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 36
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In these times of war on its western and northern frontiers, New- York city was the scene of much bustle and excitement. As early as 1755, after Braddock's defeat, De Lancey urged upon the British min- istry the advantages which New-York city possessed for establishing there " a general Magazine of Arms and Military Stores," for the sup-
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
ply of the various armies operating in different parts of the country. The lords of trade entirely agreed with him in this opinion. They therefore proposed that whatever the king should "think proper to order to be sent to North America (except such as are ordered for particular services) should be lodged in a storehouse at New-York, under the care of a Storekeeper to be appointed by His Majesty for that purpose, subject to the Controul and direction of the person who shall be appointed to the command of His Majte forces there, and of the Gov" or Commander in Chief of New-York."1 This, of course, meant business for New-York's citizens, a stimulus to trade in arms as well as in farm-products, an increase of profits for her merchants; but the arrival of troops was neither so pleasant nor so ad- vantageous to her citizens. In June, 1756, Sir Charles Hardy first announced that the Earl of Loudoun was coming to assume command of the army ; but ac- tual contact was not had with this brilliant individual until after Oswego had been disgrace- NORTH RIVER SHORE, TOWARDS LISPENARD'S, 1761. fully lost to the French. A thousand soldiers of the regular army were then sent down to New-York for winter quarters. The old barracks in the fort were fitted up after a fashion for their reception, but there was no room for the officers. The law, while requiring troops to be cared for, contemplated payment for the quartering; but Loudoun treated the provincials much as he would an enemy, and insisted, with profane threats and bluster, upon free quarters. Mayor Cruger firmly resisted the outrage, and, when the arrogant commander could not be brought to reason, led in a subscription among the wealthy inhabitants to pay for the lodgings of the of- ficers in the houses of those who could not entertain them without charge.2 Meantime efforts had been going on to put the city in a good state of defense, and on October 27, 1756, Sir Charles Hardy was enabled to write: "Fort George has gone through great repairs, and is now completed; two sides and three bastions command the rivers leading to the city, and should properly have heavy cannon mounted for the defence of the harbour. Heavy cannon should be mounted in the Narrows, and upon Nutten Island, a ground, if the enemy should attempt this country with a fleet, they will make themselves masters of, and from whence they can easily bombard this city."3
1 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 6 : 1016. 2 Smith's Hist. N. Y., 2: 292, 294; Stevens, Biog. Sketches, p. 7. 3 Doc. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 7 : 164.
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SIR DANVERS OSBORN AND SIR CHARLES HARDY
Yet while the war-cloud hung over the land, the pres- ence of a body of troops in the city every winter led naturally to gaiety and so- cial activity. The earliest dramatic entertainments in the little town were given by officers of the army, who greatly impressed some of the fair and youthful deni- zens with their histrionic powers, although the more sober elements were dis- gusted with the folly of their antics. An ancient deed, dated about 1754, of a lot at 144 Fulton street, mentions that it was situ- ated "in the rear of the theatre-lot." This, therefore, must have been the site of the first theater; it stood midway between the pres- ent Fulton and John streets, with its entrance corre- sponding with No. 17 in the latter. In January, 1760, permission was given by De Lancey to build another theater in Chapel street, near Beekman. In the following November it was opened, the tragedy of the "Fair Penitent " being performed. The next night was given the "Provoked Husband," which one cannot help hop-
The view given in the text, called a "South Prospect," etc., is reduced from a copper-plate engraving published in the "London Magazine " of August, 1761. Although some differences appear, it is evident that it is based on the view found on page 270, which was printed in Governor Clinton's time.
The South Prospect of the City of New York in North America
4
Sir Thor hope my last of the 13: of May got. well to Your Honours hands, altho" your Amore importants Main may have crowded the receipt of it out of your Thoughts .__
Buli a Satisfactory answer thereto mighty have prevented a fresh trouble of new applications in the difficult 'fair on which I have wrote Your Honour more than onceas I do now.
again upon a late Representation to me, from the Council of Proportions of East New Jersey ywhich Srefer'a to the Consideration of His Majesty Council of this Provence, & they have Reported to mi thoupon, & I say upon the whole , if the Government of New York willmot-falls into mild & peasable measures, I mean into a temporary Line or noti proseguis, Imust in'. Duty to His Majesty, Se in a just So tender Regard to the People under my Care, do all in my Sowetfor Supporting His Majesty Honour Y Untores, Ker the happiness is Tranquility of the People of New
Jersey; So if finally this afair should be attended with fatal Consequences, our Superiors will judgewho have been culpable or contributed thurcunto Swish your Health & Happiness. & am Sir Elizabeth Town (S) 2August 2%: 1.54 Yours Honours Most obercients Most humble low: IBelchen
This fac-simile of a letter written by Jonathan Belcher, Governor of New Jersey, was addressed to Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey of New-York. It
is concerning the troubles on the northern boun- dary of New Jersey with New-York, and intimates the possibility of war between the two provinces.
