ClassEiJa 
 
 Rnnir ' L TsJ 
 
 GopyiiglitN" 
 
 COPYRIGirr DEPOSIT. 
 
'/^ 
 
'. ^ 
 
 
 
 -/■ ,_ 
 
 
THE 
 
 EMPIRE STATE: 
 
 ^ (L ompfiiLiious !lnstorn 
 
 COMiWONWEALTH OF NEW YORK. 
 
 By BENSON J. LOSSING. LL.D., 
 
 At'THOR OF 
 
 ■PU-torial Field Book of the RefoliUion," " Tlie War of 1S12 " and " TJie CivU War in America: 
 
 " Jfoioi* Veriion ; or, the Home of Washington ;'" "lUustrated History of the I'nitett States r^^ 
 
 " Cyvlopedia of United Stales J{i.<lo>-i/ ; " " Our Cotintri/;" ^^Sislorij tftfie City 
 
 of Xew York;" '^Slory of the United Stales yarij, for Soys ; " 
 
 " JIdry and Martha Washington," etc., etc. 
 
 & 
 
 ( DEC 19!887 ^ 
 
 ILLUSTRATED V'^V 32-0 ' "IrC^y 
 
 By ra;-3iml'.53 of 335 Per.-anl-Ir.k rrav.'ings 
 By H. ROSA. 
 
 Nkw York: 
 
 FUNK & WAGXALt.S, Publishers, 
 
 18 iiml 20 Astor Place. 
 
 I S87. 
 
Rntcreil, accordiin; to Act of Coii-^iece, in ihc yeur 1887, 
 
 By FUNK A WAONALLS, 
 
 In the Offlre of the Ubrarian of ConLrrei*** iit WashinKtou. 1>. C. 
 
 PRKBS OF 
 
 FUNK tt WAUNALLS, 
 
 JSiiiiUa) A»lorI*Iiu*.', 
 
 NKW YuRK 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Several years ago the aiitlior of this work received a letter from tlie 
 late PIoii. Horatio Seymour, urging him to supply a conspicuous literary 
 MMut 1)V writing a compendious history of the State of New York, and 
 illustrating it after the manner of his Pictorial Fiehl-Booh of the Revo- 
 lution. Ko work of the kind was then in existence, nor has there been 
 since. 
 
 It lias l)Cen the chief aim of the author, in the pre[)aratii)n of this 
 work, to emhody in one volume, of moderate size aiul [)rice, a complete 
 outline narrative of the principal events in the career of the (Jommoii- 
 wealtii of New York from its inception to the close of the first century 
 of our Ilepuhlic (1875), so compact, as a whole, that its purchase and 
 perusal will not burden the purses or the leisure of a vast ])ro]iortion of 
 our people. 
 
 As much space has been given to notices of historic events outside of 
 the State of New York as seemed necessary to continually present the 
 Commonwealth to the mind of the reader as a most important part of 
 the great Republic of the AVest. 
 
 The volume contains a brief history of the powerful barbarian republic 
 found by Europeans within the boundaries of the (present) State of 
 New York ; a luirrative of the explorations, emigrations, and settle- 
 ments of the Dutch, Swedes, and English in New Netherland ; of the 
 Indian wars and desolations ; an aceouiit of the religious, social, and 
 political oi'ganizations under Dutch rule ; of the patroon and nuuiurial 
 estates planted along the tide-water region of the Hudson Uiver ; of 
 the seizure and occupation of the domain by the English ; of the devel- 
 opment of democracy at every ])eriod of the English rule, with notices 
 of the most interesting events in tiie political, social, and military history 
 of the Province a?id Stati? down to the kindling of the old war for 
 independeiu-e and to its close ; the organization of the State government 
 in 1777; the ever-dominating iiitluence of the State in the national 
 councils ; its ]>olitical, social, and military history as an independent 
 State ; its part in the drama of the "War of 1812-15 ; its munificent 
 
jv PKEFAC'E. 
 
 ooiitrihutioiis of men and iiioiiey tliirin^ tlie irreiit stniiri^lo for tlic salva 
 tioii of the lifu of tlie IJepuljlic ; tho various changes in its constitntion ; 
 notices of the vast industrial operations in tiie State ; its canals and rail- 
 ways ; its aj:;ricultnre, niannfuftures, and conuuurce ; its adniirahle popu- 
 lar educational system ; its literature, and its marvellous growth in 
 population, wealth, and retinenient, with biographical sketches of some 
 of the most prominent actors in jjuhlic life, from Stuyvesant to Tildeii. 
 
 Portraiture is made a prominent feature in the graphic illustrations 
 of the work, for we all desire to see the lineaments of the faces of those 
 whose careers interest us. The Ijook contains the portraits of many of 
 the most consj)iciU)us men of New "\ ork moiitiuni;(l in its colonial and 
 State annals, with a lirief l)iograp]iy of each. .Vmong them may be 
 found the portraits and biographical sketches of ail the governors of the 
 State, from Creorge Clinton, its first chief maijistratc in 1777, until ls7*^ 
 Also ])i(rtures of ntunerous buildings in the State wiiich have been made 
 faiiKiiis ])y some historical association. .\ greater portion of these build- 
 ings have been made from drawings l)y the author from the objects 
 themselves. It also contains a delineation of the seal of every county 
 in the State. The illustrations have been made under the personal 
 guidance of the author, whose special care was to insure accuracy in 
 form, feature, and costume. 
 
 I!i:.\s().\ J. I.ossiNG. 
 
 TuK IkiiH;!;, DovKi; Plains, X. Y., October, 1SS7. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CirAPTEU I. 
 
 What constitutes New York " Tlie Empire State." 1. 3; Xiagarr. Falls, 3; The 
 Iroquois C'onfeileracj' or League, ij-lO ; Henry Hudson and liis exploration and dis- 
 coveries, 10-13 ; Claims for Verazzauo, 11 ; Names of the Hudson River, 13. 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 Pate of Henry Hudson: Fruits of his discoveries : Trailic with the Indians opened, 
 1-i ; Planting the .seed of empire ; First ve.ssel built on Jtanhattan Island ; Fort Nassau, 
 on the Upper Hudson ; Adriaen Block, a Dutch navigator. 15 ; A trading company 
 formed, l(i. IT : Champlain and the Irocjuois, 18 ; The Dutch make a treaty with the 
 Indians at Tawasentlia, 19 ; Social condition of Holland. 20, 21 ; English Puritans pro- 
 pose to go to New Netherland, 21, 23 ; Dutch West India Company formed, 22, 23 ; 
 An English mariner at Manliattan, 33 ; The Pilgrims at Cape Cod ; The Dutch prepare 
 to plant a colony, 24 ; Walloons emigrate to New Netherland, 25 ; A French vessel at 
 ^lanhattan, 26 ; Dutch settlements in New Netherland, 30. 37 ; Peter Miuuit director- 
 general : Purchase of Manhattan Island. 37 ; New Netherland created a province, 28. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Fort Amsterdam and a trading-house built ; The beginning of the city of New York ; 
 Rol)bery and murder of an Indian, 29 ; Trouble with the Mohawks and its effects ; 
 Capture of the Spanish "silver fleet" by the Dutch, 30; Charter of Privileges and 
 Exemption, the patroon system, 31 ; Early patroons ; The Van Rensselaer Manor, 32 ; 
 David Pieter,sen de Vries founds a colony on Delaware Bay, 33 ; Governor Walter 
 van Twiller and his administration. 33, 34 ; First clergyman and schoolmaster in New 
 Netherland ; The first English ship in the Hudson River, 34 ; Van Twiller's absurd 
 conduct, 35, 36 ; The Dutch and EnglLsh in the valley of the Connecticut, 35, 38 ; Van 
 Twiller recalled, 38 ; William Kieft (}ovcrnor of New Netherland. 39 ; Condition of 
 public affairs, 40: Swedes on the Delaware, 41 ; Trouble with Eastern neighbors and 
 the Indians, 42 : Impending war with the Indians, 43. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A new charter for patroons and other landed proprietors ; Colonic of Rensselaer- 
 wyck : Arendt van Curler, commissary, 44 : Power exercised by Patroon van Rens.selaer, 
 45 ; First clergyman and church at Albany ; A Jesuit missionary and his career among 
 the Mohawks : First germ of re|iresentative government in New Netherland. 46, 47 ; 
 Committee of Twelve, 47: Destruction of Indians who .sought the hospitality of the 
 Dutch. 4S : A tierce war kindled, and its consequences, 49. 50 : The Council of Eight 
 Men. 49, and their mcnioiial to the States-General, .50, 51 ; Condition of the Dutch West 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 India Conipiiny, ■">! ; New Sweden, '>'i ; Trcaly of peace with the Indians ; Dominie Bo- 
 giirdus's boldness, .'i^ ; Departure of Kieft ; Change in the mode of government ; Peter 
 Stuyvesjint appointed governor, ')li ; Arrival of Stnyvesiint and his reeel)tion, .">4 ; .Stuy- 
 vesanl's adndnislration, 55, .'iO ; Tlie Committee of Nine. 56 ; OvertiU'es of frieiidsliip 
 with I lie ■' i'llgrims" in the Eiist, 5li. 57 ; I>iiteh embassy to New Plymouth, 57. 
 
 (II AFTER V. 
 
 Confei-ence of Duteli and English at Hartford and its results, 5S ; Affairs between the 
 Dutch and the Swedes on the Delaware; Improvements at the Duteh capital, 59; 
 Brandt van Slechtenliorst. commissary of Uensselaerwyck, defies Stuyvesiint, 00 ; 
 Stuyvesant and the Council of Nine, 01 ; Statement of the Nine to the States-General ; 
 New Amsterdam organizeil a.s a city, 03 ; Stuyvesant summoned to Amsterdam, 03 ; 
 The Dutch and New Euglanders fraternize ; Republicanism nourished ; A represent- 
 ative as.sembly and the governor, 64 ; A convention remonstnitcs against his rule, 
 65 ; Interview between Stuyvesant and Beeckman and the convention ; Doings of the 
 Swedes on the Delaware, 00; Concpiest of New Sweden, 07; New Amsterdam invaded 
 l)y Indians. 07, 08; Estates ravaged; Trouble with Indi;ins at Esopus ; Dutch mission 
 to Maryland, 08 ; New Amsterdam and Harlem, 09 ; Social life on .Manhattan, 70. 
 
 ClIAPTKH VI. 
 
 State tricks ; Stuyvesant and the CJuakers, 71 ; Colony of Jleunonites, 71, 72 ; New 
 Amstel founded, 72 ; Trouble with Indians at Esopus, 73, 73 ; Sece-ssiou and revolution 
 on Long Island, 73 ; A General Provincial A.s.semblj' ; Seizure of New Netherland by 
 the English contemplated, 74 ; A British force before New Amstenlam. 75 ; Rebellion 
 in the city threatened, 70, 77 ; Surrender of New Amsterdam to the English : The 
 province and city named New York, 78 ; The Dutch rule in New Netherland, 79 ; 
 Social life at New Amsterdam, 80, 81 ; Character of the Dutch. 81, 82 ; Stuyvesant and 
 the Duteh West India Company, 82. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Provincial governincnt for New York organized ; Public worship at New York, 84 ; 
 English rule at New York, 85-87 ; Duke"s laws, 85 ; Municipal government for the 
 city, 85, 80 ; New Jersey granted to royal favorites, 86 ; The Dutch retake New York, 
 88, 89 ; Restored to the British crown by treaty, 90 ; The Jesuits among the Iroquois, 
 90 ; French intrigues with the Iroquois unsuccessful, 91 ; Characters of Governor 
 Andros and the ])uke of York, 93 ; Administration of Andros ; King Philip's War, 93 ; 
 An important ro3'al marriage ; AiTairs in New Jersey, 94 ; A claim to Staten Island, 95. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 First |)opnlar government for New York, 96, 97 ; Charter of Liberties and Privileges, 
 97; Politi<al divisions of New York, 97, 98 ; Dongan's administration, 99, 100 ; De-signs 
 of the French against the Five Nations of the Iroquois, 100 ; Perfidy of King James ; 
 Dongan's patriotism, 101, 102 ; De Nonville's e.\i>edition, 102, 103 ; " Dominion of New 
 Kngl.uid ;" Birth of an heir to the British throne, 103; Revolution in England. 104; 
 EfTect of the revolution in N<^w York, 105 ; Leisler's administration of affairs, 100-112 ; 
 AiTairs at Albany, 108 ; Conspiracy against the life of Leisler siucessful, 112 : Remorse 
 and death of Governor Sloughter. 1 13, 
 
CONTKNTS. 
 
 CHAl'TEU IX. 
 
 Invasion of New York liy Frciuli and Indians; Destruction of Schenectady, 114; 
 Provincial expeditions against the Frencli in Canada, 115 ; Failure of tliese expeditions. 
 116 ; ArriviU and cliaraeler of Governor Fletcher ; Popular opposition to Fletclier, 117 ; 
 Invasion by the French led by Frontenac, 118, 119 ; Fletclier's administration, 119. 130 : 
 Appointment and eliaractcr of Governor Bellomont ; Privateering, 121 ; Captain Kidd 
 and pirac}-, 132 ; Bellomonl's administration, 133-26 ; Leislerians and Anti-Lcisle- 
 rians, 133, 124 ; The French in Canada liostile to tlie Iroquois : Bellomont defends the 
 latter, 123, 124 ; Reinterment of Leisler's remains, 124 ; Tlie Assembly change politi- 
 cally ; Fletcher's fraudulent land grants, 125, 126 ; Death of Bellomont, 126. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Defences against the French strengthened, 128; Leislerians control the government, 
 128, 139 ; Contests with Assembly ; Lord Cornbnry governor, 129 ; Nicliola.s 
 Bayard and his fate, 130 ; Cornbnry 's character and conduct, 131, 133 ; Queen Anne's 
 "War, 132 ; Governor Lovelace, 133 ; Attempt to conquer Canada, 134 ; Peter Schuyler 
 takes Indians to England, 135 ; Naval expedition against Quebec, 136 ; Governor Hunter 
 and his administration, 13T. 138 ; Emigration of Germans to New York ; The United 
 Six Nations, 137; First Negro Plot, 138; Governor Burnet and his administration, 139, 
 140 ; Inter-colonial traffic prohibited, 140 ; Governor Montgomery's short administra- 
 tion, 141, 143 ; Boundary line between New York and Connecticut settled ; Governor 
 Cosby and his character, 142 ; Cosliy's contest with Rip Van Dam, 143 ; Liberty of the 
 press struggled for and vindicated, 143-147 ; Zenger's trial, 145-147 ; A popular 
 triumph, 147. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Social condition of the province of New York, 148, and the city of New York, 149, 
 150 ; Aspects of social life at Albany, 151 ; Lieutenant-Governor Clark, 1.53 ; The sec- 
 ond Negro Plot, 152, 153 ; A victim of perjur\-, 154 ; Governor Sir George Clinton and 
 his administration, 154-59 ; King George's War, 155 ; Surrender of Louisburg and 
 Cape Breton to the Engli-sh ; Saratoga desolated by French and Indians, 156 ; Prepa- 
 rations to conquer the French dominions in America ; William Johnson and the 
 Mohawks, 157 ; Rancorous party strife prevalent ; Political influence of .James de 
 Laucey, 1.58 ; Governor Sir Danvers Osborne, suicide of, 1.59 ; De Lancey acting gov- 
 ernor of New York ; Governor Sir Charles Hardy ; Frondi Jesuits and their influence, 
 
 160 ; Aggressive movements of tlie French in the West ; Colonial convention at Albany, 
 
 161 ; Hostilities between the French and English begun, 162 ; Conference of governors 
 with General Braddock, 163. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Expeditions against the French begun, 164; Gener.al Lyman and General Johnson, 
 16.5-167; King Hendrick, 165, 166; A battle near Lake George ; The French defeated 
 at Lake George, 166 ; Expedition against Forts Niagara and Frontenac unsuccessful ; 
 Great Britain declares war against France, and prepares for the conflict, 167 ; The 
 Seven Years' or French and Indian War, 167-184 ; Abercrombie's tardy movements ; 
 Br.idstreet's efficiency ; Montcalm's operations, 168 ; Lord Lcnidou's inefficiency illus- 
 trated, 169, 170 ; Inv.a.sion of New York by French and Indians. 170 ; Capture of Fort 
 William Henry, 171 ; A massacre of English troops; Pitt prime-minister, 173; His 
 policy in American affairs: British contiuests, 173; Expediti(m against Tioonderoga, 
 
viii CONTENTS. 
 
 174 ; Knglisli repulsed, \~ii ; Korl Kidiiliiinc tiikcii ; K.\|K'ililiiiii iigjiiust Fort Duqucsno 
 successful, 170, 177. 
 
 ('II.VPTEK Mil. 
 
 A liiml strujifjjle for llie iniistcry ; Pitt's work, 178 ; Expeditious agsiinst Quebec, Fort 
 Niiii^ani. iind Moiilical, 179; Capture of Fort Niajrara, 179,180; The French driven 
 from I,iike Chainplain, 180; Capture of Quebec, 181, 1815; Conquest of Canada. 184; 
 France stripped of her possessions in America by treaty .'it Paris, 18.") ; Pontiac's 
 conspiracy ; Civil affairs in New York, 186 ; Important social movements in New 
 York. 187 ; Institutions for intellectual cultivation foiuulcd ; A sectarian controversy, 
 188 ; Dr. CoUlen acting governor ; An arbitrary royal act, 189 ; Disputes about the 
 New Hampshire Grants, 189-191. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Accession of George III., 192 ; His great mistake, 19;J ; Governor Monekton, 192. 193 ; 
 Governor Moore and the king's prerogative, 193 ; Writs of Assistance and the Stamp 
 Act, 194 ; Opposition to the Stamp Act, 194-197 ; " Sons of Liberty," 195 ; Stamp Act 
 Congress at New York ; A riot, 196 ; Non-importation league, 197, 198 ; Hepeal of the 
 Stamj) Act and its effects, 109 ; Troops .sent to enslave the New Yorkers, 200 ; Oppres- 
 sive acts of I'arliamcnt, 201 ; Open rebellion imminent ; The Roston massacre, 203 ; 
 Popular committees and iiatriotic movements, 203; Exeilenicnt about tea, 204. 205; 
 Boston Tea Parly, 205, 207 ; A general Congress reconinicnded. 207 ; Great meeting in 
 '• The Fields." 208 ; Delegates to a General Congress appointed, 209. 
 
 CHAPTEH XV. 
 
 Committees of Correspondence ; First Continental Congress. 210 ; Its proceedings 
 and effects, 211, 212 ; The American Association, 211 ; Committee to carry it into 
 execution, 212 ; An American episcopate proposed ; The New York As,seinbly, 213 ; 
 Doings of the Assembly, 214 ; The people aroused, 215 ; New York Provincial Con- 
 gress, 216, 217 ; Committee of One Hundred, 217 ; Capture of Fort Tieonderoga by the 
 Americans, 218 ; The functions of Congress considered. 219 ; General Wooster with 
 troops near New York ; Reception of Washington and Governor Tryon. 220 ; Political 
 complexion of the Provincial Congress, 221 ; Northern Military Dcp.irlment ; Affairs 
 on Lake Clianiplain, and the Canadians ; The first Conlinenlal Navy created, 222 ; 
 p^lhan Allen and his "Green Mountain Boys;" General Schuyler authorized to invade 
 Canada, 233. 
 
 CIl.VPTEH X\I, 
 
 The .Johnson Family, 224; Guy .lolmson and Indian councils, 2'2o, 226; British 
 coalition with Indians and Tories ; Invasion of Canada begun, 227-229 ; New Y'orkers 
 complained of ; A mission to the Canadians. 228 ; St. Johns and Montreal taken, 229 ; 
 Siege of Quebec, 230, 231 ; Schuyler and Sir .John .Johnson, 231 ; Camions removed 
 from the Battery at New York, 232 ; Sears's raid on Kivington's i>rinling-house. 233 ; 
 General Lee with troops in New York City ; .Siege of Boston. 234 ; Plot to murder 
 Washington. 235, 236 ; Washington's I^ife Guard, 235 ; Thomas Paine, in Common 
 Senge, advocates political independence, 236 ; Congress and colonial legislators advo- 
 cate ind(ti)pndenee, 237 ; Change in the New York Provincial Congress ; A capital plan 
 of the British Jlinistry, 238 ; Commis.sioners sent to Canada, 239 ; End of the invasion 
 of Canada; Sir .John .Johnson and his parole of honor. 240; Flees to Canada ; I^ady 
 .lohnsdn t.ikcn to .Vlbanv, 241. 
 
CONTEXTS. ix 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A sti-on,2; Brilish armaiucnt appear.s before New York ; Mission of General ami Ad- 
 miral Howe, 243 ; Wasliinnton'.s .successful appeal to the people ; Preparations for 
 battle, 243 ; Battle of Long; Island. 244, 34.5 ; The famous retreat of the Americans 
 from Brooklyn, 245 ; A peace conference : Condition of the American Army, 34G ; The 
 Americans on Harlem Heights ; Battle on Harlem Plains ; Conflagration in New York 
 City, 347 ; Battle at White Plains, 248 ; The British capture Port Washington, 348, 249 ; 
 Prisons and prison-ships, 249 ; The British occupy New York City ; Preparations to 
 invade Northern New York, 350 ; Naval operations on Lake Champlain, 3.51, 3.53; 
 Creation of a navj', 332 ; Flight of the American Army across New Jersey ; Americans 
 victorious at Trenton, 254 ; Battle at Princeton, 255. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Migration of the Provincial Congress ; Convention of representatives of the State 
 of New York, 256, 257 ; Framing a State Constitution and its adoption, 357, 358 ; Jay's 
 desires concerning the Constitution, 358, 359 ; Character of the Constitution, 359, 3(iO ; 
 A Council of Safety appointed, 260 ; A Vigilance Committee appointed ; An Act of 
 Attainder, and tlie victim of it, 263 ; State ofBcers chosen, 360-363 ; First meeting of the 
 State Legislature. 363 ; Prc|)aration to invade New York, 363 ; Burgoync',s campaign, 
 264-382 ; JIarauding expeditions ; Baron dc Riedcsel, 364 ; Indians feasted ; Ticonde- 
 roga ; Bnrgoyne's proclamation, 365 ; Fort Ticonderoga captured, 266 ; Battle of 
 Ilubbardton ; Tlie British forces push toward the Hud.son River, 367 ; Schuyler's proc- 
 lamation ; The Jane McCrea tragedy, 368 ; British expedition to Bennington ; Burgoyne'.s 
 perilous position. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 St. Leger's invasion ; Fort Schuyler, 370 ; Battle at Oriskany, 371 ; Siege of Fort 
 Schuyler, 272 ; Fort Schuyler relieved, 373 ; Bnrgoyne perplexed ; Gates sujiersedes 
 Schuyler in conuuand, 274 ; Burgoyne's army moves forward ; Battle on Bemis's 
 Heights, 275 ; General Arnold in the battle ; Petty jealousy of the opposing command- 
 ers, 376 ; Wretched condition of Burgoyne'.s army ; A council of war, 377 ; Second 
 battle on Bemis's Heights, 378-280 ; Bravery of Arnold, who really won the victory, 
 279, 280 ; Burgoyne retreats to the Heights of Saratoga, and surrenders, 281 ; The sur- 
 rendered troops paroled, but detained in America ; Effects of the surrender of Burgoyne, 
 283. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The British under Sir Ilcnry Clinton capture Stony Point. 283 ; They capture Forls 
 Montgomery and Clinton, in the Hnd.son Highlands, 284 ; The boom across the Hudson 
 broken ; Clinton's d&spatch to Burgoyne and fate of the bearer, 285 ; Marauding British 
 troops burn Kingston ; Battle on the Brandywine Creek ; Americans defeated ; Massacr(,' 
 near the Paoli Tavern, 286 ; Flight of Congress from Philadelphia ; Americans defeated 
 at Germantown, and retire to Whitemarsh. 387 ; Conspiracy against Washington — 
 " Conway's Cabal ;" Loyalty of Lafayette. 288 ; A council with Indians at Johnstown. 
 289; Desolations by Indians and Tories in the interior of New York, 290; Ma.ssacre at 
 Cherry Valley, 391 ; Inva.sion of the Wyoming V^alley, 393 ; Resistance to the invasion, 
 293 ; Desolation of Wyoming, 294 ; Alliance with France ; An English peace-commi.s- 
 sioner ; The British flee from Philadelphia ; Battle at Monmouth Court-Housc, 395 ; 
 Hostilities in Rhode Island and off the coast, 297. 
 
CUXTEN'ry. 
 
 CHAPTEU XXI. 
 
 Britisli cxpcfiilion up llic Ifiulson, 397 ; C'liptiirc of Slony Point and Vcrplanck's 
 Point ; Hrilisli luiiriuiili'i's on the coasts of ("onneolicnt, 298 ; Wayne atlaclis Stony 
 Point, 29!) ; The Americans recapture Stony Point, 300 ; Indian atrocities ; Expedition 
 against the Onondagas; Trajiedy at >Iinisinl<, UOl ; Honors to the dead at (Joshen. 302; 
 Sullivan's canii).ii;;n, 303, 304 ; Sicire of Savannah ; A naval tijjlit : Sir .John Johnson's 
 raid into tlu; Mohawk Valley, 30"), 30(5 ; Sclioharie Valley desolated, 30(! ; Operations in 
 the Mohawk Valley, 307 ; Battle at " Klock's Field ;" Invasion of a motley army from 
 Canada; Sir Henry Clinton sails for Charleston ; Surrender of Charleston, 30S ; Oper- 
 ations of Cornwallis in the Carolinas ; Baltic of King's Mountain : Arrival of a land and 
 naval force from France, 309. 
 
 CHAPTER X.XII. 
 
 Arnold's treason, 310-315; Complot of Arnold and Major Andr6, 311 ; Arrival of 
 Major Andre, 312 ; Events at Arnold's lieadipiartcrs, 313, 314 ; Escape of Arnold ; 
 Andre conveyed to Tappan, 314 ; Trial and execution of Andre. 314, 315 ; The fate 
 of Arnold and Aiulre ; Stirring event on Long Island, 315 ; Civil events in the region of 
 the New Ilamiishire Grants, or Vermont. 310 ; Leaders in Vermont co(juel with 
 liritish luithoritics in Canada, 317, 3IH ; Settlement of disputes hetween New York and 
 Vermont ; Continental paper currency and Articles of Confederation, 319 ; Weakness 
 of the general government ; Arnold serving his purcha.sers in Virginia. 320 ; Biilish 
 troops in Virginia, 331 ; Allied armies and the British in Virginia, 323 ; Surrender of 
 Cornwallis; War in the South, 323 ; Greene's famous retreat ; Greene turns upon his 
 enemies, 324, 325 ; Battles at Guilford Court-House. near Camden, Fort Ninety-Six, and 
 Eulaw Spring, 334, 325. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Closing events of the Revolution, 326-331 ; Discontents of tlie .soldiers ; A proposal 
 to Washington to become king; The " Ncwburg Addres.ses." 327 : The results of a 
 meeting of ollieers, 328 ; Dislianding of the Continental Ainiy begun, 32S. :329 ; Latest 
 survivors of the army, 329; The Society of the Cincinnati, 329, 330; Flight of Tories 
 from New York, and confiscations, 330 ; The British evacuate New York ; Washington 
 parts with his officers, 331 ; Surrenders his commission ; Foundation of a Stale Govern- 
 ment laid, 332, 333 ; Political capital of New York ; Adjustment of boundaries, 333 ; 
 Land cc.s.sions by the Six Nations, 334 ; Territorial claims adjusted, 335 ; Formation of 
 a National Constitution, 330 ; F'ederalists and Anti-Federalists, 337 ; Popular discussions 
 of the Constitution, 338 ; Consliluent Convention at Poughkeepsie, 339 ; AdoiJtiou of 
 the Constitution ; Jlembers of the National Congress for New Y'ork, 341. 
 
 CITAPTKR XXIV. 
 
 Political divisions of New York ; Emigrations and settlements, 342 ; Land pur- 
 chasers ; A great w.igon-road constructed ; Party strife, 343 ; First meeting of Congress 
 under the Constitution, 344 ; Washington inaugurated President of the I'nited States, 
 345; Official appointments; Spirit of the Constitution of New York ; A political coa- 
 lition. 346; Origin of the canal sy.stem in the State, 347, 348; The early promoters of 
 the s}-.stem, 347-349 ; Condivion of New Y'ork City at the close of the Revolution. 3.")0 ; 
 A Federal celebration, 351 ; A newspaper office mobbed ; Yellow-fever in New York 
 City, 352. 
 
CUNTKNTS. xi 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Effect of the French Uevoliitiou ou American politics. 303 ; Jefferson's expectations, 
 disaiipoiutnients. and suspicions, 353, 354 ; Jefferson tlie leader of the Kepiiblican Partj' ; 
 Arrival of " Citizen " Genet, 354 ; Reception of Genet in Philadelphia, 355 ; Democratic 
 societies formed ; Conduct of Genet and his friends, 356 ; Reception of Genet in Xew 
 York ; His recall. 357 ; Social iutiueuce of French emigrants in Xew York ; Jaj's 
 treaty, 358, 359 ; The Whiskey insurrection, 358 ; Opposition to Jay's treaty,' 359 ; The 
 Tanmiany Society, or Columliian Order ; Legislative aid for common schools jirovided. 
 360. 361 ; State Literature Fund ; Support of popular education, 361 ; Board of 
 Regents, 362 ; Electors ; Abolition of slavery proposed ; Albany made the State capital. 
 363 ; The alliance with France celebrated ; Political strife, 364 ; Manhattan Water 
 Company nnd Bank, 365 ; De Witt Clinton: Jefferson elected President; Downfall of 
 the Federal Parly ; Death of Washington, 366. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Social aspects of New York State and City at the beginning of this century, 36T-370 ; 
 The Chamber of Commerce and benevolent societies, 369 ; Churches and country-seats ; 
 First revision of the State Constitution, 370 ; Political influence of two families, 371 ; A 
 bitter personal and political warfare, 373 ; Schism in the Democratic Parly ; Hamilton and 
 Burr, 373 ; Hamilton slain by Burr in a duel, 374, 375 ; Burr's political death, and trial 
 for treason ; The West Point ^Military Academy ; Governor Morgan Lewis, 375 ; 
 Foundation of a permanent school fund laid ; The Free School Society, 376 ; Navigation 
 by steam established, 377: Embargo Act, 378: Cause of the downfall of the Federal 
 Party ; Coipietting with the " Burrites," 379, 380 : The State prepares for war ; Gov- 
 ernor Tumpkin-;, 380; The British Oi'dcrs in Cnuucil unrepealed, 381. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIL 
 
 The genesis of the-Erie Canal, 383, 385 : Gouverneur Morris, 382 ; Jesse Hawley, 
 Simeon De Witt, and Joshua Forman, 383 ; Thomas Eddy and a. public meeting in New 
 York, 384 ; Beginning of the cou.stniclion of the Erie Canal. 385 ; Opposition to it, 386 ; 
 Second overthrow of the Federal Party, 380 ; War of 1813-15 ; The C/usii/iii(/,e antl 
 Leopard affair, 387 ; Peace Party ; Nortliern frontier of New York. 388 : Surrender of 
 Detroit ; Militia of New York, 389 ; Begimiing of war on the Northern frontier, 390- 
 392 ; Battle of Queenstown, 393-396. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Doings of the American Nav}% 397, 398 ; A bank charter in politics, 399. 400 ; De 
 Witt Clinton a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, 400 ; Hostilities on 
 Lake (jntario and the regions of the St. Lawrence and Niagara rivers, 400, 401 ; War 
 spirit in the West, 403 ; Mo\ements for the recovery of Michigan, 403, 404 ; Belligerent 
 fleets on Lake Erie, 405 ; Battle on Lake Erie, 405. 406 ; The Creek War, 406, 407. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Attack on Ogdensburg, 408 ; The capture of York (Toronto), 409 ; The Niag.ara 
 River and frontier in possession of the Americans, 410 ; Attack ou Sacketl's Harbor, 
 411.412: Affair at the Beaver Dams, 412 ; Operations on the Niagara frontier, 413 ; 
 
XII CONTENTS 
 
 Opcnil ions nil Laki; limiiiphiiii, 414, 41.'( ; Kxpcdilion :i;;aiii.-.l MuiilRiil, 41.V41T ; 'I'liu 
 Niaj;iini t'idiilicr dcsohilod, 417 : Nnviil opcnilioiiv mi the sea, 417, 418; Ainpliiliiiiiis 
 wiiifari-. Iix : Aiiiriiiaii naval force in isi:?. ll!l. 
 
 ( IIAI'IKI! XX.X 
 
 Wcllinjilon's vek'iaris sciil to the riiiUul Slates, 43(1 ; Peace Faction, 42(1 ; Baltic at 
 La Colic Mill ; Stniirirlc for the inastciy of Lake Ontario, 421 ; Invasion of Canada, 422, 
 42S ; Hatllc ol Cliippcwii, 434 ; Battle of Lundy's Lane, 425 ; Americans victorious at 
 Foit Eric, 42(i ; I.aiiil iind naval coiite>l :il ri.itlNliiiri;h, 427-4^1 ; Attack on Fort 
 Mackinaw, 4:52. 
 
 CIlAl'TKI! XXXI. 
 
 Naval and military operations on the coasts of the rniled States. 4:!3, 434 ; Stirring 
 scenes at New York, 434 ; British invasion of Maryland, 43-") ; Hatllc of Bladenslinrg ; 
 Incendiarianisin at Washington, 436 ; British repulsed at Baltimore, 437 ; Naval opera- 
 tions on the ocean in 1H14. 43S, 43il ; American privateers, 440; New Orleans and 
 Louisiana llireatcncd, 441 ; Battle of New Orleans. 442; News of peace at New York, 
 442. 443 ; The Hartford Convention, 443, 444. 
 
 ClIAI'TKK XXXll. 
 
 Governors Toniiikiiis and Clinton, 445; Common schools anil school fund, 446; 
 Civil alTairs in the Slate, 447^57 ; Defence against invasion, 448 ; .Movements in favor 
 of llie construction nf ihe Erie Canal. 441), 450 ; Abolition of slavery jiroposcd, 451 ; 
 Change in th ■ position of iiolitical leaders, 452 ; " Bucktnils " and " C'lintonions," 453 ; 
 Powers of the Councils of Appointment and Kevi.sion, 454 ; Revision of the .State Con- 
 stitution, 455 ; Features of the revised Ciin.stilulioii, 45(i, 457. 
 
 (IIAI'IKI! XX.XIII. 
 
 Condilioii of New York in 1H21 ; The Barliary Powers, 458 ; Readjustment of the 
 machinery of the Stale government, 4.59 ; The " People's l^irty ;" lie Witt Clinton and 
 the people, 460 ; Lafayette's visit, 461 ; A new era, 462 ; Opening of the Erie Canal, 
 463 ; Celebration of Ihe opening of the canal, 463-468 ; Grand display in New York 
 Harbor, 465; Nuptials of Ihe lakes and Ihe .sea, 466; Grand procession in New York 
 City, 467 ; Achievements of the Erie Canal, 468-470 : Buffalo and Rochester in 1813, 
 4011, 470 ; A pagan rite at Rochester, 47U ; The common-school system, 471 ; The 
 AnIiMasonic episode, 471. 472. 
 
 CllAPTKR XXXIV. 
 
 Tariff laws and the " American System ;" Dealli of Governor Clinton, 473 ; .Safety- 
 fund system, 474 ; Anti-.Masonic Journal and Thiirlow Weed, 476; A " Workingmen's 
 Parly ;" New Yoik fashions. 476 ; Name of the Whig Party — how given, 477 ; Iinjuison- 
 nient for delil abolished, 478 ; Hcnewal of the riiited Stales ]5ank charier considered, 
 479 ; Van Buren appoiiilcil .Minister to England ; Rejected by the Senale. and the 
 result ; Nullitication sui)prcssed, 480 ; Actions of the United Slates Bank ; Eipial Rights 
 Party, 481, 482; Locofocos, 481; Revolution in journalism, 483; Election riots in 
 1834. 483, 484; Native American Party, 484, 485 ; Abolition riots, 485; Collapse of 
 Ihe credit system, 485, 486 ; Crolon Aiiueduct, 487. 
 
CONTENTS. -xili 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 Free school libraries established, 487 ; Normal School at Albany, 488 ; Lancaslrian 
 and Peslalozzian systems of teacliiiig, 488, 489 ; Kevolutionary movements in Canada. 
 489, 490 ; " Hero of the Thousand Islands," 490 ; A disturbini; incident on the Niagara 
 frontier, 491 ; Overthrow of the Democratic Party, 491, 492 ; Financial achievements of tlio 
 State, 493 ; Erie Canal ; Mr. Seward's first encounter with the slave power, 493 ; 
 Seward on general education, 494 ; John C. Spencer on the same subject, 495 ; The 
 Roman Catholics and the common-school fund, 496, 497 ; The Secretary of State and 
 the Legislature at variance, 497 ; Anti-rentism, 499, oOO ; Tlie electric telegraph and 
 Professor Morse, 500 ; Governor Wright on the school fund, .500 ; The common-.school 
 system ; The annexation of Te.xas, .501. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Third revision of the State Constitution, 503-505 ; The school system, action >ipon 
 the, 505-507 ; .John Young governor, 506 ; Hamilton Fisli governor ; Whig Party trium- 
 phant, 507 ; Washington Hunt governor ; Repeal of the Free School Law, 508 ; The 
 common-school fund ; Horatio Seymour governor, 509 ; Reorganization of the edu- 
 cational system of the State ; Completion of the canals urgeil, 510 ; Governor Sey- 
 mour ofTends the temperance people by vetoing a prohilatory liq\ior bill, 510; Myron 
 H. Clark governor, and a stanch prohibitionist, 511 ; Republican Parly organized, 511 ; 
 Controls the National power, 512 ; The Lemon .slave ca.se, 512, 513 ; John A. King gov- 
 ernor, 513 ; Edwin D. Morgan governor, 514 ; Struggle between Freedom and Slavery 
 begun, 515 ; Conspiracy against the Union, 515, 516. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 Condition of New York State and City in 1861 ; An approaching tempest watched, 
 517 : A famous and inspiriting order, 517, 518 ; Loyal and patriotic action of the Legis- 
 lature, 519 ; Disloyalty of the Mayor of New York, 519 ; Conservatism of business men ; 
 The Crittenden Compromise, 520 ; A disloyal society, 520, 521 ; Insolence of a Seces- 
 sion leader ; Formation of a league to destroy the republic, 521 ; Events in Charleston 
 Harbor ; The President's call for troops. 522 ; Response of New York, 522 ; War meet- 
 ing at New York, 522, 523 ; The L'nicin Defence Committee, 523 ; The Seventh Regiment 
 goes to the field, 524; Patriotic women; The Friends, or (Quakers, 524; Action of 
 civil and military authorities, 525 ; Financial aid given by New York ; Women's 
 Relief Associations, 526 ; United Slates Sanitary and Christian Commissions, 527-529. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIIL 
 
 Change in political aspects ; Financial ability of the State, 530 ; Soldiers furnished 
 for the war ; A new era ; Governor Seymour's message, 531 ; The peace faction and 
 Vallandigham, 532 ; Seditious movements ; The draft, 583 ; Draft riot in New Y'ork 
 City, 534 ; Union League Club ; National currency established, 535 ; Conspiracies of 
 the Confederates, 536 ; Men and money furnished for the war ; Trophies, 537 : Close of the 
 war : Death of President Lincoln, 538 ; Important legislative action, 539 ; Revision of the 
 State Constitution ; Cornell University, 540 ; Election in 1868. .541. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 .John T. HofTnian governor ; Fifteenth Amendment of the National Constitution, 
 .542 ; .V reacti<inary movement ; Amendments of charter, .543 ; Popular education ; Riot 
 
XIV CONTENTS: 
 
 ill New York C'ily , 544 ; Tweeil Ifiiig, 544, .■>45 ; Plunderiiij; of the Treasury of New York 
 City, 545, 546 ; Tlie Exposure of llie plunderers, 547, and the result, 548 ; Jlovenienis 
 of tlie colored population ; Liberal l{ei)ublicau Party ; Horace Greeley for President of 
 the United Stales, 548 ; A social plienoinenon (note), 548; A Civil Hights Bill; John 
 A. l)ix governor, 54!) ; Alterations in the State Constitution ; (Jonipulsory education, 
 050 ; Laws for the protection of minors, 551 ; Samuel J. Tilden governor, 552. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Centennial celebration and exhibition ; Savings-banks, 553 ; Investigations ; Frauds 
 discovered, 554 ; Canals in the State, 554 ; Their length and cost. .555 ; Railroads in the 
 State and their operations, 555 ; Public instruction, 556 ; New Slate House, 556, 557 ; 
 The aggregate jiublic debt ; Movements of population, 557 ; Products of industry. 55H. 559 ; 
 Marine archileclure, 559 ; Stale of popular intelligence, 559, 560 ; Books and periodicals ; 
 Money investments ; Benevolent and charitable institutions ; Litcrarj" and .scienlilic 
 societies, 500 ; Churches, 560, 561 ; The Hudson River and its associations, 561 ; Manors 
 and manor-houses on the Hudson, 562-565 ; Government House ; Attractions of New 
 York City, 566 ; New York City and its Larbor, 566, 567 ; Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty 
 Enlightening the World ; A metropolitan city, .567. 
 
 CHAPTER XLL 
 
 Religious and social a.spect of New York City; School of the Collegiate (Dutch 
 Reformed) Church, 568 ; Religious denominations in colonial New York ; An episco- 
 pacy opposed, 569 ; Political condition of colonial New York, 569, 570 ; Courts, trade, 
 and population in the colony ; How settlements were discouraged, 571 ; Statesmen, 
 jurists, historians, and other literary men, 572-575 ; AVriters on science, 575 ; The fine 
 arts andarlist.s, 575, 576. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The organization of the counties of the Slate ; Governors, colonial and Stale. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 A. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1. All)any, Seal of the City of 103 
 
 3. Albany County Seal 99 
 
 3. Albany, Plan of in 1695 138 
 
 4. Allegany County Seal oTB 
 
 5. Allerton. Isaac, Signature of. ... 49 
 
 6. Amherst, Jeffrey, Portrait of 179 
 
 7. Armstrong, John, Portrait of . . . . ol3 
 
 8. Andros, Eilniond, Signature of. . 91 
 
 9. Arnold, Benedict, Portrait of . . . . 310 
 10. Ato-tar-ho 8 
 
 B. 
 
 11. Batter}', Bowling Green, and Fort 
 
 George 19.j 
 
 13. Ba.xter, George, Signature of. ... 58 
 
 13. Bayard Arms, The lOG 
 
 14. Bayard, Xicliolas, Signature of. . lot! 
 l.j. Beeckman Arms, The Ill 
 
 16. Beeckman, Gerardus, Portrait of. 110 
 
 17. Beeckman, Gerardus, Signature 
 
 of 110 
 
 18. Beeckman, AVilliam, Signature 
 
 of ^ 73 
 
 19. Bellomont, Earl of. Portrait of. . 131 
 
 20. Bellomont, Earl of. Signature of. . 131 
 
 21. Bellows, Henry W., Portrait of.. 537 
 
 22. Berkeley, John, Signature of 94 
 
 23. Biilop House 340 
 
 24. Binnenhof, The 16 
 
 25. Bogardus, Everardus, Signature 
 
 of 34 
 
 26. Bolingbroke, Lord, Signature of. 13G 
 
 27. Bouck, W. C, Portrait of 498 
 
 28. Bradstreet, John, Signature of. . . 174 
 
 29. Brant, Joseph, Portrait of 270 
 
 30. Broome County Seal 578 
 
 31. Brown, Jacob 396 
 
 32. Brown's Jlonument 307 
 
 PAOB 
 
 33. Buffalo in 1813 469 
 
 34. Burnet, William, Portrait of 139 
 
 35. Burns's Coffee-House 198 
 
 36. Burr, Aaron, Portrait of 365 
 
 C. 
 
 37. Carr, Robert, Signature of 75 
 
 38. Carroll, Charles, Portrait of 239 
 
 39. Carteret, George, Siguature of. . . 94 
 
 40. Carterets, Arms of the 86 
 
 41. Cartwright, George, Signature of. 75 
 43. Castle Garden 461 
 
 43. Cattaraugus County -Seal 578 
 
 44. Cayuga County Seal 578 
 
 45. Champla.in, Samuel, Portrait of. 10 
 
 46. Chase, Samuel, Portrait of 239 
 
 47. Chautauqua County Seal 578 
 
 48. Chenango County Seal 578 
 
 49. Cincinnati, Order of the 330 
 
 50. Clark, Myron H., Portrait of 511 
 
 51. Clarke's Monument 1-53 
 
 53. Clermont, The 377 
 
 53. City Hall, The First 63 
 
 54. City Hall in 1700 136 
 
 .55. City Hall, Wall Street 344 
 
 56. Clinton Arms, The 154 
 
 57. Clinton County Seal 578 
 
 .58. Clinton, DeWitt, Portrait of 385 
 
 59. Clinton, George, Portrait of 399 
 
 GO. Clinton. James 384 
 
 61. Clinton's De.spatch 385 
 
 63. Clipper-built Schooner. A 439 
 
 63. Colden, Cadwallader, Se.-d of 140 
 
 64. Colden, Cadwallader, Signature 
 
 of 187 
 
 65. Colden, Cadwallader, Portrait of. 187 
 G6. CoUyer, Vincent, Portrait of 539 
 
 67. Columbia Coimty Seal 578 
 
 68. Constitution Hou.se at Kingston. 2.58 
 
 69. Cook, Lemuel 328 
 
II.M STHATIUNS. 
 
 70. Coopi'i-, Jjimcs Ffiiimnic, Por- 
 
 liait of .")74 
 
 71. C'onibuiT, Lord, Signiituir of. . . Kil 
 
 72. CornbuiT, Lonl. Poitrail of i;il 
 
 73. ('orlhiiul Coiinly Si-al .")78 
 
 74. ('ostuim'.s of Ilolliuidirs, l(i;iO... -20 
 
 75. Costumes and Funiilmc, 1740.. 149 
 
 76. Costunios. 1800 ;i6S 
 
 77. C"<)slumi-s about 18!52 477 
 
 78. Cniarer, John, Portrait of 3G1) 
 
 n. 
 
 79. Dearborn, Ilriiry, I'nrlrail (.f :!02 
 
 80. Dclawar.' County Seal ■>7i) 
 
 81. I)e Lai't, John, Signature of ()4 
 
 82. I)c Lancoy, James, Signature of. l.")8 
 
 83. I)e Lancey, James, Seal of lo8 
 
 84. De Lancey, Oliver, Signature of. 213 
 
 85. Do Pcyster Arms 130 
 
 86. D^ Pcyster, Abrabani. Portrait 
 
 of..." 12!) 
 
 87. De Peyster, Johannes, Seal and 
 
 Signature of 86 
 
 88. De Sille, Signature of 67 
 
 89. De Vries, David Pieter.sen, Por- 
 
 trait of 33 
 
 !Mi. Dix. .lolui .v., Portrait of 548 
 
 91. Di.v's (Jrder, Facsimile of 518 
 
 93. Doiigun, Governor, Signature of. 96 
 
 93. Duanc, James, Portrait of 350 
 
 94. Duchess County Seal 99 
 
 9.5. Duke of Vork's Seal 84 
 
 90. Dunmore, Governor, Signature 
 
 of 203 
 
 97. DuMiiiore, (iiivi'rnor. Seal of 203 
 
 98. Dutch (bun hat Albany 45 
 
 K. 
 
 99. Erie County Seal 578 
 
 100. Essex County Seal 579 
 
 101. Kveitscn. Admiral Cornclis, Por- 
 
 trait of 88 
 
 102. lOxecutive Privy Seal 504 
 
 F. 
 
 103. Fac-simile of Journal of the Con- 
 vention. 1788 340 
 
 rAUK 
 
 104. Federal Arms of the Five Na- 
 
 tions 7 
 
 105. Feiiton, Reuben E., Portrall of. . .537 
 lOG. Fish, llainihon. Portrait of ,507 
 
 107. Flag of Holland 81 
 
 108. Flag of the Dutch West India 
 
 Company 23 
 
 109. Fletcher, Governor, Seal and Sig- 
 
 nature of 117 
 
 110. Fort Plain IJlock-IIouse 306 
 
 111. Franklin, Dr., Portrait of 239 
 
 112. Franklin County Seal 579 
 
 113. Fulton County Seal 579 
 
 114. Fulton, Robert. Portrait of 376 
 
 115. l-'idUm the Firtd 378 
 
 G. 
 
 116. Garden Street Church 125 
 
 117. Gardiner Arms, The 43 
 
 118. Gates Medal, The 283 
 
 119. Genesee County Seal 579 
 
 120. Genet, E. C. , Portrait of 354 
 
 121. George III.. Statue of 199 
 
 122. Goshen, .Monument at 302 
 
 123. (Jouvcrneur, Abraliani. Signature 
 
 of '. Ill 
 
 134. Government IIous(; 566 
 
 125. Greene Co\inty Seal ... 579 
 
 126. Grinnell, Moses IL, Portrait of. . .523 
 
 ir. 
 
 127. Jliilf Moon . TIk- 13 
 
 128. Il.iiuillon. Alexander, Porlndtof. 337 
 
 129. Hamilton, Andrew, Portrait of.. 145 
 
 130. Hamilton and the People 146 
 
 131. Hamilton County Seal 579 
 
 132. Heathcote, Caleb, Portrait of 133 
 
 133. Heathcote, Caleb, Signature of.. 133. 
 i;«, Hindrick, King, Portrait of.. .. 166 
 
 135. I hrkiiiur County Seal 579 
 
 136. Hoirman. John T.. Portrait of.. .543 
 
 137. Hone, Philip, Portrait of 4t)5 
 
 138. Howe, Lord George, Portrait of. 175 
 
 139. Hudson, Henry, Portrait of 11 
 
 140. Hughes, Archi)ishop, Portrait of. 496 
 
 141. Hunt, Washington, Portrait of.. 508 
 
 142. Hunter, Rolx'rt, Signature of 137 
 
 143. Hunter, lU)bert, Seal of 137 
 
ILLUSTKATIO.NS. 
 
 I. 
 
 I'AUB 
 
 144. Iiidiim Fori, Altuck upon IT 
 
 145. IngoUlsliy. Kicliurd, Signature (if. \:& 
 
 146. Iroquois Cliieftain 8 
 
 147. Irving, Wii.sliington 573 
 
 148. Iziird. George, Portrait of 43(5 
 
 J. 
 
 149. James II., Portrait of 101 
 
 150. James II., Signature of 101 
 
 151. Jay, Jolui, Portrait of 257 
 
 152. Jay, William, Portrait of 451 
 
 153. Jefferson t'ouuty Seal 579 
 
 154. Jersey Prison Ship 249 
 
 155. Jogues, Isaac, Portrait of 47 
 
 156. Jolinson, Guy, House of 225 
 
 157. Jolinson, Sir John, Portrait of. . 231 
 
 158. Johnson, Sir William, Portrait of. 224 
 
 159. Johnson, Sir William, Signature 
 
 of 235 
 
 160. Johnson Hall 226 
 
 K. 
 
 161. Keg of Erie Water 467 
 
 162. Kent, James, Portrait of 448 
 
 163. Kieft. William, Signature of 39 
 
 164. King, John A 518 
 
 165. Kings County Seal 99 
 
 166. Knapp,Uzal, Portrait of 235 
 
 L. 
 
 167. Lamb, John, Portrait of 205 
 
 168. Lamb, John, Signature of 205 
 
 169. Leisler, Jacob, Seal and Signa- 
 
 ture of 107 
 
 170. Lewis County Seal 579 
 
 J71. Lewis, llorgan. Portrait of 374 
 
 172. Life Guard. Banner of 336 
 
 173. Links of Chain at West Point. . . 253 
 
 174. Livingston Arms, The 108 
 
 175. Livingston County Seal 579 
 
 176. Livingston. John, Portrait of. .. . 502 
 
 177. Livingston JIanor House 563 
 
 178. Livingston, .^lary. Portrait of. . . 562 
 
 179. Livingston, Robert. Portrait of. . 108 
 
 180. Living.ston, Philip, Portrait of. . . 221 
 
 181. Livingston, Robert R.. Portrait 
 
 of 345 
 
 PAGE 
 
 182. Loockermans, Govert, Signature 
 
 of 56 
 
 183. Lovelace. Lord. Signature of 133 
 
 M. 
 
 184. JIacdonough, Thomas, Portrait 
 
 of 429 
 
 185. Macomb, Alexander, Portrait of. 430 
 
 186. JIadison County Seal 579 
 
 187. llarcy, William L , Portrait of. . 479 
 
 188. Megopolensis. John. Signature of. 77 
 
 189. Melyn, Cornclis, Signature of . . 51 
 
 190. Milking-Time at Albany 150 
 
 191. Minuit, Peter, Signature of 27 
 
 192. Jlonckton, Robert, Signature of. 193 
 
 193. Monckton, Robert, Seal of 193 
 
 194. Monroe County Seal 579 
 
 195. Montgomery County Seal 583 
 
 196. Jlontgomery, Richard, Portrait 
 
 of." 329 
 
 197. Jlooers. Benjamin, Portrait of.. 427 
 
 198. Moore, Governor, Signature of.. 193 
 
 199. :\Ioore, Governor, Seal of 193 
 
 200. Morgan. Edwin I)., Portrait of.. 513 
 301. iMorris Arms, The 143 
 
 203. Morris, Gouverneur, Portrait of. 382 
 303. Morris, Lewis, Signature of 143 
 
 X. 
 
 204. New Amsterdam. 1664 79 
 
 205. New Amsterdam, Cottage at 80 
 
 206. New Amsterdam, Seal of 67 
 
 207. Neio Netherlancl. The 25 
 
 208. New Netherlaud, Jlap of 36. 37 
 
 209. New Netherlaud. Seal of 27 
 
 210. New State Capital (Frontispiece). 
 
 211. New York City, Seal of 95 
 
 313. New York County Seal 97 
 
 213. New York Province, Seal of . . . . 109 
 
 214. Niagara County Seal 583 
 
 215. Niagara, Fort 402 
 
 216. Nicolls, Richard. Signature of... 74 
 
 217. Nicholson. Francis, Signature of . 105 
 
 218. Normal School Building 488 
 
 O. 
 
 219. Oneida County Seal 582 
 
 220. Onondasra Countv Seal 583 
 
XVIll 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 2:21. Oiilario C'ownly iS«il -Wa 
 
 222. Oriiiigf County Seal 99 
 
 223. OiU-aiis County Stal 582 
 
 224. 0.swfgo County Seal 582 
 
 225. Oswego. Foit, in 1750 141 
 
 22(i. Otsego County Seal 582 
 
 P. 
 
 227. IVny. Oliver II.. Pnilniil of 405 
 
 228. Pliilipsc .Manor House ,565 
 
 229. Pilvc, Zeliulon .M.. Portrait of. . . 409 
 
 230. Pleasure Wagon, A Dulcli 69 
 
 231. Power, Nieliolns, Signature of.. 339 
 
 232. Public Instruction, Seal of De- 
 
 parlinent of 510 
 
 233. Publishing the Constitution 2.59 
 
 234. Put nam ('<iunly Seal 582 
 
 Q- 
 
 235. Queens County Seal 99 
 
 236. Queenstown, Ineident in the Hat- 
 
 tleat 394 
 
 R. 
 
 237. Randoliih, Peyton, Portrait of... 210 
 
 238. Handolijh, Peyton, Signature of. 21T 
 
 239. Red Jacket, Portrait of 423 
 
 240. Reid, Samuel C, Portrait of 440 
 
 241. Rensselaer County Seal 582 
 
 242. Rielnnond County Seal 99 
 
 243. Hiedesel, Baroness de, Portrait 
 
 of 265 
 
 244. Rivinglon. .lames, Porlr.-iil of... 233 
 
 245. Rivinglon, .lames, Signature of. . 234 
 
 246. Rohinson, Reverly, Portrait of. . 318 
 
 247. Robinson House, The 313 
 
 248. Rochainbeau, Portrait of 320 
 
 249. Rochester iji 1813 470 
 
 250. Rockland Counly Seal 582 
 
 251. Rogers, Robert. Portrait of 185 
 
 252. Roj/iil Snrdfif. Tlie 251 
 
 S. 
 
 253. St. Lawrence County Seal .582 
 
 254. Saratogji County Seal 583 
 
 355. Schenectady County Seal ..... 583 
 
 256. Schoharie County Seal .583 
 
 TAUE 
 
 257. Schuyler Arms, The 135 
 
 258. Schuyler County Seal 583 
 
 259. Schuyler, Peter, Portrait of 134 
 
 260. Schuyler, Philip, Portrait of 281 
 
 261. Scott, Winlield, Portrait of 422 
 
 262. Seju's, Isaac. Signature of 208 
 
 263. Seal, Fir.-it Great, of Kew York.. 332 
 
 264. Seal, Second Great, of New 
 
 York 333 
 
 265. Seneca County Seal 583 
 
 266. Seward, William II., Portrait of. 492 
 
 267. Seymour, Horatio, Portrait of... 509 
 
 268. Silver Bullet 285 
 
 269. Snake Device 212 
 
 270. Statue of Lil)erty, Barlholdi 567 
 
 271. Sleenwyck, Cornelis, Portrait of. 87 
 
 272. Steuben. Baron von, Portrait of. 322 
 
 273. Steuben's Monument 321 
 
 274. Steuben County Se.d 583 
 
 275. Stirling, Lord, Portrait of 245 
 
 276. Stone Mill at Plattsburg 428 
 
 277. Stone, William L., Portrait of... 463 
 
 278. Stuyvesant, Peter, Portrait of,. . 53 
 
 279. Stuyvesant. Peter, Signature of. . 78 
 
 280. Sinyvesiint's Seal 54 
 
 281. Sulfolk County, Seal of 99 
 
 282. Sullivan County Seal 583 
 
 283. Sullivan, .John, Portrait of 303 
 
 T. 
 
 284. Tables at Federal Dinner 351 
 
 285. Throop, Enos T., Portrait of 478 
 
 286. Ticonderoga, Fort, Ruins of. .. . 219 
 
 287. Tildeii, Samuel J., Portrait of. . 551 
 
 288. Tioga County Seal 583 
 
 289. Tompkins, Daniel I)., Portrait of. 380 
 
 290. Tompkins County Seal 583 
 
 291. Totemic Signatmvs. 6 
 
 292. Trinity Church. Old 120 
 
 2!t3. Tryon. Governor, Signature of. . 204 
 294. Tryon, Governor, Seal of 204 
 
 U. 
 
 295. Ulster Counly Seal 99 
 
 296. Underhill, John, Signature of... 50 
 
 297. United States Sanitary Commis- 
 
 sion Seal 528 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 XIX 
 
 298. 
 L'99. 
 ;i()0. 
 
 801. 
 
 303. 
 803. 
 304. 
 
 305. 
 306. 
 
 307. 
 
 308. 
 309. 
 
 310. 
 
 311. 
 313. 
 
 313. 
 
 314. 
 
 V. 
 
 I'AUE 
 
 Van Buren, Martin, Portrait of. . 446 
 
 Van Cortlandt Manor House 564 
 
 Van Cortlandt, Oloff S., Seal and 
 
 Signature of 61 
 
 Van Curler, Arendt, Sigiiatuic 
 
 of 44 
 
 Van Dam. Rip, Portrait of 142 
 
 Van Der Doncli, Slgnatiu'c of... 61 
 Van Dincklasen, Lubbertus, Sig- 
 nature of 38 
 
 Van Rensselaer Aims, The 46 
 
 Van Rensselaer, Killian, Signa- . 
 
 ture of 33 
 
 Van Rensselaer, Jeremias, Por- 
 trait of W 
 
 Van Rensselaer Manor House. . . . 561 
 Van Rensselaer, Stephen, Por- 
 trait of 395 
 
 Van Ruyvcn, Cornelis, Signature 
 
 of...." TS 
 
 Van Slcchtenhorst, Signature of. 60 
 Van Twiller, Walter, Signature 
 
 of 34 
 
 Varick, Richard, Portrait of 359 
 
 W. 
 
 Wampum Belt 19 
 
 lAGE 
 
 315. War Implements, Indian 294 
 
 316. Warren County Seal 583 
 
 317. Washington County Seal .583 
 
 318. Wasliiugton, Colonel George, 
 
 Portrait of 176 
 
 319. Washington's Headquarters, 
 
 Room in 326 
 
 320. AVatson, Elkanah, Portrait of. . . 348 
 
 331. Wayne, Anthony, Portrait of 399 
 
 332. Wayne County Seal 583 
 
 333. Wayne's Despatch 300 
 
 334. Webb, James Watson, Portrait 
 
 of 483 
 
 335. West India Company's House. . . 21 
 
 336. Westcliestcr County Seal 99 
 
 337. Wilkinson, James, Portrait of. .. 414 
 
 338. Willett, Marinus, Portmit of 273 
 
 339. Windmill, A Dutch 69 
 
 330. Wool, John E., Portrait of 535 
 
 331. Wooster, David, Portrait of 330 
 
 332. Wright, Silas, Portrait of 475 
 
 333. Wyoming County Seal 583 
 
 Y. 
 
 334. Yates, Jo.seph C, Portrait of 4.59 
 
 335. Yates County Seal 583 
 
 336. Young, John, Portrait of 506 
 
]IIST()IiV OF 
 
 THE STATE OF NEIW ^T)RI 
 
 V. 
 
 ClIAPTEIl I. 
 
 Xkw Yohk is raiikeil among' tliL' cuiiunoiiwt'iLltlis of our Hepublic as 
 ■■ Tile Eiii])ire State."' Wlierefore i Is it imperial in its various aspects 
 i>t' popnlation, M-ealtli, the products of its industries, its forests and 
 mines, its natural scenery, its eoniTuerce, and its institutions of learnini^ 
 and benevolence ; Let lis see. 
 
 The superficial ai'ea of Xew York is 4'.*,ih)ii s(|uare miles, including 
 its share of Lakes Erie and Ontario and the St. Lawrence Tliver. Its 
 surface is pictnresipiely diversitied witli lofty ranges of the Appalachian 
 cliaiu of Tnonntains, which crown the Atlantic slope of the continent 
 from the Gnlf region to the St. Lawrence, and with fertile valleys and 
 uplands, and nuiiierous lakes and rivers. 
 
 The loftiest mountain peak in the State is Blount Marcy, the T"-/i"- 
 ifiis or ■■ sky-piercer" of the Indians. It is one of the grand Adirondack 
 group in ^Northern New Y(irk. and rises to the altitude of over SAGO feet 
 above tide-water. 
 
 The chief river of the State is the Hudson, flowing from the springs 
 of the Adirondack Mountains, receiving nnmerous swift-running tribu- 
 taries, and is navigable for large vessels fully ItiO miles from the ocean. 
 It traverses a most picturesque and fertile region about 3U0 miles. 
 Along its whole course its waters and its banks are thickly clustered with 
 exciting and romantic historical and legendary associations. 
 
 New York is bisected east and west by the longest and best-equipped 
 canal in the world. It was constructed by the State (1817-:ioi, is 363 
 miles in length, and cost over S!t,ii(M),0(Mi. Its subsequent enlarge- 
 ment cost $2.5,0(1(1. (II Ml. There are ten other canals owned by the State, 
 the atrijre<'ate len<rth of M-hich is over 9(i(i miles. There are 133 rail- 
 I'oads in the State, having a tntal Iciiiitli in operation within the borders 
 of the comnuinwealth of nearlv 70M0 miles. 
 
2 TIIK KMI'im; STATK. 
 
 Tlio climate of New York is (ialuln'ious iind varied, liaving a ranee 
 wider than in any other niuniber of the Union. The State lies between 
 the parallels of 40° iO' and 45° north latitude. Its soil is productive 
 almost everywhere. In the value of its farm lands and general farm 
 ])roduets it leads all the other States. In 18S0, according to the tenth 
 national census, it had within its borders nearly 242,0(10 farms, embracing 
 over 23,000,fMi(i acres, of which nearly 18,000,000 acres were improved 
 land. The total value of the farms was more than $1,000,0(10.000. 
 Tlie State contained, in ISSo, nearly 4:^.iMin manufacturing cstablisliments, 
 employing about §515,000,000 of ("qiital, and jiroducing annually goods 
 valued at nearly Sl.litO,0(tO,(K)(i. 
 
 The population of the State in ISSu was 5,082,871, or 7!'l.t,!»8ii more 
 inlial)itants than any other State of the Republic, and embracing about 
 one tenth of the entire population of the thirty-eight United States and 
 the Territories. It also carries on its bosom seventeen cities, each having 
 a population of 20,000 and upward. Five of these cities have each a 
 ]ii)pulation of over 100,(10(1. Its system of puldic instruction is un- 
 rivalled. 
 
 These are a few of the many facts that miglit be presented in justifi- 
 cation of giving to New York tiie title of '" The Empire State." 
 
 This mighty fraction of the (ireat Ile])ublic of the West — this popu- 
 lous, wealthy, and powerful State — had its birth two centuries and three 
 ijuarters ago on the little island of Mannaliatta, or Manhattan, lying 
 where the fresh waters of the Hudson River lovingly commingle with 
 the brine of the Atlantic Ocean, .\round the cradle in which the infant 
 empire was rocked stood in wonder and awe representatives of an 
 ancient race, dusky and liarbarous in a.spect, whose early liistorv is 
 involved in the lioi)eless obscurity of myth and fable. 
 
 At the same time there was a barbaric repnlilic in tjie wilderness, 
 simple, pure, and ixiwerful. its cajiital seated a hundred leagues from 
 the .sea, among the beautiful hills and shadowy forests, glittering lakes 
 and sunny savannas, within the present domain of the State of New 
 '\ ork. Its western boundary mms the mighty Niagara River, a swift- 
 tlnwing .strait between two great inland seas, broken midway by a cata- 
 ract whi(;h has no etpnil on the earth in power, grandeur, and sublimity.'' 
 
 • Perhaps the first Europian wlio actuiilly saw ilu- Niajraia Kails %va.s Kadicr Ih-niii'- 
 jiiii, a missioniiry, who in liis Vni/iii/tii jrivi-s a (Ifsciiptiim ami a ru<U' drawiiiir of the 
 irreat woiulcr. Uv cstimatfd their liei;rhl much iricater than it really was. He also 
 shows in the jiictures a p<irtion of the stream spoulinfr from below a rock on the(presi-nt) 
 Canada shore, far athwart tlie L'reat Horse-shoe Fall. There have lurn many changes 
 within a comparatively few years in Ihe aspect of the Falls, owing to undermining and 
 
A BARBARIAN REPUBLIC. 
 
 3 
 
 Tlie existence of this repuiilic was uukiidwii to the nations beyond tlie 
 Atlantic, and unsnspected by them until Cartier sailed ii]) the St. Law- 
 rence River ; until Chaniplain penetrated the wilderness of J^orthern 
 New York, and Hudson voyaged up the beautiful river that bears his 
 name, and touched the eastern border of this marvellous amphictyonic 
 league known in history as " The Iroqnois Confederacy." The later" 
 history of this league is interwoven with the earlier history of the State 
 of New York, and forms an essential part of it. 
 
 The Indian trilics to whom the French gave the name of Irorpiriis in- 
 habited the State of New York north and west of the Catskill ^foun- 
 tains (the Kaatsbergs) and south of the Adirondack group, a part of 
 Northern Pennsylvania, and a por- 
 tion of Ohio some distance along 
 the sonthern shore of Lake Erie. 
 The Ilurons or Wyandots, who 
 occupied nearly the whole of Can- 
 ada south-west of the Ottawa River 
 between Lakes Ontario, Erie, and 
 Huron, seemed by their language 
 to have been a part of the Inxjuois 
 family, and these, with the tribes 
 south of the lakes, constituted 
 the Huron -L"oquois luition. They 
 were completely surrounded liy 
 the Algonquins, the most exten- 
 sive and powerful of the aborigi- 
 nal nations discovered within the 
 present boundaries of the United 
 States by the Mrst Eurojiean ad- 
 venturer. 
 
 The Iroquois Confederacy was originally composed of live related 
 families or nations, called, respectively, Mo/uiwbs, Oneidas, Onondagas, 
 Cayugas, and Senecas. According to their traditions, they had, in a 
 far-back period, l)een confined nnder a mountain at the falls of the 
 Oswego River. They were released by Ta-rimga-vm-gon, the Holder of 
 the Heavens, and were led by him to the Mohawk Valley. Wandering 
 eastward, they came to the Hudson River, and descended it to the sea. 
 
 AX IROQUOIS CHIKKTAIN. 
 
 abrasion by the water. Huge masses of rock have, from time to time, fallen into the 
 gulf below. Table Rock, from tlie side of which Hennepin's third stream wa.s pro- 
 jected, fell only a few years ago. The writer was upon tlie rnek less than twenty-four 
 hours before it fell. 
 
4 TlIK K.MI'lIti: SIAIK. 
 
 Itotuiniiifr to tlie iiimitli of the Mohawk Itiver, tliey travelled westward, 
 su))arated, and seated themselves at various points in tlie country ijetween 
 tlic Jhidson River and Lake Erie, in the order in which tliey are above 
 named. At tliat time tliere were six families. One of them, tlie 
 Tusearoras, soon wandered to the South, and seated tiiemselves on the 
 ^s\Mlse liivei' in Xnrtii Carolina. The five fann'lies who remained, 
 flniii;^li iif tiie same liluod, continually w;ii;eii crnci Mars ai:;aiiist each 
 other. 
 
 Tlie lluidcr <>{ tlie Heavens had never ceased iiis yuardianshij) of 
 these five nations after their release from their subterranean pri.son. On 
 account of the e.xcellence of his character, his wisdom, and his sagaeitv. 
 7'>>-r'ii(f-<i-v'(i-f/<M was called by the people Hi-d-ioat-ha — "' the very wise 
 man."' Tliey regarded him with profound veneration, and in ail things 
 followed liis advice. At length a fierce and ])owerfid tribe of barbarians 
 came from the country north of the lakes, fell upon the Onondagas — the 
 dwellers among the hills — laid waste their country, slaughtered their 
 Women and children, and plunged the Avliole nation into the depths of 
 des]>air. Tn their distress they hastened to Jlt-a-Wdi-ha for counsel, 
 lie advised them to call together all the tribes in a general council to 
 devise means for miirual defence. They agreed to tiie jiroposal. lie 
 appointed a ])lace for the assembling of the convention on the bank of 
 ( himidaga Lnke, and ])romised to meet with them there. 
 
 I'or three days the i-niincil tire had blazed before Ili-a-wat-ha arrived. 
 Jle had lieen devoutly praying in silence to the Great Spirit for guid- 
 ance. At length he apjiroached in a white canoe, gliding over the waters 
 of the lake, aceonipanied liy his darling daughter, twelve years of age. 
 Tli(!y were received with joy, and as they landed and walked toward the 
 council tire a .sound like a rushing wind w;us heard, and a dark .spot, ever 
 increasing in size, was seen descending from the sky. It was an 
 immense bird swoojnng down toward the spot where Jli-n-UHif-ha and 
 his child stood. Jle was unmoved. The bird fell upon his sweet daughter, 
 crushed her into the earth, and perished itself. For three days JH-ii- 
 'trat-h(( mourned his ehihl. Then he took his seat in the great council, 
 listenci] tn the debates, and said: *' Meet me to-morrow, and I will 
 iiiifoid to vdii my ])laii." They did so, when the venerated counsellor 
 arose and said : 
 
 " Friends and Urothers : You are members of many trii)es and nations. 
 ^ ou have come here, iminy of you, a great distance from your hniiies. 
 Wc liav(! met for one common purpose — to provide for onr common in- 
 terest — and that is to ))rovide for our mutual safety, and how it shah 
 ber^t l)e done. To oppose these foes from tlie north by tribes, singly 
 
TIIK IHiXJlOlS COXFKDEIiACV. 5 
 
 and alone, wmild i)n)vo our certain destruction. AVe can make no pro^--- 
 ress in that way. We must unite ourselves into one common hand <it' 
 l)rothers. Thus united we may drive the invaders hack. This must he 
 done, and we shall he safe. 
 
 '■ You, the Moliawhs, sitting- under the shadow of the ' (rreat Tree." 
 whose roots sink deep into the earth, and whose hranches spread over a 
 vast country, shall he the first nation, hecause you are warlike and 
 mighty. 
 
 '■ And you, OniiiJax, a people wlio recline youi- hoilies against the 
 ' Everlasting Stone," that cannot l)e moved, shall he tlie second nation, 
 hecause you give wise counsel. 
 
 " xVnd you, Onondaga-^, who have your hahitation at the "dreat 
 Mountain,' and are overshadowed l)y its crags, shall be the third natiim, 
 hecause yon are greatly gifted in speech, and are miglity in war. 
 
 " And you, Cayiigas, wliose habitation is the " Dark Forest," and 
 wliose home is everywhere, shall be the fourth nation, because of your 
 superior cunning in hunting. 
 
 " And you, Seneca-s, a people who live in the 'Open Country," and 
 possess much wisdom, shall be the fiftli nation, because you understaiwl 
 better the art of raising corn and beans, and making cabins. 
 
 " You, five great and powerful nations, must unite and have but one 
 common interest, and no foe shall be able to disturb or sul)dne ynu. If 
 we nnite, the Great Spirit will smile npon us. Rrotliers, these are the 
 words of Hi-a-irat-ha ; let them siidv deep into your hearts." 
 
