, the day annually celebrated as the happy epoch of his birth, therefore the 21st of August, 1770, was selected for placing the horse and his rider on the pedestal prepared for their reception.
John. Why that day, sir ?
Un. It being the birthday of his deceased father, Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Wm. O ves, the son of George the Second.
Un. He died, you know, without ascending the throne. One of our oldest citizens has told me that he helped, as a journeyman wheelwright, to make the truck on which this ponderous effigy was dragged to the Bowling Green, "and the weight tore up the
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pavement as it went along," said he. Even the gilded image of royalty was burdensome and inju- rious. Here is a memorandum of the ceremony, cut from a newspaper of the time ; first premising that the corporation of the city and members of sev- eral incorporated institutions waited on Lieutenant. governor Colden, by invitation, at the fort.
Wan. What became of Sir Henry Moore, sir ?
Un. O, he had been long gone and Colden had ruled, after him and Dunmore had come and gone, all in this short time, and now the old gentleman presided, at the elevation of his master on the spot selected by the people, formerly, for a very different . exhibition.
John. " His majesty's health and other loyal toasts were drank, under a discharge of thirty-two pieces of cannon from the Battery, accompanied with a band of music. This beautiful statue is made of metal."
Un. The writer did not like to say lead.
John. "Being the first equestrian one of his pres- ent majesty, and is the workmanship of that cele- brated statuary, Mr. Wilson, of London. We learn that in a few days a marble pedestrian statue of Mr. Pitt, will be erected in Wall street."
Un. Of that we have already spoken. This equestrian statue of George the Third stood until the summer of 1776, and then was overthrown, and (tradition says) converted into musket balls by the provincials to resist his majesty's soldiers. I saw this statue in 1775, and the pedestal stood in the centre of the Bowling Green, as a kind of monu ment of departed royalty, and of the plain plat- form-simplicity of democracy, for some years after the revolution ; and I wish it had remained thero still, that the memory of the statue it once bore, its elevation, and its fall, might have been recalled by
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the question of every stranger, " What is the mean- ing of that vacant pedestal ??? But come, boys, (for I see Mary has deserted us to-day,) we must go back to 1766, and the arrival of Sir Henry Moore. This gentleman was the more acceptable from the unpop- ularity of Colden, and affairs were quiet here for a short time. But men of discernment saw the de- claration of parliament of their sovereignty over the colonies, and right to "bind them in all cases what- soever," hanging like the sword of Damocles over their heads, suspended by a hair.
W.m. I remember Damocles, sir, in my ancient history.
Un. A man named Charles Townsend cut the hair, and the sword fell in the shape of an act of parliament levying duties on painters' colours, paper, glass, and several other articles, and taking off the duties on teas in England, which had there been a source of revenue, and levying three pence per pound upon all kinds that should be in future pur- chased in the colonies. To add to the alarm occa- sioned by this additional taxation, the colonists found that their governors and judges appointed by Eng- land, were to be paid from the revenue raised from Americans without their consent, and thus made in- dependent, as it respected salaries. Another griev- ance which had been partly submitted to was in- creased; this was the quartering of troops on the provinces. A denial to obey the orders of the min- istry, promulgated by Sir Henry Moore, caused an act of parliament suspending New York from all powers of legislation, until she complied. This, you understand, was annihilating the assembly, the representatives of the people, by a stroke of a min- isterial pen.
Wm. But our people did not submit to this ! Un. As a part of our own history I must relate
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some particulars of the transactions of the time. Sir Henry Moore had declared his instructions, and repeated messages and answers had passed to and fro, when on the 23d of June, 1766, the assembly told the governor that they would furnish the bar- racks of New York and Albany with bedding, fire- wood, candles, and utensils for cooking, for two bat- * talions, not exceeding five hundred men each, and they would do no more.
Wm. And too much, for soldiers to lord it over them !
