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 9
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' The Entry,' full of very disloyal and profane allusions. It represents the General mounted on an ass, and in the arms of his man Billy Humph- reys [Colonel David Humphreys, aide-de-camp, who accompanied Washington from Mount Ver- non to New-York] leading the jack, and chanting hosannas and birthday odes. The following coup- let proceeds from the mouth of the devil :
'The glorious time has come to pass When David shall conduct an ass.'"
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tative recognition, nor yet from any admiration of the empty baubles in the country of our origin, or an anti-republican tendency in the people; but they may be ascribed to a degree of pride which would not suffer the new government to carry with it fewer testimonies of public devotion than the old." But democratic sentiment was exas- perated by the proposal (already mentioned) to institute titles, sprung upon Congress immediately after its organization. The vice-presi- dent's warm demand for titles had been seconded by Senator Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, who moved that a resolution on the subject should be transmitted to "the Lower House"-a phrase not soon for- gotten. A committee of the Senate reported that the executive should be styled " His Highness the President of the United States, and Pro- tector of their Liberties." Among the titles suggested were "His Majesty," " His Elective Majesty," "High Mightiness." It is said that the president asked Speaker Muhlenberg what he thought of the title "High Mightiness," and that Muhlenberg said it might do for a tall man like himself, but if a little president should be elected it would sound rather ridiculous. Lee's supercilious phrase, "the Lower House"; the vice-president's proposal to thank the president for "his most gracious speech," and his remark, when this was ridiculed, that "could he have thought of this he never would have drawn his sword"-the whole discussion, threw the country into agitation. John Randolph of Roanoke, then a student in Columbia College, was pre- cocious enough in radicalism to fill Virginia with alarm. The vice- president's speeches about titles made him feel in the " spurning" of his brother Richard by Adams's coachman (April 22) something sym- bolical. The royalist whip was cracked over the head of the citizen. He detected "the poison under the eagle's wings." "I saw the coro- nation (such in fact it was) of General Washington." Soon after young Randolph was in Richmond, and Edmund Randolph, in a letter to Madison (July 23, 1789), mentions a report of the president's "total alienation (in point of dinners) from the representatives." On the other hand, it is said by the same statesman, in a letter of September 26: "The President is supposed to have written to Mr. Adams, while titles were in debate, that if any were given he would resign."
The two burdens between which the new government, like Issachar, was beginning to couch found some representation in the Society of the Cincinnati and that of Tammany. It is true that men of all par- ties belonged to these societies; nevertheless, the Cincinnati, making membership hereditary, had come to be regarded as aristocratic, and Tammany had been evolved to counteract it. Washington had been induced to remain president of the Cincinnati only on its promise (never fulfilled) of abolishing the hereditary feature. This society had a large influence in New-York, where it had about one hundred
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and eighty members. . Senator Maclay notes in his diary (May 1, 1789) the continuance of a party which, in the Revolution, "cared for noth- ing else but a translation of the diadem and sceptre from London to Boston, New York, or Philadelphia," and adds: "This spirit they de- veloped in the Order of Cincinnati, where I trust it will spend itself in a harmless flame and soon become extinguished." But on July 4 the New-York branch of the society elected Baron Steuben president, Alexander Hamilton vice-president, Major John Stagg secretary, and Colonel Richard Platt treasurer. These were strong men. John Stagg had served in the Continental army, also in the New-York assembly (1784 and 1786), and was now major of the City Legion and city surveyor. Colonel Platt had also a Revolutionary record. The society sent a committee with Fourth-of-July congratulations to the president, vice-president, and speaker, after which it attended St. Paul's, where Hamilton pronounced a eulogium on General Nathaniel Greene to an audience including magnates of the government and their families. Washington was ill, but his wife was present. A grand banquet with thirteen toasts followed at the City Tavern.
The St. Tammany Society had hitherto been a rather feeble survival from the Revolution. The name of the pacific chief of the Delawares (who signed the treaty with Penn, and had been largely invested with mythology), Tammany, - canonized, as an offset to the foreign saints Andrew, Patrick, and George, - was adopted for a patriotic society that latterly had little purpose.1 But in May, 1789, the organ- ization in New-York city was strengthened, and the "Columbian Order" added to its name. Its officers were to consist of native-born Americans, while adopted citizens were eligible to the honorary posts of "warrior" and "hunter." The officers were one grand sachem, twelve sachems, one treasurer, one secretary, and one doorkeeper, the society being divided into thirteen tribes, each representing a State and being governed by a sachem, and containing one honorary warrior and one hunter. The society at the outset included men of all parties, and did not take a prominent part in politics. In 1789 its meetings were held at Fraunces' Tavern, but it celebrated May 12 (old May-day) in tents erected on the banks of the Hudson River, about two miles from the city, where a large number of members partook of an elegant enter- tainment, served precisely at three o'clock, after which there were singing and smoking and universal expressions of brotherly love.