 After reflecting upon the subject for a day, the live nations formeil a 
 league, liefore the council was dis]>ersed 7L'-a->':('f-/n' urged the people 
 to preserve the union they had fonneil. "" Preserve this,"" he said ; 
 " admit no fureign element of pf)wer by the admission of other nations, 
 and you will always be free, numerous, and happy. If other triites and 
 nations are admitted to your councils tliey will sow the seeds of jealousy 
 and discord, and you will l)ecome few, feeble, and enslaved. Remendier 
 these words ; they are the last you will hear from IFi-a-witt-hn. The 
 Great Master of Breath calls me to go. I have patiently waited his 
 sumnums. I am ready to go. Farewell \" 
 
 At that moment myriads of singing voices burst uj)on the ears of the 
 multitude, and the wliole air seemed filled with music. lIl-<(-wat-ha, 
 seated in his white canoe, rose majestically above the throng, and as all 
 eyes g.ized in rapture upon the ascending wise num. he disappeared for- 
 ever in the blue vault of heaven. The music melted into low whispers, 
 like a soft sunmier breeze. There were ])leasant dreams that night in 
 every cai)in and wigwam occupied by the members of the (ireat Comu-il. 
 
Tin; EMI'lUK STATE. 
 
 and ;ill tlic Five Nations woro iiiadc lia])|)V liy tlu' annmiiiceinent of tlic 
 ylail tidinics aiiioii}' thuiu. 
 
 This confedoracy was called Ko-no-sht-oni — the '• cabin-builders'' — the 
 '• Long House,'' which extended from tlie Hudson River to Lake Erie. 
 The ^[ohawks kept the eiustern door and the Seneciis the western door. 
 Tlie (ireat Council Fire, or Federal Capital, w;ui with the Onondagas. 
 This inetrojtolis was a few miles south of (present) Syracuse. 
 
 Sncli is the traditionary history of tlio formation of the great L'oquois 
 Confederacy. It is, of course, emljellisiied by fancy, but it is un- 
 doubtedly correct in every essential particular. \t wjiat time this league 
 «'a.* formed cannot lie accurately determined. It was probably not earlier 
 than tlie year 154(i. Jacques Cartier, who ascended the St. Lawrence to 
 
 I 
 
 ■r<lTK.Mt( sli;,\ATI'l{ICS. 
 
 the site ui Montreal in 1."):!."), showed, by a vocabulary of liulian words 
 wliicii he made, that the Iroquois language was spoken there, probably 
 by the Ilurons ; but he makes no reference to any Indian confederacy. 
 
 The polity of the Iroquois League was as purely democratic as possible 
 in spirit, l>nt it took the representative or republican form for con- 
 venience. It was a league for mutual defence, not a political union. 
 There was a wide distribution of power and civil organization, which was 
 a safeguard against tyranny. Each canton or nation was a distinct re- 
 public, independent of all others in relation to its domestic affairs, but 
 each was bound t() the others of the league by ties of honor and general 
 interest. Each canton had eight i)rincipal sachems, or civil magistrates, 
 and several inferior sachems. The whole number of civil magistrates in 
 the confederacy amounted to nearly two hundred. There were fifty 
 liereditarv sachems. 
 
THE TOXEMIC SYSTEM. 
 
 Eacli canton or ii.atioii was .sul)divi(led into elans or tribes, each clan 
 having a heraldic insignia called tohm. For this insignia one triKe would 
 have the figure of a wolf ; another, of 
 a bear ; another, of a deer ; another, of 
 a tortoise, and so on. By this toteni- 
 ic system they maintained a perfect 
 tribal union.* After the Europeans 
 <'anie the sachem of a trilie athxed his 
 totem, in the form of a rude represen- 
 tation of the animal that marked his 
 tribe, to documents he was required to 
 sign, like an ancient monarch affixing 
 his seal.f 
 
 Office was the reward of merit 
 alone ; malfeasance in office brought 
 dismissal and public scorn. All public 
 services were compensated only Ijy 
 public esteem. The league had a 
 president clothed with powers simi- 
 lar to those conferred on the Chief Magistrate of the Fnlted States, 
 lie had authority to assemble a congress of representatives of the league. 
 He had a cabinet of si.x advisers, and in the Granil Council he was 
 moderator. There was no coercive j)ower lodged anywhere excepting 
 public opinion. 
 
 KKi)i:nAi, Aims OF TirK fivj: satioxs 
 
 '■ The chief totems of the Five X;itious — tlie bf<u\ tlie irolf, the Oetv, the tortoise, auil 
 l\\c heaver — were, one of them, tlie disting\iishiug marli of the delegate of each nation 
 at the Graud Council or Congress of the Coufedeiatiou, and appeared on his person. 
 These constituted the Federal arms of the Confederacy when combined. 
 
 t There were many toteniic symbols besides those named, such as different biixls — the 
 eagle, the heron, the turke}', and the plover. 
 
 The signatures on page 6 were cojiied from the originals on documents. Fig. 1 is a 
 tortam : Fig. 2 is the signature of King Ilendrick, with his totem, a. deer ; Fig. 3 is a 
 potato totem : Fig. 4, an earjlu totem ; Fig. .■). a (r"(/' totem, and Fig. 6, a heiirer totem. 
 Many totemic signatures are rudely drawn, while some are ijuite artistic and correct. 
 
 The tortdine. the milf, and the hear were the totems of the three families into which 
 each nation was divided. In his stirring metric.-d romance, Froiitetmc, the late Alfred 
 B. Street, describing the aggressions and the supremacy of the Iroquois, thus alludes to 
 these totemic symbols of a fierce tribe : 
 
 '■ B.v the far Mississiiipi ilie mini chrank 
 When the trail of the lortoUt was seen on it.-* hank : 
 On the hills of Xe«- Eneland the Pequod turned pale 
 When the howl of the H'o//'fvvellwl at nisht on the gale ; 
 And the Cherokee ehook in hig ffreen smilini; bowers 
 When the foot of the I/tar Ntainp'd his carpet of iloHcr> " 
 
II 1 1: i;\ii'ii;i; >iwrK. 
 
 Tlie tir.st chosen presiiloiir of rlio lea<;iie w:is tlie vfiiicTahle Ato-far-ho. 
 a famous Onoiulaija cliiuf. TIil- Indian traditions invest him witli ex- 
 traordinary attriitutos. lie is i-epi'osenti-d as living, at tlie time ho was 
 chosen, in grim eeclnsiun in a s\\anii>, wliere liis dislies and drinking-cnps, 
 like tliose of tlic old Scandinavian warriors, weiv maih' of tlie skulls of 
 his enemies slain in iiatfle. When a delegation of ^fohinvks went tf) offer 
 him the syndtol of supreme powt'r, they found Jiiin >itting in calm repose, 
 smoking his jiipe, but was iinapproacliai)le because he was (dotlied with 
 hissing snakes — the old story of Medusa's tresses. They tinally invested 
 liim with a broad belt of wampum as the highest token of authority. 
 
 The nnlitary power donnnated the civil power in the league. The 
 military leaders were called chiefs. They derived their authority from 
 
 the people, aTid they sometimes, like the 
 Roman soldiers, deposed sachems or civil 
 rulers. The army was composed wholly of 
 volunteers. Conscription was impossible. 
 Every ablc-liodied man was bound to do 
 nnlitary iluty, and he who shirked it in- 
 curreil everlasting disgrace. The ranks 
 weie always full. The war-dances were 
 the lecnuting stations. Whatever was done 
 in civil councils was subjected to review 
 by the soldiery, who had the right to call 
 councils when they pleased, and to approve 
 or disaj>pi'ove public measures. Kvery im- 
 portant measure was undertaken only after 
 unanimous consent had been given. 
 The matrons formed a third and most powerful ]>ai'ty in the legislature 
 of the league. They had a right to sit in the councils, and held and 
 exercised the veto powiM- on the subject of a declaration of war. They 
 had authority to demand a cessation of hostilities, and they were enn'- 
 nently peace-makers. It was no retlectioii u])on the courage of warriors 
 if, at the call id' the matrons, they withdrtiw from tlu; war-path. These 
 women wielded great intlncnce in the councils of the league, l)Ut they 
 modestly delegated the duties of s])eech-making to sume masculine 
 orator. With these bai'iiarians woman wms man's coworker in legislation 
 — a thing yet uid<nown among civilized peojde. Such was the ])olitv of 
 the Iroijuois ( 'onfe<h'iacy when it was discovt'red by Kuro|)eans. •■' 
 
 \l<> TMMIO. 
 
 ■^ " .Vs I am fiirciil lulliliik." says Dr. i'nUUn i//i.il'n/j of t/ii Fin Inilinii .\<ili'iiiKi. 
 '■ lliat till' iircscnt stall' of lUv Iiiiliii ii Xntion exactly sliows tlu' .\fniit Aiiriint and Orii/iinil 
 (''•iiilltl'iii cif aliiKisl cvrrv Nritioti : so I liclicvc lure wr inav. with more ci'rtaiiity, %cc 
 
I'oWKi; (IF ■niK K1\K \.\Tl(>NS-( IIAMI'I.AIX, 
 
 Tlie ■■ in:ilien;il)le rights of luau" were lield in .sucli reverence by the 
 Iroquuis tliat they never made slaves of their fellow-men, not even of 
 captives taken in war. By unity they were made powerful ; and to pre- 
 vent degeneracy, members of a 
 tribe were nut allowed to inter- 
 marry with each other. Like the 
 RuMuins, they caused tiie expan- 
 sion of tlu'ir commonwealth by 
 conquests and annexation. Had 
 the advent of Europeans in Am- 
 erica been postponed a centiii-y, 
 the Confederacy might have em- 
 braced the whole continent, for 
 tiie Five Nations had already ex- 
 tended their conquests from the 
 great lakes to the (xuif of Mexi- 
 co, and were the terror of the 
 other nations East and West. 
 
 For a long time the French in 
 Canada, who taught the Indians 
 
 the use of tire-arms, maintained a doubtful struggle against them. Cham- 
 plain " found the Iroquois at war against the Canada Indians from Lake 
 
 SAMl l;i. ( II \MI"I.AIN. 
 
 tlie Ori(jiiuil Fanits of all Oowrumenta than in the most nrn'ous xpenilationn of tlio 
 Leiirucd ; and that the Patriarchal and other Srluiiita in Politicks are no better than 
 Iljipothescs in Philoxophy, and as prejudieial to real knowledge." 
 
 The total population of the Confederacy at the advent of llie Eiir(i|ic:ins <li(I not ex- 
 ceed probably 13,000. The Senecas «>emed lobe the more numerous. They were found 
 to possess many of the better features of civilization. Tliey had framed cabins ; cultivated 
 the soil ; manufactured stone implements and pottery ; made i-lothini;' and foot-gear of 
 the skins of animals ; fashioned canoes of bark or of logs hollowed by tire and stone 
 a.xes. and showed some military skill and acumen in the construction of fortifications. 
 
 * Samuel C'haniplain was an eminent French na\igator, born at Tirouage. France, in 
 156" ; .served in the Spanish navy ; was pensioned by his king, ami wa^ induced by J[. de 
 Cliastes, Governor of Diep[)e. to explore and prepare the way lur .1 enlony on the bank^ 
 of the St. Lawrence River. He was commis-sioned Lieutenaiit-tJcncral of ( 'aii.id.i. ilr 
 ascended the St. Lawrence in May. 1603, and landi'd on the site of (Quebec In a subse- 
 quent voyage he planted the banner of France at (Juebec — the capital of the dominion. 
 In order to gain the friendship of the Indians, he was iialuced to join tliem. with a few 
 Frenchmen, in an expedition a,gainst their enemies the Irocpioii. Tliey w<'nt up the Sorel 
 River from the St. Lawrence in twenty-four canoes, into the " Lake of the Iroquois. " 
 and on its lower western border (July 39th, 1609) had a sharp <'ngagement with llu' foe. 
 The arquebuses of the Europeans secured an easy victory. This was the first European 
 invtt.sion of the c-ountry of the Iroquois. The light occurred between ("rown I'oinf and 
 Lake George, iml i'.ir from Seliroon (Scarron) Lake. Cliamplain gave his name t" the 
 larirer l.-ikc. 
 
1" I'lIK KMI'IUK STATK. 
 
 Huron ti> tlu> (Jiilf f>f St. Lawroiicc. I To foiii,'lit tlieiii on tlie liordei's of 
 Luko ('iKiiiiphiiii ill ICiO'.t, and from tliat time- until tiie niiddio of the 
 ciMifurv tlicir wars against tlio f'anada Indians and tliuir Frencii alliu's 
 weru tierce and distrcssiiiir. 
 
 Tlie Tuscaroras, in Xortli C'arolina, entered into a fonsi)irat'_v witii 
 other Indians in 1711 to exterminate the wliite people there. Tliey 
 fidl like lightning upon the scattered (lerniau settlements along the 
 KoanuUe liiver and Pandico Sound. In one night they slew one hun- 
 <lred and thirty persons. With knife and torch they desolated the settle- 
 ments ah)ng the shore.s of Albemarle Sound. South (^arolinians speil to 
 the rescue of their smitten ncigldiors in 1712, and in the spring of 1713 
 the Tuscaroras were driven itito their stronghold, where eight hundred 
 <if them were made prisoners. The remainder fled to their kindred — 
 the Five Nations — in ,Hmo. and remaining there, formed the sixtli nation 
 of the Iroipiois riCagne. 
 
 It was after this union that the m((st important events in the history 
 of the league, as connected witii the Kuropean iidial)itants of the 
 I'rovinco and State of New York, occurred. As the wars of the leajjue 
 with otliei- liarharians, which occurred before the advent of the Euro- 
 ])cans, liave no Ituariug upon tlic curly ]n"story of Xew York, I will for- 
 bear alluding to them. 
 
 I'pon the walls of the (iovernor's liooni, in the City Hall, New 
 York, liangs a dingy ])ortrait of a man apparently thirty-tive or forty 
 years of age. It was painted, probably, about three hundred years ago. 
 His hair is dark and short, and so is his full beard. His forehead is 
 broad, and his eyes are expressive of intelligence and good-nature. His 
 neck is encircled by an ample "ruff,'" such as men wore late in the 
 reign of C^ueen Elizabeth. It is claimed that this is an original picture 
 from life of IIenky Hudson,* a famous English navigator, who, in tlie 
 service of some London merchants, attempted to make a voyage from 
 Great Britain to China and Japan through the jiolar waters north of 
 Europe and Asia early in the seventeenth century. lie failed, and was 
 afterward employed for the same purpose by the Dutch East India Com- 
 
 * Ilt'luT Hudson was a native of England. l)orn at about tlie middle of the sixteenlli 
 century. Of liis early life iiotliiiij; is known. He a|>i)ears to have been an expert Tiavi- 
 iiator. and employed, as wo liave observed in the te.xt. by both English and Duteli 
 merchants in searching for a norlh-ea.st passage to the East Indies. Failing in this effort, 
 he sailed we.stward to Anverica. entered a spacious land-loi-ked bay into which poured the 
 water.s of a mighty river, and tip which he .sjiiled one luuidred and sixty miles. His 
 name wa.s given to il. as its di.seoverer and fir.st explorer. After various tribulations he 
 made a fourth voyage, in Kilt), toward tin- I'olar waters, descendeil the great bay tliat 
 bears Ins name, and there jn'rished. 
 
iirnSoNS VOYAGES AM) DISCOVERIES. 
 
 11 
 
 paiiy. He sailed from tlic Tcxel in ;i yaelit of ninety tons nained the 
 Half Moon, with a select crew, in the spring of IfiiiK. He steered foi- 
 the coast of Xova Zenibla. On the meridian of Spitzbergen he was con- 
 fronted, as before, by impassable ice 
 and fogs and tempest, and com- 
 pelled to abandon the enterprise. 
 Then he resolved to sail in search of 
 a nortli-west passage " below Virgi- 
 nia," spoken of by his friend Cap- 
 tain Smith. He passed the southern 
 capes of Greenland, and in July 
 made soundings on the banks of 
 Newfoundland. Sailing southward, 
 he discovered Delaware Bay. He ;. 
 voyaged as far as the harljor of ~ 
 Charleston, when, disappointed, he 
 turned his prow northward, and early 
 in September sailed into the beauti- 
 ful New York Bay * and anchored. 
 Sending men ashore in a boat, they saw- 
 colored inhal)itants, some of M'liom fi)ll(>weil them in their canoes on 
 their return. 
 
 From his anchorage Hudson saw a broad stream stretching northward. 
 In the purple distance appeared the forms of lofty hills, through and 
 beyond which the dusky inhabitants who swarmed around his ship in 
 canoes told him there was a mighty river which felt the pulsations of 
 the tides of the sea. Believing tiiis stream to be a strait flowing between 
 oceans, he sailed on Avith joyous hope, not doubting he would be the 
 
 HENRY HTTDSON. 
 
 many aln 
 
 lost naked, cop])ei 
 
 * A claim has been made that .John Vi'i'azzano, a Florentine in the maritime service 
 of King Francis I. of France, discovered New York Bay iu 1.534. It is asserted thai he 
 traversed the American coast from Cape Fear to latitude 50° N., when lie returned to 
 France. The sole authority upon which this claim rests is a letter alleged to have lieen 
 written by the navigator to Francis I., in the sinnmer of 1.534. This letter w'as first pub- 
 lished at Venice in 1.5.50. No French original is known to exist, nor has there been found 
 in the French archives of that period even an tiUusion to such a voyage. Verazzano 
 was an adventurer. He was also a corsair, and was captured on the coast of Spain and 
 hanged as a pirate at the village of Pico, in November. 153T. There is good reason for 
 believing that the alleged letter of Verazzano is a forgery. In it is given a most confused 
 account of the " seven hundred leagues of coast " traversed. It is said in it tli.-it a bay 
 was discovered, but no data to determine whether it was Delaware. New York, or Narra- 
 gansett Bay. It is safe to relegate to the realm of pure tiction such a vague and untrust- 
 worthy statement, even if the letter was genuine, as a foumlatiou for a belief that Ver- 
 azzano evvr saw New York Bay. 
 
13 
 
 TIIK KMl'IKK STATK. 
 
 discoverer of tlic loiig-songht north-west passage to tlie Indies. Alas ! ! 
 wlicn lie had passed the nionntaiiis the water freshened and the stream 
 narrowed. Hope failed hini : l)ut he voyaged on through a land of won- 
 dnius hcanty and fertility — " as heautifnl a land as tiic foot of man can 
 tread njinn,"" he saiil^a land ])('opled hy vigorous men and hcautiful 
 women, wiio <'ame to liis vessel, and abounding witii fur-hearing animals. 
 ll('s;iiicil on until lie reaehi^l the head of tide-water, and some of his j 
 crew in a small iioat jiassed hy the foaming (iataract of Cohoes at the 
 mouth of the ^fohawk Uiver, and went several miles farther. Had 
 Hudson penetrated the wilderness a few leagues farther northward he 
 might have met ( 'hamplain, who was then exploring the lower borders 
 of the '■ J^ake of the Iro<pu>is,"' whieh afterward bore his own name. 
 
 THE II Al.F MOON. 
 
 iliulson retiirucid to his tirst anchorage in the beautiful harbor into 
 which it has l)een claimed Verazzano. the Florentine navigator, hail 
 sailed more than fourscore years before. He took formal possession ()f 
 the country in the name of the States-G<!neral of Holland, sailed out 
 ii])oii tli(! ^Vtlantic, and hastened to Eiu'ope to tell his glad tidings to his 
 emj)loycrs. He tirst landed in Kiigland, and there told his wonderful 
 story. As he was an Knglish siU)ject, King James claimeil the land he 
 had iliseovered as a rightful ])ossession of the British crown. It was 
 ^vithin tlu; bomids of the North Virginia charter which he had granti^l. 
 •Vdiled to these considerations was jealousy of the commercial advantages 
 the Hollanders might derive from Hudson's discovery. The monarch, 
 determined to secure to his erown every political right to the territory 
 and every c<>nunereial advantage po.ssible for his subjects, woidd not allow 
 
INDIAN NAMES OF TIIK IIIDSON lilVEP.. 13 
 
 tlic navigator and his vessel to leave England for a long time ; Imt 
 Hudson had sent liis log-book, his charts, and a full account of his 
 discoveries to the authorities of tiie Dutch East India Company at Am- 
 sterdam. 
 
 These accounts so powerfully excited the cupidity of the Dutch that 
 while King James was devising schemes for British political and com- 
 mercial advantages, adventurers from Holland had opened a brisk fur 
 trade with the Indians on the island of Manhattan. Acting upon the 
 princi]ile and the practice of the saying, " Possession is nine points of the 
 law."" tiie Dutch, at the mouth of the river discovered by Hudson, kept 
 British authoritv and dominion at bav more than fifty vears.* 
 
 * The Indians on the upper portion of the great river discovered by Hudson called it 
 Ca-lui-ha-ta-ti'ii ; those of the middle portion. Hhnt-tc-muc, and the Delawares and tlie 
 dwellers in its lower portion, M(i-lii-ciii(-ittiick, the " place of the Mohicans." The Dulcli 
 niun<>d it the Mniiritiuis. in honor of their jrreat prince. Miiurice. Stadtholder of llic 
 Xethi-rlands ; and the English named it ///frf.m;/'» if/iv/' in compliment of its discoverer. 
 L'lilil williin a comparatively few years, it was frecjuently called Xnith Rirer. It was so 
 designated at an early period to distinguish il fnmi tlir Delaware, which was called the 
 So'ith Ricer. 
 
14 Till-; KMriKi: st.vtk. 
 
 CIIAi'TEU II. 
 
 Tx less tlian tlirec years after liis great (liscovery Iludsoii and liis gallant 
 little yacht perisliud. Not permitted to leave England, Hudson entered 
 the service of an English company, and in the spring of 161<i he sailed in 
 quest of a north-west passage to India. Passing Iceland, he saw Hecla 
 flaming. Kounding the southern capes of Greenland, he went through 
 Davifi's Strait to the ice-floe beyond, and entered tlic great bay that 
 bears his name. There he endured a dreary winter, and at midsummer, 
 IGll, his mutinous crew thrust him into a frail and open shallop, with 
 his son anil seven others, and cast them adrift to perish in the waste of 
 waters. riiili|) Stalfe, the ship's carpenter, olitained leave to share the 
 fate of Iiis (•(iiuiuander. The Ifulf Moon sailed to the East Indies in 
 the s])ring of Kill, and in ^larch, the next year, she was wrecked and 
 lost on the island of Mauritius. 
 
 Hudson's discovery bore abundant fruit iMimediately. Wealthy mer- 
 chants of Amsterdam sent a shij) from the Texel laden witii clieap mer- 
 chandise suitable for traffic with the Indians for the furs and peltries of 
 the beaver, the otter, and the l>ear. As soon as the Half Mfinn returned 
 to Xew Amsterdam she, too, was sent on a like errand to Manhattan, 
 wliich became the entrepot for the collection and exportation of furs 
 gathered by the Indians from the regions of the Delaware and the 
 Ilonsatonic rivers, and even from the far-off Mohawk Valley, wiiere 
 dwelt the eastern nation of the Iroquois Republic. This was the begin- 
 ning of peaceful intercourse lietwccn the Europeans and the dusky Five 
 Nations. 
 
 ^laiiy private ailventurers were soon engaged in traffic with the 
 Indians, and the Ilongcrs, the Pelgraves, and the Van Tweenhnysens, of 
 Holland, Avere getting rich on the enormous j)rofits derived from the 
 trade.* T'aptains TJe Witt and Ciiristiunsen, I'.lock and Mey were 
 becoming famous navigators in coniu'ction with this trade before the 
 free cities of Holland had cast a political glance toward the newly-dis- 
 covei'ed country. But when its importance became manifest, and King 
 
 * Ilsins Honjrcrs, Paul Pclirnivc, iUid Liimbrccht Twppnliuvst'n. niciclmiils nf .Viiistcr- 
 •lam. were the I'lirlitsi Dutili Irailris for furs wiili llic Indians at Manlialtan. In l<il3 
 ihpT equipped two vess<'ls, \\\c F'lrliiiu and tlic Tir/ir, for trade alonir llie Iliidson River 
 These vessels were conunanded respectively h\ Captains Christiansen ami Hloi-k. 
 
PLANTING TITK SKKI) OF KMPIRK. ]•> 
 
 James of Clreat Britain l)ei,^aii to growl because the Dutch weri'- 
 iiioiiopdliziny the fur trade upon liis chiimed doinain, tlie States-(;eiierul 
 I if Ilolhiiid ■■■ seriously considered the matter. 
 
 Within five years after Hudson departed from Manhattan a little seed 
 of empire, less promising than that planted by Dido, Cecrops, or 
 Romulus, but of far higher destiny, was deposited there. In December, 
 1613, Adrien Block, a bold Dutch navigator, was about to sail from 
 Manhattan for Amsterdam with a cargo of bear-skins when fire reduced 
 liis vessel — the Tiger — to ashes. The small storehouse of the traffickers 
 could not afford shelter to Block's crew, and the wigwams of the Indians, 
 freely offered, could not shield them from the biting frosts ; so they 
 built log-cabins, and from the stately oaks which towered around them 
 they constructed another vessel, which they called the Oiiru.si — the 
 " Eestless"- — forty-four feet long and eleven feet wide, and of sixteen 
 tons Inirden. AVith another cargo of furs the Onruat sailed for Holland 
 in the spring of 161-t.+ That little collection of liuts on the site of the 
 stately warehouses of Beaver Street, and that little vessel, which was 
 launched at the foot of Broadway, composed the fertile little seed of 
 empire planted on Manhattan — the tiny l)eginning of the great commer- 
 cial metropolis of the Western Hemisphere. 
 
 Doubtful as to the real disposition of the Indians around them, the 
 Dutch seem to have palisaded their storehouses at the southern end of 
 Manhattan Island for a defence if necessary. In l(il4 ('aptain Chris- 
 tiansen, who had made ten voyages to Manhattan Island, sailed up the 
 Mauritius (now the Hudson River), and on an island a little below the 
 site of Albany he erected a fortified trading-house, and called it Fort 
 Nassau. This was on the l>orders of the Inxpiois Hepublic. Tlie islet 
 was afterward called Castle Island. 
 
 Meanwhile the several United Provinces of the Netherlands had peti- 
 tioned the States-General or Congress of Holland to pass an ordinance 
 securing a monopoly of the trade with the Indians on the Mauritius for 
 a limited time to Dutch adventurers who might undertake the business. 
 This was done in the spring of lOl-t. 
 
 Merchants of Amsterdam and Ilooru formed a company, and at the 
 
 * The niiiiic iiiven to the Parliaiiient oi- Congress of the United Provinces of Holland. 
 
 f Block, the lirst shipbuilder on :Manliatt;m Island, sailed up the East River into Long 
 Island Sound ; discovered the Connecticut River : explored the New England eoiists 
 ea.stward ; entered and explored Narragansett Bay ; sailed to Martha's A'ineyard and 
 Cai)e Cod, and at the latter place left the ()iini.st. and proceeded to Holland in a vessel 
 coninianded by Captain Christiansen. He was afterward scut in conunand of some ves- 
 sels employed in the whale-tishery near Siutzbergen, iu ItSl"). 
 
lU 
 
 Tin: i.MiMKi; siati; 
 
 iiiidillo of -\\ij^usr, lt;i4, ilic-v seiita (li'|)uiMiii>ii inilio Dutcli c-onrt at the 
 Hague tn olitaiii acliarter of special jin'vi leges [jroniised liy the oriliiiance. 
 Before an oval table in tlic I>iiiiienliuf, a room in the aiieieiit jialace of 
 the Counts of Holland, tiie cliief representative of tiie niercliaiits, Cap- 
 tain Ilendi-ieksen, stood and f])read hefore tlieir High Migiitinesses. the 
 members of the States-General, twelve in ninnber, a '' figurative map'" 
 of their discoveries in the AVestcrn Hemisphere. He gave details of the 
 adventures of the iiavigatois and traders, their expense^ and losses. 
 
 ^i}y^ 
 
 TIIK IlINNKMIOK 
 (Tlie PiilHoi' of Ihf C'dHllls of Ilnllailil at llir Hut''"-'*). 
 
 The leading repre-sentative of the State, before mIiomi liendricksen 
 pleaded, was the famous .Tulni \\\\\ Olden r)arneveldt,+ the Advocate of 
 Holland. 
 
 - For four liiiiidrcd years tlic {'(iiinls of llollaiul made llu'ir residence at the lla^;ue. 
 There yet stands a stra;r.irlin<: ])ile of Imildiniis snrnmndinir ii vast ([uadranirle on one 
 side of which is llie Binnerihof. the palaee of tile Counts of llollanil for many irenera- 
 tions. There, in a spacious hall, the States-General constantly held their ordinary 
 meetinirs. 
 
 + Barnevcldt was a most lilieral :ind enliirliteiied statesman of Holland, and one of tlic 
 most loyal of citi/.ens. He wa.s iR-rseciUed by jioliticid and reli^rioiis fanaticism, and tin- 
 spite of Prince Maurice, the Stadlholder. and was finally beheaded in front of the Tiinneii- 
 liof on May ISMh, IGlit, condemiwd on a false cliarLjc of treason. 
 
CHAUTEK OF NEW NETHERLAND. 
 
 17 
 
 CHAM PLAIN S ATTACK ON THE INDIAN FOKT.* 
 
 (From a i)riDt iu a narraiivu of his voyages.) 
 
 A charter was granted to the merchants on Octoher lith, 1014, wliieli 
 defined tlie region wherein they were permitted to operate as " between 
 the fortieth and forty-fifth degree" of north latitude — between the par- 
 allels of Cape May and Xova Scotia. In that document the name of New 
 Netheklaxd was given to the domain lying "' between Virginia and 
 Kew France." Notwithstanding this domain was included in the royal 
 grant to the Plymouth Company of England, no settlement had been 
 made by the English above Richmond, iu Virginia, and no formal terri- 
 torial jurisdiction had been claimed by them ; and the Dutch were not 
 disturbed in their traffic or political jurisdiction for a long time. 
 
 Tiie Dutch on Manhattan Island and at Fort Xassau were continually 
 exploring the neighboring regions and assiduously cultivating the friend- 
 
 * The fort was really the fortified " walls" that enclosed an Iroquois village. It was 
 composed of quadruple palisades of large timber, thirty feet high. " interlocked the one 
 with tlie other." wrote C'hamplaiu. " with an interval of not more than half a foot between 
 them, with galleries in the form of parapets, defended by double pieces of timber, proof 
 against our arquebuses, and on one side they had a pond with a never-failing supply of 
 water, from which proceeded a number of gutters which they had laid along the interme- 
 diate space, throwing the water without, and rendering it effectual inside, for the purjxise 
 of extinguishing fire." The galleries were well supplied with stones which the garrison 
 hiivled upon their enemies. An attempt was made to set fire to the fort, but failed. 
 Tile assailants constructed movable towers of timber to overlook tlie parallels, iu which 
 to plai-c fuur or live anpU'busiers. See ne.\t page. 
 
18 TllK HMI'lUK STATK. 
 
 Klii|) of tliu liarhariaiis arrmiid tliem, wliilo tlio Frciicli in Canada were 
 arousiiiir the liostility of tlic Iroijuoi.s l)y joining tliuir I'lioniies in making 
 war n[)oii tljoiii. Tliis was done to secure tlie friendshij) of tlie Canadian 
 Indians. 
 
 Ill tlie early autumn of 1<!1,") Samuel ( luuiiplMiii (already noticed), 
 tlien at Montreal, with ten Frenclinien carrying fire-arms, joined tlie 
 Ilurons and Adirnndacks in an expedition against the Iro([uois. They 
 went up the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, landed on its south-eastern 
 shore, and moving south-westward, jienetrated the country to Lakes 
 Oneida and ( )nondaga. There they attacked a stronghold of the Iroquois, 
 and after a severe struggle for four hours, the invaders were repulsed, 
 and finally retreated. During the tight Champlain was twice Monniled, 
 ami, iinahle to walk, was carried on a frame of wicker-work, lie was 
 eoiiipcllud to pass tiie M'inter in the Huron country north of Lake 
 Ontario, and did not return to ]\[outrcal until ^fay, I•il•^ where he was 
 received with joy as one risen from the dead. 
 
 The Indians who immediately surrounded the Dutrh on ^lanhattan 
 M"ere the ]\Ietowacks on Long Island, the ^fonatons on Stateii Island, 
 the Karitans and Ilackensacks on the New Jersey shore, and the 
 AVeck(piaesgeeks heyond the Harlem I!ivei\ The ]\Ianliattaiis occupied 
 the island that bears their name. 
 
 Ill ItlUi Captain Ilendricksen sailed from ^laiihattan in the little 
 Jiesih'fis built by Block, on an ex])loring voyage. He entered Delaware 
 Bay, which IIud.son had discovered seven years before, and explored the 
 adjoining coasts and the river above as far as the rapids at Trenton. He 
 was charmed with the beauty and evident fertility of the country around 
 these waters. On the site of Philadelphia (which was founded sixty-six 
 years afterward) he ransomed three cajitive Dutchmen. On his return 
 to Manhattan this first European explorer of Delaware Bay and River 
 proceeded to Holland to assist his employers in obtaining a separate 
 charter which would give them the inono]>oly of trade with the inhab- 
 itants of the newly-discovered territory. 
 
 Again the energetic Captain Ilendricksen appeared before their High 
 Mightinesses in the Biniicnhof, displayed his maps and arguments, and 
 gave a glowing account of his discoveries. Doubtful of their right to 
 any territorial jurisdiction below the fortieth degree, the 8tates-(teneral, 
 after due deliberation, decided to postpone the matter " indefinitely.'' 
 
 The floods of the Mohawk River sweeping in fury down the Mauritius 
 with their' heavy burden of lloating ice coiiip(;lleil the Dutch to alundon 
 Fort Xas.sau, on Castle Island, in the spring of 1(117. The island w;is 
 submerged, and the fort was almost demolished. A new one was built 
 
TREATY WlTir INDIANS. 
 
 19 
 
 on the main at tlie inontli i.if tlie Tawasciitlui Crock (now Xoriiian's Kill), 
 aiul there soon afterward the lirst formal treaty of alliance between tlie 
 Dutch and the Iroquois Confederacy was consummated. It was renewed 
 in 1645, and in 1664 a new league of friendship with the barbarians was 
 formed by the English. This remained inviolate until the kindling of 
 the old war for American indej^endence in 1775. 
 
 At the great council at Tawa.sentha other powerful triljes were repre- 
 sented, but the supremacy of the Five [Nations was affirmed and acknowl- 
 edged by the others, even with tokens of great humiliation. "When the 
 long belt of peace and alliance was held ]>y the Dutch at one end and by 
 the Iroquois at the other cud, the middle portion rested upon the 
 shoulders of the Mohi- 
 cans (iMohegans) and 
 the Minsees, and also 
 upon the shoulders of 
 the Lemii-Lenapes as 
 a " nation of women."' 
 So the Hollanders wisely and 
 righteously acquired the friend- 
 ship of these " Romans of the 
 AVest." 
 
 Success bad attended the Dutch in 
 Xew Netlierland from the beginning, 
 and wise men in Holland were beginning 
 to projjhesy that a flourishing Belgic 
 
 Empire would arise beyond the Atlantic. Speculations concerning 
 the bright future of Holland were everywhere indulged in. The 
 sovereignty of the United Provinces had lately been recognized, and the 
 Netherlands now ranked among the leadin": nations of the eartli. For 
 fully twoscore years political and religious toleration Jiad prevailed in 
 the Low Countries, as Holland was called. There was no otticial 
 restraint upon conscience. Holland had become an asylum for the per- 
 secuted in all laiuls — of the active thinkers and workers who had been 
 comj^elled to seek a refuge somewhere for conscience' sake. The world 
 
 A WAMPDM BELT.* 
 
 * Wampum T>as the currency of the Indians, especially of tliose who lived in tlie rearion 
 of the. sea. It was made of portions of the common clam shell in the form of cylindrical 
 beads, white .■uid Ijhiish black. Each color had a distinct and Hxed value. They were 
 slrvuijr in littU' chains, or fastened upon deer-skin belts, often in alternate layers of white 
 and black. As currency their value wa.s estimated at about two cents of our coins for 
 three black beads, or si.\ of white beads. A fathom in len,!rth and three inches in 
 width of white wampum was valued at about $2.r)0, and a fathom of blue black, at 
 about 3.J. 
 
20 
 
 THE K.MI'IUK STATE. 
 
 of l)i^'()ts outside sncfrod. Ainstonluiii was pointed at as a " eoiniuoii liar- 
 borof all opinions and all horesies. '" Jlolland was stigmatized as a " cage 
 of unclean birds," where "all strange religions flock together," and an 
 Englisli poet wrote of Ainsterdani, 
 
 Tlic Univi-rsal t'lmnli U (Uilv tln-rc. ' 
 
 Occasionally, Imwevor, the old .-pirit of intolerance would ta-oj) out 
 and aets of violence would be performed wiien political ambition, dis- 
 
 i^:-- 
 
 COSTU>n:s of Tin-: Hollanders. 1G30. 
 
 gui.sed under the form of religious controversy, actuated the authorities 
 of State, as in liU'.t, when Grotius, the eminent scholar, was condemned 
 to ini]>risomncnt for life, and the venerable patriot, John Van Olden 
 liarneveldt, was doomed to decapitation. It was at this juncture that 
 schemes for the establishment of a colony of families in New Netherland 
 began to bo contemplated. I'^xcellent materials for such a colony were 
 then abundant in Holland, and the political and social condition of the 
 
CONDITION OF HOLLAND. 
 
 •.'I 
 
 Low Countries favored such an enter]irise. The feudal system tliere 
 liad begun to decay. Industry was made honorable. In the new era 
 wliicli had gradually dawned on the Netherlands the owner of the soil 
 was no longer the head of a band of armed depredators who were his 
 dependents, but the careful proprietor of broad acres, and devoted to 
 industry and thrift. The nol)lcs, avIio composed the landlord class, grad- 
 ually came down fi'om the stilts of exclnsiveness, and in habits, and even 
 in costume, imitated the working people in a degree. The latter 
 liecame elevateil in the social scale : their rights were respected, and 
 their relative value in the State was dn\y estimated. Ceaseless toil in 
 Holland was necessary to preserve the hollow land from the invasion of 
 
 
 m'Tni WEST INDIA COMl'ANY S IIOUSK. 
 
 the sea, and the frimmou needs assimilated all classes in a country where 
 all must Work or drown. 
 
 Stimulated by the glowing accounts of the country and climate in the 
 region of Amei'ica watered by the Mauritius, and satisfied with the scant 
 liberty accorded them by the Dutch (Tovei'iimcnt, tlie Englisli Puritan 
 congregation of the Tiev. John Tlobinson, then at Leyden, earnestly 
 desired to emigrate to New Xethei'land. They proposed this enterprise 
 to the Associated Merchants in 1018, whose charter of jjrivileges had 
 just expired, ^[r. Tlobinson proposed to form a colon}' at ^lanbattan 
 
22 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 iukIlt ■■ the Priiice ut' <_)raiige ;iiid tlioir IIij;li and Miglitj Lords, tlie 
 States- General. " 
 
 Tlie Association of ^[ercliants eagerly listened to TioI)inson's proposal. 
 They offered to transport his whole congregation to Manhattan free of 
 cost, and to furnish each family with cattle. They petitioned the Prince ' 
 of Orange to sanction the scheme. ^Maurice referred the matter to the 
 States-General. That body had a more amhitious scheme in contem- 
 plation. Xcarly thirty years before, tiiewise Usselincx had suggested the 
 formation of a Dutch West India Company. The project was now- 
 revived, and the States-General authorized tiie organization of such a 
 company — a grand commercial numopoly. A charter was granted on 
 June 3d, 1621. Colonization was neither the motive nor the main 
 object of the establishment of the Dutch AVest 
 India Company. The grand idea was the promo- 
 tion <if trade. That was an age of great monopn- 
 lies, and tiie Diitcli West India Company was one 
 of tlie greatest monopolies of the time. It was 
 ini-iirporated for twenty-four years, witii a pledge j 
 uf a renewal of its charter ; and it became the 
 sovereign of the central portion of the original 
 I'nited States of America. It M-as vested with the 
 exclusive jirivilege to traffic and plant colonies on 
 the coast of Africa from the Ti'opic of Cancer to 
 the Cape of Good Hope, and on the coasts of 
 America from the Strait of ^Nfagellan to tlie remotest ; 
 north. It ])r'.ivided that none of the inhal)itants of 
 the United Provinces of the Netherlands siiould be 
 permitted to sail thence to the coasts of Africa 
 between the points specified, nor to the coasts of 
 America or the West Indies between Newfoundland and CajJe Horn, 
 upon pain of a forfeiture of ships and cargoes. 
 
 This great monopoly was vested with enormous powers and immense 
 franchises that it might act with independence. It might conipier prov- 
 inces at its own risk, hoist its flag of red, M-hite, and blue over for- 
 tresses, and make contracts and alliances witii ])riiices and otlier ru'lers 
 within the limits of its charter. It might build forts ; appoint and dis- 
 charge governors and other officers and soldiers ; administer justice and 
 regulate commerce. 
 
 The States-General gave to the company a million guilders ($380,- 
 000), and becariie stockholders to the same amount. They agreed 
 to defend the company against every j>erson, in free navigation and 
 
 miVII WEST INDIA 
 
 company's fi,\(;. 
 
 r 
 
THE DUTC'ir WEST INDIA COMPANY. 23 
 
 trafHc, l)ut not any specified territory. Tliey also agreed, in case of war, 
 to assist the company by furnishing sixteen war-ships of three luindred 
 tons burden and four yachts of eighty tons, all fully equipped. The 
 vessels were to be manned and supDorted by the company. The whole 
 Heet was to be under an admiral appointed by the States-General. In 
 war the latter was to lie known oidy as allies and patrons. 
 
 The company had five separate chamljers of management, one in each 
 of five principal cities in the Xetherlands. The general executive 
 ])Owers were vested in nineteen delegates, entitled The College of Aine- 
 ieeu. In this college the States-General had one representative. The 
 special charge of NewNetherland was entrusted to the branch at Aiuster- 
 dam.'" Thus the Government gave to a new mercantile corporation 
 almost unlimited powers to subdue, colonize, and govern the unoccupied 
 regions of Africa and America. The company was not finally organized 
 until June, lf)2?>. On the 21st of that month its books of subscription 
 were closed, and the company began to prosecute their j^urposes Mith 
 energ\\ 
 
 Although the Dutch West India Company was primarily a commercial 
 corporation, its first grand effort was the planting of a colony in New 
 Netherland. Good policy dictated this step. In the summer of 1619 
 an English vessel sent by the Plymouth Company on a voyage of dis- 
 covery, attempting to pass the dangerous eddies at Hell Gate,t lost its 
 anchor, and was carried by the strong currents of the East River far into 
 the l)road bay at Manhattan. Her commander (Captain Dermer) did 
 not stop to parley with the Dutch traffickers, who saluted him, but sailed 
 on to Yirginia. On his return he stopped at Manhattan and warned the 
 Dutch traders to leave " His Majesty's domain" as quickly as possible. 
 
 '• We found no English liere, and liope we have not offended," said 
 the good-natured Dutchmen, and went on smoking their pipes, planting 
 their gardens, catching beavers and otters, and buying furs and peltries 
 of the Indians as complacently as if they had never heard of his 
 English Majesty. 
 
 Dermer's report of what he saw at Maidiattan aroused the slumbering 
 energies of the English, and especially of the Plymouth Company, char- 
 
 * The most active mciiilKTs of the .Vmsterdam Chamber were .Jonas Witseii, Ilendrick 
 Ilamel, Samuel Godyn, Samuel Blonmiaert, .John de Laet (the historian), Killian van 
 I{eusselacr, Michael Pauw, and Peter Evertsen Uvdt. 
 
 t Formerly a dangerous passage at the entrance to the East Kivcr from I..oug Island 
 Sound, made so by a whirlpool caused by a sunken reef of rocks at certain times of the 
 tide. The danger has been removed by the action of exploded nitro-glycerine applied 
 by a Government engineer. The early Dutch navigators gave it the name of " Ilelle 
 (iat." 
 
24 THE EMPim-: statk. 
 
 turi'd In' Kin^ .lnuics in l«i(M;. 'I'lioy liuil laadc feolilc attempts to j)laiit 
 colonios on tliu shores of tlie vast wildoriiess now known as New V.Uis- 
 land. Tn 1<11+ tlie famous .Tolm Sniitli, the real founder of Yirj^inia, 
 f\])l(invl its coasts and prineipal rivers, and gave it tlie name wldeli 
 it bears. Jle attemjited to plant a eolony tliere under the auspices of 
 tlie eonipauy, hut failed. At length (Ifi'Jit) the company obtained a new 
 charter (under the name of Council of Plymouth), which extended the 
 limits of their domain to the forty -eighth degree of latitude. The com- 
 pany immediately put forth energetic efforts to establish a colony there. 
 
 Pastor Tiobinson's congregation in Holland were still eager to emigrate 
 to America. Tiiey obtained a patent from the Virginia Company to 
 settle in the unoccuiiied region in the " northern part of Virginia."' 
 which extended to the fortieth degree of latitude. They forme<l a 
 partnership with T,oiidou capitalists, and late in Itii'n one hundred ami 
 one men, women, and cliildreu of the congregation — pioneers — crosseil 
 the stormy ,\tlantic in tin; little M<i ij-floirfir, intending to land on the 
 coasts of Delaware or Maryland. P>y accident or by the; jirovidciu-e of 
 ftod they reached the continent on the .shores of Cape Cod Bay. Find- 
 ing themselves far noi'th of the region designated in their charter, the 
 ])rinci[)al I'niigrants drew up and signed a democratic constitution, in tin- 
 cabin of the 2l(ii/fiiiri r. for their government, and chose a governor, 
 their spiritual head being Elder William P>rewster. These " Pilgrims.' 
 as they called themselves, landed in the deep smiw on the bleak coast of 
 Massachusetts late in December, and at a spot M-hich they named Ne\\' 
 IMymouth they built a little village of log-huts and ]ai<l the foundations 
 of a State. 
 
 This signiticant movement admonished the Dutch that the English 
 were preparing to dispute the right of the Hollanders to a foothoM 
 Avithin the domain embraced in the charter of the I'lymouth Company. 
 Indeed, at this juncture the British Privy Council had instructed Sir 
 Dudley Carletoii, the British and)as.sador at the Hague, to peremjitorily 
 demand of the States-(Jeneral an immediate prohibition of any further 
 2)roseeution of commercial entcrprisi's or settlements by the I)utc]i within 
 the region claimed by the Englisli. Tt was done. The States-( General 
 having put the whole matter under the (H)ntrol of the then just chartered 
 Dutch West India ('ompany, paid very little attention to the dioiiand, 
 or to the bluster of the liritish monarch and his andia-ssador. Jiut the 
 company, for obvious reasons, took immediate measures for ])lanting a 
 colony and laying the foundations of a State at ^lanliattan. 
 
 Like the PIvtnouth Com]iany, the Dutch AVest India Cnmiiany found 
 in Holland excellent and am]>le materials for a colony. Thousands of 
 
EMKiUATIoN TO XEW NP:TIIERLANr). 
 
 Protestant refugees of Freneli extraction, known as Walloons, luul fled 
 from tiery persecution in the southern lielgic pro^■inces bordering on 
 France, and had taken refuge in Holland. They were mostly skilled 
 artisans and industrious agri- 
 culturists. Like tiie English 
 Puritans in lli>lland, they 
 were animated liy a strong 
 desire to go to America. Tliey 
 asked the Plymouth (Joni- 
 paiiy for permission to settle 
 in Virginia. It was denied. 
 They asked the Dutch West 
 India Company for a similar 
 privilege. The Amsterdam 
 Chamber of the company 
 gladly complied, and in the 
 spring of 1(123 they equipped 
 the Xew JTet/u'iiand, of two 
 liundred and sixty tons Ijur- 
 den, connnan<le(( liy Captain 
 Adriaen Joris, and sent her to 
 Manliattan, bearing thirty 
 Walloon families numbering 
 one hundred and ten men, 
 women, and chihlren.* She 
 arrived at !Maidiattan at the 
 
 beginning of ^lay. The superintendence of the expedition was intrusted 
 to Captain Cornells Jacobsen ]VLiy,+ of Iloorn, who was to remain in 
 New Netherland as the first director of the colony. Captain Joris went 
 out as his lieutenant in the nianatremeut of tlie colonv. 
 
 NEW NKTHERI.ASD. 
 
 * Tlie Walloons (Flemi.Ji, Tuulcii) were of a mixed Gallic and Teutonic blood, 
 and most of them spoke the old Teutonic tongue. They inhabited the southern Belgic 
 provinces and adjoininj; parts of France. When the northern provinces of the Nether- 
 lands formed their political union, at Utrecht, in lo79, the southern provinces, whose in- 
 habitants were chiefly Roman Catholics, declined to join the Confederatiou. Many of 
 llic jieople were I'roteslauts. and a.irainst these the Spanish Government at once bejian the 
 must cruel ]iersecutions. Thousands of them fled to Holland, and were welcomed and 
 prcili'Cted. Xl the lime of their dispersion (l.WO), the Walloons numbered over 2.000,01)0. 
 
 t -May was an active naviiator and explorer. He went u]) the .Tames River as far as 
 .Tainestown, and penetrated other .streams on the coast .simth of ^Fanhattan. The .>;outhern 
 <iiast of New .Jersey was named in his honor, and slid retains the title of C'a|ie May. 
 He was the first director or jrovernor of New Netherland. 
 
2C TllK KMl'lKK STATE. 
 
 A FroiU'li vessel liad just entered ]\[;\iiliiittiiii liiirlxjr, anrl lier captain 
 insisted upon setting up the Freneli arms and taking ])ossession of the 
 country in tlie name of liis sovereign beeause it was claimed that Veraz- 
 zano, in the employment of a French monarch, had entered the harlmr a 
 century before. Now was presented the spectacle of three European 
 nations claiming the owner8hi[) of an undefined territory in a wilderness 
 more than three thousand miles from their respective capitals, on tlic 
 plea of " first discovery" — the robber's right conferred by the mailed 
 hands of power. The Dutch, having possession — the " nine points of 
 tlie law" — held on. The Frenchman was driven out to sea by two 
 cannons on the little yacht Jfai-ken/, and the F.nglish were defied. 
 
 The colonists Mere soon dispersed and settled in permanent liomes. 
 Captain Joris, with eighteen families, sailed up the Mauritius as far as 
 the site of Albany, where a fort Mas constructed and Tiamed Orange in 
 honor of tiieir ]>rince. Ife left a few settlers at Esopus, now Kingston. 
 The colonists built huts, " put in tiie spiide," and began farming vigor- 
 ously near Fort Orange. Representatives of Indian tribes came and made 
 " covenants of friendship" with Joris. F'our couples of the emigrants, 
 ■with eight seamen, went to the Delaware River and settled on the left 
 bank four miles beloM- the site of Piiiladelphia, M'here Fort Nassau w;xs 
 built. Tm'o families and six men M'ere sent to the Connecticut River to 
 build a fort (which M'as named Good Hope) near the site of Hartford, 
 and to take formal possession of the country by virtue of Block's dis- 
 covery of that streani in lfil4-. The remainder of these pioneer colonists 
 settled on the site of Urooklyn.'-' Other emigrants from Holland soon 
 joined them, and near the site of the Navy Yard at Brooklyn, Sarah 
 Rapelye, the first child of European lilood born in the province of Xcm' 
 Netherland, inhaled her first Ifreath. 
 
 In l*'i2-t a .'-hadow of civil government for the Dutch (colony M-as 
 j)rovi(led by the installation of Captain Cornclis Jacobsen ^fay as fii-st 
 director of New Netherland. He ruled as an autocrat Misely for altout 
 a year, M'hen he M'as succeeded by Williiim Yerhulst as second, director 
 of NcM' Xetherland. Yerhulst also ruled M'isely one year. 
 
 Meanwhile events in Europe M"ere strengthening the j)osition of Hol- 
 land and promising increased prosperity to the Dutch West India Com- 
 ])aiiy. The foreign relations of Oreat Britain had become so critical that 
 King James found it expedient to form an alliance M^itli the Netherlands 
 in 1G24, and he and his Privy Council wisely concluded that it M-ould be 
 
 * Brooklyn is a corruption of its original Dutch apfiellation, Breuckclen — English 
 Brookland or " inars!i\ land" — a pretty village about eighteen miles from .Vmsterdam, 
 on the road to Utrecht. 
 
 I 
 
PURCHASE OF MAN If ATT AX ISLAND. 
 
 27 
 
 SIGNATURE OF PETER MINI IT. 
 
 foniicil of five persons, u " koo[) man"" oi' 
 was also secretary of tlie pi'oviuce, ami a 
 
 impolitic to ofifend the powerful conuiiereial coiiipanv In* acting as cham- 
 pions of the Council of Plymouth when they complained of aggressions 
 upon their chartered rights. Encouraged by these circumstances, the 
 company proceeded to strengthen the political, social, and commercial 
 powers of the new colony by sending more families and also needed 
 su])plies of stock and implements of labor. They commissioned Peter 
 Minuit, of Weser, 
 one of their number, . 
 
 director-general, or ^(JgjCit 
 governor of Kew U 
 Netherland,and gave 
 him as assistants in 
 his civil administration a 
 commissary-general, who 
 '" sellout" or pulilic pnicurator and sheriff.* 
 
 Minuit arrived in May, 1(')2(), in the ship Sea Jf'w, commanded by 
 Captain Joris, and began his administration witli vigor. He and his 
 council were invested with legislative, judicial, and executive pDwer, 
 subject to the supervision and appellate jurisdiction of the Chamlter at 
 Amsterdam. They had power to fine and imprison erimiual.s, but in 
 cases where capital punishment was the penalty of a crime the cul^irit 
 
 was to be sent to Amsterdam. 
 
 Hitherto the Dutch had possession 
 of Manhattan Island only by the 
 dubious right of first discovery and 
 occupation. Minuit ])rocccded to 
 place the right upon th6 sure founda- 
 tion of justice. He called together 
 the representatives of the barbarians 
 of the island, and made a treaty for 
 the purchase of the domain from them 
 which was mutually satisfactory. It 
 was a treaty as honorable, as impor- 
 tant, and as noteworthy as was the 
 famous alleged treaty between William 
 Penn and the Indians beyond the Delaware under the broad Shaekamaxon 
 Elm which has been immortalized by history, painting, and poetry. The 
 ])rice paid by the Hollanders for the territory, estimated at twenty-two 
 
 * The members of the first council were Peter Byveldt, Jacob Elvertsen "Wissinck, Jan 
 Janssen Bronwer, Simon Dircksen Pes, and Reynert Harmen.ssen. Isaac de Rassieres 
 was tlie commissary and secretary, and Jau Lampo was tlie schout or slieriff. 
 
 SEAT, OP NEW NETHERLAND. 
 
■•iiS Tin: i;mi'1I{i; statk. 
 
 tliuusaiul aercs in extent, was nut extravagant — al)ont twenty-four 
 ilollars. rs'early all of tlic island is now covered liy Imildiiiiis, parks, or 
 streets. 
 
 The territory ealled Kcw Ketlierland was created a province or connty 
 of Holland, and the armorial distinction of an earl or count Mas granted. 
 Tile seal of New Netlierhmd liore an escutcheon on which was the tigure 
 of a beaver, euilileinatic of the chief wild animal j)ro(]nct of tiie I'egion, 
 and the crest was the cor(Hiet of an earl. The organization of a provi- 
 sional civil government, the purchase of territory, and the erection of 
 New Xetherland int( . a pi'ovince of Holland, in 1626, is justly regarded 
 a.s the jieriod of the germination of the fruitful seed which has 
 expanded into the miglity Empire State of New York. 
 
SKTTI>EI{S OX MAXIIATTAX ISLAND. 29 
 
 CIFAPTEFi TIL 
 
 So soon as tlie pnreliasc of Manhattan was effected, Director ]\Iinnii 
 caused a redonl)t to be built at tlie southern extremity of tiic ishuid 
 near the site of the modern Battery and the Bowhng (i-reen. It was 
 quadrangular iu form, was constructed of earth faced with stone, and 
 was surrounded witli strong palisades of cedar. This redoubt was upon 
 an elevation, and commanded the waters of the bay in front and of 
 the Hudson (^Mauritius) and East rivers on its lianks. The work was 
 completed in 1<)27, and was named Fort Amsterdam. The village that 
 grew nY> near it was called Manhattan until Stuyvesant came, in 1047, 
 when it was named Xew Amsterdam. 
 
 Each settler on Manhattan owned the rude house in which he lived. 
 It was his inviolable castle. lie kejit cows, tilled the soil, traded with 
 the Indians, and deposited his fnrs in the trading-house, which was built 
 of stone and thatched with reeds. This'M'as the eniljryo of the vast 
 warehouses of the city of j^ew York. There were no idlers. All were 
 jiroducers as well as consumers. In the year iu which the fort ^\-as com- 
 ]ileted turs of the value of nearly $2i »,()()() were sent from Manhattan to 
 Amsterdam. Tlie settlers were at jieace witli all their dusky neighbors, 
 and the future of the colony seemed dazzling to the seers. 
 
 lint a bright morning is not always a sure harbinger of a pleasant day. 
 While the fort was a-building an event occurred M'hich became the jjro- 
 genitor of nuiny fearful scenes, and of injuries to the colony. One morn- 
 ing a chief from beyond the Harlem River, accompanied l)y his little 
 nephew and a young warrior, was sauntering with a bundle of beaver 
 skins along the shores of the little lake whose waters once sparkled in 
 the hollow where the Halls of Justice (the Tombs), in the city of New 
 York, now stand. Three of the director's farm servants robbed them 
 and murdered the chief. His nephew fled to the thick woods that 
 bordered the East River and escaped. The lad left behind him a curse 
 ujion the white man, and solemnly vowed vengeance when mature man- 
 hood should give him strength. We shall observe hereafter how that 
 vow was fultilled. The surrounding barbarians were made jealous, 
 suspicious, and vengeful. 
 
 Trouble now appeared beyond the mountains in the north. Daniel 
 van Krieckenbeeck had been made deputy-commissary and commander 
 
30 TllK E.Ml'IHK STATK. 
 
 :it Fort Oniiii:;t' (MOW All)!iny\ and in:iii:i<;oil pniilrntly and siu'cessfully 
 until lie was induced to take a foolish step. The Mohicans had a stock- 
 aded villaj^e on the opposite side of the river {uow Eiist Albany). 
 Enmity had suddenly appeared between them and the Mohawks. The 
 Mohicans crossed the I'iver and asked the Dutch commander to join 
 them in a foray upon the Mohawks. lie unwisely iissented, and with 
 six of his men marched ■with his dusky allies into the pine woods, where 
 they were terribly smitten and dispersed by a band of Mohawks. Kricck- 
 enbecck and three of his men were slain. Distrust of the Dutch by the 
 Iiiiliaiis ill all that region ensued. The Dutch families fled for safety to 
 Manhattan from Fort Orange. Only a small garrison, without \vomen, 
 remained. At the same time indications of an unfi'iendly feeling toward 
 th(^ llolliiiiders among the Jlaritans in ^ew Jersey caused the Dutch 
 families seated on the kft bank of the Delaware Tli\er also to tlee to 
 Manhattan for safety. These unfortunate events severed the links of 
 trustful friend; hi]i which had boiin.l the Dutch and Indians, and many 
 distressing scenes followed the rupture. Emigration to New Netherland 
 was checked for a while, and the tide of its prosperity, seemed to be 
 ebbing. 
 
 ^leanwhile the Dutch West India (,'ompany had been gaining great 
 accessions of wealth and power by the success of their war-ships against 
 Spanish merchantmen. Spain was then at war with Holland. The 
 fleets of the two India conqianies which indirectly governed the State, 
 formed the strong right arm of the Dutch naval power at that time. In 
 1(>'27 low-born Peter Pietersen Ileyn won the title and ofilcial posititm 
 of admiral by his achievements on the coast of Cuba. There he met 
 the S]>anish " silver fleet" on its way from Yucatan with the spoils of 
 plimdercd princes of ^lexico and Peru. He captured the whole flotilla, 
 and ]>ut almost S."(,n(Mi,(i( mi in the coffers of his employers. llcyii ]ier- 
 islied soon after this victory, and was buried with regal jiomp by the 
 side of the Prince of (Jrange (who died in \(>2^)\ in the old church at 
 Delft. When the States-General sent a letter of cDndoleiu-e to IJeyn's 
 j)easant mother, she exclaimed : 
 
 " Ay, T thiiuglit that wouhl be the end of him. He was always a 
 vagabond. lie has got no more than he deserved."' 
 
 Holland gained the glory of the coiKjuests by the ])uteh West India 
 Company, while the company itself gained the solid juolits. In the 
 space of two years their ships captured luore than one hundred prizes. 
 In KitiO the company divided fifty per cent profits. They soon a<lded 
 Brazil to their possessions, and gave maritime supremacy to the Nether- 
 lands. 
 
THE PATROOX SYSTEM. 31 
 
 Wealtli niid ]iov\'er made tlie Dutch West India Company more grasp- 
 in"' and aniliitious. The moderate protits derived from New Nether- 
 land appeared insignificant, and tliey devised new schemes for increas- 
 ing their gains. 
 
 Tiie great want of New Netherland was tillers of the soil. A manorial 
 plan similar ti> that already in operation in Holland was devised, and this 
 featnre of the old feudal system of Europe was soon transplanted into 
 America. It was approved by the States-General. In li>29 the College 
 of Nineteen issued a " Charter of Privileges and Exemptions," which 
 granted to every member of the company extensive domains in New 
 Netherland outside of Manhattan Island, M'ith specified benefits, pro- 
 vided he should, within the space of four years, place upon his lands so 
 granted at least fifty adults as actual settlers, who should become his 
 tenants. Such proprietor was constituted the feudal chief of his domain, 
 with the title oi jxttroon — a patron or defender. 
 
 It was provided that the lands of each patroon should be limited to 
 sixteen miles in linear extent along one shore of a luivigable .stream, or 
 to eight miles if he occupied both shores ; l)ut he might extend it indefi- 
 nitely into the interior. It was also provided that if any proportionally 
 greater mimber of emigrants should be settled by a proprietor, the area 
 (if his domain should be extended in the same ratio. He was to be abso- 
 lutely lord of the manor, political and otherwise. lie might hold in- 
 ferior courts for the adjudication of petty civil cases ; and if cities should 
 grow up on his domain he was to have power to appoint the magistrates 
 and other officers of such municipalities, and have a deputy to confer 
 with the governor or first director of New Netherland. 
 
 The settlers under the ]iatrooTis were to be exempted from all taxation 
 and tribute for the support of the provincial government for ten years ; 
 and for the same period every man, wonum, and child was bound not to 
 leave the service of tlie jiatroon without his written consent. The colo- 
 nists were forbidden to manufacture cloth of any kind on pain of banish- 
 ment : and the company agreed to furnish them with as many African 
 slaves as they '" conveniently could,'* and also to protect theni against 
 foes. Each colony was bound to support a minister and a school-nuister, 
 and so provide a comforter for the sick and a teacher for the illiterate. 
 It was also provided that every proprietor, whether a patroon or an inde- 
 jiendent settler, should make a satisfactory arrangement with the Indians 
 for the lands they should occupy. It recognized the right of the abo- 
 rigines to the soil ; invited independent farmers, to whom a homestead 
 should be secured ; pron^ised protection to all in case of war, and encour- 
 aged religion and learning. 
 
3-Z 
 
 TllIC KMl'IUK STATE. 
 
 Tlicrc was iieitlier ji settled clorj^yiiiaii nor a scliool-iiiaster in tlic prov- 
 ince during Miniiit's adniinistratiun of six years, but provision was 
 made for two " consolers of tlie sick," wiiose duty required them to 
 read the Scriptures and creeds to the people gathered in a liDrse-niill on 
 Sundays. A ])en-tower was erected on the luill, and in it were lumi^ 
 some Spanish bells which the company's fleet liad captured at I'orto 
 Kico. 
 
 Tlicro was some sharp practice performcMl liy some of the mendiers 
 iif tiie Amsterdam {'hami)er in securing valualilu manors. Samuel 
 Godyn anil Samuel lilommaert, leading members, bought of the bar- 
 barians a tract of land stretching along Delaware Bay from (';ipe Ilin- 
 lopen north over thirty uiiles and two miles in the interior, while the 
 charter was under consideration. Soon afterward Killiau van Rens- 
 selaer, another shrewd director, a wealthy [)earl mi!rcliant of Amsterdam, 
 
 
 
 SIGNATIUE OF KIM. IAN VAX liKNSSKI.AEK. 
 
 informed by his friend Krol, the ileimty secretary and commissary at I 
 Fort Orange, of the excellence and good situation of the country in that ' 
 vicinity, instructed that friend to purchase a large tract of land of the ' 
 liiiliaiis. It was done, and lauds wei'e secured nn bcith sides of the river. 
 .Michael I'auw, another wide-awake director, secured l)y purchase of the 
 barbarians, in a similar manner, a large tract of land in ^.^w Jersey, 
 opposite Manhattan ; also the whole of Staten Island. 
 
 This adroit forestalling in the ])urchase of some of the best lands in 
 the province as to eligibility of situation — this '" helping themselves by 
 the cunning trick of merchants'' — created much ill feeling among the 
 uiend)ers for a while ; but it was allayed by admitting other directors 
 into partner.shiji. This coueessiou was necessary in order to secure the 
 confirmation of the charter of privileges by the College of Nineteen. 
 This done, steps were immediately taken to colonize the manors. Tiiat 
 of Van Rensselaer was the most extensive. It included a territory on 
 both sides of the Mauritius or liudson River, comprehending a hu-ge 
 
COLONY OF DE VRIES OX THE DELAWARE. 
 
 ■■iS 
 
 part of (present) Albany, llensselaer, and Coluniliia counties. It wa.s 
 called the " Colonie of Kensselaerwyck. " 
 
 These patroons — grasping, energetic men — soon gave the company 
 great uneasiness. Their large estates once secured, they entered into 
 comj)etition with the company in the trade with the Indians. They 
 were encouraged by Governor Minuit, who had assisted them in securing 
 their estates, and found it profitable to be their friend. The company, 
 perceiving this, recalled Minuit in 1631, and the colony remained with- 
 out a governor more than two years. 
 
 One of the l)est, the clearest-headed and most liberal-minded of tlie 
 directors who Ijecame a patroon was David Pietersen de Yries, an eminent 
 navigator in the service of the 
 Dutch East India Company,who 
 came to Manhattan at about the 
 time when Minuit was recalled, 
 and for ten years occupied a 
 conspicuous position in the pul)- 
 lic and private affairs of New 
 Netherland. He was a friend 
 of Patroon Godyn, and was 
 very active in founding a col- 
 ony near the .site of Lewis- 
 ton, on Delaware P>ay, which 
 was named Swaanendael. The 
 Dutch took possession of the 
 country in the name of the 
 States-General. There thirty 
 enn'grants, with cattle and im- 
 plements, were seated, but they 
 
 were murdered by the Indians the next year, and their dwellings were 
 laid in ruins. 
 
 In the spring of 1633 Walter van Twiller, a narrow-minded clerk in 
 the company's warehouse at Amsterdam, who had married a niece of 
 Van Rensselaer and had served that director well in shipping cattle to 
 his manor on th.e Hudson River, succeeded Minuit as governor. Accord- 
 ing to all accounts, he was a most absurd man in person, character, and 
 conduct. Washington Irving, in a pleasant pen caricature of him, 
 described his person as " exactly five feet six inches in height and six 
 feet five inches in circumference ;" his liead " a perfect sphere ;" " his 
 face a vast expanse, unfnrrowed by any of those lines and angles which 
 disfigure the human countenance with what is termed expression," and 
 
 DAVID PrETERSEN DE VRIES. 
 
u 
 
 THE EMl'lJU-: STATK. 
 
 his clieclcs " were curiously luottlod iiiid streaked with dusky red, like a 
 Spitzeiiberg apple. " ile "daily took four stated meals, appropriating 
 exactly one hour to each ; sinokcd and doubted eight hours, and slept 
 the remaining twelve of the four-aiid-twenty. " 
 
 A^an Twiller was totally unfitted by nature and education for the posi- 
 tion lie was placed in. Ile was self-indulgent to the last degree, and 
 was profoundly ignorant of puldic a (fairs ; yet during his administration 
 
 the colony flourished in 
 spite of him. He came 
 attendtid liy about one 
 hundred and forty sol- 
 
 Pyrf'*^^^' ,/u^t.S^ 
 
 diers, the first that 
 
 a])- 
 
 SIGNATirUK OV ^VAI.TKU VAX TWILI.KIJ. 
 
 peari'd iii the colonv. 
 
 AVith (xoveriior Van 
 Twiller came the liev. 
 Everardus Bogardus, 
 the first clergyman seen 
 in New Ketherland ; 
 also Adam Roelandsen, the firet school-master in the colony. Bogardus 
 was a man of energy. He M-as bold and faithful, and did not hesitate 
 to reprove the governor for his shortcomings in duty, ofiicial, moral, and 
 religious. On one occasion he called him a " child of the devil " to his 
 face and before high officials, and told him that if he did not behave him- 
 self he would " give him sucli a sliake from the pulpit" the ne.xt Sun- 
 day as would make him tremble like a bowl of jelly. 
 
 Trouble with 
 the English began /^J f 
 
 with the advent 
 of Van Twiller. 
 A former commis- 
 sary at Fort Or- 
 ange (now Albany) 
 named Eelkens, 
 who had been dis- 
 missed from the company's service, Aveiit to England and, in the 
 employ of London merchants, sailed for the Hudson River in the shi]) 
 William, determined to trade with the Indians in its upper waters, 
 with whom he was accpiainted. Van Twiller forbade his ascending the 
 river. Eelkens, knowing the weakness of the governor, treated him 
 with scorn. A"an Twiller, mildly offended, caused the Orange flag to be 
 unfurled over Fort Amsterdam and a salute of three guns to be fired in 
 
 oa/ici^c^i-Pff 
 
 t^^c-C- (jl^n£>- )xi4-' 
 
 SIONATUIIE OF EVEIIAKDUS BOGABDUS. 
 
TROUBLE WITH NEW ENGLANDERS. 35 
 
 honor of the Prince of Orange to fill the intruder witli terror. Eelkens, 
 not at all dismayed, ran up the British flag, fired tliree guns in honor of 
 Charles of England, and sailed up the river. 
 
 For once Tan Twiller seemed to be really angrj-. lie gatliered the 
 garrison at the door of the fort, tapped a cask of wine, filled capacious 
 glasses, swore terribly in Low Dutch, and called upon the people, who 
 stood laughing in his face, to assist liim in wiping out this stain upon 
 the honor of himself and Holland. De Vries, who dined with the gov- 
 ernor that day, told him he had acted like a fool. Van Twiller did not 
 deny that he was a fool, and meekly assented to the demand of the fiery 
 captain that an expedition should be sent to bring Eelkens back, and 
 thus vindicate the honor and courage of the State. Van Twiller hesi- 
 tated long, but finally sent a small flotilla fairly armed, and at the end 
 of a niontli from the day when the offence was committed the William 
 was brought back and driven out to sea. Eelkens was foiled. This was 
 the first hostile encounter between the Dutch and English in Xew 
 Xetherland. The WiNiam was the first English ship whose keel 
 ploughed the waters of the Hudson River. 
 
 Already a little cloud had brooded in the east. When the Puritans 
 of Massachusetts were assured of the beauty and fertility of the soil of 
 the valley of the Connecticut River, they yearned for its possession. The 
 Dutch had already assumed that right, in accordance with the Eritish 
 doctrine of first discovery ; for, as we Lave seen, Adriaen Block dis- 
 covered the Connecticut River nearly six jea.rs before the Puritans came 
 1o Cape Cod Bay. The Dutch had obtained a more righteous title by a 
 purchase of the whole Connecticut Valley from the barbarians. They 
 had set up the arms of Holland on a tree at the mouth of the river, and 
 had nearly completed the fort a little below the site of Hartford, and 
 named it " Good Hope." 
 
 Unmindful of the claims of the Dutch, the Plymouth Company 
 granted a charter to certain parties to settle in the lovely Connecticut 
 Valley. During the bland Indian summer in 1633 a small company of 
 Puritans under Captain Holmes sailed up the Connecticut in a sloop, 
 with the frame of a house all prepared for erection, to plant a settlement 
 on the shore of that stream. The energetic commissary, Jacob van 
 Curler (or Corlear), was then at the fort, on which were mounted two 
 cannons. He demanded a sight of Holmes's commission, and on Ids 
 refusal to show it Van Curler forbade his goiiig further up the river, 
 and threatened him with destruction if he should attempt to pass the 
 fort. The Yankee filibuster M-as as careless as a Turk of the shotted 
 cannon. He sailed <|uietly by, while the Dutch '• let the shooting 
 
36 
 
 Tin: K.MPIKi: STATE. 
 
MAP OF NEW XETHERLAXD. 
 
 3? 
 
38 THE EMPIKE STATK. 
 
 stand. "' Ilolincs and liis little party soon landed, and on the site of 
 Windsor, just above Hartford, they erected tlieir house and planted tlie 
 seed of an English colony. The Dutch and En<rlish quarrelled concern- 
 ing the ownenship of the Connecticut A'alley for about twenty years, 
 when the question was amicably settled. The Dutch withdrew, and the 
 present line between New York and Connecticut was established as the 
 eastern boundary of Xcw Netherland. 
 
 The new State yet lacked a ])rinic element of jierpetnity. There were 
 no independent farmers in !Xew Nctherland cultivating their own lands, 
 for the soil belonged to the Dutch West India Company, excepting that 
 of the ]>atr(>on estates. These M-ealthy monopolists carried on all agricul- 
 tural operations off the public domain. The tiller might own his house, 
 but he held no fee-title to the soil. Thousands of fertile acres in tln' 
 province ronuiined uncultivated, for commercial advantages alone (,)ccu- 
 ])ied the attention of the company. The feudal system, internal discord 
 between the patroons and the officers of the company, and e.\ternal 
 dangers began to rei)ress the energies of the people before the end of 
 Van Twiller's administration. Many were sighing for ''fatherland." 
 
