USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I > Part 2
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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
10
Notes on Printing in New York.
likely exceed five or six fonts of type, and all except one or two of these could be contained in a single pair of cases. The press was undoubtedly second-hand, as well as the type, both having been selected from the office of his father-in-law. Such at least. is the inference that would now be drawn. The work to be done here would not be of great variety, and it was easy to distribute the contents of each form, after working it off, so that letter enough could be in case for the next sheet. A little paper, a few books, a barrel of ink, completed his assortment. Whatever deficiencies he had in material he must make up himself. No one else in Pennsylvania knew anything about the art ; no one could help him, unless possibly his wife.
The press was set up, the type distributed in its cases, the sheepskin or deerskin balls made, and work was ready to begin. The first work from the press was the " Kalendarium Pennsilva- niense," an inconsiderable almanac, full of errors, but prized by the collector mach beyond its value in gold, for it represents the first effort of Inan ingenuity with type south of Cambridge and Boston. For its mistakes, which were numerous. the printer makes an apology, and in it gives a brief account of what he has done, as well as what he proposes to do in the future. He says :
* THE PRINTER TO THE READER.
" Hereby understand that after great Charge and Trouble, I have brought that great Art and Mystery of Printing into this part of America believing it may be of great service to you in several respects, hoping to find Encouragement, not only in this Almanack, but what else I shall enter upon for the use and ser- vice of the Inhabitants of these Parts. Some Irregularities. there be in this Diary, which I desire yon to pass by this year : for being lately come hither. my Materials were Mis placed. and out of order, whereupon I was forced to use Figures & Letters of various sizes, but understanding the want of sonte- thing of this nature, and being importuned thereto. I ventured to make publiek this, desiring you to accept thereof, and by the next, (as I find encouragement) shall endeavour to have things compleat. And for the case of Clarks. Scriviiers. de. I pro-
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Notes on Printing in New York.
pose to print blank Bills, Bonds, Letters of Attourney, Indentures, Warrants, &e. and what else presents itself, wherein I shall be ready to serve you, and remain your Friend.
"WV. BRADFORD.
" Philadelphia, the 25th 10th Month, 1683."
The whole work is one of twenty leaves, not paged, six inches by four in the leaf, and a little over three by five inches in the printed matter. Four sizes of type are used, each with italie, the quan- tity of the latter being extremely great in proportion to the Ro- man. The largest is a two-line letter, double great primer in size, then a double English, a pica and a long primer. These fonts are extremely irregular in face. so irregular that they can only be accounted for by the mixing of various faces in the case, while the body remained unchanged. The capitals are very small in proportion to the lower case. which is large-faced. The ends of the serifs are broken off, as well as the end of some body- marks, and italie is used to eke out the Roman. There are many typographical errors, such as irregular spacing and justification. and there is much bad orthography.
Only two copies are now known to be extant. One is that which formerly belonged to Judge Sewell of Massachusetts. and afterwards to Frederick Kidder. It was among the great rarities of the Brinley collection, and when that was dispersed in Isso it was purchased by the Pennsylvania Historical Society. on whose shelves it now reposes. The price paid for it was five hundred and fifty-five dollars.
W. W. PASKO.
AN ENGLISHIMAN'S VIEW OF NEW YORK.
[In the years before the war, when Americans were much more thin-skinned than now, frequent allusions used to be made in con- versation to the travels of Captain Basil Hall, Miss Martinean. Mrs. Trollope and the Rev. Isaac Fidler. The latter was by far the stupidest, and, although his education had been good, there was no literary flavor in his writing. He was unsuccessful in getting a church in the United States, but obtained one in Canada, and consequently gave a much more rose-colored account of that coun- try than of ours. But he finally thought it better to return to England. as being his only appropriate sphere, and did so after being on this side of the water for a few months. His book, a moderate sized octavo, is dated at Clapham, May 1st, 1838. It was reprinted by the Harpers the same year.]
