USA > New York > New York City > History of New York city from the discovery to the present day, V. 2 > Part 3
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ously inscribed ' CLINTON' and 'BRIDGEWATER,' in honor of men whose pursuits in each country were so similar. The whole was designed by J. R. Smith, and executed by him and an assistant.
"One reflection occurred to us when the fleet was below the Narrows, which, although it has no immediate relation to the time or the occasion, it may not be amiss to mention. When we viewed the number and tonnage of the steam-boats employed, and the countless multitude of passengers borne upon their spacious decks, we could not but reflect upon the facilities of defense which, by means of steam navigation, our city would possess in the event of hostilities with any maritime power, and an attempt upon our lives and property from this direction. There were out upon this occasion, besides other craft of magni- tude, no less than twenty-nine steam-boats, each cap ible of carrying from twelve to twenty-four guns, and from one to five hundred men. And from the readiness with which this force assembled, and from the rapid multiplication of vessels of this description with the increase of business in our metropolis, there is no doubt that even at the present moment fifty boats, with ten thousand men and six or seven hundred guns, might be collected, prepared, and sent to repel an approaching naval armament, in one or, at most, two days. Neither winds nor tides could stay their progress, or control their movements. They could choose their own time, position, and points of attack; and tremendous must be the power that could successfully oppose, and superhuman the skill that could baffle, an expedition of this kind, directed by the hand of valor and sustained by the unconquerable spirit of freemen !
" The head of the land procession, under Major-General Fleming, marshal of the day, assisted by Colonels King and Jones, Major Low, and Mr. Van Winkle, had already arrived on the Battery, where it was designed the whole
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should pass in review before the Corporation and their guests, and the spectators on board of the other boats, which lay to near the shore, to afford an opportunity of witnessing the cars, and banners, and other decorations of the several societies, professions, and callings, who had turned out in the city in honor of the event commemo- rated. The Washington and Chancellor Livingston ran into the Pier No. 1, in the East River, and landed the Corpo- ration and their friends at the proper time for them to fall into the rear of the procession. The fleet then dis- persed, each vessel repairing to its own moorings; and thus, without a single accident to alloy the festivities of the day, ended an agreeable fete, unrivaled in beauty and magnificence, we fearlessly aver, in the annals of the world.
" This narrative would probably be considered incom- plete, were it not to include a notice of that part of the pageant which was exclusively confined to the city. And yet a minute description can hardly be deemed necessary, since the ample official report of the marshal of the day is included among the papers collected in this volume. To be as brief as possible, therefore, we will state, in gen- eral terms, that the procession through the city, although it could not, from the very nature of things, present to the eye the bright and glowing images which ravished the senses upon the water, was yet such as to reflect the highest credit upon our city, the societies, and individuals, whose patriotism induced them to bear a part, and the occasion which called them forth.
