USA > New York > Colonial records of the New York Chamber of Commerce, 1768-1784 : with historical and biographical sketches > Part 24
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NOTE 90, PAGE 144. TREASURER OF SOCIETY OF PRO- PRIETORS .- James Parker was elected President of the Board of Pro- prietors of the Eastern Division of the State of New Jersey, April 10, 1771, and the following year was re-elected. He also was Treasurer for the same time .- Note from F. Lawrence Boggs, Register.
NOTE 91, PAGE 146. ADVERTISEMENT AS TO TONNAGE .- The Report of the Committee of 3d September, 1771, signed by Hamilton Young, Miles Sherbrooke, Richard Yates, John Moore, and Jacobus Van Zandt, and the Resolution of 5th November, 1771, may be seen in Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury for 27th January, 1772.
NOTE 92, PAGE 148. THREE NEWSPAPERS IN THE CITY (January, 1772) .- " The New York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury, printed by Hugh Gaine, Printer and Bookseller and Stationer, at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover Square (established 3d August, 1752, discontinued 13th October, 1783).
" The New York Journal, or the General Advertiser, containing the freshest articles both Foreign and Domestick, Printed and Published by John Holt, on Hunter's Quay, Rotton Row (established May 29, 1766, dis- continued in 1785).
" The New York Gazette, or the Weekly Post Boy, containing the fresh- est Advices, Foreign and Domestick. Established by James Parker in January 1742-3. August 27, 1770, Samuel Inslee and Anthony Carr pub- lished this paper, and continued it two years."-Isaiah Thomas' History of Printing in America, vol. ii. p. 293-298.
NOTE 93, PAGE 153. ADVERTISEMENT OF RESOLUTION AS TO JERSEY MONEY .- A long advertisement of the action taken by the Chamber, March 3, 1772, with regard to the charge for weighing of flour ; and a full statement of the motion and resolution as to the rates at which " Fersey money" should be taken, appeared in Holt's New York Fournal, or General Advertiser for Thursday, March 12, 1772.
NOTE 94, PAGE 156. CUPOLA ON THE EXCHANGE .- This was built in accordance with the instructions of the Common Council, who on the 13th July, 1753, " Ordered that the second story of the Exchange, now a building at the Lower End of Broad street be not exceeding fifteen feet in height and not less than fourteen, and the Room be arched from the height of the said fourteen feet, and that a CUPOLA be erected in said Exchange, under the direction of the Committee appointed for completing the said Ex- change."-Common Council Minutes, vol. v. p. 340.
NOTE 95, PAGE 156. SEAL OF THE CHAMBER .- This Seal was made in London, and brought out by Captain Winn, who commanded one of the vessels in the trade at the time. It is of solid silver, about three inches in diameter, and one inch in thickness. Mr. Prosper M. Wetmore, who was Secretary of the Chamber from 1843 to 1849, relates a singular in- cident of its loss and recovery : "A somewhat curious story attaches to this Seal. Some years after the Revolution, a gentleman interested in the affairs of this country, in looking through a sort of curiosity shop in London where a miscellaneous collection of personal effects was displayed to catch the eye
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of a purchaser, fortunately discovered this signet of the Chamber of Com- merce of New York. He immediately secured the valuable estray, and with commendable patriotism restored it to the proper custody."-Note of Mr. Wetmore to Mr. Charles King; History of Chamber of Commerce.
The President was the designated custodian of the Seal by resolution of 2d June, 1772 (p. 160). It seems probable that the last Colonial President, Mr. Isaac Low, took it with him on his retirement with the British troops in 1783, and that it afterwards found its way into the shop from whence it was rescued.
The device was engraved on the piece of plate presented June 3, 1780, to Captain Newman for saving the Mails of the Carteret Packet (page 233). The Seal is still in fine preservation, in the custody of the Secretary, and is constantly used in authentication of documents.
NOTE 96, PAGE 157. ANNUAL DINNER OF THE CHAMBER, (1772) .- No notice of this entertainment appears in the public prints of the day.
