USA > New York > Colonial records of the New York Chamber of Commerce, 1768-1784 : with historical and biographical sketches > Part 26
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On the 7th July, 1779, an order was issued by the same Magistrate : " All loaf Bread to weigh Two Pound each loaf for fourteen coppers each."- Gaine's New York Gazette, July 12, 1779.
On the 18th February, 1780, they announce "the Assize of Bread is to continue at Two Pounds each Loaf, but the Price of each Loaf is to be Fifteen Coppers."-Gaine's New York Gazette, February 21, 1780.
On the 15th of March, 1780, they directed that "all Bread made of Flour of the first Quality must be baked into Long Loaves of Two Pounds each, stamped with the Initials of the Baker's name, and sold for Fourteen Cop- pers each Loaf. And all Bread made of merchantable Flour of an inferior Quality must be baked into Sound Loaves weighing Two Pounds and one- half each, stamped with the Initials of the Baker's name, and sold for Four- teen Coppers each Loaf."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, March 18, 1780.
On the 20th November, 1780, they order "that all Bread made of wheat
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flour of the first Quality must be baked into Long Loaves of Two Pounds' weight each, and stamped with the Initials of the Baker's name, and sold for Sixteen Coppers each Loaf." (Bread of the second quality in proportion as before.)-Gaine's New York Gazette, November 27, 1780.
On the IIth January, 1782, the Loaves are ordered to be of Two Pounds and one quarter Weight each, and sold at Fourteen Coppers .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, January 12, 1782.
On the 6th May, 1783, appeared the last order, that the Loaves be of Three Pounds' Weight, and sold for Fourteen Coppers .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, May 7, 1783.
NOTE 143, PAGE 226. INSPECTOR OF BREAD .- The recom- mendation of the Chamber, that a Public Inspector of Bread be appointed, was immediately adopted.
On the 15th March an order was issued with certain regulations, and announcing that "In order that the above Regulations may be duly en- forced, JERONIMUS ALSTYNE is appointed Inspector of Bread, with direc- tions and powers constantly to visit the several Bake-Houses in the City, and to make Seizure of all such Bread as he may find deficient either in the above-mentioned Qualities, Weight or Stamp."-Gaine's N. Y. Gazette, March 27, 1780.
On the IIth January, 1782, BALTHAZAR CREAMER was appointed In- spector of Bread.
NOTE 144, PAGE 227. VALUE OF COINS .- On the 30th April, 1777, Sir WILLIAM HOWE, Commander-in-Chief, issued the following PROCLAMA- TION : " Whereas many Inconveniences arise from Merchants and others in this City, charging their Goods and Wares, in sterling Money instead of Currency of the Province, I have therefore thought fit to issue this Procla- mation, hereby strictly charging and commanding that the Prices asked for all Goods, Wares, Merchandises and Provisions, hereafter to be sold in this City shall be in Currency agreeable, to the following rates : A Guinea weighing 5 Pennyweight 7 Grains, one Pound, Seventeen Shillings and Four Pence ; A Half Johannes, 9 Pennyweight 3 Grains, Three Pounds 4 Shillings : a Moidore, 6 Pennyweight 22 Grains, two Pounds Eight Shil- lings ; a Spanish milled Dollar, Eight Shillings ; an English Shilling, One Shilling and Nine Pence ; of which all persons are to take notice and govern themselves under pain of Military Execution."-Gaine's N. Y. Gazette, May 12, 1777.
The contracts for Sterling alluded to in the text were, in the opinion of the Chamber, to be settled for in Coin. The advance over the value of the Coin in Great Britain was the ordinary premium on Specie ; the Exchange does not enter into the question. Such is essentially the practice at the pres- ent day : the seller requires the Sterling money or its equivalent.
NOTE 145, PAGE 229. LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTEND- ENT .- ANDREW ELLIOT, afterwards Lieut. Governor, held the office of Superintendent of Police at this time. No mention is to be found of the letter here alluded to.
