USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. II > Part 31
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They remained in this building until it was torn down by the proprietors so that they might erect a new and more stately edifice, when they were forced to remove, their new location being in Park Row, almost exactly where the Park Theatre used to stand. Much of their work had been law printing, and in this way they became acquainted with all the leading lawyers of the city, as well as with the publishers. Much work was done by them for John R. Voor-
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hies, a law publisher and bookseller, who died in 1865, and in 1866 they purchased the business, in conjunction with another partner, the title of the book publishing house being Baker, Voor. his & Co., the Voorhis of the firm having no relation to the pre- ceeding Voorhies. The business was a very old one. As far back as 1817, Wiley & Halsted, the originators of the business, pub- lished law books, in conjunction with their other ventures, at their store in Wall street, near the north end of the present Stock Exchange. Charles Wiley was the father of the present John Wiley, the bookseller, and the present senior of the profession.
Oliver Halsted in 1820 was carrying on the business alone, while with him shortly after as a clerk was John S. Voorhies. They united as partners about 1830, and thus continued till 1842, when Mr. Halsted died. Mr. Voorhies remained in business alone after this. The leaders of the bar for many years continued to frequent this spot, and in a book kept by Mr. Voorhies and his successors may be seen the signatures of Chancellor Kent, William Curtis Noyes, Daniel Lord, Theodore Sedgwick, and their successors. They were sure when they came here of rational conversation and of meeting those of their own rank in the profession. Among the notable books issued by Halsted & Voor- hies was one on Chancery Practice by Ogden Hoffman, and by Mr. Voorhies alone were issued Sedgwick's " Construction of Statutory and Constitutional Law," Burrill's "Law Dictionary and Glossary," Bradford's " Surrogate's Reports " and Milford's " Chancery Plead- ings." Later John Townsend, then a young lawyer of this city, prepared an edition of the new Code of Procedure, with illustrative notes and reports, which was known as "Voorhies' Code." It became very popular, and has had many editions called for. Another very important work was " Abbott's Digest."
To this business succeeded the new firm. Until the year before their location had been at No. 20 Nassau street, but then was. removed to No. 66 in the same street, where the house has ever since carried on their operations. To these quarters Mr. Baker removed his office, and here, with the exception of some brief intervals, he was always to be found. Mr. Godwin remained in the printing office. Mr. Baker brought to the management of affairs here the same industry, the same caution and the same bold-
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ness which had distinguished him in his previous occupation. No one was ever more careful about a new author, and none more determined to make his books a success, whether it required money or hard work, than he. The result was almost uniform success. Baker & Godwin in course of time purchased Mr. Voorhies' interest, and the business thus remained at the time of Mr. God- win's death, in 1882 or 1883. The printing office was sold to Willis McDonald & Co., on the settlement of affairs, Mr. Baker retaining the bookstore.
Peter C. Baker always felt the warmest interest in his profes- sion. Before he was called upon to earn a livelihood for himself, his attention was attracted one day at the Fulton ferry to Jared W. Bell, a local politician as well as a printer, who had strong sporting proclivities. He saw him carrying a gun, clad in an ap- propriate costume, with high top boots, a belt swung over his shoulder, with a horn and drinking flask, and accompanied by a pack of dogs, waiting for the boat to come in, and prepared to make a day of pleasure. There was something so jovial and self satisfied upon his countenance that young Baker was moved to inquire who he was, and learned that he was a printer. If printers thus enjoy themselves, he thought, "I also should like to be a printer." His success in his art was immediate. Before he was twenty-one he was foreman of the largest office in America ; two years after this he joined the Typographical Society, and in 1850, at the annual dinner, he delivered an oration upon Franklin. Upon few of this latter generation have the words of Franklin fallen with greater force. The admonitions of the philosopher of the last century to be frugal, to be industrious, to look before you leap, fell upon receptive soil. The latter day Franklin worship owes its impetus largely to him. In 1865 he delivered another oration upon Franklin. After he joined the Typograph- ical Society it had a dinner upon each birthday of the sage, and when the Typotheta was begun it also had a banquet on this anniversary. In the latter part of 1849, an editor of Jamaica, Long Island, brought a book to Mr. Trow's place to be done. As it appeared, it was called "Voices from the Press, by James J. ·Brenton." Mr. Brenton, however, had undertaken a task above his capacity. The book was to contain specimens of the verse of