The society also had a curator of property ("sagamore"). John Pintard, one of the few fashionable gentlemen among them, was the
1 An interesting history of the Tammany So- ciety, by R. G. Horton. is given in the Manual of the Common Council of New-York, 1865. It is curious that this society should have anticipated the French revolutionists in their wish to alter the names of the seasons, which Tammany desig-
nated as Blossoms, Fruits, Snows, Hunting. The months were "moons." A Tammany letter might be dated: "Manhattan, Season of Fruits, 17th day of the 7th moon, year of discovery 300th, of inde- pendence 16th, of the institution 3d."
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first sagamore. Although no partizanship was at first manifest, there are few indications of federalist or fashionable patronage. "Fashion- able Society," says Smith, "in New-York in 1789 seems to have con- sisted of about three hundred persons, as that number attended a ball on the 7th May at which Washington was present." The common folk had to form their own social circles, and their own organizations, which must naturally pass into a democratic evolution. Tammany was the American positive pole to the Cincinnati's negative pole; and in their relative importance to-day our national history may be studied.
During the first year of Congress three hundred and thirty tavern licenses were granted (30s. each), and gambling (Pharaoh) was pretty general. Prices ran high, and trade societies were refurbished. The foreign societies - St. Andrew's,1 St. George's, St. Patrick's - shared the national enthusiasm. There was one social club - the Black Friars. There were twenty-two church edifices. The great institu- tion was Columbia College. At the commencement on May 6, 1789, W-Dunlap the President of the United States attended, and the chief members of both National and State governments. The number of students was between thirty and forty. There were more than fifty schools in the city. Literature appears to have been represented by Philip Freneau, captain of a merchant vessel; Samuel Low, bank clerk; and William Dunlap, playwright. There were, however, twelve pub- lishing-houses, one of which (Robert Hodge's) announced on February 4, 1789, the " First American Novel," which was entitled, "The Power of Sympathy, or the Triumph of Nature."
The newspapers published in New-York in 1789 were: The "New- York Packet," published three times a week, at two dollars a year, by Samuel Loudon, 5 Water street; the "New-York Journal," weekly, two dollars, by Thomas Greenleaf, 25 Water street ; the "Daily
1 Among the earliest charitable organizations of New-York city is St. Andrew's Society, or- ganized in 1756, of which Philip Livingston, the signer, was first president ; Dr. Adam Thomp- son, second ; John Morin Scott, third; Anthony
Barclay, fourth; and the Earl of Stirling, fifth. It is still an influential and useful organization, and the oldest among existing societies of its character. EDITOR.
VOL. III .- 5.
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Advertiser," six dollars, by Francis Childs, 190 Water street; the " Daily Gazette," by McLean, 41 Hanover street, at the sign of "Frank- lin's Head"; the "Gazette of the United States," biweekly, three dol- lars, by John Fenno, 9 Maiden Lane. These publishers were also considered editors of their papers. The laws of the United States were printed by Francis Childs and sold at one dollar per one hun- dred pages. Greenleaf was printer for the State.
On May 11 and 12, 1789, the Bank of New-York (established in 1784) elected the following officers : President, Isaac Roosevelt; vice- president, William Maxwell; cashier, William Seton ; directors, Nich-
Gazette ofthe Gritted States.
[No. LVIII.]
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 4789.
[Publiford am Wedwejday and Saturday.]
THE TABLET-No. LVIIL. " We daily fee perfoms that without education ar " friends, by their own indufry and application, paift themfeines from nothing to mediocrity, and ftens Thuet above it, if once they counerightly to have one- " sey, cod tale delight in faving it.
for any man, at the clofc of the year, to take a retrofpective view of his mode of appropriating or expending money, and to endeavor to correct what he may, upou comparing the whole toge- ther, deem miftakes. Moit men of Industry, who do not add to their intereft, charge the fault to the dulnets of bafinel : and therefore have no idea of fearching out the true caufe of their poverty, which they will find not to confift in the hardnens of the times, but in the badnefs of their own at- gement. Every man, in any confiderable ba- fixed, who does not add fomething to his proper- Porthould endeavor to perfusde himfelf, that be is yetunacquainted with a proper fyltemof economy.
