USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. I > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
In consequence of the fire at the fort, the governo'ur at this time resided in Broad street. Both houses of the legislature condoled with him on his loss, regretted that he should be called home, and passed a law granting him £5,000, in consideration of his loss, by the burning of the province house. He departed for England on the 8th of April ; and if we were to judge by the compliments paid him on the occasion, we should say he was very much beloved. Many of the gentlemen of the city gave him a publick dinner. General Haldimand, the commander of the king's troops, gave a ball on the occasion. Addresses were poured in by corporations and societies, and King's College made him a doctor in civil law.
The press teemed with essays in favour of the measures of Great Britain on one part, and in defence of the rights of America on the other. It is to be remarked, although it in no way affects the merits of any religious system at the present day, that the warmest advocates of England, were clergymen of the Episcopal Church. At the head of these must be placed Doctor Cooper,* the president of the college-a man of science, literature, and wit.
* Doctor Cooper, having heard that the people were about to attack his castle that night-then called King's Cottage, and out of town-fled to Stuyvesant's house at night, and remained there until he had an opportunity of getting on board the Asia 74, then the receiving ship of all the Tories of consequence belonging to this part of the continent. P. G. Stuyvesant, Esq., the President of the Historical Society, has told me this circumstance ; and likewise he remembers in 1797, when the present Warren street was all meadow, except the house which had been Ranelagh, now the corner of Warren and Greenwich streets.
-
452
TEA-TRANSACTIONS.
1
His coadjutors were Doctors Inglis, Seabury, and Chandler ; and the Reverend Messrs. Wilkins and Vardill. But their cause was bad, and they had to contend with genius wielding the arms of truth. William Livingston, afterwards the republican Governour of New Jersey, with Morris, Jay, McDougal, and (although but a youth of seventeen) Alexander Hamilton, were the champions of America. Schuyler, Clinton, and John Morin Scott, were not idle. The associated Sons of Liberty stood ready for action under their well known leaders, Sears, McDougal, and Lamb. At length, on the 21st April, 1774, the long expected tea-ship, the Nancy, Captain Lockyier arrived. The pilots of the port received their instructions from the committee, and refused to bring her farther than the Hook. The captain came up to town, and was met by a deputation of the Sons of Liberty, and informed that he must return forthwith with his ship to London, and deposite his cargo with those who shipped it. To this command, he of course saw that no opposition would avail. He desired to see the consignee of his lading, Mr. Henry White, an Englishman, and either then, or shortly before, one of his majesty's council for the province. The deputies escorted Captain Lockyier to the intended agent of the East India Company, who was too well informed of the state of things to hesitate in his answer. He renounced his agency, and refused to receive that which he had long desired, but was now far beyond his reach. The ship Nancy was detained at Sandy Hook until Lockyier was ready to depart, and was closely guarded by a committee of vigilance from the Sons of Liberty, who prevented the sailors (necessary for navigating her back to England) from leaving the vessel. The boats being secured, they made an attempt to land by means of a raft ; but were turned back and confined to the ship.
In the meantime, another affair called for the interference of the citizens. The Sons of Liberty received information that one of the New York ship-captains, notwithstanding his profession that he would not receive the obnoxious article, had shipped eighteen chests of it in London ; that he had already arrived at the Hook ; and that his ship was on her way to the town. The pilots had no orders to stop this ship, as her commander, Captain Chambers, was known, and had made great professions of patriotism. The pilot that boarded him inquired if he had any tea, and he denied. The ship arrived at the wharf, and was immediately boarded by the citizens. Captain Chambers was again questioned, and again denied. Thus one falsehood leads on to another, and the guilt and shame are doubled. He was told that they had unquestionable information that he had tea on board ; and that they would search every pack- ' age in the ship until they found it. Seeing their resolution, he confessed; but said it was not the East India Company's tea; that
453
-
TEA-TRANSACTIONS.
it was a private venture, shipped and owned by himself. This paltry equivocation did not save him from censure, or his tea from destruction. The hatches were ordered to be opened; the eighteen . chests were found and hoisted to the deck ; then, very deliberately emptied into the salt water of the bay. After which, the people quietly dispersed, and Chambers was suffered to withdraw, covered with contempt, when probably he had anticipated a covering of tar.