-
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SIR DANVERS OSBORN AND SIR CHARLES HARDY
ing may have been a farce or a comedy, to relieve the gloom of the tragedy. The prices charged are fortunately on record : "Boxes, 8s .; pit, 5s .; and gallery, 3s."1 There seems not to have been made any political " capital" out of this act of De Lancey's. President Colden's experience was very different. A similar license on his part was dis- cussed in the assembly and disapproved; the mayor of the city urged the passage of a law forbidding theatrical performances, and popular sentiment in the future metropolis was so much averse to this form of amusement that in 1766 the theater in Beekman street was destroyed by a mob. How primitive society in New-York still remained, in spite of the sojourn there of generals in the army and inferior officers, many of whom belonged to the noblest English families, is shown by the fact that in 1757 the wife of General Gates "was generally reported as riding abroad in men's clothes, solely from the circum- stance of her wearing a riding habit after the manner of English ladies. . . . The manners of the times did not admit of such female display."" Yet the accumulation of wealth, with its attendant comforts and lux- uries of living, created a certain polish. This and the elegance of the interior appointments in the homes of the rich made the representa- tives or scions of English aristocracy glad to appear in them, and this necessarily produced an effect for the better upon New-York society as regarded the amenities of social intercourse, at least, placing the capital easily in the lead for social advantages in the estimation of the rest of the province. This interesting fact is clearly brought out by a lady who spent many years in colonial New-York and who was a close observer of the manners of those times. "At New-York," she remarks, "there was always a governor, a few troops, and a kind of a little court kept; there too was a mixed and, in some degree, pol- ished society. . . . It was the custom of the inhabitants of the upper settlements, who had any pretentions to superior culture or polish, to go once a year to New-York. . . . Here too they sent their children occasionally to reside with their relations, and to learn the more pol- ished manners and language of the capital."3
1 Old New-York. April, 1890, p. 180. Anne Grant; with a Memoir of Mrs. Grant, by 2 Watson's Olden Time, p. 158. James Grant Wilson (Albany, New-York, 1876),
3 " Memoirs of an American Lady," by Mrs. p. 47.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
NEW-YORK IN 1756.
The original of the subjoined letter was written by an officer of the British navy, while his ship was anchored in New-York Bay. It was purchased at the sale of the library of Henry Thomas Buckle, the historian, and is now in the possession of a gen- tleman of Washington, D. C.
NEW-YORK, August 15, 1756.
I never was so much surprised as in finding this part of the world superior to Eng- land - the air is serene and the land fertile; peaches, nectarines, apples and all other fruits peculiar to the soil of Europe grow wild in the woods and only feed the particular beasts which inhabit them ; I cannot say the taste is quite so exquisite and delicious, which I suppose may be owing to the want of grafting and transplanting - but the appearance looks so much like the golden age, and the first state of nature, that I could almost determine to spend the remainder of my life here. The river leading to the city of New-York runs a considerable way into the country, but has a bar at the mouth, which prevents the entrance of very large ships; the lands are cultivated as far as the eye can range, and the cottages inhabited by a variety of people from Germany, Holland, etc.
New-York is an island, situated about 30 miles up Hudson's River, bounded by Long Island on the east, and Staten Island on the south. The nobleness of the town sur- prised me more than the fertile appearance of the country. I had no idea of finding a place in America, consisting of near 2,000 houses, elegantly built of brick, raised on an eminence and the streets paved and spacious, furnished with commodious keys and warehouses and employing some hundreds of vessels in its foreign trade and fisheries - but such is this city that a very few in England can rival it in its show, gentility and hospitality. It is a royal government, and the officers appointed by the Crown. There are very few Indians on this island, being all either cut off by intestine-wars or diseases; the laborious people in general are Guinea negroes, who lie under particular restraints from the attempts they have made to massacre the inhabitants for their liberty, which is ever desired by those (you find) who never knew the enjoyment of it.