THE NATIONAL MONITOR .. No. XXIV.
TT feems to puzzle men of obiervation to de- termine why many perfons, who appear hisse great figacity in couverfarion, and a ge- peral knowlegt of the principles and forms of Infinity Dobla never be abit, with all their eu- ertians, to accumulate property: If we.examine the fabject, we thell find that the love of money, the à univerial padion, does not prevail in every breaft asa ruling paffion. It may be laid dove general maxim, that where avarice becomes el2 leading propeufity of any man, he will certainly wake acquisitions to his eltate. Moft men who purfue bufinefs, without encreafing their intereft, complain of hard fortune as an apology for not making better progrefa. This complaint often has no foundation, unless we call it a misfortune. bat to love to get and fave money more than any ocher object.
MR. ADAMS'S LETTERS.
LETTER VIL AMSTERDAM, OCT. 10, 1780, SIR,
YOUR feventh inquiry is, Whether the common" if people in Airrica are not inclined, nor would Hi be able, to find fufficient meantto frufrate, by force it the good intentions of the philful politicians IN anfwer to this, it is funficient to fry that the coinmonaly have no need to have recourfe to force, Jo oppole the intentions of the fkilful ; be-
T "HERE is a foible to which truman manter is peculiarlyincident-and in excufe for which there is as little to be faid, as for any weakness whatever : It is FORDETPULNEKI. When I. ca Striking examplesof the FOLUNTART lets of mes mory, it brings to mind a nest reply to the obfite ration ghich a perfon made on being neglected [bys quoadam acquaintmer "t be appears sol Nive entirely forgot me," faidhe, she reply was, M.to wonderat in he has HARqor HIMSELF. 1x is generally the cafe, I believe, that people of & Supercilious temper forget their origin, their car- ly profpects, their former fentiment of modellv. chfcretien, charity and urbanity, before thew-se Laut, fyperior depertinent the in old cin pections. As nothing has been powerful influence on the public opinion, than an obliging, condefcending department ; in e- very free government, the candidates for offices, while parfuing their object, difcover on all occa- Gions a free, mild, and social difpolition No pers fon is beneath their notice, who is of the fall- elt confequence in Society's no circumstance of APPEARANCE, TINE OF PLACE, Will preventthe finale, the bow, or the friendly bake, by the hand- their dignity is nowin uz leatt LET DOWN by chefe familiaritics, but the fummir of their withes obtained, What a Strange alteration often enfues !-- the pier unhappy creatures are faddes- Jy ftrack nich parcial blindned : their fight be- comes dini, or fo limitted that they can fee no- ching hat a poft that happens to come in direct contact with their nofes- a fad lots of memory
We Should diftingoia between the love of gain and the love of money. Amliden may prompt aman into sets of hazard and enterprise wirh & view of profs; but when this is the only thotive. caufe the law. and the constitution authorife the he will ofteitbe negligent in the parfuit, and pets common people to choofe Governors and Magif- trates every year : fo that they have it conflantly in their power to leave out any politician, how- ever skilful, whofeprinciples, opiniona, or fyllerat, they do not approve. Napa lefe his object for want of care and peris .. wetsince : or if he facceeds in his adventures, it is tên chances to one but he appropriates his pains' it & little caution, that he is none. the Getrar. For them , But when avarice, or the meil loveof The difference, however, in that country, is not money acquates any one, every ftrp he takes is fo great as it is in fame others, between the com- mon people and the gentlemen-for noblemen
fo prudent and cirenmfpeci that he feldom milles che attainment of his obiect. And when he once | they have done. There is no country where the | fusteeds, fo that they can hardly recollect a ve.
FAC-SIMILE OF PART OF A PAGE.
olas Low, Joshua Waddington, Daniel McCormick, Thomas Randall, Comfort Sands, Robert Bowne, Samuel Franklin, Thomas B. Stough- ten, William Constable, William Edgar, and John Murray. This bank, the only one in the city, prayed for incorporation on July 3, but was not chartered until two years later. The money was pounds, shil- lings, and pence; the dollar being worth eight shillings.
One of the events of 1789 was the composition of the air "Hail Columbia," by a German named Fayles, leader of the orchestra in John street theater. It was called "Washington's March," and was first played November 24, while the president and his wife (persistently styled Lady Washington) were passing to their box. The air was re- peatedly encored, and the well-known song afterward adapted to it.
