USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. II > Part 9
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4th. Very busy at Reid's plate. Just before dinner I went out and bought a pair of stockings at 12/ and a breeches pattern at 22/. Agreed to cut a wooden stamp for Sanders & Britain (Leather Breeches makers) for 12/. Nature saw fit to draw a little blood from my nose and thereby relieved me from the effects of yesterday's labour. Left the breeches pattern with * Gardner and Nivens to be made up. Mrs. Henry and Miss Bolton drank tea with us. I attended the former, and John the latter to Mr. Bolton's, in the evening.
5th. Made considerable progress with the map. Mr. Martin called and paid me 12/6 and gave directions for another small cut. I arose about 4 this morning and took a walk on the Bat- tery. Engaged to engrave a small cut for Mr. Fellows. Bespoke a piece of boxwood at Smith's. Mrs. Hunter drank tea with us. McIntosh came and introduced two of his countrymen. We got three violins to work. I was called off to Mrs. Bailey's. I found her very uneasy about a little black boy of her's who had then a violent fever. I gave him a dose of physic.
6th. Morning a little after 5 went a shopping and bought a handkerchief for 3/. Jn. Dougall called to see us. I found Mr. Bailey's negro running about the house. At 4 went to Brooklyn with the linen to be made up by my aunt. Took a walk along shore with Cousin Caty, and after tea returned home. Paid Gardner and Niven's 16/6 for my breeches. Jn. Burger came for Rivington's plates, which I had been retouching.
7th. Sunday -Forenoon at St. Paul's, where I received the sacrament. The Bishop preached a discourse suitable to the occa- sion. Afternoon at Trinity. Our pew being filled, I went into the one before it -- unsuitable behavior of two young ladies in it. T. Herttell, his wife and Miss Trueman drank tea with us. I left them at the table and went to Mrs. Rose's. A Mr. Doyle was there -- we all agreed to go to hear Mr. Dunn.t I attended Miss
"Gardner and Nivens, merchant tailors, 306 Pearl street.
+ Mr. Dunn's name does not appear in the Directory, nor in any religious biog- raphy we have access to. He is here stated to be a Baptist, but elsewhere he is
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Sally to the room in Nassau St., where a small congregation, chiefly English, were assembled. Heard an excellent discourse on the advantage of meditation from Gen. vi, 3. The singing was delightful. Mr. Dunn is a baptist, but does not seem to insist on sectarian opinions. After the service I attended Mrs. Rose to the Battery where we took several turns. I saw her daughters home, where I found Thomas just returned from riding. Left them about 9.
8th. Finished 2 typemetal cuts. Sanders (Taylor) sat some time with me and gave me an eulogium of London. Got the boxwood from Smith, paid him 3/ and began to cut the stamps. Delivered Fellows' cut and received 3/. Hurtin called for his and paid me 2/6. Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Lord and her mother drank tea with us. Evening went to Dr. Young's and played a farrago of old tunes for them. I am endeavoring to avoid anxiety for the morrow, in which I am confident consist most of our troubles, to indulge which I am particularly prone.
9th. I finished the stamp and left it with my employers. Called on Birdsall, at Tanner's, where I saw a contrivance for managing large copperplates. Stopped at Dr. Graham's * and sat awhile, then at Martin's. Mrs. Herttell and Miss Trueman made us a short visit in the afternoon. I read a little in Smith. Walked on the Battery-most delightfully pleasant. I sat a few minutes with Mrs. Rose. Bought a violin string. Pretty late in the evening I called at Mr. Bailey's. Mamma had just gone from thence.
10th. Called at Sanders's and was paid 12/ for the stamp. Mr. Reid paid me £10 for lettering the map. Gilfert + brought me a pattern for a title-page to be engraved. I agreed for 5 dollars. Bespoke the place at Myers'. Received 14/6 from Messrs. Swords. Evening, went with Mamma and Capt. Sacket to Mr. Bailey's. Mr. Maby came in. A walk on the Battery being pro-
declared to be a Moravian. The place in Nassau street does not appear to be identical with any church known to have existed there. Probably it was a hired room.
