USA > New York > New York City > The Memorial History of the City of New York: From Its First Settlement to the Year 1892, Volume II > Part 18
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144
. HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
The above is a clear, connected account, from the Palatine stand- point, of the treatment of this people up to the close of Governor Hunter's administration. The point of view of Governor Hunter was of course entirely different. To him they were a band of obstinate, refractory rogues, who, after being transported and subsisted by the unexampled goodness of the queen, refused to discharge their just debts to her, and repudiated their most solemn obligations; on whose account he had drawn heavily upon his private purse, with very little prospect of being recompensed either by the Palatines or the home gov- ernment; and who had caused him more fatiguing journeys and per- sonal care and attention than any other element in his government. It must be confessed that there were among the emigrants lazy "ne'er-do- weels" and vicious and obstinate per- sons who abused the confidence of the good queen; but it is pretty cer- tain that had the people been rightly treated, there would have been little or no trouble with them. Hunter's great mistake lay in not placing them at first on the lands which had HO NEE YEATH TAN NO RON, KING OF THE GENERECHGARICH. been promised them-a course he would have followed, no doubt, but for the influence of Livingston and the Albany syndicate: then at least they could have had no just cause of complaint.
Turning to more local affairs, we find an encouraging rate of progress during Governor Hunter's administration. Jacobus Van Cortlandt1 was appointed mayor in 1710; Colonel Caleb Heathcote2 succeeded him in 1711, and proved an efficient officer. Broadway was graded during his term from Maiden Lane to the Common, and two rows of
1 Jacobus Van Cortlandt was the second son of Oloff Stevensen, and a brother of Mayor Stephen Van Cortlandt (see note at end of Chapter I, p. 51). He was born in 1668, and married Eva Philipse, daughter of the great landed proprietor Frederick Philipse. Through her part of the Yonkers estate became Van Cortlandt property. His son Freder- ick, who inherited the Westchester lands, married the daughter of Augustus Jay ; and his daughter Mary married Peter Jay, the son of Augustus, and the father of the famous patriot John Jay. Mayor Van Cortlandt died in 1739. The city during his incumbency numbered 5500 souls.
2 Besides his occupancy of the mayoralty, Caleb Heathcote was so prominent in the affairs of the city and province that his name has frequently occurred in the pages of this work. He came to America as a young man under rather romantic circumstances, having been disappointed in love. the lady to whom he was engaged marrying his elder brother. He was the son of the Mayor of Chester, England, a man of considerable wealth. The foundation for the fortune he himself accu- mulated in this country was laid by his uncle, George Heathcote, who settled in New-York in 1674 or 1675, and engaged in trade. His residence
ROBERT HUNTER AND SETTLEMENT OF THE PALATINES 145
shade-trees planted on the improved section, as had been done on the lower portion of the street. The total income of the city for 1710 was £294 7s. 6d., derived from rents,-ferry, dock, swamp, etc.,-li- censes, freedoms, the pound, fines and forfeitures, gaugers, packers and cullers, and leases; the total expenditure was £277 4s. A new ferry to Staten Island was established in 1713, with the following table of rates :
" If a man hiereth a boate to New-York. .06s. Od. Ofr.
and for a quarter of dead beaf
00 6
0
for a hors and man to New-York 00
0
0
for a bucket of wheat to N. Y. .00
1
1
and for a firkin of butter
.00
4 2
and for a sheep
.00
4 2
for a single person
00
9 0
to long island a hors and man
. 03
0
0
If the boate goes with a single man
.01
6 0."
The census of New-York was taken June 5, 1712, and showed 4848 white people in the city and 970 blacks. That the spirit of invention was abroad is shown by the petition of John Marsh setting forth that he had invented a way to dress hemp and flax by mill, and asking for himself and assigns a patent for the same for fifteen years. In August, 1712, the governor received from Queen Anne a curious gift-the pictures of the four Indian chiefs who had been taken to England by Colonel Schuyler in 1709, where they had been much fêted and caressed, having had, among other marks of attention, their pictures taken. Twelve of these in frames,
SA GA YEATH QUA PIETH TON, KING OF THE MAQUAS.
