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 41
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their wrongs.1 The notice was short and the attendance small, and it appears that entire harmony did not prevail, John Morin Scott and Isaac Sears exchanging high words; and there was a disagreement as to measures. However this may be, a second and larger meeting was held at Burns's Long Room at the City Arms, the tavern bearing that sign standing on the corner of Thames street and Broadway, the site of the present Boreel building. The call appeared in the "Ga- zette" of October 31, and was addressed to the gentlemen merchants of the city. The purpose was declared to be to fall upon such methods as they shall then think most advisable for their reciprocal interests. Gentlemen who had their country's good and their posterity's interest at heart were desired to attend. The meeting was called for four o'clock of the same afternoon. It was both large and enthusiastic. Resolutions were adopted and subscribed to by upward of two hun- dred of the principal merchants, as follows: 1st, to accompany all orders to Great Britain for goods or merchandise of any nature, kind, or quality whatever, with instructions that they be not shipped unless the stamp act be repealed; 2d, to countermand all outstanding orders unless on the condition mentioned in the foregoing resolution; 3d, not to vend any goods sent on commission and shipped after January 1 succeeding, unless upon the same condition. In consequence of these resolutions the retailers of goods signed a paper obliging themselves not to buy any goods, wares, or merchandise after January 1 unless the stamp act were repealed.
This was the first of the famous non-importation agreements, the great commercial measure of defense against Great Britain. It plunged friends and foes alike into the deepest distress, but it taught the colonies the extent of their own resources. It laid the foundation of American manufactures. The honor of this movement belongs to New-York. It was followed by Philadelphia, on November 7, and by Boston on December 3. The Philadelphia resolutions, an elaboration of those of New-York, were made public in the journals of November 14, the first issue after their adoption. So general was the acquies- cence of the merchants in this movement that it was estimated in November that the value of goods countermanded was over seven hundred thousand pounds sterling. A market for all kinds of home manufactures was opened under the Exchange in Broad street, and the people were exhorted to consume no foreign goods. The "New- York Gazette" printed in large type: "It is better to wear a home- spun coat than lose our liberty." The principal gentlemen in the
1 A meeting was called for Friday, October 28, at John Jones's tavern. John Jones kept a tavern under the sign of the Freemasons' Arms, in the Fields, and at the famous inn belonging to Sam Fraunces, corner of Broad and Dock (now Pearl)
streets, alternately. He advertised his removal from the Fields into town on November 14. Hence it is uncertain where this first famous gathering was. There are reasons for supposing, however, that it was at the house in the Fields.
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city clad themselves in country manufactures or turned clothes. The farmers sent no more lamb to market, that they might produce more wool for the spinners, and sassafras-bark and sage took the place of Bohea teas.
The stamps reached New-York later than the other colonies. They arrived in the ship Edward, on Tuesday, October 23, while the con- gress was still in session, after a voyage of six weeks and three days from Falmouth. There were ten packages of stamped paper, which had been shipped so quietly that no passenger in the ship knew of their being on the vessel till "a man-of-war came on board to take care of their security." They had been stowed in different parts of the ship, and, it was said, without the knowledge of the captain. The ship was boarded at the Hook in accordance with an agreement between Colden and Captain Kennedy of the Coventry frigate. The arrival of the stamps was made known by the firing of cannon from one of the men-of-war at ten o'clock at night, and the next morning the Edward was convoyed into harbor with great parade by a man-of- war and her tender, and brought to anchor under the guns of the fort. An excited throng watched this proceeding from the river-front and wharves. On Thursday Colden summoned his council, seven of whom were in town, for their advice. Only three attended: Horsmanden and Smith, both of whom were judges of the Supreme Court, and Mr. John Reade. They declined giving advice except by a full board, saying that if the ship were detained the governor and they would render themselves liable for the costs of an action which might be brought by any person having goods on board. They finally advised the hiring of a sloop to unload the vessel until the packages contain- ing the stamps were reached; but no sloop could be hired at any price, their masters declining the service. The captains of the king's ships were then requested to remove the cargo. They consented, and seven of the packages were reached. It was found unsafe to break the cargo further in the uncertainty of the weather and the fear of a gale of wind. Colden states that not a single line or the least direc- tion came in the ship, not so much as a bill of lading. He therefore determined to postpone opening the packages until the arrival of Sir Henry Moore, the new governor, whom the Edward reported as on board the Minerva at Portsmouth, about to sail, when the Edward left. His Majesty's ship Garland at noon landed the seven packages, which were at once lodged within the fort without any opposition or popular disturbance.