Everything being now ready for the departure of Lockyier, ship, cargo, and all, a day was appointed and announced to the people. The bells were ordered to be rung. The Sons of Liberty met the captain of the English Nancy by appointment, at the custom-house. Hither the citizens flocked in greater numbers than ever before was known. The house was in Wall street, at the corner of Water street, and opposite the Tontine Coffee-house, of more recent construction. The crowd filled the street. The committee brought out Lockyier into the balcony. He was received with cheers, and a band of musick played " God save the King." With all these unwelcome honours the captain was escorted by the Sons of Liberty to the wharf, at the foot of Wall street, where seeing him on board the pilot boat that was to convey his vessel off, they wished him a good voyage home, and then with the people dis- persed. The committee of vigilance still attended on his ship at the Hook, and guarded his tea and crew. Captain Chambers, under protection of another committee, embarked on board Lock- yier's ship. She sailed-the bells rang-the flag was hoisted on the liberty-pole-and every ship in the harbour displayed her colours in token of triumph.
On the 19th of May, a committee of fifty-one were appointed, and they chose a committee of correspondence. And on the 6th of July, another general meeting of citizens was called, and Mr. Mc- Dougal placed in the chair. This was afterwards called " the great meeting in the fields." Here a number of resolutions were passed, more congenial to the spirit of the times. They approved the conduct of the Bostonians, and resolved to support them. They opened a subscription for their relief. They entered into non-importation agreements ; and determined upou a plan for the election of delegates to that congress which they foresaw would be the bond of future union for the colonies.
The next day, the committee of fifty-one met, and Mr. Thurman moved a resolution, which was seconded by Mr. McEvers, disap- proving of the meeting of the day before, and of their proceedings. This was carried by a large majority. Upon which, all the true American Whigs requested their names to be struck from the committee of fifty-one. Whether they eventually succeeded, I know not ; but on the 25th of July, the polls were opened at the
454
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
different wards for the election of delegates to a congress, to meet at Philadelphia ; and Philip Livingston, John Alsop, Isaac Low, James Duane, and John Jay, were chosen.
When the time arrived for the delegates to proceed to Philadel- phia, the people assembled in vast crowds to attend them to the place of embarkation, and took leave of them with every demon- stration of confidence in their abilities and patriotism, The con- gress of this year laid the foundation of American self-government. Messrs. Jay and Livingston, of New York, with Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, were appointed a committee to draw the declara- tion of rights. The composition is attributed to John Jay. It belongs to the general history of our country, and should be read by all. But I will cite one passage which dwells on my memory. as particularly applicable to the state of the controversy at this pe- riod, and placing the question at issue between England and Ame- rica on its true ground. The passage I allude to, is this. After speaking in strong terms, and almost harshly, of the conduct of Great Britain, as "forging chains for her friends and children," and becoming the "advocate of slavery and oppression," the de- claration says, "know then, that we consider ourselves, and do in- sist we are, and ought to be, as free as our fellow-subjects in Great Britain ; and that no power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent." And again, " We claim to be as free as well as our fellow-subjects of Great Britain : and are not the proprietors of the soil of Britain lords of their own property ? Can it be taken from them without their consent? Will they yield it to the arbitrary disposal of any man or number of men what- ever ? You know they will not."
1775 On the Sth of March, 1775, in committee chamber, it was ordered "that Philip Livingston and John Jay be a committee to wait on Mr. James Rivington, and request of him to acquaint this committee by whose information, or by what authority he published the following paragraph in his gazette : 'Last Monday the committee of observation met ; it was proposed that they should nominate delegates to the continental congress for the approbation of the city and county ; but being opposed, the final determination of the committee was postponed until their next meeting.' The same paragraph being entirely and wholly false and groundless."
