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 19
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2 "New-York Genealogical and Biographical Record," 6 : 6.
3 Whitehead's "Perth Amboy," p. 156.
+ "New England Historical Genealogical Regis- ter," 5: 49; N. J. Archives, 5: 261. His first wife was a daughter of the Rev. Dr. George Stan- hope, Dean of Canterbury. "Heraldic Journal," . April, 1866, p. 61.
5 Dr. Colden, forty years later, told a curious story about a clerk of the Board of Trade inter- polating a word in the instructions. ("New-York Historical Society Collections." 1876. pp. 133, 136, 203; "Documents relating to Colonial History of New-York," 5 : 476, 499). But the story was incor- rect. Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y .. 5 : 485.
6 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5: 536 -8, 572, 573; N. J. Archives, 5 : 3; 11 : 52-4.
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THE ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM BURNET
. and as a shrewd stroke of policy he decided to summon the old assembly again, instead of ordering a new election. This course was contrary to the custom in such cases, and George Clarke, the 'sec- retary of the province, at the same time deputy auditor for Horace Walpole, advised against it.1 However, his course seemed to be vin- dicated, for when the legislature met in the old Fort George at the Battery on October 13, 1720, he addressed them in a speech admirable in tone, and they promptly responded with an appropriation for "an ample and honorable support for His Majesty's Government for five years," and promised "to make up any deficiencies that by unforeseen accidents might happen to it," and they added this handsome com- pliment : " We believe that the son of that worthy Prelate, so Emi- . nently Instrumental under our glorious Monarch, William the third, in delivering us from Arbitrary Power, and its concomitants Popery, Superstition and Slavery, has been Educated in and possesses those Principles that so Justly recommended his Father to the Councils and Confidence of Protestant Princes and succeeds our former Gov- ernour, not only in Power, but Inclinations to do us good."2
The governor urged upon the legislature the importance of resist- ing the inroads of the French upon the frontiers, of repairing the forts, and putting the militia in the best condition for service. In response they made an appropriation to enable him to repair the fortifications and build new ones, and to provide the ways and means therefor they passed another act levying a duty of two per cent. on all European goods imported into the province, which, as might have been expected, was disallowed by the king. But the most important measure of the session for far-reaching consequences was an act pro- hibiting the sale of Indian goods to the French.3 For a century and a half the French had been pushing their religious and commercial influence among the Indians west of Quebec to the Mississippi River, undeterred by any obstacles and allowing nothing to interfere with
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5: 572, 573, 765; N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collections, 1868, p. 207. George Clarke, an English lawyer, had come to New-York in July, 1703, with a commission as secretary of the province. He was appointed a member of the council in 1715, and sworn in May 30, 1716. (Council Minutes, 11 : 352). Horace Walpole hav- ing been appointed auditor of the province, in 1718 appointed Clarke his deputy (Ib .. 503), who in consequence tried to control the revenues, the object apparently being merely to exact a tribute of five per cent. commission on all the moneys raised. The assembly objected to this, and di- rected the treasurer to account only to the gov- ernor and council and assembly. It is evident that there was considerable friction between the governor and Clarke from the outset. (Cal. N. Y. Hist. MSS., 2 : 464, 475.) Clarke was in constant correspondence with Horace Walpole, brother of Sir Robert Walpole, England's great prime min-
ister for so many years. Burnet seems to have relied on the friendship of the Duke of Newcastle, a rival of Sir Robert. (Coxe's "Memoires of Sir Robert Walpole "; Mahon's " History of England," Vol. II.) Thus the internal affairs of the province of New-York were closely intertwined with the intrigues of the ministers at home. When the Duke of Newcastle succeeded in driving Walpole to France and Carteret to Ireland, and assumed the State Office himself, Burnet became judicious- ly friendly to Clarke, and helped him to secure £2500 commissions on the current revenues of the province and arrears. Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 765.
2 Journal Legislative Council, 1 : 451-3. Smith (p. 202) says that the assembly's address was drawn up by Chief Justice Lewis Morris.