I cannot quit this colony without taking notice of a very particular cataract, which forms a prodigious arch, and (according to the eye) may fall about one hundred and fifty feet ; but what is more extraordinary, the mist, which is occasioned by the fall on a sunny day, forms a most delightful rainbow, and may be seen twelve miles off. There are romantic stories told of this cataract, but I am resolved to relate no more than I have seen. The Iroquois often appear here on business, and their appearance is more savage than I can describe. I cannot help telling you the ceremony of burying their dead; all the relations paint their faces black, and twice a day make a most wretched lamentation over the grave; the time of the mourning consists with the continuation of the black face, which is never washed, out of respect for the dead. The corpse is placed upright on a set,-and his gun, bow, arrows and money, buried with him, to furnish him with shooting implements in the next world, where they believe is more game than in America - and that the delightful country lies westward. They have priests among them, called Pawaws, who, if it possible, make these wretches more ignorant than nature intended them to be.
My stay, tho' very short here, has been attended with a most disagreeable circum- stance. When about three leagues from the ship, the boat's crew (consisting of ten men) rose on me, bound me hand and foot and run the boat on shore, where I might have perished had not two returned and unbound me, which two I brought to the ship again. They confessed that they had attempted to throw me overboard (which I never perceived), but something always prevented. Had they perpetrated their villainy, I should have died by the mouths of some thousands of sharks - as I was at that time fishing on a bank where nothing could be more numerous. This is so striking an act
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SIR DANVERS OSBORN AND SIR CHARLES HARDY
of Providence, that had it happened to an atheistical person, it might have been the happy means of converting him. From hence we are bound to the West Indies, which is a secret which never transpired till the day of our departure. I am a little chagrined at the circumstance, not being provided for so long a voyage.
I am, &c., To H. M., Esq. EDWARD THOMPSON.
P. S. We have one hundred and fifty people ill in fluxes, scurvies and fevers.
ADDRESS OF THE CORPORATION TO MAJOR-GENERAL AMHERST, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1760.
To his Excellency Jeffery Amherst, Esq .; Major General and Commander in Chief of all his Majesty's Forces in North America, &c., &c.
The Cordial Address of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the ancient City of New-York, in Common Council convened.
May it please your Excellency,
To the united suffrages of the british world in favour of your Excellency's distin- guished merit, the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New-York, beg leave to add their most grateful tribute of thanks, for the invaluable services wrought by your superior wisdom and valour, in annexing the extensive country of Canada, to his majesty's dominions in America; an acquisition so inestimable in itself, so pregnant with the most important consequences, cannot fail to shine with a supreme lustre, amid the most luminous events, and give to its author a rank exalted in the train of British worthies. Minutely to describe the innumerable advantages resulting from so signal a conquest, would be a vain attempt. Let millions yet unborn, mark the dis- tinguished blessings as they rise; and while they reap the happy fruits of your mar- tial virtues, they will not cease to bless the name of Amherst.
Yet, that we ourselves may not seem insensible of our happiness, permit us, Sir, to turn our eyes to the wide-extended frontiers of our many fair colonies over which his sacred Majesty has so long swayed his gracious sceptre. . . . How strangely altered is the amazing scene! . . . There the savage native, and more savage Canadian, was lately wont to seize the defenceless and inoffending peasant, doomed, with his tender wife and helpless children, to the most excruciating deaths, or a more dreadful captiv- ity. Hence, an universal horror seized the borderers. To this succeeded a general dereliction, and the numerous settlements, abandoned to the relentless fury of an in- satiable foe, were soon reduced to dismal and undistinguished ruin. Husbandry felt the fatal effects of such a waste of country, and this city, famous for its commerce, be- held and wept the diminution of its staple. Thus, besides the keenest sympathy for our fellow-subjects, we have acted our own sad parts in the affecting tragedy.
But Canada is no more. The peasant may return in security to his fields; hus- bandry will soon revive ; the face of nature smile with the blessings of peace; & this flourishing city in the plenty of its markets. This surprizing change we attribute, with the most humble gratitude, to the paternal care of our most gracious sovereign, in appointing your Excellency to conduct his victorious armies in America.
