USA > New York > New York City > The Memorial History of the City of New York: From Its First Settlement to the Year 1892, Volume III > Part 18
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The above fac-simile is taken from the original in the possession of the Editor of this work. As is well known, the paper still continues to be published in this city, and is the oldest New-York daily journal.
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Fram on board the Brig HARRIET, trem OPORTO,
no pinon Aullis kaning
150
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
the latter purpose was ostensibly the main one, put forward because it was feared the federalists would not give banking privileges into the hands of republicans. The increasing commercial transactions demanded the operation of these banks. Their hours were from ten to one, and from three to five, and discounts were made on certain days in the week. As for the money in use, the federal government had properly done away with the English currency, and had estab- lished a national system of its own. But although the dollars and cents were much more easily calculated than the pounds, shillings, and pence, the curious persistence of habit is illustrated by the tena- city wherewith people clung to the older system-"and nothing can be more complex, as they have not a single coin in circulation of the real or nominal value of any of them."1
It would seem, therefore, as if mercantile affairs involving the handling of large sums, or even the more ordinary interchanges of . every-day life, would need to be facilitated by the paper of the banks, or checks drawn upon them. Some of these present a very primitive appearance, and may have been safe enough for the rightful transfer of funds in that unsophisticated age, but would not be trusted for a single moment to-day. But matters were sure to mend as the years advanced. New-York was not yet the money-center of the western world, nor yet the queen of American commerce. Nevertheless, William Priest said of her in 1796: "New-York is a London in minia- ture-populous streets, hum of business, busy faces, shops in style." Let London look to her laurels ! Centuries of undisputed supremacy have been hers hitherto. Before the nineteenth century shall be quite over, the little provincial, lately colonial, town across the seas will be in dangerous proximity to London's greatness, herself vastly in- creased since the eighteenth century's close.
1 William Priest, "Travels," etc., p. 65.
LIST OF HOUSES AND LOTS VALUED AT £2000 AND OVER IN 1799.
Gerard Bancker, house and two lots, Pearl st ... $2,300
Daniel Penfield, house and lot, State street
&2,200
Robert Watts, house and lot,
2,000
Archibald Kennedy,
Broadway.
2,500
Robert Watts, ..
2,500
John Watts,
2,200
Matthew Clarkson, :
2,000
Chancellor Livingston,
..
2.000
Robert Wilson, house and three lots, Broad st .. John Buchanan, house and lot, ..
2,000
Mary Ellison,
..
..
2,500
Nicholas Olive,
Henry White,
..
2,500
Benjamin Seixas,
..
3,000
Brockholst Livingston,
2,000
Peter Delabigarre,
Whitehall st
3,200
William Edgar,
4,000
Gnlian Ludlow,
..
2,000
Alexander McComb,
..
2.000
John Shaw,
Pearl street
2,600
Alexander McComb,
3,000
Cary Ludlow,
State street
2,800
Ann MoAdam,
2,000
James Watson,
4,000
Jacob Morton,
2.000
James Watson,
2,200
Isaac Clason,
..
2,50
..
2,800
John Stevens,
2,000
2,000
2,200
Dominick Lynch,
2,000
Nicholas Cruger.
..
151
THE CLOSING YEARS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
John R. Livingston, house and lot, Broadway ..
£4,000
James Dunlap, house and lot, Water street .. £2,000
Cornelius Ray,
2,200
William Hill,
3,000
Tontine Tavern,
..
6,000
Thomas Nexen,
2,500
Richard Varick, Thomas Jones.
=
..
3,000
Thomas Marston,
:
..
2,000
Herman Leroy
..
3,500
Robert Bruce,
2,000
Thomas Ludlow
:
..
4,500
James Rivington,
Pearl street
3,000
Aquilla Giles,
..
2,000
4,000
National Bank,
=
..
..
2,000
2,000
2,500
Anthony L. Bleecker,
4,000
Peter J Manro.
Dr. John Charlton,
..
2,500
Edmund Seaman,
Thomas Ten Eyck,
..