3 Journal Legislative Council, as cited; Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 577, 703.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
their steady purpose of acquiring control over the savages. French traders came regularly to New-York and bought the bulk of the Indian supplies imported from England-strouds1 and duffels princi- pally-and carried them to Quebec and thence disposed of them to the Indians, who had been accustomed for generations to look upon Quebec as the principal mart for such goods. In this way the French ascendancy over the Indians was greatly and continually extended. Governor Burnet, with a far-seeing eye, perceived this, and, having the glory of England in view, secured the passage of this act by the legislature, whereby it was absolutely forbidden to sell any such goods to the French upon any terms, under a penalty of the forfeiture of the goods sold and a fine of one hundred pounds. Suspected per- sons could be put upon oath as to whether or not they had violated the law, and compelled to answer under pain of heavy fines or im- prisonment. This was the weak feature of the law, being contrary to all English principles of justice, which did not suffer a man to be forced to criminate himself. There was another aspect of the subject. Under the old system, the trade in Indian goods at New-York was engrossed by a few; by this course he caused it to pass into the hands of many. Furthermore, the Indians became more dependent on the English than formerly. Prior to this it had been usual for nine hun- dred pieces of "strouds" to be carried in one year from Albany to Montreal,2 where they had sold at a little over thirteen pounds a piece. After the act, pieces sold at Albany for ten pounds, while the price at Montreal had gone up to twenty-five pounds.3 No wonder the governor was proud of his great success with this first session of the legislature under his administration.
He was equally successful in New Jersey, where he secured an act providing a five years' support for his government. In thanking the New Jersey legislature, he said in his frank and manly way: "I can- not but acknowledge in the most particular manner the acts for the chearful and honourable support and for the security of his Majesty's Government in this Province. I cannot but say that I look upon the latter as the noblest of the two; as I think honour is always more than riches."+ The New-York assembly had been unanimous in supporting the governor, but Peter Schuyler (the president of the council), Adolph Philipse, and five others were strenuous for a new assembly, which, after a hot debate, the governor declined to order, and threatened the exposure of Schuyler and Philipse for having violated the king's in- structions,' whereupon Schuyler and four others asked and were given leave to return to their homes. But the governor immediately wrote
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1 "Strouds,-a woollen manufacture established at Stroud, England." Wynne, 1 : 198. 2 Douglass, 2 : 258. 3 Smith's "New Jersey," p. 213.
4Smith's "New Jersey," p. 417.
5 President Schuyler had allowed Philipse to have the custody of the provincial seal. N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collections, 1868, p. 206.
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THE ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM BURNET
to England, urging that Schuyler and Philipse be removed from the council, and asking that Cadwallader Colden and James Alexander be appointed in their stead, which changes were subsequently (1722) made, in accordance with his request.1 He also recommended the appoint- ment of Philip Livingston as secretary for Indian affairs, in the place of his father, Robert Livingston, who by reason of his advanced years desired to have this change made. Robert Livingston was speaker of the assembly, and had been of great help in the session just closed, which was another reason why Burnet wished to accede to his request. This also was done.2 In Dr. Colden and James Alexander he secured two of the ablest men in the province for supporters of his administration, and at the same time relieved the council of two of the most influential of the disaffected party.
The legislature had adjourned till March; but when that time came around the governor was otherwise occupied, and he adjourned them G Burnel again till May 19. How he was engaged appears by a letter of Isaac Bobin under date of March 11, 1721: "There is great talk of His Ex- cellency and Miss Mary Van Horne, the eldest daughter of Abraham Van Horne;"3 and on May 17, he writes that there were "great prepa- rations for the match so much talked of."4 The wedding took place shortly after, and undoubtedly was a brilliant affair. Anna Maria Van Horne, the bride, was a beautiful girl of nineteen, having been baptized January 28, 1702. She was the oldest child of Abraham Van Horne and Mary Provoost (daughter of David Provoost). Mr. Van Horne was one of the wealthiest merchants of New-York, and lived in Wall street, where he had a storehouse and a bolting- and baking-house. He was a representative of the old Dutch stock, and had difficulties with the English language all his life, which, however, troubled others more than himself.5 Notwithstanding this deficiency, his son-in-law recommended him (June 17, 1722) to a seat in the council, in the place of Abraham De Peyster, then incapacitated, and the sturdy old Dutch- man sat there with his ancient friend, Rip Van Dam, until his death in 1741.6 This alliance brought the governor into connection with many
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 578, 579, 647.
