USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VII > Part 22
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as effectually as they can to stirr up your honors their neighbours and confederates to yeald your succor and as- sistance to us and to send some forces from thence to joyne our Indians in prosecution of the common ennemy.
These and your considerations doe prompt us to make this second addresse to this Colony not doubting of a very happy issue, since wee are apt to believe that the meet- ing of this Honourable Assembly is cheefely if not wholly to consult of matters for the carriing on the present warr wee will therefore in all submission, tender these follow- ing proposalls to your honors consideration which we hope will not be unseasonable at this dangerous juncture when so weighty matters are to be discussed.
In the first place we perceive as well by Your honours Letters to Albany by us perus'd by the way as by the conferences wee had with the honourable Governor and Councill when last here as also with the Governor and Councill of the Massachusetts bay that all earnest desires were that wee should wholly submitt to Capt Leysler's power we can inform your honors having received letters from Albany that the Gentlemen there who alwayes since these revolutions have endeavoured to keepe a good cor- respondence with the Gentlemen of New York and desire theire assistance and concurrence on all occasions in the carrying on of this warr, but not so reasonably comply'd withall as theire argent necessitye and the circumstances of affares could have expected yett upon your honors ad- vice and that our neibours may be satisfied that Albony was never wanting on these parts they have comply'd with what your honors thought convenient and most re- quisite in such an extremity and have surrendered the fort to them of N. Yorke and are and ever were most willing and ready to receive any auxiliary troops sent from N. Yorke for assistance so they were not sent by Leysler to disturb the peace of the place
2. That they of Albony to shew there forwardness in the prosecution of the warr have not only born with and passed by sundry enormities committed by Capt : Leysler and his adhearance referring the address thereof till a
[ Annals, vii.] 26
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Governor comes from His Majestie King William but have notwithstanding their mean and low condition have- ing had noe trade or commerce for 3 years past agreed with the N. Yorke Commissioners for the carring on of the present warr to procure 140 men 6000 1b Biskett 400 lbs pouder 30 canoes 100 drest deer skins 60 guns 100 hatchets and 100 skepel pease which is to be ready in a month's time and N. Yorke is to deliver 200 men and 60 men from with other necessaries all which forces to go out along with the Indians to annoy the French with all expedition
3dly That your honors would be not pleased to resent the undecent carrige of Capt : Leysler to your Honours in Generall by his declaration put forth in the name of the Leift : Governor and Councill etc. of New York for your good intentions and servis done to there Majesties and for the common safetyes in sending Capt : Bull with his Companye to enforce and strengthen the garrison att Albanie which ever shall be acknowledged by your obliged neighbours nor that your honors will not be pleased to take noatis of Mr Milbornes uncivil intreaty of the Com- panie in particular at their comeing away hoping that such outward and ungrateful actions att which wee are much concerned will not discharge your honors from minding the main intrest.
4thly That your honors would be pleased to raise such a quantity of brisk young men as your honors in your wisdome shall think requisite to send up to Albany with provisions and your necessaries and some of your Indians to joyne with the 5 nations against the common ennemy which will proove very advantageous if it were but one good company or two for the present and that in severall respects at first it will be an eternal tye or connaction of the 5 nations to your honors whereby they will see that the promises made to them by the Agents of this and neighbouring Collonyes ware not complementall nor feigned but real and sincere which will ever oblige them to depend upon the like future. 2ly It will be a means to draw the seat of warr into our Enemyes Countrey by
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disturbing and disquieting them at home and hinder these incursions and outrages on your honors territory which otherwise we must of necessity expect neither can all the gards and forces of the Collony wholly preserve the out plantations from the crueltyes of the French and theire Indians except they be penned up at home and wee must beleeve itt is French Policy to alarm our out townes to cause us [to] draw our forces there that they may sitt quiet att home
3dly It will train your young men up fitt for any ex- pedition they will learn the wayes and passages of the Cuntrey and that manner of living make them fitt for travell by water as well as by land and accustum them to fatigue and hardinesse for what is itt that is the Bugg- bear of Canida but their Bushlopers as they call them and they being once overcome Canida will be a prey to him that first approach itt.