On the arrival of the Edward all the vessels in the harbor had low- ered their colors to signify "mourning, lamentation and woe." On October 31 the "New-York Gazette" was printed with black head and foot lines, and contained "a funeral lamentation on the death of Lib-
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erty, who finally expires the thirty-first of October, in the year of our Lord, MDCCLXV., and of our slavery I." The calm which encouraged the persistent Colden to believe that he could put the laws into force on November 1, the day fixed by the act, was but apparent. The night after the arrival of the Edward manuscript placards were pasted on the doors of every public office, and at the corners of the streets, all of the same tenor. "Pro Patria. The first Man that either distributes or makes use of Stampt Paper, let him take Care of his House, Person, & Effects. Vox Populi; We dare." McEvers had declined to have anything to do with the stamps, and the burden of receiv- Pro Patria The first Man that either distributes or makes use of hampl Paper, lethim take Care of his House, Persons & Effects. Vox Populi; ing them fell on Colden. On October 26, when the intention of McEvers was definitely understood, David Colden, son of the lieutenant-governor, ad- dressed the commissioners of the stamp-office at London, asking for the appointment. He expressed his sense We have of the odium and danger which the appointment involved, but he pleaded THE MANUSCRIPT PLACARD. that, as his father was determined to enforce the act, he himself must necessarily assume the office of distributer, and that it was but fair if he incurred the risk he should reap the advantage of the emoluments. Colden had no doubt the act would be "quietly submitted to in a few months."
On the 31st all the colonial governors took the oath to enforce the act; but nowhere was an attempt made to enforce it. The eyes of the colonies were fixed upon New-York. "Whatever is done here will determine their conduct on this occasion," wrote David Colden. The lieutenant-governor was entirely satisfied with the condition of the fort, which was no longer dilapidated as in the spring; it had been restored, and was now in a proper state of defense; the honeycombed guns had been replaced by serviceable pieces; there were howitzers and shells. A company of the sixtieth regiment had come down from Crown Point, and later the relief of the royal regiment of artillery ar- rived from England. The garrison now amounted to one hundred men besides their officers. They were commanded by Major James of the artillery, a vain and apparently braggart man, whose manners and conversation had already greatly incensed the people. He was charged with saying that "he would cram the stamps down their throats with the end of his sword," and that "if they attempted to rise he would drive them all out of the town for a pack of rascals, with four and twenty men." In reply the Sons of Liberty threatened to storm the fort and burn the stamps. On October 31 the lieutenant-governor
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advised the major that a riot was intended for that or the next day, and that there was "a design to bury Major James alive." In the even- ing of this day, which fell on Thursday, after the merchants had sepa- rated from their non-importation meeting, a crowd of sailors and others gathered in front of the City Arms in the Broadway. The night passed, however, without any marked acts of turbulence.
On the morning of November 1 the city magistrates notified the lieutenant-governor that they were apprehensive of a mob that night, and Captain Kennedy was requested to order all the marines from the men-of-war in the harbor to reinforce the troops in the fort. The storm broke at last, and with all the more fury because of its long delay. A mob, "the most formidable imaginable," as Livingston describes it (and it passed twice by his door), collected in the fields opposite the commons, where a movable gallows was erected, on which ( was suspended an effigy of Governor Colden, closely resembling the person it was intended to represent. In his hand was a stamped paper which he seemed to court the people to receive; at his back hung a drum, on his breast a label, "the rebel drummer of 1715," a sobriquet which had been before attached to him by Chief Jus- tice Horsmanden in the time when Clinton was governor. It was a bitter satire upon the zeal with which Colden, then on a visit to his home in Scotland, voluntarily took up arms and, raising a company, marched against the Pretender and his own countrymen, in support of the king. By his side hung the devil with a boot in his hand, a favorite emblem of the king's unpopular adviser, Lord Bute, who seemed to be whispering in his ear. While the multitude gathered about these figures, a second party with another figure made of paper, also representing the governor in his "gray hairs," seated in his chair and carried on the head of a sailor, preceded and attended by a great number of lights (six hundred are said to have been used on the occasion), paraded through the principal streets of the city; as they moved pistol-shots were repeatedly fired at the effigy. Passing through the Fly, the low meadow-land through which Pearl street ran, they turned into Wall street and paid a visit to McEvers, whose residence was there, and gave him three cheers, in acknowledgment of his resignation of his office of stamp-master.
