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 8
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The Franklin House became the property of Sam- uel Osgood, the postmaster-general, through his marriage with the widow of the owner. Walter Franklin. Hence arises the "Aunt Osgood" re- ferred to in the letter. This lady was a daughter of the Quaker Daniel Bowne, of Long Island. EDITOR.
1 The original is in possession of Admiral Frank- lin, U. S. N., who favored the editor with a copy. The barge, so beautiful in New-York, was seen
in distant regions as a dark corsair, being identi- filed by rumor as the "Federal Ship Hamilton" carried through the streets in the previous year, on the adoption of the constitution, when the riots occurred. That the anti-federalists in the city had not quite recovered their good humor was shown by their dark windows. The common council had (April 22) especially recommended illuminations between 7 and 9 P. M., and ordered all bells to be rung.
REFERENCES.
Fiş 1 Federal Hall.
21 New Quaker Meeting
2 St Pauls Church
32 Suceder De.
3 Trinity 2.
28 Moravistn. Do
# Oldl Presbyterian De
24 The Government House
5 Exchange
25 Fly Market
6 Nath Church
26 Oswege De
7 New Prestycznian. D
27 Bau De
8 5ª Gory's Chapel
28 Pechflip De
29 New Do
9 J! Peter's Church 10 College
30 Bridewell
11 Scots Prest Church
3/ City Alma Harise
MI Old Dutch Church
32 Prison
19 New Dutch De
JS Hospital
14 Jeas Synagogue
34 Thentre
15 Old Punker Meeting
35 Jews Burying Ground
16 Methodist
36 Lower Barracks
17 Baptuč D
37 Upper Do
18 German Callit
35 New Methodist .
19 Zuckeren De
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20 French Do
Fourth
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A'Rutgers
Oliver Ly
Charine ship
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First Ward
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Secend Ward
of Napraw on Long Ja
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NORTH
I& Ferry
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
Washington passed up, bowing to the members, to a seat between the vice-president (right) and the speaker (left).
The statue of Washington at the subtreasury has for its pedestal a stone said to be that on which he stood while taking the oath. This is all that remains of the edifice from whose balcony the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776, where the Continental Congress had last sat, and the new United States government began. There is a legend that just before the oath was administered, it was discovered that there was no Bible in Federal Hall, and that Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, grand master of freemasons, despatched a messenger to bring one from St. John's Lodge. Washington wore his sword, and was dressed in clothing of American manufacture; his metal buttons bore eagles, each cuff-button thirteen stars. It was not his fault that he had to kiss a London Bible (1767) containing a por- trait of George II. On the balcony many of the chief men of the nation stood beside him. Hamilton observed the scene from the window of his house, nearly opposite. The streets and the roofs were thronged. The president was overcome at the enthusiasm, and laid his hand upon his breast in token of helplessness to address the multitude. When he had kissed the book, the chancellor proclaimed to the people, "It is done !" then cried, "Long live George Washing- ton, President of the United States !" A flag raised to the cupola of Federal Hall signaled the battery ; its thunder of guns was followed by bells throughout the city, and universal shouts. After the presi- dent had returned to the senate chamber, and his inaugural address been there delivered,- with an awkwardness not unbecoming a man of deeds,- all repaired to St. Paul's Church, where services were con- ducted by Bishop Samuel Provoost, of the Episcopal Church of New- York. Earlier in the day services were also held in the churches of some of the other denominations.
A profound impression was made by the passage in Washington's inaugural address which declared his intention to continue the course he had adopted while in military service, of receiving no payment. This is the more remarkable as Washington was at the time in pecu- niary straits. He was compelled to borrow of Captain Richard Con- way six hundred pounds to pay his debts in Virginia and go on to his inauguration. He receded from this resolution, but his declara- tion flew over the world. Thomas Paine proudly proclaimed it in London, and remarks in his "Rights of Man": "The character and services of this gentleman are sufficient to put all those men called kings to shame. While they are receiving from the sweat and labors of mankind a prodigality of pay, to which neither their abilities nor their services can entitle them, he is rendering every service in his power, and refusing every pecuniary reward." This, written nearly
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NEW-YORK THE FEDERAL CAPITAL
three years after the inauguration in New-York, shows that the recon- sideration was not known.