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American `printers, with biographical sketches. Part had been done in his own office, but the copy was badly arranged and badly printed. Mr. Baker undertook to finish it. He compiled biographies, added new names, and procured a publisher in Charles B. Norton. The work, although unknown to most searchers in American literature, is a very interesting one, and full of knowledge relating to printing in America. When Mr. Baker had been carrying on business for ten years he thought that he had earned a vacation, and went to Europe, but even then he could not refrain from studying his art. After his return he delivered a most interesting address upon what he had seen. This was before the Typographical Society, January 17th, 1861, and was entitled "European Recollections." In it he alludes to the care and pains taken by the craft in Europe to get good work, but in many other respects he was compelled to criticise them harshly. In one of his last journeys to Europe he was asked if he had seen anything new over there, as compared with his previous trip. There was nothing, he thought. The art had been stationary, with the ex- ception of one contrivance for drying sheets in the National Printing office of Paris.
One of the most important labors undertaken by him was the formation of a society of master printers. With one exception, none had ever previously existed in this country, the exception being one in Boston in the early part of the century. In this work, in which he " builded better than he knew," he succeeded, con- jointly with Mr. Theodore L. De Vinne, in establishing a society which now exists in every large city of the Union, and which has been imitated even as far away as Australia. The heavy taxation and the depreciated currency of the country during the Civil War, together with the number of persons who had gone into service, and the unequal burden of affairs upon the public, had altered all the prices which were current before the struggle began, and rendered correct estimates impossible upon the former basis. Mr. Baker and Mr. De Vinne saw that there would be no way out of their diffi- culties unless the employing printers could be brought together. This was done late in the season of 1862, but before the Spring came on the organization, which it was then determined should be permanent, was still further crystallized. Its members dined to
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together at the Metropolitan Hotel, in March, 1863, and the body assumed the title of the Typotheta. The pressure of that day compelled their attention to be turned almost solely to financial considerations, but the society then founded, with its sister societies, has since taken up every question relating to the improvement of the art and the elevation of those who follow it, together with the consideration of the technical matters that are involved. In this respect it bears a favorable comparison with such bodies as the American Institute of Architects. It is now in its twenty-seventh year, and until his death enjoyed all the attention and care that he could give it. After his sale of the printing department of his business the Typothetæ, recognizing his high merits, made Mr. Baker a life member.
A very interesting portion of his life was that in which he took an active part in the erection of a statue to Franklin and of a bust to Greeley. For many years Mr. Baker had in mind the erection of a statue to Franklin in this City, and he could think of no place quite so appropriate as Printing House Square, surrounded by the craft. Among his frequent visitors was Captain Albert De Groot, who had recently erected a series of bronzes in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt. On one particular morning he spoke of the success he had had in this venture. Mr. Baker took him to the window, showed him the vacant space in front of the Tribune and Times offices, and said that he had long hoped that a statue of Franklin might one day be erected there. The idea much im- pressed De Groot, and he took it up warmly, promising that the statue should be erected. He was as good as his word. Ernst Plassman, a German sculptor of this City, began to make a prelim- inary design. Twice the model was finished, the second attempt being much nearer to Franklin than the first. Mr. De Groot as- sumed all the expense of the statue, but the cost of the pedestal and the mounting of the figure was borne by the printers and citizens of New York. Mr. Baker worked indefatigably to have the resem- blance a striking one and the whole a work of art, and he also gathered the money which was necessary for expenses, attended to the invitations, and acted as the second of Captain De Groot in everything. The statue is an excellent one. It was unveiled on the 17th day of January, 1872, in the presence of a large number