 The machinery of 
 the local govern- 
 ment generally 
 
 ^payniyjT/^^^/tU^'^^Tx^ ""•^■"'^ sluggishly 
 
 SIGNATLKK OK I.LUBEKTUS V^VJ< DINCKLAGEN. 
 
 and often viciousl}'. 
 The governor lost 
 all personal influ- 
 ence, and became a 
 target for coarse 
 jests. We have seen how Dominie Bogardiis treated him. Ilis own 
 subordinates treated him with equal contempt. The schout-tiscal, Lub- 
 bertus van Dincklagen, one of the most learned and honest men 
 among them, reproved him opeidy. 
 
 Van Twiller ventured to strike back in this case, but tlie blow he gave 
 Van Dincklagen jiroved to be like that of a boomerang. It wounded 
 the governf)r himself most seriously. His blow consisted in refusing to 
 pay the schout-fiscal his salary, M-liich was in arrears three years, and 
 sending him to Holland in disgrace. It was a sad day for the governor 
 when A'an Dincklagen departed, for the schout-tiscal was a man of pluck, 
 and lield a ready pen. He sent such damaging memorials to the States- 
 (Tcneral, the truths of M-hich Mere verified by the testimony of De Vries 
 before the Amsterdam Chamber, that Van Twiller was recalled at the 
 moment when lie liad purchased Xutten and other islands around ^lan 
 
VAX TWILLER AND KIEFT. 
 
 39 
 
 hattaii, in expectation of vegetating and dying in official dignity in New 
 Xctlierland. 
 
 We have no memorial of Yan Twiller left in tlie name of any State, 
 villaije, institution, water-craft, or domain excepting the isle of Nuts, 
 wliicli lies in the bay of New York, within earshot of the place of his 
 tinal departure for the Zuyder Zee. It is called " The Governor's 
 Island ' ' to this day. At his departure he was one of the most extensive 
 land-owners in the province, and the herds of cattle which stocked his 
 farms gave occasion for the suspicion that the governor had enriched 
 himself at the expense of the company's interests.* 
 
 Yan Twiller was succeeded by "William Ivieft, a man of great energy, 
 but lacking in moral qualities. Little is known of him before his 
 appearance at New Amsterdam. He had lived in liochelle, in France, 
 where, for some misdemeanor, the people hung him in effigy. De Yries, 
 who knew him well, ranked him among the " great rascals of the age." 
 He was energetic, spite- 
 ful, and rapacious ; fond 
 of quarrels, and never 
 happy except when in 
 trouble — the reverse of 
 Yan Twiller, who loved 
 ease and quiet. His tirst 
 council was composed of 
 men of similar humor. 
 
 Kieft began his ad- 
 ministration by concen- 
 trating all executive pow- 
 er in his own hands. He and his council assumed so much dignity that it 
 became a '' high crime to appeal from the judgments" of the governor 
 and his subordinate officials. Yet he was really a better man for the 
 company and the peoj^le than his predecessor. He was as busy as a 
 brooding hen, and attempted reforms in government, society, and relig- 
 ion on a scale altogether beyond the capacities of himself and his " sub- 
 jects," as he sometimes styled the people. He had an exalted opinion 
 
 SIGNATUKE OF WILLIAM KIEFT. 
 
 * Villi Twiller was a native of Xicuwkerk. He niarried a niece of Patroon Van Rens- 
 selaer, through whose influence the incompetent clerk was appointed goTernor. Recalled 
 in 1637, he publicly aljused the Dutch West India Comjiany after his return to Holland with 
 considerable wealth. He vilified the adininistration of Stuyvesant. The company were 
 indignant, and spoke of Van Twiller as an ungrateful man, who had " sucked his wealth 
 from the breast of the company which he now abuses." Van Rensselaer seems to liave 
 had conlidence in him, for he made Van Twiller executor of his last Will and Testament. 
 
40 TIIK EJrPIRK STATK. 
 
 of Miiuiit. ;is a governor, ami lie resolved to imitate his example ; Imt 
 IVrimiit befuiiio tlie Itane of his jieacc almost from the hegimiiiig. 
 
 Kieft found puhlic affairs in Xew Netlici'laiid in a wretched condition, 
 and he put forth strength to bring order out of confusion. Abuses 
 al)onuded, but measures of reform wliicli ho adopted almost stripped the 
 citizens of their privileges. Fort Amsterdam was repaired, and new 
 warehouses for the company were erected. lie caused orchards to be 
 planted and gardens cultivated on Manhattan. He had police ordinances 
 framed and enforced. He catised religion and morality to be fostered, 
 regular religious services to bo publicly conducted, and a spacious stone 
 church to be built within the fort, in the wooden tower of which were 
 hung the Spanish bells already mentioned as giving out their chimes 
 from the bell-tower of the horse-mill. It M'as a gala day in Xew Am- 
 sterdam (16-i2) when the Connecticut architects, John and Ilichard 
 Ogden, hung those bells, and the governor gave a supper to the builders 
 and the magnates of the village at his harher<j for strangers, a stone 
 building at the head of Coenties Slip, which was called the " City Tav- 
 ern" in Stuyvesant's time.* 
 
 A more liljeral policy in respect to private ownership of land (to be 
 mentioned presently) caused inunigration to increase. The freedom of 
 conscience which prevailed in the Fatherland prevailed also in Xew 
 Netherland. All that Kieft required of new settlers was an oath of 
 allegiance to the States-General of Holland. "When they could answer 
 the (piestion affirmatively, '' Do you want to buy land and become a 
 citizen V it was the extent of the catechism. 
 
 Kieft had eaten but few dinners at New Amsterdam when he was 
 informed of the impertinence of the Swedes in buying enough land 
 between two trees to build a house upon, and then claiming the whole 
 territory west of the Delaware from Cape Ilinlopen to the falls at 
 Trenton ; lands the most of which were already in possession of patroons. 
 Upon what foundation was this claim laid i Let ns see. 
 
 U.sselincx, the original projector of the Dutch "West India Company, 
 had left Auisterdam in a passion, an<l laid before Gustavns Adolplnis, 
 
 * The shrewd governor took .Klvantaire of the occasion of a wedding feast to secure 
 ample subscriiilions for the tniililing of the cluircli. It was the weddiii!; of a daiiiihtcr 
 of Dominie Uogardus. At the wedding feast, at wliich the princi|)al jH'opleof Jlanliatlan 
 were gatliered. after " the fourth or fifth round of drinking," Kicfl proposed a suliscrip- 
 tion for the churdi. and gave hhcrally liimself. All the company, with light heads 
 made dizzy with drink, vied with each other in " subscribing richly." Some of them, 
 when they became sober, "well npenlcil nf thiir reckless extravagance," but " noihiiii: 
 availed to fxcu.sc it." 
 
 I 
 
THE SWEDES OX THE DELAWAKE. 41 
 
 King of Sweden, the great cliampion of Protestantism, a well-arranged 
 plan for establishing a Scandinavian colony on the Sonth or Delaware 
 Tiiver. Gustavus was delighted, for it promised an asylum in America 
 for all persecuted Protestants. But while the scheme was ripening the 
 Swedish monarcli was called to the field, where he fell in battle, near 
 Lutzeii. lie did not forget the great prospective enterprise. Only a 
 few days before his death he recommended it as " the jewel of his 
 kingdom.'' The Count of Oxenstierna, who ruled Sweden in behalf of 
 Christina, the daughter of Gustavus — '' the sweet little jessamine bud of 
 the royal conservatory" (alas ! for its full development) — ardently sup- 
 ported the enterprise. Four years before the wasp of Rochelle succeeded 
 Van Twiller, Oxenstierna gave a charter to the Swedish West India, 
 Company, and Peter Minuit, the dismissed Governor of New Nether- 
 land, was appointed the first governor of the Swedish colony to be 
 founded on the Delaware Piver. Toward the close of 1637, Minuit 
 sailed for the Delaware in the good ship I\l'y of Calmar with a comjiany 
 of eniigrants. It was this apparition that startled Kieft soon after his 
 arrival at Manhattan. 
 
 At first Kieft was astonished, then affronted, and at last he rubl)ed his 
 hands with delight, for he saw a clear opportunity for a ipiarrel and a 
 display of his diplomatic powers. The whole l)readth of the present 
 State of Xew Jersey lay between him and the intruders, and that was a 
 comfort. He fearlessly issued a proclamation with an imperial fiourish, 
 ])rotesting against the intrusion and declaring that he would not be 
 '■ answerable for any mishap, bloodshed, trouble, or disaster" which the 
 Swedes might sufiFer from his anger and valor. 
 
 Minuit laughed at Kieft and went on to biiild a stronghold on the 
 site of AVilmington, which he named Fort Christina, in honor of his 
 young queen, and pushed a profitable trade with the Indians. The 
 fiery Kieft hurled protest after protest against the Swedes, but they 
 were as litfle heeded as were the paper bidls sent by Clement to bellow 
 excommunication through the realm of Ileniy the Eighth of England. 
 Swedish vessels filled with Swedish men, women, and children, intent 
 on empire and happiness in America, came thicker than Belgic proc- 
 lamations ; and in spite of Kieft's majesty, the Scandinavian colonists 
 laid the foundations of the capital of " New Sweden" on an island not 
 far from the site of Philadelphia. More than forty years before Penn, 
 
 " the Quaker, came. 
 To leave his hat, his drab, and his name. 
 That will sweetly sonud from the trump of fame 
 Till its liual blast shall die," 
 
42 
 
 THE KMPIRE STATE. 
 
 tliey spi-fiul tlie tents of onii)irc on tin; ^oil wlicre now flourish in ros^al 
 ])ride the c-oninionwealths of Peniibylvaiiia ami Dehiware. 
 
 Tlie Plnixlisli on tlie cast became as troublesome as the Swedes on the 
 south. Like busy ants tliey were spreading over the fertile lands we>r 
 of the Ilousatonie Tliver, and under the jirovisiuns of a charter given tn 
 Lorit Stirling by the Council of riynu)nth, they actually claimed the 
 whole of Long Island. They disregarded Dutch ])roclainations and 
 Lidian title-deeds. Filibusters from Massachusetts cast down the arms 
 of Holland M-hicli had been set up at Cow Bay on the island, and mocked 
 the otticials at ifanhattan. 
 
 Kieft with great energy soon put an end to these encroachments. Jle 
 bought for the company from the Indians all the territory comprised 
 within present Kings and Queens counties, and immediately planted 
 settlements within that domain. Colonies were established on Staten 
 Island and on the west side of the Hudson River ; while settlements 
 
 were made by the English on the eastern 
 portions of Long Island without interference 
 by the Dutch. 
 
 Lyon Gardiner, the English military com- 
 mander at thenuinth of the Coimccticut River, 
 liought of the barbarians the island that bears 
 liis name. He removed from Saybrook to 
 his island, where his wife gave birth to a 
 daughter, and so the first permanent EnglisJi 
 settlement was made within the present linuts 
 of the State of ]S'ew York. Peace might long 
 have reigned in New Netherland had not 
 acijuisitiveness arisen in rebellion against justice, and engendered a ter- 
 rible storm of vengeance among the dwellers of the forest. 
 
 The iiartialitv of the Dutch for the Mohawks made the River Indians 
 (as the dwellers along the Hudson south of Fort Orange were called) ' 
 jealous, and their friendship for the white people was greatly weakened 
 by tlie di.shonesty of traders, who stupefied them with rum and then 
 cheated- them in traffic. Kieft not only wiidced at these things, but, 
 under the false plea of " express orders" from his principals, he de- 
 manded tribute of furs, corn, and M-ampnm from the triltes around Man- 
 hattan. They sullenly complied, but with an inward protest against 
 this rank injustice. AVhen they cast the costly tribute at the feet of the ] 
 llullanders they turned away M-ith a curse bitter and uncompromising. 
 
 "When the governor clearly jierceived this black cloud on the brows of 
 the barbarians, surcharged with the lightnings of vengeance, his fears I 
 
 THE (iAlU)IXEK AUMS 
 
WAR WITH INDIANS IMPENDING, 43 
 
 iuul liis cruelty were awakened. With the usual instinct of a bad nature, 
 he sought an opportiinity to injure those he had deeply wronged. The 
 opportunity was not long delayed. Some swine had been stolen from 
 a plantation on Staten Island. Kieft charged the innocent Raritans 
 with the theft, and sent armed men to chastise them. Several Indians 
 were killed. This outrage kindled the anger of all the surrounding 
 tril)es, even lieyond the Hudson Highlands. 
 
 At this juncture the little nephew of the Westchester chief M'ho had 
 been murdered by Minuit's men fifteen years before had grown to lusty 
 manhood, and proceeded to execute his vow of revenge made when he 
 saw his uncle slain near the spot where the Halls of Justice now stand. 
 He came to Manhattan, crept stealthily to the solitary cabin of Claas 
 Schmidt, a harmless wagon-maker at Turtle Bay, on the East Kiver, 
 slew him with an axe, and plundered his dwelling. Kieft demanded 
 the murderer from liis tribe. His chief I'efused to give him up. Here 
 was a cause for war. Kieft chuckled with delight ; but cooler heads 
 and better hearts averted a dire calamity. The people absolutely refused 
 to shoulder their fire-arms at the governor's bidding, and said to him 
 plainly : 
 
 " You wisli to have war that you may make a wrong reckoning with 
 the company." 
 
 Kieft had stormed and threatened, but this unexpected revelation of 
 the people's insight into his real character suddenh' transformed the 
 bullying autocrat into a seeming repulilican. He called togetlier all the 
 masters and lieads of ramilies ostensiijly to consult upon public affairs. 
 It was only to make them unconscious cat's-paws in the prosecution of 
 his designs, and have them bear a part of the responsibility. 
 
44 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 ■was to be recognized as-a 
 
 Ix 164:0 a new cb?a^er for patroons was granted which greatly modific 
 the obnoxious features of that of 1C29. It allowed " all good inbabitaii:- 
 of the Netherlands to select lands and form colonies in New Netherland. 
 The proposed land grants were comparatively small in extent, compre- 
 hending only two miles along the shores of any bay or river, and exten 
 ing four miles into the country. These inferior patroons were endowc 
 with many of the privileges of the superior patroons. 
 
 Provision was also made for another class of proprietors. Wlioevi : 
 shonld convey to New Xetherland live grown persons besides himsi. 
 
 master or colonist," and could occupy t\\ 
 hundred acres of land, wi- 
 the privilege of hunting ai. 
 fishing. Commercial privi- 
 leges, which the first chur 
 ter had restricted to t! 
 patroons, were now exten : 
 ed to all "'free colonists " 
 These wiser provisions, rm:- 
 withstanding onerous im 
 posts for the benefit of t : 
 company were exacted fr' •: 
 the colonists, stimnlated emigration and promised perpetuity and pr.-- 
 perity to the province. 
 
 Meanwhile the Colonic of Rensselaerwyck had greatly prosperc ' 
 under the energetic management of the patroon's commissaiy, Areti', 
 van Curler.* Around Fort Orange within that domain had grown 
 
 -^^S^/J^i 
 
 ^^"^J 
 
 STGXATTBE OF AUENDT V.O.' CURLEK. 
 
 * Arcndt van Curler is represented as a man " of large benevolence and unsuUi' 
 honor." bold and energetic, to whom the patroon delegated his entire power at Ri-n- 
 selaerwvck. His juris<liction included all the territon.- on both sides of the Hudson Riv. r 
 between Beaver Island and the moulh of the Mohawk River, excepting the precinct 
 Fort Orange. This post, which was the propeny of the Dutch West India Compa;. . 
 when the first purchases in the neighborhood were nuide by Tan Rensselaer, was alwa\ - 
 occupied by a small garrison commanded by officers under the immediate direction ■ 
 the provincial authorities at Manhattan. 
 
 Van Curler or Corlcar was one of the best and most sagacious of the earlier foiuid^ 
 of Xew York State. He was a first cousin of the first Patroon Van Rensselaer, a:. 
 
VAX CURLER AND VAX RENSSELAER COLoXIE. 
 
 45 
 
 little village called Beverswvek. This was the lieginning of the city of 
 Albany, now the political capital of the State of New York. 
 
 Patrooii Van Kensselaer through Commissary Van Curler was begin- 
 ning to exercise power 
 almost co-ordinate with 
 that of the director-gen- 
 eral or governor at Man- 
 hattan. He Lad liis 
 koop-man, his scliout- 
 fiscal, and his council 
 under his commissary, 
 and he was invested with 
 power to administer jus- 
 tice, pronounce and exe- 
 cute sentences for all 
 degrees of crime, even 
 the penalty of death ; 
 and he was the executor 
 within his domain of all 
 the laws and ordinances 
 of the civil code that 
 
 governed Xew Netherland. In addition to this, the colonists upon his 
 great manor were subjected to such laws and regulations as the patroon 
 or his deputy might establish. They had the legal right to appeal to 
 the governor and Council at Manhattan ; but this right was virtually 
 annulled by the obligation under which the colonists upon the manor were 
 compelled to come — namely, not to appeal from the manorial tribunals. 
 
 BLTCH REFORMED CUURCII AT ALUAXV. 
 
 came to America in 1630. His wise and humane treatment of the Indians caused him to 
 he beloved by them all, and his policy toward them did more to secure a peaceful settle- 
 ment of the Mohawk Valley by the white people than the eflforts of any other man. The 
 first act of the English governor after the conquest of the domain from the Dutch in 
 lfifi4 was to send for Curler, to profit by his advice concerning an Indian policy. He 
 wa-i an efficient promoter of sobriety, morality, and religion. Returning from a visit to 
 Canada on the invitation of the governor, in 1667, his boat was capsized in a squall on 
 Lake Cliamplain, and he was drowned. For a long period the lake was known to the 
 English as Curler's or Corlear's Lake. 
 
 * The first church edifice built at Albany was a wooden structure thirty-four feet long 
 by nineteen wide. It stood among other buildings clustered around Fort Orange. It had 
 IKws for the magistrates and deacons, and nine benches for the congregation. The ex- 
 pense of all was thirty-two dollars. In 1656 a larger church was built of stone at the 
 junction of (present) State Street and Broadway. Its pulpit and bell were sent over by 
 the Dutch AVest India Company. It served the congregation a century and a half, or 
 until 1^106. One of its windows bore the arms of the Van Rensselaer family. 
 
46 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 In u'"viTmiieiit, as in otiicr matters, the Van Rensselaer Manor or 
 Colonic of Keiisselaerwyck exhibited some of the most eonspicnotis 
 features of feudalism. It was almost an autocracy within a State, and 
 as such it sometimes gave nnicli tronljle to the superior authorities at 
 Manhattan. Only Fort Orange and its immediate surroundings wvv 
 exempt fi-om the putroon's control. 
 
 Impressed with the necessity of sound religious instruction in his 
 colony, Patroon Van Kensselaer, in 1042, sent to Kensselaerwyek .Idlm 
 Megopolensis, D.T)., a learned clergyman belonging to the classis i>f 
 Alckmaor. A substantial church edifice was constructed, and very soon 
 a nourishing church was established upon the theological foundation 
 formulated by the Synod of Dordrecht. Tlie influence of Dr. Mego- 
 polensis on the Hollanders and the Indians was most salutary. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of this minister an 
 occasion tested the humanity, the toleration, 
 and the l)road Christianity of the Dutch. A 
 Jesuit missionary (Father Jogues) and t\\" 
 other Frenchmen were taken prisoners by the 
 Iroquois and conducted to the Moliawk 
 country, where they frequently suffered tor- 
 tures. Informed of this, Tan Curler attempted 
 to rescue them. Witli two others he rode on 
 horsel)ack into the ^Vfohawk country, where 
 tliey were joyfully received, for the commis- 
 sary was beloved l)y the Mohawks. lie 
 offered munificent ransoms for the Frenchmen, 
 
 but tlie Iiulians refused to give them ui 
 
 ARMS OF THE VAN REXS- 
 SELAEK FAMILY. 
 
 The barbarians saved the life of Fatlier 
 Jogues, but murdered his comjjanions. He 
 finally escaped to Fort Orange, went to 
 Euro])e, returned to Canada in 1(!4G, ventured among the Mohawks as 
 a missionary, and was slain by them at Caughnawaga soon after- 
 ward. 
 
 The " free colonists," as we have observed, were the " masters" who, 
 with the '■ heads of families," were called in consultation with the gov- 
 ernor concerning an attack upon neighboring Indians. By this act the 
 ambitious Ivieft, who strove to exercise the powere of an autocrat in tin 
 goveniment of !New Nethcrland, unwittingly planted the first seetis ui 
 democracy — the first germ of representative government among Eun)- 
 peans within the domain of the State of Kew York. The " masters and 
 heads of families" who came together at the bidding of the governor in 
 
FIRST POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE BODY. 
 
 47 
 
 'Jsaxi-e Oop.'O^ 
 ^ — =j 
 
 tlic suniiuer of liUl. chose twelve discreet men as a committee to act 
 for tliem. 
 
 The names of the members of this first representative assembU- ever 
 convened for pohtical purposes in New Xetherland shoukl never be for- 
 gotten. They were : Jacques Ben tyn, 
 Maryn Adriaen^en, Jan Jansen Dam, 
 Ilendrick Jansen, David Pietersen de 
 Tries, Jacob Stoffelsen, Abraham 
 Molenaar, Frederick Lnbbertsen, Jo- 
 chem Pietersen Kuyter, Gerrit Dirck- 
 sen, George Papelye, and Abram 
 Planck. They were all emigrants 
 froin Holland, and liad enjoyed the 
 blessings of popular freedom in that 
 garden of Western Europe. They 
 were the first representatives and as- 
 serters within the boundaries of New 
 York of the germinal doctrines of 
 the Declaration of Independence pro- 
 mulgated at Philadelphia more than 
 sixscore years afterward. 
 
 The Committee of Twelve chose 
 the energetic De Yries for their president. He had suffered deeply 
 from the barbarians in the destruction of Swaanendael, on the Delaware, 
 and had lost much property by their depredations on Staten Island, yet 
 both humanity and expediency counselled him to preserve peace with 
 the Indians. This condition he strenuously advocated. His colleagues 
 agreed with him, and the sanguinary governor was astonished and 
 puzzled. The senators were firm, and hostilities were deferred. 
 
 Meanwhile the Connnittee of Twelve were busy in maturing a plan 
 for establishing at Manhattan the popular form of government that pre- 
 vailed in Holland. Kiuft was alarmed, for he perceived that a scheme 
 was on foot to abridge the absolute power with which he was clothed. 
 He suggested a compromise, and the confiding representatives of the 
 people, who met early in ltij:2, put their trust in his promises. He 
 offered concessions of popular freedom on the condition of being allowed 
 to chastise the Westcliester Iiulians for the murder of Schmidt. A 
 reluctant consent was finally given. When the perfidious governor had 
 procured this consent he dissolved the Committee of Twelve, in Feb- 
 ruary, 1042, by an arbitrary order, telling them that the business for 
 which they had been convened was completed. This done, he forbade 
 
48 THK EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 any popular assemblages thereafter. Thus euded tlie first attempt to 
 estahlisli jiopular sovereignty in Xew Netherland. 
 
 Kiet't now sent an armed force into "Westchester to chastise the "Weck- 
 quaesgeeks, tlie tril)c of tlie murderer. Tlie e.xpedition was fruitles>. 
 and was followed by concessions and a treaty which ])revcnted bloodshed. 
 The governor was disappointed, but his bloodthirstiness was partially 
 slaked not long afterward. The River Indians were tributary to the 
 Mohawks, and at midwinter in 1G43 a large war-party of the latter came 
 down from near Fort Orange to collect tribute of the Weckquaesgeeks 
 in lower Westchester and the Tappans on the west side of the Hudson 
 River. 
 
 The terrified Algon(]uins — men, women, and cliildren, fully five hun- 
 dred strong — fied before the dreaded Iroquois, and sought refuge with 
 the Dutch. The latter now had a rare opportunity to win the sincere 
 ami lasting friendship of their barbarian brethren around them by exer- 
 cising the virtues of hospitality, common humanity, and a Christian 
 spirit. Such a course De Yries and Bogardus strongly advised ; but 
 there were other leading spirits bent on war and revenge who advised 
 the very willing governor to improve the occasion for avenging the 
 murder of Schmidt. Three of the ex-senators, speaking falsely in the 
 name of the Twelve, urged the governor to "fall upon tliem." The 
 governor was deliglite<l, aii<l at once ordered Sergeant Rudolf to lead 
 eighty well-armed men across the river and attack the fugitive Tappans, 
 who had taken refuge with the Ilackensacks at Pavonia or Iloboken, 
 near the Dutch settlement of Yriesdael. 
 
 De Vries, representing the majority of the citizens, vainly tried to 
 dissuade the governor from his bloodthirsty purpose. He warned him 
 that he would bring dire calamity upon the province. The fiery magis- 
 trate spurned the captain's advice and admonitions, saying : '" The order 
 has gone forth ; it cannot be recalled." In that order he impiously 
 said the M'ork had been undertaken " in the full confidence that God 
 will crown our resolutions with success." 
 
 At the middle of a cold night late in February, 1643, Sergeant Rudolf 
 and his men fell upon tlie defenceless Tappans at Iloboken, who were 
 sleeping in fancied security. At the same time Sergeant Adriaensen 
 smote tho Weckcpiaesgeeks, who had taken refuge with the Dutch on 
 Manhattan at Corlear's Hook, now the foot of Grand Street He killed 
 forty of tiiem. Rudolf made tiie deep snows at Uobokeii red with the 
 blood of about a hundred unoffending pagans, sparing neither age nor 
 sex in the execution of his cowardly master's will. " AVarrior and 
 squaw, sachem and child, mother and babe," says Brodhead, '* were 
 
^<^- MVc4rm^ 
 
 RESULTS OF A CRUEL POLICY. 49 
 
 iilike massacred." The ne.xt moniinii;, wlieii the armed Hollanders 
 returned to Fort Amsterdam — a gluistly train — with thirty prisoners and 
 tiie heads of several Indians on pikes, Kieft shook their bloody hands 
 with delight, and gave them presents. 
 
 This massacre and other outrages committed by order of Kieft aroused 
 tlie fierv hatred of all the surrounding tribes. A fierce war was kindled. 
 Villanes and farms were desolated. The white people were butehered 
 wherever found by the enraged barbarians.* The Long Island Indians, 
 hitherto friendly, joined their dusky kindred, and the very existence of 
 the colony was im2)erilled. 
 
 The fierce blaze kindled by the folly and wickedness of Kieft appalled 
 liim. He again called upon the " Commonalty" to appoint a committee 
 to consider propositions 
 which he would lay before 
 them. They choose eight 
 men, one of whom was . . . 
 
 Isaac Allerton, a passenger / / ■**ri-^ 
 in the Mayflower, who was \j 
 then a prosperous merchant signatltie of isa.^c ai.lehto.n-. 
 
 at Manhattan. The Coun- 
 cil of Eight counselled peace M-ith the Long Island tribes and war 
 upon the "Westchester Indians, who had desolated settlements and planta- 
 tions there. It was done. 
 
 * Amon<r file victims was Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, wlio was an advocate of the right of 
 l>iivate judgment in religious matters, and had beeu banished from Boston because it was 
 said she was "weakening the hands and hearts of the people toward the ministers," 
 and was "like Roger Williams, or worse." She went to Rhode Island, but found her 
 alwde there undesirable, so she sought the protection of the more tolerant Dutch for tlie 
 exercise of soul liberty. In the summer of 1643 .she removed, with all her family, to Pel- 
 ham Neck, in Westchester County, within the Dutch domain. It was near New Rochelle, 
 and the spot wa.s called " Annie's Hoeck. " Tlie Dutch named Westchester " The Land 
 of Peace." In the tierce war of 1643 the widowed Anne Hutchinson and all her family, 
 excepting a little granddaughter, eight years old. were murdered by the Indians. The 
 child was made a captive, and was ransomed by the authorities at ilanliattan. 
 
 Lady Deborah Moody, an Englishwoman, who, like Mrs. Hutchinson, had fled from 
 persecution at Salem, established herself at Grave.send, on the western end of Long 
 I-iland. She had scarcely become settled before the Indians attacked lier plantation. 
 Forty resolute colonists bravch" defended it, and drove the assailants away. Graveseiid 
 "scaped the fate that befell all the neighboring settlements on Long Island. Two years 
 afterward Kieft granted Lady iloody, her son. Sir .1. Henry Moody, and others a patent 
 for land ad joining Coney Island, now known as Gravesend. She and other inhabitants 
 Were allowed to nominate their magistrates. Her home was again attacked by the bar- 
 barians during the excitement while Stuyvesant was on his expedition against the Swedes, 
 in 165.1. 
 
50 TlIK KMI'IKK STATK. 
 
 War raged fearfully again, and tlic colony, aftei a dreadful struggle, 
 was on the verge of ruin. At lengtii a company of Englislinien undir 
 Captain John Underhill, a brave and restless soldier of New England 
 then living at Stamford, Conn., was called to the iissistance of the 
 Dutch. The Indians vere subdued, and peace was partially restored. 
 Yet the dreadful war-cloud hung ominously over the Hollanders, charged 
 witli till' lightnings of suppressed wrath. Kieft trembled at the aspect, 
 :uid again convoked the Council of Eight. The people had lost all cou- 
 lidence in the governor — nay, they despised and hated him. Their hopes 
 in tliis liour of tiieir distress rested solely upon their representativt!S, the 
 Council of Eight. But that council possessed no legal executive power, 
 and the stubborn governor seldom followed tiieir advice. Rctrievement 
 seemed almost hopeless. Distant settlements remained desolated. Dis- 
 order everywhere prevailed. The Swedes were building up a strong 
 empire on the southern borders of New Netherland, and the Puritans 
 
 ^-n'-l;W^A<l-^„ 
 
 SIGNATITH". OF .lOIIX INnEUHILI-. 
 
 were not only claiming absolute title to undoubteil Dutch territory, l)ut 
 many of tiiem were becoming citizens under the liberal charter of the 
 company, and were M-ielding much intiuence in social life at Maidiattan. 
 At tliis juncture, and in order to invoke wholesome interference with 
 Kieft's destructive policy, the Council of Eight addressed a memorial t>> 
 the States- General, giving a full account of public affairs in the pi'oviiu-i'. 
 and asking the recall of the obnoxious governor. At tiiis juncture al-" 
 De A'ries, one of the best and most useful citizens, who had been ruincl 
 financially by the war, left tiie ])rovince forever and returned to Hol- 
 land.* On taking leave of Kieft his last words addressed to the governor 
 
 * De Vries had accepted an in\ntation from a Rotterdam skipper to pilot his vessel, 
 laden with Madeira wine, from Manhattan to Virginia. Tliey slopped on the way :ii 
 the capital of New Sweden, where De Vries was hospitably entertained by the irovern 'i- 
 (Piintz) for live days, while tlie skipper traded wine and eonfeclionciy for beaver-skin- 
 De Vries spent the winter in Viiffiiiia, and reached .Vnisterdani in .Tune. 1(>44. He 
 seems never to have revisited Ameriea. His story of his Vni/nrim was pnblished at 
 Alckmaer. in 165."), with a portrait of him. It was translated into Ensrlish by the late 
 Henry C. Mnrpliy, of Bnuiklyn, and has been of es.sential service in the preparation "f 
 this vohiinc. 
 
MEMORIAL OF THE COUNCIL OF EIGHT. 51 
 
 littered the awful prophecy : " The murders in Avhicli you have shed so 
 much innocent blood will yet be avenged upon your own head." 
 
 The people endured the rule of Kieft until it could not l>e longer 
 liorne with safety to the colony, and the Council of Eight, representing 
 tiie conimonalty, addressed a second nieniorial to the States- General and 
 the College of ^Nineteen, in which they set forth in detail the causes 
 which threatened the absolute ruin of New jSTetherland." They said in 
 conclusion : 
 
 '• Tiiis is what we have, in the sorrow of our hearts, to complain of : 
 That one man, who has been sent out, sworn and instructed by liis lords 
 and masters, to whom he is responsible, should dispose here of our lives 
 and property according to his will and pleasure, in a manner so arl)itrary 
 that a king would not be suffered legally to do." They asked for a 
 l)etter governor for the colonists or permission to return Avith their 
 " wives and children to their dear Fatherland." 
 
 Tiie Dutch West India Company was then nearly bankrupt. Immediate 
 action was necessary to avert the absolute ruin of New Netherland and 
 to prevent the colonists 
 
 " returning with their ^ \ i 
 
 wives and children to U ij h^i.^^ -f^J^ ^WUS-A . 
 
 their dear Fatherland." ^-^ LA^O ^ ^^^ '^ 
 
 Tiie company resolved ^^ ^ 
 
 11 T'"- J?,. 1 SIONATIRE OF COUNEI.IS MEI.YN. 
 
 to recall Kiett, and 
 
 Van Dincklagen, Van 
 
 Twiller's disgraced schoiit-fiscal, was made provisional governor. The 
 
 people at Manhattan were greatly delighted when they heard of the 
 
 intended change. Some pugnacious burghers threatened Kieft with 
 
 personal chastisement when he should " take off the coat with which he 
 
 was Ijedecked by the lords his masters." 
 
 During Kieft's administration the Swedes had obtained a firm foot- 
 hold on the Delaware. They claimed territorial jurisdiction on the riglit 
 side of the Delaware Bay and River from Cape Ilinlopeu to the falls at 
 Trenton. 
 
 * It was written by Cornelis Melyn, one of the Eight Men, who r»me to Manhattan in 
 1040 to see the eountry, and was so much pleased with it that he hiustened to Antwerp to 
 biinir liis family to America. He afterward rose to prominence in New Netherlaud. He 
 was President of the Council of Eight. He had Ijeconie a patroon of Staten Island, and 
 began a colony there. He suffered much in body and estate under Kieft, and brought 
 his grievances before the States-General. He was a stubborn subject under Stuyvesant, 
 and resisted the director's arbitrary power. He finally (1061) surrendered his manor 
 into the hands of the Dutch West India Company for a consideration, and returned to 
 Amsterdam. 
 
52 Tin: KMPIKK STATE. 
 
 Go%'ernor ^linuit died at Fort ('hristiiui in 1042. His lieutenant, 
 Peter Ilollandare, at the end of a year and a liaif afterward returned tc 
 Sweden, when the queen commissioned Jolm Printz, a lieutenant of 
 cavalry, jijovernor of Xew Sweden, and furnishod him M'ith ottieers and 
 soldiers to support his authority. 
 
 Print/, arrived at Fort Christina early in 16^2. lie was instructed to 
 maintain and cultivate friendship with the Dutch at Fort Nassau and 
 iManhattaii and the English in Virginia, and not to disturb the Dutch 
 settlers within his domain in their forms of divine worship. lie made . 
 Tinicum Island, near Chester, about twelve miles below Philailolphia, 
 the capital of Neu- Sweden, built a fort upon it of liendock lugs, which 
 he named " New Gottenburg," and erected a dwelling, which was called 
 '' Printz Hull."" He was instructed not to allow any trade in peltries 
 excepting by the agents of the Swedish Company, and to secure all the 
 Indian trade against the competition of the Dutch. 
 
 The attitude of the Swedes very much disturbed the authorities at 
 ^lanhattan. They were then powerless in regard to the intruders. Added 
 to this cause of irritation was the absurd claim of a British baronet (Sir 
 Edmund Plowden) to nearly all the territory of New Jersey by virtue 
 of a charter granted to him by the Viceroy of Ireland ! The ^sew Eng- 
 landers, too, annoyed the Dutch by persistent efforts to participate in 
 the profitable fur trade which the IloUandere were determined to 
 monopolize. 
 
 Impelled by the force of public opinion and a stern voice of warning 
 from the Amsterdam Chamber, Kieft liad consented to treat for peace 
 with the Indians. Pepresentatives of the surrounding tribes of bar- 
 barians had come to Manhattan, and in front of the fort on the spot now 
 known as the "' Bowling Green" they had sat and smoked the calumet, 
 or pipe of ])cace, and agreed to a treaty of amity between the Dutch 
 and themselves. That treatv was sijined on the last day of summer, 
 1645. Then a proclamation went forth from Manhattan for the observ- 
 ance of Se])tember (ith as a day of thanksgiving throughout New 
 Netherland. ' This great Indian treaty was ratified at Amsterdam. 
 
 Kieft exercised his waning power and indulged his petty spite and 
 tyranny a little longer. When it was known that he was to be recalled, 
 the people became more outspoken in their utterances of contempt for 
 him. Dominie Bogardus was foremost in boldness and plainness of 
 speech. " What are the great men of the country,'" he exclaimed from 
 the pulpit one Sunday, " but vessels of wrath and fountains of woe and 
 trouble 1 They think of nothing but to plunder the property of others, 
 to dismiss, to banish, to transport to Holland."' The enraged governor, 
 
 I 
 
STL'YVESAXT SUCCEEDS KIEFT. 
 
 53 
 
 wlio was present, never entered the clmreli again. lie retaliated by 
 enconraginff the officers and soldiers to practise all sorts of noisy games 
 about tiie church, and even to Ijeat drums and fire caimons during 
 preaching. 
 
 After a little more strife with tliu Swedes and New Englanders, and 
 falsely accusing the people of 
 Manhattan of instigating the late 
 disastrous war with the Indians, 
 Kieft ended his inglorious sojourn 
 in America forever by leaving the 
 shores of Xew Netherland in 
 August, 1C43, in the ship Prin- 
 cess bound for Holland, and carry- 
 ing with him more than S100,000 
 of ill-gotten wealth. Dominie 
 Eogardus sailed in the same ship, 
 and with about fourscore otliers 
 perished with Kieft when the 
 vessel \ras wrecked. The propliecy 
 of De Tries was fulfilled. 
 
 The College of Nineteen had 
 chansred the mode of government ^ 
 
 -v^ A' il 1 1 i i PETER STUTVESAXT. 
 
 m JSew JNetherland to conform 
 more nearly to that of Holland. 
 
 All power for the management of the concerns of the colony was vested 
 in a Supreme Council composed of a director-general or governor, a vice- 
 director, and fiscal or treasurer. At that time Peter Stuyvesant,* a 
 Frieslander, a .sclnilar, and a brave soldier in the service of the Dutch 
 AVest India Company, and who had lost a leg in an attack upon the 
 Portuguese island of St. Martin, was at Amsterdam receiving surgical 
 treatment. He had been governor of the company's colony of Cura(;oa, 
 in which capacity he had shown great vigor and wisdom. He was then 
 forty-four years of age ; strong in physical constitution ; fond of official 
 
 * Peter Stuyvesant was born in Triestan, in 1603. He became a brave soldier in the 
 Duteh military service, in the AVest Indies, and was appointed Governor of Cura(;oa. 
 He was a strong-headed and sometimes a ■wrong-headed official, but ruled with equity 
 and fidelity to his country. Made governor of Xew Xetherland in 1645, as " redressor 
 general " of all abuses, he became conspicuous for his energy and patriotism. Compelled 
 to surrender the province to the English in 1664, he retired to private life. The nest 
 year he went to Holland to report to his superiors. Returning, he spent the remainder of 
 his days at his seat on Manhattan Island, near the East River, where he died in August, 
 1682. His remains rest in St. Mark's Churchyard, New York City. 
 
54 
 
 TlIK KMPIUK STATE. 
 
 show ; adiniriiii; tliu arltitraiy nature of military rule, under wliicli he 
 liad been educatod ; aristocratic in all his notions ; haughty in his 
 deportment toward subordinates ; a thorough disciplinarian ; a stern, 
 inflexible patriot, and a just and honest man. lie was appointed governor 
 of Kew Netherland. IFe was not fitted to govern a simple people with 
 republican tendencies, yet liis administration of the affairs of New 
 jS^etherland for about seventeen years contrasted most favorably with 
 those of liis predecessors in ofHce, and he became the most renowned of 
 the officials of the Dutch West India Company. 
 
 Owiu"' to a disa<rrcement concerm'iiij some of the details of policv in 
 the management of New Netherland. Stuyvesant did not arrive at Man- 
 hattan until late in ]\lay, 1047. He bore the commission of director- 
 general over New Netherland and " adjoining jjlaces" (New Sweden 
 and the Connecticut Valley), and ako of the islands of Cura<;oa. 
 Buenaire, Aruba, and their de])endencies. Tie was accompanied by 
 
 I.ubljertus van Dincklagen, \'an Twiller's 
 dismissed schout-iiscal (who had been instru- 
 mental in causing the recall of that governor 
 and also of Ivieft), as vice - director or 
 lieutenant-governor. With him also came 
 the fiscal, Ilendrick van Dyck, and Com- 
 missary Adriaensen. They came with a little 
 scjuadron of four ships, bearing " free colo- 
 nists" and private traders. 
 
 The new director-general was received at 
 ^Manhattan with great joy. The arrival was 
 on a clear and warm May morning. The whole 
 community turned out under arms, and almost exhausted the breath and 
 gunpowder of the town in shouting and tiring. Stuyvesant marched to 
 the fort in great pomp, displaying a silver-mounted wooden leg of tine 
 workmanship. After keeping .several of the principal inhabitants who 
 went U> wel(!ome him waiting some hours bareheaded in the sun, while 
 he remained covered, " as if he were the Czar of Muscovy," he ad- 
 dressed the people. He told them that he should govern them "as a 
 father his children, for the advantage of the chartered Dutch West India 
 Company and these burghers and their land," and he declared that 
 every one should have justice done him. The people went to tiieir 
 homes with hopeful anticipations. Yet a few of the more thoughtful 
 
 STIYVESAXT S SEAL.' 
 
 * Stuyvcsant's official seal was made of silver. The engraving is of the exaet size of 
 (he original. As it wa.s his private jtroperty, having hail it struck at his own exjwnse, he 
 
 carriiil it with him to New Netherland. 
 
STUYVESANT'S ENERGETIC RULE. 55 
 
 ones shook tlieir lieads in tluubt, for they soinewliat feared that his 
 haiii^htv carriage denoted a despot's will rather than a fatlier's tender 
 and affectionate indulgence. 
 
 Stuyvesant was too frank and honest to conceal his opinions and inten- 
 tions. At the very outset lie asserted the prerogatives of the director- 
 ship, and frowned upon every expression of I'epublican sentiment. lie 
 regarded the people as his subjects, to be obedient to his will. In this 
 lie was not a whit behind his predecessors. On one occasion he declared 
 it to be '' treason to petition against one's magistrates, whether there be 
 cause or not." He defended Kieft's conduct in rejecting the interfer- 
 ence of " The Twelve" in public affairs, and plainly told the people : 
 '■ If any one during my administration shall appeal I will make him a 
 foot shorter and send the pieces to Holland, and let him appeal in that 
 way." With such despotic sentiments he began his iron rule. 
 
 Stuyvesant was despotic, and yet honesty and wisdom marked all his 
 acts. He truly described New Netherland as in " a low condition" on 
 his arrival. Excepting tlie Long Island settlements, scarcely fifty 
 lioiiweries or cultivated farms could be counted ; and the whole province 
 could not furnish more than three hundred men capable of bearing arms. 
 He set about reforms with promptness and vigor. The morals of the 
 people, the sale of liquor to the Indians, the support of religion, and the 
 regulation of trade commanded liis immediate attention and became sub- 
 jects for numerous proclamations and ordinances. It was not long 
 l)efore he infused his own energy into the community, and very soon 
 the life-blood of enterprise began to circulate freely througli every vein 
 and artery of society. 
 
 With the same energy Stuyvesant applied himself to the adjustment 
 of his " foreign relations." He despatched a courier to Governor Printz, 
 of Xew Sweden, witli a decided protest against his occupation of a por- 
 tion of tlie domain of New N etherland without the consent of the Dutch 
 West India Company, and he made arrangements to meet commissioners 
 of New England in council to determine the mutual rights of the Dutch 
 and English. He treated the surrounding Indians with the utmost 
 kindness. Because the new director won the warm friendship of those 
 who were lately brooding in sullen hate over the murder of sixteen 
 Inuidred of their people, the foolish story got abroad in the east that 
 Stuyvesant was forming a coalition with the Indians to exterminate 
 the English ! 
 
 Financial embarrassments in New Netherland at this time were favor- 
 alile to the implantation and growth of representative government in the 
 colony. Since liTT Holland had maintained the just principle that 
 
56 • Tin: KMPiin: statk. 
 
 " Taxation iuul representation are inseparable." The denial of tliis 
 principle as applied to the English- American colonics at near the middle 
 of the last century led to a war which dismendjered the I)ritish Empire 
 and gas'O jiolitical independence to the United States. They formulated 
 the Holland principle in the grand political postulate : " Taxation with- 
 out rejircsentation is tyrauTiy," and foug])t successfully in its defence. 
 
 Stuyvesant dared nc>t tax the colonists without their consent for fear of 
 incurring the censure of the States-General. It could be done in only 
 one way, and that way he adopted, lie called a convention of tlie 
 people and directed them to cljoose eighteen proper men, nine of whom 
 he might appoint as the representatives of tlie " commonalty" to form 
 a co-ordinate branch of the local government. Altliongli their preroga- 
 tives were hedged round by provisos and limitations, and the first Nine 
 chosen by the governor were to nominate their successors without the 
 voice of the commonalty thereafter, this was an important advance 
 toward the popular government of later times. 
 
 , The Nine formed a salutary check upon the director, and kept his 
 
 power witin'n due 
 bounds. They were 
 
 ^^^-c/^CTt»r-V-t>t^-£:*»^ ^,,g Fatherland, and 
 
 tliey were ever the 
 
 habitual guardians of 
 
 SIGXATrUE OK OOVEUT I.OOCKKHMAXS. il :„l,i.„ ^f 4.I „ „„ 
 
 tlie rights or tlie peo- 
 ])le. They had far 
 more power tlian The Twelve or the Eight under Kieft. Tiiey 
 nourisiied the prolific germs of democracy wjiich burst into vigorous 
 life in the time of Leisler, nearly fifty years later. These senators 
 were Augustine Ileermans, Arnoldus van ITardenburg, and (rovert 
 Loockermans from among the merchants ; Jan Jansen Dam, Jacob 
 'N^olfertsen van Couweniioven, niiii TIendrick Ilendricksen Kip from 
 the citizens, and Michael Jansen, Jans Evertsen Bout, and Tiioniiw 
 Hall from the farmers. 
 
 Soon after his inauguration Stuyvesant sent letters to the governors of 
 neighboring colonies expressing his desire to cultivate friendly relations 
 with them, at the same time stating the nature of the territorial claims 
 of the Dutch, the prolific cause of irritation since the administration of 
 Governor Minuit, when the Dutch West India Company claimed juris- 
 diction over the whole valley of the Connecticut, and Dutch trajijiers and 
 traders were seen on the waters of Xarraganset and Cape Cod bays. 
 "When Minuit liiade overtures to the " Pilgrims" at Plvinouth for the 
 
 i 
 
DUTCH EMBASSY AT XEW PLYMOUTH. 57 
 
 establishment of friendly intercourse, Governor Bradford expressed his 
 willingness to do so, but warned the Dutch not to occupy or carry on 
 trade in the country north of the fortieth degree of latitude, as it 
 belonged to the Council of Plymouth. This excluded the whole of Xew 
 England and more. Minuit, in reply, claimed the right of the Dutch to 
 trade with the Narraganset Indians as they had done for years. Brad- 
 ford made no response. Finally Minuit sent a deputation (1G2T) to Xew 
 Plymouth to confer -with the authorities there. At their head was 
 Eassieres, the Secretary of New Xetherland, an accomplished gentleman 
 of French blood. They entered New Plymouth with the sound of a 
 trumpet which heralded their approach from the little vessel which had 
 brought them to that shore. They were kindly received and entertained 
 for several days. The special object of the mission was not attained, 
 l)Ut the deputies made a profitable study of the political and social policy 
 of the Puritans. They carried biick to Manhattan ideas which, diffused 
 among the people there, led in time to an enlargement of their liberties. 
 The embassy were accompatiied to their vessel by an escort of Puritans. 
 At that conference soft words were used by both parties, kindly feel- 
 ings were engendered, and while both the Dutch and the English were 
 equally resolved to maintain their respective rights, there were no words 
 of defiant anger uttered. Their farewell and parting were most friendly. 
 Diplomacy and contention between the Dutch and their neighbors con- 
 timied fully twenty years, when the whole matter was settled, as far as 
 possible, in 1650. 
 
58 THE EMPIRE STATE, 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 Governor Stuyvesant, peacefully inclined, determined to attempt a 
 settlement of the disputes between Xew ^ietlle^l:ln(i ami Now England 
 hy dijiloniac'v. He made arranifcnient:* for a conference at JIartford 
 hetwecn liiniself and commissioners appointed by the united Xew Enir- 
 land colonies.* Late in September, 1C50, accompanied by Georiif 
 Baxter, his English secretary, and a larj^e suite, he sailed from Manhat- 
 tan, touching at several settlements on the 
 shores of Long Island Sound. He arrived at 
 > : ^^CC^oHy^^ Hartford on the fourth day of the voyage. 
 
 Negotiations began on Septendier 23d. 
 sRix.\TuuK OF GEouoE After a discussion for five days it was agreed 
 that " all differences should be referred to 
 two delegates on each side."' The commis- 
 sioners appointed Simon Bradstreet and Thomas Prence, and Stuyvesant 
 chose Captain Thomas "Willett and Ensign George Baxter, both English- 
 men. The referees recommended that a line drawn from the westerly 
 side of Gyster Bay directly across Long Island to the sea should be made 
 the boundary between the Dutch on the west side of the line and the 
 English on the east side of the line. Also that a line from the west side 
 of Greenwich Bay, in Long Island Sound, extending north twenty 
 miles, and after that not less than ten 
 miles from the Hudson Bivor should ^-, 
 
 be the boundary line between Xew -^""T// I /^ 'fr/^fA.^ 
 Ketherland and Xew England on the / (^ ij/U/toirb 
 
 mainland. Judgment as to what had ^ 
 
 already hai)pened between the Dutch ^'"^■^■r^'^- "-■ ^""^■•^>^ ^">•"■'•-"■ 
 and New Haven Colony, in Kieft's time, 
 
 was postponed until advice should be received from Holland. The 
 former, regardless of the warnings of Governor Kieft, had bought 
 
 * In 1643 (li'lciriitcs from Conncrticut, New Haven. Plymouth, anil the General Court 
 of ^lassaehuselts assembled at Boston to consider measures ajrainst common danger from 
 the Dutch ou Manhattan and llie Indians. Rhode Island, considered scliismatic. wius not 
 invited to the conference. A Confederacy wa.s formed of the colonies named, under the 
 title of " United Colonies of New England." It coutiuued for more than fortv years, 
 1643-86. 
 
CONDITIOX OF SEW AMSTERDAM. 59 
 
 lands of the Indians on both sides of the Dehuvarc within the Dutch 
 domain, and proceeded to make settlements there. These settlements 
 were speedily broken up by military force. 
 
 The reeoiumendations of the referees were adopted. The two chosen 
 by Stuyvesant, being Englishmen, his countrymen felt slighted, nay, 
 insulted, and accused the governor of partiality for the interests of the 
 Euirlisli and neglect of theirs. They opposed the treaty, and made new 
 demands for more popular liberty. 
 
 Having so far settled all differences with the New Englanders, Stuy- 
 vesant turned his attention 'to the Swedes on the Delaware, whom he 
 regarded as intruders upon Dutch territory. The accession of a new 
 monarch to the throne of Sweden made an adjustment of the long- 
 pending dispute desirable. 
 
 Stuyvesant had been directed to act firmly, but discreetly, in the 
 matter. Accompanied by his suite of officers, he went to Fort Nassau, 
 and thence sent to Governor Printz an abstract of the title of the Dutch 
 to the domain, and called a council of the Delaware Indians. Sachems 
 and chiefs in the council declared the Swedes to be usurpers, and by a 
 solenm treaty gave all the land to the Dutch. Then Stuyvesant crossed 
 the river, and near the site of New Castle, Del., built a fort, and named 
 it Casimer. Eeturning he demolished Fort Nassau. Printz protested 
 in vain. He and Stuyvesant held friendly conferences, and agreed to 
 " keep neighborly friendship and correspondence together." That was 
 in the year 1051. 
 
 Meanwhile the director-general had done much to improve his capital, 
 which now had a population of nearly seven hundred persons. He 
 found it an irregularh- built and straggling village, without sanitary 
 appliances and very little government. Each burgher was a law unto 
 hiinself. Various ordinances were now promulgated by the governor 
 and enforced Ijy him for the regulation of the construction of buildings 
 in reference to street lines ; for the maintenance of order, cleanliness, 
 and sobriety ; for the prevention of conflagrations', the support of 
 religion, the promotion of morality, and the regulation of emigration and 
 trade. Scores of other matters for the general good of society were 
 attended to by the director-general, until Manhattan was made a very 
 pleasant dwelling-place. Though Stuyvesant was a strict member of the 
 Dutch Reformed Church, beliefs and divine worship in any form were 
 tolerated. "With a ])atriotic feeling the director-general dropped the 
 pretty Indian name of the viUage of Manhattan, and called it New 
 Amsterdam. 
 
 Stuyvesant had some unpleasant experience in the spring and summer 
 
GO TIIK KMI'IIJE STATE. 
 
 of 10)48 witli P.raiult van Sleehteiiliuist,* tlie j)atrooii's coininis.sarv at 
 Ivensselaerwyck, avIio assumed an independent position iov "' the 
 Colonie." The director-general issued a jiroclaination for tlie ol)serv- 
 ance of a fast day tliroughout New jS'etherhmd. The patroon's coni- 
 niissary protested against it as an invasion of " the riglits of tlie lord 
 ])atrooii." Tliis controversy and the fact that illicit trade was carried 
 on with tlie ('i)lonie iuduced Stuyvesant to visit Fort Orange at miil- 
 summer. lie was loyally rec^eived at the fort, lie sunimoned Van 
 Slechtenhorst to answer for liis contempt of tiie (!Oni]iany"s authority. 
 Tlie commissary answered by cumplaining of Stuyvesaiit's infringement 
 of the privileges of the patroon. Tiie director-general, incensed by tlie 
 commissary's words and manner, liad no further oral communication 
 with him, hut by writing he forbade him to put up any building within 
 the range of the guns of Fort Orange ; to make any new ordinances 
 atTecting trade with the Colonie without the assent of tlie officers of the 
 company, and declared tiie pledge which the patroons exacted from the 
 colonists not to appeal from tlie decisions of the manorial courts a 
 " crime." lie also demanded from tiie commissary an animal return to 
 him of all tlie affairs of tlie (\)lonie. Then he returned to Manhattan. 
 
 " You act as if you were the 
 ^- -y t> rt-.e/? ''^"^ "^ ^''*^' jvatroon's Colonie," 
 
 1^- l^'S^.'nf^^/T^ was tlie answer which tlie stul)- 
 
 ' born commissary sent after tlie 
 
 siGNATUHE OF VAN sLfxnTENnoRST. h'ate director-gcneral, and persist- 
 
 ed in defying that officer's orders. 
 Ill' fiii-Jiade tlie commissary of tlie company to quarry stone or cut timiier 
 witiiiii tlie C'olonie, and erected houses close by Fort Orange. Stuyve- 
 sant sent troops to restrain A^an Slechtenhorst and to bring Jiini to 
 ilanhattan if he would not desist. Tiiey failed to do so. Then the 
 commissary was ordered by a peremptory summons to appear at Fort 
 Amsterdam tlie next spring. 
 
 In tiie mean time popular discontents were evorysviiere manifest. Tin-; 
 ?si.\K were compelled to act in behalf of the commonalty, but were 
 
 * Van Slechtenhorst wa.s a native of Guelderland, bold, fiery in disposition, self-willed, 
 anil honest. He had been iiii|iointi'<l coniniissary for the yoiiiii^ patroon, whose father, 
 Killian van Rens.sclaer, had lately died. His prrsistenl practical a.s.sertion of the inde- 
 pendence of Ren.>;.>;elaer\vyek ma<le him a raMklini; thorn in the side of Sniyve-.aiit. 
 Among other olTences, he acquired a cession of lands at KiuUskill, which had already been 
 granted, and refu-sed to recede. He also purehsiswl lands at Claveraek, opposite, for the 
 patroon. He soon got into trouble, and was arrested and confined at Xew Ainster- 
 <Iam. He escaped, and .sent his son to explore the KaatslK-rgs in .search of silver. He 
 boujrhl tlic land on which the eitv of Trov now stands, and tinallv returned to Hcillind. 
 
OPPOSITION TO STUYVESANTS ADMINISTRATIOX. 
 
 Gl 
 
 thwarted at ev'erj step by tlic sturdy director. At the next election 
 (1()4'.>) tlie energetic Adriaen van der Donck, who had been the schont- 
 fiseal of Rensselaerwyck, and Oloff Stevensen van Cortlandt became 
 members of tlio Cou^iCiL of Nine. Stuyvesant stontly persisted in main- 
 taining his dictatorial power. At the same time he carried on controver- 
 sial correspondence with the New Englanders, which was terminated by 
 the conference at Hartford already mentioned. 
 
 The contest between The Nine and the director continued. The 
 
 ^^^^^^s^: ccjuz24^^^^^ 
 
 V^o-f^^ 
 
 SIGNATURE OF VAN DEU DOXCK. 
 
 latter proceeded with a high hand. He seized the papers of The Nine 
 and imprisoned Van der Donck for " calumniating the provincial 
 officers."' But the popular desire for reform and freedom could not l)e 
 repressed. Finally The Nine, in the name of the commonalty, jsre- 
 parod a " Memorial " and a " Remonstrance" to the States-General 
 lioldly setting forth the grievances of the people and asking for tiie estab- 
 lishment of a burgher government in the colon}' such as their " High 
 
 SIGNATUUE AND SEAI^ OF VAN CORTLANDT 
 
 Mightinesses should consider adapted to the province and resembling 
 soniewliat the laudable government of our Fatherland." These papers 
 were drawn up by Yan der Donck, and he and two others of The Nine 
 took them to Holland to present theiu in jiersoii. 
 
C2 THE EMPIUE STATE. 
 
 AfTiiin, wlicu Stnyvx'saiit liad concluded liis treaty at Hartford and 
 threatened to abolisli The Kixe and rule as an autocrat, the popular 
 representatives presented a statement of aSairsin New Netiierland to the 
 States-General, and Van der Donck in Holland strongly pleaded the 
 canse of the conuuonalty, who yearned for the freer system of govern- 
 ment which prevailed in New England. In this memorial and plea Van 
 Dinchlagen, the vice-director, and Van Dyke, the fiscal, joined, and 
 .Melyii, who had been cruelly persecuted l)y Kieft and Stuyvesant, 
 added his powerful support. 
 
 At length, after Stuyvesant had administered the government of 
 New Netherland more than four years, continually making arl)itrary 
 efforts to repress the spirit of popular freedom, the voice of the com- 
 monalty of New Amsterdam and its vicinity was heeded by the College 
 of Nineteen, and they informed the headstrong director-general, in the 
 spring of 1652, that they had given their assent to the establishment of a 
 *' burgher government" on Manhattan — a government like that of the 
 
 SKiNATI UK OK V.VN TIKNIIOVEX. 
 
 free cities of Holland, the officers, Iiowever, to be appointed by the 
 governor. The soul of Stuyvesant was troubled by this " imprudent 
 intrusting of power ■with the people,'' as he said. 
 
 1)1 February, 1653, New Amsterdam was formally organized as a city 
 by the installation of Cornells van Tienhoven,* .schnut ; Arendt van 
 Hattem and ^fartin Kregier, hitr(jomasters, and Paul L. Van der Grist, 
 .Maximilian v:in (Iheel, Allard Anthonv, William lleui-kman. and Petri- 
 
 * Van Tienhovcn -na.s a conspicuous character in the early history of New Netlierland. 
 He came with Van Twillor, became the compaiiy'.s book-keeper, and afterward provincial 
 secretary and sdiout-fiscal. IIu pnrclia.sed lands in Westchester, led an exi)e(lilion ajiaiiisl 
 the Haritans, made a treaty at Bronx River, and urged Kieft to attack the Indians. 
 Retained as provincial .secretary by Stuyvesant, the latter .sent him to Holland a.s his rep- 
 resentative. He was .sent to neirotiate willi Virfrinia. also to Xew Haven for the same 
 purpose. He suiM-rintended the South River Expedition against the Swedes in 1655. In 
 1656 he, a schout-tiscal, was charged with malfeasance in office ; so also was his brother, 
 and both were dismissed from the public service, when Coruelis returned to Amstcr- 
 dam. 
 
IMMIGRATIOX OP I^EW ENGLANDERS. 
 
 63 
 
 Wolfertseii van Couwenhoven, schejM'ns* Jacob Kij) was appointed 
 secretary to the mniiieipal government. A building known as the City 
 Tavern, standing at the head of Coenties Slip, which had been taken for 
 the pul)lic nse, was now named tiie State House or City Hall.f The 
 citv then contained about seven hundred and fifty inhabitants, and 
 embraced the whole island of Manhattan. 
 
 Stuyvesant had scarcely recovered from his chagrin at this turn in 
 public affairs M'hen, through the influence of the democratic Tan der 
 Donck, he was summoned to appear before the States-General to answer 
 concerning his government in New Netherland. This summons amazed 
 the Amsterdam Chamber of tlie company. They wrote to Stuyvesant 
 to delay liis du])arture from America. Political considerations soon 
 afterward caused the revocation of the order, and Stuyvesant never left 
 Manhattan until after the sceptre had departed from the Dutch. 
 
 THE FIRST CITY HALI,. 
 
 Another trouble vexed the soul of Peter Stuyvesant. A new element 
 of social progress Jiad begun to work vigorously in New Netherland, and 
 in harmony with the free spirit of Dutch policy in social and political 
 life. '■ Numbers, nay, whole towns," wrote De Laet, the historian,:}: 
 
 * The schotit was a prosecuting attorney, a judge, and a sheriff ; a burgomaster was 
 a governing magistrate and a srh-epen was an alderman. 
 
 f Tliis was a large stone building erected by Governor Kicft for the entertainment of 
 strangers. He called it his hfirlxry. or house of entertainment. It was kuown as the 
 City Tavern after Stuyvesant came, and until he appropriated it to the publie nse. 
 
 t John de Laet was one of the most influential directors of the Dutch "West India 
 Company. In 162o he published at Leyden, in a folio, black-letter volume, a History of 
 t!if .A'< ir World ; or Description of the West Indies, which he dedicated to the States-Gen- 
 
G4 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 cUA' 
 
 "to escape from the persecutions uf the ^'c\v Eiiglaiul I'liritaiis, who 
 nuule tlieir narrow human creed the liigher law," had come to I^ew ' 
 Ketlierhmd to enjoy the theoretic liberty of conscience in (Jlinrch and 
 State n)ider I'elgic rule. They had lands assigned them all around 
 Manhattan. Jiew Englanders intermarried M'ith the Dutch. Being 
 free to act as citizens, they exercised much influence in public affairs. 
 
 More than ten years before Xew Amsterdam became a city an Englir^li 
 secretary ((luorgo Baxter, already mentioned) had been employed by the 
 director-general. Tlie " strangers" readily adopted the republican ideas ; 
 of the Dutcli cummoiialty, and bore a conspicnions part in tlie democratic : 
 movements wiiieli gave Stuyvesant so much trouble during the latter i 
 years of his administration. Tiie Dutcli sighed for the freedom enjoyed 
 ill Fatlierhuid, and the English settlers were determined to exerci.se tlic 
 liberty which Britisli subjects then enjoyed under the rule of Cromwell. 
 Stuyvesant saw the tidal wave of popular feeling rising, but, tirm in his 
 
 integrity and con- 
 victions of the 
 righteousness of his 
 course, lie main- 
 tained his position 
 until he was com- 
 pelled to yield <>r 
 perish. 
 
 liepublicanis^iu, 
 like any other truth, 
 has remarkable vi- 
 tality. It is nourished by persecution. The more Stuyvesant attempted 
 to stifle it, the more widely it spread and blossomed. The popular will, 
 fully bent on reforms, became bold enough, in the aiitumn of 1(1.");:!, to 
 call a convention of nineteen delegates, who represented eight Nillages or 
 communities, to assemble in the City Hall at New Amsterdam, ostensibly 
 to take measures to scfuire themselves against the depredations of barl)aii- 
 ans and jiirates. They met on November :2l)tli. Stuyvesant tried to con- 
 trol their action, but they paid very little attention to In's wishes and none 
 to his commands ; yet they treated him M'lth great courtesy. Wiien tliey 
 adjourned they gave a parting collation, to which the direetor-general 
 was invited. Of course he would not sanction their proceedings l)y Ins 
 presence. The delegates told him plainly that there would be another 
 
 SKiNATlKK or .loIIN DE I.AK] 
 
 (Till. He (luoli'd larircly from IIuil.>;ou's luivale jounuil. In KiW \w lu'camc a .share- 
 holder iu the estate of Heu.<selaerwvek, which the proprietor had divided into livr shares. 
 He also became interested in Swannendael, on the shore of Delaware Bay. 
 
FIRST REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE PROVINCE. C5 
 
 convention soon, and tluit lie might act as lie pleased, and prevent it if 
 lie could. 
 
 This revolutionary movement in his capital arou.sed the ire of the 
 director-general. lie stormed and threatened, but prudently yielded to 
 the demands of the people that he should issue a call for another conven- 
 tion, and so give legal sanction for the election of delegates thereto. 
 They were chosen, and assembled at the City Hall on December lOth.* 
 The object of the convention was to prepare and adopt a true statement 
 of ]inl)lic affairs in New Netherland, and a remonstrance against the 
 tyrannous rule of the director-general. 
 
 This paper was drawn up by Baxter, Stuyvesant's former secretary, f 
 and signed by every delegate. After expressions of loyalty to the States- 
 General, it proceeded with a narrative, arranged under six heads, of the 
 grievances which the colonists had endured. That narrative was a severe 
 indictment of Stuyvesant for maladministration or mismanagement of 
 public affairs. The jiaper was sent to the governor with a demand for a 
 '• categorical answer" to each of its heads. 
 
 Stuyvesant met this document with his usual pluck. He denied the 
 right of some of the delegates to seats in the convention. He denounced 
 the whole thing as the wicked work of the English, and expressed a 
 doubt whether " George Baxter, the author, knew M-hat he was about." 
 He wanted to know if there was no one among the Dutch in New 
 Netherland '• sagacious and expert enough to draw up a remonsti-ance to 
 the director and council ;" and he sev^erely reprimanded the city govern- 
 ment of Xew Amsterdam for " seizing this dangerous opportunity for 
 conspiring with the English [with whom Holland was then at war], who 
 
 * As this was tlic first real ri'iircsfntative assembly in the great State of New York, 
 I give here the names in full of the delegates and the districts wMch they represented. 
 The metropolis (New Amsterdam) was represented by Arendt van Hattem, Martin 
 Kregier, and P. L.Van der Grist ; Breuckelen (Brooklyn), by Frederick Lubbertscn, Paul 
 Van der Beech, and William Beeckeman ; Flushing, by John Hicks and Tobias Flake : 
 Newtown, by Robert Coe and Thomas Hazard ; Heemstede (Hempstead), by William Wash- 
 burn and John Somers ; Amersfoort (Flatlands), by P. Wolfertsen van Couwenhoven, 
 Jan Strycker, and Thomas Swartwout : Jlidwout (Flatbush), by Elbert Elbertsen and 
 Thomas Spicer ; Gravesend, by George Baxter and J. Hubbard. 
 
 t George Baxter was an exile from New England, and was appointed English secretary 
 ami interpreter by Kieftin]C42. Stuyvesant retained him as .such, and he gave the 
 director efficient service for several years. He became a leader in seditious proceedings 
 at Gravrseud, where he hoisted an English flag. He was arrested and imprisoned at 
 New Amsterdam, but escaped, went to New England, and thence to London in 1G63, 
 where he stimulated the animosity of the English against tlie Dutch. With Samuel 
 Maverick (who had lived in JIassachusetts from his boyhood) and Scott he advised the 
 Council of Foreign Plantations as to the best means for subduing New Netherland. 
 
(JC TllH KMl'IKK STATK. 
 
 M-ero ever " Iiiitchiiifi iiiiscliief, hut never perfonuinfj their promises, 
 and wlio miirlit to-iiiorni\v ally themselves with the Xortli," meaning'; 
 Sweden iuid Hcnniark. 
 
 This hliister did nut turn tlie convention from its purpose. Deeckniaii, 
 of Breuckelen, was sent to tell the governor that if he refused to consider • 
 tlie several points of the remonstraiK-e they would a]i])eal to the States- 
 (ieiieral. Tins threat enraged Stuyvesant, and seizing his heavy cane, 
 lie ordered Beecknum to leave his presence. The plucky ambassador of 
 the convention folded his anus and silently defied the governor. When 
 Stuyvcsant's wrath had subsided he jiolitely begged his visitor to excuse > 
 his sudden ebullition of passion, assuring him that he had great jjersonal 
 regard for him. But he was less courteous toward the convention as a 
 body. He ordered the members to dispei'se on pain of incurring his 
 " high displeasure." " "We derive our authority," he said, " from God , 
 and the company, not from a few ignorant subjects ; and we alone can 
 call the iidiabitants together." The convention executed its threat, and 
 ai)pealed to the States-General. 
 
 "While thus perplexed by domestic annoyances, the tranquillit\- of the 
 director-gcnerars •' foreign relations" was seriously disturbed. The 
 pacific and " neighborly" Governor Print/, had left Xew Sweden, and was 
 succeeded in office by John Ilisingh, a more M'arlike magistrate, who 
 came to the Delawai'e bringing with him some soldiers commanded by 
 the bold Swell Sliute. Tliese speedily appeared before Fort ("asinier, 
 which Stuyvesant had built, on Trinity Sunday, 1654. " What can 1 I 
 do? I have no ]>owdcr," .said the commander of the little stronghold 
 to the Dutch settlers who Hocked to it for protection. lie could do 
 nothing ; so he walked out of the fort, leaving the gate wide open, and 
 shaking hands M'ith Sliutc and his men, welcomed them as fricTids. The 
 Swedes tired two shots over the fort in token of its capture, and then 
 blotting out its Dutch garrison and its name, occupied it and called it 
 Fort Trinity. 
 
 When news of this event reached Stuyvesant he was made very angry 
 and ])erj)lexed, for he was hourly expecting an attack from a British 
 force, and lie was at his wit's end. But the cloud soon passed. The 
 English did not come, for the war was suddenly closed by treaty. Then 
 Stuyvesant made a voyage to the West Indies for the purpose of estab- 
 lishing a trade between New Ketherland and those islands. Before he 
 left he delivered to the authorities of the city of New Amsterdam the 
 painted coat-of-arms of the municipality, the seal, and the silver signet 
 which the College of Nineteen had just sent over. They soon afterward 
 sent an order to the director-general to retake Fort Casimer and to wipe 
 
THE SWEDES SUBDUED AXD ABSORBED. 
 
 67 
 
 SEAL OF NEW AMSTERDAM. 
 
 out the stain wliicli the '' infaiiious sm-render" of tliat post had imparted 
 to Belgic heroism. lie M'as also ordered to aiiniliilate Swedish dominion 
 on both sides of the Delaware. 
 
 This important task the director-general undertook in the summer of 
 1655, and accomplished it speedily and 
 without bloodshed. After a day of 
 fasting and prayer (August 25th), and 
 " after sermon" on Sunday, Septem- 
 ber 5th, a stpiadron of seven vessels, 
 liearing more than six hundred sol- 
 diers (mostly volunteers), sailed from 
 New Aiusterdam for the Delaware. 
 Tlie tlag-shi]) was the Balance, com- 
 manded by the valiant Frederick de 
 Konick. In her cabin might have 
 i)een seen the director-general, Vice- 
 director Xicasius de Sille, and Domi- 
 nie Megopoleusis. The sipiadron 
 
 ascended the Delaware. The troops landed not far from Fort Christina, 
 and an ensign and a drummer were sent to demand the surrender of 
 Fort Casimer. This demand was speedily complied with. Then the 
 ramniander drank the health of Stuyvesant in a glass of Rhenish 
 wine ; and so ended the expedition, without firing a gnn or shedding 
 ;i drop of blood. So also ended Swedish dominion on the Delaware, 
 ;nid " Kew Sweden" perished in a day. Like Alfred of England, 
 the director-general wisely made citizens of many of the conquered 
 Swedes, who generally Iieeame the most loyal friends of the Dutch. 
 They prospered exceedingly, and when, nearly thirty years afterward, 
 they welcomed "William Pemi as their governor, they declared that it was 
 
 the happiest day of their 
 lives. 
 
 During the absence of 
 the expedition jS'ew Am- 
 sterdam was menaced with 
 destruction. Yan Dyck, 
 a former civil officer, de- 
 tected an Indian woman 
 The fury of her trilje was kindled, 
 fhe long peace with the barbarians was suddenly broken. Before 
 daybreak one morning almost two thousand River Imlians in sixty 
 eanoes appeared before New Amsterdam. They landed, and with the pre- 
 
 SIGN'ATIUE OF DE SILLE. 
 
 tealing jieaches and .slew her. 
 
C8 . TIIK EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 tence of looking for hostile Indians tliev distributed tliemselves tlirouirh 
 the town and ijroko into several houses in search of tlie murderer. The 
 alarmed citizens held a council at the fort and summoned the Indian 
 leaders before them. The latter agreed to leave the city and pass over 
 to Xutteu (Governf>r*s') Island before sunset. They broke their ]iromisos, 
 shot A'an Dyck, jnenaced others, and tilled the iniial)itants with alarm. 
 Tiie citizens flew to arms and drove the Indians to their canoes, wlien 
 they crossed over the Ilmlson Hiver and ravajreil a large region in New 
 Jersey and on Staten Island. "Within three days one hundred white 
 people were slain, one hundred and fifty were made captive, and more 
 than three hundred estates were utterly mined. 
 
 Stuyvesant returned from the Delaware when the excitement in Xew 
 Amsterdam was at its height. Tie soon brought order out of confusion. 
 Yet distant settlements were broken up, the iiduibitants flying in fear to 
 ^Manhattan for protection. To prevent a like calamity in the future, 
 Stuyvesant issued a proclamation ordering all who lived in secluded 
 places in the country to gather themselves into villages " after the 
 fashion of our New England neighbors.'' Tiie Dutch had very little 
 trouble with the Indians afterward while the former remained masters of 
 New Netherland. 
 