3,500
Estate W. Hicks,
2,500
Solomon Simpson,
Broad street
2,000
Effingham Lawrence, Effingham Lawrence,
.
2,500
Louis Guerlain,
:
2,500
Thomas Roach,
2,500
Leonard Bleecker,
1
2,000
Peter MeDougal,
..
2,500
Gulian Verplanck,
Wall street
3,000
Isaac Collins, William Rhodes,
2,000
Edmund Seaman.
John Taylor,
..
2,300
Henry Cruger,
William street. Front street
2,800
Andrew Mitchell,
2,000
John Jones,
Robert Lepox,
..
2,000
Augustus Van Cortland,
Water street
2,000
..
2,000
Widow Lawrence
Pearl street. 2,200
Thomas Nexen
..
2,000
Est. R. C. Livingston,
..
2,000
..
Pine street.
2,000
David Gelstou
..
2,000
2,500
Robert Benson,
..
2,000
Nicholas Cruger,
Rufus King,
William street.
2,000
Cornelius Ray.
Garden street .. Water street
2,200
Est. Gerardus Beekman," David Gelston,
Liberty street . Wall street
2,500
Nicholas Carmer
..
3,300
..
3,000
Coffee-house,
Abraham Bates,
2,700
Theophilus Bache,
Front street.
2,000
..
2,000
Thomas Randall,
2,000
:
2,000
Richard Yates,
2,000
Front street
2.250
James H. Maxwell,
..
Pearl street.
2,000
2,000
William Lupton, Wynant Van Zandt,
..
2,300
M. Oudenarde,
Est. Jacob Brewerton, ..
2,000
Thomas Maule,
..
..
8,500
Gilbert Woodhull.
2,100
Est. Gerardus Beekman,
..
3,000
John Jackson,
..
2,800
Murray & Mumford,
44
2,000
Water street.
2,000
Nicholas Low, Peter Goelet, Augustus Van Horne, Nicholas Low,
Sloat Lane.
2,000
Angustus Nichol,
2,000
Isaac Gouverneur,
2,000
Daniel Ludlow,
2,000
Fly Market Water street
2,000
William Seton,
William street.
2,000
William Seton,
Estate Abrahams,
2,500
Edward Goold,
3,500
Nicholas Bogert,
2,000
Thomas Buchanan, Edward Lyde,
..
2,200
Estate of Brevoort,
2,000
William Bayard,
:
2,200
Codwise, Ludlow & Co.," John MeVickar,
3,500
Abraham Duryea,
:
..
2,200
Daniel Dunbar,
..
2,200
Martin Hoffman,
..
2,300
Ezekiel Robins,
2.200
John Lamb,
Robert Browne,
2,000
Wm. andJas. Constable,
..
4,500
Peter Schermerhorn,
2,000
Daniel Dunbar
4,700
Front street
2,000
George Bowne,
3,000
Robert Bruce,
..
3,000
Rachel N. Smith
2,200
Cary Ludlow,
3,000
Hubert Van Wagenen,
..
2,000
Thomas Mackaness,
..
2,000
Jonathan Lawrence,
..
2,000
Francis Childs,
Water street ..
2,800
John Alsop,
2,000
James Desbrosses,
2,000
Hallet, Bowne & Co.,
..
2.800
..
2,000
William Thomas,
..
3,000
Alexander Zuntz.
Robert Hunter,
..
2,600
Nicholas Depeyster,
..
2,000
John Marston,
..
2,000
Isaac Clason,
..
..
2.000
Comfort Sands,
2,500
Estate Dr. Van Zandt,
Samuel Verplank,
Francis Winthrop. Francis Winthrop. Francis Winthrop,
2,000
Theophilus Bache,
2,000
E. and J Dodge, John Jackson, John Jackson,
2,000 .
Thomas Roberts,
..
2,500
Christian Bache,
Estate Peter Bogert, Estate Peter Bogert, John White George Fox,
James Hawxhurst,
..
2,000
14
.4
2,000
Elias Nexen, Robert Watts, Robert Watts,
2,000
Est. James Roosevelt,
..