At the latter end of 1881. I left England for America, with a view of adopting the United States as my future country. My reasons for taking this step were similar to those of most emi- grants. Dissatisfaction with the Government and the state of thing, in my own country, by which I had, as I concluded. been hitherto kept back in my fortime. and disappointed in my anns. together with a high admiration of the American Republic. formed the foundation of my reasons for emigrating.
This admiration had been conveyed to me, in some measure, as an hereditary opinion, and was made almost sacred by parental authority. For many years before his death, my father had cher- ished the intention of becoming himself an American. Whenever. therefore, any real or fancied evil oppressed me, my imagination and my hopes took refuge among the free wilds and rising com- munities of the great republic.
Edneated for the church. but destitute of interest or patronage. I remained a mere teacher at home. with little to encourage my ambition even in that laborious profession ; although. in addition to competent classical acquaroments. I had made myself master of several of the languages in the East which are but seldom stud-
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An Englishman's View.
ied in England. In the United States these advantages would. I anticipated, either be the means of introducing me into the Epis- copal church, or would at least enable me to live there in a degree of respectability which I could scarcely hope for in Eng- land. With these views I emigrated ; and my observations will, therefore, be more full in reference to my own particular pursuits than those of most travelers who have written npon the prospects of English settlers in the United States or in Canada. Cireumstances, however, ultimately induced me to return and fix myself again in my native land ; and I now offer to my country- men, with all eandor, and in some detail, the result of my inquiries, and the nature of my disappointments.
On the 28th of October. 1831, our ship sailed from London for Portsmouth, at which we arrived in three days, and in this latter place we were detained four days more. Setting sail again. we soon found ourselves in the wide ocean, and made the usual ob-er- vations which landsmen are accustomed to make during the tedium of a voyage across the Atlantic. Many plans I had formed for industry on the passage, but I found Bishop Heber's observa- tion correct. that a man can seldom study to much purpose at sea. Sickness first. and lassitude after, the uncongeniality and discom- fort of a sea life : the weariness of its sameness. and the conse- quent eagerness for amusement to excite or divert the mind : together with eating, which in these circumstances is a real pleasure. and sleeping, which is a grateful oblivion-leave little time or inclination for steady application of mind. Then we had the usual variety of weather, foul and fair: a competent share of storms and perils : and felt the customary anxiety for the termi- nation of our voyage. My fellow-passengers were also of the mixed sort common on such occasions, some of them being Eng- lish and some Americans : and their long conversations and many arguments upon the comparative advantages of the old and new countries, served to enlighten me considerably as to what I had to expect in the tran-atlantic country. Of these conversations 1 took careful notes, and their substance I may have occasion to allude to in the sequel. as corroborative of my own obser- vations.
At length. after a voyage of seven weeks, American land was
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An Englishman's View.
discovered from the mast-head, and we soon after found ourselves approaching the protruding wharfs of New York. It was now about the middle of December, and the severity of the American climate began to be sensibly felt by most of us.
The first glimpse we had of transatlantic land was reflected from snow-clad hills. A biting frosty wind also, blowing from the coast, conveyed anticipations of what we might experience on shore. During all the voyage, till three days before our arrival, there had been no fire in the cabin ; but the intensity of cold was at last so great, that fire could no longer be dispensed with. When the vessel had approached near enough for a signal to be made, a gun was fired for a steamboat to tow us to the wharf. After one had arrived, we ascended rapidly and smoothly that delightful harbor. Several picture-que islands crowned with batteries, appeared in different directions, but as a deep covering of snow overspread the landscape, the natural beauties of the harbor were indistinctly visible. The vessel was soon at the landing-place. Most of the passenger-, among whom was myself. ynitted the place of our long incarceration, and by one leap found ourselves at large in the land of freedom. independence and equality. These mystic and magie words are there on every one's tongue. I shall hereafter give my opinion of how they apply to this favored land-a land after which my soul had panted many years : and the government of which my immagina- tion had painted as perfection itself.