At this time the general assembly of New York was in session ; but the majority was wavering, tame, and unpatriotick. In fact, they did not respond to the call of the colonies, or of the people they represented. When the brave Colonel Woodhull, of Long Island, whose name ought ever to be held in honour by us of New York, moved that "the thanks of the house be given to the repre- sentatives of the province for their services in the continental con- gress the previous September," it was denied ; the house being
455
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
· divided fifteen to nine. George Clinton, Colonel Woodhull, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Boerum, Capt. Seaman, of Long Island, Col. Ten Broeck, Mr. De Witt, Col. Philip Schuyler, and Col. Philip Liv- ingston, were the names of the gentlemen who composed the mi- nority on this question. They moved for thanks to the merchants and inhabitants of New York, for their firm and faithful conduct in adhering to the association recommended by the congress of 1774 ; and that the sense of the house be taken on appointing delegates to the next continental congress ; but both these motions, were over- ruled by the timid, or tory majority. Colonel Schuyler, however, by his eloquence, carried resolutions, declaring a number of the acts of parliament grievances, and particularly those which were aimed to punish and oppress the province of Massachusetts. In manuscript notes before me, communicated by Chancellor Kent, he says, "the leading patriots of the day were Col. Schuyler, Col. Woodhull, and Mr. Clinton." But the tory (or timid) majority carried several resolutions, declaring that the people of the colony owe obedience to the king of Great Britain ; that they owe obedi- ence to all acts of parliament calculated for the general weal of the empire ; but asserting that they were entitled to the same rights as the other subjects of Great Britain, and could only be taxed by their representatives. On the 24th of March, 1775, on debating the form of an address to the king, Col. Schuyler, Col. Woodhull, and Mr. De Witt, moved sundry amendments, but were overruled by the majority. Chancellor Kent, in the manuscript above allu- ded to, says, "The addresses to the King, the House of Lords, and House of Commons, by the general assembly, passed March 25, 1775, were tame, ridiculous, and very loyal ; but they asserted the rights and stated the grievances contained in the above resolu- tions." That is, the resolutions previously- carried. He adds, " The assembly adjourned on the 3d of April, and I believe never met again."
-
-
.
-
456
DEATH AND CHARACTER OF CADWALLADER COLDEN.
CHAPTER XXX.
· Lieutenant-governour Colden-Appointment of Washington-Lee -Gates-Washington's reception by the Provincial Congress at New York.
1776 All the acts of the British government tended to unite the colonies in opposition to her. The suspension of legislative proceedings in New York-the Boston port bill-the pouring of dis- ciplined regiments under her best generals into that devoted town- the attempt to seize the military stores at Concord-brought undis- ciplined rusticks and armed patriots, swarming to form a camp round the Penninsula, and the famous battle of Breeds Hill, so fatal to Doctor Warren, and so glorious to Colonel Prescot, the commander, and to Stark and Knowlton followed.
. Israel Putnam rendered great service by bringing men over the neck, and kept fifteen hundred at Bunker Hill, who caused the British to halt until the retreat was effected.
Lieutenant-governour Cadwallader Colden died 2Sth of Sep- tember, 1776, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. He was edu- cated as a physician, and coming to America in 1710, he practised physick in Philadelphia. He returned to Great Britain, married in his native land, and brought his bride to New York in 1718. His scientifick acquirements recommended him to Governour Hunter, who appointed him surveyor-general, and he held the of- fice of master in chancery. Governour Burnet, in 1720, chose him as one of his council, and as we have seen, he had a large share in governing the province for England from that time for- ward. But Doctor Colden was an active student of natural his- tory, and the correspondent of most of the scientifick men of Europe and America. As a philosopher, he has left us many works ; among which those on botany, the diseases of America, and others of this nature, are less known than his celebrated " His - tory of the Five Indian Nations." He was the ruler of the province during a part of 1775, owing to the absence of Governour Tryon ; but his rule was not much more than nominal. For now the peo- ple paid more heed to their congresses and committees than to any other authorities. While the important events took place in the neighbourhood of Boston, the inhabitants of New York were alarmed by threats of further aggressions. Regiments were expected from
.
.
------
457 .
.PREPARATIONS FOR RESISTANCE.
