USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VIII > Part 16
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That no Person or Persons whatsoever within this Citty, shall send out or make use of any Broakers,
209
Orders Regulating the Indian Trade.
whether Christians or Indians, in ye management of ye Indian Trade, upon pain and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence ye somme of five pounds, one Moyety thereof to ye use of ye Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of ye said Citty, and ye other moyety to such person as shall sue for ye same.
That no Person or Persons whatsoever within. .. trade for or receive any Bevers, Peltry or other Indian .. from any Indian or Indians after ye ringing of ye Bell ...... of ye Clock on ye night, upon pain and penalty of forfeiting such Commodities so traded for or received as aforesd, two third parts thereof to ye use of ye Mayor aldermen and Commonalty of ye said Citty, and ye other third part to ye use of such Person as shall sue for ye same.
That no Person or Persons whatsoever within this Citty shall trade or trafiqe with or by any means what- soever directly or indirectly entice any Indians soe to do upon ye Sabath day, upon pain and penalty of forfeiting such goods so traded for as aforesaid, as also on pain and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence ye some of forty shillings, two third parts to ye use of ye Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of ye said Citty, and ye oy third part to ye use of such person as shall sue for ye same.
Whereas by constant experience ye giveing of gifts and presents to Indians has been found to have been very prejudiciall to ye trade of this place, it haveing been generally used by .... .. trade as an enticement to
bring ye Indians to them,.
. Indian Commodities
has been in no small measure adva. . .ordered that for the future no person or persons whatsoever .... . . pretence shall give any present or gift to any Indian or Indians ...... small beer, tobacco, worth exceeding half a pound on provisions ...... present time, upon pain of paying as a fine for each offence, yª summe of five pounds courant money of this Country, two third part to y" use of ye Mayor, aldermen and Commonalty of ye s1 Citty, and ye oyr third part to such person as shall sue for ye same.
210
Orders Regulating the Indian Trade.
That no Person or Persons whatsoever shall transport or cause to be transported any Wampum, Wampum Pipes, Indian Jewells, or money out of this Citty and County or ye limites and boundaries aforesd, nor shall they ex- change, treffique give or sell, or any oyrwise dispose of such money, Wampum, or Jewells to any stranger or person whatsoever, who shall carry them out of this Government, under penalty of forfeiting, such Wampum, money or Jewells or ye value thereof, two third parts to ye use of_ye Mayor, aldermen and commonalty of ye sd Citty, and ye other third part, to ye use of such person, as shall sue for ye same.
Whereas it has been for some time past the Practice of several Indian Traders within this Citty themselfs to send for their Indian Merchandizes to England and ... .. .has been found by experience to be greatly to ye
.in regard, that not only ye Merchants, have been. . but y" Indian Trade for ye most part engrossed unto hands the other traders who for ye small- ness of their Stocks, w ; of doeing ye like, not being able to afford such penniworths haveing themselfs bought ye goods of ye Merchants bere, by means whereof, the trade of this place is much decayed, in that our Merchandizes are rendred by farr more cheape to ye Indians, and by consequence these commodities more dear to us, for remedy whereof for ye future, itts hereby ordered that no Indian Trader whatsoever shall from and after the five and Twentieth day of March which shall be in ye year of our Lord 1687 directly or indirectly in his own name, or in ye name of any other persons, living in or Import from England or any oy" part off Europe or ye West Indies into this Citty or the liberties thereof any of these Indian Goods and Merchandizes following vizt duffells, rom, strouds, blanketts, plains, halfthicks, woolen stockings, white ozenbridge, ketles hatchetts, hoes, red lead, vermillion, cotton, red kersey, Indian haberdashery, or any oy" Indian goods and merchandize whatsoever, upon pain and penalty of paying ye somme of forty pounds, for every hundred pounds worth of goods
Orders Regulating the Indian Trade. 211
(and so in proportion), so to be imported as aforesd, two thirds thereof, to ye use of ye Mayor, aldermen, and Com- monalty of ye sd Citty, and ye oy" third part, to such person. same, or upon pain and penalty of
being.
Indians, for and dureing ye space of two
yeares.
. to be at ye choyce of ye person offending
herein .. .if any such Trader, shall have before or within three months ...... sent to his factor beyond ye seas for such Indian goods as af. here within ye said term, and such factor shall neglect to send on .. .... in due time, if they come afterwards such Trader shall not incurr ...... of ye penaltyes hereinbefore pre- scribed any thing herein contained to ye contrary not- withstanding.