The first business we had to attend to on landing was seeking lodgings. For two rooms, badly furnished, three meals a day. and water to drink. I paid twenty-one dollars a week. Myself, my wife, and two children. with a servant. constituted the mem- bers of my family. Fire and candles cost us four dollar- a week ; and would have cost double that sum had we continued longer at the same house. Our landlady informed us that. from the price of fuel. she could not supply us with fire for less than one dollar a day. We had but one fire-place, which. had we submitted to such exaction, would have cost, in four months, nearly .825 sterling.
We afterwards rented unfurnished apartments, which allowed us to be more private than any boarding-house in New York
1
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An Englishman's View. .
admits of. It was our intention at first to take an entire honse ; but on finding that one of any respectability would cost from one to two hundred pounds a year we contented ourselves with lodg- ings. For unfurnished lodging>, in most parts of the city, more is demanded than for furnished lodgings in many parts of London. It required some time to arrange things necessary for our convenience, which imposed more exertion and less comfort than we had been accustomed to. Our servant in the mean time left us. She had been ascertaining the valne of a dollar, and how many made a pound ; and most probably conceived that she could obtain more elsewhere. On making inquiries at the house where we had previously boarded, we found that the mistress of it had seduced her from us. This is so universally the practice as to be no matter of surprise. But as the former, with three of her family and domesties, died of cholera, and our servant returned to England six months before ourselves, I shall make no further animadversions. The servant appeared to be dissatisfied with America and its people.
The person at whose house we had taken lodgings was an Englishman, a painter. who informed me that he had lived some years in Liverpool; but from the heavy weight of rates, tithes. and taxes, he had not been able to gain a living. He still had a shop there. and intended to return if the Reform Bill should pass. He so often spoke with contempt and bitterness of kings. nobility, priests, and taxes, that it was evident at once under what denomination he might be classed. He was a radical, a gambler. a frequenter of Tammany Hall." and of the lowest society. I blushed to think that such a person and myself should have entertained similar sentiments on such a subject. He had gone to America to improve his condition, but had not found that improvement realized. He hated. and cordially rallied at. the American people, their manners, and the prejudices they enter- tained against the English. His wife, a most worthy and indus- trions woman, told us that had her husband been industrious and careful they might have saved money and been independent.
* A place where the lower and more restless orders meet to discuss political and religious questions, and not a few of whose frequentees, as I was informed, are professed Atheists.
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An Englishman's Vier.
but that they could, with the same means, have been much more comfortable in Liverpool.
After we were somewhat settled, I found time to look around me and consider what was passing. It seemed to me probable that there was as much distress in New York, in proportion to the population, as in London. We saw and relieved several beggars in the streets of that city. The number, also, of paupers who were relieved by charity was very great. I think the excessive charges for house-rent and fuel must be severely felt by persons of slender means. There must be a great want of capital among coal and wood merchants, or a total absence of proper regulations. Sufficient fuel had not been provided to supply the regular con- sumption of the city; and its value became so enhanced in consequence as to be almost out of the reach of the poor. The coals we consumed were double the price of what coals had cost in the summer. The coal-merchants had promised, before the winter commenced, that they would supply the people at summer prices. But promises are slight obligations, when put into compe- tition with interest. We paid for coal at the rate of seventeen dollars a ton. While in England. we thought forty shillings a chaldron a high price; but in New York they were twice that
As my object in going to the States was to be professionally employed, my proper interest required that I should lose no time in gaining every necessary information. For the sake of all inquirers on the same subject I will. at some length. explain the prospects which English clergymen in general will have before them in these States. Some of the gentlemen with whom my letters of introduction brought me into contact possess consider- able distinction. I was introduced to the Catholic and Episcopal Bishops. to Dr. Milnor, Dr. Wainwright, Dr. Hossack, some of the professors of Columbia College, and several other gentlemen of all professions.
