USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. II > Part 28
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"Mr. Baker and suite will be permitted to land at such place as he may deem proper, and pass to Washington city, the seat of government The honorable Captain Maude is requested to report his arrival in the harbor to the commanding officer of the district.
"By command of Col. R. Bogardus, commanding 3d Military District.
" Signed
THOS. CHRYSTIE, " Assistant Adj. Gen."
Mr. Baker had formerly been the secretary of the British legation at Washington before the war.
The news that the Favorite had a treaty of peace on board was brought to the city by the persons who came for the military permit for her to come into the harbor. It was nearly eight o'clock in the evening when this news arrived. It was first an- nounced in the Gazette office.
The editor of the New York Journal of Commerce,
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DEMONSTRATIONS OF JOY
in 1846, tells how the news was received in the Ga- zette office, as follows :
"Years ago the office of the old Gazette was in Hanover square, near the corner of Pearl street. It was a place of resort for news and conversation, especially in the evening. The evening of February 11, 1815, was cold, and at a late hour only Alderman Cebra and another gentleman were left with father Lang, the genius of the place. The office was about being closed, when a pilot rushed in and stood for a moment, so entirely exhausted, as to be unable to speak. 'He has great news !' exclaimed Mr. Lang. Presently the pilot, gasping for breath, whispered intelligibly, 'Peace! peace !' The gentlemen lost their breath as fast as the pilot gained his. Directly the pilot was able to say : ' An English sloop-of-war is below with news of a treaty of peace.' They say that Mr. Lang exclaimed in greater words than he ever used before or after.
" All hands rushed into Hanover square, crying -- ' Peace ! peace ! PEACE !' The windows flew up, for families lived there then. No sooner were the inmates sure of the sweet sound of peace than the windows began to glow with brilliant illuminations. The cry of 'Peace ! peace! PEACE !' spread through the city at the top of all voices. No one stopped to inquire about 'free trade and sailors' rights.' No one inquired whether even the national honor had been preserved. The matters by which politicians had irritated the nation into the war had lost all their importance .- It was enough that the ruinous war was over. An old man in Broadway, attracted
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OVER TIIE PEACE.
by the noise to his door, was seen to pull down a placard, 'To let,' which had been long posted up. Never was there such joy in the city. A few even- ings after, there was a general illumination, and although the snow was a foot deep and soaked with rain, yet the streets were crowded with men and women, eager to see and partake of everything which had in it the sight or taste of peace."
An extra was issued from the Gazette office Satur- day evening announcing the news of the treaty.
On Monday the following appeared :
"The editors of this Gazette return their un- feigned thanks to Mr. David Mitchell, pilot in the boat Erie, for the announcing first at the Gazette office the most glorious news of peace. Mr. Mitch- ell brought up Mr. Carroll and the king's messenger from the Hook."
A "hand-bill" was issued from the Mercantile Advertiser, printed on a slip of paper five by six inches in size, and was posted and distributed among the public places in the city. It read as fol- lows :
"NEW YORK, Saturday evening. 9 o'clock, "February 11, 1815.
" Peace !
" The great and joyful news of PEACE between the United States and Great Britain reached the city this evening by the British sloop-of-war Favorite, the Hon. J. N. Mowatt, Esq., commander, in forty- two days from Plymouth. Henry Carroll. Esq., secretary of the American Legation at Ghent, is the welcome bearer of the treaty, which was
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DESCRIBED BY EYE WITNESSES.
signed at Ghent on the 24th December by the re- spective commissioners, and ratified by the British Government on the 28th December. Mr. Baker, late secretary to the British Legation at Washing- ton, has also arrived in the sloop-of-war with a copy of the treaty ratified by the British Government."
In 1846 the venerable Francis Hall, of the Com- mercial Advertiser, tells how the news of peace was received by that journal, as follows :
"The news of peace was received on Saturday evening, the eleventh of February, 1815, and at an early hour on that evening. We distinctly recollect the events of that evening and of the night and day that followed. It had been our practice for some years to be at the office on Saturday evenings, for the purpose of sending off marine and other intelligence that might be received after the paper was put to press in the afternoon and previous to the closing of the mails for the next morning. On the evening in question we were at the office, with one of the clerks, and at about eight o'clock one of the Hook pilots came into the office in great haste, and almost breathless, saying : 'There is peace, -I have brought up the messenger, who is now at the City Hotel.'