5thly The only way to secure the French nation to the English Crowne will be by sending of aid from hence for if they perceive that this Collony yeeld noe assistance and that they must wholly depend on the province of N. Yorke if anny disaster should happen since fortune of warr is ticleish then they will hudle up a peace with the French so either sitt still or worse whereas if they see that New England (whose war it is, not theirs) joyn with them itt will be soe much an incuragement they knowing -the power and force of Teritores that nothing will keep them back from prosecuting the warr briskly.
6ly That your honors affares relating to the present exigency be accompanied with expedition since nothing can be daingerous than delays in such a juncture it being the generall greevance both of this and the neighbouring Collonies that the business of the warr carried on so slowly, for we aught to consider what a quick enemy wee have to deal withall who will lett neither time nor op- portunity slip to do us a mischeefe or prejudice.
7thly That Your Honors would consider what a re- proach itt would be too the English Nation that a hand- full of people as the French are in Canida should disturbe
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and ruine the Cuntrey when we are more than ten to theire one neither is itt so difficult to come at them as people here are made to beleeve for the whole journey to Canida from Albany can be performed by water except at the cariing place where the Canoe is to be carried ten English miles wee must turn our tradeing into warring and instead of loading our Canoes with goods for Canida for Beaver as formerly we must load the Canoes with provisions and ammunityon to be revenged of our cruel and perfidious Enemies, if we consider nothing but diffi- culties charges and nothing can be expected to be don against them nay not so much as to secure ourselves as wee ought therefore Honourable Gentlemen there is no medium now left wee must either destroy or be destroyed and thank be to Almighty God Your Honors neither want men nor provisions and them that are brisk and willing to goe about itt if they be but sett on and incuraged as they ought in such a time.
8ly Since this General Court will undoubtedly choose Commissioners to go to Rhoade Island that they will be pleased to assist with all the plenipotentiaries there as ware all ready with the Massachusetts Collony the abso- lute necessity there is of taking Quebeck speedily before theire supplies come from France and that the Ships now fitting at Bostonne for the Port Royall expedition may be imployed that way before they returne els the warr will - be soe tedious chargeable and troublesome there will be noe living espetially if the French gett theire expected supplies from France which never faile them wee hope Your Honors will think itt the generall Interest of the Cuntrey to graunt our present request which is requisite should be signified to the five nations that they may be incuraged to come doune the faster to proceed on the ex- pedition this being the best time of the year for the make- ing Canoes wee beg Your Honors ansure to the above said proposealls that wee may acquaint the people of Al- bony with Your Honors result
In the mean time remaine
Your Honors most humble and obedient Servant ROBT LIVINGSTON
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To the Honourable the Members of the Generall Court now sitting at Hartford
1 That Your Honors would be pleased to be mindfull of the 7th Article of the memoriall delivered in formerly to the Governor and Council by myselfe and the other agents for Albony and Ulster the expectation of provi- sions divers are come up yesterday which if not pre- vented will drain the Collony speedily
2dly That since Your honors are pleased to cause raise a 100 men to send to Albony forthwith under one Capt : Lievt and Ensign, that your honors would be pleased to ad so many men more as will make two com- pleat companies which will remove all jealousies of the Officers if anny be, itt being thought the wisdome of these latter ages to have smal companies for theire better Gov- ernment that would make a greater show to the Indians.
3rd That Your honors would be pleased to send an ex- press to all acquaint the Gent: there and the Indians that upon your request you will forthwith send 2 com- panies and some Indians as soone as the meeting of Road Island is over and that need require itt you will send some hundreds more
4. That since nothing can be don without a present supply of money and provisions and perceiving that sun- dry substantiall inhabitants are willing to contribute voluntarily that in my opinion the most speedy way to raise effects to carry on the warr would be by subscrip- tion and way of loan which our neighbours of Boston doe.
ROBT LIVINGSTONE
Hartford the 12th day of April 1690
After this had bin signified to the principall member I desired to have audience before the Court was adjurned and returned hearty thanks in the name and behalfe of the Citty and County of Albony for the present succor and supply which their honors had graunted hoping the y would proceed nobley in the carriing on the warr as they had begun assureing Albony would not be wanting in
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theire parts and in due time signefy to his Majesty theire redinesse to releeve us in our necessity.
N. B. An embargo was laid on provisions immediately two Companies established Capt : Fitsh 70 men and Capt : Johnson 65 men and 80 Indians. A Rate of 9d per lb was made to carry on the warr the Governor and Coun- cill agreed to send an express to all they paying half of the charge which I consented to.