The intercourse I had with Americans was often confined to short calls and occasional confabulations. This, perhaps, arose from the circumstance that I had illness in my family ahnost all winter ; and also from the clergy, with whom I associated more than with any other class, being much engaged in sacred ministra-
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An Englishman's View.
tions among the sick, the dying and the dead. There were. according to the statements of some clergymen, more sickness and mortality in New York, and more calls on their time for private visitation and prayers, than they had ever known in any preceding winter. There was a great mortality among all ranks and much sickness prevailed. I myself had an attack of quinsy. Having known previously its troublesome and dangerous nature. I took every means for my recovery, and suffered the less in con- sequence. This whole winter we suffered much illness and hard- ship.
I think the prevalence of sickness and death in New York, arising probably from severity of climate and extreme changeable- ness of weather, might be greatly counteracted, could skillful physicians be indneed to settle there. But the depressed state of professions is striking to an Englishman, accustomed to see them in their high state in his own country. This arises from a want of classification in society, a want of aristocracy, independent of sordid interest, and consequently a want of due encouragement of literature and science. In that vast assemblage of people there is no person able to promote the object of a stranger. nor to take him by the band. High recommendations from England are a man's greatest detriment. The Americans, confident that no respectable professional man will leave England for their shores, unless engaged beforehand, look upon such recomenda- tions as English lies, intended to impose a worthless wretch on their notice. This was hinted to me by several; and, among others, by the rector of one of the principal churches in the city. " Many," said he, " come to our country with Haming pretensions : but Americans are not too easy to be caught by such artifices." Englishmen will, hereafter. know better than to enter America in pursuit of respectable employment. If they will stoop to menial offices, these they may obtain.
I made several inquiries respecting professorships in colleges throughout the United States, and was candidly informed by many persons capable of giving correct information that no man. whatever be his worth or acquirements, has much chance of obtaining either collegiate or elerical promotion there, unless he have personal influence with a majority of the electors. A stran-
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An Englishman's View.
ger is entirely excluded by such a system. The only thing open to an English elergyman, in a regular way, is the employment of a common schoolmaster; or a situation far back in the country, where an educated American will not go. An English clergyinan of great oratorical powers may receive a call from some congre- gation to be their pastor; but this is mere chance, and depends much upon the degree of his servility. He must entirely abandon everything like English refinement, and submit to things never heard of in his native country.
I had no letters from England to any of the Episcopal clergy in New York, or indeed in the States. A gentleman, to whom the king's physician in London gave me a letter of introduction, took me, on the morning I delivered it, to Dr. Milnor, an Episco- pal minister of great celebrity. He inquired if I had any papers with me by which he might be satisfied of my being a clergyman. These I had left at my lodgings; but I shewed him letters to ยท persons of distinction, in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington. After some conversation on various subjects, he desired me to call again with my clerical papers : promising that he would, on the following day, introduce me to their bishop. should my papers be satisfactory. Before we parted. he had recollected that none of the letters I had shown him were addressed to clergymen, and inquired if I had brought any such. My answer was in the negative; but that the letters I had produced before him must be as respectable as if from clergymen. He replied, the clergy of America will think differently. I then told him that among those clergymen in England with whom I was more intimately acquainted there was no one personally known to any of our profession in the States, nor indeed to any respectable person settled there. He remarked, such testimony will here . be considered as indispensable. I must mention, in justice to myself, that I had with me a testimonial. regularly drawn out, and signed by three beneficed elergymen, counter- signed by the Bishop of London, in which diocese I had resided for the ten preceding years.