"In a few minutes all the printers' candlesticks were put in requisition, and from the windows of our office, then No. 60 Wall street, we showed as good a blaze of light as, on the spur of the moment, our means would allow. The office was speedily crowded with visitors, who went forth proclaiming the welcome tidings, and the whole city soon par-
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SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ISSUED.
took of the general joy. We ascertained from the pilot that the only newspapers brought by the ship were in the possession of the messenger, and on him we waited. We learned that he had a file of papers, but that they were intended for Mr. Monroe, then Secretary of State, and it required a good deal of entreaty to obtain the loan of them. We finally prevailed and took them to the office, with strict injunctions that they were 'not to be cut,' and must be returned by five o'clock the next morning. It was no small task to copy the several columns which were put in type that night-but it was done, and before the appointed hour we returned the papers."
On Monday the Commercial Advertiser said :
"In the course of an hour the heart-cheering intelligence was probably known to every individual in the city. A great portion of the houses were illuminated ; cannon were fired from the forts ; the bells of Trinity were chimed. The principal streets (notwithstanding the severity of the weather, ac- companied with a slight fall of snow) were thronged with citizens of both sexes, and huzzas for the return of peace were echoed and re-echoed through- out our city from eight o'clock until midnight."
On Sunday forenoon, 12th, the Commercial Advertiser issued an extra on half sheet, printed only on one side, announcing the arrival of the treaty, and contained articles from London news- papers up to December 31st, which were loaned to the Advertiser by some of those that arrived on the
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"PETER PARLEY'S" EXPERIENCE
Favorite. The extra was republished in Monday's issue.
The Columbian on Monday, 13th, said :
"On Saturday evening the actual and sudden reception of a ratified treaty from England threw the city almost into an universal convulsion of joy ; and the ringing of bells, firing of guns, illumina- tions, music, and every demonstration of gladness, welcomed the grateful information. All parties, classes and conditions joined in the joyful enthusi- asm, and greeted the harbinger of peace and pros- perity to the country." *
Mr. S. G. Goodrich, in his "Recollections of a Lifetime," thus describes what he then saw and experienced :
"It was about eight o'clock on Saturday evening that the tidings circulated through the city. I had gone in the evening to a concert at the City Hotel. While listening to the music there was a murmur in the streets. Soon the door of the concert room was thown open, and in rushed a man all breathless with excitement. He mounted on a table, and, swing- ing a white handkerchief aloft, cried out, 'Peace ! Peace ! Peace !' The music ceased ; the hall was speedily vacated. I rushed into the street, and oh, what a scene ! Broadway was one living sea of
* There were then six daily newspapers printed in the city. The National Advocate, Henry Wheaton, editor ; the Gazette and General Advertiser, John Lang, editor ; the Mercantile Advertiser, John Crookes, editor, were morning papers. The evening papers were : Evening Post, William Coleman, editor ; Columbian, Charles Holt, editor ; Commercial Advertiser. Zachariah Lewis, editor. No Sunday papers were issued in these days.
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AT THAT TIME.
shouting, rejoicing people. Peace ! Peace ! Peace ! was the deep, harmonious, universal anthem. The whole spectacle was enlivened by a sudden inspira- tion. Somebody came with a torch ; the bright idea passed into a thousand brains. In a few min- utes thousands and tens of thousands of people were marching about with candles, lamps, torches, making the jubilant street appear like a gay and gorgeous procession. The whole night Broadway sang its song of peace. We were all Democrats, all Federalists ; old enemies rushed into each other's arms ; every house was in a revel; every heart seemed melted by a joy which banished all evil thought and feeling.
"Nobody asked, that happy night, what were the terms of the treaty ; we had got peace-that was enough ! I moved about for hours in the ebbing and flowing tide of people, not being aware that I had opened my lips. The next morning I found that I was hoarse from having joined in the exulting cry of Peace ! Peace ! The next day, Sunday, all the churches sent up hymns of thanksgiving for the joyous tidings."
The concert alluded to by Mr. Goodrich was Miss Dellinger's concert and ball at the assembly rooms of. the City Hotel. It was in progress when the news arrived. The leader of the orchestra was Mr. Gilfest. Mr. Biert was manager of the ball. The concert commenced at half-past six o'clock. The ball was to take place after the concert.
Some of the songs were : "Death of Lawrence,"
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EXPRESS TO GOVERNOR TOMPKINS.