NOTE 146, PAGE 229. LETTER FROM GENERAL ROBERT- SON .- General Robertson arrived in New York from England by way of Savannah on the 23d March, 1780-" And was inducted into the office of the Governor of the Province of New York on the 27th." He at once set about his duties. The Letter here referred to does not appear in any of the news- papers. It seems to have been addressed to the Superintendent of Police.
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If addressed to the Chamber, it would have been formally acknowledged in their Letter of 2d May, 1780.
NOTE 147, PAGE 229. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRIVATEERS .- In the early days of the war the British authorities had shown great unwil- lingness to encourage private ships of war. Their hope was then to restore good feeling between the Home Government and the Colonies. This was made a strong charge against Lord Viscount Howe on his return to England. One of the private pamphlets printed to show the (supposed) weakness of his rule has these striking passages :
" You suffered the rebel merchants to carry on a constant and extensive trade with all their ports, and even from Egg Harbor, within twenty leagues of your head-quarters. And when the Loyalists at New York, enraged at your inactivity, and the losses they daily sustained, offered to destroy the Rebel Ships in that port, provided you would give them permission with a small share of your assistance, they were not obtained. In short, my Lord, you suffered the Rebels to import whatever was necessary to relieve their distress, and to support that Rebellion you were sent to suppress. . . . The Rebels were continually fitting out privateers in almost all their ports. These were constantly intercepting the British merchandise in the Euro-
pean as well as the American seas. In consequence of these in the month of April, 1777, authority from the Admiralty was sent over to his Majesty's loyal subjects for the like commission against the people in rebel- lion. . Many (of the Loyalists) applied to the Governors for their commissions, and many privateers would have been immediately fitted up could they have been obtained. But through your influence and interference these commissions were refused. . The reason and the only reason assigned is an apprehension in your Lordship that the privateers would take from the fleet under your command the seamen necessary to fight and navi- Nothing, therefore, was necessary to remove this objection but a Proclamation prohibiting the Captains of privateers from taking Brit- gate.
ish seamen. Since his Lordship's resignation the Rebel Navy has been in a great measure destroyed by the small British force remaining in America, and the privateers sent out from New York. Their navy, which consisted at the time of his Lordship's departure of thirty vessels, is now reduced to eight. And the number of privateers fitted out in New England amounting to one hundred and upwards, is now less than forty ; the prices of all foreign necessaries and articles of commerce are raised more than 200 per cent., exclusive of the depreciation of their money. And so great is the risk of their trade that no insurance can be procured in America."-Letter to Lord Viscount H-e on his naval conduct in America, signed by " The Friend of your Country." London, 1779.
These and similar representations had their effect in England.
Governor Tryon's views were plainly set forth in a letter to Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, dated 29th June, 1779, in which he expresses his "wish for some early and explicit declaration in support of the public faith pledged by Admi- ral Gambier (and himself)." He states the crews commissioned from this port to amount to upwards of six thousand men ; and he complained that the "Proclamation of Sir George Collier, of the 13th instant, however well intended or proper for the prevention of Desertion from the King's Ships, cannot fail of damping the ardour of the Merchants and Adventurers."-N. Y. Col. Doc. viii. 772.
In what mode General Robertson proposed to aid this already flourishing business does not appear. He probably relieved the ships from the effect of the Proclamation of Admiral Arbuthnot, issued Sept. 14, 1779, giving notice
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of impressment on board privateers and merchant vessels of an equivalent for all deserters from the British fleet. The last appearance of this advertise- ment was on the 22d April, 1780, in Rivington's Royal Gazette. Governor Robertson's first Proclamation was issued on the 15th of the same month.
NOTE 148, PAGE 230. DRAFTS OF LETTERS TO AND FROM GENERAL ROBERTSON .- These letters, the entry of which on the minutes had been previously omitted, were recorded thereon in February, 1867, by the Editor (the Secretary of the Chamber). They were found in Rivington's Royal Gazette for Saturday, 13th May, 1780, and in Hugh Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury for Monday, 15th May, 1780.