2 Ib., 580, 647.
3 N. Y. Hist. MSS., 2 : 459.
+ Ib., 460.
5 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 886. 6 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 6 : 209; N. Y. Gen. and Biog. Record, 6 : 6.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
of the oldest families in the province, and ought to have strengthened his position materially, if he had had the policy to avail himself of the opportunity. But policy, beyond an honest desire to serve the inter- ests intrusted to him, he did not possess.
In pursuance of his plan to secure the Indian trade, the governor caused a council to be held at Albany on September 7, 1721, which was more numerously attended by the Indians than any previous as- sembly of the kind in many years.1 He spent several days among the Indians before the actual council was held, and by his affable and winning manner secured their good will. At the meeting he urged them in the strongest language to break their connections with the French, and to trade only with the English. The wily Indians were non-committal in their reply on that subject, but concluded with this sly hint: "We are informed that your Excellency is Marryed at New- York, We beg leave to acquaint you, that We are glad of it, and wish you much Joy And as a token of our Rejoycing We present a few Beavers to your Lady for Pin Money, And say withall that it is Cus- tomary for a Brother upon his Marryage to invite his Brethren to be Merry and Dance." The governor good-naturedly took the hint and ordered them some barrels of beer, "to be merry withall and dance, which they did according to their Custom and were extreamly well Satisfied."2 The Indians addressed the governor as "Corlaer," giving him the name of Arent Van Corlaer, the first representative of the whites with whom they had treated before; and as they held him in high esteem, they bestowed the same name as a compliment upon the successive governors of New-York.3 In the meantime the governor had established a trading-station at Tirondequat, on Lake Ontario, in charge of eight gallant young men under the command of Peter Schuyler, Jr., son of the ex-president of the council, and they sold goods to the Indians for half what the French had formerly charged, whereby the English ascendancy was promoted over their Canadian rivals.' The admirable training these young men and their successors and associates received in their hazardous enterprise was of great value to the colonists in after years, when just such experience was needed
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5: 632. 2 Tb., 640, 642, 666.
3 Ib., 3 : 558. The Indians called the governors of the several provinces by the name given to the first of them with whom they had treated. Thus, as just noted, Arent Van Corlaer gave a name to all succeeding governors of New-York. The gov- ernor of Maryland was called by the Indians " As- sarigoe," signifying a cutlas, which name was given to Lord Howard in 1684, from the Dutch word "Houwer," a cutlas. (Council Minutes, 12 : 365; Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 670.) (De Houwer, a cutter, also a broadsword. Sewel's Eng- lish -Dutch Dictionary, Amsterdam, 1691.) The
governor of Pennsylvania was called "Onas," the Indian for feather or pen, a translation of William Penn's name. (Council Minutes, 12 : 368; Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 679.) In 1768 the Indians bestowed upon the governor of New Jersey (Wil- liam Franklin) the name "Sagorighweyogsta," meaning the "Great Arbiter or Doer of Justice." in recognition of his and his people's justice in putting to death some persons who had murdered Indians in that province. (Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 8 : 117.) On this subject see Sparks's "Washington," 2 : 47, note; "Historical Magazine," December, 1868, p. 316.
4 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 662.
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THE ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM BURNET
in their dealings with the hostile French Indians.1 Burnet persuaded the Indians "to open a broad path and sweep it clean for the far In- dians to come through to Albany," and he was extremely gratified when twenty of them came thither in the spring of 1722, and still more so when in the ensuing June eighty, besides women and children, arrived there after a journey of more than a thousand miles.2 These Indian conferences were quaint and picturesque, as well as important. At first they were attended only by the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, compos- ing the confederation known as the Five Nations. According to Horatio Hale, this confedera- tion of savages established what is now one of the oldest repub- lies in the world, dating back to a period four hundred years ago, when that most remarkable law- giver, Hiawatha, brought about the union on the basis on which it has been maintained to this day. The annual election of representatives from the various nations to the council of the confederation still takes place in the manner prescribed by him, and the several delegates still bear the official names by which he designated them before Co- MRS. WILLIAM BURNET. lumbus first saw the shores of the New World.3 The Tuscaroras hav- ing become involved in war with the whites in the Carolinas, where they dwelt, came north in 1714, and were received by the Five Nations, and in the course of time joined the confederation as the Sixth Nation.'