That in case any Indian Trader convicted of merchand- izing, who shall make choyce of being debarred from tradeing with any Indian or Indians, for ye space of two whole yeares as aforesaid, shall within that time trade or trafique with any Indian or Indians shall forfeit for soe doeing such Indian Commodities so traded for, and moreover pay as a fine ye somme of five pounds for each offence; two third parts to ye use of ye Citty and ye other third part to ye use of such person as shall sue for ye same.
That no merchant or other Person or Persons what- soever that trades and Merchandizes for any Indian Goods and Merchandizes in parts beyond ye Seas, shall trade or trafique with any Indian or Indians whatsoever within this City or County, upon penalty .forfeiting such Indian Commodities, soe to. penalty of paying as a fine for each offence. two thirds thereof to ye Mayor aldermen and Commonalty .. ... Citty, and ye oyr third part, to such person as shall sue for ye same.
Whereas, the selling of ye severall small Indian wa .. .. in after named, would Conduce much to ye affording a comfortable livelyhood, to severall people inhabitants within this Citty, whose mean stocks renders them uncapable of dealeing in Commodities, of greater
-
212
Orders Regulating the Indian Trade.
value, in ye doeing whereof, they are obstructed, by ye constant resort of ye Indians to suchi persones as sell all sorts of goods, for ye remedy whereof, and for the makeing a more equall distribucon of ye Indian Trade amongst ye Inhabitants of this Citty, its hereby ordered that no Trader who hereafter shall sell Duffells, Strouds, Blanketts, and other Indian goods of value, shall or may sell or Dispose off, to any Indian or Indians whatsoever, these small wares after mentioned, viz : Knives, Looking Glasses, Painting stuff, Boxes, Aules, Tobacco Pipes, Tobacco, Tobacco Boxes, flints, Steels, Sizers, Wire of any sort, Ribboning, Bottles, Thread, Salt, Sugar, Prunes, Apples, Razins, Juiseharps, Bells, Thimbles, Beedes, Indian Combs and Needles, upon pain and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence, ye some of twenty shill one moyety thereof to ye use of ye Mayor, aldermen and Commonalty of ye sd Citty, and ye other moyety to such Person as shall sue for ye same.
That no Indian Trader whatsoever. .toy wampum or oy" Indian Commodity from. . upon pre- tence of procureing there gunns, hav. ded or fix, nor shall they use any means dive .to
cause any Indian or Indians to goe to any particular .. .. .... gunn stock maker for ye doeing thereof, but shall Leave ...... or Indians att ye free liberty and choyce, to make use of and ...... such smith and gun stock maker he or they please therein, on pain and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence ye some of twelve shillings one moyety thereof to ye use of ye Mayor, aldermen and Commonalty of ye said Citty, and ye oy" moyety to such person as shall sue for the same.
And because it has been found by experience that it will be almost impossible to make discovery of ye breach of ye severall orders herein before mentioned by ye ordi- nary method of probacon, in reguard that the severall transactions will be managed with so great secrecy, as none will be privy thereto butt the delinquents themselves or Indians, whose testimony are not held valid in law, for ye discovery therefore of such secrett practices itts
213
Orders Regulating the Indian Trade.
hereby ordered, that upon informacon made to ye Mayor, Recorder or any of ye Aldermen of ye said Citty, for the time being, by any Indian or Indians against any person or persons . of ye orders herein and hereby
before
Aldermen and Commonalty of ye said
. regulacon of ye sª Indian trade here- Citty as forth his summones to ye party accused, after.
appear before him, then and there
requireing if he can upon his. himselfe of such acusation as aforesd, which if gu .. shall refuse to do ye matter of fact in ye accusation con. . . . taken pro confesso and certifiate of such refuseal under ye hand of such Mayor, Recorder or Aldermen shall be deemed and entered as positive prooff thereof upon tryal if above on hearing before ye Mayor, if ye fine or penalty for such offence be under ye value of forty shillings.