NOTE 149, PAGE 232. THE CARTERET PACKET .- On Wednes- day (May 24) arrived the CARTERET PACQUET, Capt. Newman, in about forty days from Falmouth .- Rivington's Royal Gazette for Saturday, May 27, 1780.
" PUBLICK AUCTION .- This Day, will be sold at the Coffee House, the Ship CARTERET, packet, Burthen about 230 tons, copper bottomed. As she now lies Stranded near Jones's Inlet, on the South side of Long Island, with all her materials on board, and those brought on shore, consisting of anchors, cables, sails, standing and running rigging, guns, provisions, &c., &c., &c. Inventory to be seen with DANIEL MCCORMICK."-Gaine's New York Gazette, June 5, 1780.
"TO BE SOLD AT PRIVATE SALE, All the Stores and Materials lately belonging to the Ship CARTERET PACKET, consisting of cables, anchors, sails, standing and running rigging, masts, spars, pumps, a complete six- oar'd cutter, 24 feet long, and a new yawl ; also, six pair double fortified six-pounders, and two pair of four-pounders, with carriages, breechings, tacklings, rammers and spunges, and a quantity of shot. Enquire of No. I, Mill Street."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, July 5, 1780.
" ON MONDAY NEXT, X o'clock, on the Dock below the Coffee House, will be Sold by Templeton and Stewart, all the Stores and Materials lately belonging to the Ship CARTERET Packet, &c., &c." (the notice similar in other respects to the preceding) .- Rivington's Royal Gazette for Saturday, July 8, 1780.
No account appeared in New York of the attack upon the CARTERET ex- cept in the resolution of the Chamber.
The following account appeared in the American papers : "Providence, May 27, 1780 .- We learn that four privateers, three of them belonging to New London, on Wednesday last (May 24), drove a copper-bottomed ship ashore on Long Island Beach, 6 miles from Sandy Hook ; she mounted 22 nine- pounders, and by some papers found on board proved to be the London Pack- et from Falmouth, which place she left the 15th of April. Her crew, 55 in number, escaped with the mail. . Some valuable effects were taken from on board the packet, but a fleet from New York heaving in sight and some frigates standing for the privateers, they were obliged to leave her." -- Pennsylvania Packet, June 13, 1780.
The next year Captain Newman again appears as the Commander of a Carteret Packet ; whether the old stranded ship saved and repaired, or a new one, does not appear. She is noticed as having arrived from Fal- mouth, and as being at Staten Island June 26, 1781 .- Rivington's Royal Ga- zette, June 30, 1781.
NOTE 150, PAGE 232. PRIVATEERS OFF LONG ISLAND .- At this time the American privateers were extremely bold and successful. The
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French occupation of Newport had called away many British cruisers from the station. A short time after the running ashore of the Carteret, the Mercury Packet, Captain Dillon, was captured and taken into Philadel- phia, and the cutter of the Hon. Major Cochrane was attacked a small dis- tance from the Hook .- Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, August 21st, 1780.
Another instance will serve to show the audacity of these adventurous men. "Extract from the Log-Book of the Sloop Comet, Captain Kemp .- The 7th of June last, being in company with the sloop Hawk, Capt. Hump- stead, was chased by the Iris and escaped. On the 9th, making the east end of Long Island, saw a wreck ashore; out boat with an armed party ; went ashore. Took possession of a battery of 10 guns, from which the men had fled on seeing the boat going ashore ; found the wreck to be the Hawk, which the Iris had drove ashore, her materials being partly carried off by the inhabitants of Long Island, who had erected the battery ; took off two of her guns, spiked the rest ; took an anchor and cable, with several other articles. On the 12th, at half-past four A.M., about two miles off Sandy Hook, got in shore of 15 sail, out of which number we captured and manned eight, viz. : schooners Free Mason, Lilly, and Sally ; sloops Polly, Driver, Dove, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth, all of which Captain Kemp brought safe to port on the 16th, with twenty-eight prisoners." - Pennsylvania Packet, Philadelphia, June 24th, 1780.