* Dr. John A. Graham, 54 Cherry street.
+ George Gilfert was the organist of the North Dutch Church. He lived at 34 Dey street.
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posed we sally'd out seven in number. Miss Maria was my partner. Went into Corre's * and eat Ice Cream. Mr. Maby was so polite as to settle the reckoning before we had time to look around us.
11th. Engraving at the map. Hurried Martin + with the mould. Called on Birdsall and received 5 dollars. Before dark I played on the violin and read. Attended Mamma and Miss Sacket to Bailey's. We left the latter there. A gentleman brought me my Science late in the evening.
12th. Grand-mama and Cousin Kate came from Brooklyn this morning. Went with Miss Sacket to Bailey's; from that at- tended her and Miss Harriet to Titus's, where I staid till James. Sacket came in with Miss P. Davis, who is to be their fellow passenger to Horse-Neck. Stopped at Dr. Young's on my return. J. Herttell has been to Bethlehem, and is quite enraptured with it. Drew Grand-mamma's likeness, at least what I meant for it.
13th. Mr. Martin brought me the mould. I paid him for it 5 dollars. Returned a book of Dr. Mitchill's. Sat awhile. with Saltonstall, who is studying with him. Got my hair cut at Penny's # and paid 6d. I made a trial of my mould and found it to answer the purpose very well. Engraved 3 of Harrison's cuts. Mrs. Bailey sent for me. I went and saw her little negro. Towards evening met W. Debow and M. McFarling. I was very sorry to find the latter a good deal fuddled. Met Melancton Smith's son and had a confab on drawing maps. Went again to Bailey's with a dose of medicine for the negro.
14th. Sunday-Before Breakfast I set out and surrounded almost all the city, in the course of an hour. I gave 6d to a por- tuguese who solicited charity in a most affecting manner. He expressed his thanks by seizing my hand and kissing it. The weather affects me with a heaviness which I find difficult to
* Ice cream had only been introduced a season or two before. Its consump- tion in the United States is now more extensive than in any other country on the globe. Corre's was a noted tavern, at 21 State street. The given name of its keeper was Joseph.
+ Probably John Martin, who was a whitesmith and machinist at 63 Beekman street.
# Richard Penney, hairdresser, 289 Water street, house 28 Cherry.
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dispel. Walked on the Battery till near 11 when I went with my brother and heard Mr. Dunn, "Behold I will lay in Zion a cor- ner stone," etc. After dinner walked through the streets for some time to keep awake. At Trinity Church, John xvi, 33: " In the world ye shall have tribulation." At six our whole family went to Mr. Dunn's. Isaiah liii, 3. Mamma was not so well pleased with him as I expected.
15th. Rose at 4 this morning, cast type-metal. Got a collection of Scotch tunes from Harrison's Musical Library. Got the copper- plate from Myers's and paid 8/. Felt somewhat sick from a dose of molasses which I took as a laxative. At 11 went with my brother to the college and heard Dr. Hosack's * Introductory lecture to Botany. After-noon-finished 3 of Harrison's cuts and 2 for the Hieroglyphic Bible. Evening -- went to the New Slip with my brother. Played some Scotch tunes. Attended Mrs. Fitch home from my father's.
16th. Finished the 7th of Harrison's cuts and delivered what I had done. At noon Reid t & Wayland brought me another map to engrave (United States). I bespoke a plate at Myers's. Before dark finished 5 of the Hieroglyphic cuts. Copied 3 tunes from Harrison's music book. Montgomery Hunt spent part of the evening here.