And because altho there be no such informacon given in by any Indians as afores1, nor any other legall proof of delinquency in ye premises and yett there may be a violent presumption thereof, for ye perfect discovery of itt, It is hereby orded that upon ye information of any Christian (so it be upon oath to avoid clamours), to ye Mayor, Recorder or any of y^ aldermen for ye time being that hee does verrily beleeve (and has good ground so to doe) that such a person has transgressed in ye premises, or in such other orders, or for ye regulation off trade here- after shall be made as aforesd, such Mayor Recorder or aldermen shall issue forth his summmonce, to ye party accused, requireing him forthwith to appeare, before him, then and there if he can upon his oath to purge himselfe of such accusation, as aforesd, which if such person shall refuse to doe ye matter of fact in ye information conteined shall be taken pro confesso, and a Certificate under ye hand of such Mayor, Recorder or aldermen, shall be deemed and esteemed as positive prooff thereof upon tryall, if above, or on hearing before ye Mayor if ye fine or penalty for such offence be. .. as aforesaid .... *
may be duely observed, and ye offenders against them or
214
Orders Regulating the Indian Trade.
any of them impartially punished, without any manner of favor or connivance, its hereby ordered, yt ye Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen, or any of them to whom inform- ation shal be made, of any of ye breaches of these or any other such orders as aforesaid; shall with all convenient speed, bring the same to a determination by a heareing before ye Mayor if ye penalty of such offence, be under ye value of forty shillings, or by a tryall att ye Mayors Court, or some other Court of Record if above that value, and that after an informacon made to such Mayor, Re- corder, or Aldermen, or any of ym, there be no composition or other and made with such delinquent or delinquents, then what is publicke and in ye open course of Justice, on penalty of ye summe of twenty pounds to be. every such mayor, Recorder or Ald .. ... thereto, two third parts to ye use of ye. ye sd Citty, and ye other third. same.
. . tinue
space of Seven
fter the date hereof or till Ordered that the. der sent.
(215)
RATES OF EXCISE IN 1686.
-
City of Albany ss.
At a Common Councill held att the Citty hall of the said Citty on the 14th day of September in the second year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord James the second by the Grace of God of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland King defender of the faith Su- pream and only Lord of the province of New Yorke &c: and in the year of our Lord 1686 Before Peter Schuyler Esqr Maior, Isaac Swinton Esqr Recorder, dirk wessells, Jan Jansz. Blecker, Johannes Wendlle, david schuyler, and Andrian Gerritze aldermen; and Jochim Staets, Lawerence Wendle, Melgert Wyn- antze, Isaack Verplancke, Albert Ryckman, and John Lansingh assisstants.
Whereas ever since the first settlement of this place by the people of the nether dutch nation as well under their Government as since the same has been under the Subjection of his Majestye the King of England the fol- fowing small Packt or Excyse has been layd and taken upon the several Liquors hereafter mentioned Towards the defraying of the Publick Charges of the Citty in man- ner as herein after Is Expressed; Wee the said Mayor Aldermen and Comonalty doe hereby ordayne and order that for Ever hereafter the said small packt or Excise shall bee towards the defraying of the publick Charges of the Citty aforesayd to bee had and taken for and upon the several Liquors that shall be Consumed within the said Citty, and Libertyes and precincts thereof to be payed by the several and Respective persons as shall have and Consume the same In manner and forme fol- lowing: That is to say ffor Each barrell of Beer one
216
Rates of Excise in 1686.
shilling, ffor each barrell of over Sea Beer one shilling and six pence, ffor Each anchor of Wine, Rum, Brandy, Spanish wine, distilled Waters or Malmsy one shilling and six pence, ffor each hoggshead of ffrench or ffyal wine ffour shillings and six pence (and so in proportion) Provided allways that those persons as formerlye have enjoyed the priviledge of Being Exempted from the pay- ing of said Excyse shall so continue to Enjoy the same any thing herein contained to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
Ordered that the aforesaid order be sent down to his Excell Thomas dongan Captaine Generall and Governour of this province for his Confirmation.
ROBT LIVINGSTONE L S.
Read and ordered to Continue in force for the space of one year after the date hereof and in the mean time its Recommended to the Mayor Aldermen and Comonalty to Considder of some other more apt method for the Raising money for the defraying the publick Charges of that Citty It being the opinion of this board that no further taxe. should bee Layd upon those Commodityes that are Lyable to the payment of his Majestyes Revenue.
Citty of Albany Order for an Excyse A D 1686.
(217)
JOHN LAMBERT IN ALBANY.