was on the present Pearl street, north side, the tice of Canada. Soon after his arrival in New- present Pine street running through his lot or York he was appointed a member of the gover- nor's council; he was collector of the port while Lord Lovelace was governor; and by Hunter he was placed in the mayoralty. On retiring from business, Heathcote went to live at his country- seat in Westchester County, near Mamaroneck. The place was known as Heathcote Hall. The ter- ritory he possessed extended about eighteen miles back from the Sound. He died in 1721, leaving two sons and four daughters; one of the latter married James De Lancey, the lieutenant-gov- ernor and chief justice. EDITOR. garden. Caleb came over in 1692, and entered into partnership with him. At his death he left the bulk of his wealth to his nephew. The change of scene and success in business evidently cured Caleb Heathcote of his disappointment in love, for he married the daughter of Mr. William Smith, of Long Island, usually known as "Tangier" Smith, as he had been Governor of Tangier, to distinguish him from the William Smith who was attorney-general of the province, the father of William Smith the historian and later chief jus- VOL. II .- 10.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
and one hundred and ninety-two without, had been sent over by her Majesty's command, to be distributed among the various colonies.1
Gorgel
It was during this period that the American tree-toad, mosquito, and lobster were introduced to the Eng- lish public. Mrs. James Grant, in her "Memoirs of an American Lady," writ- ten later, describing the melody of nature's orchestra at eventide, speaks of the songs as being " now and then mingled with the animated and not unpleasing cry of the tree-frog, a creature of that species, but of a light, slender form almost transparent and of a lively green; it is dry to the touch, and has not the dark moisture of its aquatic relations. In short it is a pretty lively creature with a sin- gular and cheerful note." A letter- writer of 1710 gives an amusing account of the mosquito, which he 1 They were ordered to be distributed as follows: "The 12 in frames, of each :
1 to N. York ? to be placed in the Council Chamber 1 to Boston
1 to the 5 Nations to be placed in ye Onondaga Castle where the 5 Nations meet "Without frames, of each :
8 for N. York
4 to Jersey 8 to Boston 4 to N. Hampshire
4 to Connecticut
to be disposed among ye Council and Assembly as ye Govrs. think fit
4 to Rhode Island
4 to Pennsylvania if they give money/
1 to each of ye 5 Nations and ye River Indians
1 to ye 4 Indians who went to England
1 to the Govt of Maryland
{to be hung up in the Council
1 to the Gov" of Virginia "New-York, Aug. ye 8, 1712."
The portraits of the four visiting Indians (one of the number conducted by Colonel Schuyler having died) were painted, by order of the queen, by a celebrated Dutch portrait-painter, John Ver- elst (contracted from Van der Elst, or possibly Van der Helst, which was the name of the world- renowned portrait-painter of Rembrandt's time), who had resided many years in London. The visit of the Indians had created such a great sen- sation at the capital and throughout the kingdom, that the artist found it necessary to guard against unlimited reproductions of his work. In the "Tatler" for May 16, 1710, Verelst notified the pub- lic that no permission would be granted to make a sketch or copy, unless it were done by a skilful engraver or draftsman, and the fact be published in the "Tatler." In the "Tatler" of November 14, 1710, accordingly, there appeared an adver- tisement as follows : "This is to give notice that
the mezzotinto prints by John Simmonds, in whole lengths, of the four Indian Kings, that are done from the original pictures drawn by John Verelst, which her Majesty has at her palace at Kensing- ton, are now to be delivered to subscribers, and sold at the Rainbow and Dove in the Strand." But other hands could not be restrained from making copies of pictures that were so greatly in demand: none of the others, however, were recog- nized or authorized by the painter. It was the Simmonds mezzotint prints that were sent in such generous numbers to the "plantations" in America. A set of proof impressions is in the possession of Mrs. John Carter-Brown, and the illustrations in the text are derived from these. Another set is included among the collection of the American Antiquarian Society. The originals by Verelst are still preserved in the British Museum. EDITOR
ROBERT HUNTER AND SETTLEMENT OF THE PALATINES 147
terms an "animalculæ that follows the hay which is made in the salt meadows or comes home with the cows in the evening," and which could terribly disfigure a person's face in a single night. The same writer also informs us that lobsters were unknown in the waters about New-York until the wreck at Hell Gate of a "well-boat," in which they were brought alive from New England, where they were plentiful. The lobsters that formed her cargo escaped alive into the sea, and multiplied to such an extent that they became abundant. An event of the fall of 1711 was the receipt of an act of parliament establishing a general post-office for all her Majesty's dominions, and for setting a weekly sum out of the revenue for the service of the war.