NOTE 151, PAGE 233. CAPTAIN NEWMAN'S ESCAPE IN HIS BOAT .- The following account of the escape of Captain Newman was published in a London paper of August 12th, 1780. "By a brig which is put into Lisbon from New York, we are informed that His Majesty's packet- boat the Cartwright, Capt. Newman, with the mail on board from Fal- mouth, was on the 16th of June chased by three American privateers, and run on shore at Sandy Hook ; but Captain Newman, ordering his men to hoist out his boat immediately, which they did, got the mail on board the boat, after which they rowed away, and the privateers kept chasing them for several leagues, firing all the time, but Capt. Newman had the good luck to escape to New York."-Upcott Collection of Newspaper Cuttings, N. Y. Hist. Soc., vol. vi. p. 27.
NOTE 152, PAGE 233. POST OFFICE (1780) .- The Post Office was at this time in Broad Street, as appears from the following advertisements, and there it remained till the close of the war.
"RUN AWAY, a Negro Wench named HAGER, about 18 years of age, born in this town ; she is about five feet high, had on a white drilling short gown and green petticoat. Whoever brings her to the General Post Office in Broad Street, or gives intelligence where she may be found, shall be handsomely rewarded. She is supposed to have gone on board the fleet." -Rivington's Royal Gazette (No. 270), May Ist, 1779.
" PAPER HANGINGS .- A very elegant assortment of plain and printed, from 4 to 16s. per piece, may be had at the Paper Hanging Manufactory, No. 23 Broad Street, nearly opposite the Post Office," &c. &c .- Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury (No. 1542), May 7th, 1781.
" TO BE SOLD, and possession given the first of May next, a two-story brick house, No. 17 Broad Street opposite the General Post Office, &c .- Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury (No. 1643), April 14th, 1783.
NOTE 153, PAGE 234. PUBLICATION OF VOTE OF THANKS. -The Vote of Thanks to Captain Newman, together with his reply, was
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published in Rivington's Royal Gazette, July 5th, 1780, and Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, July 10th, 1780.
NOTE 154, PAGE 236. EMBARGO ON SHIPPING .- This Embargo does not appear in the newspapers. It was no doubt a practical embargo enforced by the fleet of Admiral ARBUTHNOT. The British officers had great difficulty in keeping their men. Desertions were constant, and recapture rare. On assuming command of the ships on the station, Admiral ARBUTH- NOT issued a Proclamation from on board the Russel off New York, September 14th, 1779, declaring, "that in future, for every seaman or seafaring man that may desert from the King's ships or transports here, I will press, man for man, out of the privateers and merchant vessels." This continued as a standing Proclamation, and appears in all the newspapers .- Supplement to Gaine's New York Gazette, March 6th, 1780.
NOTE 155, PAGE 236. MEMORIAL TO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF .- No copy of this paper is to be found in any of the journals of the time. Sir HENRY CLINTON held the title of " General and Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces within the Colonies lying on the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to West Florida, inclusive." He and MARRIOTT ARBUTHNOT, Vice Admiral of the Blue, Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships in North America, were "His Majesty's Commissioners to restore Peace and Good Government in the several Colonies in Rebellion in North America."
Sir Henry Clinton returned to New York on the 17th June from the expedition to the Carolinas, which resulted in the reduction of Charleston. -Gaine's New York Gazette, June 19th, 1780.
The Admiral was with the squadron off Rhode Island which had re- cently been taken possession of by the French fleet under Admiral Tiernay. -Rivington's Royal Gazette, August 2d, 1780.
The Commander in Chief addressed the Admiral at this port in the letter alluded to (page 237).