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The illness which had prevented the president from making his appearance at the celebration of Independence Day, 1789, was a dan- gerous carbuncle. His mother, whom he had visited at Fredericks- burg before leaving Virginia, was suffering from a tumor, and was in great anxiety about him. In July the Rev. Mr. Urquhart of that re- gion came to New-York, bringing a letter from the president's sister, Betty Lewis, in which (July 24) she says that although they had heard that he was recovering, and "would shortly be able to ride out," his mother must hear from him. "She will not believe you are well until she has it from under your own hand." News of his mother's death reached him September 1, when he was entertaining Governor St. Clair and Baron Steuben at dinner. Parson Ryan brought a letter from Fredericksburg stating that Mary Washington had died on August 25. The president retired from the table, and remained for some time in his room alone. He wrote a touching letter about his mother to his sister. On October 18 the president left New-York for his tour in the Eastern States, returning November 13. Con- gress had adjourned on September 29, 1789, after passing twenty- seven acts. The discussions had been heated, the city excited, and the residents enjoyed the repose following the adjournment. The president's appointments to office included some of the strongest New-York men. Alexander Hamilton was made secretary of the treasury, and William Duer assistant secretary. John Jay was ap- pointed chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, Samuel Os- good postmaster-general, and Gouverneur Morris (already in Europe) was intrusted with a sort of undefined mission to negotiate with the British government on various issues. John Lamb was made collector of the port, Benjamin Walker naval officer, and John Lasher sur- veyor. These local appointments were popular, the three gentlemen being eminent for their public spirit.
The closing event of the year for the populace was the arrival of the president's coach from England. It was globular, canary-colored, gay with Cupids and nymphs of the seasons, and emblazoned also with the Washington arms. On December 12 the president's diary says: "Exercise in the coach with Mrs. Washington and the two children (Master and Miss Custis) between breakfast and dinner-went the fourteen miles round" (the old Bloomingdale Road, nearly as far as where Grant's tomb now stands; then to Kingsbridge, returning by the Boston Road). Probably the event so briefly entered in Washing- ton's diary was graphically described in many letters. With his four (or sometimes six) bays, his liveried driver, postilion, and outriders, the president seemed to defy both the puritanism and the anti-feder- alism of the country, even more than with his velvet and purple satin costumes. This celebrated coach, after the president's death,
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remained an archaic curiosity at Mount Vernon, for it could not move on Virginia roads. Ultimately it was given to the late Bishop Meade to be cut up into little boxes and other relics for sale at church fairs. The seat and steps were made into an ornamental retreat in the garden of the bishop's sister, in Clarke County, Virginia, where it remained until the day of desolation.
Three entries from Washington's diary may be given in closing our account of 1789: "Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day. Went to St. Paul's Chapel in the forenoon. The visitors to Mrs. Washington this afternoon were not numerous but respectable. Monday, Dec. 28. Sat all the forenoon for Mr. Savage, who was taking my portrait. Tues- day, Dec. 29. Being very snowing not a single person appeared at the Levee." The days of rubber shoes had not yet come.
On January 8 the president opened Congress in state, proceeding thither in his new English coach, with six horses, preceded by Colonel Humphreys and Major Jackson, in uniform, mounted on white horses, the cavalcade being followed by Lear and Nelson in a chariot, and Robert Lewis on horseback. The president was conducted by door- keepers to the Senate, where the representatives were also present. All arose as he entered, and stood while he read his speech. The an- swers to his speech were received at the president's house on January 14, to which the members proceeded in coaches. After the ceremony the president entertained a number of the members at dinner.
Congress had paid eight thousand dollars for the expenses of Mr. Osgood in repairing and furnishing his house for the president's resi- dence; but early in the following year the owner, who had been living three miles away, desired to resume his city mansion. The president paid rent to Osgood up to May 1, though on February 23 the presi- dent had finally removed to the McComb mansion on Broadway, a little below Trinity Church. This house had been occupied by Louis Otto, the French Charge d'Affaires. It was one story higher than Osgood's house, and in every way more commodious. Washington purchased some of Otto's furniture. This was the finest private build- ing in New-York; during Washington's residence it was called the Mansion House, and it was subsequently known as Bunker's Hotel. It is said that Andre and Benedict Arnold once met there.
The slavery question again arose in Congress. On February 11, 1790, a petition of Quakers was submitted to the house, praying that it would exert its endeavors to the full extent of its powers against slavery, and especially against the slave-trade. On the following day a similar memorial was presented from the "Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery," signed by Franklin, and sup- posed to be written by him,- the last thing he ever wrote. He died April 17. Tucker of South Carolina and Jackson of Georgia were
G20
By the Honourable JAMES DE LANCET, Efq; His Majesty's Liastenant-Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over the Province of New-York, and the Territories depending thereon in America.