17th. Cast a number of blocks of type-metal. Engraved 5 and then fell to work on the map. Bought a waistcoat pattern for 10/6-Cousin Kate came over from Brooklyn. I was at Sanders', getting strings put to a pair of Breeches. His Rant against the Clergy. I gave 6d to my Brother for half a cake of shoe blacking. Engraved a name on a quadrant for Ad. Hicks, who paid me 15/ due. I went to the Library, in the New Building, and got Lee's Botany. Evening-quite tired of sitting and stooping forward over my work.
18th. A little after 4 this morning I roused the family with the violin. Went with Grand-mama and Cousin Kate to the boat at
* Dr. David Hosack (pronounced Hossack) was a very noted physician, a great botanist, and one of the leading men of town. He lived then at 60 Maiden lane.
+ Reid, as has already been seen, was a printer and bookseller. So was Levi Wayland, whose place of business was at 151 Water street. They do not appear to have been in partnership.
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the New Slip. Bought a powder puff for 2/6, and a tail piece for violin for 3/. Went to Seaman for figs. There I got a patient, his mother-in-law, much debilitated by intermitting fever, with tumefied Liver. After dinner, cast type-metal, which I found a very hot employment. Stopped at Dr. Young's. Dr. Smith came in and Dav. Johnson with a complaint of sore bruises ; said that he believed that " a person enjoyed more fun between the years of 19 and 25 than in the rest of his life." J. Sacket and Mrs. Goldsmith drank tea with us. Brought home 1b21 type- metal from G. Youle's.
19th. I feel much enervated with the heat; my present seden- tary way of life subjects me to affections from the weather which heretofore I was a stranger to. Paid Taylor 16/ for making my waistcoat. Spent some time at the Museum. Afternoon, went to Brooklyn with my Brother. Called at Aunt's; returned in a short time. Went to the shipyard and bathed.
20th. J. Dougall read during the forenoon in our little room. I went to Brooklyn and returned at 12 with a shirt made at my aunt's. Returned Harrison's music book and paid 1/6. Mr. Oram came and bespoke a border for putting types in. I was casting it when Mr. Wilson of Flatbush came in. I took him above stairs to my father and returned to my work. T. & C. Herttell and Mr. Maby sat awhile in our kitchen. I engraved a quadrant for Ad. Hicks and received 1/. Oram came for the border and paid me 4/ for it. A. Tiebout sent a letter to my brother and me, the introduction to a correspondence. A letter was left at our house for Mrs. Bailey. As it had been opened I thought proper to seal it, when some doubts arising I read and discovered it to be from Miss Harriet, who had broke it open herself, and left it so. I immediately dressed and putting it in the state I received it, went and delivered it.
21st .- Sunday. Forenoon at church, Galat. ii, 20. Was affected with that much dreaded feeling sleepiness. Afternoon-by way of experiment I laid down and slept above an hour. No more sleepiness all day. Heard a sermon from Mr. Moore : "He that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." After tea, went to Mr. Dunn's Rooms and heard a stranger. Psalm xlvi, 4.
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22d. Finished Oram's types and some Hieroglyphics. Wrote a letter to A. Tiebout signed Rosicrucius and delivered it. After- noon-engraved and read and began to copy a table from Lee's Botany. Mr. Oram paid me 2/ for the two types. Mr. Martin . brought me a Free Mason's medal to engrave.
23d. Finished the medal. Martin came for it and left another to be touched up. I polished the copper for Gilford's plate. I was working on a cut for Mr. Bunce when the gouge slipped and pierced my finger to the bone not far from its junction with the palm. Finished the job with difficulty. Called at Dr. Young's, he desired my attendance at Justice Brasher's to-morrow morning. Mr. Debow delivered me a ticket from Dr. Smith to attend his lectures. I accordingly went at 4 to the college and heard the 1st. Our family were invited to attend at Mr. Bailey's, a funeral of a lady from St. Augustine. A. Tiebout lent me a print of # John Jay (our new Governor) engraved by C. Tiebout. -I delivered Bunce's cut. She wished to have some more work done. I planned out Gilford's title page.