[Near the close of the year 1807, Mr. John Lambert, an English traveler, left Montreal on a trip to the city of New York, which he extended to the southern and eastern states. There were no stages and but very indifferent roads in those days, and hence traveling was much less a luxury than it is now. Nevertheless, Mr. Lambert finds but little fault with the fare he meets with, and endures the perils and fatigues of riding over rough roads in a common farm wagon with great philosophy, and moreover found a great deal to speak well of. Leaving Salem, Washington county, about the 20th Nov., at dark, he says :]
This night we passed through Cambridge, Hosick, Pittstown, and Schatchoke, all small neat towns. The fur- ther we went to the southward the less snow we found on the ground, and by the time we arrived at Lansing- burgh it entirely disappeared. We reached this town about four o'clock in the morning; but it was yet so dark, that I could only discern that it consisted of one long street of large brick houses, many of them apparently handsome buildings. Troy is situated but a few miles from Lansingburgh, and we arrived there about five o'clock. We put up at a large inn; and as we had now done with our wagon-drivers we paid them the twenty dollars according to our agreement, and parted mutually satisfied. We had no cause to complain of either of them, and the rough humour of Captain White had afforded us much mirth.
Troy is a well built town, consisting chiefly of one street of handsome red brick houses, upwards of a mile and a half in length. There are two or three short streets which branch off from the main one; but it is in [ Annals, viii.] 20
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John Lambert in Albany.
the latter that all the principal stores, warehouses and shops are situated. 'It also contains several excellent inns and taverns. The houses, which are all new, are lofty, and built with much taste and simplicity, though convenience and accommodation seems to have guided the architect more than ornament. The deep red brick, well pointed, gives the building an air of neatness and cleanliness seldom met with in old towns; but I can not say that I admire it so much as the yellow brick in England. The town is built on the east shore of the Hudson or North River close to the beach, and about six miles above Albany, which is situated on the opposite shore. Troy has been erected within the last twenty years, and is now a place of considerable importance. The trade which it has opened with the new settlements to the northward, through the states of New York and Vermont as far as Canada, is very extensive; and in an- other twenty years it promises to rival the old established city of Albany. Its prosperity is indeed already looked upon with an eye of jealousy by the people of the latter place.
While we were at breakfast, newspapers came in from New York, containing accounts of the English expedition to Copenhagen, and the refusal of the British government to agree to the proposals of Mr. Pinckney, to negotiate a treaty upon the same terms as had been before so haught- ily rejected and sent back by Mr. Jefferson. We were much interested with the news, and the Americans appeared apprehensive that a war would take place between the two countries. Several strangers came into the room, and began to make some observations on the news: but none of our party made them any reply; for the Americans are so extremely captious upon political subjects, that they can never speak of them without entering into a dispute; and disputes generally terminate in quarrels. I soon perceived that the people were di- vided into two parties, the federalists and the democrats, and that both were equally violent in their political altercations. The federalists are as partial to the
219
John Lambert in Albany.
English as the democrats are to the French, and the people of those nations who reside in the States enlist themselves under the banners of these two parties. I shall have an opportunity of speaking more particularly of them in a future chapter, and for the present shall proceed with our journey.
After breakfast we crossed the Hudson in a ferry-boat, and got into the stage which was going to Albany. It was similar to the one in which I had travelled from La Prairie to St. John's, and is in general use throughout the States. It is in the form of a large coach, with open sides and front, and flat roof supported by eight pillars. The panels do not come up higher than the hip, and in wet or cold weather leather curtains are let down on each side; the buttons and straps are however frequently broken off, so that the wind and rain often find a ready admittance. This kind of carriage, notwithstanding its defects, is far superior to the Canadian calash for long journeys, as the later affords not the least shelter. It is always drawn by four horses, which in well settled parts of the United States are as good as the generality of English stage horses. The Americans have not yet in- troduced the close English stage with glass windows, probably on account of the hot weather which prevails there much more than in England, and the indifferent roads which are yet in existence in many parts of the Union, particularly to the southward, and in the back settlements.
We rode along the border of the Hudson, which is prettily adorned with several small islands. It is suffici- ently deep to admit sloops up to Troy, and flat-bottomed boats much higher. The surrounding country is well settled, and presents to the eye the pleasing prospect of rich cultivated lands, woods, towns, villages, and scat- tered habitations. We arrived at Albany about noon, and put up at the Tontine coffee-house kept by Gregory. We now learnt that the river was frozen over several miles below Albany, and that the steamboat in which we intended to have taken our passage to New York was
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John Lambert in Albany.