 Excepting troubles occasioned by the arbitrar}- rule of the director- 
 general, the religious intolerance practised and fostered by him, and 
 occasional outside pressure irom tlie Puritans and otiiers, New Nether- 
 land enjoyed jieace and ])rospcrity for almost ten years after the conque.«t 
 of New Sweden and tiio suppression of Indian hostilities. 
 
 There was some serious trouble at one time in 1659 with the bar])arians 
 at Eso])US, in Qiresent) Ulster County, among whom the Dutch had made 
 a settlement. The latter brought a dreadful calamity that befell them 
 upon themselves. Some Indians, sleeping off the effects of a drunken 
 carouse, were wantonly tired u])on by the soldiers of a Dutch garrison on 
 the site of Rondout, and several Mere killed. The Indians flew to arms. 
 Farms were desolated, buildings Avere burned, cattle and horses were 
 killed, and many human beings perished. Stuyvesant, when lie heard 
 of the trouble, hastened to Esopus and soon quelled the great disturbance. 
 
 The Dutch Mere also much disturbed in Kiol) by claims made for the 
 proprietor of Maryland to the whole region embraced in New SMeden. 
 An embassy composed of two sturdy b\n-gliers — Ilcermaiis and 
 Waldron — was sent to Maryland to confer Mith the authorities there. 
 Dining M-ith Secretary Calvert, they were surprised by his claiming that 
 ISfaryliind exti'uded to the limits of New England. 
 
 '■ Where, then. Mould remain New Netherland f. asked the envoys. 
 
SOCIAL ASPECTS OF NEW AAISTERDA3I. 
 
 69 
 
 " I do uot know,'' replied the secretary, with provoking calmness. 
 
 The envoys were provoked. They ntterly " denied, disowned, and 
 rejected ' ' the claim for Lord Baltimore, and ^vith great spirit maintained 
 that of the Dutch. The con- 
 ference was ended without 
 any immediate results, and 
 the envoys returned to Xew 
 Amsterdam. 
 
 The Xew Englanders were 
 again pressing territorial 
 claims, and within and with- 
 out Xew Xetherland the 
 Anglo-Sa.xon progressive ele- 
 ment was menacing the integ- 
 
 rity of the Dutch realm in 
 America. Xew Amsterdam 
 increased in wealth and popu- 
 lation. A wooden palisade 
 or "wall,"' extending from 
 river to river along the line of 
 (present) Wall Street, from 
 which it derives its name, was 
 
 constructed. A village was founded on a fertile plain in the upper part 
 of Manhattan Island, and it was called '" Harlem."' It was planted 
 there '' for the pi-omotion of agricultural gardening — -and the amuse- 
 
 A DUTCH WIXD-jnLL. 
 
 .\ DUTCH PLEASUKE WAGOX. 
 
 ment for the people of Xew Amsterdam." They erected a wind-mill 
 there like those in Holland. Between the city and the village might 
 frequently be seen farm wagons on the only road, laden with garden 
 
70 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ])ro(lii('ts, and oc^casionally a Dutcli jileasure \va(jrm po familiar to travel- 
 lers in Iloilaiid, at tliat time, eonvcyiiiji; a ])art of tiie family to a 
 social gathering. Tiio little city contained many happy homes, where 
 peojile of ohcei'ful hut often uncultivated minds and affectionate hearts 
 domiciled, and, life was enjoyed in a dreamy, quiet hlissfulness which is 
 quite unknown in these days of hustle and noise. Very little attention 
 was given to political matters hy the commonalty or the mass of the 
 people, hut there were many thoughtful men and women who were 
 restive imder the nile of the director-general. Some of them declared 
 they would he willing to endure English rule for the sake of English 
 liherty. They were soon given an ojiportunity to try the experiment. 
 
AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESSED OFFERED. 71 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 A CRISIS ill tlie affairs of New Netherland now approached. Mon- 
 archy was restored in England in 1660, and a son of the decapitated 
 Charles I. was set npon the throne of his father as Charles II. This had 
 not Ijcen done by the voice of even a majority of the people, and the 
 new nionareli, wisliiiijj to conciliate all parties, proclaimed " liberty to 
 tender consciences" in all his dominions. But this was only a State 
 trick, as the sad ex]ierience of the Dissenters soon tanght them. 
 
 The Dutch West India Company determined to follow the example of 
 King Charles l>y expressing '' tenderness" for consciences, for their own 
 benefit. They clainicd the domains of Xew Jersey as a part of the realm 
 of New Netherland. It was almost wholly unoccupied by settlers. De- 
 siring to allure the disajipointed and persecuted Dissenteis in England 
 to their domain, they pre[)ared a charter, which was approved by the 
 States-General, to meet the aspirations of tender consciences. The 
 States-General passed an act in February, lOfSl, granting to " all Chris- 
 tian people of tender consciences, in England or elsewhere oppressed, 
 full liberty to erect a colony in the West Indies, between New England 
 and Virginia, in America, now within the jnrisdiction of Peter Stuyve- 
 sant, the States-General's governor for the Dutch West India Company." 
 All concerned were forbidden to hinder Dutch colonists, and were 
 enjoined to afford them " all favorable help and assistance where it shall 
 be needful." 
 
 This widening of the tents of toleration and the freedom of the citizens 
 again tronbled the soul of the aristocratic Stnyvesant, who was bigotedly 
 loyal to the doctrines and discipline of the Dutch Peformed Church, 
 and he now began those petty persecutions already alluded to which 
 made the Manhattan people more than ever displeased with his adminis- 
 tration. He seemed to have a special dislike of the Quakers, and dis- 
 ciplined them with imprisonments and banishments. To a fiery temper 
 like that of Stnyvesant their imperturljability was an offence and annoy- 
 ance. Tlieii' serenity of deportment made him angry. ]5ut his persecu- 
 tions had very little effect in suppressing the aspirations of the people. 
 
 Emigrants from Old and New England settled here and there between 
 the Hudson and Delaware rivers, and in 1662 a colony of Mennonites from 
 Ildllaiid — followers of Simon Meniio, who were Anabaptists — settled on 
 
72 
 
 TlIK E.Ml'IKE STATE. 
 
 the TTore Kill, in the refijioii of ruined Swaancnclacl (see p. ), and 
 
 there furnied an association and adopted seventeen articles of agreement 
 for their government. The Association was composed of niarried men, 
 at least twenty-four years of age, and out of debt. No clergyman was 
 admitted to the Association. Their religious rites were few and simple. 
 Desirous of nuiintaining harmony, they excluded '' all intractable people. 
 — such as those in communion with the Roman See ; usurious Jews ; 
 English stiff-necked Quakers ; Puritans ; foolhardy believers in the 
 ^[illennium, and obstinate modern pretenders to revelation." Witii 
 Peter Plockhoy as their leader, they flourished until the colony was 
 plundered and ruined hy the English, in Kiti-i, •' not s])aring even a 
 raile. "' 
 
 Another Dutch colony was founded on the Delaware in 1656 by the 
 city of Amsterdam and named New Amstel. The land was Ijought by 
 the city from the Dutch West India Company. It suffered man}- mis- 
 fortunes, and finally perished with New Netherland. This colony was 
 
 SICXATl UK OK \VII,1.I.\.M UKKCK.M.VX. 
 
 planted under Stuyvesant's jurisdiction, who, in order to have more 
 direct and sure control of its affairs, appointed William Beeckman Vice- 
 Director and ('ommissary of New Amstel.* 
 
 In the summer of ItJti.'} the peace which had reigned at Esopus for 
 three years was suddenly broken. A new village called Wiltwyck (now 
 Jvingston) had been built up, and in comfortable log cottages the inhab- 
 itants had been living in fancied security for some time. The village 
 
 * William Bt'ockman was born in Overy-ssel in 1623, and came to New Netherland in the 
 same ship with Stiiyvcsanl. Ilis wife was Catharine do Bergli, by whom he had six 
 children, one of whom married a son of the governor, Nichohis William Stuyve.sant. 
 Becekman wa.s a sehejien or alderman of New Amsterdam, secretary and viee-director of 
 New Amstel, where he managed judiciously in diplomaoy with tlu' Ensrlish representatives 
 of Maryland, lie was at one time eonuiiissary at Esopus. lie was aldcrm.iii in Ui7i) under 
 EnL'Iish rule, havinjr been burfromaster when the Dutch la.st posse.s.sed the city. Here- 
 tired from ]nililic life in 1G96, and died in 1707. in the eijrhty-tifth year of his age. 
 '■ William" and " Bccknian" streets, in New York, derived their names from him. and 
 still retain them. 
 
WAR AVITir THE INDIAXS-KEVOLT ON LONG ISLAND. 73 
 
 was palisaded, and at the mouth of Rondout Creek the Dutch built a 
 ronduit — a redoultt — which made the Indians suspicions of their inten- 
 tions. One day in early June, while the men were working in the fields 
 and the village gates were wide open, bands of barbarians entered, and 
 with friendly pretence offered beans and corn for sale at the doors of the 
 cottages. Suddenly they began to plunder, burn, and murder. As the 
 men rushed from the fields toward their Ijlazing dwellings they were shot 
 down. The living men were finally rallied by the sellout, Swartwout, 
 and drove the Indians away. Twenty-one lives had been sacrificed, 
 nine persons were wounded, and forty-five, mostly women and children, 
 were carried away captives. 
 
 Great alarm was spread throughout the province, and expeditions were 
 sent against the Esopns IndiaTis from Fort Amsterdam and Fort Orange. 
 These chased the offenders far into the wilderness. Thirty miles from 
 Wiltwyck they destroyed an Indian fort and rescued many of the 
 captives. 
 
 The power of the barbarians M'as now broken, and it was soon crushed. 
 Meanwhile the hostilities of the Indians among themselves on the borders 
 of the white settlements made the Europeans constantly fearful and 
 vigilant. At the same time the Connecticut people were continually 
 encroaching. There was a revolt on Long Island, and the very existence 
 of New Xetherland was threatened. There were ever premonitions of 
 such an event, which actually occurred the next year. 
 
 Informed late in 16C3 that King Charles had granted to his brother 
 James, Duke of York, the whole of Long Island, several of the principal 
 English settlements combined in forming a sort of provisional govern- 
 ment in that region. There was then among them Captain John Scott, 
 who had been a disturber of the peace for several years. lie had lately 
 come back from England with pretended powers. He had claimed that 
 the Indians had sold to him a large portion of Long Island, and he issued 
 fraudulent deeds. This man the combined English settlements made 
 their provisional president imtil " His Majesty's mind should be known.'' 
 With an armed party he sought to force Dutch settlements to join the 
 league, but failed. At the begiiming of 1064 Scott departed for Eng- 
 land after a conference at Hempstead with representatives of Stuy vesant, 
 when he informed them that the Duke of York was resolved to possess 
 himself not only of Long Island, l)ut of the whole of New Netherland. 
 Stuyvesant was startled and perjdexed by this announcement of the 
 " usurper," as he called Scott, and he asked the advice of his Council 
 and the munici]ial authorities of New Amsterdam. They recommended 
 the complete fortifying of the city. The director-general tlien ordered 
 
74 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ;m election of delegates for a General Provincial Assemhlv, to meet in 
 New Anistenlani in Ai)ril. Tliey a.ssenil)led in tlie (Jity Jlali. There 
 were delegates from Fort Orange, Rensselaerwyck, Esopiis, and all tiie 
 
 Dutch settlements ; init they were 
 powerless to avert the impending 
 l)l(i\v, wliicii was to anniliilate Dutcli 
 (hmiinion in North America.* 
 
 The profligate British monarcli 
 resolved to I'ob the Dutch of all New 
 Netherland. With no more I'iglit 
 to the domain than had the arch- 
 tempter to '■ all the kingdoms of the 
 earth," but governed by the ethics 
 of the mailed hand — " might makes 
 right" — and that cannons are the 
 " last arguments of kings," he gave 
 to his royal brother, the Duke of 
 York, a patent for the Dutch terri- 
 tory — •" all tlie lands and i-ivers from 
 the west side of Connecticut River 
 ' The patent included f >ong Island, 
 
 ■n;ni;MiAS van uhnsselaeu. 
 
 to the east side of Delaware Bay. 
 Staten Island, and all the adjacent islands. 
 
 As Lord High .;Vdmiral of the Royal Navy, 
 four ships-of-war for service; 
 in asserting his claim by 
 force of arms, if necessary. 
 The king provided four hun- 
 dred and fifty regular soldiers 
 for the same purpose, and 
 
 intrusted tlie command of the expedition to Colonel liiciiard Nicolls, a 
 stanch Royalist and court favorite, who had served under the great 
 
 tlie duke at once detached 
 
 SIGNATURE OF ItRIIAltl) MfOLI.S. 
 
 * This Gfueriil Provisional A.s.scnibly was prosidcd over liy Jcromias van Rc'ns.selaer, 
 the .st'conil ]iatn)on ami director of Kcii.sselaerwyck. !Xt'W Amsterdai\i was roprcsi-utcti 
 by Coriiclis Stceinvyck, buriioiiiasiLT, and Jacob Badikcr ; Rens.selaerwyck, by Jercniias 
 van Henssi'lacr and Dink van Sthclluync. its secretary ; Port Oranire (All)any), by -Jan 
 Verbeck and Oerrilt van Skelitenhorst ; Breuekelen, by \Villiani liredenbent and .\lbert 
 C'ornelis Wantenaar ; Midwoul. by .Ian Stryeker and William Ciuilliaiis ; Aniersliiorl. by 
 EIl)ert Elberlsen and Coerl Stcven.sen ; New Ulreclit, by David .lochemsen and C'ornelis 
 Heeekniaii ; Boswyek (Huslnviek), by Jan van Cleef and Gyshcrt Teunisseii ; AViltwyek, 
 by Thonia.s Chambers and Gysliert van Imbroeck ; Bergen, by Enirelberl Steenhuy.sen 
 and Hermann Smceman ; and Staten Island, by David de Marest and Pierre Billon. Tliis 
 was the third and last iiojiular a.s.senibly convened at New Amsterdam. 
 
:^^^^ 
 
 A P.KITISII ARMAMENT APPEARS. 75 
 
 Marslial Tnrenne, and liore the commission of governor of the province 
 
 after it sliould 1)0 secured to the duke. Associated witli Nicolls were 
 
 Sir Ttohert Carr, Colonel George C'artwright, and Samuel JMaverick, as 
 
 royal conmiissioners, instructed 
 
 to visit the several colonies 
 
 in New England and demand 
 
 their assistance in reducing tlie 
 
 Dutch to sulimission. (/"^-v \ 
 
 Stuyvesant had heon assured / J ^~ — ^ 
 ],y the misled Amsterdam i^ ^(f^-^ f^g^Jp^^ 
 Chamher that no danger need ^ ^ ^ ' '</'>' •-r. 
 beappreliended from the Brit- 
 
 . 1 -.■.• r ■, I , , SIGNATURES OF CARK AND fAKTWRKillT. 
 
 ish expedition, tor it had been 
 sent out to visit the English- 
 American colonies to settle affairs among them and to introduce ejiisco- 
 pacy. Soothed by this assurance, the work of fortifying New Amster- 
 dam was suspended, vigilance was relaxed, and the director-general went 
 up to Fort Orange at near the close of July to look after affairs there. 
 
 This dreamed-of security was suddenly dispelled. Early in August 
 intelligence came from Boston that the expedition Avas actually on the 
 New England coast on its way to New Amsterdam. Stuyvesant, 
 apprised of the fact, hastened back to his capital, and the municipal 
 authorities ordered one third of the inhabitants, without exceptions, to 
 labor every third day in fortifying the city. A permanent guard was 
 organized, and a call was made on the provincial government for artillery 
 and ammunition. Twenty great guns and a thousand pounds of powder 
 were immediately furnished. But the inhabitants did not work with 
 much entlinsiasin in preparations for defence, for English influence and 
 tlie director-general's temper and deportment had alienated the people, 
 and they were indifferent. Some of them regarded the ex))ected 
 invaders as welcome friends. Stuyvesant had sliorn himself of strength, 
 and when now, in his extremity, lie began to make concessions to the 
 people, it was too late. The sceptre liad departed from him. Loyal to 
 his masters in Holland, he resolved to defend the city until the last, and 
 entreated the jieople to sustain him. 
 
 At the close of August the British armament anchored outside the 
 Narrows — tlie entrance to the harbor of New Amsterdam — and on Satur- 
 day, the 3()th, Nicolls sent to Stuyvesant a summons to surrender the 
 fort and city. He also sent a proclamation to the inhabitants promising 
 perfect security of person and jiroperty to all wlio should submit to 
 "His Majesty's Government." Stuyvesant immediately called his 
 
TO Tin: K.MI'IIJK STATK. 
 
 fouiifil and tlio l)ur<;oiiiasters to a conference at tlie fort, lie \voii](l not 
 allow tlio terms offered liv TS'icolls to tlui i)eo2)le to be comiimiiicated to 
 them. " It would not be approved in I'atherland," he said, for he 
 lielieved " calainitons c'onse(piences"' w<Mild folhnv by inakinfj them insist 
 n])on capitulating. There mms also a meeting of other city otHcers and 
 the burghers, at the City Hall, who determined to prevent tlic enemy 
 from surprising the town, if possililc, and yet they leaned toward 
 submission, seeing resistance would be in vain. 
 
 The Sabbath passed by and no answer was returned to the summons 
 of Nicolls. The people, uncertain as to what was going on, became 
 much excited. On Monday the citizens assembled, when the burgo- 
 masters explained to them the terms offered by Nicolls. This was not 
 sufficient. They demanded a sight of the proclamation. Stuyvesaiit 
 went in ]>erson to the meeting, and told the people that such a course 
 woidd '■ be disapproved in Fatherland."' They M-ere not satisfied, and 
 clamored for a sight of the proclamation. 
 
 Meanwhile, Governor Winthrop, of Connecticut, who was on friendly 
 t(;rms with Stuyvesaiit and had joined the scpuidron, received from 
 Nicolls a letter repeating his terms offered in the ])roclaination, and 
 authorizing Winthrop to assure the Dutch governor that Hollanders, 
 citizens or merchants, should have eipial privileges with the English if 
 he would quietly surrender. 
 
 ^Vinthrop, under a flag of truce, delivered this letter to Stuyvesant ont- 
 side the fort and urged liim to surrender. The proud director-general 
 ])romptly refused, and withdrawing to the Council-room within he 
 opened and read the letter before the assembled Council and burgo- 
 masters. They urged him to conmiunicate the letter to the people, as 
 '* all which regarded the public welfare ought to be made public." 
 
 The governor stoutly refused to yield. The Council and- burgomasters 
 as stoutly insisted upon the just measure, when the director-general, 
 who had fairly earned the title of '" Peter the Headstrong," unai)le to 
 control his passions, tore the letter in pieces and threw it upon the lloor. 
 When the puojile who were at work on the palisades heard of this scene 
 they dropped their implements and hastened to the City Hall. Thence 
 they sent a deputation to Stuyvesant to demand the letter. In vain he 
 attempted, in person, to satisfy the burghers and urge them to go on 
 with the fortitication. They would not listen to him, but uttered curses 
 against his administration. 
 
 " The letter ! tlic letter '." they shouted. 
 
 The governor stormed. The people shouted more vociferously : 
 
 "The letter ! the letter !"' 
 
SURRENDER OF XEAV NETHEHLAXD DEMANDED. .. 
 
 The bnri^liers were on tlie verge of open insurrection. To avert sueli 
 a calamity, the sturdy old governor yielded. lie allowed the fragments 
 of the torn letter to be picked up from the floor of the Council chandier 
 and a fair copy to be made and given to the people ; and he sent off in 
 silence that night, through the dangerous strait of Hell Gate, in a small 
 Dutch vessel, a despatch to the Amsterdam Chamber, saying : '' Long 
 Island is gone and lost; the capital cannot hold out long." This was 
 Stuyvesant's last otticial despatch as Governor of New Netherland. 
 
 Receiving no reply from Stuyvesant, Nicolls landed some troops and 
 anchored two ships-of-war in the channel between Fort Amsterdam and 
 the Governor's Island. Stuyvesant saw all this from the ramparts of his 
 fort, but -would not yield. He knew the extreme weakness of the fort 
 and city, yet his proud will would not readily bend. Yielding at length 
 to the pei'suasions of Dominie Megopolensis* (who had led him from the 
 ramparts), he sent a deputation to XicoUs with a letter, in which he said 
 that, tliough he felt bound to " stand the storm," he desired, if possible, 
 to arrange an accommodation. Nicolls curtly replied : 
 
 " To-morrow I will speak 
 with you at ilanhattan." -T /-vt^ ^ /? ^ 
 
 Stuyvesant as curtly replied : .^^ ^^^iyJ-^^xd^S) ^ifHei^M^^^f^j^ 
 
 '' Friends will be M'elcome ^ L/ ^ 
 
 if they come in a friendly sKiNATtuE <.f .tohx megopolensis. 
 
 manner." 
 
 " I shall come with ships aiul soldiers," answered Xicolls. " Raise 
 the white flag of peace at the fort, and then something may be con- 
 sidered." 
 
 When this imperious message became known men, women, and chil- 
 dren flocked to the director-general beseeching him to submit. The 
 brave old soldier said : " I would much rather lie carried out dead ;" 
 
 * Dr. John Megopolensis, a learnecl clergyman, was brought to Rensselaerwyek with 
 his faniilv from Holland at the expense of the patroon, and employed there as a clergy- 
 man for six years, when he went home. He soon came back, became a patentee of Flat- 
 bush, on Long Island, and organized a church there. His jealous3'of and intolerant con- 
 duct toward the Lutherans called an admonition from Holland. He was a man greatly 
 beloved by Stuyvesant, and became the governor's most trusted adviser in public affairs. 
 He accompanied Stuyvesant on his expedition against the Swedes in 1655. His earnest 
 missionary spirit caused him to form a warm friendship for Father Le Moyne. the French 
 Roman Catholic missionary among the Indians. He bore communications to Nicolls 
 from Stuyvesant, and ad\'ised the surrender of the province to the English. After the 
 surrender lie and the English chaplain preached alternately in the church at the fort. lie 
 preached on Long Island also. Dominie ilegopoleusis died in New York, when his 
 ■widow retiu'ned to Holland. 
 
:s 
 
 TIIK KMl'IHK .STATK. 
 
 l)ut wlicii tlic city aiitliorities, tlie elcrfjy, ainl tlic principal iiiliabituiits 
 of the city, and even liis own son, ]>altliazar, urged liini to yield, " Peter 
 the Headstrong," who had a heart " as big as an ox and a head that 
 would have set adamant to scorn," consented to caiiitulate. 
 
 ( )ii the morning of September Sth, ICitU, the last of the Dutch gov- 
 ernors of Xew York led his soldiers from the fort down Beaver Lane to 
 the place of embtirkation for Holland. An hour later an English cor- 
 poral's guard took possession of the fort and raised over it the red cross 
 of St. George, when its name was changed to Fort James, in honor of 
 the duke. Nicolls and Carr, with nearly two hundred soldiers, then 
 entered the city, when the burgomasters duly proclaimed the former the 
 dei>uty-governor of the province, which, with the city of -New Amster- 
 dam, he named " Xew York" in honor of the duke's first or Entrlish 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 / ^ 
 
 SIGNATURES OF STlYAEr.VNT AXO HIS SErHETAHY, VAX UrYVEN".* 
 
 title. The surrender of the garrison at Fort Orange soon followed, and 
 tlie name of tiiat post was changed to '" AUiaiiy" in honor of the duke's 
 second or Scotch title. Long Island was named " Yorkshire," and the 
 region now known as Xew Jersey was named "Albania." Very soon 
 
 * CoriH-lis v.iii Ruyven wa« appoinlcd provincial sccretarj' in 1653, and jHTforincd 
 excellent service for Governor Stuyvesant for aljout eleven years. He w;is eniployeil in 
 iliploniacy at various points in the ])rovinee, on the South Kiver and at Hartford. He 
 was one of a committee who carried the letter from Governor Stuyvesant to Colonel 
 NicoUs consentins to a surrender of the province to the English. Above is the signature 
 of Van Ruyven signed officially below that of Stuyvesant to a Dutch document in my 
 possession, dated May, 1664. The document bears the seal of Xew Xetherland. seen on 
 page 27 of this volume. Stuyvesant also had an English secretary — George Ba.\ter — for 
 a few vears. 
 
GO^^;R^'ME^'T of xf.w xetherlaxd. ~9 
 
 everv part of Xew Netherland quietly subinitted to the English, and so 
 passed away forever Dutch dominion in North America. 
 
 The government of New Netherland under Dutch nde was little better 
 than a caricature of the political system under which the Dutch colonists 
 had lived happily in their native land. The province during its whole 
 career of forty years had been controlled by a close commercial corpora- 
 tion, whose chief aim was the selfish one of pecuniary profit. The 
 magistrates sent to preside over its public affairs were selected as sup- 
 posed fit representatives of the great monopoly's aims and interests, and 
 are not to be judged by the standard of those in power, whose chief aim 
 is the happiness of the people and the building up of a State on the per- 
 manent foundations of -wisdom and justice. The Dutch then i as now i were 
 distinguished for their honesty, integrity, industry, thrift, and frug;dity. 
 
 >-EW AMSTERDAM, 1664 
 
 The purity of their morals and the decorousness of their manners were 
 always conspicuous. This may, perhaps, be justly ascribed to the influ- 
 ence of their women, who were devoted wives and mothers and modest 
 maidens. The women were remarkable for their executive ability in 
 managing affairs, and their housekeeping was perfect in cleanliness and 
 order. 
 
 As population and wealth increased at Xew Amsterdam mnch taste 
 was frequently displayed in their dwellings. At the time of the sur- 
 render the city, within the palisades, or below TVall Street, contained 
 about three hundred houses and fully fifteen hundred inhal)itants. 
 
 Colonel Nicolls described it as "'the best of His Majesty's towns in 
 America.'' At first the houses were built of logs ; the roofs were 
 thatched with reeds and straw ; the chimneys were made of wood, and 
 tlie light of their windows entered through oiled paper. Finally the 
 thatched roofs and wooden chinmeys gave place to tiles and shingles and 
 
80 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATK. 
 
 brick. Tlic l)cttei' liouses Avero built of l)riok imported from irolLiiul, 
 \intil some oiiteriirising citizens cstiil)lishe(l a brickyard on the island 
 durinuf the administration of Stuvvesant. 
 
 ; ml I 
 
 3 
 
 
 A COTTAGE AT NKW AMSTKKUAM. 
 
 Every house was surrounded by a fjarden, in whicli the chief vegetable 
 cultivated M'as cabbage, and the principal flowers were tulips. The 
 houses M-ere plainly but sometimes richly furnished. It is said that the 
 first carpet — a Turkey rug — seen in the city i)elonged to Sarah Oort, 
 wife of the famous Captain Kidd. The clean floors were strewn daily 
 with Mdiite beach sand wrought into artistic forms by the skilful use of 
 the broom. Huge oaken chests filled with household linen of domestic 
 inannfactnre were seen in a corner in every room, and in another corner 
 a triangular cupboard with a glass door, sometimes, in which were 
 displayed shining pewter and other plates. The wealthier citizens 
 sometimes had china tea-sets and solid silver taidcards, punch bowls, 
 porringers, ladles, and spoons. Tea had only lately found its way to Kew 
 York. Good horses were rare until they began to import them from 
 New England, but their swine and cows were generally of excellent 
 quality. There were no carriages until after the revolution of l(iS8. 
 The first liacknc^y coach .seen in the city of New York was imported in 
 1090. 
 
 Clocks and watches were ahnost unknown. Time was measured by 
 sun-dials and honr-gla.'^ses. The habits of the people were so regular 
 that they did not need clocks and watches. They arose at cock-crowing, 
 breakfasted at sunrise, and dined at eleven o'clock. At nine o'clock in 
 
DOMESTIC CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. 81 
 
 the evening thev all said tlieir prayers and went to bed. Dinner-parties 
 were unknown, but tea-parties were frequent. Tliese parties began at 
 three o'clock in the afternoon in winter, and ended at si.x o'clock, when 
 the partici])ant8 went home in time to attend to the milking of the cows. 
 In every house were spinning-wheels, large and small, for making 
 threads of wool and flax ; and it was the pride of every family to Iiave 
 an ample supply of honie-tnade linen and Avoollen cloth. The women 
 knit, sjiun, and wove, and were steadily employed. Nobody was idle. 
 Kohody was anxious to gain wealth. A man worth $1000 was regarded 
 as rich. All practised thrift and frugality. Books were rare luxuries, 
 and ill most houses the Bible and prayer-book constituted the stock of 
 literature. The M'eekly discourses of the clergymen satisiied their intel- 
 lectual wants, while their own hands, industriously employed, satisfied 
 all tlieir physical uecessities. Utility was as plainly stamped upon all 
 their labors as is the maker's name upon silver spoons. Yet they were 
 a cheerful people, and enjoyed rollicking fun during hours of leisure and 
 social intercourse. These were the " good 
 old days" in the city of New York — 
 days of simplicity, comparative inno- 
 cence and positive ignorance, when the 
 commonalty no more suspected the earth 
 of the caper of turning over like a bull 
 of yarn every day than Stuyvesant did 
 the Puritans of candor and honesty. 
 
 " The pioneers of New York," says 
 Brodhead, " left their impress deeply 
 upon the State. Far-reaching com- 
 merce, M-hich had made old Amsterdam the flag of uoi.lakd. 
 the Tyre of the seventeenth century, 
 
 early ])rovoked the envy of the colonial neighbors of New Amsterdam, 
 and ill the end made her the emporium of the Western world. . . . 
 Cherished birthdays yet recall the memories of the genial anniversaries 
 of the Fatherland ; and year by year the people are invited to render 
 tlianks to their God, as their fathers were invited, long before Man- 
 hattan was known, and while New England was yet a desert. These 
 forefathers humbly Avorshipped the King of kings, while they fearlessly 
 rejected the kings of men. 
 
 '' The emigrants who first explored the coasts and reclaimed the soil 
 of New Netherland, and bore the flag of Holland to the wigwam of the 
 Iroquois, were generally blufl:, plain-spoken, earnest, yet unpresumptuous 
 men, who spontaneously left their native land to better tlieir condition 
 
^1 
 
 82 rilK E.Ml'lHE STATE. 
 
 and hind another provlnfo to the United Xctherlands. Tliey hronght 
 over with them tlie lihoral ideas and lionest maxims and homely virtnes 
 of their country. Tiiey introduced their churcli and their schools, their 
 dominies and their school-masters. They carried along with tliem their 
 huge clasped Bibles, and left them heirlooms in their families. . . . 
 The Dutch province always had both popular freedom and public spirit 
 enough to attract M'itliin its borders voluntary immigrants from the 
 neisrhborin<r British colonies. If the Fatherland gave an asylum to self- 
 
 O O CD t/ 
 
 exiled Puritans of England, New Ketherland as liberally sheltered 
 refuirees from the intolerant governments on her Civstern frontier. . . . 
 Without underrating others, it may confidently be claimed that to no 
 nation in the world is the Kepnblic of the West more indel)ted than to 
 the United Provinces for the idea of a confederation of States ; for noble 
 jM'iiu'iples of constitutional freedom ; for magnanimous sentiments of 
 religious toleration ; for characteristic sympathy with the subjects of 
 oppression ; for liberal doctrines in trade and commerce ; for illustrious 
 ])atterns of ])rivate integrity and public virtue, and for generous and 
 timely aid in the establishment of independence. Xowhere among the 
 people of the United States can any be found excelling in honesty, 
 industry, courtesy, or accomplishments the posterity of the early Dutch 
 settlers in New Netherland." * 
 
 Upon such a foundation — a people who made the hearth-stone the test 
 of citizenship, and demanded residence and loyalty as the oidy guarantee 
 of faithfulness as citizens — and a happy mixture, in time, of various 
 nationalities and theological ideas, has been reared the grand supei"struc- 
 ture of the Empire State of Xew York. 
 
 The Dutch West India Company tried to shift the responsibility of 
 the loss of New Xetherland from their own shoulders to those of Stuy- 
 vesant. They declared that he had not done his duty well, and asked 
 the States-General to disa])prove the " scandalous surrender'' of Xew 
 Amsterdam. The sturdy old Frieslandcr made serious counter-charges 
 of remissness in duty against the company, and sustained them by sworn 
 testimony taken at New York. He M^cnt to Holland in 1(305 and urged 
 the States-General to make a sjieedy decision of his case. Tliere was 
 delay. The dispute was finally ended in 1067 by the peace between 
 Holland and England, concluded at Breda. Then Stuyvesant returned 
 to America, where he was cordially welcomed by his old friends, and 
 kindly received by his political enemies, who had already learned from 
 experience that he was not a worse governor than the duke had sent 
 
 * Brodluads History of the State of Keto Tork, i. 747. 
 
CHARACTER OF PETER STUTVESAST. 83 
 
 them. He retired to his iouwerie or farm on the East River, where he 
 enjoved the respect of his fellow-citizens. There he died in 1<^S2, at the 
 age of eightr Tears. Under the venerable church of St. Mark his mortal 
 remains repose. In the northern wall of that venerable fane may be 
 ^«€n a free-stone slab on which is engraved a memorial inscription. 
 
 With all his faults. Peter Stayvesant was a grand man of the time in 
 which he lived. Obedient to every behest of duty and conscience ; 
 zealous in his patriotic devotion to the interests of his people and 
 country : lion-hearted in the maintenance of what he deemed to be right 
 and just ; with unswerving loyalty to religious and political creeds, in 
 his day, and viewing with supreme contempt the treachery of one of die 
 most despicable of the British monarchs toward his unsuspecting ally, 
 he felt it to be a degradation to yield an iota to the demands of the 
 royal robber, who was incapable of exercising any tndy noble aspiration 
 .;>r truly generous impulse. 
 
84 
 
 TIIK KMIMHE STATK. 
 
 CIIAI'TEK VI I. 
 
 TiiK surrender of New Netherland to the English being accomplislied, 
 a now ])rovinfial government for New York was organized under Colonel 
 Nieolls as eliief magistrate. Matthias Xieolls was made secretary of 
 the province. The governor chose for his Council, Robert Xeedham, 
 Thomas Delavall, Secretary Xicolls, Thomas Topping, and AVilliaiii 
 "Wells. ^Ir. Delavall was made collector and receiver-general of New 
 York. The Dutch munictipal officers of New Amsterdam M-ere retained. 
 A few days after the surrender the burgomasters wrote to the Dutch 
 
 West India Company giving an account of 
 the event, and adding: " Since M-e are no 
 longer to depend upon your honors" prom- 
 ises or |)rotection, we, with all the poor, sor- 
 rowing, and aI)andoned connnonalty, must 
 liy fur i-efuge to tliu .Mniiglity God, not 
 (i(iiil)ting but He will stand by us in this 
 sotely afflicting coiijuiiction." 
 
 A harmonious arrangement was made for 
 <iivi)ie worship in New York. The Dutch 
 ciairch in the fort was the only fane in the 
 city dedicated to Jehovah, and it was cor- 
 dially agreed that after the Dutch morning 
 service on the Sabbath the English chaplain 
 should read the English Episcopal service 
 to the governor and the garrison. Upon 
 this footing the English Episcojial Church 
 and the Dutch Chun-h in New York 
 remained for more than thirty yeare. 
 TJie dreams of freedom under British rule in New York were never 
 realized b\' the Dutch. Tiiey soon found that a cliange of maatei's did 
 not increase their prosperity or happiness. " Fresh names and laws did 
 
 SKAI. OK THE DlKIi OK YOltK. 
 
 * Burke says the Duke of York was directed, by a royal warrant issued in 16.52, to use a 
 
 Koal delineated alK)ve, wliicli Ixire the royal arms of the Stuarts ((uaitered Avith those of 
 France and England. It was used as the tirst seal of the province of New York inider 
 the Knglish. It Wivs Iiolh pendant and incumbent. The engraving represents a pendant 
 seal attached to the lirst charter of the city of Albany, 1686. 
 
UNDER THE NEW ORDER OF THINGS. 85 
 
 not secure fresli liberties. Amsterdam was changed to Yorlc, and 
 Orange to Albany ; bnt these changes only comnienioi-ated the titles of 
 a conqueror. It was nearly twenty years before that conqueror allowed 
 for a brief period to the people of New York even that faint degree of 
 representative government which they had enjoyed when the tri-colored 
 ensign of Holland was hauled down from the flag-staff of Fort Amster- 
 dam. New Netherland exchanged StuyvesaTit and the Dutch West India 
 Company and a republican sovereignty for Nicolls and a royal proprietor 
 and a hereditary king. The province was not represented in Parliament ; 
 nor could the voice of the people reach the chapel of St. Stephen at 
 Westminster as readily as it had reached the chambers of the Binnenhof 
 at the Hague." * 
 
 Governor Nicolls required the Dutch inhabitants, who numbered about 
 two thirds of the population of New Netherland, to take an oath of 
 allegiance to the British monarch. The king having authorized the 
 duke to make laws for the colony, the latter empowered Governor 
 Nicolls and his Council to do so without the concurrence of I'epresenta- 
 tives of the people. The code so prepared, and known as " The Duke's 
 Laws," was promulgated in the spring of 1665.f 
 
 In order to gain the good-will of the Dutch, Nicolls allowed themimic- 
 ipal government of the city to continue in the form in which lie found 
 jt. When, in February, 1C65, the terms of the municipal officers 
 expired, they were allowed, as usual, to nominate their successors. They 
 chose Oloff Stevens van Cortlandt, burgomaster ; Timothy (-rabry, 
 Johannes van Brugh, Johannes de Peyster,:}; Jacob Kip, and Jac(pies 
 Coosseau, aldermen ; and Allard Anthony, sheriff. 
 
 A little later the government of the city of New York was changed so 
 as to make it more " conformable to the English." The governor 
 selected Thomas Willett, Stuyvesant's wise counsellor in diplomacy, and 
 then a resident of New Plymouth, to be the first Mayor of New York. 
 
 * Brodhead's Uiittory of the State uf Sew York, ii. 44. 
 
 t There was only a pretence of consultation with representatives of the people iu the 
 construction of these laws. A meeting of thirty-four delegates was held at Hempstead, 
 on the call of Governor Nicolls, who laid before them the laws he had caused to be cojn- 
 piled from those of New England ; but when the delegates proposed any amendment.s 
 they fovmd that they had been assembled merely to accept law.s which had been prepared 
 for them. They had merely exchanged the despotism of Stuyvesant for English des- 
 potism. 
 
 X Johannes de Peyster was the first of his name who came to New Netherland. He 
 was a man of wealth, and became active in public affairs. He was chosen burgomaster 
 in 1673, while the Dutch had temporary possession of the province, and afterward suffered 
 much from the pett}' tyranny of Governor Andros. He was the ancestor of the De Peyster 
 family in America, some of whom have been distinguished iu the history of our country. 
 
80 
 
 Tin; K.Mi'ii;i: statk. 
 
 One hiiiKirod and forty-two years afterward (1S(>7) ifarinus Willett, his 
 great-ijrL'ut-tcrandson, was mayor of that city, then freed from Britisli 
 rule. It was in May, 1665, that the first Mayor and Board of Aldermen 
 
 o^Lo^i^I Oe 7^W/jt<f^ 
 
 SICXATUKK AND ARMS OF .lOIIAXNES 1)E PEVSTEU. 
 
 for the city of Xcw York were apjiointed. Three of them were English- 
 men -Willett, Delavall, and Lawrence — and fmir of them were Hol- 
 landers — Van Corthmdt, \a\\ Brugh, Van Bnyven (former secretary of 
 Stnyvesant), and Anthony. 
 
 War between Holland and (Ireat Britain hroke ont again early in 
 l(iG.5. The Dutch luul resolved no longer to submit to the domination 
 of tlie English. The States-General authorized the Dutch AVest India 
 Company to " attack, conquer, and ruin the English, botli in and out of 
 Europe, on land and water." The conflict raged cliielly on the ocean, 
 and was terminated by a treaty at Breda at the close of June, 16<>7, 
 
 when Xew Netherland was formally given up 
 to Great Britain. 
 
 ]\[eanwhile two royalist favorites — Lord 
 Berkelej' and Sir George Carteret — liad per- 
 suaded the duke to convey to them a part of 
 the magnificent domain in America, which 
 was not yet in his possession, for the expedi- 
 tion sent to seize it was still (Jime, 1664) 
 ont upon the ocean. These favorites liad been 
 proini)ted to ask this grant ])y the " us\ir]ier" 
 Scott — ''burn to work mischief'' — for the 
 purpose of injuring the duke, who had re- 
 fused to let him have Long Island. The duke 
 conveyed the whole of the beautiful territory 
 between the Hudson liiverand the Delaware to Berkeley and Carteret, 
 and in memory of the gallant defence of the island of Jersey by the lat- 
 ter, he named the domain in the charter Nova Csesarea, or New Jei-sey. 
 
 AUMS OK THE CAKTEUETS. 
 
BEGIXXIXG OF EXGUSII KULE AT XEVT YORK. 
 
 
 Richard Nicolls * governed Xew York judiciously and wisely for 
 about four years, when he resigned the government into the hands of 
 his appointed successor, Francis Lovelace. The latter had visited Long- 
 Island in 1652 under a pass from Cromweirs Council of State, and 
 passed thence into Yirginia. 
 He was a phlegmatic, indolent, 
 and good-natured man, and of 
 a mild and generous disposition, 
 his weakness causing him oc- 
 casionally to exercise petty 
 tyranny. He was unfitted to 
 encounter great storms, yet he 
 showed considerable energy in 
 dealing with the French and 
 Indians on the northern frontier 
 of New York during his ad- 
 ministration. 
 
 One of Lovelace's wisest 
 counsellors and the most influ- 
 ential man in the province at 
 that time was Cornells Steen- 
 wyck,f a wealthy citizen, and 
 who held the office of mayor 
 for three years during the ad- 
 ministration of Lovelace. It was at his large storehouse that the corpo- 
 ration gave a banquet to Governor Nicolls on his retirement from office. 
 
 'h'''''^0/'f 
 
 COHNEIJS tTEEXWYCK. 
 
 * Nicolls was born in Bedfordshire in 1624, tlie son of a London barrister. He was a 
 descendant of the Earl of Elgin. At the breaking out of the civil war he joined the royal 
 forces, leaving college for the purpose, and soon obtained command of a troop of horse. 
 As an (tttitrlie of the Duke of York, after the death of Charles, he served in France, first 
 under Jlars'ial Turenne, and tlien under the Prince of Conde. After the Restoration he 
 returned to England, found employment at court, became a favorite, and was made the 
 duke's deputy governor of Xew York. He returned to England in 16fi8. 
 
 f Cornells Steenwyck emigrated to Xew Xctlierland from Haarlem. Holland. He was 
 a merchant, who arrived at X'ew Amsterdam about 1652. and engaged in trade, principally 
 in tobacco for the European market. He was rated among the most wealthy citizens in 
 1655. In 1658 lie married Margaretta de Riemer, daughter of a widow who conducted a 
 small mercantile establishment in New Amsterdam. The widow was married tlie ne.\t 
 year to Dominie Drissius, the Dutch clergyman of New Amsterdam. Steenwyck had a 
 fine residence on the soutli-west corner of (present) Whitehall and Bridge streets. He 
 was a very active man in public affairs as burgomaster, delegate to the General Assembly, 
 and colleague of De Ruyvcn in carrying Stuyvesant's letters to XicoUs, and in the busi- 
 ness of surrender 
 
88 
 
 Tin: KMI'IRK STATK. 
 
 Lovelace licld friendly iiitorconrse ■with the peopli! of New En<,'lan<l, 
 and when, in Km-'', there was war again between Holland and Great 
 Britain, and a I)iitfh squadron appeared hefore his capital in Anirnst, he 
 was on a friendly visit to Crovernor "Winthrop. of Connecticut. With 
 disaffection to his government he was always impatient ; and when the 
 inhabitants in the territory of " New Sweden," on the Delaware, and 
 also on Long Island, showed a rebellious spirit, he, at the suggestion of a 
 Swede, levied heavy taxes upon them, and told them that they should have 
 no liberty for any other thought than how they should pay their assessments. 
 At the close of July, l(iT3, a Dutch s(juadron, commanded by 
 Admirals Evertsen and Binckes, twenty-three vessels in all, including 
 numerous prizes, and bearing six hundred land troops, arrived off Sandy 
 Hook, and soon anchored above the NarroM-s in sight of New York. 
 The admirals sent a summons to the commander of the fort there to sur- 
 render. The English were taken by surprise. Captain John ^Manning, 
 who was in conuuand of the fort, sent a messenger to Governor Lovelace 
 in Connecticut, ordered the drums to beat for volunteers, and sent to the 
 neiU'est towns on Lontj Islaiul for re-enforcements. None came. The 
 
 Dutch in the city showed signs of 
 serious disalTcction. The call for 
 volunteers Mas little heeded. Few 
 appeared, and those who did re- 
 spond came as enemies instead of 
 friends, and spiked the cannon 
 parked in front of the City Hall. 
 Ill this extremity Manning sent a 
 deputation to the Dutch commander 
 to in(piire why he had come " in 
 such a hostile manner to disturb 
 Ilis Majest3''s subjects." 
 
 ''We have come," he rejilied, 
 " to take what is our own. and 
 our own we will have." 
 
 ]\rannin<i: tried to gain time bv 
 procrastination. The war - ships 
 floated up M-ith the tide within musket-shot of the fort without tiring a 
 gun. At the end of half an hour the ships fired broadsides and killed and 
 wounded some of the garrison. The fort returned the fire, and shot the 
 flag-ship " through and through."' Then six hundred men were landed, 
 when about four hundred armed burghers encouraged their countrymen 
 to storm the fort. 
 
 I 
 
 .iUMlKAl. COUNKI.IS EVKKTSKN. 
 
RECONQUEST BY THE DrTCII. 89 
 
 Perceiving resistance iinder the circumstances to be useless, a white 
 flag was displayed over the fort, and a deputation was sent out to meet 
 the advancing storming party at near sunset. A capitulation was soon 
 effected, when the fort and garrison were surrendered with the honors 
 of war. The Dutch soldiers marched into the fort and the English 
 soldiers marched out of it with colors flying and drums beating, and 
 grounded their arms. Then the English garrison was ordered back, and 
 were made prisoners of war in the church within the fort. The tri- 
 colored banner of the Dutch Republic took its old place on the flag-stafl: 
 of the fort, and the heart of Stuyvesant, who was a witness of the event, 
 was filled with joy. New Amsterdam had been snatched from the 
 Dutch l)y an English rol)ber, who came stealthily while Holland and 
 Great Britain were at peace. New York had lieen honorably taken by 
 a Dutch squadron — an open enemy — engaged in war with Great Britain. 
 The name of New Netherland was now restored to the reconquered 
 territory. It then had three chief towns, thirty villages, and between 
 six and seven thousand Dutch inhabitants. Fort James was renamed 
 Fort William Henry in honor of the Prince of Orange. Captain 
 Anthony Colve* was chosen to be governor-general of the province, his 
 commission defining it as extending from " fifteen miles south of Cape 
 . Ilinlopen to the east end of Long Island and Slielter Island ;"' on the 
 main north from Greenwich as defined in looO, and including " Dela- 
 ware Bay and all intermediate territory possessed by the Duke of York." 
 The name of the city of New York was changed to New Orange, 
 and Albany to AVillemstadt. The municipal government was re-estab- 
 lished after the Dutch pattern. Anthony de Milt was appointed schout, 
 Johannes van Brugh, Johannes de Peyster, and .^Egidius Luyck were 
 chosen bitrgomasters, and "William Beeckman, Jeronimus Ebbing, 
 Jacob Kip, Laurens van der Spiegel, and Gelyn Ver Planck wei'e 
 made schepens.j; Evertsen and Binckes issued a proclamation ordering 
 
 * Colve was " a man of resolute spirit, and passionate," whose arbitrary nature had 
 not been improved by military training. When made governor, he sought to magnify 
 the office by setting up a coach drawn by three horses. He ruled with energy and some- 
 times with .severity. When an English force demanded the surrender of the province to 
 English rvde, provided by treaty, and Edmond Andros claimed the right to take the seat of 
 Colve, the latter yielded to the inevitable with grace. He even went so far as to present to 
 .Viidros his coach and three horses. After the formal surrender Colve returned to Holland. 
 
 f After the recovery of Xew York bj- the English Captain Planning was tried by a 
 court-martial on a charge of cowardice and treachery, found guilty, and senteifced to 
 have his sword broken over his head by the executioner in front of the City Hall, and 
 forever incapacitated to hold any office, civil or military, in the gift of the crown. Gov- 
 ernor Lovelace was severely reprimanded, and his estates were confiscated and given to 
 
90 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 tlio seizure of all property and delfts ])elonging to the kinj^s of France 
 and England, or their subjeet.s, and urging every person to report such 
 property to the Secretary of the Province, I^icholas liayard. I)c 
 lluyven, who had been made the receiver of the duke's revenue, 
 although an old Dutchman, was recpiired to give a strict account. 
 
 The swift reconquest of New York startled the other English colonics 
 in America, and some of them prepared for war. Connecticut foolishly 
 talked of an olfensive war. Culve was wide awake, and watched current 
 events around him with great vigilance. He kept his eye on the move- 
 ments of the Frenchmen and barbarians on the north ; watched every 
 hostile indication on the east, and compelled hesitating boroughs on 
 Long Island and in "Westchester to take the oath of allegiance to the 
 Prince of Orange. He made strong the fortifications of New York, 
 planting no less than one hundred and ninet}' cannons around the city 
 and on the fort. 
 
 The triumph of the Dutch was of short duration. The reconquest 
 was an accident, not the result of a preconceived plan. The ha]ipy 
 dreams of a Belgic empire in America were, in a few months, suddenly 
 dispelled, for a treaty negotiated at Westminster (London) early in lOTi 
 ended the M'ar, and upon the principle of reciprocal restitution, rs'ew 
 r^etherland was restored to the P)ritish crown, and remained thereafter a 
 British province until the war for independence in 1775-83. Doubts 
 liaving ari.sen respecting the effects of these political changes upon the 
 duke's title to his American possessions, the king confirmed it by issuing 
 a new charter in June, IG'i. 
 
 ]\Icanwhile France had been endeavoring to establish and extend her 
 dominion on the borders of the great lakes, especially Ontario. The 
 strong right arm of her power in this work was eoinposed of Jesuit mis- 
 sionaries, who carried the lilies of I'^rance wherever they displayed the 
 emblems of Christianity. French soldiers followed in the path of these 
 missionaries. Wars between the French and barliarians within the 
 domain of the State of New York, as well as alliances, had taken place. 
 Li the hearing of the barbaric tribes the imposing ritual service of the 
 Church of Pome had been read and chanted for juore than a score of 
 years. 
 
 At the period of the )>olitical changes in New York here mentioned, 
 the Jesuits were active among the Iroquois. They had established a sort 
 
 the Duke of York. Admiral Evcrtsen, the commander of the Dutch forces that retook 
 New Netheriand, a.ssisted in conveying the forces of AVilli.nm. Prince of Orange, to 
 England in 1688. 
 
FRONTENAC AND 'niK IROQUOIS. 91 
 
 of metropolitan station among the Mohawks at Caughnawaga, on the 
 nortli side of tlie iloliawlc Iliver, in (present) Fulton Oonutv, and were 
 successful in making converts among the Mohawks and Oneidas. 
 
 "Working in concert with the missionaries, for State purposes, was the 
 al)le Governor-General of Canada, Count Louis Fi-oiitenac. Learning 
 from the Jesuits early in 167'! that the Iroquois were not well disposed 
 toward the French, lie made a pompous visit to the eastern end of Lake 
 Ontario and there lield a conference with delegates from the Five Nations, 
 whom he had invited to meet him. The object of the conference was 
 to impress the barbarians with a sense of the power of Canada. With 
 two bateau.x gaudily jjainted, each carrying sixteen men and a small 
 cannon mounted, accompanied by one hundred and twentv canoes and 
 ftiur hundred men, he ascended the St. Lawrence. The conference was 
 lield on the site of Kingston. It was exceedingly friendly. The count 
 tried to persuade the Iroquois sachems and chiefs to consent to allow 
 their youths to learn the French language. He called the Five Nations 
 his " children,-' and in every way tried to win their supreme affection for 
 the French. P)Ut he was unsuccessful ; he only won their friendlv feel- 
 ings, and a safegaiard for the missionaries 
 among them. He did not weaken in the 
 least degree their attachment to the 
 Dutch. 
 
 Frontenac had begim a fort — the after- 
 ward famous Fort Frontenac of history signature of edmond andisos. 
 — where the conference was held, when, 
 
 leaving a small garrison in tlie fort, he returned to Montreal. The great 
 minister of Louis XIV., Colbert, sent word to Frontenac that he had 
 better imitate the Dutch at Manliattan and Orange, and instead of 
 ^ prosecuting distant discoveries, to build up towns and villages in 
 Canada." 
 
 On the reconquest of Xcw York by the English the important question 
 arose : '' Who shall be sent to govern the province ?" Nicolls Avas dead, 
 and Lovelace was inconqietent. The king commissioned Sir Edmond 
 Andros,* major of dragoons, who was then thirty-seven years of age, to 
 
 * Sir Edmond Andros was born in London in 1637. His family wore distinguished on 
 tlic island of Giiornsi'}-. Alter serving as Governor of New York from 1674 to 1084 lie 
 rf'tm-ned to England, and entered the service of his king at the palace. Appointed 
 Governor of New England. New York, and New Jersey in 1688, he exercised arbitrary 
 power until the Revolution dethroned his inaster. King James II., that year, when he 
 was deposed and sent to England. In 1692 Andros was made Governor of Virginia, and 
 so remained until 1698. In 1704 he was created Governor of Guernsey, and died at West- 
 minster in 1713. 
 
92 Till-: K.Ml'lHK STATK. 
 
 fill that station, lie had been hronght up in the royal lioiisehold ; \vh- 
 a favorite of the kinj; and tlie duke ; a ijood French and Dutch scholar ; 
 a thorough royalist ; an obedient servant of his superiors, and was well 
 fitted to perform the piirt which his masters appointed him to play. His 
 private character was without blemish, and the evil things spoken of him 
 relate to his pul)lic career. This man played a conspicuous part in 
 American history for a few years. ' 
 
 Andros received the govciriiinent of Xew York frfdu Colve in October, 
 ICu-i. Witli all their ])olitical disabilities under him, the ]>eople f)f that 
 province prospered and were comparatively happy, l.nxurv had not 
 corrupted their tastes, and their wants Mere few. A man worth three 
 thousand dollars wiis considered rich ; the possessor of five thousand 
 dollars was considered opulent. There was almost a dead level of 
 equality in society. Beggars were unknown. '" Ministers were few, 
 but religions numy, " and out of matters of faith grew many contro- 
 versies. There seemed little reason for the twenty thousand inhabitants 
 of the domain to be unhappy ; but the divine instinct of freedom, which 
 denumded a free exercise of tlie rights of self-government, made many 
 of them discontented and in some places mutinous. The career of 
 Andros in America outside of Xew York was more strikiiig — more 
 dramatic than within that domain. 
 
 Andros in his zeal exceedeil his master's instructions, and very soon 
 he acquired the just title of "tyrant."' The duke, his master, was a 
 strange compound of wickedness and goodness, slow to perceive right 
 from wronjr, and seldom seeinir truth in its puritv. Bancroft savs of 
 liim : " A libertine without love, a devotee without spirituality, an 
 advocate of toleration without a sense of the natural right to freedom of 
 conscience — to him the muscular force prevailed over the intellectual. 
 He was not bloodthirsty ; but to a narrow mind fear seems the most 
 powerful instrument of government, and he ])ro])ped his throne [when 
 he became king] with the block and gallow.s. lie floated between the 
 sensuality of indulgence and the sensuality of superstition, hazarding 
 heaven for an ugly mistress, and, to the great delight of abbots and nuns, 
 winning it back again by pricking his flesh with sharp points of iron and 
 eating no meat on Saturdays." The Duke of Buckingham said well 
 that " Charles would not and James could not see." 
 
 One of the fir.st of the acts of petty tyranny of Aiidros was the im- 
 l)risonment of leading citizens of Xew York — ^Steenwyck, Van I'nigli. 
 Dc Peyster, Bayard, Luyck, Beeckman, Kip, and De Milt — on a charge 
 of " disturbing the jrovernment and endeavoring a rebellion." Their 
 offence consisted in an expressed desire not to take an unconditional oatii 
 
COMMISSIONERS OF IN 1)1 AX AFFAIRS 93 
 
 of allegiance to Charles Stuart, and petitioning the governor for leave to 
 sell their estates and to remove elsewhere. 
 
 Andros prot-eeded to enforce jurisdiction over every foot of territory 
 included in the duke's charter of lt)64 — Pemaquid, in Maine, the islands 
 of Martha's (Martin's) Vineyard and Xantucket, and disputed domains 
 on the Delaware, lie also claimed jurisdiction over all the territory 
 west of the Connecticut River. The authorities of Connecticut disputed 
 the claim, and Andros denounced their action as " rebellion against the 
 duke." 
 
 Finding the French were tampering with the Iroquois, Andros went 
 to Albany, regulated some affairs at Schenectady, and penetrated the 
 ilohawk Valley a hundred miles beyond. On his return to Albany he 
 received solemn assurances of the friendship of the Five Nations, and 
 then he organized the first '' Board of Commissioners for Indian Affairs." 
 This was a most important measure, and its operations were salutary for 
 a hundred years. He appointed as its secretary Robert Livingston, then 
 town clerk of Albany, a shrewd Scotchman who had lately come over 
 from Rotterdam, and who afterward became prominent in colonial affairs. 
 The Five Nations gave Andros the name of " Corlear," in memory of 
 their good friend, Arendt van Curler or Corlear, who, as we have 
 observed, was connnissary of Rensselaerwyck, and who was drowned in 
 Lake Champlain. 
 
 It was at this juncture that King Philip's War * broke out and spread 
 great alarm throughout New England. Andros sympathized with his 
 countrymen in their distress, but could not spare a military force to aid 
 them ; but he sent six barrels of gunpowder to the Rhode Islanders (who 
 were excluded from the New England Confederacy), and invited any of 
 them who should be driven out by the Indians to come to New York 
 and be ■welcomed as guests. There was no good feeling between the 
 '■ United Colonies of New England " (see p. 58") and Andros. 
 
 * Massasoit. the -warm friend of the " Pilgrim Fathers" at New Plymouth, liad two 
 .sou*, called respectively by the English. Philip and Alexander. The former was the 
 elder, and succeeded his father as sachem. Perceiving that the English were undoubtedly 
 determined to deprive him of his domain, he listened favorably to the counsels of his hot 
 young braves, and began a war for the extermination of the white intruders. At his 
 seat at Mount Hope, in Rhode Island, he planned a federation of all the New England 
 tribes for that purpose. Exasperated by au untoward occurrence, he suddenly struck 
 the first blow thirty miles from New Plymouth, and for about a year he spread terror 
 and desoltUion far and wide. Finally he was killed in a hiding-place by another Indian. 
 His wife and little son had been made prisoners. The Christians of Massachusetts delil> 
 erated whether to kill or sell into slavery to fellow-Christians in Barbadoes this innocent 
 Iiagan Ixiy. The latter measure was the most 2>roJitabk, and it was adopted. 
 
HI 
 
 llIK KMI'lUK SlATi:. 
 
 I.iito ill liiTT Ainlros wiMil In MiiiflMinl to Inok aftor liis priviito ntTiiiw, 
 li'aviiijj; Anllioiiv ItriM-kluills * in cliariji' of tlu» j;ovt'rmin'nt ol" Xow 
 ^'ork. l?rt>ckliolls inliiiinistt»ri>il piiMic iiiTiiifs wisoly lor a lew iiiontlis. 
 Mt>iiii\vliili< tlio j;ov»>rnor luul Ihh-ii kniijlitotl l>v Iviiiji ("liarli-s, iiiul lie 
 rotnriu>(l lo N\>\v ^'ork Sir l-Miiioiid Antlros. niiriiiii; liis altsiMico a royiil 
 niaiTiai;i< hail liikcii pkn'c wliicli liad an iniportaiit hoarinii; upon the 
 (li'slinii's ol" Now \\>\'k nay, of llu» worltl. ll was llic niarriajfii of 
 William, Princo of ('rani;i>, Iho acknowlotiiji'il loailcr of llio I'rolostants 
 of I'lnropo. to liis coiisin Marv. dannliU'r of tlio Hnko of ^'ork, Tliu 
 (hiko was a Koinaii ("atliolio liy fonvict ion, ainl llic inarriai;i' was <lis- 
 taslofnl to him. 
 
 Tho ilnko, iVijafdloss of llu> i'iu;lils of Horkolcy and Cailt'iot, liail 
 aiviMi Andiv's sulViciiMil autliority to allow liim to annoy those proprietors 
 and llu> sottlors in thoir domain. l>orkoloy sold his inlorost to lMii;lisli 
 " I'Vionds" or Quakors, and (.'artorot oonsonlod to a division of tlio torri- 
 tory into Kast and Wost Jorsoy. llo hold Mast .lorsoy. 'I'ho proprietor* 
 
 of AVost .lorsoy, makinj; lihoral 
 ooiu'i'ssions to settlors, soon al- 
 Iraotod a nnmorous popidation t' 
 that ri'ijitin. I'mt .\ndros was a 
 ohronio distnrlu'r. llo oansoti tlio 
 duko lo claim the riirlit to rule 
 all New Jersey, and .Vndros at- 
 tempted to exoivise it. .\ jndioial 
 deoision soon freed it ahsolutely 
 from the (hike's oontrol. and lato 
 in lOSl the fii-sl Ueprosentative 
 .Vssenddy mot at !>alom. in NVosi .lorsoy. and ailoptod a eodo of laws. 
 Mast .lorsoy was also sold to ijuakoi-s, and nnmorous settlors oanio theix> 
 also. 
 
 Meanwhile William Penu. an Kujilish liuaker. son of .Vdmind I'eun 
 \^who was a frioiul o{ the kinj; and the ilukoV had l>oeom(> a jiropriotor t)f 
 West .loi-soy. haviui; i>l>tainod fmm Charles a irraul of a ditmaiu (^Mai-oh, 
 U>sn inoludinjj " thivo deureosof latitude and live doi;roes of lonjjitmle," 
 west ot" the l>ela\van' Uiver, in jiayment of a loan nuulc l>y the king from 
 
 ^^W<r 
 
 r 
 
 sinNvriUK OK silt .miiN iii i!m i i :v \m« 
 
 SIU tiKOUUK OAUrKUKT. 
 
 • .Vnthony Brorkholls was of a Uotnnn ratholio family tn I.nneashtnv Knelaiut. ami 
 \v:is II " i>rv>lVs.:c<l I'apisl" hiiusclf. llr liinu' lo Now York at aNnil Iho linu> of its svir- 
 ix'Uilcr lo llii' l>>iloh ill lllT-l. iiiul wsis n;iiu<-<l as llio siioivssor i>f Oovornor .Viuln»< in iln' 
 rvi'iil of llu' (li'iilli of Ihc Itilli-r. lii l(i81 he was apitoiiiltil nnvivt-r O'nrral of llic j>i\>\ 
 iiiiv. and ill l(i.><;l lio Invaiiu' our of llu> i->niiuil of tiovcriior Poiiiraii, For fully lliiii\ 
 ywil's Ui\K'kliolls WHS a very iiolivo 111:111 in nulilio alfaii-s in llu> piMviiuv of New York. 
 
EAHT JEHSKY H(;l.L>. 
 
 ;».'> 
 
 Penn's father. Tlif; ilomain whh narno'l in tlio charter " PciiriHylvania.'' 
 Pt'iifi obtaine<], !>y grant an*] piireliaHO of tlio f]uk(!, the territory cotn- 
 priw;<J in tiie prettent State of JJeiaware, and on eoniing to America the 
 next year, tlie aj^ent of the duke Hurrendered it t/) Penri. 
 
 AndroH liad been Hiiddenly recalled from New York in the atitnrnn of 
 
 KKAI. Ol- .Sfcrt jOflk IIIT, IflW, 
 
 lfi^2, and Brockholl» again became a^rtirig governor. -Nothing of 
 special interest in public affain* fx^nirred during liiH a'lmini»tration of 
 nearly tlirw; yearH, exfx-pting a claim t^> Staten Inland an a ])art of Eai«t 
 Jerwey, made by I-fly Carteret, widow of the de<;ea»e'] [>roprietor. TJie 
 matter was w>on settled by the Hale of £a«t Jersey. 
 
96 THE EMPIllE STATE. 
 
 CIIAPTEIl VIIT. 
 
 Sir Edmoxd Andeos had ruled New York about nine years with vigor, 
 lie had kept peace witli the Iroquois Confederacy : t-ruslied religions 
 enthusiiusts ; frowned upon every sign of republicanism, and asserted 
 witli great tenacity the power of the duke, his master, within the char- 
 tered limits of his territory. ^leanwhile the duke had listened to tin- 
 appeals of the inhabitants of New York and heeded the judicious advice 
 of his friend, "William Penn, to give the people more liberty ; and lu' 
 sought an able and enlightened governor to take the 2)lace of Andros. 
 lie found such a man in Thomas Dongan,* a younger son of an Irisii 
 baronet, and then about fifty years of age. lie was a Roman Catholic, 
 enterprising and active, a " man of integrity, moderation, and genteel 
 manners.*' 
 
 Under instructions frum the duke, Dongan ordered an election of a 
 
 General Assembly of llepresentatives of 
 the people, their number not to exceed 
 eighteen. Their functions were to as- 
 sist the governor and Council in framing 
 laws for the " good of the colony," 
 siGNAiTHE OK (;..vKi(Nou noxGAx. the dukc rescrviug to himself the right 
 
 to examine and approve or reject such 
 laws. The representatives were to be allowed free debate among them- 
 selves in considering j)roposed laws. Thus the jieople of New York 
 were first allowed to share the colonial political authority. 
 
 It was a notal)le event in the history of the State of New York when, 
 on October ITtli, 1083, the first General Assenibl}' of the Province of 
 New York, composed of ten councilloi's and seventeen representative- 
 of the people, met at the City Hull :iiicl were addressed by Governor 
 
 * Governor Dongan had served in the French army ; was a colonel in the royal 
 army, and liad been Liiutt-nanl -Governor of Tangier. When he re.-iijrnetl his office of 
 Governor of New York to Audros. in ^688. he retired to his farm on Lous Island. With 
 the assumption of jwwer by Leisler, a strong anti-Homan Catholic spirit wsis fostered, 
 and Dongan being a Papist, wa.s wrongfully regarded ivith suspicion. Becau.sc he had a 
 brigantine constructed to carry him on a visit to England, he was charged with a trea- 
 sonable design against William and Mary, in favor of dethroned King .Tames. He went 
 to Boston, sailed thence to England, and afterward became Earl of Linuriek. 
 
CHARTER OF LIBERTIES FOR XEW YORK. 97 
 
 Doiiijaii, whose sympathies were in unison witli the popuhir desires. 
 The Assembly chose tlie experienced Matthew Nieolls speaker and John 
 gpnio'g clerk. They sat three weeks and passed fourteen acts, all of 
 which were assented to by tlie governor, witli tlie advice of his Conncil. 
 Tlie first of these acts was entitled "■ The Charter of Liberties and Priv- 
 ileges, granted by His Royal Highness, to the Iidiabitants of New York 
 and its Dependencies." It declared that the siipreme legislative power 
 should forever be and reside in the governor, conncil, and people, met 
 in General Assembly ; that every freeliolder and freeman should be 
 allowed to vote for representatives without restraint ; that no freeman 
 should sufEer but by judgment of his peers ; that all trials should be by 
 a jury of twelve men ; that no tax slionld be assessed, on any pretence 
 wliatever, but by the consent of the Assembly ; that no seaman or soldier 
 should be quartered on the inhabitants against their will ; that no martial 
 law should exist, and that no person professing faith in God, by Jesus 
 Christ, should at any time be anywise disquieted or questioned for any 
 difference of opinion. Xot a feature of tlie intolerance and l)igotry of 
 the New England charters appeared in this first 
 '■ Charter of Liberties" for the province of Xew 
 York. 
 
 This act was read in front of the City Ilall on 
 tlie morning after its passage in the presence of 
 tlie governor, his Council, the Assembly, the 
 numicipal oflicers, and the people, the latter 
 having been summoned to the joyous feast by 
 the sounding of trumpets. In this charter was 
 again enunciated the postulate of the Xether- 
 lands — " Taxation only by consent." 
 
 The next act that was passed provided for the 
 division of the province into twelve counties or shires. The names of 
 tlie twelve are still retained, but their territorial dimensions have been 
 much modified by the erection of new counties from parts of some of 
 tliem. The names and boundaries of these political divisions as given in 
 the act of 1683 are as follows :* 
 
 The City and County of JVev) Yorl: bear the name of the duke's firet 
 title. It included all Manhattan Island, and several adjacent islands. 
 
 Westchester County embraced all the territory eastward of Manhat- 
 tan to the Connecticut line, and nortliward along the Hudson River to 
 the H-ia:hlands. 
 
 NEW YOltK COUNTY SEAL. 
 
 The seals of the several counties represented ou page 99 were of those in use in 1S75. 
 
98 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Duchess Comity was so named in lionor of tlie duke's wife, the 
 Duchess of York.* It extended frc>ni "Westchester northward to Albany 
 County, and " into tho woods twenty miles." 
 
 Orange County extended from Xew Jersey northward along the Hud- 
 son Iliver to Murderer's Creek (now Moodna's Creek), alwve the Iliirh- 
 lands near Xuw Windsor, and westward to tlie Delaware Iliver. It was 
 so named in honor of the duke's son-in-law, the Prince of (Grange. 
 
 TJhtcr County derives its name from the duke's Irish earldom. It 
 extended from the northern boundary of Orange Count}' along the river, 
 and " twenty miles into the woods" as far north as Saugerties. 
 
 Albany County, bearing the duke's second or Scotcli title, extended 
 indetinitoly northward from lloeloff Jansen's Kill (Creek) on the east 
 side of the river, and on the west side from Saugerties northward to 
 " the Saraaghtoga. " 
 
 lilchriumd County, which included Staten Island and two or three 
 smaller islands, was probably so named in honor of the king's illegiti- 
 mate son by tlie Duchess of Portsmouth, the Duke of Richmond. 
 
 K/iKjs and Queens counties occupied the western jiortiou of Long 
 Island from Oyster Bay and Hempstead, and was named in honor of the 
 monarch and his wife. 
 
 Suffolk County emiiraced the eastern portion of Long Island, and 
 derived its name from that of the most easterly county in England, 
 south of Norfolk. 
 
 The duke's possession in Maine (at Pemaquid) was called Cornxcall 
 County. The islands off the coast of Massachusetts Avhich were included 
 in his charter were constituted Duke's County. 
 
 Courts of justice were established by the Assembly in the several 
 counties. These consisted of four tribunals — town courts, county 
 courts or Courts of Sessions, a court of Oyer and Terminer, and a court 
 of Chancery to be the Supreme Court of the province. The latter was 
 composed of the governor and his Council. But every inliabitant of 
 the province was allowed the right to appeal to the king from the judg- 
 
 * "SVlien the names of the counties were given, the title of the %vife of a duke was 
 spelled with a"t" — du/clicss — and so contijiued in the Eniclish hmguasre until the ap- 
 pearance of Johnson's Dictionary, in 17.5.^. He gave it the orthograjiliy of its French 
 derivitive — duchessc — omitting the final e. The name being spelled with a " I " in the 
 early records of the State, it wiis not changed when the orthography of the name of tli'' 
 wife of a duke wa-s changed, and through inadvertence and ignorance of its origin, tlic 
 name of Duchess County has been spelled with a " t" until within a few years, wlun 
 attention was called to the fact that the county was named in honor of the Duchess ii 
 York. It is now universally spelled without a " t" by well-informed people. It is>> 
 niK-lled in the United States Census Reports of 1880. 
 
DONGAN'S FOREIGN RELATIONS. 
 
 99 
 
 ment of auy court. All the laws passed l>y tliis first General Assembly 
 of New York were read to the people in front of the City Hall, and 
 were then sent to England for the consideration of the duke.* 
 
 Dono-an conducted his " foreign relations" with spirit. He told the 
 iiestering Connecticut authorities that if they did not keep quiet and 
 
 SEALS OP THE FTOST ORGANIZED COUNTIES IN NEW YORK. 
 
 adhere to the lioundary agreement of 1650, which was a lino twenty 
 miles east of the Hiidson Ri%'er, he should proceed to claim the original 
 territory defined in the duke's patent, eastward to the Connecticut 
 
 * Late in 1683 the city of New York was divided into six wards, named respectively 
 North ^yard, Soutli Ward, East Ward, West Ward, Dock Ward, and Out Ward. 
 James Graham, one of the late aldermen, was commissioned the first recorder of New 
 
I'lO THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 River. He renewed tlie claims of Andros to sovereignty over tlie Five 
 Nations. At an interview with Moliawiv leadei-s at Albany, in the \m>- 
 once of the Governor of Viririiiia (Lord Ertinghaini, he enjoined them 
 not to deal with the FrencJi without his leave, nor allow any of that 
 nation to live among tlieni excepting tlie missionaries. The Mohawks 
 readily assented, and so unfriendly did the Iroiinois deport themselves 
 toward the French that most of the missionaries, alarmed, Avent back tn 
 Canada. Dongan also warned the P^rench, who had come among the 
 Indians at Pemaquid — especially the Baron de Castin * — to come umler 
 the duke's authority or to leave the region. So thoroughly did Dongan 
 win the respect and reverence of the Iroquois that they called Albany 
 their " sixth castle." Four of the nations requested the governor to put 
 the Duke of York's arms on their castles as a protection against the 
 French. 
 