Un. So Mr. Mc Dougal, and Mr. Sears, and many others thought; but Sir Henry and his employers thought otherwise, as you shall see. The governor wrote to the ministry expressing his surprise, that instead of the gratitude he expected for the signal favours they had received, the assembly of New York evaded the demand made upon them for the troops, and only complied in part, " through fear of .he ill-consequences which would attend their re- fusing." The ministry wrote to Sir Henry Moore requiring cheerful obedience to the act of parlia- ment for quartering his majesty's troops. Sir Henry repeated his demand upon the assembly, and was answered that they had done as much as they could do. So early next year the bill was passed to pun- ish New York for disobedience, prohibiting the en- actment of any law whatsoever in the colony. The consequence of this was universal alarm through all the colonies, and resolutions not to import European goods. Before mentioning any other matters that agitated the colonies generally, and New York in particular, I will speak of some further troubles arising from the quartering of English soldiers, though they happened in 1769. A notice appeared in the newspapers censuring the assembly for grant- ing 2004. for quartering troops; and calling a meet-
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ing of the people. Accordingly, on the 18th of De- cember, about fourteen hundred of the people met in the fields; resolves were read to them by Mr. John Lamb, (afterward a captain in the expedition under Montgomery, and long known here as General Lamb,) and they announced their dissatisfaction with the grant of money abovementioned; and further, that they would not grant any thing for the quartering and supporting of troops among them. On the 20th, Mr. Colden (for Sir Henry Moore died September 11th, 1769) issued his proclamation, saying that the assembly had by resolve declared the paper pub- lished on the 16th instant, calling the meeting of the 18th, to be an infamous libel, and offering a reward of 50l. for the discovery of the author. Philip Schuyler was alone in the minority on this question ; he then took a stand that he never quitted. At the meeting in the fields a committee was ap- pointed to wait upon the representatives of the city in the general assembly, and to communicate these resolutions to them ; Mr. Lamb, Mr. Mc Dougal, and Captain Sears were on this committee. They executed their office, were received civilly, but were told that the majority of the people approved the act of the legislature; and it was too late to reconsider it. Meantime Mr. Lamb was ordered to appear be- fore the house of representatives to answer for hav- ing proposed the resolutions in the fields. The committee immediately announced that they were all equally answerable, and Mr. Lamb was dis- missed. It was well known that Alexander Mc Dou- gal was the writer of the offensive paper ; and he was subsequently called before the assembly to answer to this charge. He refused; as the house had already declared the writing a libel. This was con- strued "a contempt," and he was committed, that is, put in jail ; and remained in prison several months.
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Thus the assembly appeared in opposition to the people. When we next meet I will give you an ac- count of the New York liberty pole, and the trou- bles the people had to defend it from the attacks of the soldiers, whom they were taxed to support in idleness, to answer the purpose of their enemies in the English parliament.
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CHAPTER XI.
Wm. Now, Uncle, remember your promise to give us the history of the New York liberty pole.
John. Was the one in New York the first ever known, sir ?
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Un. Perhaps the first mast or pole that received that appellation. You have read in the history of Switzerland that the governor sent by Austria to rule in Uri, triumphantly erected a pole, placed a hat on it, and ordered the citizens to do homage to the emblem of tyranny.
Wm. That was a tyranny pole ; but brave Wil- liam 'Tell would not bow to it.
Un. It was erected to celebrate the triumph of despotism ; here the good people of New York tri- umphantly raised a mast in the fields, which, you know, was the place of all their great meetings, and has been used for like purposes since it has had the name of park, because enclosed and `ornamented. They were delighted that the opposition to the stamp act had caused its abrogation ; and were blind to the insolent declaration which accompanied the repeal, " that the parliament had a right to bind the colo- nies in all cases whatsoever." It was enough for the moment that Great Britain had been forced to
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retract. The news of the repeal, which took place in March, reached New York in May. Prepara- tions were made for celebrating the event, and Sir Henry Moore had policy enough to unite the re- joicings for a victory obtained by the people with the usual demonstrations of loyalty and attachment to his master always evinced on the king's birthday. By this means he could with propriety join with the people in demonstrations of joy. Accordingly on the 4th of June, a mast, as it was then called, was erected in the fields, inscribed " to his most gra- cious majesty George the Third, Mr. Pitt, and Lib- erty." It is recorded that an ox was roasted on each side of the common ; a large stage was built up, on which was placed twenty-five barrels of strong beer, a hogshead of rum, with sugar and other materials to make punch ; at another part of the fields, or coin- mon, were preparations for a bonfire, twenty-five cords of wood surrounded a pole, to the top of which was affixed twelve tar-barrels. At the upper end of the fields were placed five and twenty pieces of cannon, a flag-staff displayed the colours of England, and a band of musick played " God save the king." The governor, his council, the magistrates, with their civil and military officers, celebrated the day at the fort, in all probability, as was customary, by feast- ing, and drinking loyal toasts to the sound of mar- tial musick, and discharges of artillery. After this display of patriotism and loyalty in the fields, the people retired and left the mast standing with the inscription to the King, Pitt, and Liberty; and they soon had a proof that the rejoicings of the mil- stary, and king's officers of every kind, on the 4th of June, were not for the repeal of the stamp act, or the triumph of the rights of the people.