NOTE 97, PAGE 163. ROOF OVER THE EXCHANGE .- This shingled roof is another evidence of the poor and temporary character of the public buildings of the last century.
NOTE 98, PAGE 165. W .- A private memorandum of the Secretary, the meaning of which is now lost.
NOTE 99, PAGE 166. NASH .- The meaning of this abbreviation is ob- scure. From the context, it is doubtless intended as a designation of some locality.
NOTE 100, PAGE 167. COST OF PORTRAIT .- A comparison of the encouragement to art a century since, and now, may be drawn from the price paid for the full-length portrait of Governor Colden, £37, and the cost of the full-length of Mr. President Perit in 1863, $1,000.
NOTE 101, PAGE 175. ACT OF THE ASSEMBLY AS TO FISH BOUNTIES .- This Act, passed by the Twenty-ninth General Assembly, 8th March, 1773, " for the encouraging a Fishery on the Sea Coast for the better supply of the Markets in the City of New York," is recorded in Gaine's Laws of New York, page 742.
NOTE 102, PAGE 176. FISH OF NEW YORK .- The fish here men- tioned are deep sea-fish. The object of the bounty was to foster a fishery on the coast. The RAY is still abundant in the waters about New York. Mr. Devoe in his Market Assistant describes several varieties under the names of Clear-nosed Ray, Spotted Ray, Whip-sting Ray, Cow-nosed Ray, Broad- sting Ray. The SKATE is called, by him, a variety of the Ray, and is descri- bed under the name of Smooth Skate.
NOTE 103, PAGE 176. TRAWL NET .- " Trawler-men .- A sort of Fishermen that us'd unlawful Arts and Engines to destroy the Fish upon the River Thames."-Edward Phillips' Dict. (1720.)
Troll .- To fish for a pike with a rod which has a pulley towards the bot- tom .- Samuel Johnson.
The net so called was probably the ordinary Fisherman's net. The Skate and Ray were excepted because of their great number and poor quality.
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NOTE 104, PAGE 177. PROPOSED MEMBERS .- The only entry on the minutes about which there is some uncertainty. Of the three mem- bers proposed at the April meeting, one, Johnston Fairholme, appears at the June meeting, without any notice being given of his election. William Jauncey was admitted 7th December, 1773. Daniel Ludlow takes his seat Jan. 20, 1784, without any notice appearing of his election.
NOTE 105, PAGE 178. ADVERTISEMENT OF FISH PREMIUMS. -" Chamber of Commerce, New York, 6th April, 1773. Whereas the Legislature of the Province of New York have, by an Act passed the 8th March last, directed that the Overplus of the Duty of Excise, collected in the said City and County, be annually paid, for the first five years next after the passing of said Act, to the Treasurer of the Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce, to be, by the said Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce, disposed of in such Manner as they shall think most proper for encouraging a Fishery on the Sea Coast, for the better supplying the Markets in the City of New York. In order therefore that the Intention of the Legislature may be fully answered, and the Inhabitants of this City receive the Benefit of so laudable a Donation; It is resolved and agreed that the following Premiums hereafter mentioned be paid by the Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce to such Persons who, upon application and due Proof made, to the satisfaction of the Chamber, shall be entitled to the same, viz., &c."- Rivington's New York Gazetteer, April 29, 1773 (No. 2).
The notices of the Committee appointed by the Chamber to award the premiums for the year ending May 1, 1774, calling on all claimants to meet at the house of Thomas Doran, on the New Dock, may be seen in Gaine's N. Y. Gazette for May 9, 1774.
The Committee for 1774-1775 met at Mrs. Brock's (a tea-house opposite the Battery) three days at the close of June .- Rivington's N. Y. Gazetteer, June 22, 1775.
NOTE 106, PAGE 178. FARE .- This is a very unusual use of this word, which is generally applied to the money received for a passage, not to the trip of the carrier ; yet it can hardly be termed incorrect, since both Spenser and Milton use the word in the sense of "to go." Here it means the fisher- man's voyage.