 When, in 1082, the Count de la Barre became Governor-General of 
 Canada he resolved to bring the Iroquois into subjection to the French. 
 This design he cherished continually, but he found the energetic Dongan 
 a bar to his ambitions schemes. A crisis came early in IfiS-i-. De la 
 Barre was preparing to attack the Senecas. Dongan notified him that 
 all the Iroquois nations were subject to the Duke of York ; that the 
 duke's territory extended to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Iliver, 
 and that if the French did not come south of those waters the English 
 would not go north of them. Dongan's tone was so firm, yet concilia- 
 tory, that De la Barre paused for awhile. In the following summer he 
 made an attempt to carry out his threat with the aid of tiie Jesuit mis- 
 sionaries, hut signally failed. The Intendant of Canada said he wa> 
 " fooled in the most shameful manner"' by Dongan and the Iro(|uois. 
 
 York,* who took a seat on the bencli of the Mayor's Court on the right hand of IIr- 
 Mayor. The shipping of the port of New York at that time consisted of tliree barks, 
 three brigantines, twenty-seven sloops, and forty-six open boats. 
 
 * Tlie Baron de Castin, a French nobleman and military leader, established a trading' 
 liouse at the moulh of the Penobscot Iliver, and exhibited hostile movements, at times, 
 toward the duke's possessions in Jlaine. He married the dauglitcr of an Indian chiit. 
 In 1695, accompanied by Iberville, he led about two hundred Indians against Pemaquid. 
 and captured it. 
 
 * James Graham, the first recorder of the city of New York, was a Scotchman and kinsman of the Earl of 
 Montrose. He was an able lawyer, and practised his profession wliile conducting a mercunlile busines?^ ■: 
 New York. He was an alderman in ICSO, and became attorney-general and one of the Council in \ii<> 
 lie was attorney-general under Andros, in Boston, shared the odium of the governor, and on the downfiiil 
 of the latter was imprisoned awhile. In 1691 he returned to New York, was elected to the Assembly, ami 
 became its Si>eaker. He was again in tlie Council in 1699. Graham had been active in urging the execution 
 of Leisler. and shared the fortunes of the anli-Leisleriaus, which ended his public career in 1701. lie died at 
 Morrisania the same year. 
 
POLICY OF KIXG JAMES IX KEAV YORK. 
 
 ICl 
 
 The discomfited De la Barre wrote to the French minister that ]iis cain- 
 paiiiu had been " bloodless I" It had been fruitless as well, and worse. 
 
 Early in February, 16S5, King Charles II. died at the age of tifty-li%'e 
 vears, a worn-out libertine. His brothei', the Duke of York, took his 
 place on the throne of Great Britain as James II. He had hesitated 
 about sending the promised " Charter of Liberties" to Xew York ; now, 
 as Ji''»'J, he positively refused to contirm what, as duke, he had prom- 
 ised. He instantly began to demolish the fair fabric of civil and relig- 
 ious liberty which had been raised 
 with so much hope in 2s ew lork. 
 A direct tax was ordered without 
 tlie consent of the people ; the 
 printing-press — the right arm of 
 knowledge and freedom — was for- 
 bidden a place in the colony ; and 
 as he had determined to establish 
 the Roman Catholic faith as the 
 State religion throughout hisrealm, 
 the provincial offices were largely 
 filled by adherents of the Italian 
 Church. 
 
 The liberal - minded Dongau 
 lamented these proceedings ; and 
 when the scheming monarch in- 
 structed the governor to introduce 
 French missionaries among the 
 Five Nations, he resisted the 
 measure as dangerous to the Eng- 
 lish power on the American 
 continent. Fortunately the Iro- 
 quois Confederacy remained firm in their friendship for the English 
 in after years, and stood as a powerful barrier against the aggressive 
 French when the latter twice attempted to reach the white settlers at 
 Albau}- with hostile intentions. 
 
 The clear-headed and right-hearted Dongan stood by the people and 
 the interests of England with a firmness which finally offended the mon- 
 arch. Dongan knew that the king had a great love for the French, and 
 when he sa^v the advantages which he was disposed to give them in 
 America by his unwise acts, he could not but regard his sovei'eign's con- 
 duct as treason toward his country. For his faithfulness he was rewarded 
 with the gratitude of the peojjle of INew York and the displeasure of 
 
102 
 
 Till-: E.Ml'lKK STATE. 
 
 tlie iiiojiarch, who disinissed liim from tlie office of governor. lie 
 received a letter from James in the spring of 1*!SS ordering liim tu sur- 
 render the government into the liands of Andros, wlio held a vice-regal 
 commission to rule ]*sew York and all ^ew England. !Ne\v York was 
 made a royal British province. It had been a dukedom of a royal Eng- 
 lish subject for a])out twenty years. James was proclaimed king, at 
 New York, on April 22d, ir.sr,. 
 
 In the mean time, Dongan had experienced more trouble with the 
 French. Tlie ^Manpiis de iSonviJlo liad become Governor of Canada, 
 lie resolved to build a fort at the moutli of tlie Niagara Iliver to over- 
 awe the Irofpiois, and he ]>re])ared to attack the Senecas. The Jesuit 
 missionaries united with him. To counteract their influence, ])ongan 
 summoned the Five Nations to a conference at Albany in tlie .spring ot 
 1686.* The Indians asked to be i-elieved of the Fren(-h priests at llieir 
 castles, to lie replaced by English priests. Tlie governor promised ti) 
 
 establish an English church at Saratoga, ami 
 to ask the king to send over English ]iriests ; 
 at the same time he warned the Iroipiois of 
 De Nonville's intention to attack them. 
 
 De Nonville now appealed to Dongan :i- 
 a Roman Catholic to aid him in converting: 
 the Indians to Christianity. Dongan was no: 
 deceived by this false pretence. He promised 
 to do all he could to protect the missionariis 
 among the barbarians ; that was all. The 
 Governor of New York outwitted and out- 
 generalled the Governor of Canada at every 
 ])oint, though the latter was ably assisted by the veneral>le Lamberville, 
 the Jesuit priest at the Onondaga Castle. Exasperated beyond measure, 
 the <liscomtited De Nonville wrote to the French ilinister : " I am dis- 
 j)0sed to go straight to Orange [Albany], storm their fort, and burn the 
 whole concern." 
 
 In May, 1687, De Nonville, with a force of over two thousand Frencii 
 
 SEAL OF TirE CITY OF 
 ALB.\NY. 
 
 * In 1G80 (July 22<1) Governor Dongan incorporated Albany as a city, with large fran- 
 chises, including the management of the Indian trade, and appointed Peter Schuyler Id 
 be its first maj-or. Isaac Swinton its recorder, and Robert Livingston its clerk. Dink 
 ■Wes-scls, .Tan .Tansen Bleecker. David Schuyler, .Johannes Wendell, Levinus van 
 Schaick, and Adraien Garritse were ajipointcd aldermen ; .loachini Staals. .Tolin LansinL'. 
 Isaac Ver Planck. Lawrence van Ale. Albert Ryckman. and Elbert AVinanlse. a.ssistant^ . 
 .Tan Bleecker, chamberhiiu ; Ricliard Pretty, sheriff ; and James Parker, marshal. 8u( h 
 was the first political organization of the city of AU)any, the capital of the State of New 
 York. 
 
DE XOXVILLES INVASION. 103 
 
 regulars. Canadians, and Indians, coasted along the southern shores of 
 Lake Ontario and penetrated the Seneca country from Irondequoit Bay. 
 Eio-ht hundred of his reguhir troops had been sent over from France for 
 this expedition. The invaders desohited the Seneca country, destroying 
 all the stored corn (more than a million bushels), the growing crops, 
 cabins, and a vast number of swine belonging to the natives. Then De 
 Konville took possession of the country in the name of the French 
 king ; but by an act of foul treachery and atrocious cruelty he gave a 
 death-blow to Jesuit missions among the Five Nations, and confirmed 
 their friendship for the English. De Nonville had employed Lamber- 
 ville, the venerated Jesuit priest at Onondaga Castle, to decoy many 
 Iroquois chiefs into a stronghold under the pretence of holding a confer- 
 ence. There the dusky representatives of their people were seized, put 
 in irons, sent to France, and committed to the chain-galleys at ]\[arseilles. 
 This was done to strike the Five Nations with terror. It had an oppo- 
 site effect. Tiie missionaries had to flee for tiieir lives before the 
 angered braves, and Lamberville was saved only by the generous protec- 
 tion of the chief of the Onondagas. 
 
 In the spring of 1G88 the jjrovince of New York was " consolidated " 
 with New England under a colonial viceroy (Sir Edmond Andros), and 
 formed a part of the ephemeral political organization known as the 
 " Dominion of New England." At this time the king, as he informed 
 the Pope, was preparing to " set up the Roman Catholic religion in tlie 
 English Plantations. ' ' 
 
 The viceroy arrived in New York from Boston in August, and was 
 received by the loyal aristocracy with great parade. In the midst of the 
 rejoicings news came that the young queen (James's second wife) had 
 given birth to a Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. The event 
 was celebrated by the royalists the same evening by bonfires in the streets 
 and a banquet at the City Hall. At the festive board Mayor Van Cort- 
 landt became so hilarious, it is said, that he made a burnt sacrifice to his 
 loyalty of his hat and periwig, waving the blazing victims over the 
 banquet table on the point of his straight sword. 
 
 The Dutch inlial)itants of New York (as well as the Protestant rejnib- 
 licans) were disappointed. They had looked forward with hope for the 
 accession of James's daughter Mary, the wife of their own Protestant 
 Prince of Orange, to the throne of Great Britain ; now it could not be 
 hoped for excepting on the death of the infant Prince of Wales or 
 revolution. The latter alternative was near at hand. 
 
 The folly and recklessness of King James in his efforts to estabhsh the 
 Roman Catholic as the State religion of his realm alarmed the Pope, 
 
104 THE KMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ■\vlio said to liis cardinals : "■ We must excomiimnicate tliis kin^ or lie 
 will destroy the little Cutliolicisin which remains in England." Before 
 this remedy could be applied the fate of King James was fixed. His 
 folly and recklessness had aroused the whole English people to a keen 
 sense of the danger impending over their liberties. 
 
 The crisis was soon reached. The king imwisely declared that none 
 should serve him but snch as would aid liim in his designs. There was 
 soon an open rupture between the monarch and the Anglican Churcli 
 and the great imiversities, which he sought to control. The royal 
 soldiers in camp, the Churchmen and Dissenters, the Whigs and the 
 Tories coalesced in sentiment, and an invitation was sent secretly to 
 William of Orange to come and " deliver the land from popery and 
 slavery. ' ' 
 
 William had expected such an invitation for a long time, and was 
 ready to accept it. lie gathered a fleet in Holland, for what purpose 
 ueither James nor his friend and coreligionist, Louis of France, knew. 
 After accepting the call of a nation for help, William published a decla- 
 ration that he was bound for England to save the liberties of the people 
 there, and to investigate the alleged birth of a Prince of Wales,* in 
 which matter he and his wife were deeply concerned. 
 
 ^S^ith a strong land and naval force William reached Torbay, on the 
 coast of Devonshire, where he landed on Xovember 5th, 16SS. The 
 best men of the country joined his standard. James was forsaken by 
 his army and family ; even his son-in-law. Prince George of Denmark, 
 who married the Princess Anne, joined the deliverers. Perceiving that 
 all was lost, James secretly sent his queen and infant son to France, and 
 soon followed them thither. lie left his palace a little after midnight in 
 December, and cast his Great Seal into the Thames ; but he was brought 
 back. He succeeded in reaching France not long afterward. So ended 
 the Stuart dynasty in Great Britain. 
 
 On the llight of the king the goverimient authority was assumed by 
 the House of Lords. They requested William of Orange to take control 
 of public affairs and to call a convention, to assemble on January 22d 
 following. That body declared William and Mary joint sovereigns of 
 Great Britain. James made efforts to recover the throne he had abdi- 
 cated, but failed. 
 
 Xews of the revolution in England first reached Virginia, whence it 
 
 * It was alleged that tlie son of James's Italian wife was only a siipix)sititious ehild, 
 the offspring of another beside the queen. He was excluded from tlie succession. 
 In 1715 he laid claim to the crown of Great Britain, and is known in liistory as " The 
 Old Pretender." 
 
REVOLUTION IX EXGLAXD. 105 
 
 was carried to New York, in February (1689), by a skipper, and coiii- 
 numicated to Francis Nicholson at Fort James. He was the lieutenant- 
 governor of the province. lie forbade its divulgence among the people, 
 as he wished to prevent any " private tumults" until he could 
 communicate with Andros, who was at Fort Charles at Pemaquid. 
 Andros had departed from Pemaquid for Boston when the express 
 arrived, and reached that place at near the close of March. The people 
 tliere, suffering from the tyrannies of Andros, were on the verge of ojieu 
 insurrection when, on the 1-lth of April, a vessel brought to Boston 
 authentic information of the accession of William and Mary. Andros 
 was seized and cast into prison, and soon afterward he, with fifty of his 
 political associates, was sent to England, charged with maladministra- 
 tion of affairs in the colonies. 
 
 Meanwhile a crisis in public affairs had been reached at New York. 
 The people there were also on the verge of insurrection when the " great 
 news" was revealed in that ciiy. The authority of Lieutenant-Governor 
 Nicholson was questioned by 
 a large portion of the inhabi- 
 tants of the city and province. 
 Two parties were formed, one 
 composed of the adherents of 
 James, the other of the friends 
 
 <• -rr'-i,. T -.r m> SIGNATUISE OK FRANCIS NICHOLSON. 
 
 01 W ilham and Mary. The 
 former embraced the aristo- 
 cratic citizens, including Nicholas Bayard, the commander of the 
 city militia, the members of the council, and the numicipal authori- 
 ties. 
 
 The friends of the new nionarchs formed a large majority of the citi- 
 zens. They maintained that the entire fabric of the imperial govern- 
 ment, inchiding that of the colonies, had been overthrown by the revolu- 
 tion, and that, as no person was invested with authority in the province, 
 it reverted to the legitimate source of all authority — the peo])le — who 
 might delegate their powers to whomsoever they would. 
 
 Among the principal supp)orters of this view was Jacob Leisler, a 
 German by birth, a merchant, the senior captain of one of the five train- 
 bands of the city commanded by Colonel Bayard, and one of the oldest 
 and wealthiest inhabitants. His wife was Alice, daughter of Govert 
 Looekermans. Pie was a zealous opponent of the Roman Catholics, and 
 a man of great energy and determination. He was kind and benevolent, 
 and was very popular. He had just bought lands in "Westchester County 
 to form an asylum for persecuted Huguenots, who had tied from France 
 
106 
 
 THE EMPIKE .STATE. 
 
 after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.* Tiie domain was named 
 Kew Roclielle, after Rochelle in France, from Avhich ])lace many of 
 them came. 
 
 Rumors of turrilile things contemphited hy the adherents of James 
 
 spread over the town, and produced great 
 excitement. The five companies of miHtia 
 and a crowd of citizens gathered at the house 
 of Leisler, and induced liim to become tlioir 
 leader and guide in this emergency. Colonel 
 Bayard attempted to disperse them, hut he 
 w:is compelled to tly for his life. A distinct 
 line was now drawn between the UTistod'ats, 
 led bv Bayard, Van Cortlandt, Robert Liv- 
 ingston, and otiiers, and the demorraix — the 
 majority of the people — who regarded Leisler 
 as their leader and champion. At his sug- 
 gestion a " Committee of Safety" was formed, 
 composed of ten members — Dutch, Huguenot, 
 and English. They constituted Leisler " Captain of the Fort," and in- 
 vested him with the j)owers of comnumder-in-chief — really chief magis- 
 trate — until orders should come from the new monarch. This w;is the 
 
 THE BAYARD ATJMS 
 
 SKiNATUHK OF NICHOLAS BAYARD. 
 
 first really republican ruler that ever attained to power in America, 
 lie took possession of Fort James and the public funds that were in it, 
 and in June, 1(581*, he proclaimed, with the sound of trumpets, William 
 and Mary sovereigns of Great Britiiin and the colonies. Then he sent a 
 
 * Jacob Leisler was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and emigrated to America in 1660. 
 In 1683 be was appoinUd one of tlie commissioners of tlie Court of Admiralty at Xew 
 York, and was tbe liMiUr in tlie popular movement of assuming the functions of govern- 
 ment ou hearing of the revolution in England. The ix'ople chose him to be their governor 
 until the new British sovereigns .should send them one. His ix)litici»l enemies finally 
 brought him to the scaffold in 1691. 
 
LEISLER ASSUMES POLITICAL CONTROL. 
 
 107 
 
 letter to the king, giving him an account of what he had done. The New 
 Englanders commended Leisler's acts. Lieutenant-Governor Nichol- 
 son, Licking spii'it, and fast bound by " red tape," perceiving the strong 
 support given to Leisler by the New Yorkers, departed for England after 
 formally giving autiiority to his councillors to preserve the peace during 
 his alisence, and until their Majesties' pleasure sliould be made known. 
 
 At this juncture the northern colonies were thoroughly alarmed 1)y the 
 opening hostilities of the French and Indians on the frontiers. A 
 convention of delegates from the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, 
 Connecticut, and New York assembled at Albany, and there held a con- 
 ference (September, IfiSO) with the heads of the Five Nations. The New 
 England delegates tried to persuade the Irocpiois to engage in the war 
 against the Eastern Indians, but they wisely declined. They, however, 
 ratified the existing friendship between them and the English colonists. 
 
 SIGNATURE AND SEAL OF JACOB LEISLER. 
 
 Nicholson's desertion of his post gave Loisler and the Jk.epul)licans 
 great advantages. He ordered the several counties of the province to 
 elect their civil and military officers. Some counties obeyed, and others 
 did not. The counter influence of Nicholson's councillors was contin- 
 ually and persistently felt, and Leisler and his party became greatly 
 incensed against them, especially against Ba3'ard, who was the chief insti- 
 gator of the opposition to the " usurper," as he called the Republican 
 leader. So hot became the indignation of Leisler and his friends that 
 Bayard was compelled to fly for his life to Alljany. The other council- 
 lors, alarmed, soon followed him. At Albany they acknowledged allegi- 
 ance to William and iEary. They set up an independent government, 
 and claimed to be the true and only rulers of the province. Li this 
 position they were sustained by the civil authorities at Albany. 
 
 Leisler now sent his son-in-law, Jacob Mill)orne, an Englishman, with 
 three sloops filled with armed men and ammunition to take possession 
 
108 
 
 THE E.MPIUK STATE. 
 
 
 ROBEHT l.IVI.NGSTON. 
 
 of Alliaiiy, protect the iii]ial)itiints against the menaced attack of the 
 
 French from Canada, and to assert there the supreme power of the peo- 
 ple's governor at New York. Mil- 
 horne was instructed to Mithhold 
 assistance against the l)arbarians in 
 case lie sliould be denied admission 
 to the fort. 
 
 Milhorne, witli his force, arrived 
 at Albany early in !Xoveniljer, and 
 demanded of Mayor Schuyler, who 
 Iiad been appointed tlie commander 
 of the fort, admission to it. It 
 M-as refused. At tliat time a 
 convention, largely controlled by 
 Tiobert Livingston, comjiosed of 
 delegates from each ward in the 
 •2^ city, was sitting daily in All)any, 
 and exercising executive authority 
 temporarily-. A deputation was 
 sent from the convention to meet 
 Milborne. They introduced him 
 
 to the convention, when he liarangued the members for some time, l)ut 
 
 Avith little effect. Then he presented his credentials to the recorder, ami 
 
 afterward liarangued the poi^ulace in front of 
 
 the City Hall, but they were not responsive. 
 Milborne now took a bolder step. lie flung 
 
 open the gate of the city near the fort, marched 
 
 his men out -with loaded guns, and drawing 
 
 them up in front of the stronghold, made a 
 
 peremptory demand for its surrender. Schuy- 
 ler refused e(jmpliance, and caused a protest 
 
 of the convention to be read from one of the 
 
 bastions. Some ]\Ioliawk warriors, who had 
 
 been watching Milborne's movements from a 
 
 neighboring hill, sent word to Schuyler that 
 
 if the Xew Yorkers .should attack the fort 
 
 they would lire on them. Perceiving his 
 
 peril, Milborne took counsel of prudence, 
 
 withdrew, dismissed liis men in confusion, and 
 
 hastened back to Xew York. A letter soon came from the sheriff at 
 
 Albany reporting treasonable words spoken by Robert Livingston con- 
 
 j,-eEBOMEL$3^ 
 
 THE LrVrNGSTON ARMS. 
 
LEISLER ORGANIZES GOVERNMENT. 
 
 109 
 
 ceniiiig King AVilliain. Leisler ordered Livingston's arrest, Ijut ]iu 
 escaped to New England. Soon after this event a letter arrived at isew 
 York by a special messenger from the British Privy Council, directed to 
 " Francis Nicholson, Esq., or, in his absence, to such as, for the time 
 lieing, take care for preserving the peace and administering the laws in 
 His Majesty's province of New York." Bayard having heard of the 
 document, entered the city in disguise, had a clandestine interview with 
 the bearer of the letter, and claimed the right, as one of Nicholson's 
 councillors, to ojien the despatch. The messenger refused to let him 
 have it, l>ut delivered it to Leisler. whom he found acting as governor 
 by the grant of the people. Leisler at once caused the arrest and im- 
 prisonment of Bayard on a charge of a " high misdemeanor against His 
 Majesty's authority. " From this 
 time the opposition to Leisler's 
 government assumed an organized 
 shape, and was sleepless and re- 
 lentless. Leisler justly regarding 
 himself as invested with supreme 
 power l)y the people and the 
 spirit of the letter from the 
 Privy Council, at once ass\;med 
 the title of lieutenant-governor ; 
 appointed councillors ; made a 
 new provincial seal ; established 
 courts, and called an assembly to 
 provide means for carrying on 
 war with Canada. The aggres- 
 sive old Count Frontenac was 
 again governor of that province, 
 and was making preparations to 
 extend the French dominion southward, 
 be noted presently. 
 
 Colonel Henry Sloughter was appointed Governor of New York, but 
 did not arrive until the spring of 1091. Kichard Tngoldsby, a captain 
 
 FIliST GREAT SEAL OF THE PKOVIXC'E OF 
 NEW YOKK.* 
 
 The conflict that ensued will 
 
 * The first great seal of the province of New York was sent over by Governor 
 Sloughter from 'William and 5Iary in 1691. It bears the full-length effigies of the joint 
 sovereigns, before whom kneel two Indians in the position of offering gifts. The woman 
 presents to the queen a beaver-skin ; the man presents to tlie king a roll of wampum. 
 On the reverse of the seal are the royal arms of Great Britain, with the inscription round 
 the circumference : SiGiLLr>f Provinc : Nosr : Nov : Ebok : etc. in America. Tliis 
 seal was siipcrseded by one sent by Queen Anne in 170.5. 
 
110 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATK. 
 
 of foot, arrived early in the year, witli a company of regular soldiers, to 
 take possession of and liold the government nntil the arrival of the gov- 
 ernor. He was urged hy Leisler's enemies to assume supreme power at 
 
 once, as lie was tlio highest royal 
 
 c 
 
 officer in tli 
 
 lie liausrli- 
 
 111 tiie j)rovince. ,^^ ..^,.^. 
 tily demanded of Leisler tlie sur- 
 render of the fort, without deigniii:.^ 
 to show the governor hiscredentials. 
 Leisler, of course, refused, and or- 
 dered the troops to l)e quartered 
 in the city. Ingoldsby attempteil 
 to take the fort by force, but 
 failed. For several weeks the city 
 was fearfully excited by ris'al fac- 
 tions — " Leislerians" and " aiiti- 
 Leislerians." 
 
 On the arrival of Governor 
 
 Sloughter, in March (1691), Leisler 
 
 at once loyally tendered to him the 
 
 fort and the province. Under the 
 
 influence of the enemies of Leisler, the roj'al governor responded to this 
 
 meritorious action by ordering the arrest of the lieutenant-governor ; 
 
 also Milborne, and six other " inferior insurgents" — Abraham Gouver- 
 
 CERAKDUS BEECK.M.VN. 
 
 
 SIGNATURE OF CERAliDl S UEECKMAN. 
 
 neur (Leisler's secretary), Gerardus Beeckman,-' Jt>hanncs Yermilye, 
 Tiiomas Williams, Myndert Coerten, and Abraham Brasher — on a 
 
 * Gerardus Bccckninn, son of William Beeckman, was a leading citizen of Xew York, 
 living at Brooklyn. He was a physician, and took a prominent jmrt in public tvffairs. 
 He was one of Leisler's warmest iidheients, and was a member of liis council. After 
 Leisler's death Dr. Beeckman was tried for treason, condemned, and .sentenced to b- 
 hung, but was pardoned by order of the king in 1(394. He was a member of the proviii 
 cial council under Governors Cornbury, Hunter, and Burnet, and died in 1724. 
 
SENTENCE OF LEISLEK AND ASSOCIATES. 
 
 ill 
 
 cliarge of high treason. Tlie accused were imprisoned. " Ijayard's 
 chain was put npon Leisler's leg. " The enemies of tlie latter were re- 
 solved on swift revenge. 
 
 When the accused were arraigned, Leisler and Milborne refused to 
 plead to the indictment, for they denied the 
 authority of the court which had just been 
 organized for the purpo.se, and was composed 
 wholly of Bayard's political friends. Tlie 
 judges were all councillors, and the petit jury 
 was composed of " youths and other bitter 
 men," quotes Brodhead. The trial, as liad 
 been predetermined, resulted in the convic- 
 tion of the accused, and tliey were sentenced 
 to 1)0 hanged. All but Leisler and Milborne 
 were afterward pardoned. The excepted 
 prisoners had appealed to the king, but the 
 perfidious councillors did not send their a])- 
 jieal to His Majesty ! 
 
 Evident enemies of Leisler, in Albany, sent 
 word to Bayai-d, at whose house Governor Sloughter was staying, that 
 the Mohawks, disgusted with the misnaanagement of Leisler, were in 
 treaty with the French, and that it was indispensable that tlie governor 
 should quickly conciliate the Five Nations. Bayard urged the governor 
 
 THE 13EECKMAN ARMS 
 
 SKiXArUUE OF AliltAlIAM GOUVEKNEUR. 
 
 to act promptly. 80 urged, he asked tlio opinion of his Council, in which 
 Bayard was most powerful. That body unanimously resolved, " That, 
 as well for the satisfaction of the Indians as the asserting of the govern 
 
112 TIIK KMPTRE STATK. 
 
 inent authority residiiis^ in liis Excellency, and pi"evcnting insurrections 
 and disorders for the future, it is absolutely necessary tliat the sentence 
 jironounced against the principal offenders he forthwitli i)ut into execu- 
 tion." This resolution was communicated to the Assembly, which 
 answered, " that this House, according to their opinion given, do approve 
 of wliat his Excellency and Council have done." 
 
 The governor hesitated ; for, though a libertine in morals and an 
 habitual drunkard, he was a just man, and had determined not to sign 
 the death-warrants of the convicted until he should hear from his sov- 
 ereign, supposing Leisler's appeal had been sent to him. 
 
 Meanwhile the people, in large )iuml)ers, signed petitions to the gov- 
 ernor for the pardon of these prisoners. The council became alarmed, 
 and caused the arrest of some of those who brought the jietitions. Fear- 
 ing the effects of the daily increasing clamor of the people ; determined 
 to have the lives of the prisoners, and finding they could not induce 
 the governor to violate justice or his conscience, the councillors con- 
 spired to extort from him his signature to the death-warrant by foul 
 means. They invited him to a dinner-party at the house of one of 
 them, on Staten Island, on a l)eautiful day in May. One of the coun- 
 cillors carried to the bancpiet a legally drawn death-warrant, and when 
 the governor was sufficiently stupefied by excessive draughts oi wine, 
 he was induced to sign the awful paper, iinconscious of its purport. It 
 ■was sent to the sheriff at New York the same evening, and the next 
 morning Leisler and Milborne were summoned to prepare for immediate 
 execution. They sent for their wives and cliildren, and after a sorrow- 
 ful parting, the two victims were led to the scaffold in a drenching rain. 
 Their enemies, fearing the governor might reprieve the prisoners, kept 
 him drunk, and the victims were hanged before he became sober.* 
 The scaffold stood near the site of the Trlhune building, on Printing 
 House Square, Xew York. 
 
 An eye-witness of this murder l)y the form of law wrote that just at 
 the moment of the execution the heavens grew black, the rain fell in 
 torrents, and the screams of women, who were present, were heard 
 on every side. Restrained by the troops, only a few citizens were 
 present. Milborne, seeing among them Livingston, one of the woi-st 
 
 * 'We have observed that six of the friends of Leisler condemned t<i dcatli weiv 
 pardoned. On the day of the execution of Leisler and Milborne (May Ititli, IGSlli 
 the Legislature of Xew York passed an act for the pardon of all such as had been 
 active " in the late disorders." Twenty-two persons received the benefit of this act. In 
 IfiOO an act of indemnity was passed in favor of all these persons excepting Leisler and 
 Jlillwrne. 
 
EXECUTION OF LEISLER AND MILBORNE. 113 
 
 enemies of Leisler, said, " Robert Livingston, I will implead tliee at 
 the bar of Heaven for this deed."' Leisler uttered a prayer f or bless- 
 iiii;;s upon the province and his family ; and alluding to his enemies, 
 he said, "' Father, forgive them ; they know not what they do." 
 
 " Thus perished," says Hoffman, " the loyal and noble Captain Leisler 
 of New York ; so loyal to his king, so noble to his compatriots." 
 His enemies extended their malice to his family and that of i\Iil- 
 borne. They were attainted, and their property was confiscated. 
 But justice was swift in righting a great wrong. Before four years 
 had passed by their property was restored, aud the British Parlia- 
 ment declared that Leisler and Milborne were innocent of the crime 
 of treason. 
 
 "When the governor became sober, he was appalled at what he had 
 done. He was so keenly stung by remorse and afflicted by delirium 
 iremens that he died a few weeks afterward. Calm and impartial 
 judgment, enlightened by truth, now assigns to Jacob Leisler the high 
 position in history of a patriot and martyr. 
 
114 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The revolution of It'iSS in Enijlund prodnced nnicli sufteriiii; in SDiiie 
 of tlie Enijlisli colonics, for it was tlie canseof war between (rreat Britain 
 and France, which extended to their respective American dominions. 
 It continued about seven years, and is known in American history as 
 "Kin^r William's War." 
 
 In this conflict the Indians bore a conspicuous part, and terrible were 
 many of their achievements. Under the influence of Jesuit priests they 
 became allies of the French. 
 
 IIi)stilities beifan in the East in the summer of 1CS9. The Indians 
 attacked tlie frontier settlements of Xew England in July, killing and 
 torturing many white people. In August a war-party fell ujion tlie 
 stockade at renuuiuid, in Maine, and captured the garrison. A few 
 montiis later Governor I'rontenac sent an expedition into New York, 
 with the design of seizing All)any. lie liad gathered at Montreal a 
 larii;e military force of French and barbarians, and in the dead of winter 
 (February, lOTU) he despatciied over two hundred French and Indians 
 (eighty of the latter were " praying Indians," or Roman Catholic con- 
 verts), under two lieutenants, with ordei"s to penetrate the Mohawk 
 country and attempt the capture of Albany. 
 
 The weather was intensely cold, and the snow was dee]i. The ex- 
 pedition traversed the wilderness with snow-shoes. It was resolved at 
 a council to first attack Schenectady, a stockaded village containing about 
 eighty comfortal)le houses, on the bank of the Mohawk River. A few 
 Connecticut soldiers were in it. As the expedition drew near the place 
 they met some Indian women who directed them how to enter the vil- 
 lage secretly l)y one of tiie two gates, which was always standing open. 
 The villagers, unsuspicious of any danger, felt so secure that a few 
 hours before the attack, when warned l>y the commander of the soldiers 
 to be vigilant, they set up some snow images in mockery to personate 
 sentinels. 
 
 Tiie blow fell upon Schenectady suddenly and with friglitfnl energy 
 at midnight, while the inhabitants were asleep. Sixty-tiiree persons 
 were massacred, twenty-seven were carried into captivity, and the Dutch 
 Church and sixty-three houses were laid in ashes. Nearly all of the 
 little garrison were killed. A few persons escaped to Albany, travelling 
 
EXPEDITIONS AGAINST CANADA. 11.5 
 
 tlinini;'li tlie snow in the keen wintry ;iir in tlieir niglit-clotlies. In- 
 formed of the streiigtli of Albany, the invaders did not attempt its cap- 
 ture, lint liastened back toward Canada with their plnnder. 
 
 Governor Leisler now proposed a nnion of New York and New Eng- 
 land, in an effort to conquer Canada and expel the French from the 
 Continent. At tlie suggestion of IMassachnsetts he called a Colonial 
 Congress, which met in New York in April — the lirst ever convened in 
 America. An arrangement was made for an invasion of Canada. All 
 the colonies were aroused to a sense of mutual danger, and the Congress 
 resolved to invade Canada by land and sea. It was agreed that New 
 York should provide ±00 men ; Massacliusetts, 160 ; Connecticut, 135, 
 and Plymouth, 60, while ]\Iar\'land promised 100, making a total land 
 force of S57. 
 
 To stimulate Massachusetts to undertake a naval expedition against 
 the Frencli, Leisler fitted out three war-vessels for the capture of 
 Quebec, commissioned to " attack Canada and take Frencli prisoners at 
 sea." This little squadron — the first war-ships sent oiit from New York 
 — sailed late in May, with orders to stop at Cape Ann, and going on to 
 Port Royal, Acadia, " entice the Boston fleet" to go witli them. Tlie 
 latter, commanded by Sir William Phips, and bearing about eight hun- 
 dred men, did go to Port Poyal (May, 1690), and seized and plundered 
 it. That place was soon afterward plundered again by English privateers 
 from the AVest Indies. 
 
 Encouraged by these successes, another expedition was planned, having 
 for its object an invasion of Canada by land and water. It was arranged 
 for an army to march from Albany l)y way of Lake Champlain to 
 ^[outreal, and at the same time a strong naval armament was to sail 
 from Poston, ascend the St. Lawrence, anil attack Quebec. The army 
 was jtlaced under the command of General Winthrop, a son of Governor 
 Winthrop, of Connecticut, the cost of the expedition to be borne 
 jointly by that colony and New York. The command of the fleet, 
 which was composed of thirty-four vessels manned by two tiiousand 
 New Englanders, was given to Sir William Phips, •who, as we have 
 observed, had seized and plundered Port Royal a short time before. 
 
 Tlie army moved slowly from Albany early in July. The greater 
 jjortion of the troops had only I'eached the head of Lake Champlain 
 (now White Hall) early in September, where they remained for want of 
 boats or canoes, while some white troops and Iroquois Indians, com- 
 manded by Captain John Schuyler, pushed on toward tlie St. Lawrence. 
 Old Count Frontenac was in Montreal when lie was informed of the 
 approacli of the invaders. He called out his Indian allies, and taking ii 
 
no THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 tonialiiiwk in liis liaiul, the aiced iiobleinan danced tlie wardanne and 
 chanted tlie war-song in tlieir presence. The excited braves were then | 
 led by him against the foe. Schuyler was compelled to withdraw, and 
 the whole army returned to Xew York. The expedition M'as a failure, 
 partly from a want of supplies and partly from sickness. 
 
 Phips sailed from Boston, and M'ithout pilots or charts crawled cau- 
 tiously around Acadia and uji the St. Lawrence for nine weeks. A swift 
 Indian i-unner, starting from Pemaijuid, carried the news of the naval 
 expedition to Frontenac at Montreal in time tu enable him to reacli 
 Quebec with re-enforcements early enough to strengthen its defences 
 before the arrival of Phips. When the '* admiral " appeared before tiiu 
 town and demanded its surrender, Frontenac treated the summons with 
 contempt.'-" Failing in attempts to take the city, and hearing of the 
 failure of tlie land expedition, Pliips returned to Boston. 
 
 Leisler attributed the failure of the land expedition to Winthrop, and 
 even charged him with treaciiery, and put him under arrest awhile. 
 Winthrop charged the failure chiefly to the incompetency of Milborne. 
 Leisler's son-in-law, who had engaged to furnish boats for transportation 
 and all other .supplies, but failed to do so in time. 
 
 Tlie French and their l)arbarian allies in Canada and Acadia were 
 greatly elated by the repulse of their assailants ; and so important was 
 the event regarded by French statesmen, that King Louis caused a medal 
 to be struck bearintj his likeness on one side and on tlie other a tigure 
 seated on military trophies, symbolizing France, with the legend around } I 
 it : " Fkaxck YicTORiors ix Xew Exglanh.'' The expedition ex- 
 hausted the treasury of ]\rassacliusetts, and compelled the Government 
 to emit new bills of credit. Tlio first emission was in February, 169n, 
 and was the first paper money ever issued on the continent of America. 
 
 On the death of Governor Sloughter (June Kith, IG'.U) the care of 
 the Government devolved upon Dudley,'!' the chief-justice and senior 
 
 * Sir William sent a messenger -nith a ■written demand for the surrender of the city. 
 The bearer was taken, blindfolded, before Frontenac, who, after reading the demand, 
 angrily threw the paper in the nies-senger's face, and gave liis answer that " Sir William 
 Phips and those with liini were heretics and traitoi-s, and had taken tip with that usurpc r 
 the Prince of Orange, and ha<l made a revolution which, if it had not been made, Xew 
 England and the French had all been one ; and that no other answer was to be expecle 1 
 from him but what should be from the mouth of Ins cannon." 
 
 t Joseph Dudley was born in Ro.xbiiiy, Mass., in 1647 ; died there in 1720. He repre- 
 sented his native town in the General Court from 1673 to 16S1, and was one of the Com- 
 missioners of the United Colonies of Xew England. In 1683 he was .agent of the colony 
 of Massachusetts in England. .James II. api>iiiiiled him President of Xew England in 
 168.5, and in 1687 he was commissioned Chief . Justice of tlie Superior Court, and the ne.xt 
 vear he was sent to England with Andros by the Bostouiaus, who e.\i>elled them from 
 
CHARACTER AND ADMINISTRATION OF FLETCHER. 
 
 iir 
 
 ineiiiber of the governor's council. He was then aljsent at Gura^oa. 
 His associates filled his pLace temporarily with Captain Ingoldsby, wiio, 
 as commander of the troops, had more real power than any one else in 
 tlie province. He held the position until late the next year, when, at 
 the close of Angust, Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, wlio had been commis- 
 sioned Governor of Xew York, arrived. Fletcher v/as by profession a 
 soldier, a man of strong passions, inconsiderable ability, aristocratic in 
 his tendencies, opposed to all popular concessions, averse to religious 
 toleration, and very avaricious. Fortunately for liimself and the public 
 welfare, he early became acquainted with Major Peter Schuyler, of 
 Albany, who had almost nnliouiided influence over the Five Xations 
 The governor appointed him one of his council, and his influence there 
 was equally salutary. He so guided tlie conduct of the governor that 
 he saved the magistrate from becoming intolerably obnoxious to the 
 people, for Fletcher" s incessant solicitations for money, his passionate 
 temper, and his ])igotry were continually manifested. During the whole 
 
 SIGNATURE AXD SEAI, OP GOVERNOR. FLETCHER. 
 
 of his administration of seven years, party rancor, kindled by the death 
 of Leisler, burned intensely, and at one time menaced the province with 
 civil war. He adopted the views of the anti-Leislerians, and became 
 their supple instrument. 
 
 Although the New York Assembly was filled with l)itter opponents of 
 Leisler, they, as boldly as he, asserted the supremacy of the people, and 
 would suffer no encroachments on colonial rights and privileges. They 
 rebuked the interference of the governor in legislation Iw insisting npou 
 amendments to iiills, and drew from lum on one occasion the reproachful 
 words which tell of their independence and firmness : " There never 
 was an amendment desired by the Council Board," said Fletcher, '• but 
 
 the colony. Then he was made Chief -Ju.stice of New York (1690), where he served until 
 1693. when he returned to England and was made Deputy-Governor of the Isle of Wight. 
 He was in Parliament in 1701, and from 1702 until 171") he was Captain-General and 
 Governor of Jlassachusetts. Retired to private life at Ro.xbury. 
 
118 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 what it was rejected. It i.s a sign of a stubborn ill-temper.'" With 
 that '' stubborn ill-temper" of the Asseiiil)ly the governor was almost 
 continually in conflict, and when he Wiis recalled he seemed as glad to 
 leave the province as the people were to get rid of him.* 
 
 From the beginning of Fletcher's administration, Frontenac almost 
 continually gave the province uneasiness by his attempts to win the Five 
 Nations to the French interest by persuasions and threats. Failing to 
 persuade them, he struck the Mohawks a severe blew early in 169.'». 
 Colonel Schuyler hastened from Albany M-ith pale and dusky volunteers 
 to the aid of the Iroipiois, and drove the invaders Ijack. lie re-took 
 about fifty captives from the French. 
 
 "When Fletcher heard of tiiis invasion, he hastened to Albany with 
 three hundred militia volunteers. The river being free of ice, they 
 ascended it to Albany in s!oo]>s, with a fair wind, in three days. This 
 promptness and celerit}' gained great credit for the governor. The 
 Iroquois called him " The very Swift Arrow." 
 
 The restless Frontenac continually disturbed the Five Nations and the 
 English by menaces, until finally, in the sununer of WM), he invaded 
 the heart of the country- of the Iroquois with a large army. lie had 
 gathered at Montreal all the regulars and militia under his command and a 
 host of Indian warriors ; and in light i)oats and bark canoes they ascended 
 the St. Lawrence, entered Lake Ontario, and crossed it to the mouth of 
 
 * To Governor FlctchtT was intrusted the large powers of eommander-incliicf of the 
 militia of Connecticut and New .Jersey. Late in the autunui of \(Wi he went to Hartford 
 with Colonel Bayard and others to itsscrt his authority there, which had been (luestioned. 
 He ordered out the Connecticut militia when the season for parades liad ended. The 
 charter of the colony denied Fletcher's jurisdiction. The Assembly, then in session, 
 ])rom])tly gave utterance to that denial on this occasion. Fletcher haughtily said to the 
 governor: "I will not set my foot out of this colony until I have seen His JIajest.v's 
 commission obeyed. ' ' The governor yielded so much as to allow Captain AVadsworth to 
 call out the train-bands of Hartford. 
 
 When these troops were assembled Fletcher stepped forward to take the coinniand. and 
 ordered Hayard to read his E.xcellency's coramission. At that moment AVadsworth 
 ordereil the drums to be beaten. 
 
 " Silence !" angrily crietl Fletcher, and Bayard began to read again. 
 
 " Drum ! drum ! I .say !" shouted AVadsworth, and the voice of Bayard was drowned 
 in the sonorous roll tlial followed. Fletcher, enraged, stamped his foot and critnl, 
 " Silence !" and threatened the cajitain with ])unishment. AVadsworth instantly stepped 
 in front of the irate governor, and while his hand rested on his sword-belt, he said in a 
 firm voice : 
 
 "If my drummers are interrupKil again I'll make the sunlight show through you. 
 AVe deny and defy your authority." 
 
 The governor was a coward. He meekly foldeil up his commis.sion. and w ilh his n t- 
 inue retired to Xew A'ork. He complained to the king, but nothing came of it. 
 
THE FRENCH IXVADE THE FIVE NATIONS. 119 
 
 the Onondaga River at Oswego. This narrow and rapid stioani they 
 ascended (carrying the boats around the falls) to Onondaga Lake, fifty 
 men marching on each side of the river. The Onondagas had sent away 
 tlieir wives and children, and had determined to defend their castle near 
 the shore of the lake ; but when they discovered the number of the in- 
 vadei-s and the nature of their weapons, they set fire to their village and 
 fled into the deep forest. The old Count Frontenac was carried in 
 an elbow-chair. His only trophy was a venerable sachem about one 
 hundred years old, who saluted him at the castle. With the count's 
 permission the French Indians put the old man to the most ex(juisite 
 tortures, which he bore with amazing fortitude and defiance. 
 
 "When the invaders turned their forces toward Canada, the Onondagas 
 pursued them, and annoyed them all the way. Tliis expensive expedi- 
 tion and the continual incursions of the Five Nations into the country 
 near Montreal spread famine in Canada. Frontenac continued to send 
 out scalping parties until the treaty of Eyswyk, in 1897, brought com- 
 parative peace to the contending nations. Count Frontenac died the 
 next year. 
 
 From the bei^innino- of his administration Fletcher made strenuous 
 efforts to introduce the Anglican Church, with its ritual, into the city and 
 province of Xew York. He M'as very intemperate in his zeal to acconi- 
 plisii his pui'pose, for he was a bigot. • A majority of the inhabitants of 
 the province were of Dutch descent, and were members of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, which they regarded as the established church in 
 Xew York. 
 
 The governor succeeded in procuring from the Assembly, in IfiOS, an 
 act which he construed as giving him the right to recognize the Anglican 
 instead of the Dutch Reformed Cliurch as the State religion. Under 
 this act Trinity Church was organized, and its first edifice for public 
 worship was completed in 1696.* The first printing-press in the prov- 
 ince Avas set up l>y William Bradford, a Quaker from Philadelphia, in 
 1603. He was afterward employed by the city government to print the 
 corporation laws and ordinances. In 1725 Bradford began the publica- 
 
 * This church corporation still exists. The first vestrymen wore : Tliomas Wenham 
 and Robert Lustini:, ch'iirh-tmrdens ; Caleb Heathcote, William Merrill. .Tohn Tudor, 
 James Emott. William >Iorris. Thomas Clarke, Ebenezer AVilsoii. Samuel Burt, James 
 Everts, Nathaniel Marston. Michael Howden, John Crooke, William Sharpas. Lawrence 
 Reed, David Jamison, William Huddleston, Gabriel Ludlow, Thomas Burrouirhs, John 
 Merritt, and William Janeway. 
 
 There i.s no drawing of the flr.<rt church editice in existence. The engraving represents 
 the second or enlarged church, erected iu ITiiT. It was destroyed by fire in 1TT6. 
 
120 
 
 'I'lIK KMl'IUH STATK. 
 
 tioii of a newspaper in Xcw York, tlic first over issued in tliat province. 
 l)nriiifr Fletcher's administration an oriranized system of piracy (its name 
 softened to '' privateering'") grew up and extensively jjrevailed, espe- 
 cially on the coasts of New York and the middle provinces. Some of 
 these marauder sailed out of the port of New Y(jrk, and merchai 
 
 unit ves- 
 
 g|f|!*fPfff»;-|i 
 
 
 OI^D TKI.NITV CIUKCH. 
 
 sels M-ere seized and plundered in sight of that port. The system was 
 then encouraged hy governments as a strong arm in lighting their ene- 
 mies, and by men in high jilaces, who, as shareholders in " privateers," 
 found it ]n-ofital)Ie. It iinally became so odious, so absolutely piratical, 
 and so injurious to commerce, that it was resolved to break up tlic system. 
 Fletcher's direct and indirect connection with the ])irates, Lis ]ietty 
 tyranny, his participation in frauds in making grants of land, and his 
 universal unpopularity caused his recall in 1695, when Richard Coote, 
 Earl of Bellomont,* an Irish peer, was appointed his successor. The 
 
 * Richard Cooti' was l)orn in the county of Sligo. Ireland, in 1030. and succeeded his 
 father as Baron of Coloony in 1083. He was ann)ng the lirst wlio espoused the cause of 
 the Prince of Orange in 1688. On the accession of .lames he went to tlie Continent, but 
 returned in 1688 and became a member of Parliament. He was made the treasurer of 
 Queen Mary, and wa.s created Earl of Belloinont. Succeedin.g Fletcher a.s Governor of 
 Xew York, his conduct there made him po])ular. Bellomont died in Xcw York City. 
 
GOVERNOR BELLO:>rOXT AND PRIVATEERING 
 
 121 
 
 earl was specially charged to investigate the conduct of his predecessor, 
 to enforce the navigation laws, and to suppress piracy. But the earl 
 did not arrive in the province until April, 109S, when he liore the com- 
 mission of governor not only of 
 >,'ew York, liut of ilassachusetts 
 and Xew Hampshire. To assist 
 him in his arduous duties, he 
 hrono-ht with him his kinsman, 
 John Xanfan, as Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor of Xew York. The British 
 Government seemed powerless to 
 suppress the pirates. They infested 
 almost everysea. Before Bellomont 
 left England a stock company was 
 formed for the purpose of at- 
 temjjting the task. It was com- 
 posed of the king, Governor 
 Bellomont, several noblemen, Rob- 
 ert Livingston, the first ''Lord of 
 tlie Manor of Livingston," and 
 others. They fitted out the galley 
 Adventure as a "privateer," well 
 manned, armed, and provisioned. 
 
 Livingston, who had proposed the scheme, recommended Captain William 
 Kidd, a notable shiii-master of Xew York (then in England), as her 
 
 commander." He was commis- 
 sioned by King AVilliani, sailed 
 from PlymoTith for Xew York in 
 April, 169(3, and soon did noble 
 service in clearing American waters 
 of pirates. Then he sailed for East- 
 ern seas ■with a crew of one hun- 
 dred and fifty-five men to measure strength with the pirates in the 
 Lidian Ocean. 
 
 
 \ '^ \4^\"^ 
 
 earIj of bellomont. 
 
 w^ 
 
 SIGXATLRE OB' E.U5L OF BELLOMONT. 
 
 * This privateering company was proposed by Robert Livingston, wlio offered to be 
 " coneerned witli Kidd a fiftli part in the ship and cliarges. The king approved tlie proj- 
 cet, raising a tentli share to show that he was concerned in the enterprise." Lord Chan- 
 cellor Somers, the Duke of Shrewsbury, the Earls of Roniuey and Oxford, Sir Edward 
 Harrison, and others joined in the scheme to the amount of |30,000. The management 
 of the whole affair was left to Lord Bellomont. Kidd sailed from Plymouth for iNcw 
 York in his own ship in April, 1696. 
 
122 Till-; KM I'll! K STATK 
 
 l\i<l(l was successful as 7i j^rivateer, Imt soon became a 2>iratc liiinself. 
 At iladagascar lie exclianged his ship for aiiotiier, and swept the seas 
 for booty from Fartlier India to the coasts of Soutli America, respect- 
 ing no flag or iiatiouuhty. Thence lie made his way homeward (I'HtS), 
 and on Gardiner's Island, east of Long Island, he buried mncli treasure, 
 consisting of gold, silver, and precious stones. His piracies were known 
 in England long before the company noticed tliem. Tiie belief liecame 
 general tliat the monarch, tlie earl, the Lord of the Manor and their 
 noble associates had sjiared the plunder with Kidd. It l)ecame neces- 
 sary to vindicate tlicir character. They needed a scapegoat, and Kidd 
 was made their victim. After Iturving his treasures he appeared openly 
 in Boston, for in his pocket was his king's commission, and Governor 
 Bellomont. wIid was there, was his partner in business. What had he to 
 fear? Tlie earl, expressing a horr<)rof Kidd's crimes, ordered his arrest, 
 and he was brought before his' associates a prisoner in irons. 
 
 Kidd sought Bellomont's favor by revealing to him the place where 
 the treasures were hidden. It was a critical moment for the earl, for 
 his safety lay in an attitude of immovable tirnmess. lie was deaf to the 
 prayers of the prisoner and the entreaties of his wife for inercy, human 
 and divine, for her erring husband. There was a severe struggle in the 
 breast of the governor between pride and fear and his Ijetter nature. 
 Tiie former triumphed. Kidd was sent to England in fetters to be tried on 
 a charge of piracy and murder. He was convicted of the second-named 
 offence, and was hanged in London, iu Jfay, 1701. So the penalty of 
 omission, at least, of the associate king ant! noliles and rich citizens was 
 borne by the poor commoner on the scaffold. The earl secured the 
 buried treasure, and at his coffers its history ends in impenetrable 
 mystery. 
 
 Bellomont arrived at Xew York in the spring of 1608. Before he 
 sailed for America lie had learned much concerning ])ubHc affairs in the 
 jjrovince from llobert Livingston, who had been one of the bitterest 
 foes of Leisler. Aware that the new governor had espoused the cause 
 of Lei.sler and Milborne, and always willing to favor the stronger side 
 in public questions, Livingston now changed his political position. On 
 his return to I^ew York he was found to Vjc a professedly M'arm friend 
 of the new governor, as lie had been of Fletcher. He had shared with 
 the latter tlie jirotits of " i)rivateering, " and had flourished under liis 
 official favor. ^<ow as Bellomont had attached himself to tiie democratic 
 or Leislerian party, Livingston found himself opposed to his old asso- 
 ciates. Bayard, Van Gortlandt, and otiiers, who still held places in the 
 council, and wielded much power. Livingston had become a /'(^?/w« — 
 
POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE PROVINCE. 123 
 
 the possessor of a manorial estate of many thousand acres on tlie eastern 
 border of tiie Hudson River, south of the Yan Rensselaer ^Slanor. 
 Active, shrewd, and intelligent, he became one of the most useful men 
 in the province. 
 
 The Provincial Assembly convened on the ISth of May, 169S. It 
 comprised nineteen members. In his speech to them the governor 
 alluded to the legacy his predecessor had left him — " a divided people ; 
 an empty purse ; a few miserable, naked, lialf-starved soldiers, not half 
 the number the king allowed pay for ; the fortifications and even the 
 Government House very much out of repair ; the province a receptacle 
 of pirates, and tlie Acts of Trade violated by the neglect and connivance 
 of those whose dut}' it was to have prevented it." It Avas a severe 
 couinicntary on the conduct of his predecessor when he added : " I 
 will take care there shall l)e no misapplication of the public money ; I 
 ■will pocket none of it myself, nor shall there be any embezz.lement by 
 others." Perceiving the danger to be apprehended from so small a 
 body through undue influences, the governor recommended an increase 
 of the number of representatives to thirtj*. 
 
 The Assembly was strongly anti-Leislerian in its composition. The 
 members agreed in a hearty address of thanks to the new governor, but 
 really in nothing else. They wrangled continually. The late elections 
 formed a subject for angry controversy. At the beginning of June six 
 members seceded, when the governor dissolved the Assembly, and soon 
 afterward dismissed two of his council who were specially obnoxious. 
 They were all anti-Leislerians, and friends of Fletcher.* 
 
 Bellomont found the province disturbed by the continued hostile atti- 
 tude of the French in Canada toward the Five Nations. He sent 
 Colonel John Schuyler and Dominie Dellius (April, 169S) to Count 
 Frontenac, at Montreal, with tidings of the treaty of peace at Ryswyk, 
 and a request for an exchange of prisoners, " whether Cliristians or 
 Indians," who had been taken in wars between the French and the Five 
 Kations and the English. The old count, still claiming for France 
 sovereignty over the Iroquois, refused to give up l:)arbarian prisoners ; 
 and Jesuit priests insisted upon keeping up missionary stations among 
 the Iroquois in defiance of the opposition of the latter. Bellomont 
 finally said to Frontenac :" If it is necessary I will arm every man in 
 the provinces under my government to oppose you, and redress the 
 injury you may perpetrate against our Indians." He added that he 
 
 * The following gentlemen composed the council : Frederick Philipse, Stephen Van 
 Cortlandt, Nicholas Bayard, Gabriel Mlenvielle, William Smith, AVilliani Nicoll, Thomas 
 AVillctI, William Pinhorne. Jciliii T.awivnci-. 
 
124 Tin: KMPIHE STATK. 
 
 would not suffer them to be insulted ; and he threatened to execute tlie 
 laws of England upon the missionaries " if they continued lonirer in 
 the Five Cantons." Another war seemed to be impending, but this 
 certainty was averted by the deatli of Frontenac in the fall of 1698.* 
 During this controversy, Hellomont visited Albany to strengthen the 
 Iro(piois by his presence and by material aid. On his return lie com- 
 pleted the weeding out of obnoxious members of his council. Pinhorne 
 and Brook had been dismissed from office in June, and now Bayard, 
 j[ienvielle,_ Willett, and Lawrence were suspended, and riiilipse re- 
 signed. Their respective places were soon filled. Abraham de Peyster, 
 Bobert Livingston, Dr. Samuel Staats, and Robert "Walters took seats 
 at the Board. They were all Leislerians. 
 
 The anti-Leislerians perceived that they liad notliing to expect from 
 the new governor. Indeed, he did not conceal his indifference to their 
 praise or censure. He continually opposed and exasperated their loaders. 
 Early in the fall of 1(!1;»8 he granted to the families of Leisler and 
 Milbornc the privilege of exhuming the remains of their murdered 
 kinsmen and giving them ChristiaTi burial. They were taken from tlie 
 soil near the gallows into which they had been almost as rudely thrust 
 seven years before as if they were mere brutes. They were placed in 
 coffins, and at tlie request <if tlicir political friends they were permitted 
 to lie in state in tiie old Cit}- ILiil, at Coenties Slip, several days. Tlierc 
 was fearful public excitement during the time, for this act was fraught 
 with a significance almost incomprehensil)le to xis. It was a gauntlet of 
 defiance cast by the democracy of the day at the feet of the aristocracy. 
 
 The re-interment of the remains of the martyi-s was marked l)y 
 imposing ceremonies. It was late in September, and the autumnal 
 "equinoctial storm"' w;is raging.* Fearing a riot, the governor fur- 
 nished a military guard to tlie procession of men, women, and children, 
 who were preceded by trumpeters and drnmmers beating a funeral 
 march. From the City Hall they moved witii solemn tread, unmind- 
 ful of the wind and rain, and deposited the precious burdens in one 
 grave in tlic l)urial-groun(l of the little Dutch Reformed Church, in 
 
 * On every occasion the Frencli did all in their power to win the alliance and the 
 allegiance of the Iroquois by tlattery, by disiilays of power, and esix'cially by the spectac- 
 idar ministrations of the Roman Catholic t'hureli, wliicli captivated llie barbaric imag- 
 ination. As an illustration. Dr. C'adwallader Colden mentions the parade made by the 
 Frencli at Montreal on the occasion of the funeral of one of their Indians. " The priest 
 that attended him at his death," says C'oldcn, "declared that he died a true Christian, 
 and as a proof he gave his exclamation on hearins of the crucifixion : ' Oh, had I been 
 there I would have revenged his death and brought away their scalps I ' " 
 
LEISLERIAXS OR DEMOCRATS IX POWER. 
 
 125 
 
 Garden Street, near Wall Street.* " There M-as a great concourse of 
 iieople [twelve hundred 'tis said] at the funeral," wrote Belloraont to 
 the Lords of Trade, " and M-ould, 'tis thought, have been as manv 
 niore, but that it blew a rank stonn for two or three days together, that 
 hindered people from coming down or crossing the rivers." 
 
 A new Assembly convened in March, lfi99. It was almost entirely 
 Leislerian or democratic in character. The governor, lieutenant-gov- 
 ernor, and the council were the same. A great change in public affairs 
 soon appeared. Among the most radical and influential members of tlie 
 Assembly M-as Abraham Gouverneur, who liad been Leisler's secretary, 
 iiad been condemned to death Init pardoned, and had married the widow 
 of Milliorne. He represented Orange County. 
 
 Wrongs were righted and wrongs were committed l>y this reacting 
 Assembly. Highteons indem- 
 nifications were granted, and 
 liberal allowances were voted 
 for the governor and lieuten- 
 ant-governor. Such was the 
 confidence reposed in the in- 
 tegrity and judgment of Bel- 
 lorn out, that a revenue for six 
 years was voted and placed at 
 his absolute disposal. 
 
 The most important Imsi- 
 ness of the Assembly was the 
 revocation of most extrava- 
 gant a!id fraudulent grants of 
 lands by Governor Fletcher 
 for money considerations 
 which swelled his purse. 
 
 These grants were made to favorites. Among others, and the most con- 
 spicuons of the receivers of these grants, was Nicholas Bayard, Fletcher's 
 right-hand man, whose acres thus bestowed exceeded in number those of 
 any patroou. He and others attempted to monopolize all the lands on tlic 
 
 DUTCU KEFOH.MED CHURCH IN GARDEN STREET. 
 
 * This little structure was built of wood, octagonal in form, with a very high, steep 
 roof, and a cupola in the centre of it surmounted by a " weather-cocli. '" It was enlarged 
 and repaired in 1776, and was rebuilt of stone in 1807. It stood upon a lane extending 
 en.stward from Broad Street parallel with Wall Street. The grounds on the lane were 
 neatly laid out and well cultivated, and it received the name of " Garden Lane," and 
 linally Garden Street, now Exchange Place. When it was built, in 1693, it was considered 
 lather too far out of town. 
 
1^6 
 
 TIIK KMl'lKK STATE. 
 
 tipper Ilndson and tlie !^[oll:l\vl< liivur. Dominie Dollius, of tlie Dutcli 
 llcfoniied Cliurcli, was convicted of ol)taining, by fraud, an enormous 
 tract of land from the Indians, while holding an official position among 
 them, which Fletcher had confirmed on receiving a portion of tlic 
 plunder as a i)ril)e. The timely demolition hy the Assembly and the 
 governor of these huge schemes of land monopoly removed a great bar 
 to emigration to the interior of the province of Xew York. It also 
 
 NKW CITY HALL, NEW YOKK, 1700. 
 
 served to maintain tlie good-will of the Five Nations, who had been 
 disturbed by the operation of these land robbers under Fletcher. 
 
 Eiirl rielloinont went to Boston in June, 1000, leaving the jn-ovince 
 of New York in the care of Lieutenant-Governor Xanfan. Little of 
 public importance occurred during his absence, excepting further mis- 
 chievous meddling with the Iroquois by the French in Canada and the 
 Jesuit missionaries. The carl returned in the summer of 17"U, and met 
 the Assembly. Irritated by the conduct of the French, and especially 
 by that of the missionaries, that body, at the earl's suggestion, passed a 
 law for hanging every Roman Catholic priest who should come volun- 
 tarily into the province — a law which Chief-Justice Smith, the his- 
 torian, writing fifty or sixty years afterward, said '' ought to be in full 
 force to this day." 
 
 Governor 15ellomoiit died in the eitv of New York on the ath of 
 
BELLOMONT AND 1118 ENEMIES. Vil 
 
 Mairli, ITnl. Ilis remains lay in state a day or two, when they were 
 buried with pulilic honors undei- the eliapel of the fort. A few days 
 afterward his arms were carried in state and phiced on the front of the 
 new City Hall, then just completed, in Wall Street, at the head of Broad 
 Street. Ilis remains, enclosed in a leaden coffin, were transferred to 
 St. Paul's churchyard nearly a hundred years afterward, where they 
 still lie. 
 
 Lord Bellomont had many and bitter enemies and also warm friends. 
 The late Frederick de Peyster, LL.D., wrote on this subject : 
 
 " I am convinced that he was persistently maligned and abused solely 
 because he had an eye to the public service and not to individual ad- 
 vancement. Strange to say, his enemies were to be found among all 
 classes — a fact which, to my mind, however, determines his great honesty 
 and independence of character. Those engaged in illegal trade hated 
 him, because he was not to be bribed or cajoled into tolerating the least 
 infraction of laws. The merchants were also his enemies, because he 
 would not violate his obligation of office and wiidc at their eviisions of 
 the Acts of Trade. All opposed to Leisler and Milborne were against 
 him, because he carried out the Acts of Parliament ordering that justice 
 be done their memory. Even a greater part of the clergy were arrayed 
 against him : those of the Dutch Church because he would not tolerate the 
 iniquitous conduct of Dellius [see page 126] ; and those of the English 
 Church because he would not alienate a portion of the estate attached to 
 the governor's I'esidence. Thus it will be seen the jjrivate interests of a 
 large class were opposed to law ; and Bellomont, as the representative of 
 the law and its faithful administrator, was reprobated and vilified by 
 that class." 
 
128 
 
 THK E:>rpin?: state. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Kew political troubles in tlie province appeared on the deatli of 
 Governor Beliomont (March, 1701). Lieutenant Governor Nanfan was 
 then in Barbadoes, and tlie question arose, Who shall rigiitfully exercise 
 the powers of government '. Tlie Leislerians declared that the ])ower 
 devolved on the Council collectively : the president of tlie Council, 
 Colonel William Smith, contended that he alone had a right to exercise 
 
 the supreme provincial jiow- 
 er. In this view he was 
 joined by Peter Schuyler 
 and Robert Livingston. The 
 Assembly was perplexed by 
 these opinions, and adjourn- 
 ed in April ; and disputes 
 continued Avith much asper- 
 ity until the middle of May, 
 when Nanfan returned and 
 lawfully assumed supreme 
 authority. He dissolved the 
 Assembly in June. A new 
 Assembly was chosen, and 
 convened on August 19th. 
 
 Meanwhile a 'grant of an 
 immense tract of land had 
 been made (July lOthi by 
 the Five Xations to the 
 British crown to insure ]iro- 
 tection against the French, 
 and the king had given out 
 of the exche(|uer sl:*,50i» 
 for strengthening the de- 
 fences at Ali)any and Selicncctady and to build a fort in the Onondaga 
 country ; also siuuo for presents to the Indians. These were M-isu 
 measures, and strengthened the bond of friendship between the English 
 and the Iroquois. 
 
 The government of the pro\ince was now under the full cuiitrol of the 
 
 J 
 
 I'l.AX OK AI-n.\XY IN 1695. 
 
LEISLERIANS IN POLITICAL COXTHOL. 
 
 1-29 
 
 Leisleriaiis or Democrats. A new Court of Chancery was organized, the 
 power of chancellor, as before, being vested in tlie governor and Council. 
 "William Atwood, a zealous Leislerian, was cliief-justice of the Supreme 
 Court, with Abraham de Peyster * and Robert Walters as his associates 
 on the bench. In the Assembly the 
 tires of contention blazed fiercely, 
 and Livingston, who had taken sides 
 with Smith in the controversy about 
 the lawful depositor^' of executive 
 jiower, became the object of bitter 
 ])ersecution by the more radical 
 Leislerians. Indeed, the foundations 
 of most of the public quarrels of the 
 day were laid in personal animosities. 
 Such was largely the case during the 
 twenty years of warfare l)etween the 
 political factions in the jirovince of 
 New York from the death of Leisler. 
 At the same time the seminal idea 
 of repuljlicanisni was working pow- 
 erfully in the pul>lic mind, and there 
 
 was a steady and permanent advance in tlie direction of popular liberty. 
 Governor Xanfan's adniiiiistration was brief. King William died in 
 the spring of 1702 without legitimate issue. His qneen, Mary, had died 
 several years before, and her sister Anne now became the sovereign of 
 Great Britain. Anne appointed her uncle, Sir Edward Hyde (a son of 
 Lord Clarendon, and called Lord Combury b}' courtesy), Governor of 
 New York.' He was a libertine and a knave, and cursed the province 
 with his presence and misrule about seven years. He was a bigot, and 
 
 AUUAHAM DE PEYSTER. 
 
 * .Vbraliiim ile Peyster was a distinguished citizen of New York, and an eminent 
 niercliant. He was the eldest son of Johannes de Peyster. born in New York C'it}' in 
 1658, and died there in 1738. He was Mayor of New York between 1691 and 169.5 ; was 
 afterward eliief-iustiee of the province and president of tlie King's C'ouneil, in wliicli 
 capacity he performed the duties of governor in 17(11. on the deatli of Lord Bellomont. 
 He was colonel of the military forces of New York, and tresisurer of that pi-ovinee and 
 of New Jersey. He and William Penn were intimate friends. His spacious inaiLsion on 
 Pearl Street was the headquarters of Washington in 1776. It e.\isted until 18.56, when 
 it was demolished. Colonel de Peyster was considered the most popular man in the city 
 of New York in his day. He married his beautiful cousin. Katharine de Peyster. while 
 on a visit to Holland. His sister JIaria married David Provost. After his death she 
 married James Alexander, secretary of the province, and by him became the mother of 
 William .\le\aniler, Lord Sterling. 
 
IW TllK EMPIKK STATK. 
 
 persecuted ;ill ilciiojuiiiatioiis of Cliristiaiis outside of tin; Clnircli of 
 England, lie embezzled the ]>nl)lic money, and on all occasions was the 
 persistent enemy of popular freedom antl common justice. 
 
 " I know no riglit -which you have as an Assembly," lie said to the 
 representatives of the ])eopie, " but sucli as the queen is pleased to allow 
 
 .yon." 
 
 Tills was said in i7<>5, the year when that Assembly won the first 
 substantial victory over absolutism or despotic rule. Tliey obtained 
 from the queen permission to make specific appropriations of iiicideiitul 
 grants of money, and to appoint their own treasurer to take charge uf 
 extriiiirdinary su]iplies. This was a bold and important step in the direc- 
 tirni uf popular independence and sovereignty. 
 
 When the news of the ap])ointiiient (jf ('ornbiiry reached Xew York 
 the aristocracy took heart, and their leaders became insolent and 
 defiant ; for they felt sure of the friendship of the new governor. 
 Xor were they disappointed. ^Nicholas Bayard was 
 still the most conspicuous of their leaders for zeal ; 
 and activity. He ])r()mulgated addresses to the king, 
 the Parliament, and to Governor Cornbury, libelling 
 the Leislerians and the administrations of I'ellomont 
 and Xanfaii in the most scandalous manner. One of M 
 these addresses contained thirty-two " Heads of Accu- ^ 
 Till' DK I'l vsTiiii nation of the Earl of Bellomont.'' It was specially 
 AH.MS. untruthful, and was calculated to stir uj) revolt in the 
 
 colony. This seditions and dangerous paper IJayanl 
 dared not issue over his own signature, but signed it with the fictitious 
 name of ".lohn Key." ■ 
 
 Xanfan was aroused to immediate and energetic action. In the spring 
 of ItlSU ISayard had procured the enactment of a law intended for the 
 special punishment of Leisler. That law declared that whoever should 
 attempt to " disturb the peace, good, and quiet of the government 
 should be deemed a rebel and a traitor, and jiunished accordingly.' ' Into _ 
 this trap set for Leisler Bayard now fell. Putting this unrepealed law ■ 
 in force, Xanfan caused the arrest of Bayard on a charge of trea.son. ^' 
 He was tried before Justice Atwood and his associate justices in Feb- 
 ruary (1702), found guilty, and sentenced to be " hanged, drawn, and 1 
 (quartered," in accordance witii British law. After a virtual confession • 
 of guilt he was reprieved by Xanf;in " until His ^lajesty's pleasure 
 should be known." On the arrival of Cornljury (who had been 
 ■ ■ hunted out of England by a host of hungry creditors"') these proceedings ■ 
 were all reversed, and Bayanl was set at liberty. Governor Cornbury 
 
GOVERNOR CORNBURY'S ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 131 
 
 espoused the anti-Leislerian party, wliicli iiiimediatelj arose into power, 
 and then began the flight of some of the Leislerian leaders. This 
 change was of short duration. 
 
 New York City was sorely smit- 
 ten by yellow fever in the summer 
 of 1703. The governor transferred 
 his court to Jamaica, Long Island, 
 where he exercised his bigotry 
 and petty tyranny in the most 
 scandalous manner. One illustra- 
 tive example will suffice. The 
 liest house in the village was the 
 dwelling of the Presbyterian min- 
 ister, built by his congregation. 
 Cornbury begged the minister to 
 allow his loi-dship to occupy the 
 parsonage for a wliile. It was 
 cheerfully done. This hospital- 
 ity was requited by the seizure 
 of the parsonage, the meeting- 
 house, and the glebe for the use 
 
 of the meml)ers of the Church of England residing there.* When 
 
 resistance to this act of robbery was made, 
 the victims were subjected to fines and im- 
 prisonments ! 
 
 And yet this governor, weak-minded, 
 mean-spirited, and vacillating, was so over- 
 powered by the indomitable will of the 
 people — a hardy, mixed race — that he often 
 submitted to reproof, and in the poverty 
 of his soul and purse he humbly thanked 
 the Assembly for simple justice. For three 
 years (1705-08) there was no meeting 
 of that body. Intolerance, licentiousness, 
 and dishonesty were conspicuous traits in this governor's character.f 
 
 GOVERNOU COItNBUUV. 
 
 SIGNATlliE OF GOVERNOR 
 CORKBURY. 
 
 * Lord C'oriib\uy sent an order over liis own signalurc for the minister (Rev. JIi-. 
 Hubbard), on July 4tli, 1704, to deliver liis house and lands to the sheriff, and not 
 to fail at his " perill." On the same day he signed an order for the sheriff to eject tlie 
 minister from the j.iremises, claiming that the property belonged to the Anglican Church 
 at .laniaica. 
 
 t " We never lind a governor so universally detested," says Smith, tlw historian. " nor 
 
i:i-i 
 
 THE EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 lAI.Eli IIKATIICOTE. 
 
 lie contracted debts everywhere, and rcfnseil to ])ay ; ami wlien, 
 ill lTi>^, tlic (lueuii, yielding to the desires of the people, recalled 
 
 liini, and he left the ciiair of 
 State, liis creditors cast liiiii into 
 prison, and kept him there until 
 the death of liis father the next 
 year made him a i)eer of the realm 
 and a mendjcr of tlie Jlonse of 
 Lorils. Then the nnriirhteons law 
 of the kingdom which exempts a 
 member of that body from arrest 
 and imprison'nent for debt set him 
 free, and he returned to England. 
 
 One of the most distingiiished 
 and nsefnl men in the province at 
 this time was Caleb Ileathcote, 
 proprietor of the manor of Scars- 
 dale, in A\'estchester County, a 
 representative of the ancient fam- 
 ily of Heathcotc of Scarsdale, Derbyshire, England, who came to Am- 
 erica in 1692, and became a member of Governor Fletcher's council 
 the next year, lie was an earnest ad- 
 herent of the Church of England, and 
 exercised his authority judiciously as 
 colonel of militia in the maintenance of 
 moraUty and religion.* 
 
 At about the beginning of Cornbury's 
 administration war between France and 
 
 England was kindled. It extended to their American colom'es. This 
 contest, known as " Queen Anne's War," lasted about eleven yeai's, and 
 
 any who so richly deserves the public abhorrence. In spite of his noble descent, his 
 beha\nor was Iritlini;, mean, and exiravairant. It was not uncommon for him to dress in 
 a woman's liabit, and then to patrol the fort in which he lived. Such freaks of low 
 humor exposed him to the luiiversal contempt of the whole people. Tlieir indisnalion 
 wiis kindled by his despotic rule, .savage bigotrj', insatiable avarice and injustice, not only 
 to the public, but even his private creditors." 
 
