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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
Fulton's great invention would probably have attracted more atten- tion but for the unrest and upheavals in the political and business affairs of the city. The embargo act of December 22, 1807, passed by Congress, on Jefferson's recommendation, to force the repeal of the Berlin and Milan decrees of Napoleon, and of the British orders in council, had the same effect as a blockading of American ports. New-York, being the chief commercial city of the Union, was most severely crippled by the act. Her immense trade with South and Central America, and the East and West Indies, was practically inter- dicted, as well as that with France and England, since any vessel trading with either was exposed to capture and condemnation. Ware- houses were closed, clerks discharged, grass grew upon the silent docks, costly ships that had been the pride of the seas chafed at the piers, or went to decay in the harbor; while incomes that had been sufficient to maintain their possessors in lavish style dwindled to almost nothing. Farmer and artisan alike were debarred from the markets of the world.
The Federalists and Republicans were the two chief parties in the city at this time, although there were many warring factions com- posed of partizans of the leading families. The Federalists de- nounced the embargo act without stint, both from self-interest and because it was a measure of the opposite party. They said it would not effect the desired end, the purpose of both belligerents being to force the United States to declare war against one or the other; that neither nation would suffer seriously from the interdiction; and that it was therefore as useless as it was mischievous. The Republicans, on the other hand, maintained that the embargo policy prevented the
199
BEGINNING OF STEAM NAVIGATION
capture of our vessels, and kept us from being embroiled in the war then raging between the two nations.
The " American Citizen," the organ of the Clintonians, bitterly op- posed the measure. A public meeting was held in New-York in 1808, at which speeches were made denouncing the policy of the party then in power, and resolutions calling for the repeal of the embargo were passed. The Clintonian faction triumphed in the local election of February, 1808, and De Witt Clinton was restored to the mayoralty of the city. He had been removed in 1807 by the council of appoint- ment, and Marinus Willett appointed in his place. Pierre Cortlandt Van Wyck, the former recorder, was also restored to his office, the incumbent, Maturin Livingston, being removed.
In 1809 Jefferson, as one of the last acts of his administration, con- sented to a repeal of the embargo act except in the case of Great Britain and France, and the substitution of non-intercourse instead, and the city's business and prospects improved. Domestic manu- factures revived, especially the woolen manufacture. There was also great activity in erecting new fortifications and strengthening old ones designed for the defense of the city; for England, by her orders in council leveled against our commerce, and by insisting on her right to search American vessels and impress all seamen of her nationality, whether naturalized or not, found on board of them, was becoming so aggressive that war seemed imminent. In 1807, we read, govern- ment decided "to enlarge the works on Governor's Island, to erect a powerful marine battery on the north-west point of that island, ex- tend the works on Ellis Island, and erect a strong fort with two or three tiers of guns on the battery."
Madison succeeded Jefferson as president on March 4, 1809, and the strife of parties grew less intense, although the war-cloud still loomed portentous. In the election of 1809 the Federalists carried the State of New-York, and the new council of appointment chose Jacob Radcliff mayor in place of De Witt Clinton, and Josiah Ogden Hoff- man recorder instead of Pierre Cortlandt Van Wyck. At the next election, however, by a combination of the Clinton and Livingston factions, the Republican ticket was elected, and Clinton and Van Wyck were restored to their offices.
One of the events of this summer of 1809 was the celebration, by the New-York Historical Society, of the two-hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the island of Manhattan by Henry Hudson. This society had been organized so recently as 1804 by men of the highest standing in letters, art, and scholarship in New-York, and was already beginning to make its influence felt by inculcating a love for histori- cal research, and by its efforts to preserve the annals of the city and colony. For the anniversary celebration the city fathers tendered the
200
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
use of the large "front court-room" of the City Hall, where the liter- ary exercises were held on September 4, 1809, Governor Tompkins, the mayor and corporation, and a large company of distinguished citi- zens being present. The chief feature of the day was a "learned and in- teresting discourse" by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, one of the founders of the society.