John. How, sir ?
Un. On Sunday night, the 10th of August, the
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mast " was cut down by some of the soldiers of the twenty-eighth regiment, quartered in the barracks." This was meant as an insult to the inhabitants, and felt as such; but they at first only showed their de- termination by meeting on the 11th and preparing to erect another " post" in place of that " which had been taken down the night before;" to this their would-be-masters objected, and interfered. A party of soldiers rushed in among them, with their bayo- nets in their hands, some sheathed and some un- sheathed, and as the depositions of several persons ` state, " cutting and slashing every one that fell in their way; the people retreating, and followed by the soldiers as far as Chapel street;" that is, Beek- man street, which was called Chapel street for many years after the building of St. George's chapel.
Wm. Was there no one to fight these soldiers ? Where was Captain Sears ?
Un. He was at his post, encouraging the people to set up another pole; but he was unarmed, and 'was one that received wounds from the insolent sol- diers. The people, however, re-erected the mast to the " King, Mr. Pitt, and Liberty;" and the military (probably overawed by the threats of the populace and restrained by the policy of their superiours) suf- fered it to stand until the night of the 18th of March, 1767, when after the citizens had celebrated the day as the anniversary of the repeal, and retired to rest, the soldiers cut down the second "mast." The next day the inhabitants (or that portion of them now distinguished as the "Sons of Liberty") erected another, more substantial, and secured with iron hoops to a considerable height above the ground. The night after this was set up, attempts were made to overthrow it, but without success. On Saturday night, the 21st of March, there was an attempt to
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blow it up, by boring a hole and filling it with gun- powder; but this also failed.
Wm. Why didn't the liberty boys keep watch, and blow them up?
Un. Next night a strong watch was set. A small company of soldiers appeared, with their coats turn- ed, and armed with bludgeons and bayonets; but finding that they were expected, they sneaked off. The next evening about six o'clock a party of armed military marched to the post ; and as they passed the tavern at which the repeal of the stamp act had been celebrated, they fired their muskets, two of which were pointed at the building. One ball passed through the house, and another lodged in a piece of its timber. This outrageous attempt at murder probably alarmed their superiours, who had encouraged them before, for on the next Tuesday, as the soldiers were proceeding to the pole, with a lad- der, taken from a building then erecting, they were turned back by an officer. The governor now issued orders for restraining the soldiery, and the attempts ceased for a time.
John. For how long, sir ?
Un. Certainly till the next celebration of the king's birthday ; for I find it recorded that on the 4th of June, 1767, when the "royal salute was fired from the fort, it was answered by twenty-one guns from the "liberty pole," (now so called.) "on which," says the record, " was suspended a UNION."
WVm. What is that, sir ?
Un. A flag so called, which indicated the union of England and Scotland. It appears that the " lib- erty pole" stood in proud defiance of the soldiers and their abetters until the 13th of January, 1770. You will remember that I have mentioned the dif- ficulties respecting quartering the soldiers, and the meeting in the fields, at which the legislature was 12
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, censured for granting money to find accommodations for the king's troops ; and that Mr. Lamb had been brought up before the assembly, and Mr. Mc Dougal imprisoned for the same affair.
John. We remember, sir.