The mayor, John Cruger, attended by the aldermen, had met at the City Hall. These were Whitehead Hicks, for the East Ward; Nicholas Roosevelt, for the West Ward; George Brencoton, for the North Ward; Francis Filkin, for the South Ward; Dirck Brinckerhoff, for the Dock Ward; John Bogert, Jr., for Montgomerie's Ward; and Cornelius Roose- velt, for the Out Ward. Attended by their constables with staves, these worthy officials endeavored to prevent the progress of the procession, and even threw down the effigy. But the leader of the mob, with ma-
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gisterial authority and perfect good temper, ordered it to be raised again, and the city authorities to stand aside at their peril. The mob then marched to the fort at the foot of the Broadway. The governor's residence was inside the walls, his coach-house without the ramparts; this they broke open and took out his chariot. Then placing the effigy upon the coach with one of their number sitting as coachman, whip in hand, they drew it about the town. Passing the Merchants' Coffee House on the corner of Wall and Queen (now Water) streets, a famous place of resort, they were greeted with signs of approbation and applause; thence they hurried with great rapidity toward the Fields. Meanwhilethe first party had begun its move- ment, bearing the gallows on its frame, on which were hung num- bers of lanterns. When the two parties met they halted, and pro- clamation was made that no stones should be thrown and no windows broken and no injury offered to any person, all of which MRS. JAMES ALEXANDER. was carefully obeyed. The multitude then marched to the fort, and although aware that the guns were loaded with grape and the ram- parts were lined with soldiers, moved directly to the gate. Knock- ing their clubs against it, they demanded admittance; they called to the sentinel to tell the rebel drummer-i. e., Colden-or Major James to give orders to fire. But for the interposition of some moderate men they would no doubt have forced the gates, as there were said to be four or five hundred sailors and old soldiers among them quite accustomed to desperate undertakings. From the gate, after many insults to the effigy, they fell back to the Bowling Green, stripping it of the palisade which surrounded it. Here they planted the gibbet with the effigies hanging from it, though still under the muzzles of the fort guns. In the middle of the Green, with the pal- isades and the planks of the fort fence, and a chaise, two sleighs, and the stable fixtures which they had also taken from the governor's coach-house, they soon reared a large pile, which, being fired, soon kindled to a great flame and reduced coach, gallows, man, devil, and all to ashes.
This is claimed to have been the extent of the original plan of the leaders of the movement; but while the flames were at their height a
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party of volunteers left the main body and, breaking through the palisades on the other side of the Green, repaired to the house of Major James. This was the Vauxhall, a fine residence with large gar- dens which stood upon the North River shore, at the foot of Warren street, below the college grounds. It had been a popular summer re- sort as a public house and gardens under the management of the famous Sam Fraunces, but the major had refitted it with good furni- ture, a valuable library, mathematical instruments, rich clothing, linen, and a considerable quantity of wine and liquors. In the garden were summer-houses and many curious articles. The mob broke open the doors and destroyed every article the house contained; then, making a fire outside, they threw in everything that would burn; drank or destroyed all the liquor; beat to pieces all the doors, sashes, window- frames and partitions, leaving the house a mere shell; they then de- stroyed the summer-houses and tore up the garden. At two o'clock they retired, carrying off with them in triumph many military tro- phies, including the colors of the royal regiment. The guard of the royal artillery had hastily withdrawn on the approach of the mob.