NOTE 107, PAGE 181. DEPARTURE FOR ENGLAND OF GENE- RAL GAGE .- "On Tuesday, about eleven o'clock, his Excellency the Hon. General Gage, with his Lady, their son and two daughters, Miss Morris, Major Sheriffe, and the Captains Kemble and Dobson, embarked on board the Ship Earl of Dunmore, Capt. Lawrence, for London. The Royal Artillery were under arms, and saluted his Excellency with 17 guns, a great company of gentlemen attended his Excellency to the ship, express- ing in very fervent terms their wishes of safety and felicity to this most valuable and sincerely beloved personage, his truly amiable lady and family." -Rivington's New York Gazetteer for Thursday, June 10, 1773 (No. 8).
NOTE 108, PAGE 182. SERIES OF GLORIOUS VICTORIES .- The allusion is here to the successes of British arms in the French war. The expeditions, from the commencement of hostilities, in 1755, to the Treaty of Peace with France and Spain, 1763, which resulted favorably, were : " 1755, against the French in Nova Scotia, General Winslow with an army of Provincials chiefly; 1758, against Louisburg and the Islands of Cape Breton and St. John, Admiral Boscawen and General Amherst ;
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against Frontenac, Col. Bradstreet with Regulars and Provincials detached from General Abercrombie's army; against Fort du Quesne with Regulars and Provincials, General Forbes ; 1759, against Niagara, Gen. Prideaux and Sir Wm. Johnston with Regulars and Provincials ; against Ticonderoga and Crown Point with Regulars and Provincials, Gen. Amherst ; against Quebec, Gen. Wolfe ; 1760, against Montreal, General Amherst with Regulars and Provincials ; against Havana, Earl of Albemarle and Admiral Pocock with an army of Regulars and Provincials ; 1762, against Newfoundland, Lord Colville and Col. Amherst with Regulars and Provincials."-Extract from Hugh Gaine's Almanac for 1771.
NOTE 109, PAGE 188. [6] .- A memorandum of the Secretary, probably a note of payment of fines.
NOTE IIO, PAGE 189. EMBARKATION OF GOVERNOR TRYON FOR ENGLAND .- " On Thursday morning, about ten o'clock, Mrs. and Miss Tryon, accompanied by several Ladies of this City, embarked at Mur- ray's Wharf, on board the Mercury pacquet (Dillon), and presently after his Excellency the GOVERNOR proceeded on foot from his house in Broad Street, attended by several of the Honourable gentlemen of his Majesty's Council and of the Assembly, the Clergy of the different Churches, the Mayor and Corporation, and a vast concourse of the inhabitants, to the water side, where he was received by his Honour the Lieutenant Governor, and after taking a most affectionate leave of them, went on board, under a salute of three vollies of Captain Lasher's company of Grenadiers, which were taken up by Captain Samuel Tudor's company of Artillery, who fired a round of nineteen guns ; these were succeeded by salutes from a battery of Philip Livingston, Esq. ; at St. George's Ferry, Long Island, his Majesty's ship the Swan, several other vessels, and from Fort George ; which were returned by artillery on board the Mercury ; the pilot-boat, with a number of Gentle- men and a fine band of music, waited on his Excellency to Sandy Hook, where they took their leave ; and on Sunday morning, at six o'clock, the pacquet proceeded to sea, with a steady north-west wind .- Thursday, April 14, 1774, Rivington's New York Gazetteer.
NOTE III, PAGE 191. MAPS OF EAST AND WEST FLORIDA. -This is hardly a proper designation of the work of Captain Bernard Ro- mans, which is entitled " a concise Natural History of East and West Flor- ida, containing an account of the Natural Produce of all the Southern Part of British America, in the three Kingdoms of Nature, particularly the Ani- mal and Vegetable, &c., &c., &c., to which is added by way of appendix, Plain and Easy Directions to Navigation over the Bank of Bahama, the Coast of the Two Floridas, the North of Cuba, and the Dangerous Gulph Passage, &c., &c., illustrated with Twelve Copper Plates, and Two whole Sheet Maps. New York, 2 vols., 12mo, 1775. In the list of subscribers which precedes the book may be seen the name of the Chamber of Commerce for the twelve copies ordered by it.