Samuel Fraunces, keeper of the inn which had been Washington's headquarters in former years, was made his household steward. The president's private secretary was Robert Lewis, a younger son of Washington's only sister,- a handsome youth, whose diary (in pos- session of his descendant Mrs. Ella Bassett Washington) showed that he very much enjoyed the fashion and gaieties of New-York. The presi- dent had to drill him in punctuality. On one occasion when Robert laid the blame on his watch, his uncle said : "You will have to get a new watch, or I a new secretary." The presi- dent had, indeed, to drill New-York society in punctuality. In Fenno's "Gazette" of May 30 the following hint appeared : WASHINGTON TAKING THE OATH.
"The President's Levee yesterday was attended by a numerous and most respectable company. The circumstance of the President's entering the Drawing Room at 3 o'clock not being universally known occasioned some inaccuracies as to the time of attendance."
From April 23 to May 14, Congress was mainly occupied with the subject of titles. On the latter date the senate concurred with the determined stand taken by the house against titles. The vice-presi- dent was compelled to call Washington "President," when reading the senate's answer to his speech, and to describe the speech as "excellent" instead of "most gracious." But he (Adams) on this occasion refused to sit in the president's presence, though twice requested by Wash- ington to do so, and although the senators with him did so, or as many as could find chairs. This occurred on May 18. The president would probably have regarded it as unconstitutional for him to ex- press an opinion on titles while the question was pending, but his silence and the course of Lee gave an impression that he was favor- able to titles. Fenno's "Gazette of the United States," regarded as the government organ, assumed the style of the English "Court Ga- zette." Its court news included (May 30) the following : "The principal ladies of the City have, with the earliest attention and respect, paid their devoirs to the amiable consort of the President, viz., the Lady
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
of his Excellency the Governor, Lady Sterling, Lady Mary Watts, Lady Kitty Duer, La Marchioness [sic] de Brehan, the Ladies of the Most Hon. Mr. Langdon, and the Most Hon. Mr. Dalton, the Mayoress, Mrs. Livingston of Clermont, Mrs. Chancellor Livingston, the Miss Livingston's [sic], Lady Temple, Madame de la Forest, Mrs. Mont- gomery, Mrs. Knox, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Gerry, Mrs. Edgar, Mrs. McComb, Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Provost, the Miss Bayards, and a great number of other respectable charac- ters." Lady Kitty's title was understood, and seemed a defiance of the House of Peers, which had refused her father's claim to be Lord Stirling; but why some of the others should be "Ladies," while the wife of the secretary of war was plain " Mrs. Knox," or why not " Mrs. Senator" as well as "Mrs. Chancellor," and so on, seemed to be court mysteries. Child's "Daily Advertiser" reprinted from the " Albany Register" a clever article which declared "La Marchioness " the only title properly given, and proceeded with amusing quotations from a court journal of 1800.
Mrs. Washington did not reach New-York until May 28. The inau- guration ball had been postponed a week in hope of her arrival, but she could not make her arrangements for it. After she had started, with her two grandchildren, and under charge of the president's nephew, Robert Lewis, they were delayed by a carriage accident. She was received with demonstrations of respect along her route. At Elizabeth Point she was met by the president, Hon. Robert Morris, and other eminent men, and entered the same barge which had con- veyed her husband to New-York. Their approach was greeted by guns, and an enthusiastic crowd.
The subject of etiquette gave the president much anxiety. At heart he was a plain Virginia farmer, and formalities were irksome to him. But he was impressed by the necessity of presenting to the world an elegant republican régime and submitted questions on the subject to Adams, Madison, and Hamilton. Their diverse opinions were con- fusing, and the president and his wife were compelled to solve the problems as best they could. They held "drawing-rooms" between eight and nine every Friday evening. Wild reports of the " court " at New-York were spread throughout the country. In reply to a letter from his old friend David Stuart, of Virginia, mentioning some of these, the president (July 14, 1789) says that public business had ne- cessitated a rule that he should return no visits, and that his enter- tainments should be confined to official characters, and strangers of distinction. "So strongly had the citizens of this place imbibed an idea of the impropriety of my accepting invitations to dinner, that I have not received one from any family (though they are remarkable for hospitality, and though I have received every civility and atten-
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tion possible from them) since I came to the City, except dining with the Governor on the day of my arrival. It is to be lamented that he (Adams) and some others have stirred a question [titles] which has given rise to so much animadversion, and which I confess has given me much uneasiness lest it should be supposed by some (unacquainted with facts) that the object they had in view was not displeasing to me."