 * Caleb Ileathcote was a son of the wealthy Mayor of Chester, England. His oldest 
 brother. Sir Gilbert Ileathcote, was tlie tirst President of the Bank of England and Lord 
 JIayor of London. Caleb was affianced to a beautiful maiden, and took his bachelor 
 brother Gilbert to .see her. Smitten by her charms. Gilbert supplanted his brother, when 
 Caleb sought relief from the pangs of disappointment, took refuge with his uncle in New 
 York, and afterward marrieil a ilaughler of William (" Tangier") Smitli. of Long Island. 
 He found Westchester County, he wrote in 1704, " the most heathenish country I ever 
 
 SIOX.iTlUE or c.vi.En iik.mhcmtk. 
 
THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC. 
 
 133 
 
 was ended by the treaty of Utreclit in 1713. Its ravages in tlie colonies 
 were chiefly felt by the English in New England and farther east. The 
 Five Nations had made a treaty of neutrality with the French in Canada, 
 and they stood as a barrier against incursions of the French and Indians 
 into New York. That province enjoyed peace during the long war. 
 
 John, Lord Lovelace, succeeded Corn- 
 bury as Governor of New York. lie 
 did not reach the province until near 
 the close of 1708, when he found the 
 Assembly and the people strongly demo- 
 cratic in their political views. The very 
 vices of the late governor had disciplined 
 them to the exercise of resistance to op- 
 pression and to aspire to self-government, and secured to them the exer- 
 cise of rights which might have been postponed for many years. 
 
 The new governor was cordially received by tlie people, and his course 
 was judicious. He called a new Assembly in April, 1709, who, taught 
 
 SKiNATURE OF LORD LOVEI.ACK. 
 
 SIGNATURE OF CAPTAIN INCiOLDSBV. 
 
 1)V experience, refused to vote a permanent revenue without appropria- 
 tion, but resolved to raise an annual revenue and appropriate it specifi- 
 cally. This would make the servants of the crown dependent upon the 
 
 saw which called themselves Christians," there being not the "least footsteps of 
 religion." Sabbaths were spent in " vain sports and lewd derision." As colonel of militia 
 he ordered liis captains to require the men in every town to appoint readers of the Scrip- 
 tures on Sundays, and if they rcfu.scd, to call their men under arms ou Sundays and 
 spend the day in military exercises. They chose "readers." Ileathcote wa-s Maj-or of 
 the city of New York from 1711 to 1714 ; judge of Westchester County ; made com- 
 mander-in-chief of the forces of the colony ; surveyor-general of the province for some 
 time, and from 1715 till 1721 was receiver-general of the customs for all North America. 
 Colonel Ileathcote's last will was dated February 29th, 1719. He left Ids large estate to 
 two daughters, one of whom married .James de Lancey. 
 
134 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE 
 
 people for tlicir salaries. The Assembly' slioweJ a firm disposition to 
 assert and maintain all the popular rights which they had acquired, and 
 now fairly began tlie contest in the ])rovince of New York between 
 <leniocracy and absolutism, Avhich ended' in permanent victory for the 
 former at the close of the old war for independence three fourths of a cen- 
 tury afterward. 
 
 Before the issue concerning the revenue had fairly assunieil posiiive 
 form Lord Lovelace died. His lieutenant, liichard Ingoldsby* (the 
 contestant Mith Leisler for power in 1001), succeeded him. r)uring 
 Ingoldsby's administration of eleven months another feeble attempt M-as 
 made to conquer Canada. 
 
 In this enterprise the province of >\ew York engaged with great 
 zeal. The Assembly appointed commissioners to ])rocnre the mate- 
 rials for war and transportation : 
 issued bills of credit (New York's 
 first i)aper money), and through 
 the powerful influence of Colonel 
 Peter Schuyler secured the neu- 
 trality and warm friendship of the 
 Five Nations. 
 
 New York and New Jersey 
 raised an army of about two 
 thousand men, and Francis Nichol- 
 son, Andros's lientenant-governo*', 
 ; was made the chief conunander 
 
 of these forces. The little army 
 moved from Albany for Montreal 
 before the (;lose of June, and early 
 in August they had halted at the 
 southern end of Lake Chaniplain. 
 There they waitetl long for tidings of the departure from Boston of a prom- 
 ised English fleet destineil to attack Quebec. No such tidings came, and 
 the sadly disappointed soldiers, as in 1091, were compelled to return 
 to their homes, tiieir rank> thinned bv sickness and death. This event 
 
 PETEU scnrvi.Kii. 
 
 * Ricliiird Ingol(lsl)y, wlio came to New York in Iti'Jl in commaiul of forces sent with 
 Governor Slouglitcr. had served as a field oflicer in IloUaiid. AVe have observed his 
 conduct lit New York in ])receding pages. He returned to Enjrhiud on fvirlough in 
 1G96, and was absent several years, leaving liis wife and children in New York with 
 scanty inciins of support. He wiis coniniissioned Lieutenant-Governor of New York and 
 New .Jersey in 1702. but did not return until 1700. On the dealli of Governor Loveliice 
 lie administered the goveniMuiil until the arrival of Governor Hunter. 
 
IROQUOIS SACHEMS IN ENGLAND. 
 
 135 
 
 caused much irritation in the pulilic mind, and weakened the confidence 
 of the Five Nations in the puissance of Great Britain. 
 
 Colonel Schuyler,* mortified and alarmed hy the apathy and neglect 
 of tlie home government, which seemed unconscious of the importance 
 to British interests in America of effecting the conquest of Canada, 
 went to England the next year, at his 
 own expense, to arouse the court and 
 people to vigorous action in support of 
 the momentous cause he had espoused. lie 
 persuaded a sachem from each Iroquois 
 nation to accompany liim, that the Con- 
 federac}' might be certified of the immense 
 strength of Great Britain. The presence 
 of these l)arl)arian kings produced a great 
 sensation throughout the realm, especially 
 in London. Multitudes followed the dusky 
 inonarchs wherever they went. Their por- 
 traits soon appeared in the print-shops. 
 The queen caused them to Ije covered with 
 scarlet mantles edged with gold. They were 
 feasted at banquets ; witnessed military 
 reviews ; saw a part of the mighty British 
 
 navy ; in a word, they were shown the glories of the kingdom, and were 
 deeply impressed by the evidences of British power. They were con- 
 veyed to the palace of St. James to stand before the queen ; and they 
 gave belts of wampum and signed their toteuis to documents as pledges 
 of their friendship and fidelity. 
 
 The grand objects of Schuyler's mission were accomplished. The 
 friendship and loyalty of the Five i^ations were secured for the 
 English forever, and the Iroquois were made willing to join the 
 latter in an attempt to conquer Canada. The new British ministry 
 authorized a campaign for the purpose. Henry St. John (Lord Boling- 
 
 TIIE SCHUYLEU AUMS. 
 
 * Peter Scliuyler was one of tlie most useful men in the province for a period of almost 
 forty years. He was the tirst JIayor of Albany, and there led the movement against 
 Leisler. In Governor Fletcher's Council he performed most important public service. 
 He was not only a statesman, but the fon;most military leader in the province, a.s his 
 operations asainst the French in Canada show. As Commissioner of Indian Affairs, he 
 wielded potential influence over the Iro(iuois Confederacy, and by his courage, skill, and 
 goodness won the affections of the white people and the Indians. The latter called him 
 "Brother Quedor." When Governor Hunter retired, Schuyler, as President of the 
 Council, became acting governor of the province. As such he displayed great wisdom 
 and encriry at a trying period 
 
136 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 SKiNAiritE or i.oitn uoi.ixiiiiuoKK 
 
 broke),* tlie Secretary of State, planned a naval expedition agair.st 
 Quebec to co-operate with a land force of ]>rovincials to proceed from the 
 Hudson Iliver and attack ^lontreal. 
 
 A fleet of war-ships — transports and store-ships — bearing marines and 
 
 regular troops was sent to 
 Boston early in the summer 
 of 1711 under the command 
 of Adniiral Sir Hovenden 
 "Walker. lie sailed from 
 that port with about se%'en 
 thousand regulars and pro- 
 vincial troops on the loth 
 of August. Like Braddock, 
 the haughty commander dis- 
 dained the opinions and advice of experienced subordinates, and lost eight 
 of his transports and nearly one thousand men among the rocks at the 
 mouth of the St. Lawrence River. The expedition was abandoned, f 
 ^reanwhile Kew York, New Jei-sey, and Connecticut had formed a 
 provincial army for the capture of ilontreal and the holding of the upper 
 waters of the St. Lawrence. These were under tlie command of 
 ^Nicholson, who held a general's commission. They marched from 
 Albany, four thousand strong, toward Lake Cliani])luin. Among them 
 were si.x hundred Iroquois warriors. Hearing of Walker's disaster, these 
 troops also abandoned the expedition and returned home. So ended in 
 failure the third attempt of the English to conquer Canada. 
 
 Robert Hunter, a Scotchman, succeeded Lord Lovelace as Governor 
 of New York. lie had risen iu military rank from a private soldier 
 to brigadier-general. His literary accomplishments had gained for him 
 the friendship of Addison and Swift, and his handsome person and 
 
 * Henry St. John. Lord Bolingbroke, was born in 1678, and became a member of 
 Parliament in 1701. In 1704 he wa.s made Secretary of War. and left office with a 
 change in the ministry in 1708. In 1710 he became Secretary of State for ForeiL'ii 
 Affairs, and wa.s the principal negotiator of the treaty of Utrecht in 1713. lie had ln'cri 
 created Viscount Bolingbroke, and became prime-minister a few weeks before the death 
 of Queen Anne. Being known as a .Jaeoliilc, he now Hed to France, and entered the 
 scrx^Ice of the Pretender, wlio appointed him his prime-minister. In 1730 he married a 
 French lady, and was ixrmitted to return to England in 172;5. He died in 17.")1. Boling 
 broke was a good writer and brilliaut orator. Pope addressed his " Essjiy on Man" to 
 St. .John. 
 
 f "According to Ilarley," says Smith, in his 7/(W<>rv '/ ^'o/- rork. "this exj)edilion 
 wa-s a contrivance of Bolingbroke. Moore, and the Lord Chancellor llarcourt to cheat 
 the public of twenty thou.sand pounds. The latter of these was pleased to say, ' No gov- 
 ernment was worth serving that would not admit of such advantageous jobs.' " 
 
IMMIGRATION OF P.\XATINES. 
 
 13 r 
 
 SIGXATVRE OF HODERT IirN'TElt. 
 
 insiiiuatini!; manners had won the hand of a peeress — Lady Hay. By lier 
 influence he obtained the appointment first to the office of Lieutenant- 
 Governor of Virginia, and then Governor of Xew York and New Jersey. 
 With Hunter came three thousand German Lutlierans, refugees from 
 the Palatinate of the Rhine, wiio liad been driven from their homes by 
 the persecutions of the King of 
 France, and had taken refuge in 
 England. The queen and Par- 
 liament sent them to America 
 free of expense. They settled 
 some on Livingston's Manor, 
 some in the valley of the Scho- 
 harie, others on the Upper Mo- 
 hawk at the " German Flats," 
 and some in the city of New 
 York, where they built a Luther- 
 an church. A large portion of these refugees settled in Pennsylvania, 
 and became the ancestors of much of the German population in that 
 State. A few went to North Carolina. 
 
 It was during Hunter's administration that the Tuscaroras fled from 
 North Carolina (1712) and joined their L-oquois brethren in New York, 
 as wo have observed, and so made the Confederacy a league of Six 
 
 Nations. In the same year the inhabitants of 
 New York were greatly disturbed by appre- 
 hensions of an impending servile insurrection 
 there. The population of the city was then 
 about six thousand, a large proportion of 
 which were negro slaves. 
 
 At that time there was a l)risk slave-trade 
 carried on at New York, Newport, and Bos- 
 ton, for since the revolution (1688) this trade 
 had been thrown open.* The slaves in New 
 York were held in the most abject bondage, 
 and the masters were forl)idden by law to set 
 them free. In ITn'.l a slave-market was established at the foot of Wall 
 Street, where they were sold and hired. A slave caught out at night 
 
 * The Stuart kings of England had cliartered slave-dealing companies, and Charles 
 II. and his brother, the Duke of York, were shareholders in them. In 1713 an 
 English company obtained the pri\'ilegc of supplying the Spanish colonies in America 
 with African slaves for thirty years, stipulating to deliver one liiindred and forty four 
 lliousand negro slaves witliin that period. One quarter of the stock of the coniii.iiiy was 
 
 SE.\I. OF EGBERT HUNTER 
 
K38 THK E.MPIHK ST.VTK. 
 
 without a lantern and a lijjlitcd candle in it was put in jail and his in;\.sti,'r 
 was tined ; and the authorities pledged themselves that the prisoner 
 should receive tliirty-nine lashes at the whipping-post if the iiuister 
 desired it. Other puuisliinents for offences were sometimes very cruel. 
 Human nature revolted, but chieriy under a mask. From time to time 
 the slaves made some resistance. In one case they murdered a white 
 family in revenge. 
 
 " Conscience makes cowards of us all." A rumor spread that a ])lot 
 of the negroes to murder the white people and burn the city had been 
 discovered. A sense of impending j>eril tilled the town with terror. A 
 riot that occurred at that moment, during which a Imuse was burnt 
 and several white people were killed, intensified the alarm. Tlie 
 magistrates acted promptly. The jail and other strong ])laces were 
 immediately filled with suspected slaves. Almost without evidence 
 nineteen suspects were found guilty of conspiracy, and were summarily 
 hanged or burnt alive. A similar scene occurred thirtv vears after- 
 ward. 
 
 ]lunter*s administration was marked by frequent and violent contests 
 between the chief magistrate and the Assembly, the latter boldly assert- 
 ing that they possessed an inlierent right to legislate, not from any com- 
 mission or grant from the crown, but from tlic free choice and election 
 of the people, who ought not, nor justly could be divested of their ]>rop- 
 erty, by taxation or otherwise, withotit their consent.'' The governor 
 could not assent to this republican doctrine, and the Assembly would not 
 recede a line. 
 
 Hunter loved ease and quiet. These di.sputations wearied him. At 
 (tne time he wrote : '" I have spent three yeare in such torture and vex- 
 ation that nothing in life can make amends for it." In 1719 f:iiling 
 health compelled liim to return to England, when he left the govern- 
 ment of the province in the hands of Colonel Peter Schuyler, the senior 
 member of his Council. 
 
 AVilliam Burnet* succeeded Hunter as Governor of .New York, and 
 
 taken liy King Philip V. of Spain, and Queen Anne of England reserved for liei-scH 
 another ipiarter. 
 
 * 'Williani Burnet, a son of the eminent Bishop Burnet, was l)orn at the Hague in 
 168S, and had William the Prince of Orange (afterward William III. of England) for lii-- 
 godfathcr. He had heen engaged in puhlie otiiee iu London when he was appoinlccl 
 Governor of New York and N('W Jersey. He reached Xew York in Septemhei-, IT'.'n. 
 His administration was pojnilar. On the accession of George H. he was transferre<l to 
 the government of Ma.s,sachnsetts anil New Hampshire, in 1728. He is repre.seiUed u> 
 majestic in stature, frank in manner, witty and brilliant in conversaliou. He was also 
 a clever writer. Governor Ruriiet died in Boston in Seiilemlxr, 17"2(l. 
 
A WISE ADMINISTRATOR OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 130 
 
 /^ 
 
 inliei'ited his political discomforts ; but lie soon fouml a cure for tlieiu in 
 his own disposition and the exercise of common sense. His administra- 
 tion of about eiyht years (1720-28) was generally serene and more bene- 
 ficial to the province than any which had preceded it. Indeed, it was 
 more quiet than any which succeeded it in the colonial period. Toward 
 the last he incurred the enmity of a powerful body of merchants who 
 controlled the Assembly, and his position was made so uncomfortable 
 that he was transferred to the gov- 
 ernment of Massachusetts at his 
 own rerpiest. 
 
 Governor Burnet was a scholar, 
 liut not a recluse, and soon became 
 very popular. He " was gay and 
 condescending," affected no pomj), 
 but visited every family of repu- 
 tation, and often diverted himself 
 in free converse with the ladies, 
 by M-hom he was much admired. 
 He made few changes among 
 ])ublic officers. He called Dr. 
 Cadwallader Colden and James 
 Alexander to the Council Board. 
 They were both nien of learning 
 and sterling worth. Colden was 
 a philosophei', and was specially 
 fann'liar with the affairs of the 
 
 color.y and with matters pertaining to the Indians, and the latter was 
 an able lawyer and man of business. The governor's most trusted con- 
 fidant vras Chief-Justice Lewis Morris. 
 
 The Assembly, in response to the governor's first message to them, 
 returned a most cordial address, and voted him a five years' support. 
 Everything was done to promote harmony and good feeling. Such con- 
 fidence did the governor repose in the integrity, wisdom, and patriotism 
 of the Assembly that he did not dissolve them, but continued them on, 
 session after session, nntil jealousy was excited by tlie self-interest of 
 certain merchants. 
 
 Since the treaty of Utrecht in 1713 a large and increasing trade had 
 been carried on between merchants in New York and Albany and the 
 French in Canada, in goods salable among the Indians. The Iroquois, 
 who were thus compelled to buy most of these goods from the French, 
 as " middle men," at a high price, complained to the commissioners of 
 
 WILLIAM BUIINET. 
 
140 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 SK.VI. OK CADW.U.LADEK COLDEX. 
 
 Indian Affairs,* because the trade was injnrious to them. AVise men 
 in and out of the Assembly perceived the danger that might ensue to the 
 friendsiiip between the Five Xatious and the English by this continual i 
 
 trade intercourse with the French, for the 
 Jesuit missionaries were now more active > 
 than ever in their endeavors to alienate < 
 the Iroquois from the English and to win 
 tlieni to the French interest. A law was 
 finally p;issed prohibiting this inter-colonial '. 
 traffic. The governor also perceived tla- 
 necessity of acquiring control of Lake On- 
 tario for the benefit of trade and the securit v 
 of the friendship of the Six ^Sations, ^ • 
 as to frustrate the designs of the French. 
 Accordingly, in 1T22, with the sanction of 
 the Assembly, he caused a trading-house to 
 be erected at Oswego, at the mouth of the 
 Onondaga River. These measures at once created a strong opposition 
 to the provincial government among the merchants engaged in the inter- 
 colonial trade, aud excited the indignation and alarm of the Freucha 
 in Canada, for they saw that their trade and their dominion were both 
 in peril. The latter immediately proceeded to erect a strong store- 
 house at the mouth of the Niagara River, and to repair the fort there. *, 
 Unable to prevent this work, the governor eaiised a fort to be built at 
 Oswego, at his own private expense, for the protection of the trading, 
 post and trade there. The French were incensed and made threats, but^ 
 prudently curbed their wmth. 
 
 This state of things disturbed the political tranquillity of the province. 
 Party spirit grew apace, and there finally arose such a clamor ag-ainst the 
 " permanent" and " unconstitutional " Assembly that the governor dis- 
 solved them. There was great excitement at the ensuing election, and 
 when the new Assemlily met, in the spring of 1727, the majority of the 
 
 * The cominl<sioiH'rs of Indian Affairs rcsidwl at AIIkuiv. They servctl as surli 
 witliout sjilaries. but the advantages as traders which their position gave them w;i> 
 ample compensjition. For many years William Johnson (made Sir William in 17.>'3) was 
 the sole Commissioner of Indian Affairs aud l)ccame veri" wealtliy. especially in land. 
 It was the business of the commissioners to maintain the friendship of the Iroquois. They 
 received and distributed the moneys and presents provided for that purpose. A secretary 
 was paiil for keepinsr a reconl of these transactions. At the breaking out of the 
 Revolution, power wielded by Sir William Johusou alone passed again into the hands of 
 a committee. 
 
THE POLITICAL TRAXQUILLITY DISTURBED. 
 
 141 
 
 members were ill-affected toward tlie chief magistrate. His removal 
 seemed necessary to insure tlie public trainiuillity, and on April I")!)!, 
 172S, Governor Burnet surrendered into the hands of John Montgomery 
 (or Montgomeriei, his appointed successor, the great seal of the province.* 
 !Montironierv was a Scotchman. He was bred a soldier, and had held 
 a place at court and also a seat in Parliament. He was nuicli inferior to 
 his predecessor in aijilities, and made no pretensions to scholai-ship. 
 Loving his ease, he allowed public affairs to flow on placidly, and during 
 the three years of his administration notlung of special public importance 
 
 
 ■-.:C^^. 
 
 
 FOKT IN OSWEGO, I>- 1750. 
 (From a print in Smith's *• History of New York.") 
 
 occurred in the colony excepting the repeal of the law (1729) prohibiting 
 the trade with the Canadians. This repeal was effected throagh the 
 influence of the interested merchants. This trade worked mischief. 
 
 Governor llontgomery died on July 1st, 1731, when the chief com- 
 mand of the province devolved on Rip Tan Dam, the senior member of 
 the Council and an eminent and wealthy merchant. Van Dam filled the 
 ofSce well until August 1st, 1732, when William Cosby arrived bearing 
 a commission as governor of the province of New York. 
 
 Just before the death of Montgomery a settlement of the long-con- 
 tinued controversv about the boundarv-line between Xew York and Con- 
 
 * The provincial seal dl New York was changed (as in other provinces) on the acces- 
 sion of successive monarchs. There were two great seals of New York made during the 
 reign of Queen Anne, on which upjieared an effigy of a qiwai and Indians making pres- 
 ents, similar to the device on the seal on page 109. The seals of the three Georges each 
 bore the effigy of a Hiig, with Indians making presents, but modified in design. The 
 reverse of each seal was similar. 
 
U2 
 
 Tin; H.Mi'iui-; state. 
 
 lUP VAN DAM. 
 
 necticut wa.s dctiiiitely settled. The partitioii-linc agreed upon in If.fii.. 
 
 1)ein<^ considered fraudnluiit, attempts were afterward made to effect a 
 
 .settlement of the question in a 
 manner mutually satisfactory, but; 
 this was not accomplished until i 
 May, 1731. In 17'2'> a partition- 1 
 line was agreed upon liy tln' 
 commissioners of both colonio, 
 but it was not entirely .satis- 
 factory ; now a tract of si.xty 
 thousand acres, lyiuij on the 
 Connecticut side of the line, and 1 
 from its fitjuro called the Ob- 
 ion t;, was ceded to ^^ew York, 
 and an etjuivalent in terri- 
 tory near Long Island Sound 
 was surrendered to f'onnectioit. 
 Hence the divergence from a 
 straight line north and south seen| 
 in the southern boundary between 
 Kew York and Connecticut. 
 The Olilong is nearly two miles wide. Through its centre a line ws 
 
 drawn, and the whole tract M^as divided into lots of five hundred acres'' 
 . . . ^ • 
 
 each, on both sides, and sold to emigrants, who came chiefly from }sew 
 
 England. Governor Cosi)y was avaricious, un.scrupulous, and arbitrary. 
 
 He had been a colonel in the British army, and came to New York 
 
 intent upon making a fortune. He could not comprehend the liberal 
 
 spirit that prevailed in the colony, and he played the i)art of a petty 
 
 military tyrant in the most ridiculotis manner. As English officials weie 
 
 wont to do at that time, he looked with contemi)t upon all provincials, 
 
 treated them accordingly, and soon became one of the most obno.\ious 
 
 governors whidi had atilicted the colony. 
 
 Cosby came in conflict with Van Dam at the outset. He brought 
 
 with him a royal order for an equal division between himself and the 
 
 president of the Council of "the salary, emoluments, and perquisites" 
 
 of the offlce of governor during the thirteen months the merchant hail 
 
 exercised its functions. Cosby demanded half the salary which tiie 
 
 merchant had received ; A'an Dam claimed one half the perquisites, etc., 
 
 according to the order. Cosby refused, and brought a suit against Van 
 
 Dam in the Court of Chancery, over which the governor presided <.r- 
 
 officlo. Van Dam tried to bring a counter-suit at common law, but 
 
STRIFE AMONG CIVIL AUTHORITIES. 
 
 143 
 
 failed. Cosby's judges, James De Lancey and Adolph Philipse, were 
 the governor's personal friends and willing instruments. Lewis ]\rorris, 
 the able chief-justice of the province for twenty years, denied the 
 jurisdiction of the court ; but the trial went on, 
 and, of course, was deciderl in favor of the gov- 
 ernor. Morris published his Opinion, and was 
 punished by the governor by dismissal from the 
 high oflicc of chief -justice, and filling it by the 
 appointment of De Lancey without even tliQ 
 foruiality of consulting his council. 
 
 The sympathies of the people were with Yan 
 I)am, and these high-handed proceedings pro- 
 voked intense public iudignation. They led to 
 the establishment of a democratic newspaper and 
 a trial in which popular liberty and the freedom 
 of the press were vindicated. This famous trial 
 was tlie most conspicuous event of the adminis- 
 tration of Governor Cosby. 
 
 William Bradford issued the first newspaper printed in the province 
 of jSi^ew York, iu October, 172.5, called the JVew Yorh Gazette. He 
 was the Government printer, and his Gazette was controlled 1))' Cosby 
 and his political friends. Bradford had, first as an apprentice and after- 
 ward as a business partner for a short time, the son of a widow among 
 the Palatines who came with Governor Hunter, John Peter Zenger. 
 
 ^TANDEM VIMCITUR' 
 THE MORRIS ARMS. 
 
 ^ 
 
 '^m-Yj 
 
 SIGN.\TURE OF T.EWIS MORRIS. 
 
 The opponents of Cosliy induced Zenger to establish a newspaper that 
 might be an organ of the democratic party — a tribune of the peaple. It 
 was first issued in November, 1733, and was named the Neio Yoi^'h 
 Wi/ekli/ Journal. Yan Dam stood at the back of Zenger financially. 
 
 The Journal made vigorous warfare upon the governor and his oflicial 
 friends, as well as upon public measures. It kept up a continuous 
 fusillade of scpiibs, lampoons, and satires ; and it finally charged the 
 governor and his council with violating the rights of the people, the 
 illegal assumption of power, and the perversion of their official stations 
 
^ 
 
 144 
 
 THE EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 Till-; I'lIII.II'SE AKMS 
 
 for selfish purposes. Tlie Asseiulily, wliicli was a " ]>eriiKiiieiit'" one 
 iiiul very obsecjuioiis, received Its sliare of aiiliiiadversloii.* 
 
 These attacks were endured by the ofBcials for about a year, when, in 
 
 the aiituMiii of 17."!4, the ijoveriior and council ordered certain copies of 
 
 Zenjijer's paper to be publicly burnt by the 
 
 coninion lianguian. Then they caused tlie arrest 
 
 of the publisher, and he was cast into jwison on 
 
 a charge of libelling the government. The 
 
 Grand Jury refused to find a bill of indictment 
 
 for this offence, but he was held by another 
 
 \')Vocess—riiJ'o7-matio)i. James Alexander and 
 
 William Smith, the eminent lawyers, became 
 
 his counsel. Unal)le to give bail, he was kept 
 
 in jail until early in the next August, wlion ho 
 
 was brought to trial in the City Hall, Xew York. 
 
 The case excited intense interest throughout the 
 
 wliole country, for it involved the great subject 
 
 of liijerty of speech and of the press. 
 
 " Meanwhile an association called the Suns of Liberty had worked 
 
 diligently for Zenger. The vcneral)le Andrew Hamilton, of Pliila- 
 
 delphia, then eighty yeare of age and the foremost lawyer in the country. 
 
 was engaged as the prisoner's counsel. On the hot morning when tin 
 
 trial began the court-room was densely crowded. Chief-Justice He 
 
 Lanccy presided. A jury was impanelled. The prisoner pleaded ' Not 
 
 guilty,' but boldly admitted the publication of the alleged libel, and 
 
 offered full proof of its justification. The attorney -general (Bradley i 
 
 had just risen to oppose the introduction of such proof, when the vener- 
 
 * Illustrative of tlic obsequious deference which was then paid in tlie colonies even to 
 an insignitieant scion of nobility, a contemporary writer relates that when the youim' 
 Lord Augustus Fitzroy, son of the Duke of Grafton, a favorite of the king, arrived in 
 New York, in the fall of 1732. on .a visit to the governor (and who was induced to many 
 his daughter), the corporation of the city waited upon the young man " in a full l««h. 
 and the recorder addressed his lordship in a siH-eeh of congialulatiiin, returning him 
 thanks for the himor of his presence, and presented him the Freedom of the I'ity in a 
 gold box." 
 
 Smith, the historian. s|X'akiiig of the marriage of the young lord to (Visln's daughter, 
 siiys : " The match was clandestinely brought about by the intrigues of .Mrs. Cosby. Lord 
 Augustus being then on his travels through the provinces ; and to blind his relations and 
 secure the governor from the wrath of his father, a mock persecution was instituted 
 against ('ami)bell, the parson, who had scaled the wall of the fort and solemniy.ed the 
 nuptials without a written license from the governor or any publication of the banns. " 
 The iluke refused to acknowledge the wife of his sou,, and the ambition of her parents 
 wjLS wofully disappointed. 
 
 I 
 
THE LIBERTY t>F THE PRESS VIXDICATED. 
 
 145 
 
 able Ilaniilton unexpectedly entered the room, liis long white hair tlowing 
 over his shoulders instead of being uuide into a (jueue, in the fashion 
 of the (lay. The excited audience, most of them in sympathy with the 
 prisoner, arose to their feet, and in spite of the voice and frowns of the 
 ciiief-justice, waved their hats and shouted hnul huzzas. AYhen silence 
 prevailed the attorney -general took the ground that facts in justifica- 
 tion of an alleged libel were not admissible in evidence. The court 
 sustained him.* 
 
 "When Hamilton arose a murmur of ap[>lause ran tlirough the crowd. 
 In a few eloquent sentences he 
 scattered to the winds the soph- 
 istries which supported the per- 
 nicious doctrine, ' the greater the 
 truth the greater the libel.' He 
 declared tiiat the jury were 
 tliemselves judges of the facts 
 and the law, and that they were 
 competent to judge of the guilt 
 or innocence of the accused. He 
 rcmiiuied them that they were 
 tlie sworn protectors of the 
 rights, liberties, and privileges 
 of their fellow-citizens, which, 
 in this instance, had been violated 
 by. a most outrageous and vindic- 
 tive series of persecutions. He 
 conjured them to remember that 
 
 it was for them to interpose between the tyrannical and arbitrary violators 
 of the law and their intended victim, and to assert, by their verdict, in 
 the fullest manner the freedom of speech and of the press, and of the 
 supremacy of the people over their wanton and powerful oppressor. 
 
 ANDKKW HAMILTON AT MIDDLE LIFK. 
 
 * -Mr. De Lancey exercised imicli arbitrarj- power, and was always impatient of any 
 opposition. One illustrative instance may sutlicc. .James Alexander and William Smith 
 were leading lawyers in the province. As counsel for Zenger, they interposed exceptions 
 to the indictment of their client on information at the spring term. They also qiies- 
 tioued the validity of the commission of the chief-justice. They made a motion that these 
 exceptions should be filed. De Lancey refused to receive the exceptions. " You thought 
 to have gained a great deal of applause and popularity by opposing this court," he .said ; 
 " but you have brought it to this point, that either we must go from the Bencli or you 
 must go from the Bar. " He then issued an order excluding them from any further 
 jiractice in that coin-t. This dissolving Zeuger's couusel caused his friends to seek the 
 services of Andrew Hamilton. 
 

 ur, 
 
 TlIK K.MPIKK STATK. 
 
 " Xotwithstanding tlie cliarge of tlie cliief-justiee was wliully adve.^ 
 to tlie doctrines of tlie great advocate, the jury, after brief deliberation. 
 
 erse 
 
 HAMILTON AND THE PEOPLE. 
 
 returned a verdict of ' Xot guilty.' Then a shout of triumph went np 
 from the multitude, aii.l Hamilton was borne out of the court-nKim upoTi 
 
A POPULAR DEMONSTRATION. 147 
 
 the slioiildcrs of the jieoplo to a grand entertainment which had been 
 prepared for him. On the following day a public dinner was given him 
 by the citizens. At the close of September following, the corporation of 
 the city of Xew York presented to Mr. Hamilton the Freedom of the 
 City and their thanks in a gold box weighing live and a half ounces, 
 made for the occasion. In this document they cordially thanked him 
 for his ' learned and generous defence of the rights of mankind and the 
 liberties of the press, " and for Ids signal service which 'he cheerfully 
 undertook, under great indisposition of body, and generously performed, 
 refusing fee or reward.' 
 
 '■ This triumph of the popular cause, this vindication of the freedom 
 of the press, this evidence of a determination of the people to protect 
 their champions, and this success of an oi'ganization in its infancy, which 
 appeared in power thirty years later under the same name — ' Sons of 
 Liberty ' — was a sure prophecy of that political independence of the 
 colonies which was speedily fulfilled. Yet the stupid governor, stag- 
 gered by the l)low, could not tmderstand the meaning of the prophecy, 
 and only his death, a few months after this trial, put an end to his vin- 
 dictive proceedings." * 
 
 Governor Cosby died on March 10th, 1730. 
 
 * Lossing's Our Country, I., 368-70. Gouverneur Morris, it is reported, said : 
 " Instead of dating American liberty from the Stamp Act, I trace it to the persecution of 
 Peter Zcusjer, because that event revealed the philosophy of freedom both of thouirht 
 and speech as an inborn human right, so nobly set forth in Milton's Treatise on Un- 
 licensed Printiiifj." 
 
148 Tin; EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 CirAPTErv XT. 
 
 FuDM tlic arrival' of Governor Cosl)_\-, in 1732, to tlio l)eginning of tlie 
 Seven Years' "War between France and England (1755-02). which is 
 known in America as the " French and Indian War," the history of the 
 province of New York is little more than a record of the operations of a 
 violent party spirit engendered by selfish men struggling for power. 
 Let us turn for a moment from this unpleasant sul)ject to take a brief 
 glance, through the optics of contemporary wi'iters, at the character of 
 society in the city atid j>ri)vince of Xew \ ork at tliat period. 
 
 The populatioTi of tlie province at the time we are considering did not 
 exceed one luindred tliou.^aud. There were many discouragements to 
 settlements. The dread of hostile incursions by the French and liulians 
 on the north ; tlie transportation hither from Great I'ritain of siiip-loads 
 of felons ; the op])ressive nature of navigation laws ; the avarice, bigotry, 
 and tyrauny of some of the governors who had been sent to rule the 
 jirovince, and tiie lavisli grants of mucli of the best land in the colony to 
 their favorites and instruments, were special hindrances to a rapid increase 
 of population. The holders of large estates rated their lands so high 
 that poorer persons could neither buy nor lease farms. The price of 
 labor was so enormously high, because of the spai"se population, that the 
 importation of negroes had become a prime industrial necessity, and they 
 were then very numerous in the province. The Dutch language was yet 
 so generally used in some of the counties that sheriffs found it difficult 
 to procure persons sutliciently acquainted M'itli the English tongue to 
 serve as jurors in tiio courts. Tlie manners of the people were simple 
 and various according to locality and condition. Tiie ])revalonce of the 
 Dutch, the German, the Engli.sli, and the French (Huguenots) in certain 
 places modified manners. 
 
 In the city of New York, where there Avas constant intercoui-so with 
 Europe, particularly with Great Britain, the London fashions, much 
 modified however, were followed ; yet these were sometimes disused in 
 England by the time they were .adopted here. Among the wealthier 
 classes considerable lu.\ury in table, dress, and furniture was exhibited, 
 yet the people were not so gay as in Boston, where society was almost 
 purely English, and jiresented greater cultivation. In New York wealth 
 
STATE OF SOCIETY AT NEW YORK. 
 
 14a 
 
 ■was more eipially distriluited. Tlierc was an aspect of comfort tlirougli- 
 out society. 
 
 New York City was more social in its character than any other place 
 on the continent. It now had a mixed population, sturd}- in individual 
 character and cosmopolitan in feeling. Society presented an almost 
 even surface of equality and independence. It consisted chiefly of mei-- 
 ciiants, shop-keepers, and tradesmen. Their recreations were simple. 
 
 ^ ^-^.^>^-,^|^^ 
 
 KEW YOKK COSTUXrES AND FUKKITURE IN 1740. 
 
 Tlie men enjoyed themselves at a weekly evening club, and the women 
 frequented musical concerts and dancing assemblies with their liusbands 
 and brothers. The women were generally comely in person, dressed 
 witli taste, were notable housekeepers, managed their households with 
 neatness and thrift, and made happy homes. They seldom or never 
 engaged in gaming, as was the habit of fashionable Avomeu in England 
 at that time. 
 
 Both sexes M'ere very neglectful of intellectual cultivation. They read 
 
150 
 
 Tin; F.MI'IKK STATE. 
 
 very Httlo. Tlio scliools were of a low onler. " The iiistructore want 
 instruction," wrote a contemporary. " Through long and shameful 
 neglect of all the arts and sciences, our common speech is extremely 
 corrupt, and the evidences of a had taste, both as to thought aTid lan- 
 guage, are visible in all our jiroceedings, private and pul)lie." Virtue 
 was predominant. The wonien M'cre modest, spriglitly, and good- 
 humored ; and there was dill'used throughout society an uncommon 
 
 ^>^^^5.. 
 
 Mll.KI.NC -TIMK AT AI.IiAXV. 
 
 degree of domestic felicity, l)oth in the city fmd province. The mer- 
 cliants and traders had a high re])utation for honesty and fair-dealing, 
 and the people everywhere, in town and country, were sober, industrious, 
 and liospitalde, yet eagerly intent ujk)!! gain. 
 
 Tiie peoi)le were generally religious. Tiie principal church organiza- 
 tions were the Dutch Reformed, the Lutheran, the English Episcopsil, 
 and the Presbyterian. There Avas mni-h latitudinarianism, mucli freedom 
 
STATE OF SOCIETY AT ALBANY. 151 
 
 of thought and action among the people, that fostered a spirit of inde- 
 pendence. They were not bound hand and foot by rigid religioiis and 
 political creeds, as were the people of New England, but were thor- 
 oughly imbued with the toleration inherited from the first Dutch settlers, 
 and theological disputes were seldom indulged in. 
 
 New York society possessed the elements of a noble State. These 
 elements entered into the political and social structure of the common- 
 wealth after the Declaration of Independence with the grand result now 
 manifested to the world.* 
 
 On the death of Governor Cosby, Hip Van Dam, the senior councillor, 
 again prepared to assume the functions of governor. When he called 
 for the seals of office, etc., he was informed that Cosby had suspoiule<l 
 him from the Council Board several months before. This had been 
 
 * Mrs. Grant, of Laggan, in liei- Memoirs of an American Lady, lias left us some 
 cliarming pictures of social life at Albany, where the jiopulation was chiefly of Dutch 
 licseeut, and the habits of the peojjle were more simple than at New York. She tarried 
 anionic; them awhile at the time we are considering. She says the houses were very neat 
 within and without, and were built chiefly of .stone or brick. The streets were broad and 
 liueil with shade trees. Each house had its garden, and before each door a tree was 
 jilanted and shaded the " stoops" or porches, which were furnished with spacious seats 
 on which domestic groups were seated on summer evenings. Each family had a cow, 
 fed in a common pasture at the end of the town. At evening the herd returned alto- 
 gether of their own accord, with their tinkling bells hung at their necks, along the 
 wide and grassy street, to their wonted sheltering trees, to be milked at their masters' 
 doors. 
 
 On pleasant evenings the " stoops" were filled with gi'oups of old and young of both 
 sexes discussing grave questions or gayly chatting and singing together. The mischiev- 
 ous gossip was ruiknown, for intercourse was so free and friendship so real that there 
 was no place for such a creature ; and politicians seldom disturbed these social gather- 
 ings. A peculiar social custom arranged the yoiing people in congenial companies, eom- 
 |)Osed of an equal number of lioth se.xes. quite small children being admitted, and the 
 association continued until maturity. The result was a perfect knowledge of each other, 
 and happy and suitable marriages prevailed. 
 
 The summer amusements of the young were simple, the principal one being what we 
 QoW picnics, often held upon the pretty islands near Albany, or in " the bush." These 
 were days of pure enjoyment, for everybody was unrestrained by conventionalities. In 
 winter the frozen bosom of the Hudson would be alive with merry skaters of both se.xes. 
 Small evening parties were frequent, and were generally the sequel of quilting parties. 
 The .young men sometimes enjoyed convivial parties at taverns, !)ut habitual drunkenness 
 was extremely rare. 
 
 African slavery was seen at .\lbany and vicinit}* in its mildest form. It was softened 
 by gentleness and mutual attachments. It appeared patriarchal, and a real blessing to 
 the negroes. Master and slave stood in the relation of friends. Immoralities were rare. 
 There was no hatred engendered by neglect, cruelty, or injustice ; and such excitements 
 as the " Negro Plots" of 1712 and 1741 in New York City were impossible. Industry 
 and fr\igality ranked among the cardinal virtues of the people. 
 
152 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 done secretly, that Geoi^ Clarke, an English adventurer and one of 
 Cosby's tools, might become president of the Council. Clarke, as such, 
 now assumed the office of lieutenant-governor. Van Dain would not 
 yield, and the " rival governors" proceeded to act indepeudentlv of each 
 other. This state of things involved the Assembly and the corporation 
 of Xew York City in fierce contentions, and the pnblic excitement 
 became so intense that ofjen insurrection was threatened. It was finallv 
 allayed by the confirmation of Clarke's claim by the home government. 
 His administration was marked by continual contests with the Assemblv. 
 It tenninated in September, 1743, by the arrival of Sir George Clinton 
 as governor of the province,* a younger son of the Earl of Lincoln and 
 
 the father of Sir Henry Clin- 
 ton, the commander-in-chief 
 of tlie British forces in Amer- 
 ica during a portion of the old 
 war for independence. 
 
 The most conspicuous event 
 of Clarke's administration was 
 that known as the '• Negpj 
 Plot," in 1741. Causes simi- 
 lar to those which made the 
 inhabitants of the city dread 
 a servile insurrection in 1713 
 (see page 138) excited them 
 at this time. As before, the 
 tongue of rumor sonnded an 
 alarm wluch produced a panic. 
 A iKtld robbery, almost si- 
 multaneous tires in different 
 parts of the city (though in 
 the day-time), idle words spoken by negroes, and the grumbling of some 
 black people who had been brought into the port in a Spanish prize-ship 
 and sold into slavery, combined in suggesting to the e.xcited minds of the 
 
 TO TET MEMQRVra" 
 \3XC£ CUmiZorldEESqVlSE 
 ■WHD'WAS FORMEBrV 
 
 jznzx'Hi covE?NCRorsrwi-nRK. 
 
 JSS) .«TEK\WRDS 
 
 sEcsssE jtEssjcms ims cur i 
 
 I ■BE HIED 3SSK2iaSM,MDa:iS. 
 AtSD IXSXIV1ZAES 
 
 CLARKE'S MOSIMEXT .\T CHIWUrRE. 
 
 • Sir George Clarke was a prominent man in Xew York for nearly half a century. H.- 
 was a native of England, was a lawyer, married 3Iiss Hyde, a relative of Governor 
 Combury, and was appointed secretary of the province of Xew York in 1703. He was 
 a shrewd, thrifty man, and left Americ-a with a large fortune, like that of Cosby mysteri- 
 ously gathered. He sailed for England in 1745. On his passage he was capfiired by a 
 French cruiser, but was soon rek-a.sed, when the British Government indemnilietl him 
 for his los.sfcs. Retiring to a hand-^jme estate near Cheshire, he died there at an advanced 
 age in 1760. His wife, a woman of fine accomplishments, died in Xew York. 
 
 ^i 
 
THE NEGRO PLOT. 153 
 
 people suspieioiis of a coiispiraey, and creating a fearful panic. The 
 people were deaf to reason. The magistrates and lawyers •' lost their 
 heads." and l>y their acts increased the public alarm. 
 
 False accusers charged negroes with incendiarism, robbery, and con- 
 spiracy to burn the city and murder the Nvhite 2>eople. Very soon the 
 jail and apartments in the City Hall were crowded with the accused. 
 The keeper of a low tavern and l)rotheI (John Ilughson), his wife, and a 
 strumpet who lived with them Avere accused by an indented servant girl 
 of sixteen (Mary Burton) of comjjHcity, with negroes named, in the 
 robbery and in a conspiracy to burn the town and destroy the inhabitants. 
 She bad been tempted by fear and seltishness, by threats, and by ]>roni- 
 ises of money and freedom from her master (Ilughson) to " tell all she 
 knew" — in other words, to make false accusations and to bear false testi- 
 mony. She declared that her inaster and mistress received and concealed 
 tlie stolen property from negroes whom she named, conferred with some 
 of the slaves about burning the city and killing the inhabitants, and that 
 her master threatened to poison her if she exposed him ; while the 
 negroes swore they would burn her alive if she revealed their secret. 
 She said her master and mistress and the bawd whom they harbored were 
 tlie only white persons present at the plotting with the negroes. The 
 excited and credulous magistrates received this absurd story and others 
 uttered by the lying servant girl as truth. 
 
 "Without the semblance of justice or of common sense, and moved by 
 the unsupported assertions of ^lary Burton, the magistrates committed 
 persons to the jail. The excited lawyers perplexed and terrified the poor 
 prisoners, and the lialf-dazed jurors found the tavern-keeper, his wife, 
 and their wretched boarder guilty. They M'ere hanged. Eighteen 
 negroes were also hung in a green vale, the site of the modern Five 
 Points ; eleven were l)urned alive, and fifty were sold into slavery in the 
 A\ est Indies. Three of the colored people were burnt on the site of the 
 (present) City Hall, one of whom was a woman. All who suffered at 
 that time were undoubtedly innocent victims of groundless fright created 
 1>y imaginary danger. This " reign of terror" continued about six 
 months, when a day was set apart for puljlic thanksgiving for the " great 
 deliverance." 
 
 The " ^'egro Plot'" may be classed among the conspicuous delusions 
 of modern times. It is a counterpart in wickedness and absurdity to the 
 " Salem TVitchcraft"' delusion in the preceding century. 
 
 There was another and a peculiar sufferer at this time— a victim of 
 false accusations, perjury, and bigotry. His name was John Ury, his 
 l>rofession a schoolmaster and a noniurinof minister of the Chnrch of 
 
154 
 
 Till; KMl'lUK STATK. 
 
 Eiigluiid. lie was clKiri^ctl with being a Jesuit priest in disguise, and 
 was accused of inciting tlie negroes to burn the governor's liouse, wliich 
 ■was the first of the ahiiost simultaneous fires already alluded to. The 
 only witnesses against liiiii were the perjured Mary Burton ami u 
 daughter of the tavern-keeper just hanged. The latter was brought from 
 a felon's cell and pardoned on the condition that she should gis'e certain 
 testimony against the accused. She swore that Ury had counselled 
 negroes to burn the governor's house (which the governor himself 
 declared had been accidentally set on fire through the carelessness of 
 a phuuber while soldering a tin gutter) ; that he had practised the rites of 
 the Roman Catholic Church among the negroes in her presence at her 
 father's house, and that he received confessions, etc. 
 
 Competent testimony of respectable citizens to the contrary' — that he 
 was a schoolmaster and a clergyman of the Church of England — was 
 
 clearly given, but 
 was not heeded. The 
 charge of the chief- 
 justice (De Lancey) 
 and the speech of 
 the attorney -general 
 (Bradley) were large- 
 ly mere tirades 
 against popery and 
 warnings against its secret emissaries. The mis- 
 led jury were easily pc>rsnaded to ])rononnce 
 poor Ury guilty, aiui the bigoted court, taking 
 advantage of an unrepealed statute against 
 priests, sentenced him to be hanged. Ury 
 protested his innocence to the last moment. 
 The chief instrument in bringing this evi- 
 dently innocent man to the scaffold was the 
 disgraceful statute which condemned to death 
 every Ilonum Catholic priest who should 
 voluntarily come into the province. (See 
 p. 12G.) 
 In the whole of the wretched business of the " Xegro Plot" not a 
 single charge of conspiracy was proven by a competent witness. 
 
 Sir George Clinton* published his commission as Governor of New 
 
 SIGNATURE .\XD ARMS OK 
 CEOHGE CLINTON. 
 
 * Sir George Clinton was ilic youngest son of the .sixth Earl of Lincoln, and rose to 
 distinction in llic Brilish navv. IIi- \va.s commissioned a cominodnrc. and made Governor 
 
WAK BETWEEN FRANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN. 155 
 
 York oil tlie day of his arrival, Septeiiilicr 20tli, 1743. lie held the 
 office ten jears. Clinton was wholly unfitted by his training and dispo- 
 sition for tlie chief magistracy of a people like those of ]S'ew York — 
 sturdy, independent, and courageous ; free-thinkers in politics and irre- 
 pressible aspirants for self-government. 
 
 After a peace between France and Great Britain for more than thirty 
 years, during which time the American colonists enjoyed comparative 
 repose, war was again kindled. It was declared in March, 1744. The 
 colonists promptly rose in their might and donned their armor. The 
 struggle that ensued continued about four years, and is known in Ameri- 
 can history as King (rconjc's War, because George II. of England 
 espoused the cause of the Empress of Austria, the celebrated Maria 
 Theresa. In Europe it was known as the War of the Austrian Succes- 
 sion. 
 
 This war was not distinguished by many stirring events in America. 
 The most imjjortaut was the capture of Lonisburg and its strong for- 
 tress, on the island of Cape Breton, which the French had constructed 
 after the treaty of Utrecht at a cost of §5,500,000. William Shirley,* 
 a good soldier and energetic statesman, was then Governor of Massa- 
 chusetts. He perceived the importance of Lonisburg in the coming 
 contest, and plans for its capture were soon perfected by the Legislature 
 of Massachusetts. He asked England for aid in the enterprise, and Ad- 
 miral Warren was ordered to Boston from the West Indies M'ith a fleet 
 and troops. Kliode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut furnished 
 their proper quota of men. New Y^ork sent artillery, and Pennsylvania 
 sent provisions. Thus common danger was teaching the necessity for a 
 
 of Newfoundland in 1T3'3. In 1743 he was appointed Governor of New York, and hud 
 a tumultuous administration for ten years. He was unlettered, and of irritable teni- 
 jierameiit. lu all his contr<jversies with the New York Assembly he was ably assisted 
 by the mind and pen of Dr. Cadwallader Golden. His chief opponent was Daniel Ilors- 
 mauden. at one time chief-justiee of the colony. He quarrelled with all the political 
 factions in the colony, and returned home in 1753, when he was given the sinecure of 
 Governor of Greenwich Hospital. In 1745 he was appointed vice-admiral of the Red, 
 and in 1737 admiral of the Fleet. Again Governor of Newfoundland, he died there in 
 1761. 
 
 * William Shirley was born in Sussex, England, in 1693, and died at Roxbury, !Mass., 
 in 1771. He came to Boston in 1734, and practised the profession of a lawyer there. 
 Active in jwblic alTairs, he was appointed Governor of 3Iassachusetts in 1741, and 
 became a skilful military leader in the French and Indian AVar. He was also a skilful 
 diplomatist. For a while he wa.s commander-in-chief of the British forces in America. 
 In 1759 he was commissioned lieutenant-general and governor of one of the Bahama 
 Islands, but returued to Boston in 1770. He built a tine mansion at Roxbury, but never 
 occupied it. 
 
150 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 political union of the English American colonies fully thirty years 1»efi>re 
 Buch union was effected. 
 
 The colonial force.*, commanded by General William Pepperell,* 
 thirty-two hundred strong, sailed from Boston in the spring of 1745, and 
 were joined by W^arren at Causeau with ships and troops. The com- 
 liined forces, four thousand in number, landed not far from Louisburg at 
 the close of April, took the French by surprise, and speedily Ijegan a 
 vigorous siege of the strong fortress. Finally a combined attack by sea 
 and land, at the close of Jnne, compelled the French to surrender the 
 fortress, the city of Louisburg, and the island of Cape Breton to the 
 Enghsh. Tiie mortified French ministry sent the Duke d'Anville the 
 next year with a powerful naval armament to recover what had been 
 lost, and to desolate the English settlements along the Xew England 
 coasts. Storms wrecked many of his vessels, and disease soon wasted 
 hundreds of liis men. The duke was compelled to abandon the enter- 
 prise without striking a blow. The ^ew England people regarded these 
 misfortunes of the enemy as a providential interference in their favor. 
 
 Meanwhile Xew York had been vigilant and active. Its immense 
 frontier on the north exposed it to easy inroads of the common enemy. 
 The Iroquois formed a trustworthy but not an omnipotent defence. The 
 garrisons at Albany, Schenectady, and Oswego were strengthened, and 
 the erection of block-houses was begun on the upi^er Ilndson. 
 
 Notwithstanding these precautions five luindred French Canadians and 
 Huron Indians and a few disaffected Iroquois warriors swept down the 
 upper valley of the Iludson late in the fall of 1745, as far as Saratoga, leav- 
 ing there a horrible record, and spreading the wildest alarm among the 
 frontier settlements far and near. The invaders were commanded by 
 M. Marin, an active French officer. They had rendezvoused at Crown 
 Point, on Lake Champlain, where, at the suggestion of Father Piquet, 
 the French Prefect Apostolique to Canada, it was resolved to sweep 
 down toward Albany and cut off the advancing English settlements. 
 
 Saratoga was a scattered village on the flats at the junction of the Fish 
 Creek and the Iludson liiver, near (presenjj Schuylerville. It com- 
 
 • William Pepperell was bom in Maine in 1696, and died there in 1759. His father 
 was a Welsliman, and was made an apprentice to a fisherman when he came to Xew 
 England. His son became a merchant. Likins militar>- life, he was frequentlr en^aftd 
 in fighting Indians. In 1727 he was appointed one of the king's Council, in Massachu- 
 setts, and held the office thirty-two consecutive years. He became an eminent jurist, and 
 was made chief-justiit? of llie Common Pleas in 1730. After his successful e.xpeditioc 
 against Louisburg he was knighted il74.5), and was apix)inte«l colonel in the royal 
 army; then a major-general, and lieutenant-gvucral in lT-">9. For two vears (lT56-ol^ 
 lie was Acting-Governor of Massadiusetts. 
 
A CONTEREXCE WITH THE SEX XATIOX5. 15? 
 
 pH^I ^-v:: ::.:::.-:-;-::>. :..-:-7 f t^- -- -,:-■- - ? ■:'; -^/rler, 
 
 w>xLrr •:■: :_eM-./ r _: A. .: .;. ^i.I ^i - : - . - - ;-- :iitT-. 
 
 The invadeis mnrdeied Mr. Schnrler. je. 
 
 aad earned awav over one hnr 
 
 ■es!V/ef. as capdres. Mr. ? - 
 
 baineii. Oa the foDowmg monung the inTadeis. after . T-. 
 
 Drum, departed for Canada with their ]^imder >. 
 
 The en«sede Go^Temca- Shirfer. dotted wiu- : .... .7 m the east. 
 
 eontemplaie>i the eoaqnesc of the entire Fraieh domiiiions ia Am^ea. 
 His soia^ plan of opoaiiMis was dmHar to that of fc^in^ expeditic«5 
 ior the capture of Qo^tec and MontieaL 
 
 GoTenic«" Clinron favOTied the projeei. and the AssranMr xoted aid. 
 Tlie eKcdoa of bloek-hooses on the norch^n froatiefs was aatlMmzed. 
 sIeo a new emisaoii of bilk of eredir. Boandes were laised fat rol- 
 vUeefs. az>d pcoTiaoB was n»de for soppii^ of all kinds. The Six 
 Xadons were invited to meet the gov«nw at a eonfesenee at Albanv, 
 « wfaieh appeared represencatives of other eoloni^^ The objees of the 
 flonfereaee was to oisage the Iroqa<MS to S«ht for the English in idie 
 eoniSici supposed to be impending. Tlus eonf eraoce w^s held in the 
 sammerof 174o. 
 
 William Johnson, a n^thew of Adaoiral Warrai, asd th^i in the 
 pnme of yoong manhood, had be»i appointed Indian eommisaoDa' in 
 place of C:-I>ne" S-i-LBvIer. wbo had long pezformsd the c ' - 
 
 ofiee niL»5» efiier-ilv. J<^uisoai lad made great efforts :. -^ 
 
 Mohawks, among whom be lived, to mate war <« the Freaeh. Ax the 
 time appoioted fcM* the eooferenee he appeared on the . 
 
 Albonvat the Lead of a large nnmberof the Iroquois eL.i:. _-..:_- -_^ 
 pnoted like the hafbariare=^ Amoi^ these wine lead»s from ihe Dela- 
 wares. the Si^qtudiamias, the Eiver Indians, and the Mohegaas of Coo- 
 needeot. aH eager to laiee die hatehet against the Fr^ieh. The eonf er- 
 eaee was satEfaetorv. The Indiai^ w^e d^niseed witb presents, and 
 Johnson was famished with anns and with instraetioas to s@id out 
 war parties etmh the Mohawk ValleT to annor th^ e-enie^ ' "' 
 border. 
 
 The Biiti^ ministiT- failed to said pronueed aaascanee to ~ :s. 
 
 ^id ^orieT's grand jwoject was aband<»ed. From this tinir : 
 hostillues of impcKtan^K occurred within die province •;•! Xev . 
 OB iis fPMiiiers in several veais : bat the annatg of 2s ew Hampshire, on 
 Ss eastern b<»da-, for two vears tbae a fter present a l«ig ar. " .fal 
 
 eacalogne of plantadoDS laid waste and ocJwiisB^ain or earrlv :tip- 
 
 tiviiT bv the Frendi and Tn<B»»ig The treatr of peace eooehided at 
 
158 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ia^n-ue^ ^ cv^w^t^ 
 
 
 SIGNATURE OF JAMES DE LANCEY. 
 
 Aix-la-Chapelle, in October, 174S, ended hostilities between France 
 and England and tlie American colonies for a time. 
 
 Dnrinij: tlie whole administration of Governor Clinton rancorous partji 
 spirit cnrsed tlic province. lie had passed a greater portion of his life 
 in the royal navy, and had learned and practised its imperious ways. 
 These ways were, of coui"se, often oflFensive. lie loved his ease and 
 
 good cheer, was kind-hearted 
 and good-humored, and tried 
 to control the storms of pas- 
 sion around him. Unfor- 
 tunately, the surviving poli- 
 ticians who had tjiiarrellcd 
 throughout the administra- 
 tions of Cosby and Clarke were as rancorous and active as ever. He 
 tried to propitiate both parties, and failed, of course. The Assembly 
 persistently refused to yield an iota of tiieir rights and privileges, and 
 their independence vexed and worried Clinton. 
 
 T'nfortunately for the governor and the province, Clinton made Chief- 
 Justice De Lancey his confidant and guide. De Lancey was a politician 
 of exquisite mould, and tlien wielded almost 
 absolute sway over the Assembly and the 
 jieople. At length the governor and the 
 chief-justice cpiarreJled over their cups at a 
 banquet. The latter swore he v.ould be re- 
 venged ; and from that time Clinton found 
 no peace in public life. De Lancey was im- 
 placable. He pursued the governor as a 
 personal and political enemy with the tenacity 
 of a hound, and stirred up o})position to 
 Clinton's authority and his measures every- 
 where. Wielding power, the governor dealt 
 some hard blows in return.* 
 
 An open rupture between the governor and the Assembly occurred in 
 17-tO. Tnder instructions from the king, Clinton demanded from the 
 
 SEAL OF .lAMES III' 
 
 * James De Lancey was born in New York City in 1703, and die<l there. 1760. He 
 was educated in Eiisrland, studied law there, and soon after his return (1729) was made a 
 ■justice of the Supreme Court of the province. He became cliief-justice in 1733. He was 
 heutenant-ffovernor and actinirirovernor of tlie pro\ince for several years, and was oni' 
 of the most influential men in the province in politics and lesrislation, 5Ir. De Lancey 
 was one of the foimdcrs of King's (now Columbia) College. His wife was Anne, cUlest 
 daughter of Colonel Caleb Heathcote. 
 
SELF-DESTRUCTION OF A GOVERNOR. 159 
 
 Asseiiiblv tlie grant of a permanent revenue for live years, tliat lie miiilit 
 be independent of the people. As in times past, the Assembly refused 
 to grant it. The governor unwisely told them that their authority to 
 act at all, and the political rights and privileges which they enjoyed 
 depended upon the breath of the monarch whom he represented, and he 
 threatened to ])unish them if they did not comply with his wishes. The 
 Assembly boldly said in substance : 
 
 " Your conduct is arbitrary, illegal, and in violation of onr privileges, 
 and we will not comply with your demands." 
 
 In this quarrel, which continued until the end of Clinton's administra- 
 tion, the unfortunate governor was placed in a delicate and even a false 
 position. He was bound to obey his instructions in making the demand, 
 at the same time he felt that the attitude of the Assembly was essentially 
 right, and he urged upon the home government the propriety of making 
 concessions to the popular leaders. Strangely enough, at about this 
 period the chief leaders of the aristocratic faction, led by the chief-justice, 
 became the popular leaders opposed to the governor and tlie crown. 
 
 Wearied, worried, and disgusted, Governor Clinton resigned his office 
 ill the summer of 1751', and on September 7th he gave into the hands of 
 his successor. Sir Danvers Osborne, the great seal of the province. 
 Chief-Justice De Lancey had l)een ajipointed lieutenant-governor. 
 
 Osborne's administration was exceedingly short. He was received 
 with demonstrations of joy by the people, and was magniiicently enter- 
 tained by the corporation of the city of Xew York. But he bore royal 
 instructions more arbitrary and tyrannical than those which, attempted 
 to be enforced, had made his predecessor odious to the people. lie 
 learned by conversation with those who feasted him that the course he 
 was instructed to pursue would be highly displeasing to the people and 
 render him odious in their estimation. 
 
 Having been greatly depressed in spirits by the recent death of his 
 wife. Sir Danvers was made more melancholy by the gloomy prospects 
 before him — continual disputes with the representatives of the people, 
 the s))ort of factions, and a tarnished reputation, lie said to De Lancey 
 in a plaintive voice : 
 
 '■ AVhat am I here for ? I shall soon leave you the government. I 
 am unable to bear the burden."" 
 
 Brooding over his situation, his disturbed reason became unseated, and 
 five days after his arrival his lifeless body was found, early on the morn- 
 ing of the 12lh, suspended by a pocket-handkerchief around his neck to 
 the fence of the garden of Mr. Murray, one of the Council, whose 
 hospitality he was enjoying. 
 
ICd 
 
 TIIK KMPIHE STATE. 
 
 l)e Laiicey Mgaiii 1»er*aine acting Governor of Xew \ ork. He was 
 now j)liiced in a delicate situation, but lie was e(]Hal to the occasion. Jlc 
 had recently been a leader of the opposition in the Assembly in his perse- 
 cution of Clinton ; now he was compelled to wear the mask of Janus and 
 rebuke the Assembly ptiblicli/ for not obeying tlie royal instructions in 
 granting supplies, while he secretly confederated in the promotion of 
 mciisurcs directly opposed to the expressed will of the crown. The 
 Assembly were equal (iisseml)lers. They lauded De Lancey, boasted of 
 their lovalty, and declared that nothing should be wanting to promote 
 the king's service. At the same time they firmly resisted taxation with- 
 out their consent. Witli well-dissembled zeal De Lancey joined the 
 Dtlior royal governors in urging the British Government to put in action 
 a scheme of general taxation in America. 
 
 De Lancey remained the political head of the province two years, 
 wlien Sir Charles Hardy, a captain in the British navy, ignorant of the 
 country, the peoi)le, and the government lie was to administer, arrived 
 at New York (September, 1755) bearing the commission of governor.* 
 L)e Lancey really continued to govern the province for about five years. 
 Sir Charles was a plastic instrument in De Lancey's hands. 
 
 The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was, practically, only a contract for a 
 truce. The traditional enmity between France and England only 
 slumbered. The Jesuits, bearing the Cross and the Lily, had discovered 
 the magnificent country around the great lakes and in the Mississippi 
 Yalley, and revealed its riches to the French court. I'rench missionary 
 stations and trading- posts were estal)lislied deep in the wilderness, but these 
 did not attract the serious attention of the English until after the capture of 
 Louisburg, when the French began the building of strong vessels at Fort 
 Frontenac at the foot of Lake Ontario, and the erection of more than 
 sixty forts between Montreal and the site of New Orleans. In 1753 the 
 (Toverimr of Canada sent twelve hundred French soldiers to occupy the 
 Ohio ^'alk'y to the exclusion of the English. 
 
 At the time we arc considering the French in America were not over 
 one hundred thousand in number, and were scattered in trading settle- 
 ments for almost one thousand miles along the St. Lawrence River and 
 our immense inland seas ; also at points on the Mississippi River and its 
 
 * Sir Charles was a grandson of Sir Thomas Hardy, a distinguisht-d naval commander 
 in the ri-ign of Queen Anne. He was himself a naval commander. After leaving Xew 
 York, he was appointed (1757) rear-admiral of the Blue, and commanded in the expedi- 
 tion against Loiiislnirg. He was promoted to vice-admiral, and in 1704 was a meml)er 
 of Parliament. He Iwcame admiral in 1770, and commanded a large scjuadron. Sir 
 Charles dieil in England in 1780, aged about sixty-seven vears. 
 
AGGRESSm: MOVE3LEXTS OF THE FRENCH. 161 
 
 tributaries. The English nnmbered more than a million, and occapied 
 a line of territorr more than a thousand miles in extent alon? the 
 Atlantic seaboard, in the form of agricultural communities. The French, 
 through the influence of the Jesuit priests and kind treatment, had won 
 the friendship of the barbarians around them. 
 
 The French, on the English plea of discoverr and priority of occupation, 
 claimed jarisdiction over the region of the Ohio River and its tributaries. 
 The King of England, on the same plea, claimed that region, and granted 
 to a compauT of London merchants and Virginia speculators a tract of 
 six hundred thousand acres of land there. This company began the 
 establishment of trading-posts on tliis domain. The French regarded 
 them as intruders. The Indians properly said : 
 
 '■ The English claim all the land on one side of the river, and the 
 French claim all the land on the other side of the river. TThere is the 
 Indian's land ?" Echo answered, " Where T" etc. The rightful claim 
 of the first occupants of the soil was not considered by the voracious 
 European robbers. 
 
 Apprehending the loss of their trade and their dominion, the French 
 built a fort on the southern shore of Lake Erie : also others near the 
 domain of the English company. The Governor of Virginia sent a 
 remonstrance to the French commander in that region (St. Pierre). The 
 bearer of the despatch was young George Washington, then less than 
 twenty-two years of age. He made the perilous journey with two or 
 three attendants. The Indians were hostile to the English, and the 
 French were their traditional enemies : but the dangerous journey was 
 performed in safety, and the mission was executed %vith skill and judg- 
 ment. Washington retume<l in January, 1754, with an unsatisfactory 
 response to the message he had delivered, but with much valuable infor- 
 mation. When wine was in and wit was out of the heads of the French 
 officers at their commander's table, they had revealed many important 
 secrets to their sober voungr visitor. 
 
 Satisfied that the French in Canada were contemplating aggressive 
 war upon the English colonies, the latter prepared to meet the blow. 
 In the summer of 1751 twenty- five delegates, representing seven English- 
 American colonies — Xew Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- 
 necticut, Xew York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland — met in convention 
 at Albany to renew treaties with the Six Nations and to consider the 
 important subject of the formation of a colonial confederacy. Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor De Laneey presided over the convention. The treaty 
 was renewed, and in July Dr. Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, 
 presented to the convention a plan of union having many of the features 
 
ICS llli; EMPIUE STATE. 
 
 <it our national Constitntioii. It was adopted, and copies were sent to 
 tiie several colonial Ass;eniblies and to tlie imperial Board of Trade for 
 ratification. 
 
 The hit^tory of tliis plan is singular. Tiie Assenildies refused tlieir 
 assent liecause it seemed too arlstorrafic — giving tlic governor to be 
 appointed 1>\' the king too imidi jiower. The Board of Trade rejected 
 it liccanse it \v:is too il' tnocraiic — gave too mucli |)o\ver to the peoi>le.* 
 
 Meanwhile war liad actually been begun near the upper waters of the 
 Ohio River. The English Land Company had begun the erection of a 
 fort on the site of (i)resent) Pittsburg. The workmen were driven away 
 by French soldiers, who finished tlie work and named it Fort Duquesne 
 in honor of the Governor of Canada. Tiie Governor of Virginia (Din- 
 widdle) sent six hundred troops under Colonel Joshua Fry, with Washing- 
 ton, commissioned a major, as his lieutenant, to expel the French. Tiie 
 advanced corps under Major Wasliington, when about lift^' miles from 
 Fort Duquesne, was compelled to halt and construct a stockade (which 
 was called Fort Necessity) and prepare for resisting a detachment of 
 French troops wliich had been sent to intercept them. Before the fort 
 was completed a party was sent out to attack the approaching foe. This 
 was done at tlie dead of night. The commander of the French 
 (Junionville) was slain, and only fifteen of his fifty men escaped. A 
 larger French force soon invested Fort Necessity, and notwithstanding it 
 liad been re-enforced by troops from New York, Wa.shington was com- 
 pelled to surrender on the morning of July itli and return to Virginia. 
 So the French and Indian War was begun in the colonies about two 
 years before the "War of the Austrian Succession, of which it was a part, 
 was ])roclaimed by France and Great Britain. 
 
 The British Government, though it perceived that a conflict in 
 America wiis impending more serious than any which had yet occurred, 
 gave a very small amount of aid to the English-American colonies. It 
 contributed only ^50,(XlU and a commission for Governor Sharpe, of 
 
 * It proposed a general government to be administered by one cliief magistrate 
 appointed by llie crown and a council of forty-eight members chosen by the several 
 legishitures. Tliis council, answering to our Senate, Wiu; to have ijower to declare war, levy 
 troops, raise money, regulate trade, conclude peace, and do many other things necessiirj' 
 for the general gooil. The Boiird of Trade liad proi)osed a plan which containetl all the 
 elements of a system for the utter enslavement and dependence of tlie Americans. They 
 proposed a general government composed of the governors of the several colonies and 
 certain select members of the general councils. These were to have power to draw on 
 the British Treasury for money to carry on the impending war, the sura to be reim- 
 bursed by taxes imposed by Parliament on the colonists. The latter preferred to do 
 their own fighting and levy their own taxes iiideviendeul of Great Britain. 
 
MILITARY EXPEDITIONS PLANNED. 163 
 
 Marylaiul, as commander-in-chief of the colonial forces. Sharpe did not 
 serve. Shirley put fortii energetic efforts in Massachusetts ; New York 
 voted 8;25,000 for military purposes, and Maryland voted $30,000 for 
 the same purpose. 
 
 The war that ensued forms an important part of the history of our 
 Republic, but tlie jilan and scope of this work precludes the possibility 
 of siving an account of even important events, civil and military, whicii 
 have occurred outside of the province and State of New York, excepting 
 such connected with its history as may be necessary to elucidate our 
 subject. 
 
 General Edward Braddock was sent to America early in 1755 as com- 
 mander-in-chief of all the provincial forces. In April he met in confer- 
 ence, at Alexandria, Va., six colonial governors — namely, Shirley, of 
 Massachusetts ; Dinwiddle, of Virginia ; De Lancey, of New York ; 
 Sharpe, of Maryland ; Morris, of Pennsylvania ; and Dobbs, of North 
 Carolina. They planned three expeditions — one against Fort Duquesne, 
 to be commanded by Braddock ; a second against Forts Niagara and 
 Frontenac (Kingston, U. C), to be commanded by Governor Shirley ; 
 and a third against Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, to be led by 
 William Johnson, the Indian commissioner. A fourth expedition had 
 already been arranged by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, and Gov- 
 ernor Lawrence, of Nova Scotia, for the purpose of driving the French 
 Neutrals, or Acadians, out of the jieninsula. It was led by General 
 AYinslow, of Boston. 
 
 The expedition against the Acadians was successful, but the cruel 
 circumstances and the result of their expulsion justly places it among 
 the great crimes of history. The expedition against Fort Duquesne was 
 a disastrous failure. Braddock was defeated and mortally -wounded in 
 the battle of the Monongahela in July. Colonel "Washington was the 
 only officer of his staff who remained unhurt, and he saved the remnant 
 of the army from annihilation by conducting a masterly retreat. The 
 expeditions of Shirley and Johusou within the State of New Y^ork will 
 be noticed presently. 
 
1C4 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 CIIArTEIl XII. 
 
 WiiiLK politicians of the baser .sort, in and out of tlie Xew York 
 Assembly, were playing disreputable games in which the best interests 
 of the comiiionwealth were more or less involved, the people at large, 
 alarmed by the evidences that a war was a-kindling at their very doors, 
 became clamorous for the adoption of measures of defence against their 
 im]>lacable foe. Heeding these clamors, De Lancey convened the 
 Assembly early in Fel)ruary (1755), and in Iiis message to them he 
 desired that body to make proper provisions for putting the province in 
 a state of suital)lo defence, to secure Albany against the French and 
 Indians, and to authorize the building of a strong fortilication farther up 
 the Hudson River. 
 
 The Assembly took prom]>t action. Utterly disregarding the royal 
 instructions which prohibited the further issue of paper money by the 
 colony unless authorized to do so by the crown, they ordered the emis- 
 sion of over SlOO,000 in l)ills of credit. They authorized the levy of 
 eight hundred men and the impressment of artificers, prohibited the 
 exportation of provisions to the French colonies, and provided funds for 
 arming the troops and for making presents to the Indians to secure their 
 co-operation. 
 