NOTE 112, PAGE 192. CHANCELLOR AND VICE ADMIRAL .- The Governor of the Colony held both these offices. Smith, in his History of New York, gives a full account of the Court of Chancery, and the discon- tent on the part of the people and the Assembly at the exercise of the func- tions of Chancellor by the Governor. The practice of the Court, he says, was copied after Chancery in England. The title of Vice Admiral was of course nominal.
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NOTE 113, PAGE 192. GENTLEMAN ON WHOM THE COM- MAND WILL DEVOLVE .- On the departure of Governor Tryon for England, the Government fell upon Lieutenant Governor Colden, who often held this post in the temporary absences of the Chiefs of State. This was the last time he held the command. Governor Tryon returned in 1775.
NOTE 114, PAGE 195. THE PUBLIC MARKET .- There were eight Markets in New York at this time (1774). The Old Slip Market, established 1691, removed 1779; Coenties Slip Market, 1691-1776 ; the Fly Market at the foot of Maiden Lane, 1699-1822 ; the Exchange Market, foot of Broad Street, 1738-1799 ; the Peck Slip Market, 1763-1792 ; the Bear Market, 1771 (Washington Market was built near its site in 1812); the Crown or Mesiers' Market, at Thurman's Slip, on the North River, 1771-1776 ; the Oswego Market, junction of Broadway and Maiden Lane, 1772-18II.
Of these the Old Fly Market was the most celebrated. "It could claim the merit of being the best and most liberally supplied with all the various articles used for human food."-Devoe's Market Book.
NOTE 115, PAGE 202. NEW CEDED COUNTRIES. - The new ceded countries to the southward of Georgia. - East and West Florida were ceded to England by Spain, on the Ratification of Peace by England, with France and Spain, on the 10th February, 1763.
NOTE 116, PAGE 202. SWORN TO EXECUTE THEIR RESPEC- TIVE OFFICES .- The Chamber did not meet again until June, 1779, when the sessions were resumed. The officers chosen in May, 1775 (except John Alsop, who left the city on the British occupation), served in 1779.
· NOTE 117, PAGE 203. STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (1775-1776). -For four years the City of New York had been in a state of unquiet which rendered commerce uncertain and irregular, and was by no means favorable to the meetings of an organized body whose functions were those of Peace. Upon the news of the Lexington fight the citizens rose in mass, and on the 5th of May, 1775, appointed a Committee of Safety to take charge of the Government, and business was at once suspended. In June of the same year, at the request of the "Provincial Congress," General Wooster, who was encamped at Harlem, took command of the city. After the disastrous battle of Long Island, in September, 1776, the British under Lord Howe resumed their authority, which was maintained until the close of the war. Many of the citizens left the city with the American troops, and in their turn many of the refugees from Boston and other places within the American lines, came to New York for protection, and established themselves here.
The fatal fire of 1776, which consumed a large part of the City, caused also a derangement of trade from which it did not recover for many years. A second calamity of the same nature visited the city in 1778.
NOTE 118, PAGE 203. INCREASE OF COMMERCE, 1779 .- The City of New York was, during the Revolutionary war, the head-quarters of the British army in America, and its great dépôt of supplies. During the succeeding year the captures of American vessels had been very numer- ous. Governor Tryon alludes to this in his Proclamation of the 8th March, 1779: "The City of New York is become an immense magazine of all Kinds of Supplies for a very extensive Commerce." -- Gaine's New York Gazette, March 15, 1779.