Wall street
2,000 2,800
Fly Market Pearl street.
4,000
John Jones,
..
2,200
2,500
Peter P. Van Zandt,
=
Water street.
2,400
Ephraim Hart,
..
3,500
Tontine Coffee-house, Thomas Marston, Thomas Marston,
2,000
James McIntosh,
Beekman slip .. Water street ...
2,000
=
2,200
David Mumford,
2,100
Bank of New York,
..
John Broome,
2,000
2,000
2,200
2,000
2,500
2,100
George Scriba,
2,300
2,200
Kibbe, Blagge & Co.,
..
2,000
Samuel Ellis,
George Donglass, Samuel Corp, John J. Staples,
2,500
John B. Coles,
2,800
Isaac Clason,
2,000
Thomas Allau,
..
2,000
John Mckesson,
2,000
Estate N. Cowenhoven,
2,500
Estate Thomas Ellison,
2,000
Joshua Waddington,
2,500
James Desbrosses,
2,500
:
..
3,500
John Turner, Jr.,
2,500
2,500
2,000
2,000
2,800
Elizabeth Clarkson,
2,200
Estate Henry Kip,
2,000
2,000
2,000
Thomas B. Bridgen,
2,000
John Thompson,
John R. Myers,
Dr. Nicholas Romaine,
2,000
..
2,000
5,000
4,500
2,000
William Jauncey,
..
..
2,500
John Keese,
2,000
Daniel Ludlow,
Robert Hunter
2,000
Governor John Jay.
2,000
Estate Thomas Ellison, Estate Thomas Ellison, Estate Thomas Ellison,
Thomas Marston,
..
2,000
2,000
7,000
-
Front street. Water street
..
3,500
2,000
2.500
3,500
2,500
Nicholas Low,
2,000
2,000
152
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
Robert Hunter, house and lot, Pearl street
@8,700 Henry Haydock, Sr., house and lot, Pearl street &4,00
Robert L. Bowne,
..
3,100
Widow Bleecker,
2,00
Est. Lawrence Embree, "
2,200
William Laight,
..
4.00
Robert Bowne,
3,000
Widow Butler,
..
2,80
Robert Bowne,
..
3,200
Thomas Pearsall,
..
..
2.80
Widow Sears,
..
3,500
Thomas Pearsall,
..
..
SUBURBAN RESIDENCES.
Henry Rutgers.
£2,500
Francis B. Winthrop.
John R. Livingston.
4,500
James Beekman
William Laight.
3,000
Josiah Ogden Hoffman
Belvidere House ..
2,500
James Depeyster
Nicholas Gouverneur
2,000
Harman Le Roy
William Bancker
2,500
Charles W. Apthorp
Samuel Jones
2,000
William Constable.
Peter Stuyvesant.
13,000
Rem Rapelje
Robert Randal
3,000
George Clinton
Horatio Gates
..
2,100
Thomas Ash,
John street.
2,00
Tredwell Jackson,
Front street
2,200
John Blagge,
2,00
Joshua Underhill,
Crane wharf
3,500
John Seemon,
..
William street.
2,40
Dr. Brower.
Water street ..
2,680
Judge Benson,
2,00
Peter Bogert,
Front street
2,000
Judge Tenbrook,
2.50
Elisha and William Colt, "
Crane wharf 2,000
Alexander Hoaack,
..
Maiden lane.
2.20
Daniel Cotton,
2,200
Robert Benson,
Robert Hunter,
Water street .. 2,000
Doick Lefferts,
..
..
2,50
Willett Seaman,
2,000
Thomas Skinner,
Ebenezer Stevens,
2,000
William Grigg,
..
2.00
Margaret Livingston,
..
2,600
Est. Samuel Beekman,
..
2,00
Jonathan Lawrence,
..
2,200
William Rutledge,
Gold street.
2.50
Thomas Pearsall,
Pearl street
2,000
William Rutledge,
..
..
2.58
John King,
Lott Merkle,
..
2.00
Moses Rogers,
..
3,000
James Mallaby,
..
..