NOTE 156, PAGE 237. LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT- GENERAL .- No copy of this letter anywhere appears. The post of Superintendent General of Police was held by ANDREW ELLIOT. The trade of the City was all carried on under permits from this office, in accordance with the Proclamation of Sir William Howe of July 7th, 1777.
NOTE 157, PAGE 237. MERCHANTS' READINESS TO SUPPLY SEAMEN .- On the two occasions which were critical in the affairs of the British fleet, the presence of the French squadron at Newport in the fall of 1780 and the dangerous position of Cornwallis in 1781, those merchants, who were still loyal to the Crown, came forward to the aid of the British Commanders.
NOTE 158, PAGE 237. LETTER FROM THE COMMANDANT. -There is nothing to show what was the purport of this communication. It nowhere appears. The Commandant at this time was Major General DANIEL JONES.
NOTE 159, PAGE 238. THE PRIVATEER AUCTIONEER. - A well-known cruiser. " The schooner Auctioneer, Captain Joseph Nash, in- tends sailing on a Cruise on Wednesday next. The Owners and Officers
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would wish such Commanders as have men missing from His Majesty's ser- vice to send on board and examine the Crew.
"N.B .- Those who have any demands on the outfit of said Schooner are desired to send their Accounts, to be paid before she sails, to Barrach Hays and Tertulos Dickenson."-Gaine's New York Gazette, February 22d, 1779.
In the list of vessels commissioned as letters of marque, published in 1779, SAMUEL ROGERS appears as the captain of the privateer Mars of 16 guns .- Gaine's New York Gazette, March 22d, 1779.
NOTE 160, PAGE 239. THE POLICE .- The Police here referred to had the entire government of the city in civil affairs. By a notice issued April 28th, 1779, " the business of the Commandant in civil matters" was transacted at the OFFICE OF POLICE .- Gaine's New York Gazette, May 3d, I779.
NOTE 161, PAGE 247. THE SNOW FRIENDSHIP .- This name for a vessel, which sounds strangely to modern ears, was quite common in the last century.
" A vessel equipped with two masts resembling the main and foremasts of a ship, and a third small mast just abaft the mainmast carrying a trysail." -Marine Dictionary.
NOTE 162, PAGE 247. COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS .- On the death of ARCHIBALD KENNEDY, Collector of the Port of New York, ANDREW ELLIOT was appointed to that office. His Commission was dated January 19th, 1764. He held the post till the close of the War .- N. Y. Col. Doc. viii. 96.
NOTE 163, PAGE 247. ACT OF PARLIAMENT .- This Act was put in force by General CLINTON. " PROCLAMATION .- In pursuance of an Act made and passed in the twentieth year of His Majesty's reign entitled, 'An Act to allow the exportation of provisions, goods, wares and merchandize from Great Britain, to certain towns, ports, or places in North America which are or may be under the protection of His Majesty's arms ; and from such towns, ports or places to Great Britain and other parts of His Majesty's dominions,' I DO HEREBY appoint and authorize the officers who were ap- pointed to superintend the imports and exports at New York, by his Excel- lency Sir WILLIAM HOWE, in his Proclamation issued 17th July, 1777, and who were afterwards continued in that duty by a Proclamation issued by his Majesty's Commissioners on the 26th of September, 1778; and who since the expiration of the Proclamation last mentioned, have acted under my authority to perform the duties required by the above-mentioned Act, agreeable to the limitations, restrictions, and regulations therein men- tioned.
"And I do further appoint and authorize the officers who have under my authority superintended the imports and exports at Charleston, South Caro- lina, since its reduction, to perform at that place the duties required by the afore-mentioned Act, agreeable to the limitations, restrictions and regula- tions therein mentioned.
" All masters of trading vessels, merchants, traders and others, are hereby strictly commanded to pay due obedience to the Superintendents, and their officers at the above-mentioned ports in the execution of their duty, as they shall answer the contrary at their peril: And all officers, civil and military, are required to aid and assist them in every case, where the same shall be found necessary.