The social life of the town during the early years of Governor Hun- ter's term was courtly and even brilliant in character, and with the governor's literary labors did much to soften the animosities and aus- terities of the time. Both the governor and his wife were genial and hospitable in temperament, and well fitted to shine in social life. In addition to his town establishment, Governor Hunter maintained a country-house at Amboy in New Jersey. He also purchased Mattene- cunk Island in the Delaware near Burlington, and, as appears from let- ters of prominent citizens of Burlington in regard to a house and furniture there, set up an establishment at Burlington on the occasion of meeting the New Jersey assembly in that town. Dueling was then of course the order of the day among gentlemen of honor. A duel occurred in New-York shortly after the excitement over the negro plot had died away, in 1713, which deserves attention. It was fought between Dr. John Livingston and Thomas Dongan, the nephew and namesake of the former colonial governor, who was now Earl of Lim- erick. Dr. Livingston was killed, and it appears that even at that early day, a hundred years before the Hamilton-Burr duel, which is usually looked upon as having given the death-blow to the practice in this State, there was a sufficiently strong sentiment against dueling in this city to procure not only the trial of Dongan, but even his convic- tion for manslaughter. All the national festivals, such as birthdays of members of the royal family and anniversaries of great events in English history, were celebrated scrupulously and with great éclat. On August 2, 1714, Queen Anne died, and George, Elector of Han- over, was proclaimed king as George I. The news seems to have reached New-York on October 7, as on that day the council met and appointed "Monday next" for proclaiming "King George in this city in the most solemn manner as hath formerly been done on such occasions." The appointed day was celebrated by a parade of the militia, the firing of cannon, addresses from the governor and other prominent gentlemen, and by bonfires and a general illumina- tion in the evening. The name of Fort Anne was changed to Fort
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
George, and the next February a general thanksgiving was proclaimed "for his Majesty's accession to the throne of Great Britain." In the summer of 1716 occurred the sad death of Lady Hunter, and from this time until his retirement in 1719 her husband was a changed man. She was a lady of superior beauty, intelligence, and education, and was almost idolized by her husband; to her death no doubt are to be attrib- uted his failure of health and final retirement from his post. So well had Governor Hunter borne himself that the spring elections of 1715 resulted in an assembly much more favorably disposed to the gov- ernment. Up to this date the governor had received no salary, the voting of a revenue having been refused on one pretext and another; in this assembly, however, his services, privations, and embarrassments were so vividly pictured by his friends, particularly by Lewis Morris, that the revenue was voted, and the governor's position made more tolerable. Chief Justice Mompesson died in June of this year, and Hunter appointed Lewis Morris to fill the vacancy-a good appoint- ment, although it elicited much adverse criticism from the opposition, with whom Morris was anything but popular.1 There were also changes in the councils of the two provinces this year. George Clarke, Secretary of New-York, was appointed to fill the vacancy in the council of New- York caused by Mompesson's death, and David Jamison, Chief Justice of New Jersey, to fill his place in the council of that province; and on the death of Dr. Samuel Staats, which soon occurred, Jamison was ap- pointed to fill his place in the council of New-York. Augustine Gra- ham, John Johnstone (the newly appointed mayor), Stephen De Lancey, Robert Lurting, and Robert Watts were also nominated for councilors - an increase recommended in order that a quorum might always be John Johnston present. Two immigrants of note came to the young city in 1716-William Smith from Buck- inghamshire, England, the father of William Smith the historian of New-York, and James Alexander of Scotland, who by his marriage with a New-York lady, Mrs. Samuel Provoost, became the father of William, Lord Stirling, a prominent figure in the subsequent events of the Revolution. Alexander was a lawyer of talent and a fine mathematician, and Hunter, soon discover- ing his ability, made him first surveyor-general of New Jersey, and later attorney-general of New-York. Within a few years he rose to be one of the leading spirits of the colony, but in the midst of his political duties he found time to continue his scientific studies, and
1 Chief Justice Morris, as has been stated, was highly esteemed by the governor, being of similar intellectual tastes, and endowed with brilliant ca- pacities. As an evidence of their friendship, Morris named one of his sons Robert Hunter, who figures in later colonial history as chief justice of New Jersey and governor of Pennsylvania. EDITOR.