2,00
Thomas Franklin,
2,500
Col. Henry Rutgers,
..
2,00
Margaret Livingston,
4,000
John F. Roorback,
..
8.00
Estate Cromeline,
4,000
James Murray,
..
2,00
Willett Seaman,
2,300
John De Wint,
2.50
Jordan Wright,
..
2,150
Capt. James Nicholson,
William street.
2.50
William Minturn,
2,300
William Turnbull,
2.00
Estate Peter Byvanck,
2,500
Widow Roberta,
2.10
Thomas Leggett,
..
2,000
Thomas Brasher,
..
..
2.20
John Franklin,
..
2,000
Thomas Gardner,
2.80
Daniel Dunacomb, Jr.,
..
2,500
John McLaren,
Gold street. Pearl street
2,70
James Hallet, Jr.,
Beckman street
2,000
William Delaplaine,
..
..
3,50
..
2,000
John I. Glover,
Joseph Hopkins,
..
2,00
Thomas Burling,
..
2,000
James R. Smith,
..
..
3,00
Cornelius J. Bogert,
..
..
3,50
Johnson Patten,
..
2,800
John Thompson,
.
3,50
Leffert Lefferts,
2,000
Abraham Duryea,
3.00
Robert Carter,
Nassau street .. Fair [ Fulton] st
2,000
Peter Clopper,
..
2.40
Mrs. Samuel Hay,
Maiden lane
2.0
Robert Robinson,
William street. ..
2,200
James Walker,
=
2.0
Samuel Silford,
:
2,000
David Masterson,
..
2,
Estate Jane Moncrief,
..
2,200
..
2
Medcalf Eden,
3,800
Morgan Lewis, John A. Wolfe, Rufus King,
Broadway
..
Cortlandt street
Thomas Eddy,
..
.
2,500
James Roosevelt,
William Robinson,
..
4,500
J. M. Haydock,
Samuel Bowne,
3,000
William Rhinelander, Samuel Osgood,
Cherry street ..
Widow Pell,
..
2,800
William Walton,
Pearl street ....
Edmund Prior,
..
3.800
William Thompson,
Chatham (Tea
James Parsons,
2,000
Water Pump)
Anthony Franklin
..
2,200
William Beekman's est.,
:
Cherry street ..
Caleb Lawrence,
:
2,500
William Bedlow,
..
2,200
Abyjah Hammond,
:
Samuel Franklin,
2,800
2,200
John Franklin,
Pearl street. = William street.
2
Daniel Dunbar,
Gold street. Beekman street Pearl street
3,000
Eben Haviland,
2,200
Richard Harrison,
Benjamin Haviland,
..
2,500
Cornelius Schermerhorn "
2,500
Lewis Pintard,
2.00
2,800
William Minturn,
..
2,00
Peter Middlemars,
James Bradley,
Maiden lane.
3.00
Caleb Frost,
2,500
James Bradley,
..
2,00
Peter Schermerhorn,
..
2,400
Verdine Elsworth,
3,00
2,50
Moses Rogers,
3,500
2,000
Moses Rogers,
2.20
James W. Depeyster,
William Kenyon,
Peter Schermerhorn,
3,000
Thomas Pearsall,
Samuel Silford,
2,500
Thomas Phillips,
William S. Smith,
..
Effingham Embree,
2,400
Nicholas Carmer,
2.5
William Bowne,
2,800
4,000
Aaron Burr
4,00
John Rogers,
..