During the evening a placard which had been exhibited during the day at the Merchants' Coffee House was delivered at the fort gate by an unknown hand. It was in the form of an open letter to Lieutenant- Governor Colden, and addressed to him in all due formality. After accusing him of having bound himself by oath to be the chief mur- derer of the rights of the people, it passed to a personal threat : "We can with certainty assure you of your fate if you do not this night solemnly make oath before a magistrate and publish to the people that you never will directly or indirectly by an act of yours or any person under your influence endeavour to introduce or execute the Stamp Act, or any part of it, and that you will do the utmost of your power to prevent its taking effect here and endeavour to obtain a repeal of it in England. We have heard of your design or menace to fire upon the town in case of disturbance, but assure yourself that if you dare to perpetrate any such murderous act you 'll bring your gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. You'll die a martyr to your own villainy and be hanged like Porteous1 upon a high post, as a memento to all wicked governors, and that any man that assists you shall be surely put to death." The menacing letter was signed "New-York," and no doubt expressed the resolve of the people. The next day, November 2, letters and messages were sent in to Governor Colden at the fort threatening his life if he did not deliver up the stamped papers. On this point he says himself: "By advice of council I very
1 This was an allusion to the fate of Captain Porteous of the city watch in Edinburgh, who, falling under the censure of the people, was taken
from the Edinburgh jail and hanged on one of the city gates by a mob in 1736- a fact in Scottish history peculiarly offensive to Colden. .
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readily declared that I would not distribute them, in truth it was not in my power to do it, but deliver them to Sir Henry Moore when he arrived." Some were content with this, but others of the leaders in- sisted that the stamps should be placed on board Captain Kennedy's ship Coventry. But that officer declined to receive them, fearful lest the mob should demand them of him and on his refusal to give them up take vengeance by destroying the property held by him in his own and in his wife's right, the latter being a mem- ber of the Watts family. He owned as many houses as any one person in New-York.
The 3d of November was Sunday. There was no LIOS.INOX disturbance, and all parties had time for reflection- TYPE the leaders to concert their action, the governor and the military to prepare for defense. Prudent coun- B sels prevailed, and early on Monday, the 4th, Colden I SHILLING. invited the attendance at the fort of the mayor and some of the first citizens, to whom he renewed his GUER 162 U promise that "he would not issue nor suffer to be issued any of the Stamps in Fort George." This, arranged in the form of a declaration, and bearing the names of Robert R. Livingston, John Cruger, Beverly Robinson, and John Stevens, was printed in STAMP. hand-bills and freely circulated throughout the city. It closed with an expression of the satisfaction of the freemen and freeholders, and an assurance of their determination to keep the peace of the city unless they found other cause of complaint. But the people were not satis- fied, and declared that the stamps should be delivered out of the fort or they would take them out by force. Placards were posted through- out the city inviting a meeting in the Fields on the evening of Tuesday, November 5, and requesting the citizens to come armed for the pur- pose of storming the fort. During the day, however, the city magis- trates met in common council at the City Hall and named a committee to wait on the lieutenant-governor and propose that the stamps be delivered to the city authorities and be deposited in the City Hall. This committee appears to have consisted of the mayor and all the aldermen. They proceeded to the fort, accompanied by a prodigious concourse of people of all ranks. The governor delivered up the stamps, taking receipt therefor from John Cruger as mayor. The packages were then taken to the City Hall, where they were lodged, and the people dispersed. The tranquillity of the city was again re- stored. During the course of these proceedings General Gage, the mili- tary commander of the northern provinces, was greatly praised for his moderation. While the mayor and aldermen were awaiting Colden's answer on the morning of the 5th, the lieutenant-governor had re-
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quested the advice of the general, which it seems was favorable to the concession.1
Whatever divisions there may have been in the city of New-York between the upper and middle classes, Episcopalians and Presby- terians, the king's party and the independents, before the passage of the stamp act, certain it is that there were none after that event. The entire population of the city and province was merged in one solid mass of resistance to the arbitrary measures which struck at the very root of liberty. The universal testimony is that Colden was alone in his determination, and that even the king's officers, with the exception of the injudicious Major James, were averse to meddling in the matter. The major, no doubt alarmed at the demonstrations against himself, thought it prudent to take passage for London the next day-carrying despatches to Secretary Conway-on board the Edward, whose captain, Davis, was obnoxious because of his having brought over the stamps. She sailed on the 8th. Colden sent a cir- cumstantial account of the affair of the 5th by the Falmouth packet, which sailed the following Sunday, the 10th, and inclosed a memorial from Major James praying remuneration for the total loss of his prop- erty. Colden in his account declared that the defense of the fort would have involved the destruction of the city, and that he had only yielded to the appeals of a deputation of merchants and an address of the corporation "imploring his compassion." "They knew," said he, "that had every man in the City on Tuesday last joined in the attack on the fort, as was openly and boldly threatened, they could not have carried it, but that the greater the number who joined in it the greater their desolation must have been." How far this is true it is now diffi- cult to judge. Captain John Montresor, of the royal engineers, called in by Colden on November 1 to put the fort in a state of security, states that the defense he put up was temporary, "there being no par- apet to the works and being commanded by its neighboring houses." He places the number of assailants at two thousand, and says that some of them attempted to scale the walls, while three hundred car- penters among the mob were prepared to attempt to cut down the fort gate on the first shot fired from thence. Moreover, they had procured one hundred barrels of powder, and had proclaimed their intention of marching the friends of the government in their front.