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of spectators. The ceremony was performed by Professor S. F. B. Morse, and Horace Greeley made the presentation speech. In the evening there was a dinner at Delmonico's, Dr. S. Irenaeus Prime acting as Chairman, and in his remarks drawing attention to the marked share that Mr. Baker had in the erection of the statue. The Greeley monument was erected at Greenwood by a committee of the printers of this city, of whom Mr. Baker was one. The journeymen of this craft initiated the movement, and were to have a statue erected in type metal, but the enterprise languished after a little, and it was seen by Mr. Thomas Burke, who had the matter in charge, that new blood must be called in, if anything was to be ac- complished. A number of the employing printers were therefore asked to meet for consultation, and enough impetus was given to it to carry it through. It was unveiled two years after Mr. Greeley's death, Edmund C. Stedman and Bayard Taylor taking part, the one delivering an address, and the other a poem. During all this time Mr. Baker was prompt at committee meetings, fertile in sug- gestions, and doing much hard work besides.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he took an active part in sustaining the Government. When the Union League Club was organized he became a member, and so remained until his death. He contributed to the Bodoni celebration in Italy, did much hard work for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Literary Association, and a member of the Sons of the Revolution. He was a Director of the Stuyvesant Safe Deposit Company, and was active in the Hahnemann Hospital. The last work he did was in superintending the printing of the catalogue of the Fair of the Hahnemann Hospital, many of the articles lent having been procured by his solicitation.
His death happened on Sunday, May 19th, 1889, at his residence, 39 East 38th street, its occasion being apoplexy. He had been ill only about a week, and his general appearance that Spring was of a man who had many years yet to live. His funeral was from St. Bartholomew's Church, on May 22d. Mr. Baker was of impressive personal appearance. He was of full middle height, easy in his movements and strong in physique. The portrait we give is extremely life-like, and was made from a photograph taken shortly
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.before his death. A picture made of the assemblage at one of the Typothetæ dinners represents him very characteristically when at ease, and there is still another portrait of him as a young man in the possession of the Typographical Society. All give some knowledge of his character. The main feature that would have struck any one who became acquainted with him was his alertness. Whatever he did he did quickly, and with his whole powers. He was never content with allowing a thing to be finished of itself, in a slow way; he attempted to give it a push, so that it might be completed sooner. He was an excellent judge of men, and of the degree of confidence he should place in them. He was always well served. Those who were in his employment felt a warm attachment to him, and some of them remained in his establishment from its beginning until he disposed of it. Besides the enterprises mentioned by us, he had other investments, nearly all of which prospered in his hands. He was a natural leader. He saw instantly what should be done, and attempted to do it. Thoroughly trained himself in his younger days as to his duties to his employers, he demanded the same returns himself. He was naturally gifted with a pleasing address, and when age and experience had given him ripeness and repose he was a charming companion. He was thrice in Europe, each time looking with an observant eye upon all that the Old World could teach. Much was written and spoken by him that we have not enumerated. Mr. Baker's home relations were singularly affectionate and happy. No one could have been a better husband or father. He married, in early life, Miss Malvina Lockwood, of New York, who, with their three daughters, sur- vives him.
THE DUTCH RECORDS OF NEW YORK. [Copied from the Originals in the Possession of the City.]
INORDINATE DRINKING TO BE SUPPRESSED.
Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General of New Netherland, Cura- çoa, etc., and their Excellencies the Councillors, to all to whom these presents may or shall come, or who may hear them read, greeting : Whereas it has come to our knowledge that our former proclamations issued against unseasonable and intemperate drink- ing, both at night and on the rest day of the Lord, to the scorn and derision of our persons and our nation, have not been observed and executed according to our intent and meaning, which proclamations by these presents we do renew, ordain, and enact, that from this time forth they shall continue to be in force and be maintained and carried out with a stricter observance and execution, accord- ing to the obvious tenor and meaning thereof. In the meanwhile, the occasion and the reasons why these our good regulations and well meant proclamations have not been observed according to the tenor and meaning of them are the following, to wit: The kinds of business and the easy profits flowing therefrom divert and seduce many from their primitive calling, trade, and business, and they devote themselves to tapping, so much so that almost one full fourth part of the city of New Amsterdam have become bawdy houses for the sale of ardent spirits, of tobacco and beer, whereby very many do not only neglect and abandon their honest handi- craft and business, but also the common man and the Company's servants in a great measure are allured, and what is still worse the youth even from their childhood, noticing the unbecoming con- duct of their parents, consequently are drawn off from the path of virtue unto all idleness and into what are concomitants, cheating, smuggling and frauds, in the clandestine sales of beer and brandy to the Indians and natives; both daily experience and God teach us better, from which we cannot but apprehend fresh animosities betwixt them and us, and in addition to all this it happens that some honest inns, established and supported for the use and benefit of the traveler and stranger and the inhabitants, who do honestly
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and righteously pay their taxes and excise, and are in the posses- sion of suitable houses or do hire them, have to bear the greater part of the burdens, whereby these tavern keepers are in a great measure interrupted in their licensed and lawful calling and busi- ness, being ready in these premises to make provision according to the exigency of the case and the emergency of the . . . .; there- fore we the Director General and the Councillors aforesaid, on the subject of the tapsters and iunkeepers, do ordain and enact the fol- lowing regulations and by-laws :
I.
In the first place, that from this time forth there shall be no new Tavern, Inn, nor any retail Grocery, made or established, without the special approbation and consent of the Director Gen- eral and the Councillors, unanimously agreed to and permitted.
II.
The Inns, Taverns, and retail groceries that are already in the city may be permitted to continue, at least yet for the four fol- lowing years, yet in the meantime they shall be held under the obligation moreover to employ themselves in some other honest business in these places, together with suitable and honest sureties living under the guardians [guardianship] and supervision of the City of New Amsterdam, each one in conformity with his state, quality and condition, according to the order and regulations made by the Director and Council, with the advice and approbation of the Surveyor of buildings."
II.
That the Innkeepers and Tapsters to whom we have granted yet four years at least, wishing for sufficient reasons to change their business ; after they have laid aside this, their former business of
* The Surveyors of Buildings here referred to were Lubbert Van Dincklage, Paulus Leendersten Van der Grist, and Cornelius Van Tienhoven, whose ap- pointments were made by Order of the Director General and Council, dated the twenty-fifth of July, 1647.
By the same Order, the grantees of house lots in New Amsterdam were ordered to improve such lots within nine months or suffer the penalty of for- `feiture ; hence the Government, in using the peremptory tone of this Order, was fully warranted by the Supreme Law of the Province .- D.
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tapping, shall not be permitted to transfer the same to any other person, nor yet to this intent rent or sell their houses and dwellings to any other person without the previous advice and full consent and approbation of the Director General and Councillors.
IV.
Item. The Innkeepers and Tapsters from this time forward shall not be permitted to sell or to mix, or to hand out to the Indians or Natives, any beer, wine, brandy or waters, although it may be through the first, second or third person that the Natives are sup- plied therewith, on the penalty of the forfeiture of their business and arbitrary correction at the discretion of the Court. $ V.
Item. They shall be obliged, for the prevention of all fightings and mischiefs, actually to report to the officer, in case any one shall be injured or wounded in their house, in the penalty of forfeiting their business, and one pound Flemish for every hour after the injury or wound has been inflicted, and during which time the Tapster or Innkeeper has concealed it.
VI.
The proclamations heretofore issued against all unseasonable night tippling and dram drinking on the Sabbath shall be ful- filled by the Innkeepers with strict regard and observance, to wit : That in the evening they shall not keep Tavern, after the ringing of the Bell, nor on the Sabbath sell or deal out any beer or waters to any one (the Traveler and the boarder alone excepted) before three of the clock in the afternoon when there is divine service, in the penalty fixed by proclamation.
VII.
They shall be obliged not to receive in their houses or cellars any wines, beers, or any ardent spirits, directly or indirectly, before the receipt of the Invoice and the permission of the bill, in the penalty of the forfeiture of their particular business, beers and spirits, and an exemplary fine besides, at the discretion of the Court.
VIII.