A Generall Court held at Hartford by Spetiall order of the Governor April the 11th 1690
Mr Livingston also moved the Court in the behalfe of Albony that some forces might speedily be sent thethere for the preservation of that post and offending the Enemy (as by severall proposeals he gave into the Court in writ- ing will appear) all which was considered by the Court and the court did see a necessity of utmost endevors to prevent the French of attackeing or settleing at Albonie and therefore did Order that two foot companies shall be withall speed raised and sent to Albony to take all oper- tunities and advantages against the Enemy to distroy them.
Extracted out of the Court Records was signed JOHN ALLYN Secretary
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DUDLEY OBSERVATORY.
BOFEMAN-KNICKERBOCKER -CO. ALBANY
During the summer of 1852, several influential gen- tlemen of the city became impressed with the conviction that something more should be accomplished by the state of New York in the cause of popular education. Though aware that our system of common schools, our acade- mies and colleges were answering all the purposes which their respective founders had in view, still there seemed to be a deficiency of adequate facilities for prosecuting the higher branches of education to their fullest extent; in consequence of which our young men were driven to foreign countries for advantages which should be furnish- ed them at home. This suggested the idea of a National University, an institution possessing a character that would meet the exigency in question. Several public meetings were held in relation to this matter, which many distinguished gentlemen and scholars from other states attended, and favored with their sympathies and counsels. As a result of these deliberations, and as a part of the great project which we hope yet to see fully
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realized, it was resolved to establish, at the capital of the Empire State, an Astronomical Observatory, with such instruments and agents as would meet the present demands of astronomical science. In prosecuting this object, it is gratifying to record the liberal and cheerful response that was made to individual applications for the neces- sary funds. As an earnest of the success which should ultimately crown the efforts of the gentlemen who espe- cially committed themselves to the prosecution of the enterprise, they received from Gen. Stephen Van Rens- selaer a donation of several acres of valuable land as an appropriate site for the contemplated building. This munificent gift, at once proved that the enterprise had taken a strong hold on the minds of our citizens. The plot of ground thus dedicated to the interests of science, is situated on the northern side of the city and within its corporate limits, and is peculiarly adapted to the pur- pose in question. It rises with an elevation so gentle as to allow of an easy ascent, to the height of about two hundred feet above the level of the river, terminating in a beautiful plateau sufficiently extensive to meet every desirable object connected with the contemplated edifice. No sooner had this point been gained, than another dona- tion was announced, of an amount which, at the time, was considered nearly if not quite sufficient, to erect and complete the Observatory building. Mrs. Blandina Dud- ley, a lady distinguished for wealth and liberality, in token of respect for the memory of a devoted husband, cheerfully appropriated $12,000 to the enterprise; in con- sideration of which, and as a testimony of their grati- tude, the trustees resolved that the institution should be called THE DUDLEY OBSERVATORY. It is a pleasing reflection to Mrs. Dudley, that her noble husband during his lifetime, cherished a special interest in this depart- ment of science, and that no appropriation could be made by her, more likely to be in accordance with his wishes. The favor with which the enterprise had been thus re- ceived, led its friends to hope that a yet more extensive plan might be entertained, and that a building might be
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erected of more ample dimensions and of more perfect appliances than was at first contemplated, requiring at the same time a more liberal outlay of capital. In this they were not disappointed. Several gentlemen at once contributed, until the sum of $25,000 was secured. In the winter of 1853 an act of incorporation was granted by the legislature, by which the government of the insti- tution is vested in a board of trustees, of whom Stephen Van Rensselaer is president, T. W. Olcott vice president, and J. H. Armsby secretary. The scientific council who have charge of the institution, are, Prof. A. D. Bache, Supt. U. S C. S .; Prof. Benjamin Pierce, Cambridge; Prof. Joseph Henry, Smith. Institute; Dr. B. A. Gould, of U. S. C. S. The building was commenced early in the spring of 1853, under the supervision of Prof. G. R. Per- kins, and completed during the following year.