"The civic procession was composed of the several benevolent and mechanic societies of our city ; the fire department ; the merchants and citizens; the officers of the State artillery and infantry, in uniform; the literary and scientific institutions; the members of the bar ; the members of many occupations and callings not formally organized into societies, accompanied by fine bands of
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music, exclusively of the Corporation, their associate com- mittees and distinguished guests, who fell in the rear of the procession, as before mentioned, at the Battery. This procession, the largest of the kind ever witnessed in America, commenced forming in Greenwich Street, six abreast, at nine o'clock A. M .- the right resting in Market- field Street, near the Battery, and extending to the distance of more than a mile and a half. The line of march was taken up at half-past ten. Its first movement was a counter-march of the whole column upon the right wing. By this maneuver, every society and division was brought into such close approximation with each other as to afford . every individual a distinct view of the whole. The pro- cession moved from Greenwich Street through Canal Street into Broadway, up Broadway to Broome Street, up Broome Street to the Bowery, down the Bowery to Pearl Street, down Pearl Street to the Battery, over the Battery to Broadway, and thence to the City Hall. Along the whole extensive line of march, the spectacle was of a most imposing and animating description. Every society and occupation seemed to have been engaged in a laudable strife, regardless of the expense, to excel each other in the richness of their banners, and the beauty and taste ex- hibited in their badges and other decorations. Nor had the money of the societies been expended, or the skill of the artists of our city exercised, in vain. For never did a more imposing array of banners, of exquisite design and magnificent appearance, stream and flutter in the breeze. Many of the societies, likewise, had furnished themselves with cars of gigantic structure, upon which their respective artisans were busily engaged in their several occupations. The ornaments of many of these cars were curiously wrought, and they were otherwise beautifully and splen- didly decorated. The richest Turkey or Brussels carpets covered the floors of some, whilst the costly gilding of
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others reflected back the golden rays of the sun with dazzling effulgence .* The eye of beauty, too, gazed with delight upon the passing scene; for every window was thronged, and the myriads of handkerchiefs which flut- tered in the air were only rivaled in whiteness by the delicate hands which suspended them; while the glowing cheeks, the ingenuous smiles of loveliness and innocence, and the intelligence which beamed brightly from many a sparkling eye, proclaimed their possessors worthy of being the wives, mothers, and daughters of freemen. It was, in fine, a proud spectacle ; but language fails in attempting Its description-much more in imparting to paper the sensations which it created. It is not difficult to describe individual objects correctly, but it is impossible to portray their general effect, when happily grouped together. It is amid scenes like these-a faint gleam of which can only be conveyed to the future antiquary or historian-that the mind is absorbed in its own reflections, musing in solitude, though surrounded by the gay and the thought- less, and literally lost in its own imaginings.
" The festivities of the day were closed in the evening by illuminations of the public buildings and the principal hotels, upon many of which appropriate transparencies were exhibited. The illumination of the City Hotel con- tributed largely to the brilliant appearance of Broadway. Great taste was also displayed in the illumination of the New York Coffee-house. The front in Sloat Lane pre- sented a brilliant wreath, encircling the letter " C." The front, in William Street, displayed the words "Grand Canal," in large and glowing capitals. We do not re- member to have seen a more original and beautiful method of illuminating than that adopted at this establishment. Peale's Museum presented a beautiful transparency-rays
* For a particular description of the several cars, banners, and badges, the reader is referred to the report of the marshal of the day.
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of glory, containing a motto illustrative of the dependence of the fine arts upon the success of commerce. Scudder's Museum, likewise, was brilliantly illuminated, and a very large and beautiful transparency was exhibited in front. The Park Theater was illuminated, and also exhibited appropriate transparencies without; while within, an in- terlude, composed for the occasion by Mr. Noah, with scenery specially prepared for the occasion, was received with great applause. A similar production, from the pen of Mr. Woodworth, was played at the Chatham Theater, and was likewise well received. The house of Mr. Seixas, in Broadway, was illuminated; and an appropriate trans- parency, representing Fortune embarking on board of a canal-boat, loaded with bags of money, and several appropriate emblematical devices, were exhibited. At " The Lunch," a transparency was exhibited representing the canal-boat Seneca Chief receiving on board his Excellency the Governor, the Buffalo deputation, Indian chiefs, &c., preparatory to her passage from Lake Erie into the Canal. But the City Hall was the grand point of attraction, and too much praise cannot be given to our Corporation for the great exertions which they made to contribute to the enjoyment and festivities of the day. The City Hall, under their direction, was superbly illu- minated, the front presenting a very magnificent trans- parency, on which were painted interesting views of the Canal, columns with the names of worthies, figures em- blematical of the occasion, &c. The fire-works, prepared by Mr. Wilcox, far exceeded the public expectation, and were unrivaled of the kind. Such rockets were never before seen in New York. They were uncommonly large. Now they shot forth alternately showers of fiery serpents and dragons, 'gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire ;' and now they burst forth and rained down showers of · stars, floating in the atmosphere like balls of liquid silver.