 It was at this juncture that active preparations for the expeditions 
 against Forts Niagara and Frontenac, under Shirley, and Crown Point, 
 under William Johnson, were l)egun. The call for volunteers and levies 
 was cheerfully responded to. The troops destined for these expeditions 
 were ordered to asscmlile at Albany, and were gathered there at the 
 close of June. Those who were to follow Shirley consisted of certain 
 regiments of regulars from New England, Xew York, and New Jersey, 
 and a band of Indian auxiliaries. Those who were to follow Johnson 
 were chiefly Xew England and Xew York militia, nearly six thousand in 
 number. Ship-carpenters were sent to Oswego to prepare vessels to 
 cope with the French on Lake Ontario. The first armed schooner, 
 carrying a dozen swivel-guns, was launched there at the close of June. 
 
 Johnson's second in command was Colonel Lyman, of Connecticut,* who 
 
 • Phineas Lyman wa.s Ixini at Durham, Conn., about 1716: died in Wost Florida in 
 1775. lie was a graduate of Yale College, and wa-s a tutor there. lie was tirst a mer- 
 chant and then a lawyer in Suflield, where he was a magistrate several years. He was 
 
MILITARY OPERATIONS IX NORTHERN NEW YORK. 105 
 
 bore the comniission of major-general when he arrived at Albany at the 
 middle of June. He was much superior in military ability to his chief, 
 and should have held his place. He arranged the expedition for Johnson 
 with skill and energy, and then, with the main body of the little army, 
 he pressed forward during the hot days of midsummer to the " great 
 carrying-place'' between the Hudson and Lake Champlain, fifty miles 
 from Albany. He was accompanied by three hundred ilohawk warriors 
 under the famous !Moha\vk chief King Hendrick.* "While waiting for 
 the tardy Johnson to arrive with artillery and stores, Lyman caused his 
 men to construct a strong fortification of timlier and earth, which was 
 named Fort Lyman ; but Johnson afterward ungenerously changed the 
 name to Fort Edward, that he might pay successful court to a J'oung 
 scion of royalty. 
 
 When Johnson arrived at Fort Edward he took command of the army. 
 News of Braddock's defeat dispirited him, and he would have abandoned 
 the expedition had not Lyman urged him to go forward. It was deter- 
 mined to proceed against Crown Point by way of Lake St. Sacrament, 
 
 commanclcr-in-chk'f of the Conuccficut forces at the breaking out of tlie French and 
 Indian AVar, and performed admirable service at Lalse George and its vicinity, as men- 
 tioned in the text. He was with Lord Ilowe when lie was killed in 1738 ; was at the 
 capture of Crown Point and Montreal, and in 1762 he led troops against Havana. Cuba. 
 In 1703 General Lyman went to England to secure prize-money for himself and soldiers, 
 and a grant of land near Natchez, on the 3Iississippi. The region Avas called West 
 Florida, and there he died soon after reaching it. 
 
 * Ilendrick was a famous Mohawk sachem as well as a warrior, and was sometimes 
 called ' ' King Ilendrick. ' ' When Johnson encamped at Lake George and proposed to send 
 out a small party to meet an approaching French force, Heudriek, who was wise and 
 sagacious, said, " If they are to light, they are too few ; if thej- are to be killed, they 
 are too many." Johnson deferred to Hendriek's judgment, and sent out twelve hundred 
 men. Hendrick was one of the most sagacious Indian statesmen of his time, but Johnson 
 outwitted him once. Being at Johnson Hall, Ilendrick saw and coveted a richly em- 
 broidered scarlet coat. He tarried all night at the Hall. The next morning Hendrick 
 said to Johnson, ' ' Brother, me dream last night. " " Indeed, ' ' answered Johnson. ' ' What 
 did my red brother dream ?" " Me dream that coat be mine." " It is yours," said the 
 shrewd Indian agent. Not long afterward Johnson visited Hendrick. and said, 
 "Brother, I dreamed last night." "What did you dream?" asked Hendrick. "I 
 dreamed that tliis tract of land w;is mine," describing a boundary which included nearly 
 one hundred thousand acres of land. Hendrick was astounded, but ^vould not be out- 
 done in generosity. Pondering a few moments, he said, " Brother, the land is yours ; but 
 you must not dream again." Tlie title was conferred by the British Government, and 
 the tract was called '' The Royal Grant." The portrait on page 166 is copied from a colored 
 print made in London while Hendrick was on a visit there, about 1750. He appears in a 
 full court dress presented to him by the king. His signature and totem may be seen 
 among totemic signatures on page 6. Hendrick was born about 1680, and was killed in 
 battle near Lake George in 1753. 
 
KiC 
 
 Tin: EMPIRE STATf:. 
 
 KING IIK.NDUKK. 
 
 wliicli Jolinson now ii;iiiie<l L;ike George in honor of liis king. At the 
 head of that hvke tlie commander established an open camp, ntterly 
 neglecting to intrench it. Suddenly scouts brought the alarming intelli- 
 gence that the forest between Fort 
 Edward and the head of Lake 
 fhamplain was swarming with 
 French regulars, Canadian militia, 
 and Indians. Johnson immediately 
 sent out Colonel Ephraim Willi;mi3 
 (Sej)teml)er Sth, 1755) with a 
 thousand provincials and two hun- 
 dred ^fohawks under Ilendrick to 
 ; tlie relief of Fort Edward. The 
 
 foe had changed their destination, 
 and were approaching Johnson's 
 camp. The detachment fell into 
 an anil>uscade. Williams and 
 Ilendrick and many of their fol- 
 lowers were slain. The remainder 
 fled back to the camp hotly pur- 
 sued by the victors, two thousand strong, led by General the Baron 
 Dieskau. 
 
 Johnson was apprised of this disaster before the arrival of the fugitives, 
 and liastily threw up a breastwork of trees, upon which he planted two 
 cannons received the day before from Fort Edward. As the motley foe 
 rushed upon the camp, discharges from these great guns terrified the 
 Indians, and they fled to the Avoods. At that moment Lyman, who had 
 liastened from Fort Edward to Johnson's relief, appeared, when the 
 Canadian militia also lied. 
 
 Johnson had lieen wounded by a musket-hall in the fleshy part of the 
 thigh at the beginning of the action, and Lyman took the command. 
 The French regulars continued the light for about four hours, when, 
 their commander being fatally wounded, they also fled and hastened 
 back to Crown Point. General Lyman had won the victory and saved 
 the army. 
 
 Learning that the French were strengthening Crown Point, Johnson, 
 contrary to the opinions and wishes of his oflicers and troops, abandoned 
 the enterprise and lingered long in his camp — long enough to build a 
 fort at the head of tiie lake, which he named "William Henry. Having 
 garrisoned it and Fort Edward, he returned to Albany witli tlie remainder 
 of his forces in October. He M-as rev.-arded for his services in the cam- 
 
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN FOR 17.-,6. 167 
 
 paign with the honors of knighthood and $25,000 to support the dignity. 
 This honor and emohiuient properly belonged to General Phineas Lyman.* 
 
 The expedition of Governor Shirley against Forts Niagara and 
 •Fi-ontenac was unsuccessful. It was late in August before the main 
 body of his troops were gathered at Oswego, twenty-five hundred in 
 number. Storms on the lake, sickness in his camp, and the desertion of 
 his Indian allies (warriors of the Six Nations) compelled Shirley to 
 abandon the expedition. Leaving a sufficient garrison at Oswego under 
 Colonel ]\Iercer, the remainder of the troops were marched back to 
 Albany and disbanded. So ended the campaign of 175.5. 
 
 The home government now took up tlie quarrel. Great Britain 
 declared war against France in May, 175t'i, and France reei]>rocated it by 
 a similar declaration in June. The plan of the campaign for that year 
 submitted by Shirley, the successor of Braddock — a splendid theorist, 
 but witli little practical knowledge of military matters — had already been 
 adopted at a convention of colonial governors held at Albany in 
 December, 1755. It was arranged that ten thousand men should pro- 
 ceed against Crown Point ; six thousand against Niagara ; three thou- 
 sand against Fort Duquesne, and two thousand to cross the wilderness 
 between the Kennebec and Chaudiere rivers and menace Quebec by 
 attacking the French settlers in that region of Canada. 
 
 Lord Loudoun, -j- a very lazy and most inefficient man, was appointed 
 Shirley's successor as commander-in-chief of the British forces in 
 America. He sent his lieutenant. General Abercrombie (by no means a 
 brilliant man), to America in the spring of 1756. He arrived at New 
 
 * After the victory at Lake George Lyman vehemently urged Johnson to push for- 
 ward immediately and take possession of Tieonderoga and Crown Point, which he miglit 
 easily have done while the French were panic-stricken by their defeat. But .Joluison had 
 none of the qualities of a good general, not even suthcient moral courage, and did know 
 how to profit by success. Shirley and others, and a council of war of his own otflcers, 
 urged him to advance, but he spent weeks in his camp instead in building Fort William 
 Henry. .Jealous of General Lyman, whose superiority he felt, and with meanness only 
 equalled by his incapacity, lie did not even mention Lyman's name in his report of the 
 battle to the Lords of Trade ; and immediately after the battle he changed the name of 
 Fort Lyman to Fort Edward, as we have observed. The influence of friends at court 
 secured to Johnson the honors and emoluments mentioned in the text. They were un- 
 worthily bestowed upon an avaricioxis and immoral man and an unskilful general, while 
 a nolile, pinr, and brave ollicer was suffered to go unnoticed either by liis commander or 
 the king whom he faithfully served. The pen of history will not neglect him. 
 
 f John Campbell, fourth Earl of Loudoun, was born in Scotland in ITO.l Tie was 
 appointed Governor of Virginia in IToG, but leaving the province in charge of his lieuten- 
 ant, Dinwiddle, he engaged in military affairs, in which his indolence and inelliciency 
 worked much mischief. He was recalled from the colonies in MiiiT. and was made lieu- 
 tenant-general the next year. He was created general in 1770, and died in 1782. 
 
108 Tiir, KMi'iin; state. 
 
 York in June with some regular soldiers, and after loitering awhile near 
 the sea he ascended the Hudson to Albany, where he found General 
 Win^^low at the head of seven thousand provincial troops. Wiiislow liad 
 been i-oniniissioned by Shirley to coiiiiimnd tiie expedition against Crown 
 Point. These troops were anxious to press forward, for tiie whole 
 frontier of New York was menaced by the French and Indians. The 
 entiiusiastn and patriotism of the soldiers were rei)rcsse<l b>' Abercronibie, 
 who cast a firebrand among them and tlie people by insisting upon the 
 right of regular officers to command provincial officers of the same rank, 
 and also the propriety of (juartering the regular officers on the inhab- 
 itants. These assumptions, haughtily presented, caused serious disputes 
 and mutual dislikes. Van Schaick, Mayor of Albany, disgusted with 
 the superciliousness of tlie regular officers, said to them : "Go hack 
 again ; go back, for we can defend our frontiers ourselves." 
 
 But Abercronibie would not allow the troops to move either way. lie 
 kept at least ten thousand men, regulars and provincials, at Albany until 
 near the close of summer waiting for Loudoun, when the French had 
 gained advantages that disconcerted the whole plan of the campaign. 
 
 An energetic provincial officer — Colonel John Bradstrect— had per- 
 formed a signal service in the interior with a handful of men, and 
 rebuked his superiors by his activit}'. It was necessary to send pro- 
 visions to the garrison at Oswego. Bradstreet was appointed to under- 
 take the perilous task — perilous because it was known that the French 
 and Indians were hovering around Oswego. With only two hundred 
 ])r«>vincials F.radstreet traversed the wilderness by way of the Mohawk 
 Kivcr, "Wood Creek, and Oneida Lake, and passing down the Oswego 
 Iiiver, put into the forts at Oswego provisions for five thousand men for 
 six months. lie -eturned in safety after suffering incredible hardships. 
 
 The Marquis de Montcalm, a field-marslial of France, had succeeded 
 the Baron Dieskau in command of the French troops in America. 
 Profiting by the delays of tlie English at Albany, and aware of the weak- 
 ness of the British commanders, Montcalm ])roceeded to attack tiie post 
 at Oswego. He gathered five thousand Frenchmen, Canadians, and 
 Indians at Fort Frontenac (Kingston), crossed Lake Ontario, and tm 
 August 11th appeared before Fort Ontario, on the east side of the river 
 at Oswego, and demanded the suri-ender of the garrison. Tiiat fort had 
 been built recently. Colonel Mercer, in command, refused compliance, 
 M-hen the French began a regular siege. An attack at midnight was 
 l)ravely resisted, when Colonel Mercer spiked his guns and withdrew the 
 garrison to an older fort (built by Governor Burnet) on the west side of 
 the river, ^^rontcalm brought his cannon to bear upon this fort. 
 
AX INEFFICIENT COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 1G9 
 
 Colonel Mercer \ras killed, and on the IJrtli the garrison, sixteen hundred 
 strong, surrendered. The forts ^vere demolislied, Oswego was made 
 desolate, and the country of the Six Xations was laid open to easy incur- 
 sions by the enemy. 
 
 Tlie sluggish Lord Loudoun liad just arrired, and was temporarily 
 alarmed. After loitering at Albany a few weeks longer, recalling troops 
 which had been sent toward Ticonderoga, and making wicked, unjust, 
 and ungenerous complaints against the provincials, expecting thereby to 
 conceal his own imbecility, he dismissed them and ordered the regulars 
 into winter quarters. lie took a thousand of the latter to Xew York City 
 and haughtily demanded tlie billeting of their officers upon the inhab- 
 itants free of charge. The mayor, in behalf of the people, questioned the 
 righteousness of tlie demand, when Loudoun, uttering a coarse oath, said : 
 
 " If you do not billet my officers upon free quarters this day I'll order 
 all the troops in Xorth America under my command, and billet them 
 myself upon the city." 
 
 Loudoun's demand was sustained by an Order in Council * passed a 
 few months before, that troops might be kept in the colonies and quar- 
 tered on the people without the consent of colonial legislatures. The 
 authorities at Z^ew York yielded to Loudoun's demand under a silent but 
 most solemn protest. This was the earl's only victory in America. 
 That order, virtually authorizing a standing army in the colonies to be 
 maintained, in a great measure, i)y the people, was the magnetic touch 
 that gave vitality to the sentiment of resistance which soon sounded the 
 tocsin of revolution. 
 
 Military operations under Loudoun's command were quite as ineffi- 
 cient elsewhere as in the province of Xew York. Colonel "Washington 
 was at the head of fifteen hundred volunteers and drafted militia, and 
 was anxious to act against Fort Duquesne ; but he was made powerless 
 by official interference and incapacity. 
 
 Loudoun called a military council at Boston in January, 1757. lie 
 proposed to confine the operations of that year to an expedition against 
 Louisl)urg (which had been restored to the French by the treaty of Aix- 
 la-Chapelle), and to a defence of the northern frontiers. The colonists 
 of New York and Xew England desired to expel the French from the 
 
 * The British Privy Council is an assembly of advisers in matters of State appointed 
 by the sovereign. It was firet establi.she<l by King Alfred in 89.5, and consisted of only 
 twelve members, and was a permanent committee. Now it is composed of the chief 
 magnates of the nation, including the ministry. A Privy Councillor must be a native 
 of Great Britain. The autliority of Parliament is delegated to this body in the regulation 
 of public affaii-s. " Orders in council " have the force of constitutional commands. 
 
iru THE EMPIRK STAT?! 
 
 region south of the St. Lawrence and to recover Oswego. Tliey were 
 grievously disai^poiiited 1)V Loiidoinrs perverseness ; yet tlieir ardor and 
 ])atriotisni were not much abated, for at the opening of summer six 
 tiiousand provincials were under arms. Members of the military council 
 had mildly remonstrated, but in vain. Loudoun was imperious, and had 
 very little respect for tlie opinions of provincials ; and wiser and better 
 men than he were compelled to acquiesce. 
 
 Loudoun determined to go to Louisburg himself. After impressing 
 into the British .service four hundred men at New York, he sailed for 
 Halifax in June, where he fcmnd himself at tlie head of a weIl-a])pointed 
 army of ton thousand men and a fleet of sixteen ships of the line and 
 several frigates. Instead of going to Cajie Breton at once and attacking 
 the strong fortress there, Loudoun employed his men in laying out a 
 parade, planting a vegetable garden for tiicir use, and exercising tliem 
 in sham battles. So he wasted the precious summer-time. At last 
 when, in August, he prepared to sail for Louisburg, he was informed 
 that the garrison there had been re-enforced, and that the French had 
 one more ship than he. Alarmed, this absurd leader, who was always 
 in a hurry but always unready — " like St. George on a tavern sign, 
 alwavs on hoi"seback but never going forward " — abandoned the enter- 
 prise and sailed for New York to hear of military disasters in that prov- 
 ince. These M-ill bo noticed presently. 
 
 For more than a year the English in America liad acted so much 
 " like women" that the Indians were disgusted, while the activity of 
 the French won their admiration and alliance. At the beginning of tlie 
 smnmer of 1T.>T warriors from " niorc than thirty nations" were at 
 Montreal. Governor A'audreuil told tliein of glory and plunder surely 
 to be obtained l)y alliance M'ith tlie French. Montcalm danced their 
 wild war-dances witii tliem and sungr tlieir tierce war-sonits witli tliem 
 ujitil their affection for him and enthusiasm for the French cause became 
 intense. They went in a wild, tumultuous march for St. John's, on the 
 Sorel (the outlet of Lake Champlain), accompanied by priests wlio 
 chanted hymns and anthems in almost every Indian dialect. In canoes 
 and bateaux the French and their dusky allies went up Lake Champlain 
 and landed at Ticonderoga in liot July. Tlience Montcalm sent maraud- 
 ing parties almost to Fort Edward under Marin, who had destroyed the 
 handet of Saratoga more tlian a dozen yeare before. 
 
 A'ery soon Montcalm* appeared on Lake George with eight thousand 
 
 * Tlie Marquis de Montcnlin Wiis lioin in Franco in 1713. and ivii.^ of noble descent, 
 lie cnli-red llio army while lie Wius vet a lad. and soon distinsruished himself. In 1756 he 
 
THE FRENCH CAPTURE FORT AVILLIAM HENRY. 171 
 
 men (two thousand of them Indians) and a train of artillery, and laid 
 siege (August 2dj to Fort William HenrV;* then garrisoned by less than 
 live hundred men under Colonel Munro, supported by almost ten thou- 
 sand provincials in an entrenched camp ujion a gentle rocky eminence, 
 where may now be seen the dim ruins of the citadel of Fort George. A 
 little more than a dozen miles distant was Fort Edward, where lay the 
 timid General Webb with about four thousand troops. 
 
 Munro was surprised. General AVebb had learned from scouts of the 
 approach of the foe, but more willing to have them fall upon Fort William 
 Henry than upon Fort Edward, he concealed the fact from Munro. 
 When Montcalm appeared the latter sent an express to Webl) imploring 
 succor. Xot doubting it would be sent, he promptly refused compliance 
 with Montcalm's summons to surrender the fort, and bravely sustained a 
 siege for several days, continually expecting aid from Fort Edward in 
 response to several expresses sent to Webb. But no succor came. 
 Welib would not .spare a man. lie finally sent a letter to Munro filled 
 with exaggerations, and advising him to surrender. The letter fell into 
 the hands of Montcalm at a moment when he was about to abandon the 
 siege and retire. The French leader immediately made a peremptory 
 demand for a surrender. Despairing of succor, Munro yielded, and on 
 the morning of August 9th (1757) the garrison marched out to the 
 intrenched camp under a promise of protection and other honorable con- 
 ditions. They were promised that they should proceed in safety to Fort 
 Edward on parole. 
 
 Montcalm had kept intoxicating lirpiors from his Indians, but the Eng- 
 lish settlers suijplied them with rum. After a night's carousal the bar- 
 barians, intiamed with intoxication and a desire for plunder, were ready 
 for any mischief, and when the prisoners left the camp for Fort Edward 
 
 was sent to Canada, with the rank of major-general, to take the chief military command 
 there. After serving with skill and bravery in America for about three years, he was 
 killed in battle at Quebec in September, 1759. 
 
 * During the previous winter fifteen hundred French regulars and Canadian militia 
 went down from the St. Lawrence to Lake George, travelling much of the way with 
 snow-.shoes, and attempted to take Fort William Henry by surprise. Their provisions 
 were carried on small sledges drawn by dogs, and their beds were bear-skins spread on 
 the snow. Stealthily they went over the frozen lake and appeared before the fort sit 
 midnight (March 16th, IToT). The garrison were on the alert. The invaders set fire to 
 three vessels frozen in the ice there, a storehouse, and some huts, and escaped by the light 
 of the conflagration. Rogers's Rangers were at the fort, and were noted for their 
 aggressive movements that winter. One of their bravest men wa.s Lieutenant Stark 
 (afterward the hero of Bennington), who commanded the Rangers in the absence of 
 Rogers. Under Stark they were often found attacking parties of the foe in the vicinity 
 of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 
 
172 TlIK EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 tlio crazed Imliims, defying Montcalm's efforts to restrain tliem, fell 
 upon tlie defenceless captives, when a fearful scene of slaughter. j)lunder, 
 and devastation ensued. The fort and its appendages were laid in ruins, 
 and for nearly one hundred years nothing marked its site but some half- 
 concealed mounds. Xow a large summer hotel stands upon its site. 
 This sad event was the closing one of the campaign of 1757, and, happily, 
 ended tlie leadership of the Earl of Loudoun on this side of the Atlantic. 
 
 Montcalm did not attempt further concpiests at that time, but returned 
 to Ticonderoira, strengthened the M-orks there, and sent out scouting 
 parties to annoy the Jiritish and capture their foragers. These enter- 
 prises wore fruitful of exciting scenes.* 
 
 The position of atTairs in America now alarmed the English people. 
 The Americans were l)rave and high-spirited, and recent events had 
 manifested strengtJi and their ability to support themselves. With a 
 sense of their independence of Great I'ritain there was danger of their 
 alienation. Some of tlie royal governors were rapacious ; others were 
 incompetent ; all M'cre, as a rule, haughty in their demeanor. The 
 arrogant assnm])tion of superiority by the IJritish military officers dis- 
 gusted the provincial troops and often cooled the ardor of whole regi- 
 ments. 
 
 Perceiving the incompetency of the government of the aristocracy, 
 the people of Great I'ritain yearned for a change in the administration 
 of piii)lic affairs. The ])opular will prevailed, \7illiam Pitt was called 
 to the premiership in June, 1757. " Give me your confidence," said 
 the great commoner to tiie king, " and 1 will deserve it." "Deserve 
 my confidence," the king replied, " and you shall have it." 
 
 Pitt wouhl not listen to the pernicious twaddle about enforcing royal 
 antiiority in America that fell from the lips of the Lords of Trade. 
 '• W'c want the cooperation of tiic Americans," he said, "' and to have 
 it we must be just and allow them freedom." These words ran like an 
 
 ♦ These scouting parties were watcher! by Major Rogers and his Rangers of New 
 Ilaiiiiisliire. Tlic afterward famous Israel Putnam was his lieutenant. On one occasion 
 a i>arty of French and Indians led by Captain Molang captured a convoy of English 
 wagoners. Rogers and Putnam attempted to intercept tlie French on their return, but 
 fell into an ambush, and Puln.im and a few followers, separated from the rest, were 
 ciiptunil. His comitKles were killcil and scaliwd, but he was reserved for torture. He 
 |)a-ised the night bound to a tree, where his clothes were riddled with bullets by the cross 
 tiling of the combatants, lie was taken deeper into the forest, fast bound to a tree, and 
 a fire was built around him, when a sudden thunder-shower nearly extinguished the 
 llames. They soon liegan to blaze liercely again, when Molang, who had heard of these 
 proceedings, rushed through the band of Indians, released Putnam, and carried him to 
 Ticonderoga. 
 
PLAX OF CAMPAIGX FOR 1T58. 173 
 
 electric thrill through the hearts of the colonists, and men and money 
 were freely offered for tlie cause. The French in Canada were growing 
 weaker, for they received scanty aid from France. '' The king relies on 
 your zeal and obstinacy of courage," wrote the French Minister to 
 Montcalm in 175S. '' AVithout unexpected good fortune or blunders on 
 the part of the English," the candid general replied, " Canada must be 
 lost this cainpaign, or certainly the next." 
 
 Pitt so(^n diffused his own energy and wisdom into every department 
 of the government. He did not demand anything of the colonies, but 
 ashed them to raise and clothe twenty thousand men, promising tbem, in 
 the name of Parliament, to furnish arms, tents, and provisions for such 
 levies, and also to reimburse the several colonies all the money they 
 should expend in raising and clothing these troops. A large naval arma- 
 ment for American waters was placed under the command of Admiral 
 Boscawen, and twelve thousand British troops were allotted for service in 
 America. This liberal policy had a magical effect. New England alone 
 raised fifteen thousand of the required levies ; j^ew York furnished about 
 three thousand ; Xew Jersey, one thousand ; Pennsylvania, three 
 thousand, and Virginia two thousand. 
 
 The scheme for the campaign of 1758 was extensive in its intended 
 operations. Shirley's plan of 1756 was revived and its general outlines 
 •were adopted. The chief points of assault were designated — Louisburg, 
 Ticonderoga, and Duquesne. Twelve thousand men mider General 
 Amherst were to attack Louisburg, and ]30ssibly Quebec. Another 
 army was to lie led from Albany by Abercrombie and young Lord 
 Howe to attack Ticonderoga, and General Joseph Forbes was ap- 
 pointed to lead another army over the Alleghany Moimtains to attack 
 Fort Duquesne. 
 
 Louisburg received the first blow. Boscawen with forty armed vessels, 
 bearing Amherst with a land force of twelve thousand men, and having 
 General Wolfe as his lieutenant, left Halifax at near the close of May, 
 and on June 8th the troops landed near Louisburg. The French, after 
 a vigorous resistance of about fifty days, surrendered the fort and city 
 and the islands of Cape Breton and Prince Edward to the Britisli. 
 When Louisburg fell the French dominion in America began to wane, 
 and from that time its decline was rapid. 
 
 While Amherst and AV^olfe were conquering in the east, Al)ercrombie 
 and young Lord Howe were leading seven thousand regulars, nine thou- 
 sand provincials, and a large train of artillery against Ticonderoga, then 
 occupied by Montcalm with about four thousand soldiers. Howe was 
 " the soul of the expedition." He was a '' Lycurgus of the camp," 
 
1T4 TlIK K.Ml'IlJl-: STATK. 
 
 introdncing stern rules and radical reforms, and adapting everj'thing to 
 the aliisolutc needs of the service. 
 
 Tlirougji tiie activity of ("olonel .lolin Bradstreet,* ably assisted by 
 Maj(jr riiilip Schnyler, bateaux for carrying troops over Lake George 
 were roady by the time tlie necessary stores arrived from England, and 
 before tlio cud of June Howe led the first division of the troops to the 
 head of tlie lake. Al)ercronil)ie arrived tlii^re witli the remainder at the 
 licginning of July. The jirovincial troop.s were chiefly from Xew Eng- 
 land and New York. Among the ottieers were Captains Stark, of Xew 
 Hampshire, and Putnam, of Connecticnt. 
 
 The whole armament went down the lake on a beautiful Sabliatli after- 
 noon (July oth, 175S), led by Lord Jlowe in a large boat, and landed at 
 
 SIGNATCUE OP .lOlIN ISUADSTKKKT. 
 
 dawn the next morning at its northern extremity between four and tive 
 miles from Fort Ticoiuleroga. Tlie occupants of a French outpost there 
 fled. The first intimation they had of the proximity of an enemy was 
 the blaze of the scarlet uniforms of the British in the morning sun. 
 
 The country between the lake and Ticonderoga was covei"ed with a 
 dense forest and tangled morasses. The British immediately pressed 
 forward, Lord TIowo leading the advanced guard. Following incom- 
 petent guides, they Itecaiue bewildered, and while in that condition they 
 suddenly encountered a French scouting party. A sharp skirmish 
 ensued, and the French troops were defeated ; but Lord Ilowe was slain 
 in the first fire. lie was pierced by a bullet and expired immediately. 
 
 * Jolin Bredstrect was Iwrn in 1711 : rtiwl in the city of New York September 35th, 
 1774. lie was n licnlenant-colonel of PcpiJerell's provincial regiment at the siege of 
 liOnisburg in 1745, and in the autumn was connnissioncd caiitain in n regular regiment. 
 In 1746 he was ap|Miinlcd Lieulenanl-Govcrnor of St. John's, Newfoundhuid. He was 
 General Shirley's adjutant at Oswego in 17."m, and in 17.">fi conveyed supplies to that post 
 through great ]XTils. He wa.s quarterma.«ter-general of the provincial forces under 
 General .Vl)crcromliie. and after the repulse at Ticonderoga led a successful expedition 
 against Fort Frontenac. He was an efhcicnt officer under Amherst in I'l'til. was commis- 
 sioned colonel in 17(i2, major-general in 1764, and commanded an expedition against the 
 "Western Indians, and negotiated a treaty of peace. 
 
ATTACK AND UKPULSE AT TICONDEROaA. 
 
 LI'S 
 
 war to Ticoiideroira tlio next dav. 
 
 His followers, disinayed, retreated in wild confusion to the landiiig-placfe 
 and bivouacked for tlie night.* 
 
 Ahercroinhie advanced about half 
 and sent his chief engineer, with 
 some rangers under Captain Stark, 
 to reconnoitre the French works. 
 The engineer reported tiie works 
 very weak. Stark, instrui^tcd by his 
 ])ractised eye, declared they were 
 very strong. Abcrcrondiit', witJi his 
 usual contempt for ])rovincials, re- 
 jected Stark's testimony, and on the 
 morning of the Sth, having been 
 joineil by Sir William .Johnson with 
 more than four hundred Indians, lie 
 ordered his men forward to scale the 
 l)reastworks of the French lines, 
 while he, like a coward, remained 
 behind. 
 
 The assailants soon found that 
 
 i.oui) IH)\VK. 
 
 Stark was right. The breastworks were strong, and after 
 
 a most 
 
 sanguinary struggle for about four hours the British were repulsed with 
 fearful loss. They fled with precijiitation back to Lake George,' leaving 
 almost two tliousand of their comrades dead or wounded in the forest. 
 Abercronibic had preceded them in their flight, in " extremest fright ;" 
 and all hurried to their old camp at tlie liead of the lake. Abercrondjie 
 felt safer when he had put that little sea, thirty-eight miles in length, 
 between himself and ^lontcalni. 
 
 Colonel Bradstreet, burning witii indignation because of the sliameful 
 defeat, urged ujion a council of war held at the head of the lake the 
 importance of capturing Fort Frontenac, and offered to lead an expe- 
 dition against it. After much hesitation Abercroinbie connnissioned 
 him to undertake the enterprise with three thousand men. Bradstreet 
 hastened with them to Albany, M'here he M'as joined by ]\Iajor Philip 
 
 * George, Lord- Viscount Howe, was the eldest son of Sir E. Scrope, .second Viscount 
 Howe of Ireland. He commanded five thousand British troops wlio arrived at Halifax 
 in 1757, and tlie next year, iis we have observed in tlie text, he accompanied Abercrombie 
 on his expedition au'ainst Ticonderoga. He was tlie idol of his soldiers. .Mante 
 observes : " With him the soul of \\w army seemed to expire." He wasthirty-fourycars 
 of age at his death. The General Court of Massaclni.setts Bay appropriated $1250 for the 
 erection of a monument to his memory in Westminster Ablwy. 
 
irc 
 
 THE K.Ml'lKK STATK. 
 
 Sclniyler, and then " almost flew" up tlie vallcv of the ^loliawk and on 
 to Oswego. Schuyler and some men had reached that i)ost earlier and 
 prepared vessels wherewith to cross the lake with men, cannons, and 
 stores. The expedition landed near Frontenac on the evening of August 
 'J5th. The French were taken completely by surprise. The fort 
 mounted si.xty cannons, but the garrison was very small. The com- 
 mander sent to Montreal for aid, but before it could reach him he was 
 compelled to surrender tlie fort and its dependencies, with immense 
 spoil, particidarly in .^^t ores destined for Fort Ducpiesne ; also nine armed 
 vessels carrying from eight to eighteen guns each. 
 
 The capture of Frontenac, the re- 
 sult of a brilliant expedition, was 
 one of the most important events of 
 the war. It facilitated the fall of 
 DiKpiesne, discouraged tiie Fi'encli, 
 gave joy to the Fnglish, and re- 
 tlccted honor on tlie jirovincials. 
 It raised a cry for peace throughout 
 Canada, the resources of which were 
 almost exhausted. " I am not 
 discouraged," wrote Montcalm, in 
 evident disappointment, " nor are 
 my troops. We are resolved to 
 find our graves under the I'uins of 
 the colony." * 
 
 The expedition against Fort 
 T)u<piesne, led l)y General Forbes, 
 was finally successful in spite of 
 Iiini. Tie set out with al)out six 
 thousand men in July. He was 
 Ih-itish officer ; perverse in will and 
 judgment, and indecisive in action. Sickness and inefficiency and a 
 persistence in coustnicting a new military road over the mountains pro- 
 
 * Bradstrc'C't lost only four or five- men before the ciii)ture of Froiitenao. Then a fearful 
 sickness — dysentery — broke out among liis troops, and tive hundred of them were swept 
 away. With the remainder he slowly retraced his steps, and ou the Mohawk River, at 
 the site of the (present) village of Rome, his troops assisted in Imilding Fort Stanwi.x 
 under the direction of General Stanwi.x. 
 
 f The ix'nandink skelch above given was made from a i)liolngraph of the original 
 study made by Charles Willson Peale for his threcciuarlcr length portrait of Washington 
 in the uniform of a Virginia colonel. It wjus made at Mount Vernon in 1772, when 
 Colonel Washington was forty years of age. 
 
 
 COLONEL OEOKUL: WASUINGTON.f 
 
 a Scotchn 
 
 md 
 
 regular' 
 
FORT DUQUESNE TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH, 177 
 
 duced such almost iriterminable delays that on November 1st the army 
 M'as fifty miles from Fort Duquesne. At length the impatient Colonel 
 Washington was sent forward with a detachment of Virginians, and very 
 soon accomplished the object of the expedition. Indian scouts employed 
 by the French discovered Washington's approach, and their report so 
 greatly exaggerated tlie number of his men that the frightened garrison, 
 iive hundred strong, set fire to the fort in the evening (November 24th, 
 1758) and fled in confusion down the Ohio in boats by the light of the 
 flames, leaving everything behind them. The Virginians took possession 
 of the fort the next day, and the name of Fort rhTipiesne was changed 
 to Fort Pitt in iionor of the British Prime-Minister. 
 
 With the close of this expedition ended the campaign of 1758. It had, 
 on the whole, resulted favorably to Great Britain, and Pitt made vast 
 preparations for the campaign of the next year. The attachment of 
 some of the Indian allies of the French had been much weakened, and 
 at a great council held at Easton, in Pennsylvania, in the summer of 
 1758, six tribes had, with the Six Nations,- made treaties of friendship 
 und neutrality with the English. 
 
178 THE KMl'IIJK STATE. 
 
 CHAPTKi: XIII. 
 
 Till-; Hiial strufffjle between tlio I'"ruiicli ami Eiiirlisli fm- masterv in 
 Jvortli America was now at hand. I'itt, with wonderful sagacity and 
 witli as wonderful kno\vled<;;e of the theatre of conflict in America, con- 
 ceis'ed a magnificent plan for tiie conquest of Canada and tlie destruction, 
 at one blow, of the Frencli dominion beyond the Atlantic. That 
 dominion now did not really extend beyond the region of the St. Law- 
 rence, for the settlements or stations in the far west and south were like 
 distant, isolated, and weak colonies cut off from the parent country. 
 The French in America were then comparatively few in number and 
 weak in supplies of every kind. Montcalm was then chief military com- 
 mander ; but in all Canada lie could not muster seven thousand men into 
 active service, and very few Indians. 
 
 I'itt had the rare good fortune to possess the confidence of Parliament 
 and the English- American colonies. The former wei'c; da/./.led by his 
 greatness, the latter were impressed with his jnsticL'. lie had promptly 
 reimbursed the expenses of the colonists in raising and clothing troops, a 
 sum amounting to at least si, 000, 000 ; and they cordially seconded his 
 scheme of conquest, which had been communicated to their chief men 
 under an oath of secrecy. The Parliament voted S^5*'>00U,0UU for the 
 American service, and forces by land and sea such as had never before 
 been known in England. " This is Pitt's work," said the Earl of 
 Chesterfield, " and it is marvellous in our eyes !" The inefficient Aber- 
 crombie was superseded in the chief command in America by Sir 
 Jeffrey Amherst,* with General James Wolfe as his lieutenant. 
 
 The plan of operations was simple. General Wolfe, with a strong 
 
 * Sir Jeffrey Amherst was born in Kent, England, January 29lli, 1717 ; died August 
 3d, 1797. He entered the royal army as ensign in 1731, and wi\s aide to Lord Ligonier 
 and the Duke of Cumberland. He was promoted to major-general in 1756, and was in 
 chief command of the English forces sent against Louisburg in 1758. In September 
 that year he was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in America, and led 
 the troops that drove the French from Lake Champlain in 1759. The next year he 
 captured Montreal and comjihted the conquest of Canada. For these acts he was 
 rewarded with thanks and knighthood. In 1763 he was appointc<i Oovernor of Virginia. 
 In 1771 he was Governor of Guernsey, and was created a baron in 177(i. He was com- 
 mander-in-chief of the British forces from 177S until 1795, and was created a field-marshal 
 in 1796. 
 
^riLITAKY PREPARATIONS. 
 
 179 
 
 SIR JEFFREY AMHERST. 
 
 land force and a ■well-manned fleet Tinder Admiral Saunders, was to 
 ascend the St. Lawrence River and attack Quebec. Another force 
 under General Amherst was to drive the French from Lake Champlain, 
 seize Montreal, and join Wolfe at 
 Qxiebee ; while a third expedition, 
 led by General Prideaux, was to 
 attempt the capture of Fort Niag- 
 ara, and, if successful, to go down 
 Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence 
 to Montreal. 
 
 When, at the close of summer 
 (1758), Amherst, at Cape Breton, 
 heard of the disaster at Ticon- 
 deroga he sailed for Boston with 
 four regiments and a battalion, and 
 made a forced march across New 
 Enaland to Albanv to re-enforce 
 the defeated Abercrombie. He 
 arrived at Lake George early in 
 October, but too late for further 
 action in the field that season. 
 
 He went to Xew York, and in November he received his commission as 
 commander-in-chief. Ke spent the winter in New York City making 
 preparations for the next campaign. In the spring he made his head- 
 quarters at Albany ; appointed Colonel Bradstreet quartermaster-general 
 of his anny ; collected his forces, and at the close of May found himself 
 at the head of twelve thousand men, chiefly of New York and New 
 Eiiffland. The Assembly of New York had authorized the emission of 
 half a million dollars in bills of credit, and a loan to the crown of a large 
 sum, to be reimbursed before the close of the year. 
 
 Prideaux collected his forces, chiefly f)rovincials, at Oswego. From 
 that point, accompanied by Sir William Johnson and some Mohawks, he 
 sailed for Niagara, and landed there without much opposition on Jnlj 
 loth. A siege was immediately begun, and on the same day Prideaux 
 was killed by the bursting of one of his cannons, when Johnson assumed 
 the chief command. He demanded the surrender of the fort. The com- 
 mander was in hourly expectation of re-enforcements and refused com- 
 pliance, and for several days the garrison made a Iirave resistance. 
 
 On the 24th about fifteen hundred French regulars and many Creek 
 and Cherokee warriors, drawn from Detroit and elsewhere, appeared, 
 commanded by Colonel D' Aubrey, when a sharp battle ensued. The 
 
ISO THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 French ami tlicir allies were soon effectually' routed and dispersed. The 
 next dav {.]\\\v Soth) the fort and its dependencies were surrendered to 
 the British. The French dominion in that region was fairly annihilated, 
 and the connecting link of military power between Canada and Louisiana 
 was broken never to be restored. Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey 
 wrote to tlie Lords of Trade : " His ]\[ajesty is now in possession of the 
 most important pass in all the Indian countries.'" 
 
 Johnson was so encumbered with prisoners that he could not provide 
 a sufficiency of vessels to convey hiiu and his troops, with the captives, 
 to Jlontreal, so he garrisoned Fort Niagara and returned to Albany. 
 
 Late in June Amherst was at the head of Lake George with about 
 twelve thousand troops, regulars and provincials in ecpial numbers ; and 
 on July 22d he appeared before the lines at Ticondcroga with about 
 eleven thousand uien. The French, conscious of their own weakness 
 and peril, lied down the lake to Crown Point, and almost immediately 
 abandoned that post also and took a longer flight, halting at Isle aux 
 Xoix, at the foot of the lake, or rather in the Sorel River, its outlet. 
 Amheret took possession of Crown Point without opposition, and was 
 about to follow the French with a detachment of his army, when he was 
 informed that tlie allies were tliree thousand strong and that the lake was 
 guarded by four vessels carrying heavy guns numerously manned, under 
 the command of a skilful French naval officer. 
 
 Andierst paused, and ordered the construction of several vessels of war 
 at Crown Point. L'pon these he embarked his whole army at the middle 
 of October, for the purpose of driving the French beyond the St. Law- 
 rence. Heavy tempests drove him back to Crown Point, where he went 
 into winter quarters, and then set his troops at work in the construction 
 of a strong and costly fort, the picturcscpie ruins of which are seen by 
 tourists on Lake Champhun. The fort and its appurtenances cost the 
 British Government several million doUare. It remained in their pos- 
 session until 1775. 
 
 Meanwhile a more successful expedition was consummated. Tiic fleet 
 of Admiral Saunders, consisting of twenty-two line-of-battle ships, many 
 frigates and smaller vessels, bore General Wolfe and eight thousand 
 troops up the St. Lawrence River in June (1759). These landed on the 
 Island of Orleans, a few miles below Quebec, on the 27th. 
 
 Quebec, then as now, consisted of an Upper and Lower Town, the 
 former being surrounded by a strongly fortified wall jiierced by five 
 gates. An elevated plateau three hundred feet above the river and 
 extending from the rear of the city some distance up the St. Lawrence 
 is called the Plains of Abraham, a locality made famous in history by 
 
THE ENGLISH BESIEGE QUEBEC. ISI 
 
 tlie events of this expedition. At the junction of the St. Charles Eiver 
 witii tlie St. Lawrence, at the foot of tlie rocky promontory on which 
 Hes the Upper Town, tlie Frencli had armed vessels and floating liat- 
 teries. The city was strongly garrisoned by French regulars, and along 
 the river from Quebec to the Montmorenci River, a distance of seven 
 miles, lay the army of Montcalm, consisting chiefly of Canadians and 
 Indians, in an intrenched camp.'''" 
 
 With amazing skill and vigor Wolfe prepared for the siege of Quebec, 
 lie took possession of Point Levi, nearly opposite the city, a mile 
 distant, on July 30t!i, where he erected batteries and whence he hurled 
 blazing bombshells upon the Lower Town, setting on fire fifty houses in 
 one night. The citadel was be^'ond their reach. The French sent down 
 tire-rafts to burn the Britisli fleet anchored below, but without success. 
 
 Wolfe, eager to gain a victory speedily, had landed a large force 
 (July loth, 1759) under Generals Townshend and Murray below the 
 Montmorenci, and formed a camp there. Wolfe was in possession of the 
 river, but the large fleet could do little more than reconnoitre, trans- 
 port troops, and guard the channels. It seemed impossible to force 
 a passage across the Montmorenci above the cataract. The only way was 
 to cross it at its mouth at low tide. 
 
 Finally, at near the close of July, General Monckton, with grenadiers 
 and other troops, was sent over from Point Levi, and lauded on the 
 beach above the mouth of the Montmorenci. Without waiting for troops 
 from the British camp below to join him, Monckton, with his grenadiers, 
 rushed up the steep acclivity to attack Montcalm's lines, when they were 
 driven back to the l)cach, while a fierce thunder-storm was raging. Dark- 
 ness came on. The roar of the rising tide admonished them to take to 
 their boats, which they did, but with a loss of nearly five hundred of 
 their comrades, wlio had perished. 
 
 Wolfe sent Murray above the town witli twelve hundred men to de- 
 stroy French ships there, and to open the way for Andierst. But alas ! 
 Andierst did not come. Murray heard of the fall of Fort Niagara and 
 of the expedition of the French from Lake Champlain, but received no 
 direct tidings from Amherst. 
 
 Two months had passed away since the landing on Orleans, and yet 
 no important advance had been made. In vain Wolfe listened for the 
 drums of Amherst. Not even a message came from him, for reasons 
 already given. Exposure, anxiety, and fatigue prostrated the commander 
 
 * Montcalm had his headquarters in a stone building not far from Beauport Mills It 
 commanded a view of Quel)ue and its immediate vicinity. 
 
18-,' Tin: i:mi'ikk state. 
 
 ciirl.v ill Septeinber. lie called a council of war at liis bedside, wIich it 
 was deteniiiued to scale the Ileijjlits of Ahraliaiu and assail the city in 
 the rear. Feeble as he was, Wolfe resolved to lead the attack in j)crsi)n. 
 The camp at the Montinorenci wa.s broken up (September 8th), and the 
 r.ttentioii of Montcalm was diverted from the real desii^ns of the Britisli 
 by seeming preparations to attack his lines. The allair was managed so 
 secretly and skilfully that even De Bougainville, a French officer with 
 fifteen hundred men wiio had been sent up the river to watch the 
 movements of the British, did not suspect their design. 
 
 On the evening of the 12th the whole army destined for the assault 
 moved up the river from Point Levi in transports, several leagues 
 above the chosen landing-place. At midnight they left the ships, and 
 embarking in flat-boats, floated noiselessly down the stream with the ebb- 
 ing tide.* Black clouds obscured the sky, but the voyagers reached 
 their destination in good order, and landed without being discovered. 
 The place where they disembarked is still kiiuv.-n as Wolfe's Cove. 
 They at once clambered up tlie tangled ravine that led to the Plains of 
 Abraham, and at dawn on tiie loth about five thousand P>ritisli troops 
 stood upon tiie heights, a fearful ap])arition to the French sentinels and 
 the sergeants' guard at the l)row of the acclivity, who, in hot haste, 
 carried the alarming news first to the garrison in Quebec and then to 
 Montcalm at Beauport, beyond the St. Charles River. " It can only be 
 a small party come to burn a few houses and return," .said the incredu- 
 lous commander. 
 
 Montcalm was soon undeceived. Uc immediately sent orders for De 
 Levi and De Bougainville to return with their troops. Abandoning his in- 
 trenchments, he led a greater portion of his army across the St. Charles, 
 and at ten o'clock in the morning tiiey stood in battle array on the Plains 
 
 * Wolff; appparcd to be in good spirits, yet there was evidently a liroodinj? sliadow of 
 SI preseutiiueiil of evil. At the evening mess he sang the liltlu campaigu soug beginning, 
 
 " Why, Boldicrs, why 
 
 ShniiUl we be inela)ich<)]y boys ? 
 
 Why, soldiers, why, 
 Whose businem^ 'tU to die," etc. 
 
 And lis he sat among his oRieors and floated softly down llie river in tlic gloom, ho re- 
 peated, ill his ninsing tones, that stanza from Gray's "Elegy in a Connlry ( luiieh- 
 yard" — 
 
 " The Iwmst ot heriildry. the pomp of intwer. 
 
 And till Ihat beauty, all that wealth e'er save, 
 Await alllie th' inevitable hour — 
 The path of glory leads but to the grave." 
 
 At the close lie said, " Xow, gentlemen, I would prefer being the author of that ]>oeni 
 to the glorv of lieating the Freneh to-morrow." 
 
DEATH OF WOLFK AND MONTCALM. 183 
 
 of Abraham, near the town. Both parties lackeil heavy guns. Tlie 
 Freiicli hail three tield-pieces, the Englisli only one — a light six- 
 pounder which some sailors had dragged up the ravine. The two com- 
 manders, at the head of their respective troops, faced each other. 
 
 A general, fierce, and sanguinary battle now ensued. The British 
 muskets were double-shotted, and the soldiers reserved their fire until 
 within forty yards of their foes, when they poured upon the French 
 such destructive volleys that the latter were thrown into utter confusion. 
 The terrible Englisli bayonet completed the work and secured the vic- 
 tory. Wolfe and Montcalm had both been mortally wounded. Wolfe, 
 leaning on the shoulder of an officer, M-as borne to the rear. Ilis car 
 caught the exclamation, " See ! tliey run ! they run !" 
 
 '■ Who runs V asked the dying hero in a whisper. 
 
 "The enemy, sir; they give way everywhere!" was the reply. 
 Wolfe then gave an order to cut off their retreat, and then said, in an 
 almost inaudible whisper : 
 
 " Now, God be praised, I die liapjiy I" and expired. 
 
 Montcalm's surgeon said to his wounded general, '" Death is certain." 
 
 " I am glad of it," said the marquis. '• How long have I to live ?" 
 
 " Ten or twelve hours ; perhaj^s less." 
 
 " So much the better ; I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec !" 
 
 About seventy years after this event an English governor of Canada 
 caused a modest granite column to be erected on the spot where Wolfe fell, 
 with the inscription, "Here died Wolfe, victorious September 13th, 
 1759." In its place now stands a beautiful Doric column of granite dedi- 
 cated to the memory of both AVolfe and Montcalm. It also bears the former 
 inscription. It was erected by the British army in Canada in ISiO. 
 
 General Townshend assumed the command of the British army, and 
 five days after the l)attle he received tlie formal surrender of the city of 
 Quel)ec. The remainder of Montcalm's army, under De Levi, fied to 
 Montreal. So, brilliantly for the English, ended the campaign of 1759. 
 1 et Canada was not conquered. Five thousand troops under General 
 Murray took possession of the great prize. The fleet, with French 
 prisoners, sailed for Halifax. 
 
 Tiie final struggle for the mastery in Canada was begun early in the 
 spring of 1760, when Vaudreuil, the governor-general, sent De Levi, 
 with ten thousand regulars, Canadians, and Indians in six frigates to 
 attempt the recovery of Quebec. De Levi appeared before the city at 
 the close of March, when the brave Murray went out with his whole 
 force — less than three thousand — to attack him. At Sillery, three miles 
 above Quebec, one of the most sanguinary battles of the war was fought. 
 
184 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Murray was defeated. He lost all his artillery and a thoni=and men, 
 but managed to get back into the city with the remainder. De Levi 
 then begun a siege, and Murray's condition was becoming desperate 
 when a British squadron, with re-enforcemcnts and supplies, appeared. 
 Supposing it to be the whole British fleet, De Levi withdrew and fled 
 to Montreal, after losing most of his shipping. Vaudreuil gathered all 
 his forces at ^Vfontreal, the lyst strongiiold of French dominion in 
 America. Andierst spent the wliole summer in preparations for an 
 attack upon that v.hy. Ilis movements M'erc slow but sure. With 
 almost ten thousand men and one thousand Indians under Sir William 
 Johnson he proceeded to Oswego, crossed Lake Ontario, went down 
 the St. Lawrence, and appeared before Montreal on September (ith. 
 He had captured Fort Presentation, at the mouth of the Oswegatchie 
 River (now Ogdensburg), on liis way. Murray arrived from Quebec at 
 noon the same day with four thousand troops, and before niglit Colonel 
 Ilaviland, wlio liad proceeded from Crown Point and had driven the 
 French from Isle aux Noix, arrived there with three thousand men. 
 
 Surrounded by almost seventeen tliousand foes, Vaudreuil at once 
 capitulated, and on the 8th Montreal and all Canada passed into 
 the possession of the British crown. General Gage was apjiointed 
 governor-general at Montreal, and ]\lurray, with his four thousand 
 troops, garrisoned Quebec. Fort Detroit was yet in possession of 
 tlie French. Major Robert Rogers* was sent with some rangers 
 
 * Robert Kogers, a famous partisan soldier in tho French and Indian War. was born at 
 Duniliartou, N. II., about 1730, and died in England in 17!S0. His fatlier was from 
 Irelanil, and an early settler of Dumbarton. Hobcrt w;is in command of a corps of 
 ranirers during the French and Indian War. and did gallant service. In 1758 he fought 
 a bloody battle with the French and their Indian allies in Northern Xew York. He had 
 170 men ; the French, 700, including (iUO Indians. After losing 130 men he retreated, 
 leaving 150 of his enemies dead on the field. In 1759 General Amherst .sent him to de- 
 stroy the Indian village of St. Francis, which lie did, killing 200 of the barbarians. In 
 1760 he wa-s .sent lo take possession of Detroit and other Western fort-s ceded to Great 
 Britain. It was done. Then he went to England, and in 1765 was api)ointed governor 
 of Mackinaw. Accused of treasonable designs, lie was .sent to Montreal in irons, tried 
 by a court-martial, and w;is acquitted. In 1769 he again went to England, and was 
 graciously received by the king. Kecoming linancially embarrassed, he went to Algiers, 
 where he fought two battles for the Dey. He rettn-ned to America, and at the oiwning 
 of the war for independence his course was so suspicious that he was arrested by order of 
 Congress, and released on parole. In 1776 Wa.shington, suspecting him of iK-iiig a spy, 
 arrested him. Congress soon released him, when he openly took up arms for the crown, 
 and raised a corp of Loyalists, which he called the " Queen's Rangers." lie soon went 
 to England, leaving them in command of IJeutenant-Colonel Simcoe, under whom they 
 became a famous partisiin corps. In 1776 JIajor Rogers published, in London, "' .Journals 
 of the French War. ' ' 
 
WORK OF THE ENGLISH-AMERICAN COLONISTS. 
 
 185 
 
 to take possession of it, wliicli was accomplished at the close of 
 November. 
 
 This conquest and the treaty signed at Paris early in ITi);-! deprived 
 France of all her territorial posses- 
 sions in North America. Great Britain 
 soon became the sole po.ssessor of the 
 Continent from the Gulf of Mexico 
 to the Arctic seas and from ocean to 
 ocean, but at a cost during her sev- 
 eral struggles of fully 8500,000,000 
 and many thousand precious lives. 
 
 During many long and gloomy 
 years the colonists had struggled up, 
 unaided and alone, from feebleness to 
 strength. They had erected forts, 
 raised armies, and fought battles cheer- 
 fully for England's glory and their 
 own preservation without England's 
 aid and often without her sympathy.* 
 During the French and Indian War, 
 the turmoil of which in America 
 was now ended, did they cheerfully 
 tax themselves and contribute men, 
 money, and provisions. They lost 
 during that war 2.5,000 robust men on 
 land, and many seamen. That war 
 cost the colonists, in the aggregate, 
 fully 820,000,000, besides the flower 
 
 of their youths ; and in return Parliament granted them, at diiferent 
 times during the contest, only about 85,500,000. And yet the British 
 Ministry, in 1760, while the colonists were so generously supporting 
 the power and dignity of the realm, regarded them as mere servile sub- 
 jects to the king, and imposed a tax upon them to replenish the exhausted 
 British Treasxiry. 
 
 A dangerous movement, known as " Pontiac's Conspiracy," immedi- 
 ately followed the war — a conspiracy planned by Pontiac, a powerful, 
 
 MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS. 
 
 (From a print published in London in 1776.) 
 
 * When, on the floor of the British House of Commons, Charles Townsheud, speaking 
 of the English- American colonists, said : " They have been planted by our care, nourished 
 by our indulgence, and protected by our arms," Colonel Barre retorted : "No ; your 
 oppression planted them in America ; they grew by your neglect ; and they have nobly 
 taken up arms in your dtfence." 
 
18G Tin: i:.MI'II!F. STATE. 
 
 say.icious, and aiiiliitions Ottowa chief, wiio eucccefled in confederatin<j 
 several Ali;on(iiiiii triiies for tlie purpose of crusliiug tlic ncwly-ac(piired 
 British i)0\ver westward of tlio Niaj^ara liiver.* It was an echo of the 
 French and Indian "War. It was ripe hefore its growtli was even sus- 
 pected. Witliin a fortiiiglit, in tiie sninnier of 1T<)3, all military posts in 
 possession of tlie liritish west of Oswego to Lake ^lichigan fell into the 
 possession of Pontiac hy treachery or surprise, excepting Forts ^Niagara, 
 Pitt, and Detroit. Tiie conspiracy was soon subdued, and the power of 
 the hostile tribes was broken. Pontiae; would nut yield, but took refuge 
 in the country of the Illinois, where he was treacherously nnirdered by 
 one of his own race. 
 
 Licntenant-( Governor DeLaiiccy managed the civil affairs of the province 
 of Kew York with wisdom and energy fro(n the death of Sir Dan vers 
 O.sborne, in ITJS, until his own sudden death from apoplexy in the 
 summer of lTGO,t a period of about seven years. As we have observed, 
 Sir Charles Hardy, a naval officer, came to New York as governor in 
 iToo, but, more incompetent than Clinton as a civil ruler, he was com- 
 pletely dominated by De Lancey. He received his salary, and allowed the 
 lieutenant-governor to hold the helm of the ship of State. Sir Ciiarles 
 left the jirovince in the summer of 1757, when lie hoisted his flag over 
 a naval vessel in the harbor of New York as Hear- Admiral of the Blue, 
 and took command in the expedition against Louisbnrg. lie never re- 
 turned to the executive chair. 
 
 During the administration of De Lancey important social movements 
 had occurred in the city of New York. Allusion has been made to the 
 
 * In April, 176.3, Poutiac called a, council near Detroit of rcpiesentalives of many 
 Xorth-AVestern trilx's, and the Seuecas of Western New York. Tliat council presented a 
 iray scene. Tlie chiefs were attended by their families, dressed in their fraudiest app.irel. 
 Tliey gathered in groups to fea.st, smoke, gamble, and tell stories ; many of them were 
 iK'dizened with feathers, beads, and oilier tokens of pride — "young maidens," says 
 I'arkman, " radiant with bear's oil and ruddy with vermilion, and versed in all the arts 
 of forest coquetry. " The gra>'e men were seated on the ground in council in con.secutivc 
 rows, and after the jape had gone round from hand to hand, Pontiac, painted and 
 plumed, arose and delivered an impjissioned speech. He displayed in one band a broad 
 lielt of wampum, and assured his hearers that it came from llie Fiencli, who would .soon 
 come with ships and armies to reconquer Canada. 
 
 f De Lancey was found by one of his cliiklren, on the morning of .July 'MHh. ITIiO, 
 dying, in his chair, in his study, in which he had jirobably .sat all night, as he fieciuently 
 did, on account of chronic asthma. lie had dined the day before, with a number of lead- 
 ing men t)f the jirovince, on Stalen Island, where he indulged, as was common on such 
 occasions, in excessive eating and drinking. He returned to his home in the Bowery in 
 the evening and retired to his study, from which he never emerged alive. There was an 
 ostentatious funeral. Hi.s body was buried beneath the middle aisle of Trinity Churdi, 
 the Kev. >Ir. Barclay conducting the funeral services. 
 
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IX NEW YORK. 
 
 187 
 
 \ 
 
 neglect of intellectiuil cultivation in tlie province. Leading men liad 
 
 loiiiT de[)lored this state of things, and perceived the danger to society 
 
 whicli might be evolved \>y such 
 
 neglect as population and wealth 
 
 increased. Finally, in 1754, Dr. 
 
 Oadwallader Golden,* James de 
 
 Lancey, Pliilip Livingston, Peter 
 
 Schuyler, Abraham de Peyster, 
 
 Frederick Pliilip.se, "William 
 
 Smith, and others founded the 
 
 Kew York Society Library, now 
 
 one of the noblest of the literary 
 
 institutions of the city. A neg- 
 lected germ of sucli an institution 
 
 had existed about fifty years. The 
 
 chaplain of Governor Bellomont 
 
 (Jacob Sharp) gave to the city, in 
 
 IT'lO, a collection of books to which 
 
 was afterward added many more 
 
 by the Rev. John Millington, of 
 
 England. It formed the Corporation Library ; but the books were 
 
 neglected and nearly forgotten. "When the Society Library was formed, 
 
 these books were added to it. 
 
 At the same period an effectual movement was made for the foun- 
 dation of a college in the 
 city of Xew York. There 
 were then few collegians 
 
 .- , - . _ ^^^ ^ in the province. For 
 
 V / ^ — many years Mr. De Lan- 
 
 siGNATruE OK TADWALLADER coLDEx. ccy and Williaui Smith, 
 
 the elder, were the only 
 
 "academics," excepting those in holy orders; and at the time in 
 
 question there wei'e only thirteen others, the youngest of whom had his 
 
 CAUWALLAUEK COLDEX. 
 
 ^^. 
 
 * Cadwallader Colden was a physician and a native of Scotland, where he wa.s born 
 in 1688. He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1T08, returned to Scotland, and came back to 
 America in ITlli. Two years later he made the pro\iuce of Xew York his residence at 
 tlie request of Governor Hunter, and was appointed surveyor-general of the colony. In 
 1720 lie became a member of Governor Burnet's Council, and made his residence in 
 Orange County. He became lieutenant-governor of tlie province in 1761, whicli position 
 he occupied during tlie remainder of his life. He died on Long Island in 1770. Through- 
 out the troublous times prec(;diiig the Revohiliou, he managed public affairs with great 
 sjigacitv. 
 
188 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 bachelor's degree at tlio age of ses'enteen.* In 174(1 the Assembly 
 authorized a h)ttery to raise funds for the establishment of a college. 
 Nearly siidOd were thus raised. It was increased in lTi>-i, and King's 
 (nowColuml)ia) College was founded and chartered. 
 
 At that time sectarianism was rampant in the province, and there was 
 a bitter strife between the Episcopalians, or those of the Church of Eng- 
 land, and the Presbyterians, for the control of the college. The aristoc- 
 racy were generall}' members of the Episcopal Cluirch, and in tlie contest 
 for the control of the college they were victorious. Trinity Churcli 
 otTered a site for the college building on tlie condition that the president 
 should always be an Episcopalian, and tli;it tlie ])rayers of the CInirch 
 should always be used in it. Governor Do Lancey gave it a charter on 
 tliese conditions in IT.")-!, but there M-as a liljeral distribution of tlie trustee- 
 ship among other denominations. Tlev. William Samuel Johnson, D.D., 
 was appointed the first president. f 
 
 Xew York C'ity at that time had a population of about fourteen thou- 
 sand, and contained an Episcopal, a Presbyterian, and a French church, 
 two German Lutheran cliurches, a Quaker and an Anabaptist meeting- 
 house, a Jewish synagogue, and a iJoravian congregation. The Jews 
 were disfranchised, and the Moravians were persecuted as Jesuits in dis- 
 guise. 
 
 The sectarian controversy at that time was a consequence of a discov- 
 ered scheme of Dr. Seeker, Archbisliop of Canterbury, for the establish- 
 ment of Episcopacy in the colonies, largely for the purpose of curbing the 
 Puritan spirit in political and religious affairs. The throne and the 
 hierarchy were, in a sense, mutually dependent, and Dr. Seeker's propo- 
 sition was warmly supported by the British Cabinet. It was as warmly 
 opposed by the Dissenters and all independent thinkers in the colonies. 
 
 * These collegians were Peter van Brugli Livingston, John I^ivingston, Philip Living- 
 ston, AVillianj Livingston, "William Nicoll, Benjamin Xieoll, Henry Hansen, William 
 Peartrec Smith, Benjamin Woolsey, William Smith, Jr. (the historian), John McEvers, 
 mill .Tolin van Horner. 
 
 I William Samuel Johnson, D.I),, was born in Ouilford, Conn., in 1G96, and was sixty 
 years of age when he became piesident of King's College. He was a graduate of Yale 
 in 1714, and wjis a tutor there for a while. In 1730 he l)eeame a preacher at West Haven, 
 and went to England in 1722 to receive Episcopal ordination. He returned in 1723 with 
 the honor of the degree of M.,\., conferred at O.xford. He settled in Stratford, but was pir- 
 •sccuted l)v the other sects there. He left the place, and was absent several j-ears ; engaged 
 much in literary pursuits, preparing, among other usefid works, a Sj/stem of Jforality, 
 which Dr. Franklin published as a text-lwok for the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. 
 Johnson was a man of great learning. He resigned in 1763, and returned to Stratford 
 the same year. There, resuming the charge of his old jiarish, he lived until his death in 
 Januarv, 1772. 
 
AX AUlJlTRATiY ACT OF THE HOME GOVERNMENT. 189 
 
 TLe latter regarded the scheme as a weapon of coiitempLited tyranny. 
 Tiien was kindled the flame of desire in the hearts of a vast number of 
 English- Ameriuans to have 
 
 " A Church without a Bishop, 
 A Throne without a King," 
 
 •which burned so fiercely a few years later.* 
 
 Dr. Golden, the President of the Coaneil, and then seTontj'-three 
 years of age, became acting governor on the death of De Lancey, and soon 
 received the appointment of lieutenant-governor. He was continued in 
 that office about sixteen years, and, in consequence of the frequent ab- 
 sence of the governors, was repeatedly at the head of public affairs. 
 
 On the death of De Lancey the office of chief-justice became vacant. 
 Golden was urged to appoint an incumbent at once. Wishing to com- 
 pliment the Earl of Halifax, the Secretary of State for the colonies, 
 Golden asked him to nominate a candidate for chief-justice. To the 
 amazement and indignation of the Xew York Assembly and the people, 
 instead of a nom.inatioti there came an appoiiiiment to the office by the 
 king of a Boston lawyer named Pratt. He was not appointed, as formerly, 
 to hold the office '' during good behavior,'' but " at the pleastire of the 
 kino;.'' This was one of the first of the arbitrarv acts of vouno- George 
 III., who had just ascended the throne, which drove the colonies to re- 
 bellion. Indeed, the New York Assembly rebelled at that time. They 
 resolved that while judges held office by such a tenure, and were mere 
 instruments of the royal will, they would grant them no salaries. Golden 
 found himself in trouble at the very beginning. 
 
 The authorities of Jsew York had a long and serious quarrel with the 
 iidiabitants of the territory of the (present) State of Vermont at this 
 period. After the settlement of the boundary-line between New York 
 and Gonnecticut mentioned in a former chapter, the l^oundary be- 
 tween New York and Massachusetts was tacitly fixed on a line parallel 
 to that of the former, and permanently so in 1764. Governor Penning 
 Wentworth assumed that a line parallel to that of the western boundary 
 of Connecticut was the true boundary of his own province. Having 
 
 * The cliief conti'ovorsialist on the side of tlio Dissenters was William Livingston, 
 afterward Go\X'rnor of New Jersey, and then a young lawyer of much repute. He dealt 
 heavy blows against Episcopacj' and in favor of Presbyterianism in a weekly publieatiou 
 called the Indepemh'nt Reflector, first issued late in 17.52. He began his assaults on Epis- 
 copacy in 1T53 behind the veil of anonymitj'. His language was bold and defiant, but 
 dignified and unexceptionable. The influence of the civil authority, the Episcopal 
 clergy, and the aristocracy at length induced the printer to cease printing the Reflector, 
 and with its tifty-socond number (November, 1753) it was discontinued. 
 
190 THE KMPTRK STATK. 
 
 autliority to issue grants of unoccupied lands within liis province, lie gave 
 inanj' patents to settlers west of the Connecticut River. 
 
 The New York iuitlioritie.s, who had ac(juieseed in the boundaries of 
 Connecticut and iMassachusetts, now claimed territorial jurisdicticjn north 
 of Massachusetts, eastward to the Connecticut River, by virtue of the 
 original grant given to the Duke of York. Regardless of tliis claim, 
 "Wentworth i.ssued a patent for a township si.\ miles square, whicii was 
 named BenningtoJi. This brouglit the question of jurisdiction to an 
 issue. Xew York vehemently .isserted its claim ; Wentworth paid no 
 attention to it ; and wlien tiie French and Indian War broke out, he had 
 issued patents for fourteen townships west of the Connecticut River. 
 
 The dispute was renewed after the war, and when, in 17()3, Lieu- 
 tenant-(iovernor Colden sent a proclamation among tlie people in tliat 
 region declaring the Connecticut River to be the eastern boundary of 
 the i)rovince of Xew York, Wentwortli liad created one hundred and 
 thirty-eigiit townsliips tlie size of Bennington west of tlie Connecticut. 
 They occupied a greater portion of the area of the (present) State of Ver- 
 mont, and were called " Tlie Xew ITauipshire Grants"' from tliat time. 
 
 The authorities of X'ew York, inspired l)y grasping land speculators, 
 not content with asserting territorial jurisdiction, claimed the right of 
 property in t!ie soil of tliat territory, and declared Wentwortlf s patents 
 to settlers invalid. The crown continued these claims, and orders were 
 issued for the survey and sale of farms in the possession of settlers who 
 had paid for and improved them. This act of oppression was like sow- 
 ing dragons' teeth to see them produce a crop of armed men. The set- 
 tlers cared not who were their political masters so long as their private 
 rights were respected. But this act of injustice converted them into 
 rebelli(nis foes, determined and defiant. There appeared at once an op- 
 position not only of words, but of sinews and muskets, supi)orted by 
 indomitable courage and inflexible wills — the spirit of true English lib- 
 erty coming down to tliem through their Puritan ancestors. Foremost 
 among those wlio took a firm stand in opposition to the oppressors was 
 Ethan Allen, the boldest of the bold. 
 
 Finally the governor and Council of Xew York summoned all tlic 
 claimants under the grants of Xew Hampshire to appear before them at 
 Albany, with their deeds, on a certain day. Xo attention wa^ paid to the 
 summons. Y\'rits were issued for the ejectment of the settlers from 
 their estates, and surveyors were sent to resurvey tlie lands. This move- 
 ment brought on a crisis, and for several years the Xew Hampshire 
 grants formed a theatre where all the elements of civil war excepting 
 actual carnage were in exercise. ^Magistrates, police, and armed citi- 
 
THE XEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 191 
 
 zens were constantly vigilant, and when an officer of tlie Government or 
 of the land speculators of Xew York appeared he was seized and pun- 
 ished by whipping or other severity, and was driven out of the domain. 
 No legal process could be served, nor the sentence of any court estab- 
 lished there by Js^ew York be carried out. The settlers effectively 
 spurned the bribes and the threats of the Xew Yorkers. 
 
 The settlers sent an agent to London to lay their case before the 
 crown. He returned in 1767 with a royal order directing the govern- 
 ment of Xew York to suspend all proceedings against the people of the 
 '■ Grants ;" but very little attention was paid to the royal mandate. In 
 
 1770 the settlers appointed a Committee of Safety to manage public 
 affairs. They commissioned Ethan Allen colonel commandant, and in 
 
 1771 they passed a resolution that no officer from Xesv York should be 
 allowed to exercise any jurisdiction over the people of the " Grants" in 
 any capacity without permission from the committee. 
 
 In 1772 Governor Trvon attempted conciliation, but failed. Tlie 
 Legislature of Xew York passed a law that any offender against its 
 ant])ority on the '" Grants" who should not surrender on the order of 
 tlie governor within a specified time should be deemed guilty of a 
 felony and punished with death, "without benefit of clergy," such 
 culprit to be tried for the crime in the county of Albany. A reward 
 was offered for the apprehension of Allen and other leaders. 
 
 This harsh legislation did not alarm the settlers, and the struggle con- 
 tinued sharply until the beginning of the old war for independence. It 
 was kept up in a mild form during that war, and afterward until the 
 admission of Vermont into the Union, in 1791, a period of forty years. 
 The defenders of the rights of the people of the '' Grants" acquired the 
 name of " Green Mountain Boys." * Allen and other leaders, as well 
 as the '• rank and file,"' played a conspicuous part in the war for inde- 
 pendence. 
 
 The story of the conflict between the government of a powerful prov- 
 ince against a few settlers on disputed territory forms one of the most 
 interesting chapters in our national history. 
 
 * On account of the loftiest hills in that region being covered with verdure, the name 
 of YfTt iloiit — Green Mountain — was given to it. In the conflicts with the " Yorkers," 
 some of the settlers were driven from the Champlain slope into the mountains, from 
 which they issued for purposes of resistance, and were called " Green Mountain Boys," 
 
19a 
 
 Tin: K.Mi'iui-: state. 
 
 CilATTKU XIV. 
 
 On the iiiorning of Octol^er 25th, 1700, Prince George, heir-apparent 
 to the throne of Greiit Britain, and then abont twenty-three years of 
 a<'e, was riding on horseback near Kew Palace with his tutor tiie Earl 
 
 of Bute, when a messenger informed him tliat 
 his grandfather. King George II., liad been 
 found dead in a closet. Pitt called upon him 
 the next day at the palace of St. James and 
 presented him with a copy of an address to be 
 read to the Privy Council. Tiic minister was 
 ])olitely inft)rmed that a speech iiad already 
 been ])rcpared and every preliminary arranged. 
 Pitt j)erceived that the courtier, Bute, had 
 made the aiTangements, and he withdrew. 
 This circumstance had an important relation to 
 the future destiny of the English-American 
 colonies, and. particularly of that, of New York, as we shall ol)serve 
 presently. 
 
 Robert Munckton, sou of Viscount Galway and a major-general in the 
 British army, was ajipointed Governor of New York, l)ut did not occupy 
 the chair long. lie arrived in November, ITOl, and in February follow- 
 ing he took commaiul of an expedition destined for the capture oi the 
 
 SEAL OF COV. .MUNCKTON. 
 
 SIGNATUHE OF liDVKU.NOlt .MDNCKTON. 
 
 island of Martinique. lie sailed from New York with twelve thousand 
 men, was successful, returned to New York the next June, and '' began 
 his administration," says Smith, " with a splendor and magniticeuce 
 ecpud to his birth." 
 
THE YOUNG MOXAHCHS GUEAT MISTAKE. 
 
 193 
 
 SEAL OF GOVEUNOK MOOKE. 
 