England, and the Asia man-of-war had been ordered from Boston, and anchored off the Battery, in the North River, as if to overawe the city. The troops that had been stationed at New York and in New Jersey had all been withdrawn and concentrated in Boston. But threats and rumours of other regiments intended for this city were propagated, while for the present the seventy-four gun ship was supposed to be sufficient to keep the sons of liberty quiet. Subsequent events, however, showed that the government were mistaken if they supposed they could intimidate the citizens of New York. The first outbreak happened in April, when Marinus Willet and John Lamb led or authorized a party of " liberty boys" to seize a vessel loaded with boards for the British army in Boston. There was likewise a popular meeting, at which Captain Sears made a motion for every man to provide himself with four-and- twenty rounds of powder and ball. Sears was taken with a war- rant and carried before the mayor. As he defied the authority of the king's officer, he was ordered to jail ; but the people rescued him, and carried him in triumph through the town with colours fly- ing. A few days after this, the account was received of the blood- shed at Concord and Lexington. Upon this the committee called on the inhabitants to perfect themselves in military discipline, and each man to provide himself with arms and accoutrements. They likewise addressed the lieutenant-governour, and expressed their de termined resistance to the measures of the British parliament. He, in his answer, assures them of the gracious intentions of his majesty and liis ministers, and complains of the tumults in the city.
. Arms and accoutrements were manufactured and exposed for sale. A night guard of forty men was ordered to be kept at the city hall. This guard seized several persons who were sending off provisions to the English ships. Notwithstanding all these military indications of resistance, the continental congress recommended to the citizens of New York, in the case of arrival of British troops, to permit them to take possession of the barracks, and leave them in quiet while they behaved peaceably, but not to permit them to erect fortifications. They likewise recommended that the warlike stores should be removed from the town, and places of retreat pro- vided for the women and children. They directed that the men should be embodied and kept in readiness to repel insult or injury. This is signed, Charles Thomson. Soon after this, Peyton Ran- dolph, the president of the continental congress, retired to attend the assembly of Virginia, and John Hancock was appointed in his place. The provincial congress sat in the city of New York, and the great committee nominated Mr. Isaac Sears to represent the city and county, instead of George Folliot, who declined serving. William Bedlow and John Woodward are nominated members of the committee, instead of George Folliot and Samuel Jones, " they VOL I. 58
-
458
WASHINGTON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
having never attended ;" and the poll is ordered to be opened for election.
The king's lieutenant-governour, and the king's council, existed in this city, as did the mayor and common council under the king's authority ; and Governour Tryon was hourly expected from Eng- land. But the people, in reality, governed by their representatives in congress and committees. The provincial congress recommended the formation of committees in all the counties, and arming all the men.
Two days before the battle of Bunker's Hill, that is, on the 15th of June, 1775, congress, by a unanimous vote, appointed George Washington commander-in-chief of the American armies. It was a most happy choice of a man who was as good as he was great- as wise as he was valiant. On the 16th, the task was accepted ; and Washington, being at the time a representative from his native state, Virginia, rose in his place, and acquiesced in the will of his country. Pay he rejected; but said he would keep accounts of his expenses, and require the country to discharge them. It had long been foreseen that he would be called to this post of honour, difficulty, and danger. On the 4th of June, Mr. Elbridge Gerry had expressed his wish that Washington should be generalissimo. Before he left home it was well known where the choice of his country would fall, and that he must accept the call. Charles Lee and Horatio Gates, both known to him as men of military expe- rience, visited him at Mount Vernon, and even then had in view his influence to obtain for them the commissions they soon after held. Washington knew that the armies he was destined to coin- mand needed disciplinarians ; he knew that Lee and Gates pos- sessed the intelligence and experience required. He nominated Charles Lee for a major-general, and Horatio Gates for adjutant- general, of the continental armies. John Adams had his prophetick fears of both these officers. Mr. Sparks says, in a note to his Letters of Washington, that " it is remarkable that Washington should have been himself the chief instrument in promoting two officers, who, at different stages of the war, caused him much em- barrassment, trouble, and pain." He might with equal truth have said, "who, throughout the whole war, endeavoured to villify his qualities, thwart his measures, and destroy his credit with his countrymen."
