USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress. Vol. II > Part 10
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He wielded the quill in the matter of exposing the evils attending the scheme of the trustees, with such force that under his lash the leaders of the church party winced, and charged him with the design of breaking up the project of a college altogether. The Independent Reflector, a paper which he established, and which had flourished about a year, contained an article on the subject every week. The following are a few of the titles : " Primitive Christianity, short and intelligible, - Modern Chris- tianity, voluminous and incomprehensible "; "Of the Veneration and Contempt of the Clergy "; " The Absurdity of the Civil Magistrates In- terfering in Matters of Religion "; " Of Passive Obedience and Non-Re- sistance."
" Will," said Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey, meeting him in the street one day, "you would be the cleverest fellow in the world if you were only one of us."
" I will try to be a clever fellow, and not be one of you," was the laconic reply.
The rigid, exacting, Scotch Presbyterians were thoroughly roused, and, led by Livingston, contended, through the press and in the Assembly, that a seminary of learning should have no connection with any religious so- ciety whatever. The struggle delayed action, and diverted one half of the funds to the city corporation.2 But the charter, as projected, finally pre- vailed. De Lancey signed it on the 31st of October, 1754; he did not esteem it wise, however, in the face of such hostile and perpetual clamor, to deliver it until the following May. The governors of the college, as
1 William Livingston was at a subsequent date president of the " Moot," a club composed entirely of lawyers.
2 To build a jail and a pest-house.
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" 'Will, ' said Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey, meeting him in the street one day, 'you would be the cleverest fellow in the world if you were only one of us.' 'I will try to be a clever fellow, and not be one of you, ' was the laconic reply. " Page 614.
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named in the charter, consisted of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the principal civil officers of the colony, the chief clergymen from the five religious denominations, and twenty private gentlemen, among whom was William Livingston. This mark of respect fell short of its intent, as it had not the slightest effect in the way of silencing him in the ex- pression of his cordial disapproval. Money was collected in England, and books forwarded. Sir Charles Hardy gave £500. The largest donor in New York was Hon. Joseph Murray, who gave property worth £8,000, including his own private library.
A feud, growing chiefly out of this college controversy, between the De Lancey and Livingston parties reached the very acme of bitterness. For many years subsequently, these two powerful and wealthy families were sworn foes in every matter of public or private interest, and exerted a controlling influence over the politics of New York, so much so, indeed, that in 1759 the rival parties were designated by the names of the two leaders, De Lancey and Livingston.
An amusing and authentic anecdote is related of a mulatto slave be- longing to De Lancey, who stole a pair of shoes, and ran away. She was overtaken, arrested, and brought into court for examination. She refused to give her owner's name, and when commanded with threats to do so, still refused, sullenly determined to go to jail, the whipping-post, or die even, - for stealing was then punishable with death, - but never to dis- grace her master's family. The pressure, however, became so strong that she was constrained to give a satisfactory answer to the officers of the law, so she declared that she belonged to the Livingstons, that the stigma of owning a dishonest slave might be attached to her master's enemies.
The corner-stone of the college building was laid by Governor Hardy, August 23, 1756. The site chosen was on the block now bounded by Murray, Church, and Barclay Streets, and College Place, intersected by Park Place. An English traveller wrote : " The new college is to be built on three sides of a quadrangle facing the Hudson River, and will be the most beautifully situated, I believe, of any college in the world." Its surroundings were pretty fields and pleasant shade ; there was scarcely a habitation in sight at the time. The first Commencement occurred in June, 1758, when ten bachelors and as many masters of art were gradu- ated. The students began to lodge and mess in the college building in May, 1760; and in June of the same year the procession moved from there to St. George's Chapel on Beekman Street, to hold the third Com- mencement. In 1762, at Dr. Johnson's request, the Rev. Myles Cooper, fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, was sent to New York by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, and appointed fellow of King's College, professor
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of moral philosophy, and to assist the president in instruction and disci- pline, with the understanding that he was to succeed him, which he did the following year. Dr. Cooper was one of the most elegant scholars of his time, and the young men placed under his training were taught, by proper masters and professors, natural law, physic, logic, ethics, meta- physics, mathematics, natural philosophy, astronomy, geography, history, chronology, rhetoric, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, modern languages, the belles- lettres, and whatever else of literature tended to accomplish them as
King's College.