Jacob Radcliff
After the address the members of the society and invited guests pro- ceeded to the City Tavern on Broad- way, and "at 4 P. M. sat down to an elegant dinner prepared by Messrs. Fay and Gibson, consisting of a vari- ety of shell and other fish with which our waters abound, wild pigeons and succotash (Indian corn and beans), the favorite dish of the season, with 2 the different meats introduced into this country by the European settlers.1 The toasts proposed at this dinner, pre- served in the records of the society, are interesting, some as showing the mode of thought of our forefathers, others as illustrating the trend of public sentiment at that time. They were:
"Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America. His monument is not inscribed with his name, yet all nations recognize it. His fame covers half the globe and its summit reaches beyond the clouds." "Queen Isabella of Spain -The magnanimous and munificent friend and patron of Columbus." "John and Sebastian Cabot -The contemporaries of Columbus and the discoverers of North America." "John Verra- zano -His enterprising genius, and his visit to this part of the country deserve to be better known." "Henry Hudson -The enterprising and intrepid navigator. Though disastrous his end yet fortunate his renown, for the majestic river which bears his name shall render it immortal." "The Fourth of September, 1609-The day on which Hudson landed on our shores." "Wouter Van Twiller- The first Governor of New Netherland." "Peter Stuyvesant-The last Dutch Governor, an intrepid soldier and faithful officer." "Richard Nicolls- The First English Governor of the Province of New-York." "George Clinton - The first Governor of the State of New-York." " William Smith -The historian of New-York." "Richard Hakluyt and Samuel Purchas- May future compilers of historical documents emulate their diligence and fidelity." "William Smith, Cadwallader Colden, Samuel Smith, Jeremy Belknap, and
1 Minutes of the New-York Historical Society. 1: 23.
2 Mayor Radcliff was the son of William Rad- cliff, a captain of militia at the beginning of the Revolution, but who rose to the rank of brigadier- general before its close. Jacob was the oldest of four sons, studied law, and began practice at Poughkeepsie. He was eminently successful, and
while still a young man was raised to the bench of the Supreme Court. Thereupon he took up his residence in New-York City; but eventually re- signed from the bench and resumed practice. In 1810 he was appointed mayor, holding the position one year; and again in the years 1815, 1816, and 1817. The population of the city reached 100,000 during his mayoralty. EDITOR.
201
BEGINNING OF STEAM NAVIGATION
George Richards Minot - American historians. They have merited the gratitude of their country." "The United States of America-May our prosperity ever confirm the belief that the discovery of our country was a blessing to mankind." "The State of New-York -May it ever be the pleasing task of the historian to record events that shall evince the wisdom of her Legislature, and display the virtue of her people." "The Massachusetts Historical Society, which set the honorable example of collect- ing and preserving what relates to the history of our country." "Our Forefathers- To whose enterprise and fortitude under Providence we owe the blessings we enjoy."
After the governor and mayor had retired, certain volunteer toasts were offered, as fol- lows: By William Johnson (the chairman) - "The Governor of the State of New-York." By John Pintard -" The Mayor and Corpora- tion of the City of New-York." By Dr. Sam- uel L. Mitchill -" A speedy termination of our foreign relations." By Simeon De Witt-" May our successors a century hence celebrate the same event which we this day commemorate." By Dr. David Hosack-" The memory of Saint Nicholas. May the virtuous habits and simple manners of our Dutch ancestors be not lost in the luxuries and refinements of the present time." By Judge Pendleton -" May the same virtues and the same industry combine in our land which have converted an Indian cornfield into a Botanic Garden." By Josiah Ogden Hoffman -" Egbert Benson, our absent and respected president." By Colonel Curtenius- "Pierre Van Cortlandt, the first Lieutenant- David Hoanche Governor of the State of New-York." By Mr. Galen, Swedish Consul-" The mouth of the Hudson. May it soon have a sharp set of teeth to show in its defense." By the recording secretary (Mr. Pintard)-" The American Fair, without whose endearing society this western world, the rich inheri- tance from our enterprising ancestors, would still be a wilderness indeed."
The occasion proved of great benefit to the infant society, as it directed public attention to it and greatly increased its prestige. Among the notable men proposed for membership at this time were Oliver Wolcott, David B. Ogden, William Paulding, Jr., Washington Irving, and Richard Riker, later recorder. At the same time Lind- ley Murray, Noah Webster, Charles Brockden Brown, George Gibbs, Timothy Alden, Rev. Dr. Jedediah Morse, Rev. Dr. John Elliott, Rev. Dr. William Samuel Johnson, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, Dr. Tim- othy Dwight (president of Yale College), Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith (president of Princeton College), Josiah Quincy, and Vice-President George Clinton were elected honorary members.