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NOTE 119, PAGE 203. HIS MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONERS .- In the year 1778 (Eighteenth George III.), Parliament passed an "Act to enable his Majesty to appoint Commissioners with sufficient powers to treat, counsel and agree upon the means of quieting the disorders now existing in certain of the Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces in North America." The Commissioners were the EARL OF CARLISLE, GEORGE JOHNSTONE, and WILLIAM EDEN. To these were joined LORD HOWE and Sir WILLIAM HOWE, but they did not act, the former being chiefly with the fleet and the latter having returned to England. General (Sir HENRY) CLINTON took the place of General Howe on the Commission. Dr. ADAM FERGUSON, Pro- fessor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, was the Secretary .- Sparks's Writings of Washington, v. 397.
NOTE 120, PAGE 203. PROCLAMATION OF THE COMMIS- SIONERS .- Failing in their purpose to treat with the Congress which declined to negotiate except on the basis of American Independence, the Commissioners proceeded to use such of their powers as seemed most fit to strengthen the cause of the King. On the 26th of September, 1778, the EARL OF CARLISLE, Sir HENRY CLINTON, and WILLIAM EDEN issued a PROCLAMATION in which they announce their desire "to give all immediate relief and security to the trade carried on by his Majesty's loyal subjects at the Port of New York-they therefore suspend so much of the Acts of Parliament of 1776 as prevents the exportation of goods formerly allowed to be shipped from this port to Great Britain, Ireland, Newfoundland, Hal- ifax, Rhode Island, East and West Florida, and the British West Indies ; the articles of stores and provisions, naval and military stores, excepted." They also gave license and warrant to the captains of vessels making prizes to "send all such captures to the ports of New York and New- port in Rhode Island," and authorize that the captures "may be exported into and landed in Great Britain or any other part of his Majesty's Dominions," upon payment of the usual duties .- Gaine's New York Gazette, October 5, 1778. (For renewals of this Proclamation see Note 164.)
NOTE 121, PAGE 203. THE MERCHANTS' COFFEE HOUSE .- The place where this building stood is now known as the South East corner of Wall and Water Streets, and is the site now occupied by the Journal of Commerce. A Coffee House was kept here at a very early period, which gave the name of Coffee House Slip to the slip at the foot of Wall street.
A notice of letters left there by the captain of a vessel in August, 1744, for the printer of the chief newspaper of the day, shows that it was a general resort. "Whereas, about a Fortnight ago, three or four Letters, directed to the Printer of this Paper, were left at the Merchants' Coffee House in this city, among many other Letters by Captain Romar from South Caro- lina ; which Letters have been by ill-minded Persons either destroyed or con- veyed away unknown." Signed by JAMES PARKER ; who offers a reward for their recovery, and adds in a Postscript, " the keeper of the said Coffee House's late Usage to me, obliges me to have no more favourable Senti- ments of him than the Case will allow."-Parker's Post Boy, (No. 84), Aug. 27, 1744.
A second notice, the same year, shows the date at which the dock was put out at Wall Street : " To be Sold, by Isaac Abrahams, newly come from England, on the New Dock, near the Merchants' Coffee House, all manner of Dantzick cordial Liquors, Rum and Brandy and Raspberry Brandy, Dr. Forbeno's Bitters with Directions and Hungary Water at reasonable
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Rates. Also, all sorts of New Market caps and other sorts for Gentlemen and Ladies."-Parker's Post Boy (No. 95), November 12, 1744.
The location of the building is established by an advertisement which appears a few years later in the newspaper of the same printer, which had then changed its name : "To be sold by Publick Vendue, on Wednesday, the 5th instant, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, at the Meal Market, near the Merchants' Coffee House in New York, the Sails, Rigging, Anchors, Cables, &c., belonging to the Snow Noble Jane, lately lost near the East Bank."- The New York Gazette revived in the Weekly Post Boy (No. 298), October 3, 1748.
The next year a quaint advertisement defines the exact locality with more precision : To be sold by Henry Clopper, at the corner of the Meal Market, near the Merchants' Coffee House, "All sorts of men's and women's Sad- dles, Saddlers' Ware, Breed, Fringe, Plush, Brass Furniture, Brass Nails and Tacks, and a large assortment of Horse Whips. He also has several riding Chairs and Kittereens ready made for Sale, after the newest Fashion. He also mends Coaches, Chaises, Chairs, and Kittereens, after the cheapest and best manner."-Parker's New York Gazette, revived in the Weekly Post Boy (No. 323), March 27, 1749.