A Proclamation.
W HEREAS it appears, That certain Perfons refiding on q near the Eaftern Borders of this Provine, have entered into a Combination to difpoffefs Robert Ling flen, jun. Elq; Proprietor of the Manar of Luing Non, within this Province, and the Tenants holding ader him, of the Lands comprifed within the aid Manor, under Pretence of Tide from the Governmentof the Misfarbefitts Bay, as alfo of an Indian Parchafe lately made by the faid Perfons ; altho' tis molt notorous, that the faid Manor hath, "til very lasel been peaceably held and enjoyet by the faid Recent Livingl'an, anh his Anceftor, for Seventy Chp upon Which only de conceived Right on the Part of this Govern-
the faid Government can legally found their Claim. Notwithftanding which clear and manife ment, the faid Perfons, not conte with their former Intrufions on His Majefty's Lands within the fame, firit began to carry their Defigns into Execution, by endez buring to corrupt and turn Mr. Living ffon's own Tenan againft him, in which they fo far fucceeded, that feveral Perfons, who 'til within a few Years held Lands as T'enants under, and paid their Rents to him, how keep Poffellion of the Lands in De ance of, and fet up a pretended Right againft him, under the Government of the Maffachufetts Bay, and the aforementioned India Purchafe; by which illegal Proceedings, fupported with force, the Courfe of Fuffice hath been obftructed, the Lives of level of his Majefty's Subjects loft, and private Property in ringeu and greatly injured. i And Whereas Thirty One of fuch evil inded Perfons, in order to profecute their unjuft Defigns, pu the 7th Day of May laft, armed and riotoufly afembled themselves Tackhanick, at the House of Jonathan Darbie, which fand or the Distance of not more than Eighteen Miles from Hudfon's Riv Samong whom were the faid Jonathan Darbie, allo Jolines Reefe, Hendrick Brufie, Fofopb Vergilder, and his Brother, faid t be Andries Vangelder, Samuel Taylor, Ebenezer Tayler, and Andries J. Regle; and being to riotoully affembled, were command a to difperfe by the Deputy Sheriff of the County, in the Prefence of one of His Majetly's Julices of the Peace, two Confiable,; and other Perfons who came thither with the faid Robe "Living ffon, to fupprefs the Riot,' and difperfe the Rioters ; four only / whom went off, the others fhutting themfelves up in the _ Id Darby's Houfe, in which there were Loop Holes, fired through the fame, and before they difperfed, feveral were wounded on bo Sides, one of whom died in about an Hour thereafter, and another fou Time after, of the Wounds they then received. IN Orde therefore to put a Stop as much as may be to Proceedings, the Conferences whereof have already been fatal to fome, and which If not timely prevented, may fill be productive of the worft Evils to Befs ; and to eftablifh and keep up Peace and a good Unde ftanding among the Borderers, till this unhappy Controverfy (hall be fe ffed in a legal Courfe : I HAVE thought fit, with the Anice of His Majefty's Council, to illue this Proclamation, Hereby in I = Majefly's Name, Strictly enjoining all His Majefty's good Subjects in this Province, to. for- bear and refrain from fuch violent an unjuft Proceedings, as every Infrance of that Nature will " punithed with the utmolt Rigour of the Law. AND that the Offende before named may be brought to Juftice, the Sheriff's of the Counties of Albany and Dutchefs and all other Officers therein, are he by commanded and required to apprehend the faid Jonathan Darbie, Jobannes Reefe, Hendrich Brufie, Joseph Vangelder, Samuel To , Ebenezer Tayler, and Andries J. Rest, and all and every of their Affociates, who Shall appear to have been aiding or abettil the faid Offenders in the Riot aforefaid ; and them and eve of them to keep, or caufe to be committed. in fafe Cuftody, in the anty Goal, until delivered by due. Courfe of Law : And like Manner, to apprehend and keep in fafe Cuftody all and every oser Perfon and Perfons who fhall hereafter be guilty of ich riotous and illegal Practices. And all His Majefty's Subjects in thefaid Counties of Albany and Dutchefs, are to give due Affittoce to the faid Sheriffs within their refpective Counties, who are hereby dpowered and required, if neceffary, to fummon the Poffe, whole Power of the County, for putting the Premifes in Execution.
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