I waited on Dr. Mimnor the day following: who, after having examined my letters of orders, and my other papers, expressed himself satisfied that they were correct. " Your letters of orders
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An Englishman's View.
are on parchment," he said ; " but one person from England presented to the clergy of this place similar documents on plain paper, and written instead of being printed. Of course he was an impostor. He exhibited letters of correspondence between himself and the Bishop of Chester, written in terms of gross familiarity, and not signed Chester, but the surname of the person who then filled that see. These excited the suspicions of the elergy of New-York, who demanded a sight of his letters of orders. He exhibited them written on plain paper. In addi- tion to this, they were not canonically correct; and he was desired to eall again with them on the morrow for further exami- nation. He did so : but his papers had in the meantime been re- written more canonically, in another hand, and on English paper : they were before on American paper. He was now fully detected, and obliged to withdraw from this city." Dr. Milnor deseribed him as of gentlemanly deportment ; and was, upon inquiry being made in England respecting him, found to have been a teacher near Knutsford. .. But." continued the Doctor. "this is not the only elerical imposture practiced upon us. Another instance was by a person from England of a low grade. who, having by some means gained possession of the papers and other doements belonging to some Episcopal English clergyman, was adinitted through them, under an assumed name, to ecclesias- tical employment in America. He was detected in a way natural enough, but not very flattering to the judgment of his auditory. He had collected around him a large congregation. One Sunday. a person of mean condition from England entered his church, and was surprised on finding one of his fellow-workmen in the pulpit. He mentioned the circumstance to those around him. This announcement, like all bad news, soon spread far and wide, and found its way to the preacher himself, who instantly disap- peared. and was never seen again in his former place. Hence it has arisen that we pay no attention to letters of orders or testi- monials of character, be they ever so flattering, unless they come authenticated by clergymen in England of well-known respecta- bility. Any person may produce high testimonials, forged, or from persons of no standing ; but America will not be imposed on in any such way."
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An Englishman's View.
"Impositions like the above," continued he, " occasioned a regulation to be introduced into the Episcopal church of America to prevent any clergyman from England being admitted to a benefice until he should have resided twelve months in the country." I acknowledged that this is a very judicious and necessary regulation ; but I also observed, that it seems hard that such as arrive with every requisite testimonial should be debarred from the advantages of their profession, because others have acted improperly. " We think otherwise." replied he, " a three years' testimonial is required from an English clergyman in England itself, previous to his induction to a living, vet we admit him, upon proper testimony, after one. Should we sup- pose emigration reversed. and an American clergyman to flee to England, he is debarred altogether, whatever may be his charae- ter, from officiating in an English church." " You have placed the subject." said I. " in a striking point of view, and such as does eredit to the liberality of America. I could not desire it other- wise with respect to myself."
It is a curious circumstance that an American clergyman. or one ordained by an American bishop. cannot hold any prefer- ment in England, nor a mission in Canada: whilst an English clergyman, whether from this country or from Canada. can hold one in the States after twelve months residence. This arises from a deep laid policy in the American government which has the peopling of their country for its object. Yet I much doubt if any clergyman from England finds himself in a better condition from such regulations in his favor.
Dr. Milmor, after this, accompanied me to the house of Dr. Onderdonck. Bishop of New York. On our way thither. he informed me that there are in America, as in England, two church parties, the high and the low. The late Bishop Hobart was of the former, and rather violent in his proceedings: or. to use a more lenient and modified phrase, very firm in his conduct and principles and determined in his opposition to such as differed from him. The present bishop, although of the high church number, has in a great measure disarmed party spirit of its rancor by being exceedingly moderate. De. Wainwright is the leading minister in New York of the former and Dr. Milnor
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An Englishman's View.
of the latter party. Both of these gentlemen are excellent and amiable, and stand deservedly high in the estimation of their flocks and of the public in general. This proves that no party possesses exclusively, or is debarred from possessing, those char- acteristic features of true Christianity which consist not in par- tienlar views of non-essentials, but in a cordial belief and sincere practice of the doctrines and precepts of the gospel. But it also shows that no form of church government which human reason can devise can so unite its members and blend them together as to render them perfectly harmonious and unanimous.
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