Un. All this, and many other insolent attempts to subdue the spirit of the people, made them more determined; and their opposition excited the rage of the king's officers, and of their tools, the soldiers. So, on the 13th of January, 1770, a number of men belonging to the sixteenth regiment made an at- tempt to overthrow the liberty pole, " by sawing off the spurs round it," and by exploding gunpowder in a hole bored in the wood. The attempt failed, and they then attacked some citizens who were near Mr. Montanye's publick house, (the place usually selected for celebrating the repeal.) The citizens re- tired into the house, the soldiers broke the windows and entered the tavern bayonet in hand. A thrust made at a citizen was parried, and he received a slight wound in the forehead ; some officers inter- posed, and the ruffians retired to their barracks. Three days after, these fellows succeeded better; for they cut down the pole. The next day, the 17th of January, 1770, a great meeting of the inhabitants congregated in the fields, on the spot where the lib- erty pole had stood, and resolutions were adopted that "any soldiers who should be found out of their barracks after the roll was called, should be treated as enemies to the peace of the city." The instiga- tors of the soldiers caused a handbill to be printed in which they made a scurrilous reply to these re- solves, and it was attempted to be put up at the cor- ners, but this was resisted, and several affrays took place in consequence. In one of these, between the Fly market and Burling slip, it is said one man was
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"run through the body, and another had his scull split," but the soldiers were defeated.
John. Why, Uncle, this was a civil war in the heart of our city.
Un. Very like it, my son.
Wm. If I had been a man then-
John. Hush: it did not end there, sir; did it ?
Un. No. The inhabitants now wished to have the authority of the corporation for erecting a new liberty pole ; so, on the 8th of February, a committee of five gentlemen waited on the magistrates, in common council, with a petition for authority to erect
anew, the "pole sacred to constitutional liberty." They stated, that as the military had made war upon the rights of the people by destroying " the monument of gratitude to his majesty and the British patriots," the people had repeatedly re-erected others of more stability in the place where, "by the approbation of the corporation, the first had been fixed." They now requested the sanction of the common council to set up another, more permanent and better secured, in the same spot. This petition was rejected; proba- bly the magistracy were willing to remove the cause of disquiet, and therefore refused the publick land for this use. This did not defeat the intentions of the "sons of liberty." They found a piece of ground eleven feet wide and one hundred feet long (near the first spot) that was private property-this they purchased. Here a hole was dug twelve feet deep, to receive a mast prepared at the shipyards. This piece of timber, of great length, they cased all around with iron bars, placed lengthwise and riveted with large flat rivets, so as to extend near two-thirds of the height from the ground; and over these bars they encircled the mast with iron hoops, near half an inch thick, and when finished they had it drawn through the streets by six horses, decorated
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with ribands, and three flags flying inscribed with the words, "Liberty and Property." The pole was raised without any accident, amidst the shouts of the people, while a band of French-horns play- ed " God save the king." This mast was strong- ly secured in the earth by timbers and great stones. On the top was raised another mast twenty-two feet in height, with a gilt vane, and the word Lib. erty, in large letters.
Wm. So all they got by cutting down the others was, that the people dropped Mr. Pitt and the king. I dare say Captain Sears was at the head of this. But was Mr. Mc Dougal in jail all the while ?
Un. At this time he was still in confinement, but the people paid him every honour in testimony of their approbation, and not only the gentlemen, but the ladies of the city thronged to the prison to cheer him and show their opposition to the ruling powers. A few days after the setting up of the great liberty pole, forty-five gentlemen went in procession to the new jail and dined with Captain Mc Dougal, having forty-five pounds of beefsteak, and observing the number forty-five in every thing brought on the table.
Wm. Why, Uncle ?
John. I know; you will read about Wilkes and his " North Briton."
Un. Number forty-five of a paper written by John Wilkes was presented as a libel in England, and was popular: this made a resemblance between Captain Mc Dougal's case and Mr. Wilkes's. At the next celebration of the repeal of the stamp act, the inhabitants again paid a publick compliment to the imprisoned patriot. A great number dined at Mon- tanye's publick house, near the liberty pole, which tavern they called " Hampden Hall," after the great Hampden who opposed Charles the First.
John. I know, sir.
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Un. On the top of Hampden Hall, and on the liberty pole, they had colours flying. The compa- ny at dinner was three hundred, and they nomi- nated ten of their number to dine with Captain Mc- Dougal at his chamber in the jail.
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