Finally. All Innkeepers and Tapsters who may be minded to con- tinue their business shall within the time of eight days after the
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publication and affixing of these presents, address and give in their persons and their names to the Director and Council, and there solemnly promise punctually to fulfill all things whatsoever that on the subject of Tapsters and Innkeepers have been ordered, or here- after may be ordered, in all their particulars, and conduct them- selves honestly in their business, as it becomes loyal and honest subjects. Thus done at our session at Fort Amsterdam this tenth day of March, A. D. 1648.
Approved before the Council Adrian Dirckse, Martin Crigier, Jan Janse Schepmoes, Jan Snediger, Philip Geraerdy, Sergeant Daniel Letscho, Gerrit Donman, Hendrick Smith, Cornelius Vol- schersy, Abraham Pietersen, George Rapelje, and Pieter Andrie- sen, all tavernkeepers and inhabitants in this city, New Amster- dam, who give in their names and persons, and who the honorable Director General and the Council make known that pursuant to the ordinance enacted on the 10th March, in regard to Tapsters, on their manly troth promise in every possible manner to observe said ordinance in all its parts. Dated at New Amsterdam in New Netherland, 16 March, 1648.
GOATS AND HOGS MUST BE KEPT OUT OF THE HIGHWAY.
Whereas, by their High Mightinesses the Director General and the Councillors of New Netherland it has been daily seen and observed that the goats and the hogs* are in the habit of daily com- mitting great damage in the orchards, plantations, and other pro- ductions here and about the Fort Amsterdam, not only to the dis- couraging of the cultivation of fine orchards and gardens, but also to many great and particular damages ;
Therefore, their High Mightinesses the Director General and the Councillors, desirous of making provision in the premises, from this time forth do ordain and enact that between the Fort New Amsterdam (or thereabout) and the Fresh Water," no hogs nor
* These hogs and goats were still active up to so late a time as 1848, when they were driven out of the down town streets. The goats are still to be found in the upper part of the island. One of our local humorists, Mr. Ernest Jerrold, has derived much of his stock in trade from "Mickey Finn's goats."
* The Fresh Water was the pond generally known as the Collect, which was filled up between 1810 and 1820, and was situated at about the corner of Centre and Worth streets.
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goats shall be pastured nor be kept, except within their own inclosures ; care must also be had that the goats do not get out of their inclosures, and that they do not damage to any one; also that the goats shall not be pastured beyond the Fresh Water without a herdsman or keeper in the penalty (in case the goats shall be found out of their enclosures ; or on this side of the Fresh Water; or on the other side of the Fresh Water without a herdsman or keeper) of their being attached by the Fiscal, and of their being declared, by their High Mightinesses, to be forfeited. Be each one hereby warned that he suffer no damage. Dated at New Amsterdam in New Netherland 10 March, A. D. 1648. Suspended; and pub- lished the 16th of March.
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OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.
Petrus Stuyvesant, in behalf of their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands, His High and Mighty Lord the Prince of Orange, and their High Mightinesses the Gentlemen Directors of the General Privileged West India Com- pany, Director General over New Netherland, Curaçoa, &c., and the Islands of the same, together with their High Mightinesses the Councillors ;
Whereas, we have seen and observed that notwithstanding our decrees and ordinances heretofore issued concerning the keeping and sanctifying of the Holy Sabbath, according to the holy com- mand of God, have not been observed according to our intent and meaning ; and whereas the [Sabbath] in various ways has been profaned and desecrated to the great scandal, offence and reproach of the community and the neighbouring strangers that frequent these places ; also to the vilifying and contemning of God's holy word and our ordinances flowing therefrom ; therefore we, the Director General and the Councillors aforesaid, for the purpose of averting as much as lies in their power the dreaded wrath and punishment of God, through this sin and other misdemeanors, from themselves and their subjects, do by these presents decree, renovate, and amplify our former proclamations and ordinances ; having, for the better observance of the same, with the approba- tion of the Minister of God's Word, ordained that from this time forth, in the afternoon as well as in the evening, there shall be
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