The ground plan of the building is in the form of a cross, with a front of 84 feet, by 72 feet in depth. The center hall through which passes the great pier for the heliometer, is 28 feet square; the east and west wings, which are designed for the meridian circle and transit instruments, are each about 26 feet square, with a semi- circle area, in front and rear for collimator piers, and provided with the usual openings in the meridian. The rear or north wing is about 40 feet square, divided into a library room of 27 by 23 feet, two computing rooms of 14 by 16 feet, and several small rooms for magnetic appara- tus, for recording observations, &c. The heliometer room, in the second story, is of a circular form of 24 feet diameter. The revolving portion is in the form of a tower, moving by ingenious machinery. The main pier for the heliometer was commenced seven feet below the bottom of the cellar, with a base of 15 by 15 feet, rest- ing on a bed of concrete and rubble of 24 inches thick. The size of the pier was gradually reduced, by stepping, to the height of the cellar bottom, where it is 10 by 10 feet, and was continued of this size throughout the rest of its height. The whole is built in the most substantial manner, of large stone, well bedded by hammer dressing. The piers in the circle and transit rooms and for the
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clocks and collimators are constructed with the same care, of similar construction. The walls of the building are of great thickness, and made of the best quality of pressed brick. The basement story, the window sills, caps, corner blocks, belt courses, and portico are con- structed of dressed free stone. The library room and computing rooms of the north wing are warmed by heat- ed air from a basement furnace, great care being taken to cut off all heat from the main building. Both the cir- cle and transit rooms have been recently enlarged, giving a circular form to the front and rear walls, to make room for collimator piers, and for much larger instru- ments than were at first designed.
A beautiful marble bust of Mr. Dudley, executed by E. D. Palmer, is to be placed opposite the principal en- trance. In a niche on the right is the celebrated clock presented by the Hon. Erastus Corning, for giving time to the Central, and other railroads diverging from Albany.
At the Providence meeting of the American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science, in 1855, Professor Bache, Supt. of the U. S. Coast Survey, proposed to Dr. Armsby the establishment of a great heliometer at Albany, and to furnish observers from the Coast Survey to take charge of it, provided the requisite funds could be furnished for its purchase. Dr. A. guarantied the amount necessary, and wrote Mr. Olcott to this effect. Mr. O. read the let- ter to Mrs. Dudiey, and she cheerfully contributed $6,000 for the purpose. This sum was soon increased to $8,000, and subsequently to $14,500. Mr. Olcott at the same time contributed $5,000 for the purchase of the splendid meridian circle, by Pistor & Martins, of Berlin. This is the largest instrument of the kind in the world, and has been named by the Scientific Council in honor of its gen- erous donor, The Olcott Meridian Circle. A fine transit instrument, also by Pistor & Martins, ordered by Prof. Bache, occupies the west wing of the building, the Olcott circle the east, and the Dudley heliometer is to be placed in the central tower. Several valuable clocks, barome- ters and thermometers have been ordered in France and.
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Germany. The chronographs are made by the celebrated artist, Mr. Farmer, of Boston, who, it is hoped, may be induced to remove his valuable establishment to Albany.
The construction of the heliometer has been confided by Dr. Gould, after visiting the workshops of Europe, to our eminent countryman, Charles A. Spencer, who has just returned from a European tour to visit observatories of England and the continent.
At the inauguration of the Dudley Observatory, on the 28th of August, 1856, the following letter, addressed to the trustees by Mrs. Dudley, was read to the vast audi- ence there assembled, who rose simultaneously to their feet and greeted the noble and generous donor with the most enthusiastic and heartfelt cheers :
ALBANY, August 14th, 1856.
To the Trustees of the Dudley Observatory :
GENTLEMEN-I scarcely need refer in a letter to you, to the modest beginning and gradual growth, of the institu- tion over which you preside, and of which you are the responsible guardians. But we have arrived at a period in its history, when its inauguration gives to it, and to you, some degree of prominence, and which must stamp our past efforts with weakness and inconsideration, or exalt those of the future, to the measure of liberality necessary to certain success. You have a building erect- ed, and instruments engaged of unrivaled excellence, and it now remains to carry out the suggestion of the Astron- omer Royal of England, in giving permanency to the establishment. The very distinguished Professors, Bache, Pierce and Gould, state in a letter which I have been permitted to see, that to expand this institution to the wants of American science, and the honors of a national character, will require an investment which will yield annually not less than $10,000. And these gentlemen say in the letter referred to: "If the greatness of your giving can rise to this occasion, as it has to all our pre- vious suggestions with such unflinching magnanimity, we promise you our earnest and hearty cooperation, and stake our reputations that the scientific success shall fill up the measure of your hopes and anticipations."