"Columbia's Soil," "With Well-earned Laurels," etc. Miss Dellinger was the chief singer.
The ball was to "take place after the concert was over." It is almost needless to add that it did not take place that night ; the news of peace and the out- side commotion and revelry prevented any inclina- tion in that direction.
At that time all places of business were kept open until nine o'clock each evening, and all mechanics and indoor workmen worked evenings until nine o'clock, excepting Saturday evenings (ante, Vol. I., p. 35). On that evening they all proceeded to the streets to see and learn all about the good news.
The following news item was at once dispatched to many of the large cities :
"NEW YORK, February 11, 1815 .- The British sloop-of-war Favorite, James A. Maude, commander, arrived in New York this evening under flag of truce, and Mr. Henry Carroll, one of the secretaries to our ministers at Ghent, and Mr. A. St. J. Baker, sec- retary to the British legation to the United States. Mr. Carroll has the treaty of peace concluded and signed by the British commissioners at Ghent on the 24th December, and the latter, with the same rati- fied by the Prince Regent, and which, when ap- proved by the President and United States Senate, will be effectual, and is to be immediately communi- cated by Mr. Baker to the British fleet and armies."
A special express on horseback was at once dis- patched to inform Governor Tompkins at Albany of the news. The expenses of this express were paid by Mr. Jacob Barker. The Governor received the
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ACTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
news on the 13th, but awaited the ratification of the treaty by the authorities at Washington before further action.
A horseback express, carrying the news of the treaty, was sent to Boston at the expense of Mr. J. Goodhue, of New York, at a cost of $225, which was immediately repaid to Mr. Goodhue by sub- scription there. The express arrived in Boston on Tuesday morning, 14th.
The Common Council met on the 13th and made the following official announcement :
"The Common Council, in common with their fellow citizens, appreciating the important bless- ings which will result to our country from the res- toration of peace, and sincerely congratulating them on the auspicious intelligence which has been re- ceived on that subject, inform them that arrange- ments have been made for suitable demonstrations of joy whenever intelligence of the ratification of the treaty shall be received, and particularly that due notice of a time for a general illumination of the city will be given. They also suggest that any partial exhibition of joy is incompatible with the solemnity of the occasion, and may produce irregu- larity and disorder. They further inform their fel- low citizens that a committee of the board have been appointed to superintend the requisite arrange- ments."
Aldermen George Buckmaster, A. H. Lawrence and Peter Mesier were appointed such committee. The two latter were Federalists and were on the
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PREPARATIONS FOR A CELEBRATION.
Committee of Defence. Alderman Buckmaster was a Democrat.
The Favorite came past Sandy Hook on Monday and anchored in the lower bay, and proceeded to make some necessary repairs preparatory to her return to England.
A movement was set on foot by many organiza- tions and associations to have a dinner in honor of the event. It was said by some of the newspapers that Tammany Society and the Washington Benev- olent Society and other organizations should do this.
The following announcement was made by some of the most prominent Federalists :
" Those gentlemen who are disposed to attend a public dinner in celebration of the return of Peace, to be given at Washington Hall on Wednesday, the 22d February, the birthday of Washington, the founder of the liberties of our country, are requested to call on either of the undersigned committee for tickets.
" ISAAC SEBRING, PHILIP HONE,
AUG. H. LAWRENCE, DOMINICK LYNCH, JR.,
JOHN A. KING, GEO. BRINKERHOFF,
JONATHAN GOODHUE, WM. NEILSON, JR.
"Dinner will be on the table at three o'clock."
The 22d was the anniversary of the Washington Benevolent Society and the day for annually install- ing its officers.
When General Boyd, at Utica, heard of the news of peace he at once hastened to New York, and arrived there on the 16th and resumed command on the 17th. Colonel Bogardus then resumed his com- mand on Long Island.
465
MESSAGE TO BLOCKADING SQUADRON.
NEW YORK, February 18th, 1815.
Yesterday Brigadier-General Boyd, the command- ing officer at New York, received a letter from James Monroe, the Secretary of War, announcing that the President had received and examined the treaty lately concluded at Ghent, and that there was no doubt it would be ratified, and directed him to give notice of the fact to the commander of the British squadron off New York. General Boyd immediately wrote to the British officer commanding, and en- closed a copy of Mr. Mo iroe's letter. These letters were taken down to the squadron off Sandy Hook by Major Spencer in the revenue cutter commanded by Captain Brewster.