4,00
4,00
2,000
CHAPTER V
THE OPENING OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 1801-1807
S we contemplate the condition of our city in the opening days of the nineteenth century, it cannot fail to impress us that great and striking contrasts appear as we look either backward or forward,-to the not very distant be- ginning of the city's history, or to the still nearer period of its present grandeur. Two hundred years before, in 1601, Manhattan Island was still lying upon the bosom of its beautiful bay, a pristine verdure adorning its fields and forests, and its atten- dant islets dotting the sur- rounding waters. The foot of civilized man had not yet trodden its virgin soil; and if his eye had lighted upon its charms and had admired them for a brief moment, it was three quarters of a cen- tury since even such tran- sient observation had taken place, and the civilized world had forgotten all about it. Thus here lay in quiet re- pose, unmolested, but also unimproved, possibilities for human industry, commerce, John Adams habitation, that only the mar- velous realization of the present day can adequately set forth as then present. Only the event has proved the matchless prophecy that lay hid in contour of shores, in depth of channel, in facility of access, in safety of shelter, in beauty of situation, even then of course apparent, and which have since made the city and port of New-York the throne
153
154
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
of American commerce, the metropolis of a hemisphere. In 1601 these were still waiting to be seen and appreciated. And fortu- nately, eight years later, they were thus seen by the representatives of a nation (in fact, of the two nations) that knew far better than all others how to make use of these excellent advantages.
Taking our stand in the New-York of 1801, and casting our glance about the world for its great cities, we shall probably find as vast a population in Pekin then as now; certainly it had its millions, if not so many as to-day, and its origin is lost in the dim past of Chinese history. Then London was already great, covering forty square miles of habitation, and counting a population of nearly nine hundred thousand, with a history dating anterior to the birth of Christ. Paris, the Em- peror Julian's favorite residence when he was governor of Gaul from A. D. 355 to 361, was a large city in 1801; Berlin, now with over a million inhabitants, was then an important place, and had been a capital since 1163. Am- sterdam in 1801 far outnumbered its former namesake in popula- A Adams tion, but it had grown to its greatness since the year 1203. Here then was a city whose very site was unknown two hundred years before the opening of the nineteenth century, but destined ere its close to distance beyond all comparison the greater part of the cities then most important, to surpass Berlin and Paris, and to become a rival to London itself for supremacy among the cities of the world.
At the very opening of the century which has witnessed such won- drous advances in every direction as well as in the condition of our city, the country was at the height of a most intense political excite- ment. The fourth presidential election had just taken place in the regular way then provided by the constitution. The persons receiv- ing the highest number of votes, without reference to the intentions of the voters as to who should be president and who vice-president, were Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, and Aaron Burr, of New-York. This method at the preceding election had resulted in giving the
155
THE OPENING OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
nation a president of one party and a vice-president of another. Now it had led to a tie between two men of one party, and no elec- tion of a vice-president at all, as that office would fall to the man who should be second in the constitutional expedient to relieve the tie vote. This would seem a very simple matter, since both the men having the highest number of votes were Republicans, or Anti-Fed- eralists. But complication arose and excitement ran high, because throughout the whole nation those of that party had a most decided preference for one as president, and would not tolerate the other except as vice-president. And yet, by the provisions of the con- stitution, that judgment or preference might easily be reversed. Again, the person who was relegated to the secondary position in the wishes of his fellow Republicans had quite as strong a deter- mination to obtain the chief place; he was not esteemed to be proof against sacrificing his party for the sake of the place, and in this cir- cumstance lay the opportunity for the Federalists to defeat the desires of their opponents and deprive Jefferson of the presidency.
This was the situation of affairs on January 1, 1801, the first day of the portentous nineteenth century. On December 4 the electoral colleges had met in their several States, and on or before Christmas the returns of their votes were known throughout the country. Jef- ferson and Burr each had seventy-three; Adams had received sixty- five, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, sixty-four; John Jay, one. It now remained for the House of Representatives to decide whether Jefferson or Burr should be the chief magistrate of the republic, and the decision was to be had on February 11, or the second Wednesday of that month. This interval of six or seven weeks was a period of great anxiety to the serious, and one of great clamor and agitation on the part of partizans and demagogues. It was the first severe strain upon the constitution of the republic. Threats were heard of armed resistance in case of disappointed hopes, even when the disappointment should be effected along the regular legal lines pre- scribed by the fundamental law of the United States. "Federal- ists were plainly told," observes Professor MacMaster,- and he bases his statement upon a thorough search of contemporary newspapers,- "that if Aaron Burr were made President, the Republicans would arm, march to Washington, depose the usurper, and put Jefferson in his place."1 It was deliberately calculated what would be the chances in such a conflict-how far the rather ridiculously insuffi- cient equipment of the Virginia militia2 would go toward enabling them to cope with the trained State troops of Massachusetts. There
1 "History of the People of the United States," 2:517.