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" The Superintendents, their Deputies, and all Persons acting under them at the above-mentioned ports, having their salaries appointed as a full com- pensation for the services required of them, no fees are to be offered on any account whatever.
"Given under my Hand, at Head-Quarters in New York, the 24th day of October, 1780. H. CLINTON."-Gaine's New York Gazette, October 30th, 1780.
NOTE 164, PAGE 248. EXPIRATION OF COMMISSIONERS' PROCLAMATION (OF 1778) .- The PROCLAMATION issued by the EARL of CARLISLE, Sir HENRY CLINTON and Mr. WILLIAM EDEN, His Majesty's Commissioners at New York, 26th September, 1778 (see Notes 119, 120) suspending the Act of Parliament of 1776, "prohibiting all trade and inter- course with certain Colonies," declared that the new orders " should con- tinue in force for three calendar months."-Gaine's New York Gazette, Oc- tober 5th, 1778.
A few days before the departure for England of the Earl of Carlisle and Mr. Eden, upon the Petition of the merchants and Traders of the City (signed by William Walton, President), 14th November, 1778, the three Commis- sioners, under date 18th November, extended by a new Proclamation the privileges granted by the old, until the Ist of June, 1779 .- Gaine's New York Gazette, November 23d, 1778.
A further renewal, under the signature of Sir Henry Clinton and Mr. Eden, on the 22d April, 1779, declared the regulations to be in force from the first day of June, 1779, to the first of December next ensuing (1779) .- Rivington's Royal Gazette, September 29th, 1779.
NOTE 165, PAGE 248. ORDERS OF SIR HENRY CLINTON .- On the expiration of the last renewal of the Proclamation of the Commis- sioners authorizing trade, General CLINTON assumed the responsibility of continuing the privileges extended by it to the commerce of New York. In his Proclamation of Oct. 24, 1780, he says that "the officers appointed to superintend the imports and exports at New York, since the expiration of the Proclamation of the Commissioners have acted under my authority."- (See Note 163.)
After the departure of Carlisle and Eden, Sir HENRY CLINTON, Com- mander-in-Chief of the Army, and MARRIOTT ARBUTHNOT, Vice Admiral, were appointed the King's Commissioners, " to restore Peace and Liberty " to the revolted Colonies.
NOTE 166, PAGE 248. ADVERTISEMENT OF SUPERINTEND- ENT AS TO DUTIES .- " Public Notice is hereby given, That I am or- dered to demand and receive Duties on Prize Goods and on all other Goods liable to Duties, imported under License, as also on all Goods liable to Du- ties imported into New York by Virtue of the Act passed in the last Ses- sion of Parliament. Of which all agents for prizes, merchants, and traders, are hereby required to take due notice, and govern themselves accordingly. The Duties will be received at the Superintendent's Office, No. 215 Water- Street, where attendance will be daily given for that purpose by ANDREW ELLIOT. New York, February 24, 1781."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, Feb- ruary 28, 1781.
A similar notice, dated roth Sept., calling for all " Duties on Prizes con- demned at the Port of New York since October, 1776," appeared in Riving- ton's Royal Gazette, September 18, 1778.
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NOTE 167, PAGE 248. RESTORATION OF GEORGIA TO TRADE .- In the winter of 1775-6, the British Parliament passed an Act to prohibit all Trade and Intercourse with certain of the Colonies "during the continuance of the present Rebellion within the said Colonies respect- ively," of which Georgia was one .- N. Y. Col. Doc., viii. 668.
After the fall of Charleston Sir HENRY CLINTON and Admiral AR- BUTHNOT, " His Majesty's Commissioners to restore the Blessings of Peace and Liberty to the several Colonies in America," issued a Proclamation dated Charleston, Ist June, 1780, in which they declare "that as soon as the situation of the Province will admit the Inhabitants will be reinstated in the Possession of all those Rights and Immunities which they heretofore enjoyed under a free Government, exempt from Taxation, except by their own Legislature."-Gaine's New York Gazette, June 27, 1780.
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