scholars and gentlemen. A grammar school was annexed to the college for the preparation of those who wished to take a full course. A high fence surrounded the edifice, enclosing also a large court and garden. A porter attended the front gate, which was always closed at nine o'clock in the winter and ten o'clock in the summer; after which hour, the names of all those who came in were duly reported to the president. Among the earlier graduates were the three celebrated New-Yorkers, John Jay, Robert R. Livingston, and Gouverneur Morris.
It was during the summer of 1754 that Robert Hunter Morris re- turned to New York, commissioned as governor of Pennsylvania, to super- sede Hamilton, who had resigned. Benjamin Franklin was on a jour- ney to Boston, and stopped a few days also in New York. He had been previously acquainted with Morris, and they had several pleasant inter- views. Morris asked Franklin if he must expect as uncomfortable an ad- ministration as his predecessor. "No," replied Franklin, "you may, on the contrary, have a very comfortable one, if you will only take care not to enter into any dispute with the Assembly."
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"My dear friend," said Morris, laughing, "how can you advise my avoiding disputes ? You know I love disputing, it is one of my greatest pleasures ; however, to show the regard I have for your counsel, I promise you I will if possible avoid them."
Franklin remembered and made happy allusion to the fact that Morris had been brought up to disputations from a boy ; his father, the New Jersey governor, having accustomed his children to dispute with one another for his diversion while sitting at table after dinner. The habit of forming opinions and maintaining them resolutely was a Morris characteristic.
In the autumn the New York Society Library was organized. The college question stimulated this movement. A library was wanted "for the use and ornament of the city, and the advantage of the intended col- lege." Money was collected and books purchased, which were placed in the same room in the City Hall with the ponderous tomes of theology, bearing the autograph of Rev. John Sharpe, which had received little attention for several years. The trustees appointed were Lieutenant-Gov- ernor De Lancey, James Alexander, John Chambers, John Watts, William Walton, Rev. Henry Barclay, Benjamin Nicoll, William Smith, William Livingston, and William Alexander.
In the mean time blood had been shed, George Washington defeated, and the scalping-knife unsheathed from the Ohio to the Kennebec, yet England and France were at peace. The English Ministry paid little heed to the bold assumptions of the French in America, leaving the whole matter in charge of the Duke of Cumberland, the captain-general of the armies of Great Britain. He, taking it for granted that his polite neigh- bors meant something, akin to war, sent two regiments of soldiers to America under the command of General Edward Braddock. The 755. French, notwithstanding the diplomatic subtleties with which the Jan. English minister was amusing the French court, were cognizant of these movements, and sent a fleet of transports with troops, under the command of Baron Dieskau, to Canada. About the same time De Vaudreuil sailed from Brest, to supersede Duquesne in the government of Canada. Scarcely had the French sails caught the ocean breezes, when the English sent Admiral Boscawen in pursuit. Both fleets arrived nearly at the same moment off Cape Race, but were prevented by the deep fog from seeing each other. The French fleet, favored by this circumstance, passed up the St. Lawrence, and safely landed officers and troops at Quebec ; excepting two vessels. The Alcide and the Lys encountered a portion of the Eng- lish fleet, and, after a sharp action, surrendered.
The certain prospect of another aggravating contest filled New York with alarm. Notwithstanding the colony had from its earliest history been
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constantly talking about fortifications and defenses, until the subject had
grown monotonous, and, in spite of appropriations and protracted
February. labor and Indian treaties, the city and province were in a con- paratively defenseless condition. Albany was so exposed that the Indians laughed derisively. Should Albany be taken, there was nothing to prevent the French from sweeping down the Hudson, occupying New York City, and proceeding with their conquests into New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and beyond.