Our restless enemies possessed of the two great rivers of St. Lawrence and Mis- sissippi, long since formed the horrid scheme of circumventing us with a chain of fortresses. This with unwearied industry they at length atchieved; and by this gained the dominion of the lakes, and their connecting streams. The passes thus secured, as well into Canada, as our own country, necessarily procured them the assistance of
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
numerous tribes of Indians, and not to say worse, shook the fidelity of the few who had so long valued themselves on our protection. Nothing then seemed wanting, but a little patience, till they had introduced a sufficient number of regulars from France. But in this they failed. Their sanguine expectations broke down the restraints of policy, and they began to execute the deep laid purpose before they had strength suf- ficient to ensure success. And yet, thus advantageously situated, they compelled us, in a defensive war, to toil thro' several campaigns, most of which ended in the Loss of some sort or tract of country. So true it is, that the inferiority of their numbers was in a great measure compensated for, by the possession of those important posts ; which, had they not been wrested from them by your unexampled conduct, seconded by the matchless heroism of the much lamented Wolf, and the vigorous efforts of his brave successors in command, would, in the hands of so vigilant, designing and indefatigabel an enemy, most probably have ended in the reduction of the whole British North America. This, Sir, is a hasty portraiture of the mighty evils, from which, by your triumphs, we have been delivered; evils to which we shall never again be exposed, unless our late restless neighbours should, by a restitution, be enabled to renew the execrable attempt.
Yet what will more effectually perpetuate your name, Sir, with universal applause, to the latest posterity, are those innumerable benefits arising from an exclusive posses- sion of this vast continent. These benefits, the purchase of your labours, will unfold themselves in every revolving year till Great Britain shall become the imperial mistress of nations. Indeed, to view her in her present glorious state must swell the breast of her every worthy son. Her royal fleets seem already to give law to her neighbours. As often as they spread their canvas, even the insulting Gaul beholds with trembling expectation ; while, to her victorious armies, it is the same thing to march, and to con- quer. But the vast variety of soils and climates in America, capable of producing every necessary and conveniency of life joined to the fishery on its coast, must infal- libly prove to our mother country, an inexhaustible source of wealth; thus enabling her, as well by the power of her arms, as by withholding or bestowing the blessings both of art and nature, to humble the united arrogance of the most presumptuous op- posers ; and support the tottering fortunes of dependent states. Such, Sir, will be the wonderful effect of the conquest gained by those armies which you have commanded with so much honour to yourself, and the nation ; a conquest too immensely valuable ever to be ceded to an enemy whose principal characteristic is, A perfidious abuse of favours.
But, Sir, while so remarkable an event will never fail to furnish the most ample tes- timonials of your military accomplishments, the ingenious mind must at the same time receive peculiar satisfaction, from the contemplation of another part of your uncom- mon character. We mean your humane and generous use of victory. The picture of a conqueror, drawn from the greatest examples, recorded in the faithful pages of history, tho it strikes the soul with a mixture of admiration and terror, is seldom ex- pressive of the benevolent affections of the heart, even when the conquered are rather objects of commisseration than revenge; hence it is that your compassionate treatment of the vanquished Canadians must appear most singularly amiable, to require of a dis- armed, yet implacable foe, whose inhumanities have deserved the severest strokes of vindietive justice, nothing more than a quiet submission to the gentle dictates of British rule, is indeed a disinterested virtue; and must convince the attentive world that Britons never conquer to enslave.
To conclude ; Sir, that the God of armies may continue to furnish your head with wisdom, your breast with fortitude, and your arm with strength; that he may cover you with a shield, and make you terrible to your enemies in the day of battle ; that you may long live to enjoy the gracious smiles of your royal master, the grateful acclama- tions of the British nation, and the peaceful eulogiums of an approving conscience;
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SIR DANVERS OSBORN AND SIR CHARLES HARDY
that your name may be remembered with thankfulness by the latest posterity; and that your unwearied labours for the publick welfare, may meet with their due rewards here; and an unfading crown of glory hereafter, are the earnest wishes and desires of, Your Excellency's Most Obedient humble Servants, The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty Of The City New-York.
HIS EXCELLENCY'S REPLY.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the antient City of New-York. GENTLEMEN,
I Return you my most sincere thanks for the address you have been pleased to make me.
It gives me very particular pleasure that the success of his Majesty's arms in the re- duction of Canada, has contributed so much to the happiness of the people on this con- tinent, and it is my most hearty wish. that this City may reap all the advantages it can desire from this conquest and that it may prosper and flourish to the latest time.
I am, Gentlemen, Your most Obedient Humble Servant, JEFFERY AMHERST.
The Corporation at the same time presented the General with the Freedom of the City in a Gold Box.
A COPY OF THE POLL LIST. ELECTION FOR ASSEMBLY, FEBRUARY, 1761. The candidates were : WILLIAM BAYARD, JOHN CRUGER, JAMES DE LANCEY, PHILIP LIVINGSTON, LEONARD LISPENARD, JOHN MORIN SCOTT. ELECTORS.
A
Alliner, John
Ackley, John Arden, John
Alliner, Abraham
Algio, David
Aelstyn. John
Abeel, David
Arden, Thomas
Aimy, George
Abeel, John
Abrahams, Abraham, Jr.