During this period the present City Hall was built, the corner-stone having been laid by Edward Livingston in 1803. The front and side walls were of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, marble, and when finished, in 1812, it was pronounced the finest public edifice in the United
202
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
States. The City Hall Park during this period is described as hav- ing been a beautiful place, the walks and grass-plots being trimly kept, and shaded by groves of elm, poplar, willows, and catalpas. Fronting upon it were some notable edifices-the Park Theater, Dr. Spring's Brick Church, Tammany Hall, the New-York Gardens, Me- chanics' Hall, and the London Hotel. There were also a Shakespeare gallery and an English and French reading-room. The Park Theater was then the fashionable place of amusement. Here, in November, 1810, the English actor George Frederic Cooke appeared in "King Richard III.," and attracted large audiences, the crush being so great that many ladies and gentlemen gained their boxes by entering an alley in the rear of the theater.
It was a period of church-building, changes, and removals. The Episcopalians at this time led in the number of church edifices, having fourteen, includ- ing chapels. St. James Church was erected some two miles east of St. Michael's, in 1810. The Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Jarvis served as rector of both until he was appointed Professor of Biblical Learning in the New General Theologi- cal Seminary, in 1818. Calvary Church was founded the same year as St. Michael's-1810- ST. JAMES CHURCH, IN HAMILTON PARK, 1810.1 through the devoted la- bors of the Rev. Ben- jamin P. Aydelott. The church edifice stood near Corlaer's Hook. The most notable church in the city in 1810 was Dr. Gardiner Spring's Brick (Presbyterian) Church, which stood on or near the present site of the "Times" building. Dr. Spring was one of the most celebrated pulpit orators of his day, and served as pastor of the Brick Church for fifty years, notwithstanding the fact that dur- ing this period he received invitations to become president of Hamil- ton and Dartmouth colleges in turn. The Wall Street Presbyterian Church was rebuilt in 1810, and greatly enlarged. The Orange Street Church was founded in 1809, and in 1810 the congregation began
1 It stood on the site of the Normal College, on 184 on Lenox Hill. corner of Madison Avenue Sixty-ninth street, near Park Avenue. The pres- and Seventy-first street. near the Lenox Library. EDITOR
ent and third St. James Church was erected in
.
203
BEGINNING OF STEAM NAVIGATION
building a church edifice in Spring street, near Varick. At the same time the Third Associate Church began building an imposing stone structure on Murray street, nearly opposite Columbia College. The latter was completed in 1812, the able and eloquent Dr. John M. Mason becoming its first pastor. The Methodists and Baptists were not idle during this period. The former built two new church edi- fices-the Allen street and the Bedford street churches. The Bap- tists built the Mulberry Street Church and the North Beriah Church.
Although the embargo act and the rumors of war led to the stagna- tion of trade, the city continued to grow during this period at a pace which nothing could retard. Old streets were "regulated," widened, and paved. New streets were laid out; large tracts of outlying lands came into the market, were sold, surveyed, divided into city lots, and covered with shops and residences. The lands of Trinity Church on the west side were the first to be taken up and settled, that corpora- tion having generously presented to the city all the lands required for streets through its property. In 1808 alone it ceded to the city for this purpose land for Greenwich street from Spring street north to the limit of its property, for Hudson street from North Moore street to Vestry street, for Washington street from Christopher street to the Hudson River, for Varick street from North Moore street to Vestry street, for Beach street from Hudson to the eastern limit of its prop- erty, for Laight street from Hudson to its eastern boundary, for Vestry street from Greenwich street to its eastern boundary, for Des- brosses street from Greenwich street to the Hudson River, for Le Roy street from Hudson street to the Hudson River, for King, Charl- ton, Van Dam, Clarkson, Hamersley, Barrow, and Morton streets, as far east and west as the church lands extended, for an alley twenty- five feet wide in the rear of St. John's Church, and for another of the same width from Beach street to Laight.
At Canal street the engineers were confronted with one of the most difficult problems encountered in the laying out of the city, and few urban sites have presented greater obstacles to engineers than the hills, crags, and swamps of Manhattan Island. The whole course of the modern Canal street was then low, marshy ground partially over- flowed in the wet season,-so low indeed that during high tides it was asserted that the waters of the East River and the Hudson met in the center of the island. Small brooks, rising at about the present inter- section of Broadway and Canal, flowed sluggishly, the one east into the East River, the other west into the Hudson. By 1808 the line of houses along the Bowery had crept up as far as Bond street. Canal street had been laid out by various boards of engineers, and as many plans for opening it had been suggested and discussed, without the city and the landowners being able to agree upon any. The plan
204
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
that met with most favor was a canal, one foot below low-water mark, passing from the East River to the Hudson, which could be made to drain so much of the Collect as had not been filled in, and would also carry off the waterflow from the slopes on the north and south. Wide streets were proposed on both sides of the canal.