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For the attainment of an object so rich in scienti- fic rewards and national glory, guarantied by men with reputations as exalted and enduring as the skies upon which they are written, contributions should be general, and not confined to an individual or a place.
For myself, I offer as my share of the required endow- ment, the sum of $50,000 in addition to the advances which I have already made; and trusting that the name which you have given to the Observatory may not be con- sidered as an undeserved compliment, and that it will not diminish the public regards, by giving to the Institution a seemingly individual character,
I remain, gentlemen, Your ob't svt., BLANDINA DUDLEY.
The reading of the letter was followed by the address of Hon. Edward Everett, of Boston, Mass. The annals, neither of Albany or the world, can furnish the parallel of such an audience, composed as it was of the beauty and fashion of Albany, and the most distinguished scien- tific men on the continent of North America. At the close of the address a burst of applause broke forth from the mighty assemblage, thus sending up the welcome of science and of Albany to the DUDLEY OBSERVATORY.
Complete sets of the Greenwich observations, 29 quarto vols., and of the Radcliff observations, 19 vols. have been recently presented to Dr. Gould for the Observatory.
Prof. Bache has ordered for the use of the Observatory a Transit Instrument to cost $1500.
It was announced by Prof. Bache, that Gould's Astro- nomical Journal was to be removed from Cambridge to Albany. This is the only astronomical journal published in America, and there is but one published in Europe. The result of this will be to make Albany the great astro- nomical center of the American continent.
The following are the subscriptions and contributions for the Observatory : .
Mrs. Dudley, .- $76,500
T. W. Olcott, (for
general fund), 10,000
T. W. Olcott, (for building), 500
Wm. H. De Witt, .. 1,500
Dudley Observatory.
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Ezra P. Prentice, . 1,000
E. Wickes,. 250
E. Corning, (clock),
1,000
R. H. Pruyn,
250
J. F. Rathbone,. ..
500
Joel Rathbone, 250
John Taylor, 500
J. B. Plumb, 250
Robt. Boyd, 500
J. T. Norton,
250
M. T. Reynolds,
500
R. H. King, 250
R. Dunlap,
500
Perry, Treadwell &
R. Forsyth, 500
Co., (furnace), .. 200
F. & T. Townsend,
500
Jas. Stevenson. ... 100
W. V. Many, .
500
H. Q. Hawley, .... 100
H. Q. Hawley, (for gas works), ..
500
Rich'd H. Pease, ..
100
S. H. Ransom, . . .
350
Lansing Pruyn, ... John J. Hill,.
50
J. V. L. Pruyn,
250
H. & H. Yates,
.50
J. B. James,.
250
A. Osborn, 50
A. Marvin, .
250
L. S. Parsons,
50
$98,850
[ Annals vii.]
27
100
Chas. L. Austin, ..
100
I. W. Vosburgh, ..
350
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THE MOHAWK FLATS.
By the charter granted by Gov. Dongan to Albany in 1686, that city obtained the right to purchase one thousand acres of land from the Indians at what is now Fort Hunter, and a committee was shortly after sent to view the lands. On the 12th October, 1730, the city took from the Mohawk Indians of the Lower Castle, a deed to hold the lands in trust for them so long as they should be settled thereon, with remainder to the city. This deed continued in possession of Mr. John Depeyster, the Mayor, until 12 September, 1733, when it was de- livered to Governor Cosby, who destroyed it, and on the 4th of November, following, obtained the above deed from the Indians, conveying said lands to the King in trust for them. The Mohawks, notwithstanding, continued uneasy, and to quieten them, the city of Albany signed an instru- ment on the 18th December, 1773, surrendering to the Indians residing in the Lower Mohawk Castle, all right and title to the said thousand acres of land, (with the exception of a few parcels that private individuals had previously purchased from the Indians and held under the corporation,) " so long as they shall continue a Na- tion and be settled on said lands." In 1788, a number of the Mohawks residing at Canajoharie, petitioned the legislature to be reinstated in their lands at Fort Hunter and elsewhere; and by two instruments, dated respectively the fifteenth of April, 1789, and 16th June, 1790, the city bought out all the claims of the surviving Indians to the lands in question, as appears by the various instruments on file in the office of the City clerk. The lands were divided into farm at first and leased by the corporation, but all these farms have since been sold except one, which is still under lease .- E. B. O'Callaghan, Col. Hist., vi., p. 16., note.
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