The following is a copy of the letter and the enclosure.
"HEADQUARTERS, 3D MILITARY DISTRICT, "NEW YORK, Feb'y 17th, 1815.
"SIR :- I have the honor to transmit to you, by Major Spencer of the U. S. army, a copy of a letter I have this morning received from the honorable James Monroe, Secretary of War, to congratulate you on the return of peace between Great Britain and the U. S., and to offer you such refreshments as your ships may require.
"I have the honor to be, with much respect, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,
"J. P. BOYD,
" Brig .- Gen. Commanding 3d Military Dist.
" Officer commanding his Britannic Majesty's ships of war off New York."
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WAITING FOR THE TREATY.
" DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
" WASHINGTON, Feb'y 14th, 1815.
"SIR :- It is with great satisfaction that I have to inform you that a treaty of peace was concluded between the U. S. and Great Britain at Ghent on the 24th December last.
"A copy of this treaty was received to-day by Mr. Carroll. It has been examined by the President and will (I have no doubt) be ratified.
"I give you this information that hostilities may cease immediately between our troops and those of Great Britain.
"It will be proper for you to notify this to the British commander in your vicinity.
"I have the honor to be respectfully, your most obedient servant,
" JAMES MONROE.
" To the Officer Commanding at New York."
Major Spencer cruised outside Sandy Hook, look- ing for some British vessel to whom he could deliver the papers. His search proved fruitless, and he returned to the city without delivering his message.
A few days after this Captain Brewster, of the United States revenue cutter Active, went in search of the blockading squadron to offer them supplies, but returned on the 20th without seeing anything of them.
The public were still ignorant of the terms of the treaty, and must wait until it was placed before the world by the constituted authorities.
CHAPTER LIII.
The Treaty and President's Proclamation Arrives-Newspaper En- terprise-Common Council Designates 22d February for the Celebration-Political Prejudices Prevail-Washington Benevo- lent Society Dinner and Toasts-City Celebration Postponed - Celebration in the Suburbs-Military Celebration-Governor Tompkins' Announcement to the Militia-Commodore Decatur is Paroled-Grand Celebration Expected.
was desirable that the ratified treaty and its contents should be before the people as soon as possible. Four of the city papers, the Com- mercial Advertiser, the Gazette, the Evening Post and the Mercantile Advertiser agreed to share the expense of a special express from Washington with the treaty, and jointly put it in type, and to issue it at same hour by carriers from each office. It was not expected to arrive on a Sunday, how- ever.
The treaty was laid before the United States Sen- ate by the President on the 15th, in the afternoon, in secret session. It was ratified and returned to the President for his signature on Friday, 17th. The injunction of secrecy of its contents was re- moved about four o'clock on Saturday, and the treaty was published in the afternoon in the Na-
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TREATY PUBLISHIED.
tional Intelligencer, with the President's proclama- tion of that date announcing it.
The special express for New York started at Wash- ington with the ratified treaty, and the President's proclamation announcing it, at twenty-one minutes past six o'clock on Saturday evening, 18th, and it was delivered to the editor of the Commercial Ad- vertiser, in Broad street, New York, at 12:30 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.
The news of the ratification and arrival of the treaty was soon known all over the city.
The city church bells were rung from half-past one until three o'clock by order of the Mayor, and flags were hoisted on the public buildings.
The newspapers hastily summoned their men and set them at work to have the news issued as soon as practicable.
There were no steam printing presses in those days. The hand press, printing off only one side of a newspaper at a time, seems slow to us, but the city circulation of each newspaper was small at that time ; probably none exceeded two thousand on the most extraordinary occasion, but it would take four or five hours to " work off " such a number in that manner.
The extras of the four newspapers containing the treaty and proclamation were issued Sunday even- ing by the four newspapers as agreed and was sold at twenty-five cents each. It was republished by all the papers on Monday.
On Monday, the 20th, in the afternoon, the Com- mon Council met and the committee appointed to
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ACTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
report suitable public demonstrations of joy at the restoration of peace reported the following, which was unaminously adopted :
" The Common Council, participating with the feeling of their fellow-citizens on the restoration of the blessings of peace to our country ; and desirous that the public expression of joy on this auspicious event should be uniform, recommend that in cele- bration thereof a general illumination of all in- habited dwellings take place on Wednesday next, the 22d instant.