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The volcanic eruption of fire-balls and rockets with which this exhibition was concluded, afforded a spectacle of vast beauty and sublimity. They were sent up apparently from the rear of the hall to a great height, diverging like rays from a common center, then floating for a moment like meteors of the brightest light, and falling over in a graceful curve, presenting a scene magnificent and enchant- ing. The park was filled to overflowing; not less than eight or ten thousand admiring spectators were collected in it to view the splendid display which the Corporation had prepared so munificently for their fellow-citizens.
" Thus passed a day so glorious to the State and city, and so deeply interesting to the countless thousands who were permitted to behold and mingle in its exhibitions. We have before said that all attempts at description must be utterly in vain. Others can comprehend the greatness of the occasion; the Grand Canal is completed, and the waters of Lake Erie have been borne upon its surface, and mingled with the ocean. But it is only those who were present, and beheld the brilliant scenes of the day, that can form any adequate idea of their grandeur, and of the joyous feelings which pervaded all ranks of the commu- nity. Never before had been presented to the sight a fleet so beautiful as that which then graced our waters. The numerous array of steam-boats and barges proudly breast- ing the billows, and dashing on their way regardless of opposing winds and tides ; the flags of all nations, and ban- ners of every hue, streaming splendidly in the breeze; the dense columns of black smoke ever and anon sent up from the boats, now partially obscuring the view, and now spreading widely over the sky and softening down the glare of light and color ; the roar of cannon from the vari- ous forts, accompanied by heavy volumes of white smoke, contrasting finely with the smoke from the steam-boats ; the crowds of happy beings who thronged the decks, and
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the voice of whose joy was mingled with the sound of music, and not unfrequently drowned by the hissing of the steam ; all these, and a thousand other circumstances, awakened an interest so intense, that 'the eye could not be satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing.' We rejoiced, and all who were there rejoiced ; although, as we looked upon the countless throng, we could not but remem- ber the exclamation of Xerxes, and feel that . a hundred years hence, not one of all that vast multitude will be alive.' The splendor of beauty and the triumph of art serve to excite, to dazzle, and often to improve the condi- tion and promote the welfare of mankind; but the ' fash- ion of this world passeth away ;' beauty and art, with all their triumphs and splendors, endure but for a season ; and earth itself, with all its lakes and oceans, is only as the small dust of the balance in the sight of Him who dwells beyond the everlasting hills .*
" On Monday evening, the 7th of November, the fes- tivities of our city were appropriately concluded by a ball, which was given in the Lafayette Amphitheater, in Lau- rens Street, by the officers of the militia, associated with a committee of citizens. The circus-buildings, comprising a spacious stage used for dramatic representations, was enlarged by the addition of an edifice in the rear, which had been used for a riding-school. These were connected in such a manner as to form an area of much greater extent than that of any other ball-room in the United States, being nearly two hundred feet in length, and vary- ing from sixty to about one hundred feet in width. The usual entrance to the circus from Laurens Street was closed up, and new entrances opened from Thompson Street, in the rear, through the riding-school. The front
* For.a letter from Colonel Stone. to Dr. Hosack upon the legislative pro- ceedings of 1816-'17, in regard to the Erie Canal, see Hosack's Mimoir of De Witt Clinton.
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was brilliantly illuminated, presenting in large letters, formed by bright lamps, extending over the doors across the building, the words 'The Grand Canal.' The whole area within was newly floored for the occasion, and divided into three compartments by the original division of the audience part of the circus, the stage, and the additional building on Thompson Street. Of these we shall speak in order, but briefly. The two tiers of boxes were preserved, and decorated for the accommodation of that part of the company which chose to retire and be spectators of the busy assemblage below. Access was obtained to them through a flight of steps in the middle of the boxes, of which the center one had been removed. The dome in this part of the hall was ornamented with green wreaths, which were appropriately festooned with beautiful and various flowers, sweeping gracefully to the pillars which supported the boxes, terminating at and around them. Above the proscenium were the names of the engineers who had been employed in the construction of the Canal, viz., Briggs, White, Geddes, Wright, Thomas; opposite these, and in the center of the circle of boxes, was a bust of Washington, surrounded with evergreens, and around were inscribed the names of the past and the present Canal Commissioners-Hart, Bouck, Holly, De Witt, North, Liv- ingston, Fulton, Clinton, Van Rensselaer, Morris, Eddy, Young, Seymour, Porter, Ellicott.