2 John Johnston was mayor from 1713 to 1720. Very little is known about him except that he was a merchant, owning vessels that went upon for- eign trade. He was made a member of the royal council in 1718. The city's population reached about 6500 in his day. EDITOR.
ROBERT HUNTER AND SETTLEMENT OF THE PALATINES 149
with Dr. Franklin and others founded the American Philosophical Society. His son William, falling under the eye of Shirley in the French and Indian wars, was made aide and private secretary to the latter, and accompanied him to England, where, by the death of the Earl of Stirling, being next in the line of succession, he fell heir to that earldom. The Presbyterians in the city had grown so rapidly during Hunter's term that, in 1718, they purchased land in "Stoutten- burgh's garden,"1 and the next year erected a church upon it and opened a cemetery beside the building. The first minister was the Rev. James Anderson. This church had an interesting history from its repeated efforts to obtain a charter, which, however, properly belongs to succeeding chapters.
In the spring of 1719 Governor Hunter decided to return to Eng- land. His health had become greatly impaired. His wife had an inheritance there which he desired to secure for his five children; he had also large bills against the British treasury for subsisting the Palatines, which he hoped to recover. He made his preparations secretly, lest the knowledge of his intended departure might give rise to intrigues. On June 24, 1719, he called the assembly together and, after transacting some necessary business, thus addressed them: "Gentlemen, I have sent for you that you may be witness to my assent to the Acts passed by the General Assembly in this session. . . . I take this opportunity also to acquaint you, that my uncertain state of health, the care of my little family, and my private affairs on the other side have at last determined me to make use of that license of absence which was some time ago graciously granted me, but with a firm resolution to return again to you if it is his Majesty's pleasure that I should do so : but if that proves otherwise, I assure you that whilst I live I shall be watchful and industrious to promote the inter- est and welfare of this country, of which I think I am under the strongest obligation for the future to account myself a countryman. I look with pleasure upon the present quiet and prosperous state of the people here, whilst I remember the condition in which I found them upon my arrival. As the very name of party or faction seems to be forgotten, may it ever lie buried in oblivion, and no more strife ever happen amongst you, but that laudable emulation who shall prove himself the most zealous servant and dutiful subject of the best of princes, and most useful member of a well-established and flourish- ing community, of which you gentlemen have given a happy ex- ample." To which Robert Livingston, speaker of the assembly,
1 On Wall street between the present Nassau street and Broadway. This first Presbyterian church stood until 1748, when, the congregation having greatly increased under the labors of Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, the second minister, it was torn down and a second edifice "of stone, in length
eighty feet and about sixty feet in breadth," was erected on the same site. This stood until 1844. The lot, in 1766, was eighty-eight feet wide, front and rear, and one hundred and twenty feet deep, English measure.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
replied: "Sir, When we reflect upon your past conduct, your just, mild, and tender administration, it heightens the concern we have for your departure, and makes our grief such as words cannot truly express. You have governed well and wisely, like a prudent magis- trate, like an affectionate parent; and wherever you go, and whatever station the Divine Providence shall please to assign you, our sincere desire and prayers for the happiness of you and yours shall always attend you. We have seen many governors, and may see more; and as none of those who had the honor to serve in your station were ever so justly fixed in the affections of the governed, so those to come will acquire no mean reputation when it can be said of them that their conduct has been like yours. We thankfully accept the honor you do us in calling yourself our countryman. Give us leave then to desire that you will not forget this as your country and, if you can, make haste to return to it. But if the service of our sovereign will not admit of what we so earnestly desire, and his commands deny us that happiness, permit us to address you as our friend, and give us your assistance when we are oppressed with an administration the reverse of yours."1
The career of Governor Hunter after retiring from New-York was comparatively uneventful. After spending some time in England, engaged with his private affairs, he was appointed governor of Jamaica, and died there, May 11, 1734.
THE "SPECTATOR" ON THE VISIT OF THE INDIANS.