laid up for the winter. We were much disappointed at this news, as we were very desirous of seeing the con- struction and management of this celebrated vessel, which travels at the rate of five miles an hour against wind and tide. It was built about four years ago, under the direction of Mr. Fulton, an American gentleman of great mechanical abilities. The length of the boat is 160 feet, and her width in proportion, so as not too much to impede her sailing. The machine which moves her wheels is called a twenty-horse machine, or equal to the power of so many horses, and is kept in motion by steam from a copper boiler eight or ten feet in length. The wheels on each side are similar to those of water- mills, and under cover; they are moved backward or forward, separately or together, at pleasure. Her prin- cipal advantage is in calms or against head winds. When the wind is fair, light square sails, &c., are em- ployed to increase her speed. Her accommodations in- clude fifty-two berths besides sofas, and are said to be equal, if not superior to any vessel that sails on the river. They are necessarily extensive, as all the space unoc- cupied by the machinery is fitted up in a convenient and elegant manner. Her route between Albany and New York is a distance of 160 miles, which she performs regu- larly twice a week, sometimes in the short period of thirty- two hours, exclusive of detention by taking in and landing passengers. She carries from 100 to 120 people. The fare from New York to Albany is seven dollars.
The city of Albany has of late years rapidly increased in size, wealth, and population. A number of handsome dwelling-houses and public buildings have been erected, and the old heavy Dutch houses with the gable end towards the street are considerably diminished. One of the principal streets has a great resemblance to the Hay- market in London, being nearly the same width, and situated on an ascent. Albany contains about 6.000 inhabitants, and ranks next to the city of New York in that state. The trade which is carried on in this city with the new settlements to the northward and westward
221
John Lambert in Albany.
is very considerable, and is daily increasing. We had excellent accommodations at Gregory's, which is equal to many of our hotels in London. It is the custom in all the American taverns, from the highest to the lowest, to have a sort of table d'hote, or public table, at which the in- mates of the house and travellers dine together at a certain hour. It is also frequented by many single gentlemen be- longing to the town. At Gregory's, upwards of thirty sat down to dinner, though there were not more than a dozen who resided in the house. A stranger is thus soon introduced to an acquaintance with the people, and if he is travelling alone, he will find at these tables some relief from the ennui of his situation. At the better sort of American taverns or hotels, very excellent dinners are provided, consisting of almost every thing in season. The hour is from two to three o'clock, and there are three meals in the day. They breakfast at eight o'clock upon rump steaks, fish, eggs, and a variety of cakes, with tea or coffee. The last meal is at seven in the evening, and consists of as substantial fare as the breakfast, with the addition of cold fowl, ham, &c. The price of board- ing at these houses is from a dollar and a half to two dollars per day. Brandy, hollands, and other spirits, are allowed at dinner; but every other liquor is paid for extra. English breakfasts and teas, generally speaking, are meagre repasts compared with those of America; and as far as I had an opportunity of observing, the people live, with respect to eating, in a much more luxurious manner than we do, particularly in the great towns and their neighbourhoods. But their meals, I think, are composed of too great a variety, and of too many things, to be conducive to health; and I have little doubt but that many of their diseases are engendered by gross diet, and the use of animal food at every meal. Many private families live nearly in the same style as at these houses, and have as great variety upon their tables. Formerly, pies, puddings, and cyder used to grace the breakfast table: but they are now discarded from the genteeler houses, and are found only at the small taverns and farm- houses in the country.
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John Lambert in Albany.
Having hired a stage to take us to Hudson, about thirty miles below, on the east side of the river, we left Albany the following morning, and crossed over to the opposite shore in the ferry-boat. At the top of a hill, which rises gradually from the water side, we had a beautiful view of the city and its environs. Several gentleman's seats appeared to great advantage, and the plantations, gardens, meadow lands, and orchards, in- terspersed among a number of handsome buildings, had a very picturesque effect. I only regretted that I was deprived of the pleasure of viewing such a pleasing scene at a more congenial season of the year. The day was however remarkably fine, which made some amends for the sombre tint of nature. The country through which we travelled this day was fruitful, well cultivated, and adorned with several neat farms and villages. In the evening we arrived at Hudson. This town is of modern construction, and like Troy consists of one very long street. The houses are of wood or brick ; many of them built with taste, and all spacious and commodious. Shops and warehouses are numerous, and there are several large inns; from which I conceived that a considerable trade was, carried on between this town and the interior. It has every appearance of a thriving settlement; and its situation is elevated and advantageous for commerce. There are several large brick warehouses near the wharfs for the reception of goods ; and a great many small vessels sail continually between this town and New York. Ship- building is carried on here, and a vessel of 3 or 400 tons was just ready for launching. Several other vessels of that size were also in the harbour.
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