General Washington, as soon as possible after his appointment, commenced his journey to Cambridge, for the purpose of taking command of the troops there assembled. Our city was to be passed in his way ; and it is somewhat curious in her history that Gover- nour Tryon, the English commander-in-chief of the city and pro- vince, should have arrived in the harbour, and be expected to land in the capital of his government on the same day, the 25th of June,
459
HIS RECEPTION IN NEW YORK.
that General Washington, the commander-in-chief of the armies of the whole continent raised in opposition to Tryon's master and government, was likewise expected to land on the opposite side of the city. Tryon was looked for on the east side of the town with his suite of red-coated attendants ; while Washington was known to be approaching to cross the Hudson and land on the west shore, escorted by Generals Lee and Schuyler, with a deputation of four members from the New York provincial congress, a political body that had in effect seized upon all Mr. Tryon's authority, at the same time that they professed allegiance to his sovereign. We have seen that Governour Tryon had left the province by command of his majesty, to give an account of the troubles in the borders of his go- vernment, and he returned to find greater in the centre. 'T'he members of the provincial congress were puzzled by these expected arrivals ; and, to get rid of the difficulty, ordered the commander of the regiment of militia, that had turned out to honour the visit of General Washington, so to dispose of his troops, as to be in con- dition to receive either the American commander-in-chief or the governour, as the one party or the other should have precedence in landing. Happily, General Washington arrived some hours before the governour, or else the colonel must have been bowing two ways at once : something like an attempt to serve God and mammon at the same time. General Washington staid but one day in New York. He departed on the 26th, and was escorted on his way to Cambridge, as far as Kingsbridge, by several military companies of the city, and by the Philadelphia lighthorse, who had accompa- nied him from the seat of congress. Tryon landed at eight o'clock in the evening of the 25th, and was received with due respect by the militia, and great cordiality by the loyalists ; he was conducted to the house of the Hon. Hugh Wallace, one of his majesty's coun- sellors. The mayor and common council presented to him a con- gratulatory address, and received his answer in due form. On the other hand, the provincial congress of New York addressed Gen. Washington in terms somewhat cautious. They spoke of " the most loyal of his majesty's subjects being under the necessity of taking up arms." Of their confidence in the general, and "hopes of liberty from the struggle," &c. It was signed by P. V. B. Liv- ingston, president. The following, bearing date, New York, 26th June, 1775, is a copy of the general's answer.
"Gentlemen-At the same time that with you I deplore the un- happy necessity of such an appointment as that with which I am now honoured, I cannot but feel sentiments of the highest grati- tude for this affecting instance of distinction and regard. May your every wish be realized in the success of America at this important and interesting period ; and be assured that every exertion of my worthy colleagues and myself will be equally extended to the re-
460
RETROSPECT OF CONGRESSES.
establishment of peace and harmony between the mother country and the colonies, as to the fatal but necessary operations of war. When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen ; and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in that happy hour when the establishment of American liberty, upon the most firm and solid foundations, shall enable us to return to our private sta- tions in the bosom of a free, peaceful, and happy country."
CHAPTER XXXI.
The congress of 1774-Articles of confederation during the war of the revolution-The history of Vermont-New York in 1775- The Asia-Charles Lce.
1774 IN September, 1774, the confederacy was carried into exe- cution by the assembling of delegates from the English colonies, which met in congress at Philadelphia, to take into consideration the existing and threatened grievances pressing upon their constitu- ents, from the acts of the British parliament. I have pointed out those periods which by degrees familiarised the people of America to confederacies and congresses, eventually terminating in our pre- sent form of government ; and perhaps it may be well to recapitu- late briefly the nature and causes of these combinations. And first, at a period unknown, I must mention the offensive as well as de- fensive union of the Iroquois. Among Europeans, or their descen- dants, we have the second confederation, which was formed by the colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Ha- ven, in 1643, including all New England, excepting Rhode Island. This union was for protection against the Indians and the Dutch of New Netherland. It was formed in the spirit of self-government, and without any concurrence of England-at that time too much occupied in civil dissentions to attend to the subjugation of her colo- nies-which, happily grew and thrived, by her neglect. Each colony sent two delegates to an annual congress; and these dele- gates, called commissioners, decided on all affairs of peace and war-three-fourths binding the whole : they apportioned the quota of each member of the confederacy in all common expenses : they carefully watched their Dutch neighbours, and assumed au- thority over the surrounding Indians, occasionally teaching and chastising them. This confederacy lasted from 1643 to 1686, when James II dissolved it by his sovereign will and pleasure.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.