The Indians were never in a hurry, and it was usually some days before they could be induced to settle down to business. Burnet occupied this time in going among them and becoming acquainted with their leaders. The conference being at last opened, Lawrence Claese appeared as interpreter, translating the Indian language into
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y .. 5 : 641; Smith's "New-York," p. 219. In that charming work by Mrs. Grant, of Laggan, " Memoirs of an Ameri- can Lady" (London, 1808), 1 : 76-87, is a graphic description of the toils and dangers of the young Americans who set out on trading expeditions from Albany through the trackless waste.
2 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 684.
3 " The Iroquois Book of Rites" (Philadelphia,
1883), pp. 21-39; Morgan's "Systems of Consan- guinity and Affinity of the Human Family," p. 151; Heckewelder's "Indian Nations" (edition of 1875), p. 56. It should be noted, however, that in the "Journal of American Folklore," 4 : 295-307. W. M. Beauchamp, in a critical review of the accounts of Hi-a-wat-ha, concludes that he must have lived, if at all, not earlier than A. D. 1600.
4 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 387, 684.
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Dutch, while Robert Livingston, the venerable secretary for Indian affairs, translated from Dutch into English, and vice versa. The savages have always been noted for the poetic and felicitous imagery in which they clothe their ideas. In expressing their wish to be on friendly terms with the whites they said (and we can only guess how much of the poetry has been lost in the translation into Dutch and then into English) : " Wee were here before the Christians Came Being the Antient Inhabitants of those parts and when the Christians first came we made a Covenant with them which was but of bark but after- ward the English Comeing to have the Government of those Countries we made a Covenant Chain of Silver that the thunder itself could not break it."1 And again : "When the Christians first came to this Country our Ancestors fastened the ship that brought them behind a Great Mountain with a Chain in order to secure the same which moun- tain lyes behind the Sinnekees Country, so that the one end of the Chain, being fastened there and the other end at ye Ship, if any body would steal away and molest this ship the chain will jingle & make a noise & alarm all the 5 Nations who are bound to defend this ship."2 At another conference Governor Burnet hinted at the desirability of brightening the covenant chain, whereupon they declared: " We make it clean to keep the same bright and wrap beaver Skins about it, that it may not rust." 3 "Since a Chain is apt to rust, if it be not oiled or greased we will grease it with Bevers grease or Fatt yt the smell thereof will endure for a whole year."4 The governor was free in giving the Indians excellent advice - not to spend their money in strong drink, but to lay it out on clothing and other necessaries for their support.5 But when he asked them to assist him in discovering persons guilty of violating the new law forbidding the sale of Indian goods to the French, they, with a shrewd and amusing affectation of simplicity, replied: "We are peaceable People & inclined to Peace & if we should intermeddle in any such matter, we should but create ourselves a great many enemies & therefore desire to be excused.""
By this conference Burnet learned more of their wants, and how they were robbed by the traders at Albany, who took them into their houses and plied them with drink before buying their peltries. So the governor had an act passed by the legislature in 1723 providing for the erection of two large wooden houses for the special accommo- dation of the Indians, where trade with them was carried on publicly .? He also used his personal influence to induce the traders to treat the Indians more fairly, and to sell them goods more reasonably, whereby a great improvement was brought about in the relations between the
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 562. 5 Tb., 663. 6 Ib., 668.
2 Ib., 667.
3 Ib., 799.
7 Ib., 701; "Journal of Legislative Council,"
4 Ib., 663.
1: 504, 506, 533.