The president occasionally made calls on the vice-president, or very eminent official people, but had to be careful about public appear- ances. "Received," says his diary, "an invitation to attend the funeral of Mrs. Roosevelt (the wife of a senator of this State) but de- clined complying with it - first, because the propriety of accepting an invitation of this sort appeared very questionable, and secondly, (though to do it in this instance might not be improper) because it might be difficult to discriminate in cases which might thereafter happen." Mrs. Wash- ington for some time called on none. The first year of this lady's term as president's wife was a sort of martyr- dom. She made a good impression on those who met her, but she was in no sense a woman of the world, and was shy amid the circle of remark- ably brilliant ladies in political so- ciety. Of her personal appearance a mistaken impression prevails, through the error of Sparks in giving out a portrait of Washington's sister as that of his wife. This has been reproduced by Griswold and others. Of Mrs. Washington many portraits exist. She was small in stature, her pro- file clear-cut, and her expression amiable. She dressed richly, and her manners were of well-bred simplicity. It is plain from the let- ters both of herself and the president that they were for a time grievously homesick in New-York, and suffered from the unneces- sary restraints of an ill-advised etiquette. Writing to a friend in Virginia (Stuart) who had alluded to rumors of presidential pomp, the president says that his Tuesday callers do not sit down because, first, it is unusual, and secondly, the room would not hold enough chairs. The dignity of office, he says, "God knows has no charms for me. I had rather be at Mount Vernon with a friend or two about me, than to be attended at the seat of government by the officers of state and the representatives of every power in Europe." Yet he was often denounced for his monarchical proclivities.
M. Washington
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
The following pathetic letter from Mrs. Washington was written to Mrs. Fanny Washington, then keeping house at Mount Vernon :
"NEW YORK, Oct. the 22d, 1789.
" My dear Fanny,- I have by Mrs. Sims sent you a watch ; it is one of the cargoe that I have so long mentioned to you, that was expected, I hope it is such a one as will please you - it is of the newest fashion, if that has any influence on your taste, the chain is of Mr. Lear's choosing and such as Mrs. Adams the Vice president's lady and those in the polite circle wear.
" Mrs. Sims will give you a better account of the fashions than I can - I live a very dull life hear and know nothing that passes in the town - I never goe to any public place - indeed I think I am more like a State prisoner than anything else; there is certain bounds set for me which I must not depart from - and as I cannot doe as I like, I am obstinate and stay at home a great deal.
" The President set out this day week on a tour to the eastward; Mr. Lear and Major Jackson attended him -my dear children has had very bad colds but thank God they are getting better. My love and good wishes attend you and all with you -remember me to Mr. and Mrs. L. Wn. [Lund Washington] how is the poor child -kiss Marie, I send her two little handkerchiefs to wipe her nose. Adue."
To Mrs. Mercy Warren, whom she had met at Cambridge thirteen years before, she writes: "I sometimes think the arrangement is not as it ought to have been, that I, who had much rather be at home, should occupy a place with which a great many younger and gayer women would be extremely pleased." One may speculate as to what might have been the effect on the political aspirations of the American women, had one so imbued with them as Mercy Warren, or, still more, Abigail Adams, been wife of the first president. Meanwhile Mrs. Adams, who in 1776 wrote to her husband of the rights of women to representation, was enjoying "The Mansion " on Richmond Hill, and the freedom of New-York. Of her new home she writes : "In natural beauty it might vie with the most delicious spot I ever saw. It is a mile and a half distant from the city of New York. The house stands upon an eminence; at an agreeable distance flows the noble Hudson, bearing upon its bosom innumerable small vessels laden with the fruitful productions of the adjacent country. Upon my right hand are fields beautifully variegated with grass and grain, to a great ex-
. tent like the valley of Honiton in Devonshire. Upon my left the city opens to view, intercepted here and there by a rising ground and an ancient oak. In front, beyond the Hudson, the Jersey Shores present the exuberance of a rich, well-cultivated soil. In the background is a large flower-garden, enclosed with a hedge and some very handsome trees. Venerable oaks and broken ground covered with wild shrubs surround me, giving a natural beauty to the spot which is truly en- chanting. A lovely variety of birds serenade me morning and even- ing, rejoicing in their liberty and security." From which one may gather not only that the corner of Charlton and Varick streets was
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NEW-YORK THE FEDERAL CAPITAL
different a hundred years ago, but that the lady, like the serenading birds, was also rejoicing in her liberty and security.1 The ladies were accustomed to present themselves in large numbers in the gallery of the House of Representatives. In a letter to David Stuart the presi- dent says: "Why they (the Senate) keep their doors shut, when act- ing in a legislative capacity, I am unable to inform you, unless it is because they think there is too much speaking to the gallery in the other House, and business thereby retarded."