A petition was at length presented to the legislature, asking that commissioners might be appointed to regulate and open the street. Gouverneur Morris, Simeon De Witt, and John Rutherford, who had been appointed by the act of legislature of April 3, 1807, " Commissioners of streets and roads in the City of New-York," refused to serve on this commis- sion, and a spe- cial commission was appointed by the legisla- ture for the pur- pose. This body BROADWAY AT CANAL STREET, 1812. adopted the plan of the canal be- fore proposed, and the street when finally opened showed an open canal in its center, its banks set with shade-trees, and with a broad thoroughfare on either side, the whole having a width of one hun- dred feet. As the city grew this canal was arched over with brick and became a sewer, the trees were cut down, and the present wide and busy street was the result. About the same time the Collect, into which all the surplus material from the grading of streets and lots had been dumped, was filled up and erased forever from the map of the city. The region around it, however, remained unsettled and comparatively valueless for several years.
The commission of 1807, before referred to, did so great a work for the city that its labors and their results should be described at length. In its province its powers were practically unlimited, and could have been safely conferred only on men of the utmost probity and judicial integrity. The commissioners had "exclusive power to lay out streets, roads, and public squares of such width, extent, and direction, as to them shall seem most conducive to the public good, and to shut up streets not accepted by the Common Council within that part of said
205
BEGINNING OF STEAM NAVIGATION
city of New- York to the northward of a line commenc- ing at the wharf of George Clin- ton on the Hudson River, thence running through Fitzroy Road, Green- wich Lane and Art Street to the Bowery
Road, thence down Bowery Road to North Street, thence through North Street in its present direc- tion to the East River." ?
1 The above is a map of the common lands between the three-and the six-mile stone be- longing to the corpora- tion of the city. The "Middle Road" was intended to be one hundred feet wide, the others sixty feet each. EDITOR : Fitzroy Road ran from Fourteenth street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues, north and northwest, until it entered Forty-sec- ond street, between Eighth and Ninth ave- nues. Greenwich Lane ran from Hudson River northeast and east along the present lines of Gansevoort street and Greenwich Avenue to Astor Place. Art street was the present Astor Place; North street, East and West Houston street, be- tween the Bowery and the North River.
MAP OF THE "COMMON LANDS" BELONGING TO THE CITY.1
GROUND
BERYIXO
CASPAR SEMLER
ECRI'GAR
C.ARMLER
POWDER HOUSE
Nº1
7 ) SACHES
ZACHES
SACHES
SACRES
JOHN STEVENS
CAPT. WILLET
ALBRAGT
NTA
GAJRESP
SOARES TO
Nº9
RAZR SP
O
M. HEBENER
IL. SIGNER N. 22 7 ACRES
A
Nº12
TRASED TO BEINRAUMA SELL
C
A
Nº40
Nº45.
Nº53
x.40
N.47
2949
AND OTHERS
XXC METCALF - EDEN
== 58
Nº S
NY00
AN ... X.
ANDROW HOPPER
UREVOORT
Nº68
Nº67
N: 70
N.72
NY25 ---
N124
Nº 7G
Nº 77
Nº78
Nº81
NT80
HUCH GAINE
HUGH DAINE FPKAN ZANDT
A.an. OP.
Nº86
NPAS
O
NUN196
NY98
Nº97
BEEKMAN
YAOR OGP
NYRT
N= 10.5
Nº 103
MUNVZ KVAUT
16
Nº107
Nº181
=
Nº 110
Nº 109
N
112
Netia
JOHN . SOMERIN DYCK
THE DOVE LoFS
NY 101
HEIRS OP COZINE
Nº02
Nº62 ...
Nº61
ROAD
Nº27
x-3
N.30 SACRES
VAN NORDEN
DOCTOR BRIDGES
MAOR ASP.