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THE ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM BURNET
English and the savages. Nor did he overlook the importance of protecting the whites, and the legislature took measures for the re- newal of the stockades about Albany and Schenectady, which had been allowed to fall into decay, and authorized the Albany authorities to build two new block-houses for the better protection of that frontier town.1 But the governor's statesmanlike plan for securing to the English the absolute control of the Indian trade aroused the opposi- tion of the British manufacturers and the New-York merchants, who had engrossed it to themselves. They feared that the French would secure their supplies from other quarters, and that New-York would lose the profits it had so long enjoyed. So these merchants and their British friends drew up a strong remonstrance, urging the king to disallow the act. They claimed that in consequence of it trade had fallen off in New-York, both in imports and exports; that the supply of beaver-skins was but half what it had been before the passage of the act; that the price had gone up twenty-five per cent .; and that importations into the province had been greatly reduced. These representations being transmitted to Governor Burnet, he laid them before the council, and Dr. Colden and Mr. Alexander were charged with the preparation of a reply, which was adopted by the council. In this able and admirable report they refuted most of the facts alleged, and the arguments adduced by the remonstrants.2 The lords of trade deemed a compromise advisable. They recommended that the act be disallowed on account of the feature compelling persons to answer under oath, under a penalty of one hundred pounds, whether or not they had violated the law. They approved of the design of the act, and recommended that the governor should be instructed to secure the passage of a new bill, omitting the objectionable fea- ture referred to.3 It was a great triumph for the governor, and he exulted not a little over it. As the king took no action on the report of the lords of trade, and as the act expired by limitation, the legislature in 1726 passed another act, on the governor's recom- mendation, he having come to an agreement with the people of Albany on the subject, whereby it was provided that a duty of thirty shillings should be laid on every piece of " strouds" carried to Canada, and one of only fifteen shillings on each piece sent from Albany to Lake Ontario, thus giving the English traders a great advantage over their French competitors, and encouraging the Indians to continue coming to Albany for supplies." So much space has been given to this subject because it was the favorite project of the governor during his administration. It was a great thing for the province; of vast
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5: 631, 782 ; Journal of Legislative Council, 1 : 470-1.
3 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 708, 739, 757, 763. 4 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5 : 778.
2 Smith's "New-York," pp. 207, 221.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
importance to New-York City; and yet to this policy, so successfully carried out, was largely due the ultimate removal of Burnet from this government.
While the handsome young governor was thus enforcing his Indian policy, he was not unmindful of the duties resting upon him in other lines. Of a genial nature, extremely sociable in disposition, he readily entered into the social life of the little town. This centered in Fort George,1 at the Battery, where the governor lived in state in his man- sion; where the King's Chapel stood, which had been built on the ruins of the original Dutch church erected nearly a century before, and whence pealed forth the tones of the bell alike for weddings, for funer- als, and for public occasions in general. At special entertainments the governor's charming lady would bring out the silver-and-gilt tea-ser- vice presented to his father by the Princess Sophia in recognition of his services in bringing about the Protestant succession.2 According to the old custom observed since the days of Peter Stuyvesant, he received calls on the 1st of January after his arrival.3 There was much gaiety in the queer little cosmopolitan town in those days. The members of the legislature frequently gathered at the "Widow Post's" after a day's session, to discuss the public affairs over a glass of wine,4 and gentle- men would sometimes meet at a friend's house "to hear some good Musick, and to take a Tiff of fresh Lime Punch," or something stronger.5 Secretary Clarke was one of the few citizens of the town who indulged in the luxury of a spinet, which he bought in September, 1723, just as if a little girl who arrived in his family at the same time could not furnish music enough for his house!® Mr. Clarke displayed various signs of wealth in those days, for in addition to the spinet and a negro servant he bought his wife blue, purple, and green silk stockings a few months later.7 Some of the worthy Dutch vrouws continued to own a multiplicity of petticoats, after the fashion of their mothers, as chroni- cled by Diedrich Knickerbocker. In 1730 the widow of Francis Philipse was the proud possessor of a red silver-laid petticoat, a red cloth petti-
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1 In 1721 the fort had four regular bastions, faced with stone, and mounted with fifty cannon, but had neither ditch nor outworks. (Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 5: 602.) Repairs were made in 1724, and new apartments fitted up in 1725-6, but in the lat- ter year the roof of the chapel and the barracks were still in a ruinous condition. "Journal Legis- lative Council," 1 : 489 - 93, 507, 519, 536, 539.
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