The sequele of royalism having been cleared, so far as it could be done, by Congress, the fateful question of human rights, as repre- sented in the negro slaves, confronted it. The first challenge of slavery, in the new government, came from Virginia. During the first tariff discussion, early in May, the Hon. Josiah Parker of that. State moved an amendment imposing a duty of ten dollars on every slave imported. He expressed the hope that "Congress would do all in their power to restore to human nature its ancient privileges; to wipe off, if possible, the stigma under which America labored; to do away with the inconsistency in our principles justly charged upon us, and to show by our actions the purer beneficence of the doctrine held out to the world in our Declaration of Independence." Parker's mo- tion-made within a few steps of a slave-market - was seconded by. Theodoric Bland, and supported by James Madison, both of Virginia. It was bitterly opposed by Jackson of Georgia, who declared the negroes better off in the South than they were in Africa. "Virginia," he said, "an old and settled State, has her complement of slaves, and, the natural increase being sufficient for her purposes, she is careless of recruiting her numbers by importation." But he asked if Virginia would free her slaves, and said that "when the practice comes to be tried, then the sound of liberty will lose those charms which make it grateful to the ravished ear." Had the ten dollars import duty on negroes been adopted, American history might have been less tragical. But this proposal of Virginia was defeated by two Northern men dis- tinguished for anti-slavery sentiment. Roger Sherman, of Connec- ticut, approved of the object of Parker's motion, but "could not reconcile himself to the insertion of human beings as a subject of import among goods, wares and merchandize." Fisher Ames, of Massachusetts, "detested slavery from his soul, but had some doubts whether imposing a duty on such importation would not have an appearance of countenancing the practice." By these sentimental objections the practical measure was defeated.
The inaugural address of the president made a profound impres- sion on the religious sentiment of the country. Some jealousy may have been felt at the official recognition by Congress of the Episcopal
1 Mrs. Lamb's "History of the City of New-York." See also Dr. Francis's "Old New-York," p. 17.
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
A Roll for Attornies sworn in the Supreme Court
........ do solomaly, without any incortal Reservation of Equiencation whit sover , swear and leclare, that I conounce and abjure all allegiance and hebjection . all and every foreign King, Prince Potestate and Hate, in all Makers ecclesias lical as well as civil; and that I will wear Faith and true. Allegiance to the State of New York, as a free and independent state.
.. ..... do swear, that Iwill truly ans honestly domean amyself in the practice of an attorney. according to the Best of my Knowledge and Ability
Peter L'van Alin ? y2790 Henry Wallow 6th May 1791. 36 sondany 6th May 1791
James B. Clarke Plnily. David Jones 23 april1290
Willowis
John Hoodworth July 29 - 1795 Joano 2 Kip ag July 1791
Francis Arden 23 Auil Mygo
James. Enot- 1 Aug 1791. William Van Brunt 29 avril 1790. Af 17. Watton Dilber 19 79 With Clinton 2 4 th April Jeter Medun Jan 1900# 1795
Calebs Riggs 24# abril ??
harley Richardson: april 2.4. 1990
John hukhametJan. 1742
John mc Neill april 59, 1790
John F. Henry.) May 1 6 1390 Vincent Mathews May 4. 1790 Edward Graham mayr $ 90 Jonas Platt- gull27th ry 90.