Its position in relation to the Meal Market is fully settled by a notice which appeared a few years later of James Murray, Druggist, "at the sign of the Bell, near the Merchants' Coffee House, opposite the Meal Market, New York."-Gaine's New York Mercury (No. 150), June 23, 1755.
For a few years, from 1751 to 1754, this was the great resort for the merchants of the city. The journals abound in evidences of the favor it enjoyed. Vendues of ships and prizes, of cargoes of goods, of houses, land, and negroes, follow each other in rapid succession. The captains engage for freight or passage here, and lost articles are to be returned to this general place of meeting.
At this time the house was on the river, which came up to Water Street. A proof of this is found in a mercantile notice : " To be sold, on board the Snow Jamaica Planter, Samuel Whyting, Master, now lying opposite the Merchants' Coffee House, a few barrels of the best Red Herrings."-Gaine's New York Mercury (No. 207), Monday, July 6, 1756.
The house now begins to lose its old reputation. The Meal Market, ill cared for, had been for many years a great nuisance to the neighbors. The New Exchange, with its rival Coffee House, began to draw away the throng which had made the Merchants' Coffee House the business centre.
Who kept the Merchants' Coffee House during this long period is uncer- tain. A notice some years later is one of the first to be met with of a keeper of the House. "The Merchants' Coffee House, late in the occupa- tion of Mrs. Ferrari, and now of Elizabeth Wragg, on the opposite cross corner to the New House, is now fitted up in a most neat and commodious manner for the reception of Merchants and other Gentlemen who will please to favour her with their Company ; where may be had Breakfast every morning, and Relishes at all Hours. Coffee as usual, &c."-Holt's New York Journal and General Advertiser (No. 1531), May 7, 1772.
As no further mention appears on the minutes of any change of place of meeting, it is presumed that the Chamber of Commerce continued to hold its sessions here until May 6, 1804, when a long break occurred in its history.
When it was revived on the 4th of March, 1817, by the active instrumen- tality of Mr. John Pintard, for many years after its honored Secretary, it met at the Tontine Coffee House, on the north-west corner of Wall and Water Streets, a few paces distant from the site of the OLD MERCHANTS' COFFEE HOUSE .- MSS. Minutes of the Chamber, vol. i. p. 576.
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NOTE 122, PAGE 204. COMMANDANT OF NEW YORK .- Major- General DANIEL JONES succeeded Major-General JAMES ROBERTSON in this Post. His first Proclamation, dated May 4, 1778, appointing ANDREW ELLIOT Superintendent-General of the Police, appeared in Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, May 4, 1778.
Major-General JONES served until the next year. On the 7th July, 1779, the following notice was published : "His Excellency, the Commander-in- Chief, has been pleased to appoint Major General PATTISON Commandant of the Garrison of New York, in the room of Lieut. General JONES .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, July 7, 1779.
NOTE 123, PAGE 204. SUCCESS OF PRIVATE SHIPS OF WAR. -Governor Tryon, in a PROCLAMATION issued March 8, 1779, giving notice " that ample provision is made by the laudable Ardor of his Majesty's loyal Subjects for the employment of all Seamen, Ship-carpenters, and other Landsmen, resorting to this Port, in short and successful Cruises against his Majesty's Enemies," says, "I have already issued one hundred and twenty-one Commissions to as many private Vessels of War,-that in the short space of Time elapsed since the eighteenth of September last the Prize Vessels arrived here amount to above six hundred thousand Pounds Lawful money of New York, at the ancient currency of eight Shillings a milled Dollar."-Gaine's New York Gazette, March 15, 1779.
This statement was verified by the publication, a few days later, of " A List of Vessels commissioned as Letters of Marque from the Port of New York, since the 8th of September, 1778 (121 in number), and of their prizes " (165 in number), published in Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, March 22, 1779.
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