The danger was too imminent for any waste of words. De Lancey convened the Assembly, by advice of the Council, on the 4th of Feb. 4. February, and, although the Livingston interest ruled in that body (Robert Livingston, third lord of the manor, William Livingston, James Livingston, and three gentlemen who had married Livingstons, were members of the House) and in any other event would have opposed whatever De Lancey proposed, the common peril overcame all other con- siderations. A large amount of money was needed to build strongholds above Albany, and strengthen defenses everywhere. The Assembly acted promptly. In defiance of royal instructions, it authorized an issue of £ 45,000 in bills of credit, to be sunk at stated intervals by a tax. It also prohibited any supplies of provisions from being sent to the French colonies ; and it made the militia subject to such penalties as should be imposed by the executive.
Sir William Johnson hastened to New York to take his seat in the Council, bringing an appeal from the Mohawks, who were desperately frightened. Hostilities would let loose the hordes of French Indians upon their castles, which were now entirely defenseless, and they begged for aid. There was no alternative but to comply. The government decided to stockade their castles, and erect such other works as would best protect the aged warriors. The House authorized De Lancey to draw upon the contingent fund for this purpose; and directed Sir William Johnson to estimate the expenses, and construct, on his return, such defenses as in his judgment might be deemed advisable.
About the same time letters came from Governor Shirley urging the old project of an expedition to drive the French out of Canada. Thomas Pownal was the bearer of despatches ; he called upon the lieutenant-gov- ernor, and was received somewhat coldly. He was no stranger in the city, and went immediately to consult with some of the leading gentlemen of the Livingston faction. The influence in favor of Shirley's plan was so strong that De Lancey thought it wiser to yield gracious approval, al- though he was far from satisfied with the course Shirley had taken on a former occasion, where, differences of opinion having occurred in regard to
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certain details, the Massachusetts governor delivered himself of expres- sions of contempt for his high-toned New York contemporary, not easily ignored or forgotten. A committee from the Council met a committee from the House, and it was resolved that if Massachusetts would raise fourteen hundred men, New York would raise eight hundred, and would agree to contribute to a general fund for the support of the war. Before the resolution should be acted upon, it was proposed to submit the same to the approval of General Braddock.
The latter officer had already arrived in Virginia, and had summoned the colonial governors for the 14th of April, to meet him in con- ference. Shirley of Massachusetts, De Lancey of New York, April 14. Morris of Pennsylvania, Sharpe of Maryland, and Dinwiddie of Virginia, presented themselves at the appointed time. Four separate expeditions were planned. The first, for the complete reduction of Nova Scotia, was to be commanded by Lieutenant-Governor Lawrence of that province. The second, to recover possession of the Ohio valley, would be led by Braddock himself. The third, under command of Shirley, was to expel the French from Fort Niagara, and form a junction with Braddock's forces. The fourth, having for its object the capture of Crown Point was placed under the command of Sir William Johnson, whose army would be made up of the provincial militia and the warriors of the Six Nations.
As soon as plans were fully matured each officer hastened to his post. Shirley was detained in New York a few days, trying to remove the objections which De Lancey had raised to the form of Johnson's commis- sion. The two governors were not at ease in each other's society, many points of dispute had arisen between them, and were likely to arise in the future; and when Shirley named Peter Van Brugh Livingston and William Alexander (Livingston's brother-in-law), in preference to Oliver De Lancey, as agents in the purchase of supplies for the Niagara ex- pedition, the lieutenant-governor found it difficult to control his indig- nation.
The city was in a bustle of military preparation. Troops were con- stantly arriving, recruiting offices sprung into being, and soldiers were drilled at all hours of the day. Men were actively at work upon new defenses, as well as trying to strengthen those which had cost so much in the past ; and provision was made for extra fire-arms, to supply all the the citizens in case of an invasion.
Sir William Johnson summoned the Indians to Johnson Hall, and on the 21st of June opened a grand council. More than eleven hundred of the children of the forest were present, an unprecedented and unex- pected number, and although prepared to feed a great many, this remark-
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able visitation nearly swept the larder clean. Johnson threw into his speeches all the fire and energy of which he was master, and nearly all the sachems were disposed to enlist under his standard.