It is interesting to note what a sensation was everywhere produced in England by the appearance of these remarkable strangers. Although they were only chiefs, and perhaps not even that, the people soon called them kings, and one of them was in- vested with the title of emperor, in the popular estimation. Even " the wits of Queen Anne's time " were infected by the universal enthusiasm, and were stimulated to exer- cise their talents by the visit. On Friday, April 27, 1711, appeared No. 50 of the famous "Spectator," now a classic in English literature. The signature C. (one of the letters of "Clio," by means of which his contributions can be identified) shows that this essay was from no less a pen than Addison's. He begins thus: "When the four Indian Kings? were in this country about a twelvemonth ago, I often mixed with the rabble, and followed them a whole day together, being wonderfully struck with the sight of everything that is new or uncommon. I have since their departure employed a friend to make many inquiries of their landlord the upholsterer, relating to their manners and conversation, as also concerning the remarks which they made in this country : for. next to the forming a right notion of such strangers, I should be desirous of learning what ideas they have conceived of us." Dean Swift, in a letter dated April 28. 1711. remarks: " Yesterday the 'Spectator' was made up of a noble hint I gave him about an Indian King supposed to write his travels into England. I repent he ever had it. I intended to have written a book on that subject." EDITOR.
1 William Smith. History of New-York (ed. 1830), 1: 234-236. ? One of the natives died on the way over, or shortly after their arrival in England.
.
VIEW OF NEW-YORK IN GOVERNOR BURNET'S TIME.
CHAPTER V
THE ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM BURNET 1720-1728
F the people of New-York had ever been accustomed to be consulted in the selection of their chief magistrates, it would have provoked them to learn that the proud posi- tion of governor of their great province was largely a matter of private barter and arrangement between individuals. Governor Hunter was suffering the tortures of sciatica, and de- spaired of improving in America.1 William Burnet had been light- ened in purse by his ventures in the South Sea scheme,2 and wished to replenish his fortunes. The two were warm personal friends. So Hunter agreed to exchange his office of governor for Burnet's less lucrative but more convenient position of comptroller-general of the customs in Great Britain, with a salary of £1,200 per year.3 Both had sufficient influence at court to secure the ratification of their bargain by the king, and presto! it was done. As an impartial his- torian remarks: "It unfortunately happened for our American prov- inces at the time we now treat of, that a government in any of our colonies in those parts was scarcely looked upon in any other light
1 " I have no hope of Ease on this Side, having try'd all remedys. Christian and Pagan, Palenical, Chymical and Whimsical, to no purpose. Aix-la- Chappelle is all my present Comfort." Hunter to Secretary Popple, New Jersey Archives. 4: 387. " Wynne's "British Empire" (London, 1770). 1: 181 ; " History of the United States," by James
Grahame (Boston, 1845), 3: 99; Smith's " History of New-York " (London, 1776), p. 201.
3 Smith's "History New -York," p. 201; Doug- lass's "Summary " (London, 1755), 1: 480 ; Wynne, 1: 191. New-York paid her governor £1,200 ster- ling, and New Jersey paid £500 or £600; the per- quisites were considerable in both provinces.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
than that of an hospital, where the favorites of the ministry might lie till they had recovered their broken fortunes; and oftentimes they served as asylums from their creditors."1 But it is not too much to say that no American colony had as yet been favored with so excel- lent an appointment as this of William Burnet to be "Captain Gen- eral and Governor in Chief of the Provinces of New-York, New Jersey and Territories thereon depending in America, and Vice Ad- miral of the same." The people were favorably disposed toward him, for it was only five years since the decease of his father, the eminent Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury from 1689 to 1715, and they still cherished warmly the mem- ory of the distinguished prelate and states- man who had been so influential in seat- ing William and Mary on the throne of England, and thereby securing to Great Britain a succession of Protestant rulers. The new governor was himself named after the great Prince of Orange, having been born at The Hague in March, 1688, his namesake being the sponsor at his baptism.2 His early education was su- WBweek pervised by his father and the celebrated philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton, and he also had the advantage of meeting, both at home and abroad, the most eminent men of learning and the prin- cipal statesmen and courtiers of the age, and still he confessed that he was nearly twenty years old before his father discovered any promise of intellectual development in him.3 Although but thirty- two years of age, the young governor was a widower, with a bright little boy of five or six years, named Gilbert, whom he brought with him to America." The king made the appointment April 19, 1720; the instructions were prepared May 4, and submitted to the king May 31; 5 and after various delays Burnet sailed from Portsmouth about July 10, arriving at New-York on September 16. His commis- sion was published the next day, with the usual popular demonstra- tions.6 He speedily discovered that the party which had always opposed Governor Hunter had made headway in the interregnum, 1 Wynne, 1: 191.
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