"From the roof, splendid chandeliers added their blaze of light to the numberless lamps which were hung nearly parallel to the upper boxes. Passing into the upper apart- ment, the eye was met by a scene of equal splendor. One side of this room, which is the stage of the theater, was formed by a beautiful piece of scenery, representing the interior of an elegant chamber, with proper doors, hand- somely ornamented. The other side was occupied by a band of music, placed behind a species of turret, on
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the face of which arches were skillfully painted, and in the distance of which landscapes were represented. Here was also hung the painting, spoken of near the commence- ment of this narrative, from the cabin of the canal-boat, faithfully representing the whole arrangement at that place. The music of the band which was placed here was excellent, and we discovered that the bugle-notes .were those of Willis, of West Point. Our national stripes were suspended from the center, and tastefully looped up from the extremities of the ceiling, forming a complete circum- ference of regular semicircles, meeting in a common center. Here, also, were lamps and chandeliers, and wreaths of flowers, and garlands of roses, and various devices and emblems, highly creditable to the managers. But it was to the third _and remaining apartment that the exer- tions of the committee were directed, and their success was correspondent. So many and so elegant were the decorations, that the writer cannot hope to give them more than a very brief notice, in which he must call upon the imagination of the reader to increase with treble intensity the imperfect idea given of the splendor of deco- ration displayed. Imagine in a large hall, collected, and displayed in one grand view, the flags and emblems and costly decorations, which, in a continued and scattered procession, called forth such enthusiasm of admiration. linagine them presented in one overwhelming view, blaz- ing with light, and bright with reflected beauty ; and when a proper idea is formed of the complete enchantment of the scene, add to this, in one prodigious mirror, the whole reflected back in trebled brilliancy, doubling the immense area, including the thousand lights that sparkled around, to tenfold greater splendor. And when all this is done, the imagination of the whole scene will be faint to the real- ity. Floods of light were poured forth from every point, which were glanced back by the glittering array of the mili- 52
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tary, and a thousand other objects of brilliant reflec- tion.
" But entrancing, above all other enchantments of the scene, was the living enchantment of beauty-the trance which wraps the senses in the presence of loveliness, when woman walks the halls of fancy-magnificence herself- the brightest object in the midst of brightness and beauty. A thousand faces were there, bright in intelligence, and radiant with beauty, looking joy and congratulation to each other, and spreading around the spells which the - loves and the graces bind on the heart of the sterner sex.
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. " It only remains to speak of the ladies' supper-room, which was separated from the large apartment by flags elegantly festooned, and raised at the given signal. Mir- rors, and splendid lights, and emblems, and statues, and devices, beyond the writer's abilities to describe, orna- mented this part of the house in common with the rest. Upon the supper-table was placed, floating in its proper element (the waters of Erie) a miniature canal-boat, made entirely of maple-sugar, and presented to Governor Clin- ton by Colonel Hinman, of Utica. The refreshments were excellent ; and, considering the vast number who were to partake of them, very plentifully provided. At a season- able hour the company retired, with memories stored for future conversation, with the events, and decorations, and splendors of ' The Grand Canal Ball.'"