Nº 55
HEIRS
206
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
The leading streets and avenues were to be at least sixty feet wide. They could take land needed for streets and squares by right of emi- nent domain, leaving the question of damages to be settled by com- missioners, from whose decisions there could be no appeal to the courts; and could enter upon lands, cut trees, and do other damage when necessary in performing their functions. They were to cause surveys and accurate maps to be made of all lands seized by them, and provide three copies-one for the secretary of state, to be of record; one for the clerk of the city and county of New-York; and one for the mayor and aldermen of the city. They were to be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties. The commissioners, in lay- ing out the city, after much discussion decided to adopt the rectangu- lar system, chiefly because of "the greater economy and convenience in building," so that New-York owes her tame and ugly lay-out into square blocks chiefly to questions of economy and convenience. The avenues were made one hundred feet wide; such of them as could be extended to the village of Harlem were numbered west from First Avenue, which passed "from the west of Bellevue Hospital to the east of Harlem Church." Twelfth avenue, the last, "ran from the wharf at Manhattanville along the shore of the Hudson River, in which it was lost." From First to Second Avenue was 650 feet; from Second to Third, 610 feet; up to Sixth Avenue the space between each was 920 feet; west of Sixth Avenue, 800 feet. Fifth Avenue was called Manhattan Avenue or Middle Road. East of First Avenue were four short avenues, designated A, B, C, and D respectively.
The cross streets were laid out up to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth, First street running from Avenue B to the Bowery, and One Hun- dred and Fifty-fifth street from Bussing's Point to the Hudson River. These streets were laid out sixty feet wide, except Four- teenth, Twenty-third, Thirty-fourth, Forty-second, Fifty-seventh, Seventy-second, Seventy-ninth, Eighty-sixth, Ninety-sixth, One Hundred and Sixth, One Hundred and Sixteenth, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth, One Hundred and Forty-fifth, and One Hundred and Fifty-fifth, which were one hundred feet wide. They reserved ground for a public mar- ket, 3000 feet long by 800 wide, lying between Tenth and Sev- enth streets, First Avenue, and the East River; for a reservoir between Eighty-ninth and Ninety-fourth streets, Fourth and Fifth avenues; for a parade between Twenty-third and Thirty-second streets, Third and Seventh avenues (1350 yards long by 1000 wide); and four public squares or parks-Bloomingdale, Man- hattan, Reservoir (which was to be used for a park until needed for its special use), and Harlem - modest forerunners of the noble Central Park which was to follow fifty years later.
207
BEGINNING OF STEAM NAVIGATION
Accompanying the maps were certain remarks and explanations by the commissioners, some extracts from which will be interesting to the reader of to-day: "To some it may seem a matter of surprise that the whole island of Manhattan has not been laid out as a city. To others it may be a subject of merriment that the Commissioners have provided space for a greater population than is collected at any spot on this side of China. They have in this been governed by the shape of the ground. It is not improbable that considerable numbers may be collected at Harlem before the high hills to the southward of it shall be built upon as a city, and it is improbable that for centuries
THE CITY HALL, IN THE PARK, 1812.
to come the ground north of Harlem flats will be covered by houses. To have come short of the extent laid out might therefore have de- feated just expectations, while to have gone further might have fur- nished materials to the pernicious spirit of speculation." But the commissioners builded better than they knew. Barely eighty years have passed since these words were written, yet Harlem flats is a compact mass of houses, and the city limits have been extended nearly ten miles beyond - fact thus again distancing the utmost stretch of fancy.
The State election of April, 1811, was notable for the open revolt of the Tammany Society against the regular candidate of its party for lieutenant-governor-De Witt Clinton. On learning of the nomination of Clinton, the Tammany Society met at once and passed resolutions with a preamble setting forth that they believed Mr. Clinton to have
208
HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
personal and private interests aside from those of the Republican party, and that he was bent upon "establishing in his person a perni- cious family aristocracy." They therefore nominated Colonel Mari- nus Willett for lieutenant-governor in opposition to Mr. Clinton, and appointed Dr. Mitchill, Matthew L. Davis (the biographer of Aaron Burr), John Ferguson, and others a committee to secure his election. Colonel Nicholas Fish was the nominee of the Federalists. When the result of the voting was announced, the extent of their labors became apparent. Fish received in the city two thousand and forty-four votes, Willett six hundred and seventy-eight, and Clinton but five hundred and ninety. Had the result depended on the city's vote alone, Clinton would have been defeated; but his great talents and eminent services gained him sufficient votes throughout the State to counterbalance the loss in the city, and he was elected.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.