Rot. Boggs. April 26. 790. Morin @ for 7, 199 Hurry Lyle 20 Jant. 1792 martin & withins 25 April 192. C: John Bartow Bulong actor 20 Krig/2
177ª
Francis Bloodgood August 5.740
Thomas Bellek 20# Och . 790 Samuel Bold. August &# 1790
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NEW-YORK THE FEDERAL CAPITAL
Church, in the selection of St. Paul's for the services on the day of inauguration ; that, however, was not ascribed to the president, and all denominations were moved by the solemn religious utterance in his address. The first response came from the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the old John street church, their only one in the city, of which Rev. John Dickens was minister, services had been held at nine on the morning of the inauguration. On May 28 the New-York con- ference began a session in that church. There were only twenty ministers in it, but among these were men of weight. The bishops present were Asbury and Coke, who had visited Washington at Mount Vernon, and received from him a pledge that he would use his in- fluence with the Virginia assembly to "secure the emancipation of the slaves." With another present, the Rev. Thomas Morrell, of Eliza- beth, N. J., Washington had special associations. Morrell, a young major in the Revolution, had been wounded in leading the advance at Flatbush, and Washington had detailed six soldiers to carry him to his father's home in Elizabeth. On May 29, in pursuance of a resolution of the conference and an arrangement with the president, Morrell introduced the two bishops, and cordial addresses were inter- changed. A sharp controversy followed this action of the Methodist Conference relative to Dr. Coke's opposition to the American cause in England. Bishop Coke had sailed (June 5) for England, where he was assailed for disloyalty, while Morrell was maintaining (in the "Daily Advertiser ") that he (Coke) had accepted the new order of things. But it was not so easy to defend the anti-American mani- festos of John Wesley.
The mayor was annually appointed by the governor. In the earlier part of 1789 the mayor was James Duane, who had held the office since 1783; but in September he was appointed the first judge of the United States District Court of New-York, and was succeeded by Richard Varick (who held the office until 1801). Varick, who resided at 11 Pearl street, had previously been recorder. He enjoyed the per- sonal friendship of Washington. His successor as recorder was Samuel Jones, an eminent lawyer, a trustee of the Society Library, and active in city affairs. Aaron Burr, whose private office was 10 Cedar street, was elected attorney-general. Twenty-eight attorneys were admitted to.the bar in 1789, making the total number of lawyers in the city one hundred and twenty-two.
On Saturday, May 9, the mayor and corporation exchanged formal addresses with the president. On the same evening the Black Friars Society enjoyed their annual banquet, among the toasts being "Our noble order of honesty," "Virtuous nuns to honest friars," and "The mother friary of Europe." On June 24 the Knights Templar cele- brated the "Festival of St. John the Baptist," a sermon being preached
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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK
at 12.30 P. M. The lodges represented were seven in number, and were styled respectively Jamaica, Holland, Hiram, St. John's, St. Pat- rick's, St. Andrew's, and Independent Royal Arch.
Mr. Thomas E. V. Smith seems to give some credit to an English report that on the birthday of George III., June 4, 1789, the president celebrated that monarch's recovery. A letter dated June 6, after- ward printed in a London paper, says: "His Excellency General Washington our new Congressional President, and perhaps I might add Dictator of America for life, gave a very sumptuous entertain- ment on Thursday the 4th, on account of the recovery of his Majesty the King of Great Britain; the Envoys of England, France, Holland, and Portugal, and persons of the first distinction were present. This very handsome respect to the British Monarch will doubtless be re- ceived as it deserves." The English government had no envoy in America, but only a consul-general (Sir John Temple). It is difficult to believe that Washington gave such an entertainment, or that it would or could have been kept secret. The foreign representatives in 1789 were Don Gardoqui (Spanish), the Count de Moustier (French) and Louis Otto (Chargé d'affaires), Francis Van Berckel (Holland), and Richard Sonderstrom (Sweden). Sir John Temple was popular in New-York, and entertained handsomely. The entertain- ment given in the president's honor, May 14, 1789, by Count de Moustier (whose house was kept by his sister, Madame de Brehan), has become historic through the description given in Griswold's "Republican Court."
According to a masonic tradition, Washington kissed the open Bible on a page, now carefully marked, adorned with a picture of Issachar as "a strong ass, couching down between two burdens."1 There is no doubt that America and its president were between two burdens, and that they were formidably displayed from the first in New-York. One of these burdens was anti-federalism, the other a federalism which seemed eager to invest the republic with the pomp and circumstance of royalty. In an unpublished historical fragment Edmund Randolph says: "It was expected, at the commencement of our revolutionary government, that these gaudy trappings would be abandoned. They were retained indeed by usage, not by any authori-
1 Genesis xlix. 14. One must almost suspect in this legend the invention of some political philos- opher of the time who had remarked the profane caricature representing Washington's "Entry " seated on an ass led by David Humphreys. In "The Century Magazine" for April, 1889, there is an admirable engraving of the open Bible, and a full description of it, with its inscriptions as added by St. John's Lodge. A letter of John Armstrong to General Gates, dated New-York, April 7, 1789, says : "A caricature has already appeared called
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