That this joy was not ill-timed and excessive, the steady increase of the productiveness of the State affords conclusive proof. Many of the supporters of the " Big Ditch," who, at the time, were regarded as enthusiastic and visionary, have lived to see their most sanguine pre- dictions more than realized, as well as the complete refu- tation of the opinion which one of our greatest statesmen, whose zeal for internal improvements could not be ques- tioned, was known to have expressed, that this enterprise
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had been undertaken a hundred years too soon, and that, until the lapse of another century, the strength of our population and our resources would be inadequate to such a work .*
While, however, New York city was thus vindicating her claim to a place in the van of internal improve- ments, she did not hesitate to take the lead, also, 1826. in extending aid to a nation at that time struggling for its release from the thraldom of an oppressor. Greece
* The following statistics were furnished by the late Hon. Nathaniel S. Ben- ton, for many years an able Canal Auditor :
The amount of tolls in 1823 was $199,655.08 ; in 1866, $3,966,522.52 ; and the total amount of tolls from 1823 to 1866, inclusive, $90,153,279.19. The amount of tons going to tide-water is given in the report only as far back as 1836. In 1836, the number of tons going to tide-water over the Canal was only 419,125; in 1866, 2,523,664 ; and the total amount between these two years, inclusive, was 52,761,967. It also appears that, in 1837, the estimated value of all property transported on the Canal was $47.720,879; in 1865, $186,114,718; and between these years, inclusive, $3,439,407,522. The amount of tons that came to this city in 1857, without breaking bulk, was 381,390; in 1866, 1,633,172; and between those years, 11,775,396. This ratio of increase seems to be broken in upon only in one particular, viz., in the amount of tons-the product of the State itself -arriving at tide-water. In 1836, this was 364,901 ; and in 1865, 173,538. Here the previous rule is reversed, and instead of a gain there is a considerable fall- ing-off. This, however, is not to be attributed to a decrease in production, but to the fact that the channels by which produce is conveyed to the city are becoming more numerous each succeeding year. This is evident, if the amount brought down by the Champlain Canal for 1866 (561.053) be added, which gives a total of 734,591. And if to this could be added the number of tons that now go by way of the Central and other railroads of the State, which otherwise would have gone by the Canal, the sum would be very greatly increased. Indeed, this element of transportation by rail must be taken into calculation in forming a correct estimate of the importance of the Canal. It will be seen by the figures given above, that, with the exception just mentioned, the Canal shows a steady increase in its tolls and tonnage, notwithstanding the vast amount of freight yearly diverted from it by the railroads, and by vessels which now con- vey considerable freight from Buffalo direct to Europe, which formerly was brought to this city for shipment abroad. And to this must also be added the large amount of trade which has been directed by various channels into the Western States.
The report of the Auditor gives also the cost of the enlargement up to the close of 1866, viz., $33,030,613.80. The original cost was $7,143,789.86; the total cost, therefore, up to 31st of December, 1866, is $40,224,403.66.
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was at this period writhing under the heel of the Sultan. In the first three years of the war, that nation had received no material aid in men or money. This arose probably from the fact, that, at this time, the Greeks were in no need of assistance. Fighting with enthusiasm, and upon their own soil, they had beaten off the Turkish hordes. and cleared most of the country of their oppressors. In this year, however, affairs wore a different hue. Byron had died, and the dark days of the revolution had begun. The Egyptian Vizier had responded to the appeals of the Sultan; and his son, Ibrahim Pasha, landing an organized a'nd regular army on the Peloponnesus, swept everything before him. In less than two years, the Greeks were driven from the plains and all the open country to the caves and recesses in the mountains, retaining only here and there a fortress. As it was a war without quarter, every one fled ; for surrender was death to every man and dishonor to every woman. Two seasons brought them to the point of starvation. Their vines had been pulled up, their olive-trees burned, their fields desolated, their flocks slain and eaten. Snails and sorrel were their only food ; and the only alternative left, on the part of the Greeks, was starvation or submission. Guerrilla bands alone hovered around the flanks and rear of the invading hosts. At this point, Dr. Samuel G. Howe, urged by a pure philanthropy. set out for Greece. After experiencing many vicissitudes, and languishing for several months in a Prussian dungeon, he at length landed upon the Peloponnesus alone, from an Austrian vessel going to Smyrna. As there was, however, no organization among the Greeks, he could do nothing, and accordingly returned to the United States to get help. On his arrival at Boston, he found that Greek committees, under the lead of Edward Everett and Daniel Webster, were already formed; and, after doing what he could to organize efforts for raising supplies, he came to New York.
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