24th. At 9 attended at Justice Brasher's and gave my evidence in favor of Dr. Young. Much grieved at finding that I had deviated a little from truth. Before dinner I finished the map just as Mr. Reid came in. He took it with him and in the after- noon brought a proof. I drew a tolerable likeness of Mama. Walked on the Battery. Saw a ship loaded with passengers from Ireland, as I was afterward informed. Saw Aug. Bailey. Stopped at his house and looked at a young bear of his, which he had brought from St. Augustine. Received a letter from John Babcock t (Hartford), with orders for engraving cuts for a little book. Got the plate from Myers and paid him 6 dollars. Wrote an answer to Babcock.
25th. Finished Gilfert's plate. Got a proof at Burger's and after correcting, delivered it to him. Wrote from Lee's Botany. Finished and delivered 4 of Harrison's cuts. A rainy day. A
* Mr. Jay was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain in 1794, and succeeded in negotiating the treaty which still goes by his name. He became Governor of the State the next year.
+ Babcock was a publisher of children's books, doubtless doing other works also. His imprint was a frequent one at that day.
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. Mr. MeKenric came with Mrs. Culverhouse and gave us some tunes on the violin.
26th. Engraved 13 of the Hieroglyphics. In the afternoon took another course ; crossed the meadows " above the Hospital and came to the North River. A ship had just been launching, bnt had stuck by the way. Cast type metal plates.
27th. Cast type metal. Finished 12 Hieroglyphics and part of one of Babcock's cuts. A tail-piece for my violin 3/ at Gilfert's. Saw a small boy, who was playing on the violin in the street with much taste. Mrs. Reid came in pretty late in the evening; has had two teeth drawn and a very sore mouth in consequence of it.
28th. Sunday-Before church, I took a nap to prevent drowsiness, being apprehensive of it from my unsound sleep last night-for I wrapped my blanket around me and walked down- stairs. Heard Mr. Beach. Afternoon-went to the German Church and heard Ph. Mildollar + (my old school-mate) preach on the love of God. After tea went to Mr. Dunn's room and heard the person who preached last Sunday evening. Philip. ii, 5.
29th. Finished 2 of Babcock's cuts and 3 of Harrison's with 4 Hieroglyphics, besides casting 2 plates. Spent 15d. for pumice stone. I was called to see a lad in fits at Shinckle's } (Hatter). Mr. Field had already arrived. We staid till the fits became less
*"The meadows above the Hospital" were the low grounds on both sides of Canal street westward to the North River. They were of considerable extent. The Hospital itself was on the top of a hill.
+ The Rev. Philip Milledoler was born and brought up in the German Reformed Church, and at the age of twenty became the pastor of the one in this city. He was installed as a colleague with the Rev. John Rodgers, the Rev. John MeKnight, and the Rev. Samuel Miller in the pastorship of the Presbyterian churches of this city on the 5th of August, 1805, having been for five years be- fore the pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. There were three of these churches in this. city in close connection, the Wall Street Church, the Brick Church, and the Rutgers Street Church. The collegiate relation between them was dissolved on the 26th of April, 1809, Dr. Milledoler after that being pastor of the latter alone. In April, 1813, he resigned the charge of the church, and became one of the pastors of the Collegiate Dutch Church, and subse- quently President of Rutgers College, of which, under another name, Dr. John H. Livingston had been his predecessor. Dr. Milledoler died in September, 1852, aged seventy-seven. His wife died within a day of him, and was buried at the same time.
# Jacob Schinkle, hatter, was at 63 Pearl street.
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. violent. Called on Chace, who wanted a stamp made for Hair powder. He gave up the notion, because it could not be done neat enough on wood.
30th. Engraved 6 Hieroglyphics and a Schooner for Mr. Lou- don .* Began to scour the Copper for Reid's Map. Called on Birdsall. Afternoon went to Mr. Davis's and saw 2 prints. At 4 attended Dr. Smith's lecture. Rain during the Afternoon. Even- ing-read in the Citizen of the world, after playing a few tunes with Mr. McIntosh.