Meanwhile the expedition for Acadia - Nova Scotia - was on its way. The two forts were quickly captured, and the English were thus in safe and undisputed possession. And then they proceeded to execute one of those needless and wanton acts which disgraced the age, and even humanity itself.
The Acadians were a simple, harmless, and pious people, leading a pastoral life among their flocks and herds, and tilling the soil, which, for more than a century and a half, had descended from father to son. They had remained in the territory, which, after repeated conquests and restorations, had, in the treaty of Utrecht, been conceded to Great Brit- ain, and were hardly conscious of the change of sovereigns. For nearly forty years they had been forgotten or neglected, and had prospered in their seclusion. Through their industry the fertile fields and rich meadows were in the highest state of cultivation. No tax-gatherers in- truded upon them, no magistrate dwelt within their borders. The parish priest was the sole arbiter of their disputes, and beyond him there was no appeal. Their morals were pure, they harbored no ill-will towards their fellow-men, and were happy and contented. The husbands and brothers went forth in the early morn to work in the fields, and the wives and sisters plied the shuttle or trained the woodbine and the honeysuckle over the doors of their pretty cottages.
Under the flimsy pretext of its rendering the possession of Nova Scotia insecure to allow so large a body of French to reside there, it was determined to set adrift the entire colony. It was no difficult matter to get access to records and titles, as the unsuspecting victims were total- ly ignorant of law. Such papers were taken and carefully removed. Their property was then demanded for the public service without bargain or payment. The order may still be read upon the Council records at Halifax, - "They must comply without terms, immediately, or the next courier will bring an order for military execution upon the delinquents."
The unoffending sufferers were despised because they were helpless. Presently their boats and fire-arms were taken from them; then a general proclamation was issued commanding the males of all ages to assenible at their respective villages on the 5th of September. How could they dream of any hostile intent ! At Grand Pré, one of the places designated, four hundred and eighteen came together, and were huddled into a church, for what purpose they little dreamed. The doors were closed and barred. They were then informed that their lands, houses, and live-
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stock were confiscated to the crown, and that they themselves were to be removed at once from the province; but "through the goodness of his Majesty" they were to be permitted to take with them their cash in hand, with such portion of household goods as would not encumber the vessels in which they were to sail.
They were prisoners indeed. They had left their homes but for the morning and were never to return. Their families were to share their lot. But as there were not enough transports to carry them all at one time, it was deemed advisable to get rid of the men first, and leave the women and children until other vessels could be provided. The 10th of September was the day of embarkation. The wretched fathers, hus- bands, and sons were drawn up six deep, the young men first, and the seniors behind, and under a strong guard marched to the shore. The women and the children rushed forward, and one wail of anguish rent the heavens. Not one among them had anticipated this terrible sepa- ration.
Weeks elapsed before the broken-hearted beings were all shipped. For months the newspapers of New York and elsewhere contained ad- vertisements of husbands seeking wives, lovers seeking their affianced, and brothers seeking their sisters.
Seven thousand of these unfortunate Acadians were distributed through the colonies. A few of them after weary wanderings found their lost ones, but by far the greater number nevermore beheld the faces of those who were dearer than life itself. The pen of one of our gifted poets has rendered the memory of this inhumanity lasting, and it can only be con- templated with detestation while the sanctity of the family tie is cher- ished in the human heart.1
The news that Sir Charles Hardy had been selected to succeed Sir Dan- vers Osborne as governor of New York reached the city in March. He arrived on the 3d of September. Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey waited upon him and spent a quiet evening with him on the vessel
Sept. 3. before he landed. He was received in like manner as his predecessors, save that there was very little enthusiasm.
He was, like Clinton, an unlettered admiral, and it was quickly discov- ered that he was out of his sphere in matters of state as well as deficient in executive talent; to govern he must have a leader. De Lancey was in
1 Haliburton's History of Nova Scotia. Bancroft. Graham. Stone. Lieutenant-Gov- ernor Lawrence to the Lords of Trade. Monckton to the Lords of Trade. English writers at- tempted to justify this cruelty on the ground of "military necessity." But there seems to have been no "military necessity " in the act whatever, save in the imagination ; and had there been, the dictates of decency and common humanity should have protected the family relation.