Colden had sent his family on board the war-ship Coventry for protection on the 4th. They returned to the city on the 6th of Novem- ber. Meanwhile he remained himself in the fort. Watts wrote to Monckton "that he should not like his [Colden's] situation." Colden
1 It may be here mentioned that this 5th of November was Guy Fawkes day, the evening of which was always celebrated in New-York, as it
was in all English cities, with popular enthusi- asm, bonfires, and much drinking -a dangerous anniversary for a revolutionary assemblage.
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himself wrote to Conway "that, could he be assured that no villainous assassin would come from the town, he should think himself as secure at his country house as in the fort, the inhabitants of the country being absolutely free of the seditious spirit raging in the town."
Reco york June 121 str.
Dear Sir.
By letter of the e! news from Detroit. The Aoutratomis of 1" Bruph do not been inclined to give latisfaction , and have defor their Hostages might be sent them. the miamier words not deliver up the Profaneon of the 12 " hey: to the Cliffewas who was but to them by boo . Campbelto - make a roman of the Prisoner, but bi them till the Commander they would Enny him themselves when Pondias returned from the Ilinois Shy wood first hear what he had to lay It is reported that Indire has bedad all the rations upon the onabacher at the Ilinois , tinamies ': Joseph, and many to the horthowreb . And there are very bad Reports about 6 . Sefer and those who went with him from Bort- fitt on the 28 of March . That his Party confisting . me Mailmeille a granhan of in englishmen, & mokoch, a Huron & a Delaware, were taken Priforen at the Ilinois by Mondiales order, i brought to tratanon wherethey were all . burned , cept the BranchIvan and the Heron , whom Podias was bringing Sifones to the Iniamis Village. Ihope it is a falle Report, I am
I? W" Johnfor Bar!
Berlin . your most obedient humble fervent
GENERAL GAGE TO SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON.
From his refuge under the guns of the king's artillery Colden issued his proclamation summoning the assembly. He had not met this re- fractory body since he prorogued them on October 20, 1764, after their bold representations and petition to the king and parliament. Twelve members appeared in response to the summons on November 12, and adjourned over to the next morning.
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Early on that day, Wednesday, the 13th, the Minerva arrived, about ten weeks out from Portsmouth, having on board Sir Henry Moore, the new governor. He was received at the fort by the lieutenant- governor, and saluted with seventeen guns. He was waited on suc- cessively by the council, the gentlemen of the general assembly, the mayor and corporation of the city, General Gage and the officers of the army, the clergy, and most of the principal inhabitants of the town. His commission was read in council and published in the fort, after which, accompanied by the officials and gentlemen, he walked in procession to the City Hall, where his commission was republished, "attended with loud acclamations of the people." Such is the account of the liberty paper. On his return from the City Hall to the govern- ment house at the fort, the grenadier company of militia appeared and headed the procession; and the way to the fort was lined by the other companies, who had gathered late because of the shortness of the notice and the badness of the weather. There were high festivities at the government house, the usual loyal toasts were drunk, and in the even- ing the city was handsomely illuminated. The assembly met in the course of the day, but receiving word from the governor that he was much fatigued from his voyage and desired to refresh himself, they adjourned till the 19th.
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