JULY.
1st. Finished 2 of Babcock's cuts and some other typemetal. Had several heats at scouring the Copper plates, Mr. Babcock called on me in his way to Philadelphia.
2d. Finished another of Harrison's cuts. Polished the plate and after tracing the map of the United States, which consumed the most of the day, took off the impression on the Copper. Spent 1/ for a pencil. W. Debow made us a visit. Afternoon attended Dr. Smith's lecture. Evening called at Mr. Martin's with his medal. When I returned my brother and I played on the violin
* Samuel Loudon, the printer, was born in Scotland, Dr. John W. Francis says, and not in Ireland, as Thomas has it. He came to New York some years before the Revolution as a ship chandler. In 1775 he purchased a part of the printing materials owned by Frederick Shober, in company with whom he be- gan printing. They were but a few months together before Shober judged it prudent, from the existing situation of public affairs, to leave New York and retire to a farm in New Jersey. The title of the firm had been Shober and Loudon. Loudon purchased the remainder of the printing materials and opened a printing house in Water street, between the Coffee House and the Old Slip. He took an active interest in the political questions then stirring up the public mind, and at the beginning of January, 1776, published a newspaper in the interests of the Americans. When it became probable that the British would take possession of the city he removed to Fishkill, publishing the New York Packet there till the establishment of peace, when he returned to the city. An account of one of his newspapers will be found in our number for November, 1889. He printed a few books and kept a bookstore ; he was an elder in the First Associate Reformed Church in Cedar street, commonly known as the Scotch Church, of which the Rev. John Mason and the Rev. John M. Mason were successively pastors. He died at Middletown Point, New Jersey, February 24th, 1813, aged eighty-six years. He had outlived Gaine and Rivington and all other pre-Revolutionary printers.
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for Mr. Scoles. Lamplin # sent home my shoes, for which I paid 2 dollars.
3d. Began to engrave the map. Cast some type-metal cuts. Received. 5 dollars from Gilfert's for the Copperplate. Jam. Sacket passed part of the afternoon with us. His account of the country girl kept by a married man. I got a stamp to alter for a negro Tobacconist. I. Grozart desired me to put up some medi- cine for the voyage. He is going Master of a Brig to Hamburgh. Ward Hunt, Junr., came and brought his flute with him, we had a few tunes. In the afternoon I got a graver from Martin's which he had been hammering out-Stopped at A. Tiebout's, and heard part of the treaty + between Great Britain and America. It is generally disapproved of.
4th. Anniversary of American Independence I was aroused pretty early by the firing of Cannon and ringing of bells-I paid 9d. for different medicines at Wainwright's, made some pills and put up, with some articles for I. Grozart. Before dinner took a
* George Lamplin, shoemaker, 80 Nassau street.
{ The treaty with England was signed by Mr. Jay on the 19th of November, 1794, and he returned to this city the following spring. After considerable de- bate it was ratified by the Senate. It provided that the ports which the British had retained should be given up to the Americans, and compensation made for illegal captures, and that the American government should pay to the British £600,000 in trust for the subjects of Great Britain to whom American citizens were indebted. But it did not prohibit the right of searching merchant vessels, which had been claimed by the British, and was thus an abandonment of the favorite principle of the Americans that " free ships make free goods." While the Senate were debating the subject with closed doors a member had given an incorrect copy of the treaty to a printer. It was circulated with rapidity, and produced much irritation. The President received addresses from every part of the Union, praying him to withhold his signature ; but Washington, believing the treaty to be the best which, under existing circumstances, could be obtained, signed it, in defiance of popular clamor. At the next session of Congress an attempt was made by the party opposed to the administration to hinder the treaty from going into effect by refusing to vote the necessary sup- plies of money. After a long debate, in which several members, particularly Fisher Ames of Massachusetts, displayed much eloquence, and the parties gen- erally much heat and irritation, the appropriation was carried by a majority of three, and the treaty went into effect. The Republican party believed that the peace which it purchased, while the right of search was granted to England, would be short lived and inglorious.