2 It was stated in the Northern newspapers that
the Virginia militiamen, for lack of muskets, went through the exercises of the manual with corn-stalks.
156
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
was some cause for alarm when such discussions were put into print. But not only hot-headed men in the ranks were affected with wild schemes; the great leaders of the Republican party, such as Madi- son, who had done noble work in constructing the constitution, broached devices for gaining the mastery of the present situation which would have been subversive of all that this glorious document had secured.
In this frame of mind were the people of these United States during the first six weeks of the century. Then another week or so of culminating intensity of anxiety followed. On February 11 the electoral votes were counted in the Senate, and Jefferson formally announced the distress- ing tie vote, of which the whole country had long been aware. Then came the part for the House of Representatives to play. Sixteen States were at that period rep- resented there. Each State had one ballot in the general vote, and that ballot was deter- mined by the majority in each delegation for one or the other candi- date. Nine States-a BEDFORD HOUSE. 1 majority -were neces- sary to constitute a decision. "The political composition of the house was such that the Republicans could not control the choice; and the Federalists, though of course still more unable to do so, yet had the power, by holding steadily together, to prevent any election whatever. Momentous as such a political crime would be, neverthe- less many influential Federalists soon showed themselves sufficiently embittered and vindictive to contemplate it."2
The unusual excitement brought a vast concourse of people to the capital, which was ill prepared to accommodate such a sudden access of population. But since the difficulties of travel were bravely under- taken, these interested travelers were not to be frightened by the in-
1 In 1801 Governor Jay's second term ended. He declined a renomination, and carried out reso- lutely the purpose he had long formed, to spend the remainder of his life in retirement. Anticipating this, he had built a comfortable country-seat at Bedford, in Westchester County, on a piece of property inherited through his mother, and which
was a part of the original Van Cortlandt manor. Although Mrs. Jay was permitted the enjoyment of this rural retreat for but one year (dying in 1802), the governor spent a happy and restful old age here, until 1829, when his death occurred, at the age of eighty-four years.
2 "Thomas Jefferson," by John T. Morse, p. 200.
157
THE OPENING OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
conveniences of hotel or tavern life. Floors were good enough for beds, and one's own greatcoat was the only bedding to be enjoyed; but happy he who could find even a floor to lie upon, wrapped in his overcoat, traveling-blanket, or shawl.
The eventful day having arrived, and the Senate having done its work, the voting by States began in due form in the House of Repre- sentatives. On the first ballot, eight States gave their voice to Jefferson, six to Burr, while Vermont and Mary- land reported themselves "divided "; that is, there was a tie vote in their delegations. There was, therefore, no election. Six more ballots within a brief space brought the house no nearer to a result. After a respite of scarcely an hour, eight more bal- lots were taken, but without an elec- tion. Thus the suspense lasted until Monday, February 16, and after the thirty-sixth ballot the announcement could at last be made that constitu- tional methods had been sustained, and had sufficed to give the country a president who was the choice of the majority of the people. In the Mary- land and Vermont delegations those who had hitherto voted for Burr so as to make a tie and thus to divide and lose their vote in the roll of States, now had cast blank ballots, leaving a majority in each case for Jefferson, and the count of two more States for him. The one delegate from Delaware, James Ashton Bayard, a Federalist, but above partizanship, thereupon gave his vote for Jefferson, adding one more State for him, and the eleven States together constituted a sufficient vote to give him the presi- dency. Burr, the New-York politician, whose skill in manipulating political forces in his own city had brought him so dangerously near thwarting the wishes of his party, became vice-president. But his doom was forecast in the moment that this exalted place reached him. Distrust was now no longer based on the suspicion, but on the certainty, of his untrustworthiness. From the presidential possibil- ity he rapidly descended to political nonentity, and to a worse fame than even this reverse would have fastened upon him.
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