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the gap, and continued as much the real commander-in-chief as he had been.
The war was the all-absorbing topic. The death and defeat of General Braddock on the 9th of July had shocked the whole community. An evil star hung over the expedition against Niagara also. It was to have started early in the spring; but the troops who were to take part in it, composed of Shirley's, Pepperell's, and Schuyler's regiments, did not ar- rive in Albany until July, and were about to embark when the news of Braddock's defeat came. The effect of this intelligence was disastrous. It filled the army with terror, and great numbers of the troops deserted. Delays were inevitable, and it was nearly the end of August when Shir- ley, now (since the death of Braddock) commander-in-chief of the Amer- ican forces, arrived at Oswego. More boats had to be built, and by the time they were finished a storm set in so severe as to render it unsafe for the troops to venture upon the lake ; and when, on September 26, an order was given for embarkation, a succession of head winds and tempests arose, which continued for thirteen days, after which sickness prevailed, the Indians, not relishing the water, deserted, and the season was too far advanced. On the 24th of October, Shirley returned to Albany.
The expedition against Crown Point, under Sir William Johnson, was more successful. It resulted in the defeat of Baron Dieskau, who had been sent to meet the approaching army, and expected, after its annihila- tion, to proceed to Albany and beyond. Both Johnson and Dieskau were wounded, and the latter was borne, while his troops were flying, into the tent of the former. He wrote to Count d'Argenson, under date of Sep- tember 14, 1755, "I know not at present what will be my fate ; from M. de Johnson, the general of the English army, I am receiving all the attention possible to be expected from a brave man, full of honor and feeling." It is said that before the Baron left America, he presented John- son with a magnificent sword as a token of regard.
The victory at Lake George was a military achievement of which New York and New England had reason to be proud; and it headed a series of triumphs which saved America from coming under the dominion of the French. But the expedition did not reach Crown Point. Governor Har- dy, attended by Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey, and several gentlemen of the Council, went to Albany as soon as the news of Dieskau's defeat reached New York, in order to further operations, and remained until November 26.
Shirley, in the mean time, arrived in Albany and found fault with everything which had been done by the subordinate officers. He ham- pered the movements of Sir William Johnson, and complained because
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they had not been more effectual. Why had not the enemy been pur- sued ? Why did not the General move boldly against Crown Point ? What was the sense in constructing a useless fort ? He did not take into account the difficulties in the way of attacking, with raw and undisciplined militia, carefully constructed breastworks defended by regulars, trained under the best generals of Europe. Shirley was a consequential man. He paraded his marvelous military knowledge before the public eye, but he did not put much of it to the test in his own personal operations. Always in a bustle, he never made progress ; his plans were feasible, often brilliant upon paper, but practically they did not work well. His mag- nificent scheme for the capture of Niagara having failed, he must forward supplies to the garrisons, and then " revolve in his busy mind " some other enterprise against the enemy.
He went to New York December 2. He was treated like any other private citizen. A few days after Sir William Johnson arrived, and a crowd went out to meet him with coaches and chariots, and the capital was illuminated in his honor ; England conferred upon him a baronetcy,1 and subsequently sent him a commission as "colonel, agent, and sole superintendent of all the affairs of the Six Nations and other Northern Indians," accompanied with a salary of £600 per annum. At the same time came instructions from the Ministry forbidding each northern prov- ince to transact any business with the Indians. Thus Johnson was placed on an independent footing. Shirley was chagrined ; but he called a grand congress of governors to meet him in New York on the 12th, to discuss plans for a spring campaign. Fitch of Connecticut, Sharp of Maryland, and Morris of Pennsylvania, were present, besides Hardy, De Lancey, Colonel Schuyler, Colonel Dunbar, Major Rutherford, Sir John St. Clair, and others. Shirley presided. As preparatory to the successful prosecu- tion of a remarkable project for the next year, Ticonderoga was to be attacked by crossing the ice in midwinter, which seemed so feasible that it met with the approval of the Council. Major Rutherford and Staats Long Morris, the son of Judge Lewis Morris, were despatched to England to lay the plan before the Ministry.
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