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walk towards the brick-meeting# and saw the procession of the troops and public Societies. Stopped at Mrs. Rose's and sat awhile. Afternoon engraved pretty steadily. J. Dougall sat and read with us. I bought a hat for 4 dollars. Finished reading the Citizen of the World. Went to see the fire works before the Government House. + Afterwards walked about and viewed some illuminations.
5th. Sunday. This morning I called at Dr. Young's; at his re- quest I went to Dr. Smith's and on enquiring found that Mr. Winchester # was to preach this forenoon in Mr. Dunn's room. At 11 o'clock our whole family went and heard him preach from John v, 68-" Thou hast the words of eternal life." Afternoon at Trinity Church. Mr. Beach, Matth. viii, 26. At 6 o'clock I went .to Mr. Dunn's room and heard an English clergyman. Jo. Smith's harangue to my father on the subject of his issuing a writ for home.
* The Brick Meeting House was the Presbyterian Church at the junction of Nassau street, Park row and Spruce street, which when it was built were called respectively Nassau street, Chatham street and George street. The face was on Beekman street. A grant was obtained from the corporation of this piece of land, then almost out of town, and the church, which was intended for those who were swarming from the Wall street one, was opened for divine service January 1st, 1768. During the Revolution it was an hospital. The pastors in 1795 were Dr. Rodgers, Dr. McKnight, and Dr. Miller. The church was demolished about 1856, the members moving uptown. The ground is now oc- cupied by the Potter building and the Times building.
+ By the Government House is meant the building erected upon the site of the fort below the Bowling Green for the residence of the President of the United States. As the capital of the nation was removed to Philadelphia about the time of its completion the President never lived there, but the Governors of the State, George Clinton and John Jay, did. When Albany became the State capital early in the century the edifice was used for various governmental pur- poses until the latter part of 1815 or beginning of 1816, when it was demolished. Upon its site were erected in 1816 and 1817 the dwellings now used for steam- ship offices. They were the handsomest in town, and were really very spacious and commodious buildings. Washington Irving speaks of a party he attended in one of them in the highest terms, and gives a glowing description of the house. The last recorded event in connection with the Government House prior to its destruction was the illumination in honor of the peace of 1815. It was a tall structure entered from the front by two winding series of steps, and was of large size.
# The Rev. Mr. Winchester is also unknown to us. He appears in no list of the clergy that we have access to.
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6th. Engraving at the map. Feeling some disposition for wan- dering I went to the Staten Island * boats, but finding none that were to sail immediately, contented myself with a walk to the Battery and returned to work. Returned A. Tiebout's book. Renewed Lee's Botany at the Library. In another excursion stopped at Mr. Davis's ; called on Tisdale + and viewed several Engravings. At 5 attended Dr. Smith's lecture. Evening went out with an intention to see Falconi's Exhibition, but found it was the wrong night.
7th. Morning. Cast type metal cuts. Planned out a jaunt to Rockaway and enquired when the stage goes. During the fore- noon I was very busy at engraving. Finished the last of Harri- son's cuts, and delivered to him. He paid me 5 dollars in part. I paid Smith 1/ for smoothing off the negro's stamp. Having cooked and eat dinner in haste, I left home and crossed the ferry about 1. Sat at aunt Carpender's, who compelled me to eat, till 2, when I stepped into the stage, with no other company than the Driver, a clever negro fellow. Before 5 we arrived at Jamaica, where the Horses and I having eat a little we set forward again and reached Far Rockaway about sunset. Took up my quarters at Mr. Vanderbilt's, and paid 8/ for the stage. A view of the sea from the House, which is about a mile off. Got supper. Coffee.
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