"The committee, on the part of the Common Council, have directed the City Hall to be illumi- nated, and have ordered several appropriate transpar- encies to be prepared for that building. They have also ordered a handsome display of fireworks to be got up, and to be exhibited in front of the Govern- ment House at Bowling Green.
"They further recommend that the flags from the forts and from the vessels in the harbor be dis- played during the day. That a salute be fired at noon under the direction of the commanding officer of artillery, and that the bells of the city be rung at that time for the space of one hour.
" That the illumination commence at seven o'clock in the evening, and continue until ten o'clock, when the lights are to be extinguished. The signal for the illumination to be three guns fired in suc- cession from the Battery and Arsenal, and the flight of three rockets.
" That no horses or carriages appear in any part of the streets of the city south of the line of Cham-
.
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REGULATING THE CELEBRATION.
ber street between the hours of seven and ten o'clock of that evening.
" And, as many of our most worthy fellow citi- zens from religious scruples, from sickness and other causes cannot conveniently unite with their fellow citizens in testifying their joy on this occa- sion by illumination, the corporation earnestly rec- ommend that no violation of the rights of individ- uals take place in consequence of any omission to join in such illumination. And they further give notice that they have taken the most efficacious measures to punish any violations of the public peace. That the peace officers and city watch be directed to assemble at the Hall at six o'clock, where they will receive instructions as to the duties re- quired of them.
"And it having been suggested by a number of the reverend the clergy of this city that this event is one of those interpositions of Providence which calls for national gratitude and thanksgiving, and that it would be highly agreeable to them that it should be recommended by the Common Council to the citizens to attend divine service on that day, it is, therefore, recommended that the citizens of this place assemble in their respective churches on that day at the usual hour of morning service, there to offer up to the Great Ruler of nations their sincere thanksgivings for the restoration of peace to our country, and humbly to implore His blessings upon it.
"To prevent jostling and confusion the commit- tee request that all persons passing through the
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ARTILLERY SALUTES.
streets on the evening of the illumination will keep on their right-hand side of the way, and to prevent as much as possible every accident. They further notify that every trespass in throwing among the crowd or elsewhere on that evening any squibs, crackers or other combustibles, will be strictly no- ticed and severely punished."
Major-General Stevens issued division orders that a national salute be fired at the battery by the field artillery on the 21st. General Morton issued the following order on the morning of that day :
"FIRST BRIGADE NEW YORK STATE ARTILLERY .. " BRIGADE ORDERS.
"NEW YORK, February 21, 1815.
"In compliance of division orders a national sa- lute will be fired at the battery this day at twelve o'clock in celebration of the treaty of peace con- cluded between the United States and Great Britain. For this purpose the Third Regiment will furnish a detachment with eight pieces of. cannon. They will be under command of Major Hunter.
"P. S .- Major Hunter will direct the firing of three cannon at seven o'clock P.M of that day (22d), and the discharge of three rockets at the battery and State arsenal as signals for the commencement of the illumination.
"By order of Brig .- Gen. "JACOB MORTON."
The first meeting held was that by the Hamilton Society, held at Washington Hall on the evening of the 21st to celebrate the peace. The exercises com
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HAMILTON SOCIETY CELEBRATES.
menced at half-past eight o'clock. It consisted of music ; then prayer by Rev. Mr. Clark ; music ; reading of extract from Washington's Farewell Ad- dress by Mr. Tobias H. Gates ; music ; oration by James W. Gerard ;* music.
Members of Washington Benevolent Society were * JAMES W. GERARD was graduated at Columbia in class of 1811, was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1814, and as a counsellor- at-law in 1816. He read law in George Giffin's office, an eminent lawyer at that time in New York. He served in the "Iron Greys" in the fall of 1814 in defence of New York city, and was the leader of the call for the younger members of the bar to volunteer work ou the defences in Brooklyn, in the summer of 1814, and worked in the trenches with them. Was one of the most eminent and successful jury lawyers for more than fifty years. Was a local philanthropist for the young. Founded the House of Refuge, and had much to do with the public schools of the city. Since 1867 had given silver medals to the two boys and two girls in each of the highest grammar school classes in his inspection district, which comprised several of the largest public schools in the city. In his will he made these prizes a perpetuity. He retired from the practice at the bar in 1868. A public dinner was given him by the bar in January, 1869. Died February 7, 1874.
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