Anderson. Joseph
Anderson, Abraham
Abrahams, Abraham, Sr.
Anderson, Edward
Abrahams, John
Anthony, Theophilus
Akerman, Abraham
Anderson, John
Abraham, Abrahams
Armstrong, John
Allen, Benjamin Auch, George Anderson, Elias
Annely, Edward
Anderson, George Amerman, John
Atkins, Robert
Alstyne, Harmanus
Anthony, Albert
Alexander, Robert
Anthony, Nicholas, Jr.
Amaur, James
Anthony, Nicholas. Sr.
Amaur, John
Acker. William Allen, Jacob
Amaur, Daniel
Anderson, John
B
Aljio, Albert
Blanck, Jeremiah
Anderson, Jacob
Blanck, Isaac
Anderson, Nicholas
Burnet, George
Arden, Jacob
Bussing, Peter
Butler, Michael
Ackley, Anthony
Arison, Benjamin Adolphus, Isaac Amerman, Dirck Anthony, John Attinger, Casper Anderson, William Anderson, Joseph, Jr. Ash, Gilbert
Alsop, John Able, John
Anderson, Peter
Anderson, John Apple, John Abrahams, Andrew
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
Brinkerhoff, Dirck Bradt, Isaac
Beekman, William Bice, Matthew Brower, Isaac Brower, Hendrick
Bayles, Samuel
Bridge, Samuel
Belknap, Samuel Bayard, Samuel Bayard, John Burger, John Brown, Samuel (butcher)
Bevelot, James Brower, Jacob Baldwin, William
Bayley, Josiah
Byvank, Peter
Bogart, James
Bedford, Thomas
Blanko, Francis Berry, Charles Bussing, Abraham
Berrie, Francis
Burrows, Lawrence
Beekman, Charles, Jr.
Bonet, Daniel
Brestead, Simon Bingham, John
Beyo, Rene Brewerton, George
Bown, Samuel
Bogart, Peter
Brockhown, Thomas Brevoort, Alexander Bussing, Hermanus
Banker. William
Bell, Samuel Benson, Henry Brinkerhoff, Joris
Bertchell, Henry
Brower, John Burger, Daniel Baldwin, Stephen Brower, Abraham
Busch, States Blank, John
Brookman, Thomas
Bockey, William
Byvanck, John
Brass, Adolph
Brown, William
Brestead, Andrew
Brown, Thomas
Cruger, Henry
Casting, Gideon Cowenhoven, Jobn
Collard, Michael
Collard, James
Cobb, William
Crosby Samuel
Bodine, Vincent Belsen, Cornelius Brower, Alrick
Brownjohn, William
Beekman, Henry
Baldwin, Joseph
Cannon, Arnold Cowley, William Clowser, Jacob Carter, Daniel Cook, Richard Coon, David Carter, Samuel Canby, James Cornelison, Michael
Clopper, Peter
Courty, Harmanus
Campbell, John
Clarke, Thomas
Bernard, Daniel
Bordwine, Jeremiah Bockhout, Peter
Babington, Samuel
Bailey, Isaac Bussing, Timothy
Bender, Matthew
Byvank, Anthony Bont, Jacob Barr, Henry Bogart, Henry
. Carolus, William Cornel, Peter Creighton, James
Cochran, Philip
68
70
Ball. Isaac Bown, John Brower, Peter Borwel, Bartholomew Bennet, Isaac Benson, Samuel Burge, Richard Brown, James Brown, Duncan Bicker, Victore Brower, Charles
Burns, George Breese, Sidney
Beech, Alexander Bussing, James Brett, John Barnes, Isaac Bogart, John, Jr. Bogart, John, Sr. Bresteed, Andrew, Jr.
Blank, Abraham
Bogart, Henry
Brower, Samuel
Bante, Direk
Brunton, Thomas
Berry, Samuel
Banker, Adrian
Banker, Evert Banker, Chr., Jr.
Bogart, Nicholas
Brown, Samuel
Bailey, Elias
Burnes, James Burtus, Arthur Brevoort, Henry Beekman, William, Sr.
Banker, Abraham Bussing, Aaron
Barclay, Andrew
Bayard, Nicholas, Jr. Bayard, Samuel (V. M.)
Bogart, Martin Bayard, Nicholas, Sr.
Beekman, Charles, Sr.
C
Brevoort, John
Beekman, William, Jr. Beekman, Abraham Beekman, James
Beek, William
Brasier, Henry
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