 General Monckton remained in Xew York awhile, and tiien loft the 
 government to Golden. Monckton \^as succeeded in office early in 17(54 
 ])y Sir Henry Moore, a gay, affable, good-natured, and well-bred gentle- 
 man. Moore's administration did not begin until late in ITtJS. It 
 covered a large portion of a stormy period in the history of Xew York. 
 Sir Henry left tJie province in 1T<)9, when 
 Golden again assumed the reins of govern- 
 ment. 
 
 The young king on his accession had 
 jiarted with Pitt as his chief adviser, and, 
 as we have just observed, made the Earl of 
 Bute, a Scotch adventurer and a special 
 favorite of the sovereign's mother, prime- 
 minister of the realm. Bute proposed to 
 bring the American colonies into aJKolute 
 subjection to the crown and Parliament. To 
 do this effectually it was resolved, in accord- 
 ance M'ith the I'ecommondation of the Board of Trade and Plantations, 
 to amiul the American charter, to reduce all the American ]irovinces to 
 royal governments, and to gain a revenue by collecting duties to be 
 imposed upon goods imported into the colonies. 
 
 Among the first movements toward this end was making the judiciary 
 of Xew York dependent upon the crown, to which allusion has been 
 made. As wo have observed, this act created much alarm and indigna- 
 tion in the public mind. " To make 
 the king's will the tenure of office," 
 said a representative of the people, " is 
 to make the bench of judges the in- 
 strument of the royal prerogative." 
 ^Villiam Livingston, John Morin Scott, 
 and William Smith, three eminent law- 
 yers of New York, expressed their 
 opinions freely and protested boldly in 
 the newspapers against the measure ; and the Xew York Assendjly 
 resolutely refused to grant a salary to Chief-Justice Pratt, who fiiudly 
 received it from the crown. Governor Moore disapproved tlie ob- 
 noxious measure, and even Governor Goldeu advised against it ; but 
 it was persisted in, and the crown continued to appoint judges, paying 
 tlieir salaries and making them independent of the people. 
 
 Another cause of popular irritation and resistance was the practical 
 assertion of Parliament of its right to tax the colonists without their con- 
 
 VW^ 
 
 ^iK;^:AT^;l^E of goveunou mookk. 
 
194 TlIK i;\II'IKi: STATE. 
 
 sent. Piiticfi were iniiniscd iipoii goods imported into tiie colonies, and 
 collectors of customs were sent to enforce tlie revenue laws. Tliese laws 
 were frequently resisted or evaded, especially at liostoii. The Superior 
 Court of Miissaclnisetts gave the collectors M-arrants, called " Writs of 
 Assistance." which authorized the holders to search for smuggled goods 
 when and wlicre they pleased, and to diMuand assistance from others. 
 '* The jneanest dejnity of a deputy's deputy" niigiit enter the house of a 
 citizen xinchallenged. Tiie people regarded the matter as a violation of 
 their lil)ertics — a violation of the English maxim, " Every man's house 
 is his castle." A solemn protest produced an argument before a crowded 
 meeting of citizens in Boston, when the fiery James C)tis vehemently 
 denounced the writs, and said : 
 
 " I have determined to sacrilice estate, ease, health, applause, and even 
 my life to the sacred call of my country in opposition to a kind of power, 
 the exercise of which cost one king his licad and another his throne." 
 '' On that day," said a contemporary, " the trumi)et of the Revolution 
 was sounded." 
 
 Then foHowed the fearful popular agitation in tiie colonies caused hy 
 the famous Stamp Act, in w liiili >.'ew York appeared conspicuous — an 
 act which declared that no legal instrument used in the colonies should 
 be valid, after a prescribed date, uidess it bore a government stamp, for 
 each of which a prescribed sum of money, varying in amount from three 
 cents to thirty dollars, was demanded. With greater boldness or reck- 
 lessness than any former minister had exhibited, George Grenville, at 
 the head of the Treasury and the ablest man in the House of Commons, 
 submitted a bill authorizing stamp duties early in 17()4. Even the great 
 minister, Walpole, had said, many years before, " I will leave the tax- 
 ation of America to some of my successors who have more courage than 
 I have;" and the greater Pitt said, in IT."*',), "I will never burn my 
 fingers with an American Stamp Act." 
 
 This proposed meiisure caused universal excitement in the colonies. 
 The people were divided. The old English titles of " AVhig" and 
 " Tory" now first came into use in America. The great (piestion was 
 freely discussed at pid)lic gatherings. The pulpit sometimes sounded an 
 alarm. The newspaper press spoke out boldly. " If the colonist is 
 taxed without his consent, he will, perhaps, seek a change," said Holt's 
 Ji'cio York Gdsi'fte, sigiuficantly. 
 
 Nowhere did the flame of resentment burn more fiercely than in New 
 York, and nowhere were its manifestations more emphatic. Colden, 
 the acting governor, then seventy-seven years of age, true to his sover- 
 eign, endeavored to suppress all opposition to the acts of the imperial 
 
THE STAMP ACT OPPOSED. 
 
 195 
 
 legislature ; Ijnt his efforts were like a breatli against a gale. The as- 
 sociation of the Sons of Liiierty, which had appeared thirty years 
 before, was revived with great vigor,* and a Committee of Correspond- 
 ence to communicate with the agent of the colony in England and with 
 
 K(J1!T GEOHGE, UATTEKY, ANU BUWLIMJ GKEEN.f 
 
 the several colonial assemblies on the subject of the oppressive measures 
 of Parliament was appointed. 
 
 When, in the spring of 1765, the Stamp Act became a law, words of 
 defiance were uttered everywhere in the colonies. Energetic action soon 
 followed. Pul)lic sentiment took a more dignified form than popular 
 
 * The principal members of the Association in the province of New Yoric at that time 
 were Isaac Sears, John Lamb, Alexander MacDougal, Marinus Willett, William Wiley, 
 Edward Laight, Thomas Robinson, Hugh Hughes, Floris Baucker, Charles Nicoll, 
 .loseph Allcock, and Gershom Mott, of New York City ; Jeremiah van Rensselaer, 
 Mvndert Rosenbaum, Robert Henry, Volkert P. Douw, Jelles Fonda, and Thomas Young, 
 of Aibau}' and Tryon counties ; John Sloss Hobart, Gilbert Potter, Thomas Brush, Cor- 
 nelius Conklin, and Nathan Williams, of Huntington, L. I. ; George Townsend. Baruk 
 Sneething, Benjamin Townsend, George and Michael Weekes, and Rowland Cliambers, 
 of Oyster Bay, L. I. 
 
 f From an engraving by Tiebout in 1792. Within thi' Bowling Green is seen the 
 Iiodistal on whieli stood the equestrian statue of King George HI. The spear-heads of 
 the [tickets, as may now (1B8T) be seen, were all broken off. On the right is No. I Broad- 
 way, the headquarters of General Sir Henry Clinton. On the left is seen a point of Gov- 
 ernor's Island ; on the right, in the distancM;, is Statcn Island, and in the extreme distance 
 the Narrows, the open gateway from the harbor to the ocean. 
 
ll»i; lllK KMIMKK STATE. 
 
 li;ir.iiitr»c\< and heutoil iliscussions. At tlie suirijcstion of tlie Massacliu- 
 setts AsstMiibU- a colonial convention of tlulcipites assembled at the city 
 of New York on October Tth, 17t!."). Nine colonies were represented 
 by twenty-seven delegates. Those of New York were Robert U. Living- 
 ston. John Crnger, Philip Livingston. William Bayard, and Leonard 
 Lispenard. Timothy Kuggles, of ^Lissachnsetts, presided. T'ley were 
 in session fourteen days, and sent forth three able State papers — namely, 
 a " Declaration of Kights." written by dohn Cruger, of New York ; a 
 " ilemorial to both llonses of Parliament," by lJol>ert 11. Livingston, 
 also of New York ; and a '* Petition to the King." written by James 
 Otis, of Massachnsetts. Tlie proceedings of this Stamp Act Congress 
 were approved and signed by all the members excepting Timothy 
 liugglis. of ^lassachnsetts, and Robert Ogden. of New Jersey, who 
 espoused the cause of the crown in the great struggle that ensued. 
 
 The tii-st day of November (1765) was the time appointed for the 
 Stamp Act to go into opei-.ition. Stamp-distributors for their sale weiv 
 appointed. James ^[cEvei-s had been chosen the agent for New York. 
 
 The Sons of Liberty demanded his resignation. Colden promised him 
 protection ; but when the stamps arrived, late in November, McEvers 
 was so alarmed by the manifestations of opposition that ho refused to 
 receive them, and they were taken into the fort for sjifety, where the 
 venerable Colden resided. The people were exiisperated, and appearing 
 in large numbers before the fort, demanded the delivery of the stamps 
 to them. A refusal was answered by detiant shouts by the Sous of 
 Liberty, who were not dismayed by the presence of British ships of war 
 in the harbor and the pointing of the cannons of the fort upon them and 
 upon the town. 
 
 An orderly proeession was formed. It soon became a roaring mob. 
 Half an hour after the governor's refus;d he was liuug in etligy on the 
 spot where Leisler, the democrat, was executed seveuty-tive years before. 
 Then the mob went back to the fort, dnigged Oolden's tine coach * to 
 the open space in front of it, and tearing down the wooden railing that 
 surrouudeil the Rowling Green, piled it upon the vehicle and made a 
 bonfire of the whole. After committing some other excesses,+ the 
 
 ' (.oKkii ~ nMcli-luHiso ami staMo \Mr\.' outsulf tiu- fort ami I'iisy of aiivss. Tlun' 
 woiv only thnv or four iwichos iu Iho city at that time, ami iis thi-y Ivlouji^tl to woaltliy 
 friends of Goverumeut, they were (.■ousiiler<.>l by the people as evidencts of aristocnilie 
 pride. 
 
 \ The n\ob ru.-Ou\l i>ut to the Ivautiful seat of Major Janu-s. at the iutersoctioii of 
 (pu-si-ut) Worth Olivet and West Brojulway. when.' they destroyetl his tine library, works 
 of art and rich furuiture, and desolatwl his eharniini: sranleu. His seat was named 
 
NON-IMl'nl{IAI'l(i\ AGREEMENTS. 111?" 
 
 cxcit('(l jiDpuLico [i;n'M(l('il the streets witli t\\v. Stain|) A<'t |)riMteil dii 
 large slicets and raised upon [idU^s, with tlie words, " England's Foi.ly 
 AND Amkkica's Ruin." 
 
 ('olden, clearly [jore-eiviiiy that lurtlicr resistances to the popuhir will 
 would lie i'utile, ordered the stanijjs to he delivered to tlu; iHay(ir 
 (Cruger) and the Common Council, oh condition that any that should 
 he destroyed or lost should he jiaid for. Quiet was restored. Soon 
 .ifterward ahrig hrought to New York ten hoxes of stamps. They were 
 seized hy some citizens and liurnt at the shijiyard at the foot of (present) 
 Catharine Street. 
 
 Tiio first of Novend)er was Friday — a truly " hlack Friday" in 
 America. It was ushered in by the tolling of bells and this display of 
 flags at half-mast, as if a national calamity had occurred. Minute-guns 
 were flred. There were orations and sermons adapted to the occasion. 
 As none hut stamped paper could be legally used, and as the people were 
 determined not to use it, all business was suspended. Tiio courts were 
 closed, marriages ceased, and social and conunercial operations in 
 America were jiaraiyzed. Yet the jioople did not despair, nor even 
 despond. They felt conscious of rectitude aud of iidierent strength. 
 They held in their own hands a remedy, anrl very soon applied it 
 effectually. 
 
 On tlie day before the Stamp Act was to take eiTect many mercliants 
 in New York City, at a meeting held there, entered into a solemn agree- 
 ment not to imjioi't from England certain cnuiiicrated articles after the 
 first of January next ensuing. The chairman of an at^tive coiTimitteo of 
 correspondence (Jolm I.andV) addressed a circuhir letter to the nier(diants 
 in other cities, inviting tlieir co-operation in tlu; non-importation policy. 
 It was cheerfully acceded to, and merchants great and small followed 
 the exain])le of Now York traders. The patriotic ])eople co-operateil 
 with tlie merchants, and began domestic manufactures. Tlie wealthiest 
 vied with the middling classes in wearing clothing of their own numn- 
 facture. That wool might not become scarce, the use of sheep llesh for 
 food was discouraged. 
 
 The nughty forces for defence against oppression, which for years 
 worked so potentially in favor of liberty in America, tiius put in motion 
 in New York, hurled back upon England with great power the commer- 
 cial miseries which she had inflicted upon her colonies. The most sensi- 
 tive nerve of her political and social organism was so I'udely touched that 
 
 Rancla^'U. .V fi-w months aflcTward it Wius conviTlcd ink) a ])la<<! of public resort, and 
 callccl the Kaiiclaiili (laiilcn. Junies was a ]5ritisli olliccr who liail bcconic ohno.xioiis to 
 Ihi' lu'oplc. 
 
^'J8 
 
 THK KMPIKE STATE. 
 
 the British merchants and manufacturers earnestly joined the Americans 
 in efforts to com|)el tiie Govcrniiient to repeal the obnoxious act. Tliev 
 were successful. The Stanq) Act was repealed early in ITtJti, having 
 ■ existed in a helpless state one year. In the words of a couplet upon the 
 -tombstone of a little bal)v, it might have iisked, 
 
 " If I so soon iiiii (lone for, 
 I wonder wliat I was Ix-irun for?" 
 
 To Xcw York merchants is due the honor of having invented those 
 two ])owerfuI engines of resistance to obnoxioiis acts of the British 
 
 BUnNS S COFFEE-IIOISE.* 
 
 Parliament, and which worked with so nnich potency at the beginning 
 of the old war for independence — namely, the Committee of Corre- 
 spondence and the Non-im])ortation League. The repeal of the Stamp 
 Act caused great rejoicings on both sides of the Atl:)ntic. The city 
 of New York was tilled with deliitht on the beautifid !Mav dav when 
 
 * This was a famous place of resort for the Sons of Liberty in New York for sev- 
 eral years hefore I he old war for independence. It was a cofTee-house kept by George 
 Burns, at No. 9 Broadway. There the first nonimportation league of the nierehauts of 
 !New York was formed, on October 31st, 176.T — a consequence of the olino.xious Stamj) 
 Act. The league was signed by more than two liundred merchants. The alwve engrav- 
 ing shows the house as it ajipeared at the time of that occurrence. It riinained a place 
 of public resort until about 1S61). Broadway slopes a little at that point. 
 
RE.TOICIXGS AXD LOYALTY. 
 
 199 
 
 the glad tidings arrived. Cannons thundered a royal salute, bells rang 
 out nierrv peals, and the Sons of Liberty feasted together. A month 
 later, on the king's birthday (June ithi, tlier^ was another public cel- 
 ebration, given under the auspices of Governor Moore, when royal 
 salutes were again tired. There was a banquet at the King's Arms 
 Tavern, near the Bowling Green, in which all the magnates of the city 
 participated. Again the Sons of Liberty feasted together ; and in 
 the Fields (now the City Hall Park) an ox was roasted whole, and 
 twenty-live barrels of beer and 
 a hogshead of rum were pro- 
 vided for the people. The 
 town was illuminated in the 
 evening, and bonfires blazed, 
 while the heavens were made 
 brilliant with fireworks. The 
 people erected a tall mast and 
 unfurled a banner, upon it in- 
 scribed, " The Kixg, Frrr, and 
 Liberty," and called it Liberty 
 Pole. 
 
 Pitt, who had been the chief 
 instrument in Parliament in 
 securing the repeal, was idol- 
 ized by the people. At a 
 meeting of citizens (June 23d) 
 a petition was unanimously 
 signed praying the Provincial 
 Assembly to erect a statue in 
 lionor of the " Great Com 
 moner" in the city of New 
 York. The Assembly complied, 
 and at the same time voted an 
 
 equestrian statue of the king. Both were set up in 1770, that of Pitt 
 being of marble, and that of the king lead. Pitt's statue was erected at 
 the junction of Wall and William (then Smith) streets ; the king's was set 
 up in the centre of the Bowling Green.* Six years afterward the statue 
 of the king was pulled down by an indignant populace, and a little later 
 British soldiers mutilated the statue of Pitt. 
 
 * By a singular oversight the artist omitted to give the king's saddle stirrups, as will 
 be seen in the sketch. Tlie Whigs of Xew York said, in 1776, " Good enough for him ; 
 he ought to ride a hard-trotting horse without stirrups." 
 
 EQUESTRIAN 8T.\TUE OK GEOHOE III. 
 
200 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Po|3ular discontent soon followed the hallelujahs of joy, for the repeal 
 act was accompanied l>_v aiiotlier wliich declared that the British Parlia- 
 ment had the right to '' liind the colonies in all cases whatsoever." 
 Sagacious men clearly saw in this declaratory act an egg of tyraimy con- 
 cealed, out of which might proceed untold evils. Events soon justified 
 their forecast. The incul)ation was not protracted. 
 
 Almost at the moment when the people were celebrating the king's 
 l)irthday in a si)irit of hearty loyalty, Governor Moore informed the 
 Xew York Assemldy, then in session, that he hourly exj^ected troops 
 from England to garrison the fort there, and desired them to make 
 immediate provision for them, in accordance with the requirements of 
 the British ]\rutiny Act, which commanded citizens to hillet troops upon 
 themselves when necessity called for the measure. The Assembly 
 declared that the power of the act did not extend to tlie colonies, and 
 that there was no necessity for more troops at !Xew York. The gov- 
 ernor persisted, but the ^issembly were tirm in their refusal to comply 
 with his requisition. 
 
 The troops came with authority to l)reak into houses in searching for 
 deserters, and to do other arbitrary things. The people were indignant. 
 The Sons of Liberty were aroused to vigorous action. They rallied 
 around the Liberty Pole which they had erected under the inspiration of 
 true loyalty to their sovereign. The insolent soldiers cut down the 
 symbol of liberty, and when, the next day, the citizens were setting it 
 up again they were attacked by the troops. Still another ]tole w;is 
 erected, and Governor Moore forl)ade the soldiers to touch it. 
 
 In January, ITT'l, soldiers went out from the barracks at midnight, 
 prostrated the Liberty Pole, sawed it into pieces, and piled them before 
 the headquarters of the Sons of Liberty. The bells of St. George's 
 Chapel in Beektnan Street rang an alarm, and very soon fully three 
 thousand indignant citizens stood around the mutilated flag-staff. The 
 city was fearfully agitated for several days, and affrays between the citizens 
 and soldiers occurred. Finally tlicy had a severe encounter on C^olden 
 Ilill (between Cliff and "William, John and Fulton streets), in which the 
 soldiers were worsted and several of them were disarmed. The citizens 
 were armed with various missiles. The conflict on Golden Hill in New 
 York City may be regarded as the initial battle of the old war for inde- 
 pendence. 
 
 The New York Assembly steadily refused to comply with the require- 
 ments of the Mutiny Act. The press spoke out boldly. William 
 Livingston wrote prophetically in a New York newspaper : 
 
 " Courage, Americans I Lil)erty, religion, and science are on the 
 
EISrSLAVE>IEXT OF THE COLONIES ATTEMPTED. V'Dl 
 
 wing to these shores. The linger of God points out a iniglity ennnre to 
 your sons. The savages of the wilderness were never e.xpelled to make 
 room for idolaters and slaves. The land we possess is the gift of Heaven 
 to our fathers, and Divine Providence seems to have decreed it to our 
 latest posterity. The day dawns in which the foundation of this mighty 
 empire is to be laid, by the establishment of a regular American Consti- 
 tution. All that has hitherto been done seems little beside the collection 
 of materials for this glorious fabric. "Tis time to put them together. 
 The transfer of the European family is so vast, and our growth so swift, 
 that liefore seven years will roll over our heads tlie first stone must l)e laid.'' 
 
 Seven years afterward the first Continental Congress assembled at 
 rhiladelpiiia. 
 
 Tlie rebellious spirit manifested by the Xew Workers amazed and 
 incensed the Britisli Ministry, and they resolved to bring the refractory 
 Assembly into humble obedience. Parliament forbade (ITfiT) the ''gov- 
 ernor, Council, and Asseml)ly of New York passing any legislative act 
 for any purpose whatever' ' until they should conijjly with the require- 
 ments of the Mutiny Act. Parliament levied duties njjon certain neces- 
 sary articles imported into the colonies with the avowed purpose of 
 drawing a revenue fi'oni them, and authorized the establishment of a 
 Board of Trade, or Commissioners of Customs, to regulate and collect 
 the revenue thus ordered. They also attempted to suppress free discus- 
 sion in the colonies by means of Committees of Correspondence. 
 
 This last act aroused the free spirit of the people to instant resistance. 
 When Governor Moore transmitted to the New York Assembly instruc- 
 tions from Lord Iliilsboi'ough against " holding seditious correspondence 
 with other colonies," and called upon the Legislature to yield obedience, 
 they l)ohlly remonstrated against this ministerial interference with the 
 inalienable right of a subject, and refused to obey. 
 
 On the death of Governor Moore, in September, 1769, Colden again 
 became acting governor, when he coalesced politically with tlie De 
 Lancey party. Very soon a gradual change in the political complexion 
 of the Provincial Assembly was apparent. The leaven of aristocracy 
 liad begun a transformation, and a game for political power, based upon 
 a proposed financial scheme, was begun.* It was a scheme which 
 menaced the liberties of the people. 
 
 * This was issuing bills of credit, on tlie security of the province, to the amount of 
 $300,000, to be loaned to the people, the interest to be applied to defrayinj,' the expenses 
 of the colonial government. It was really a proposition for a monster bank without 
 check.s, and intended to cheat the people into a compliance with the requirements of the 
 Mutiny- Act by the indirect method of applying tlie profits to that purpose. 
 
202 THE E.MPIKE h^TATE. 
 
 The popular leaders, discerning the danger, sounded the alarm. An 
 incendiar}- hand-hill, signed '' A Son of Lihertv,"' was posted throngh- 
 out the city, calling a meeting of the " hetrajed inhahitants" in the 
 ■ Fields. It denounced the money scheme and the Assembly, and 
 pointed to the ])olitical coalition as an omen of danger. Obedient to 
 the call, a verv larire concourse of citizens leathered around the Libertv 
 I'lile on a cold December day, who, after a harangue by John Lamb, 
 1>V unanimous vote condemned the proceedings of the Assembly. 
 Another hand-bill from the same pen appeared the next day, and more 
 severely denounced the Assembly in terms which were deemed libel- 
 lous. A reward was offered for the name of the author. lie was 
 soon found to be Alexander McDougal, a seaman, who was afterward 
 a major-general in the Continental Army. He was arrested, and re- 
 fusing to plead or give bail, was sent to prison. On his way to jail he 
 said : 
 
 " 1 rejoice that I am the first to suffer for liberty since the commence- 
 ment of our glorious struggle." 
 
 Being a sailor, McDougal was regarded as the " true type of impris- 
 oned commerce ;" also as a mart^'r to the cause of liberty. Ilis prison 
 was daily the scene of a ])ul)lic reception. The most respectable citizens 
 visited liim. Tie was toasted at a l)an(]uet of the Sons of Liberty, who 
 went in a procession to the jail to visit him. Ladies of distinction daily 
 thronged there. Popular songs were written and sung below his prison- 
 bars, and emblematic swords were worn. He was finally released on 
 bail, and he was never tried. 
 
 Open rebellion in the colonies now seemed imminent. British soldiers 
 were stationed in 2sew York and Boston to overawe the people. Their 
 insolence in words and manner produced continual irritation. There 
 was a collision in Boston on March 5th (1770) between the citizens and 
 soldiers, which aroused the indignation of all the colonies. Three 
 persons were killed by the soldiers, and five were dangerously wounded. 
 This event is known in Iiistory as the Boston Massacre. 
 
 On the day of the massacre the British ])rime-minister (Lord !North) 
 introduced into Parliament his famous Tea Act, which repealed 
 all duties imposed upon articles imported into the American colonies, 
 excepting upon tea. This one article was excepted as a i)ractical asser- 
 tion that Parliament had a right to tax the Americans without their con- 
 sent. But this was the substance of the vital principle involved in the 
 dispute, and the grand political postulate, " Taxation without representa- 
 tion is tyranny," was vehemently asserted. Tlie non-importation power 
 was set in motion, and the people warndy co-operated by refusing to 
 
THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF NEW YOKK. 
 
 203 
 
 SEAI, OP GOVERNOR DUNMORE. 
 
 use tea.* The stubborn king and the stupid ministry could not conipre- 
 liend tlie idea involved, that a tax upon a single article, however small, 
 was as much a violation of the spirit and letter of tlie postulate as if laid, 
 in oppressive measure, upon a dozen articles. 
 
 ^Meanwhile tlie leaven of Torjism in the Assembly had extended its 
 intluence among t!ie people. The Sons of Liberty in Xew Yorlc had 
 formed a General Committee of One Hun- 
 dred and a Vigilance Committee of Fifty, 
 charged with the duty of watching the 
 movements of the Whigs and Tories, and 
 preventing, if jJossible, violations of the non- 
 importation agreement. Tlie Committee 
 of One Hundred became widely disaffected 
 by Toryism. Tlie Vigilance Committee, 
 more radical, denounced them, and the 
 patriotic citizens of Xew England uttered 
 indignant protests, but in vain. The New 
 York merchants at large became disaffected, 
 and at midsummer, 1770, the Committee 
 
 of One Hundred, composed largely of merchants, resolved upon a 
 resumption of importations of everything but tea. They issued a 
 circular letter justifying their course. It was indignantly torn and scat- 
 tered to the winds in Boston. The merchants of Philadelphia received 
 it with scorn, and tlie sturdier patriots of that city said : " The old 
 
 Liberty Pole of New York ought to be 
 transferred to this city, as it is no longer 
 a rallying-point for the votaries of free- 
 dom at home." The students at Prince- 
 ton College, with James Madison at their 
 head, burned the letter on the cam- 
 pus. 
 
 In October (1770) John Murray, Earl 
 
 of Dunmore, succeeded Sir Henry Moore 
 
 as Governor of New York. He remained 
 
 such for only about nine months, when he was succeeded by Sir William 
 
 Tryon, an Irish baronet, who had misruled North Carolina and stirred up 
 
 a rebellion there. The Assembly, now thoroughly imbued with Tory- 
 
 m^if^ 
 
 S^ICNATUUE OF GOV. DUXMORE. 
 
 * In Boston the mistresses of tlirce hundred families subscribed their names to a league, 
 bindinj: themselves not to drink any tea until the Revenue Act was repealed. Three 
 days afterward the young women followed their example. It was imitated in New "iork 
 and Philadelphia. 
 
204 
 
 THK KMI'IUK STATK. 
 
 SEAL OF (;(J\T:KNI)U TItYON. 
 
 18111, cniiipliiiicnted the retiring governor, wlio was transferred to Vir- 
 ginia, and in a most cringing address, written hy Ca])tain Oliver do 
 Laiicey, replied to Tryon's opening message, at the beginning of 1772. 
 
 The state of political society in Xcw York 
 at this time was pecnliar. Social diSerences 
 had prodnced two distinct parties among the 
 professed republicans, which were designated 
 respectively Patricians and Trilinnes. The 
 former consisted chiefly of the merchants and 
 gentry, and the latter were mostly mechanics. 
 The latter Avere radicals, the former were 
 conservatives, and joined the Loyalists or 
 Tories, who were trying to check the influ- 
 ence of tlie more zealous democrats. 
 
 Comparative quiet had prevailed in !New 
 York for nearly three years, when an attempt to enforce North's Tea 
 Act set the colonies in a blaze again.* The East India Company, M-hu 
 had the monopoly of the tea trade, 
 having lost tlieir valuable custom- 
 ers in America by the opei'ations 
 of the non-importation measures, 
 asked Parliament to take otf three 
 pence a pound levied upon its im- 
 jHirtation into America, and agreed 
 to i)ay the Government more thaii 
 an equal amount in export duty, 
 
 in case the change should be made. Here was an excellent opportunity for 
 tlie Government to act justly and wisely and to produce a reconciliation ; 
 
 * An evpiit occurred in ISiirragansot Bay in the sunimiT of 1772 wliirli inofluced wide- 
 spread excitement and widened tlie l)reacli lietween tlic mother country and tlie colonies. 
 The armed schooner dnnjie was stationed in the bay to enforce the revenue laws. Her 
 eommander haughtily ordered every American vessel when passinir his schooner to lower 
 its colors, in token of obedience. The master of a Providence sloop refused to bow to 
 this nautical Gcsler's cap, and was fired at and chased by the Gnxpe. The latter 
 jrrounded upon a sand-bar. That night Al)raham AVhipiile (who was a naval commander 
 (luring the Revolution), with sixty armed men, went down the bay in boats, captured the 
 ])eople on the schooner and burned lier. Although a large reward wa.s offered for the 
 api)rehensioii of the jierpetrators they were not betrayed. Four years afterward, when 
 t'aplain Wallace, a Uritish naval eommander near Newport, heard that AVhipiile was the 
 leader of the offenders, he wrote to liiin. sjiying : 
 
 " On .lune SItli, 1772, you burned His Jfajesty's vessel the Gtispe, and I will hang you at 
 the yard-arm 1" 
 
 To this Whipple instantly replied : " Sir, always catch a man before you liaiig him !" 
 
 SI(:N.\-n:itE OF CiOA"ERNOK TKYON. 
 
EXCITEMENT COXCERNING TEA. 
 
 205 
 
 l)Ut the stupid ministry, fearing it niiglit be considered a suljniission to 
 '• rebellions subjects,"' refused this olive branch. They allowed the 
 company to send their tea free of export duty, but retained the import 
 duty. 
 
 This concession to a great commercial monopoly, wbile spurning the 
 appeals of subjects governed by a great principle, created indignation 
 and contempt throughout the colo- 
 nies. As this would make tea 
 cheaper in America than in Eng- 
 land, the (Tovernment and the East 
 India Company unwisely concluded 
 that the Americans would not ob- 
 ject to paying the small duty. They 
 were mistaken, as they very soon 
 learned. Assured that Governor 
 TiTon at Xew York would enforce 
 the law, the company sent several 
 ships laden with tea to that and 
 other American ports early in 1773. 
 Already the Americans had re- 
 solved not to allow a pound of tea 
 to be landed in any of the seaports. 
 At a meeting held at Xew York on 
 
 October 20th (1773), it was declared that the tea consignees and stamp 
 distributors were equally obnoxious. The consignees, alarmed, prom- 
 ised not to receive the tea, notwithstanding Governor Tryon had prom- 
 ised them ample protection. The governor declared the tea should be 
 delivered to the consignees, even if it should l)e " sprinkled with blood." 
 
 John Lamb (afterward a commander 
 of artillery in the war for indepen- 
 dence, and one of the foremost of the 
 Sons of Liberty; said to his informer 
 of these words : "' Tell Tryon, for 
 me, that the tea shall not be landed ; 
 and if force is attempted to effect it, 
 liis blood will be the first shed in the conflict. The people of the city 
 are firndy resolved on that head.'' Tryon took counsel of prudence. 
 
 At the middle of December the famous Boston Tea Party occnrred, 
 when three hundred and forty-three chests of tea were taken from ships 
 moored at the wharves, broken open, and their contents cast into the 
 waters of the harbor in the space of two hours, by men disguised as 
 
 .JOHX l.AMB. 
 
 SIGXATCEE OF JOILX I..\_MU. 
 
sou Illi: KMPIKE STATE. 
 
 Iiuliiins. Tlic next day a meeling was held in tlie Fielils at Xew 
 York, wliicli was addressed by Jolm Land).* Strong resolutions in 
 favor of resistance were passed ; a (.'omniittee of Fifteen to carry on 
 correspondence with the Sons of Liberty elsewhere was appointed, and 
 the niecting was adjourned '* till the arrival of the tea ships." 
 
 The ships did not arrive until April following, when the .?ran<:i/. 
 Captain Lockyer, appeared at Sandy Hook with a cargo of tea. Apprised 
 of the state of feeling in the city, and heeding the advice of the con- 
 signee, Lockyer prudently concluded to return to England with his 
 cargo. A merchant vessel arrived at about the same time with several 
 chests of tea concealed among her cargo. They were discovered, seized, 
 and their contents were thrown into the waters of I*Jew York Harbor. 
 The captain took refuge from the hands of the indignant people on 
 board the Nancij, and sailed away in her. 
 
 At about this time a new Committee of One Ifundred, also a A'igil- 
 ance Committee, composed of tiie most substantial citi/cens, who were wise, 
 watchful, and active, w;is created. The governor and a majority of the 
 Asscnddy, being in political accord, needed watching ; hence tlie forma- 
 tion of these two committees. 
 
 A misfortune befell the governor at this juncture wlilcli won fur him 
 public sympathy. At near the close of 1773 his house, with all his 
 pei-sonal property, was accidentally burned. Tlie Assemlily ^•oted him 
 A20,000 in consideration of his loss, and with this money he left the 
 ])rovincc in charge of Dr. Golden, and went to England in the spring 
 of 1774. 
 
 The destruction of tea in Boston Harbor created intense excitement in 
 Great Britain. The exasperated ministry conceived several retaliatory 
 measures, which were authorized by Parliament, the most conspicuous 
 of which was an order for the closing of tiio port of Boston against all 
 commercial transactions whatever, and the removal of all public offices 
 thence to Salem. This prostration of all kinds of l)usiness occiisioned 
 widesjiread distress and created more widesjiread sympathy. Even the 
 
 * John Lamb, an artillery ofTiccT of the Revolution, was born in IvTew York City 
 .January 1st, 1735 ; died there May 31st, 1800. He was one of the most active Sons of 
 Liberty, and when the old war for intleix-ndenc(! began he entered the military service. 
 He was in cdinmanil of the artillery under General Montgomery at the siege of Quelwc, 
 where he was wounded and made prisoner. AVitli the rank of major he serveil in the 
 regiment of Colonel Knox the next siunmer, and on January 1st, 1777. he was commis- 
 sioned a colonel of New York artillery. Lamb performed gootl service throughout the 
 war, and ended his militarj' career at- the siege of Yorktown. He afterward iK'came a 
 memlxT of the Xew York Assembly. President AVashingtou appoiitted him (1789) 
 collector of the customs at the jxirt of New York. 
 
PREPARATIONS FOR ARMED RESISTAXCE. 207 
 
 city of London, in its corporate capacity, sent aid to the sufferers at 
 Boston of the money value of fully $150,000. Another measure levelled 
 a deadly blow at the charter of Massachusetts ; another provided for the 
 trial, in England, of all persons charged in the colonies with murder 
 committed in support of the Government, giving, as Colonel Barre said 
 on the floor of Parliament, " encouragement to military insolence already 
 insupportable." A fourth provided for the quartering of troops at the 
 expense of the colonies. The port of Boston was to be closed in June, 
 and in May CTeneral Gage was sent to enforce the measure. 
 
 The people were intensely excited by these cruel measures. Tliey 
 despaired of justice at the hands of the British ministry. They l>egan 
 to feel that war was inevitable, and proceeded to arm and discipline 
 themselves, and to manufacture guns and gunpowder. Every man 
 capable of l)earing arms enrolled himself in a company pledged to be 
 ready to take the field at a minute's warning. So was created the vast 
 army of Minute Men. Its iieadcjuarters was under every roof. It 
 bivouacked in every church and household ; and mothers, wives, sisters, 
 and sweethearts made cartridges for its muskets and supplied its com- 
 missariat. 
 
 A crowded meeting in Faneuil Hall, in Boston, resolved to resume 
 the non-importation measures with all their stringency. They sent Paul 
 Bevere with their resolutions to the Sons of Liberty in 2sew York, 
 ■whona the Loyalists called '" Presbyterian Jesuits." The Committee of 
 Fifty-One did not approve the resolutions, but favored the assembling of 
 a general congress of deputies. In their reply to the communication 
 from Boston they said : 
 
 " The cause is general, and concerns a whole continent, who are 
 equally interested with you and us ; and we foresee that no remedy can 
 be of avail unless it proceeds from their joint acts and approbation. 
 From a virtuous and spirited union much may be expected, while the 
 feeble efforts of a few will only be attended with mischief and disap- 
 pointment to themselves, and triumph to the adversaries of liberty. 
 Upon these reasons we conclude that a Congeess of Deputies feom the 
 coLoxiES IN' GEXEEAL is of the utmost importance ; that it ought to be 
 assembled without delay, and some unanimous resolutions formed in this 
 fatal emergency, not only respecting your deplorable circumstances [the 
 destruction of all commercial business by the closing of the port], but 
 for the securitv of our common riffhts." 
 
 This recommendation for a General Congress, written, it is believed, 
 by John Jay, found a hearty response everywhere. While the Bostonians 
 approved the measure and suggested the time for holding the Congress, 
 
208 . TIIK KMI'IKK STATK. 
 
 they adopted stringent non-importation measures. Tiie peojilL' in ntlier 
 colonies did the same, and New York stood almost alone in refnsini;; 
 to accpiiesee. At this the Loyalists rejoiced, and Ilivington, the 
 King's Printer. pnl>lislied the following lines in his Gazetteer: 
 
 " And so, my good masters, I find it no joko. 
 For York lias stepjx'd forward and thrown off tlio yoke 
 Of Congress, coinmittees, and even King Sears.* 
 "Wlio shows you good-nature by showing his ears."' 
 
 At tliis time there were two prominent political committees in New 
 York — namely, the old Vigihmce Committee of Fifty and a newly- 
 organized Committee of Fifty-One. Tlie former was composed of 
 radicals. Sons of Libert}', led by McDongall, Sears, and Lamb, and 
 favored non-importation measnres ; the latter consisted of conservatives, 
 and favored a General Congress rather tiian non-importation measures. 
 
 Adherents of the former called 
 
 ^ y^ a meeting in the Fields on July 
 
 y^ _^'^?^^v:%^-'^ *''^^^ ^y^"^^-! ^^'lihdi, on account 
 
 ^^^^ OO'tyC^-y *~^ '^^^^§> *^'^ '^^ numljers, was known as 
 
 "The Great Meeting." On 
 sKiNATiKii OK is.\Ac sF..\ns. f],^t occasiou a student of King's 
 
 (now Columbia) College, known 
 as tlie '■ Young "West Indian,"' a delicate boy, girl-liko in personal grace 
 and stature, oidy seventeen years of age, made a speech, and astonished 
 the multitude by his eloquence and logic. He was Alexander Hamilton, 
 from the island of Nevis, who was destined to play an important part iu 
 the drama of our national history. 
 
 The Great Meeting denounced the Boston Port P>ill and declared 
 that an attack upon tlie liberties of one colony concerned tlie whole. 
 The meeting pledged New York to join with others in a non-importation 
 league, and to be governed by the action of the contemplated General 
 Congress. The Committee of Fifty-One denounced these proceedings 
 
 * Isaac Seal's was one of the most active and energetic of the Sons of Liberty. He was 
 a native of Xorwalk, Conn., where he was born iu 1729 ; we died in Canton, China, in 
 1786. He was a successful merchant in New York, engaged in the European and West 
 India tr.ide. Having commanded a merchant vessel, he w;is generally known as Captain 
 Sears, and because of his valiant leadership in opposition to the Government he was 
 calle<l " King Sears. " He was thonuiglily liated, maligned, caricatured, and satirized 
 by his political enemies. Rivington, the King's Printer, abused him .shamefully, and 
 in retaliation Sears entered the city in 1775 with some Connecticut light horsemen and 
 destroyed his maligiier's printing establishment. At the end of the war his business and 
 fortune were gone. Iu 1783 he went, as supercargo, to China, and died soon after his 
 arrival at Canton. 
 
DELEGATES TO A GENERAL CONGRESS. 209 
 
 as " seditious and incendiary." Tiiis offended a dozen of tlieir members, 
 who withdrew from the committee. But these feuds were soon healed 
 by the exigencies of the occasion, and the patriots of New 1 ork, early 
 in July (177-1), chose delegates to represent tlie province in the General 
 Congress to be convened at Philadelphia on the 5tli day of September. 
 They chose as representatives of the city of Xew Tork : Philip Living- 
 ston, Jolni Alsop, Isaac Low, James Duane, and Jolui Jay. Suffolk 
 County, on Long Island, elected William Floyd ; Orange County, Henry 
 "Wisner and John Herring ; and King's County, Simon Boerum. 
 Duchess and Westchester counties adopted the New York City delegates 
 as tlieir representatives ; so also did the city and county of Albany.* 
 
 * The people of Albany County were anxious to send Colonel Philip Schuyler as their 
 deputy, but he was too severely afflicted with rheumatism and hereditary gout to allow 
 him to serve them. Toward the close of .lulj" his friend, Councillor William Smith, 
 wrote to him from -New York: "The colonies are preparing for the grand Wittcua- 
 geiiwU [Great Assembly] with great spirit. .Vt Philadelphia a plan is digesting for an 
 American Constitution. I know not the outlines of it. I hope it is for a Parliament to 
 meet annually. Our people will be the last of all in the appointment of deleg.ates. I 
 wish your county would a.ssist in the choice. Expresses will be sent through the whole 
 colony to call upon the cotmties for the purpose. . . . The people of England begin to 
 call out for an American Parliament." 
 
210 
 
 Tin: r.Ml'IKE STATE. 
 
 C'llArTKK XV. 
 
 CoMMirrEEs of Correspondence, ■which h.ad been formed in every 
 colony in 1773, luul been bnsy in the interchange of sentiments and 
 opinions, and throngliout the entire commnnity of Britisli-Ainerieans 
 from Maine to Georgia there -was evidently a consonance of feeling 
 favorable to nnited efforts in opposing the angmeiiting oi)prci;sion of the 
 
 mother (•oiintry. And yet they 
 hesitated, and resolved to deliber- 
 ate in solemn council before they 
 slionld appeal to arms — " the last 
 argument of kings. " 
 
 To this end deputies represent- 
 ing twelve British-American colo- 
 nies met in Carpenter's Hall, at 
 Philadeli^hia, on September .5th, 
 1774^, and chose Peyton Randolph* 
 president and Charles Thomson 
 secretary of that body. Tliere 
 were forty-four delegates present 
 on that day. Those from the 
 province of New York were James 
 Dnane, John Jay. Philip Living- 
 ston, Isiuxc Low and William Floyd. 
 That first Continental Congress remained in session until October 
 iidth, during which time they matured measures for future action. One 
 of the most important of these measures was the formation of a league 
 
 -^r 
 
 I'KYTON iia:ndolpii. 
 
 * Peyton Randolph was born in 1723, in Virginia, and, like other young men of 
 wealthy parents in the colonics, was cducatcii in England, lie became a lawyer, and at 
 tlie age of twenty-seven years was appointed attorney-general of the province. He went 
 with a band of volunteers against the Indians on the Virginia frontier in 175(i. -V 
 member of the House of Burgesses several years, he was its Siieaker at onetime. He 
 was chairman of a, committee to rcvi.se the laws of Virginia ; went to Kngland to seek 
 redress of grievances ; framed the remonstrance of the House of Burges.ses against the 
 Stamp Act ; presided over the Virginia Provincial Convention at Williamsburg in 1774, 
 and the first Continental Congress the same year ; presided over the second Virrinia 
 Convention in March, 177.') ; was in the Continental Congress a short time that year, and 
 dieil of apoplexy at Pliiladelpliia, October 22d, 177"). His portrait here given was copied 
 from a miniature bv Charles 'SVillson Beale. 
 
THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 311 
 
 for a general commercial nou-iiitercourse with Great Britain and lier 
 "West India possessions. It was named the American Association. In 
 addition to its non-interconrse provisions, it recommended the abandon- 
 ment of the slave-trade, the improvement in the breed of sheep, absten- 
 tion from all extravagance in living, indiilgence in horse-racing, etc., 
 and the appointment of a sort of vigilance committee in every town to 
 promote conformity to the recpiiremen^s of the Association. It was 
 signed by the fifty-two members who were present at its adoption. 
 
 This first Continental Congress pnt forth several able State papers — a 
 Bill of Eights ; an Address to the People of Great Britain ; another to 
 the several British- American colonies ; another to the Inhabitants of the 
 Province of Qnebec, and a petition to the king. One of the most sig- 
 nificant acts of the Congress, the most offensive to Great Britain, and 
 which constitnted the whole business of the day, was the passage of the 
 following resolution on October Sth : 
 
 ^''Resolved, That this Congress approve the opposition of the inhab- 
 itants of Massachusetts Bay to the execution of the late acts of Parliament ; 
 and if the same shall be 
 attempted to be carried ^-^ ^ 
 
 into execution by force, ^y^^^/^r?^ Jd tX^yz. c^c-t^ /(^ 
 in such case all America (y / 
 
 ought to support then' signatuke of teytox Randolph. 
 
 in their oppo.sition.'' 
 
 Thus defiantly was the gauntlet cast down at the feet of the king and 
 Parliament. The Congress adjourned eighteen days afterward to meet 
 at the same place on May 10th following, unless the desired redress of 
 grievances should be obtained. 
 
 The public press in the colonies almost unanimously supported the 
 attitude assumed by the Congress. There were ouly four newspapers 
 then published in the province of ISTew York, and tliese were sent forth 
 from the city. Tliey were Hugh Gaines's New YorJc Mercury^ John 
 Holt's New Yorh Journal, John Anderson's Constitutional Gasette, 
 and James Rivington's New TorTc Gazette. The first three named were 
 in sympathy with the patriots. The latter favored the royal side in 
 political discussions.* The Whig papers everywhere abounded in 
 
 * Holt's Jouriud was the most outspoken of any of the Whig newspapers. Before the 
 meeting of the first Continental Congress it contained at its head the device of a snake 
 disjointed, each piece having the initials of one of the English-.\niericaii colonies. He 
 pleaded for its union. lu December, after the ses.sion of that Congress was ended, it 
 contained another significant device. It represented a column, its base resting \ipon 
 Magna Charta and upheld by thirteen strong arms reaching out of clouds. The column 
 

 THE KMIMHK STATK. 
 
 ))ointe(l epijjranis, .s(]uil)s, keen satirical sonnets, and sententious argu- 
 ments and logic, like tlie following : 
 
 UNITE OR DIE 
 
 '" 
 
 iif 
 
 TFIK (JlAIiHKI. WITH AMK.HICA KAIIU.Y STATKD. 
 
 " Rudely forccil lo <liiiik lea, Massaclmsi'tts, in aui;<T, 
 Spill llic tea oil Jiilin Bull— .loliii fell oil to ban;; her ; 
 JIassaehusetts, cnraired, calls her neighbors to aid, 
 And give Master John a severe bastinade. 
 Now, good men of the law, pray who is at fault, 
 The one who Ix'gius or resists the assault '!" 
 
 Tiie proceedings of the Continental Congress ]n-odiict'd a most pro- 
 foiuid sensation in Great Britain. When Parliament reassembled after 
 the holidays (January 'iOth, 1775) the king denounced the American 
 
 colonists as " rebels," and ]>roiii- 
 ised ample means to bring them 
 into subjection. William Pitt 
 (iiow become Earl of Cliatham) 
 made a powerful speech in the 
 House of Lorils in favor of the 
 Americans, which drew from that 
 House a severe reprimand by a 
 decided majority. Tims siip- 
 siNAKE DKvit'E. portcd Ijv tlic kiiig and lor(ls, the 
 
 ministry proceeded to ]iut the 
 engine of coercion into swift oj>eration. Restrictive and other oppressive 
 acts were passed, ami Mar was virtually declared against the British- 
 American colonists. 
 
 Meanwhile the several colonies had expressed their a])]>roval of the 
 proceedings of the Continental Congress. New York alone refused to 
 do so, but finally yielded. In November, 1774, the Committee of Fifty- 
 One was dissolved, and at a meeting of " freeholders and freemen," held 
 at the City Hall on the 22d of that month, a committee of si.xty persons 
 were cho.sen " for carrying into execution the Association entered into 
 bv the Continental Congress.'" 
 
 So soon as the Congress adjourned the Loyalists and the High Church 
 party in New York undertook to weaken the force of the American 
 
 wa.s surmounted by the cap of Lilierty. The whole was eneireled by a snake in two 
 coils, upon whieh were the words : 
 
 " United now, alone and free, 
 Firm on iliis biwin Liberty pliall Bland, 
 And ItniH Hiii)|>orli'd, ever blecH our land. 
 Till Time becomes Etcmitv." 
 
THEOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL BISCUSSIONS. 213 
 
 Association by inducing violations of its requirements. To this end 
 scholars and divines ■who had been engaged in the controversy concern- 
 ing an American episcopate now resumed their pens. Among the most 
 eminent of these writers on the Tory side were Rev. Myles Cooper, D.D., 
 President of King's College, and Drs. Inglis, Seabury and Chandler, of 
 the Anglican Church. They were ably answered by William Livingston, 
 John Jay, young Alexander Hamilton, and others. It was at this time 
 that the last named entered the list of political writers, and soon became 
 their peer and leader. 
 
 Tiie first session of the New York Assembly after the adjournment of 
 the Continental Congress bcijan on Januarv luth, 1775. In it was a 
 
 7at<r 
 
 SIGNjVTURE of OLn-EU DE L.VNCET. 
 
 clear working majority of Tories. Colonel Philip Schuyler was the 
 acknowledged leader of the opposition. He was ably supported by 
 George Clinton and others, and they resolved to have the political issues 
 between the people and the Government distinctly drawn and specifically 
 considered. 
 
 The venerable Colden, now at the head of the provincial government, 
 called the attention of the Legislature, in his message, to the " alarming 
 crisis," and admonished them that the country looked to them for wise 
 counsel. He was a Lovalist, but was now conservative in feeline. He 
 exhorted the Assembly to discontinue all -measures calculated to increase 
 the public distress, and promised them his aid. The response to the 
 message was drawn by Oliver de Lancey,* and took conservative ground. 
 
 * Oliver de Lancey, a brother of Lieutenant-Governor James de Lancey, wa-s born in 
 1717 ; died in England in 1785. He possessed large •CT-ealtli and great influence. He 
 adhered to the crown when the war for independence began ; was commissioned a 
 brigadier-general, and raised and commanded three battalions of Loyalists. His son, 
 Oliver, became a captain of cavalry, and succeeded 3Iajor Andre as adjutant-general 
 under General Clinton. The De Lanceys performed efficient service for the royal cause 
 in Westchester County, N. Y. At the close of the war the general, accompanied by 
 his son, went to England, where the latter rose to the rank of major-general, and at the 
 time of hLs death w:is almost at the liead of the British army list. The elder General De 
 Lancey became a member of Parliament. His nephew, .James de Lancey, commanded a 
 battalion of horse in Westchester County, and because of his zeal in supplying the Briti-sh 
 army with cattle from the farms of that county, his troopers were called <v/(r-6oy». Confis- 
 cation acts swept away the larger portion of the De Lancey estate in America. 
 
HU THE EMPIKE STATE. 
 
 At lengtli a question came up (January 20t!i, 1775) which tested tlie 
 ]X)litical character of tlie Assembly. Al)raliam Teubroeck moved that 
 tlie House sliould " take into consideration the proceedings of the Con- 
 tinental Congress," etc. The motion was negatived by a majority of 
 only one. Xotwithstanding the meagreness of this majority, the result 
 gave great juy to the Tories. One of them wrote to a gentleman in 
 Boston : ■' Worthy old Silver Locks (Lieutenant-Governor Golden), 
 when he heard that the Assembly had acted right, cried out, ' Lord, 
 now lettest thy servant depart in peace.' " 
 
 Soon after these efforts were made in the Assembly to bring it into sym- 
 pathetic action with those of the other colonies, Colonel Schuyler moved 
 that certain letters which had passed between the Committees of Corre- 
 spondence of New York and Connecticut, and a certain letter to Edmund 
 Burke (t^ie agent in England of the colony of New York), in June, 
 1774, on the subject of a general Congress, " be forthwith entered upon 
 the journals of the House and supplied to the new3papei"s for publica- 
 tion." It was rejected by a vote of 16 to 9. Colonel Nathaniel AVood- 
 liull moved that the thanks of the House should be given to the dele- 
 ijates in the late Continental Coniiress " for their faithful discliar<re of 
 
 n o o 
 
 the trust reposed in them."' This was negatived — 1.5 to 'J. By the 
 same vote a motion to tliaidi the merchants and others who had adhered 
 to the non-iniportation and non-intercourse league was negatived. A 
 motion to appoint delegates to the proposed second Continental Congress 
 was lost by a vote of 17 to *.>. 
 
 The Assembly agreed, by a majority vote, that Parliament had a right 
 to tax the colonies without their consent. Late in February a petition 
 to the king was presented for consideration. It was so cringing in tone 
 — speaking of the )nonarch as " an indulgent father" and tlie colonists 
 as " infants" who had " submitted hitherto without repining" to the 
 authority of " the parent" — that the manliness, the patriotism, and the 
 indignation of Schuyler and his friends were thoroughly aroused to most 
 vigorous ojjposition. Schuyler offered several amendments ; but these, 
 with resolutions presented by him, were voted down. Amendments 
 offered to a memorial to the Il(Uise of Lords met with similar treatment. 
 Finally the several papers adopted by the Assembly, though the}' did 
 not express the sentiments of the people of tlie jirovince, were ordered 
 to be sent to Mr. Burke. The As.sembly had l)een induced to send a 
 remonstrance to Parliament against its harsh treatment of the colonists. 
 Its terms, though mild, were so distasteful that it was not received by 
 Parliament. 
 
 Un April 3d, 1775, the I'rovinciul Assembly of New York — a legisla- 
 
THE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE AROUSED. 215 
 
 tive body which had existed more than one hundred years — was 
 adionrned never to meet again. The people now took public matters 
 into their own hands. Tiie whole continent was moving rapidly toward 
 an attitude of rebellion and self-government. The newspapers, as we 
 have observed, were filled with exciting matter, and warlike preparations 
 were observed on every side. General Gage, in command of troops at 
 Boston, became alarmed, and began fortifying Boston Xeck. He seized 
 and conveyed to that town quantities of gunpowder found in neighbor- 
 ing villages, and he adopted stringent measures to prevent intercourse 
 between citizens of the town and the country. 
 
 Fierce exasperation followed these impolitic measures, and it was not 
 long; before hundreds of armed men assembled at Cambridy'e. At 
 Charlestown, near Boston, the people took possession of the Arsenal 
 after Gage had carried off the powder. The people also captured the 
 fort at Portsmouth, jST. II., and carried off the powder. The people of 
 Rhode Island seized the powder and forty cannons at the entrance of 
 Newport Harbor. Similar defensive measures were taken at Philadel- 
 phia, Annapolis, Williamsburg, Charleston, and Savannah. 
 
 The Republicans of Xew York having failed in their efforts in the 
 Assembly to procure the appointment of delegates to the second Con- 
 tinental Congress, which was to convene on May lOtli, nothing was left 
 for them but to appeal to the people. The new general Committee of 
 Sixty, temporarily exercising governmental functions and yielding to the 
 pressure of popular sentiment, took measures for assembling a conven- 
 tion of representatives of the several counties in the province for the 
 purpose of choosing deputies to the General Congress. The Loyalists 
 opposed the measure as disrespectful to the Assembly, which had refused 
 to appoint delegates. 
 
 The ])eople, wearied of the Legislature, were now driven to a point 
 where respect for authorities whose views were not in consonance 
 with the spirit of liberty and free discussion was almost wholly un- 
 known. 
 
 They first rallied around the Liberty Pole (April 6th, ITT;')), beneath 
 a banner inscribed " Constitutional Liberty," and marching to the 
 Exchange, were met there by large numbers of Loyalists, led by members 
 of the Council and the Assembly, with officers of the army and navy, 
 who came to overawe the people. They failed. A Provincial Conven- 
 tion was called, and assembled at the Exchange, forty-two in number, 
 on April 20th, and chose Philip Livingston, James Duane, John Aisop, 
 John Jay, Simon Boerum, William Floyd, Henry Wisner, Philip 
 Schuyler, George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, and Robert R. 
 
216 THE EMT'IHE STATE. 
 
 Livingston deputies to represent the ])r()viiK'e of New York in the Con- 
 tinental Congress. 
 
 On May 22d (1775) deputies from the several counties assembled in 
 Jsew York and organized a Provincial Congress, with Peter van Brngli 
 Livingston, president; Yolkert P. Douvv, vice-president; and Jolm 
 McKesson and Uolicrt Benson, secretaries.* That body assumed the 
 functions of a provincial government, and utterly ignored the royal 
 governor and his f'ouncil. 
 
 Tiie great crisis was now approaching. When, just after tiie adjourn- 
 ment of the Provincial Convention (April 24-th), news came of the tragedy 
 at Lexington and Concord the public mind at Xew York was fearfully 
 excited by that intelligence, and by the arrest of Captain Isaac Sears, 
 the bold leader of the Sons of Liberty, on a charge of seditious Titter- 
 ances. On his M-ay to jail he was taken from the officers by his friends 
 and borne in trinnipli through the streets, preceded by a band of music 
 and a banner. Tluit niglit Sears addressed the people in " The Fields," 
 
 * Members of llie first Provincial Congress of New York, ■which met in the city of 
 New Yorlt on May 23ii, 1775 : 
 
 For the City and Coiinty of Keie York. — Isaac Low, L. Lispcnard, Abraliam Walton, 
 Isitac Roosevelt, Abraham Brasher, Alexander McDoujral, P. van Brugli Livinjjston, 
 James Beekman, Jolin Jlorin Scott, Thomas Smith, Benjamin Kissani. Samuel Verplanck, 
 David Clarkson, George Folliot, Joseph Ilallet, John van C'ortlamll, John de Lancey, 
 Ricliard Yates, John Marston, Walter Franklin, Jacobus van Zandt. 
 
 Fur thr Citji mid VoHiitij iif AViiiny. — Vollvcrt P. Douw, Abraham Yates, Robert Yates, 
 Jacob Cuyler, Peter Sylvester, Direk Swart, Waller Livingston, HoIkiI van Rcns,selaer, 
 Henry Glenn, Abraliam Tenbroeek, Francis NicoU. 
 
 For Ditc/tfss County. — Dirck Brinkerhoff, Andrew Hoffman, Zephaniah Piatt. Richard 
 Montgomery, Ephraim Paine, Gilbert Livingston. Jonatlian Langdon, Gysbert Schenck, 
 Melancton Smith, Natlianiel Sackett. 
 
 For Ulster County. — Colonel Jolni Ilardenburg, Egbert numond, Christoplier Tap- 
 pan, James Clinton, Dr. Charles Clinton, John Nicholson, .Tacob Ilornbeck. 
 
 For Oranne County. ^John Coe, David Pye, JlichacI Jackson, Benjamin Tustin, Peter 
 Clowes, WiUiara Allison. Abraham Lent. Jolin Ilaring. 
 
 For Suffo/k Coiinty. — Natlianiel Woodliull. John Sloss Ilobart. Ezra L'Hommedieu, 
 Tliomiui Wickham, Thomas; Treadwell, John Foster, James Haven, Sclah Strong. 
 
 For Rirhmond County. — Paul Micheau, John Journey, Richard Conner, Richard Law- 
 rence, Aaron Corlelyou. 
 
 For Westchester County. — Gouverneur Jlorris. Lewis Graham. James van Cortlandt, 
 Stephen Ward. Joseph Drake. Philip van Cortlandt, John Thomas, Jr., Rolnrt Graham, 
 William Paulding. 
 
 For Kinys County. — Jolin E. l.ott, Ileniy Williams. J. Rem.scn. Richard Stillwil!. 
 Theodore Polhemus. John LetTcrts, Nicholas Covenhoven. John Vandcrbilt. 
 
 For Queens Qninty. — Jacob Blackwell, Joseph I,awrenee, Daniel Rapelje, Zebulon 
 AVilliams, Samuel Townsend, Joseiih Trench, Joseph Robinson, Nathaniel Tom, Thomas 
 Hicks, Richard Thone, 
 
 For Charlotte. — Dr. John Williams, William Marston. 
 
COMMITTEES IN NEW YORK CITY. 217 
 
 and a few days afterward lie was elected a member of the Provincial 
 Congress. 
 
 The aroused Sons of Liberty embargoed all vessels in the harbor laden 
 with provisions for the Eritish troops in Boston. They did more ; they 
 demanded and received the keys of the Custom House, dismissed the 
 employes, and closed it. They also seized public arms, and placed a 
 guard at the arsenal. Then they boldly proclaimed this overt act of 
 treason to their brethren in other cities. General alarm prevailed, espe- 
 cially among the Tories. A Grand Committee of Safety, consisting of 
 one hundred of the most respectable citizens,* was organized, and a 
 military association for practice in the use of fire-arms was formed. The 
 Committee of One Hundred assumed the functions of municipal 
 government. 
 
 When the Provincial Congress assembled its complexion disappointed 
 the people. Toryism and timidity prevailed in that bod}', and schemes 
 for conciliation instead of measures for defence occupied the majority. 
 Family influence was very powerful in the colony in every department 
 of social life, and through it the Provincial Assembly and the Provincial 
 Congress were loyally inclined. The masses of the peojile were chiefly 
 Republican in feeling, and Toryism in the Provincial Congress, hard 
 pressed by popular sentiment and the influence of important events daily 
 occurring, was soon compelled to yield. When it was finally crushed 
 out, no province or State was more patriotic and more active in the cause 
 of liberty than New York. With a population of only 104,000 in 1780, 
 
 * The following are the names of the Committee of One Hundred : Isaac Low, chair- 
 man ; Jolin Jay. Francis Lewis, John Alsop. Philip Livingston, James Duane. Evert 
 Duyckman, 'William Seton, William W. Ludlow, Cornelius Clopper, Abraham Briuker- 
 hoff, Henry Remsen, Robert Ray. Evert Bancker, JoseiJh Totten. Abraham P. Lott, 
 David Beekman, Isaac Roosevelt, Gabriel H. Ludlow, William Walton, Daniel Pha?nix, 
 Frederick Jay, Samuel Broome, John do Lancey, Augustus van Home, Abraham 
 Duryee, Samuel Verplanck, Rudolphus Ritzema, John ^lorton, Joseph Hallet, Robert 
 Benson, Abraham Brasher, Leonard Lispenard, Nicholas Hoffman, Peter van Brugh 
 Livingston, Thomas Marsten, Lewis Pintard. John Imlay, Elcazer Miller, Jr., John 
 Broome, John B. ^Moore, Nicholas Bogart, John Anthony, Victor Bicker, William 
 Goforth. Hercules Mulligan, Alexander McDougal. John Reade, Joseph Ball, George 
 Jaueway, John White, Gabriel W. Ludlow, .lohn Lasher, Theophilus Anthony, Thom;is 
 Smith. Hichanl Yates, Oliver Templeton, Jacobus van Landby, Jeremiah Platl. Peter 
 S. Curtenius, Thomas Randall, Lancaster Burling, Benjamin Kissam, Jacob Lefferts, 
 Anthony van Dam, xVbraham Walton, Hamilton Young, Nicholas Roosevelt, Cornelius 
 P. Low, Francis Bassett, James Beekman, Thomas Ivers, William Dunning, .John 
 Berrien, Benjamin Helme, William W. Gilbert, Daniel Dunscombe, .John Lamb, Richard 
 Sharp, John Morin .Scott, Jacob van Voorhis, Comfort Sands, Edward Fkmming, Peter 
 Goelet, Gerrit Kettletas, Thomas Buchanan, James Desbrosses, Petrns Byvanck, and 
 Lott Embree. 
 
218 TlIK KMI'Iin-; STATK. 
 
 of wlinin 32,500 were liable to military duty, New York had fnriiislied 
 17,7SO soldiei-s for the Continental Army, or over 300(t more than Con- 
 gress ret^uired. Even at the junetiire we are considering, tiie Provincial 
 Congress authorized the raising and furnishing of four regiments, the 
 constriu'tion of fortifications at tlie northern end of Ar;in]iattan Island, 
 and fortifications in the Hudson Highlands. 
 
 Aircadv the lirst military coiujucst made by the Americans in tin; old 
 war for iiidepentlonce had been achieved within tlie jirovince of Now 
 York. It M-as done chietiy by the prowess of (ireen Mountain Boys, 
 who liad so long and so successfully defied the authorities and the land 
 speculators of Xew York. Benedict Arnold, of Connecticut, who liad 
 liasteneJ to Cambridge with a military company on hearing of the affrays 
 at Lexington and Concord, proposed to tlie Massachusetts Provincial 
 Congress the seizure of the stronghold of Ticnnderoga, on Lake Cham- 
 plain, lie was commissioned a colonel, and authorized to raise men for 
 the enterprise. Meanwhile some Connecticut people, bent on a similar 
 enterprise, had repaired to I'ittsfield, in Western Massachusetts, where 
 they M-ere joined by Colonels Iviton and Brown and some of their 
 followers. Tiiey all wont to Bennington, where Colonel Ethan Allen 
 and a considerable force of Green Mountain Boys joined them. The 
 whole force rendezvoused at Castleton, wiiere tiiey chose Allen as com- 
 mander-in-chief of the expedition. There Arnold joined tiie little host 
 with a few followers, and, by virtue of liis commission, claimed the right 
 to supreme command. Tiie Green jMountain Boys objected. Arnold 
 yielded. On the night of May '.Hh (lT7r>) most of the little army crossed 
 Lake Champlain near Ticonderoga, and at early dawn on the 10th Allen 
 and Arnold, with a considerable force, having seized the sentinel at the 
 sallyport, passed through a covered way, and before they were discovered 
 were on the parade within the fort. They liad taken the garrison by 
 surprise. Allen proceeded to the cpiarters of the commandant, who had 
 just been awakened from his slumbers, and demanded the surrender of 
 the fort. 
 
 " By what authority do you make such a demand f ' asked the com- 
 mandant, who knew Allen. 
 
 " By the authority of the (ireat .lehovaii and the Continental 
 Congress I" said Allen, in a loud voice. Dubious about Allen's divine 
 authority, the comniandaiit nevertheless yielded, altiiotigh the Con- 
 tinental Congress did not exis'^ until some hours later on that day. The 
 spoils of victory comprised 120 iron cannons, at) swivels, 2 mortars, and 
 a large amount of ammniiition and stores, which were useil in the siege 
 of Boston a few months afterward. Two days later Colonel Seth 
 
FUNCTIONS OF THK CONTIXEXTAL CONGRESS. 
 
 219 
 
 "Wanier and some Green Mountain Boys took possession of Crown Point, 
 a few miles from Ticonderoga. Thus, at the outset of the war, tlie 
 Eepubhcans gained possession of Lake Champlain and the key to 
 Canada. 
 
 On the day of tlie capture of Ticonderoga (^lay 10th, ITTSj tlie second 
 Continental Congress assembled at Philadelphia, and chose Peyton Pan- 
 dolph president and Charles Thomson secretary. The grave questions 
 arose, What are we here for '. and "What are our powers \ They simply 
 composed a large Committee of Conference like the Congress of 1774, 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 RrrSS OF FOKT TlCO.VDEKl>(;\.* 
 
 without specifically delegated legislative or executive powers ; yet the 
 common-sense of the inhabitants of the colonies represented there at that 
 perilous hour, regarded them as fully invested with supreme legislative and 
 executive functions. The deference paid by the provincial authorities 
 of Massachusetts and New York in askinjr the advice of Congress about 
 public affairs was a tacit acknowledgment of the supremacy of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, and action was taken accordingly. That body pro- 
 ceeded to issue bills of credit, create an army and navy, establish a 
 postal .service, and to do all other acts of sovereignty. 
 
 * This Ls a view of the ruins of the famous old fort as it appeared in 184)?, taken from 
 the bank of the lake. The place of the covered way through which Alien and his 
 followers entered the fort was at the left comer of the picture near the sheep in the fore- 
 {rround. 
 
220 TIIH KMIMItK STATK. 
 
 ^Meanwhile the patriots of New England liad gathered in large numhers 
 around Boston, determined to confine the I'ritisli troops that occupied 
 tlie town witliin the hounds of tlie peninsula. The battle of Ihinkcr 
 (Breed's) Hill was fought on June ]7th ; a Continental Army had just 
 heen organized, and CTCorge Washington, of Virginia, a])pointcd its com- 
 mander-in-chief ; and the Continental Congress made vigorous pre[)ara- 
 tions for the defence of liberty in .Vnierica. 
 
 Rumors reached the Provincial Congress of Xcw York that British 
 troops were con)ing from Ireland to occupy the city. That body, now 
 somewhat purged of its Toryism by intelligence from the East, invited 
 General Wooster, who was in command of a body of militia at Green- 
 wich, in Connecticut, for the defence of the shores of that colony, to 
 come to the jjrotection of New York. He encamped at Harlem for 
 several weeks, and sent detachments to drive ofF marauders on Long 
 Island, who were stealing cattle for the use of the British Army at 
 Boston. His presence so emboldened the patriots at Kew York that at 
 midnight late in July they captured British stores on the eastern verge 
 of ^Manhattan Island (foot of present Forty-seventh Street), and sent 
 part of them to the American army before Boston and a part to the 
 jjarrison at Ticonderoga. Thev also seized a tender belonwing; to the 
 As/'a, a British man-of-war lying in Xew York Harbor. 
 
 Governor Tryon had returned to New York in the Aft/a late in June, 
 and was received with much respect ; but he soon offended the Repub- 
 licans. The energetic action of the Committee of Gne Handled soon 
 taught him to be circumspect in public, but he was continually engaged 
 in private intrigues m fostering the spirit of Toryism in the Provincial 
 Congress. 
 
 Washington arrived at New York on his way to take command of the 
 army at Cambridge on the same day when Tryon arrived at Sandy Ilook 
 (June 25th, 1775). This coincidence embarrassed the Provincial Con- 
 gress and the municipal authorities. The public functions of the two 
 men were seriously antagonistic, and their respective political friends 
 were fiercely hostile. To avoid offence honors must be given to both. 
 What was to be done ? Fortunately, these magnates did not reach the 
 city simultaneously. Washington and his party, to avoid British vessels 
 ill the harbor, were landed at the seat of Colonel Lispenard, on the 
 Hudson, about a mile above the town, in the afternoon, and were con- 
 ducted into the city by nine companies of foot and a great multitude of 
 citizens, where they were received by the civil authorities. Tiie Presi- 
 dent of the Congress (Philip Livingston) pronounced a cautious and con- 
 servative address, to which the general replied. Governor Tryon arrived 
 
ELEMENTS OF WEAKNESS IN NEW YORK. 
 
 221 
 
 four liotirs later, and was conducted to the house of Hugh Wallace, Esq. 
 The civic and military ceremonies -were partially repeated in the evening, 
 and all parties were satisfied. It w;i.s a memorable Sabbath day in Xew 
 York. 
 
 The province of Kew York at this crisis presented three dangerous 
 elements of weakness — namely, an 
 exposed frontier, a wily and pow- 
 erful internal foe (Indians and 
 Tories), and a demoralizing loyalty. 
 On its northern border was Canada 
 with a population practically neu- 
 tral on the great question at issue, 
 and prone to he hostile to the 
 patriots. The central and western 
 regions of the province were swarm- 
 ing with the Six Xations of Iroquois, 
 whose almost universal loyalty had 
 now been secured by the influence 
 of Sir AYilliam Johnson and his 
 famil}', while nearer the seaboard 
 and in the metropolis, family com- 
 pacts and commercial interests were powerfully swayed by traditional and 
 natural attachments to tlie crown. These neutralized, to a great extent, 
 
 PHILIP LIVINGSTON. 
 
 * Philip Liviiig.ston was one of the most energetic, upright, public-spirited, and 
 esteemed business men in the province of New York at the period immediately preceding 
 the Revolution ; and lie was one of the most trustworthy and efficient of the supporters 
 of the cause of the American patriots. He was a grandson of Robert Livingston, the 
 Ijrst " Lord of the Manor." He was born in Albany in 1716, the year when the manor 
 was first accorded the privilege of a representative in the Colonial .^.ssenibly. He became 
 a merchant, and a most energetic and thrifty one ; and he entered vigorously into the 
 heated political discussions before the old war for independence began. His business was 
 in New York City, where he was alderman nine years. He represented the manor in the 
 -\ssembl_v during the French and Indian War, where he had great influence as a leader 
 of the patriotic party in that body, with Colonel Schuyler, Pierre van Cortlandt, Charles 
 De Witt, etc. ; and corresponded much with Edmund Burke. Mr. Livingston represented 
 New York in the first Continental Congress, and was on the committee that prepared 
 the remarkable " Address to the People of Great Britain," which drew forth warm 
 encomiums from William Pitt (Lord Chatham). He was an active member of tbe New 
 York Provincial Congress in 1TT5, and earnestly supported the proposition for inde- 
 pendence, signing the great Declaration. Mr. Livingston was a member of the first 
 Senate of the Stale of New York, and also a delegate in the General Congress. When 
 the sessions of that body were held at Lancaster and York his health rapidly failed, and 
 he died at York on June llth, 1778 He was one of the founders of the New York 
 Society Library, of King's (now Columbia) College, and of the Chamber of Commerce. 
 
322 TIIK KMI'IIU: STATE. 
 
 the inlluenee of tlic iow sturdy patriots ■who, in tlie face of frowns and 
 ineiuiees and the fears of the timid, kept the fires of the Revolution 
 liurninj; witli continually increasing brightness. 
 
 The whole province of New York constituted the " Xorthern Depart- 
 ment" of tlie Continental >Vrniy. Washington placed it under the 
 charge of Philip Schuyler, one of his four major-generals, whose sleep- 
 less vigilance caused him to be designated the " Great Eye" of the 
 department. In his instructions to Schuyler, given at Xew York, 
 Washington admonished him to " keep a watchful eye upon (xovernor 
 Tryon," and to use every means in his power to frustrate his designs 
 " inimical to the common cause." 
 
 Affairs on Lake Ciuim plain demanded Schuyler's first and most earnest 
 attention, for the possession of Canada by an alliance or by conquest was 
 a consideration of the greatest consequence. As the inhabitants were 
 French Roman Catholics, having no sympathy in religion or nationality 
 with either jjarty, they were objects of great solicitude to lioth. Friendly 
 overtures were made to them by the colonies then in league, but imprudent 
 language interfered. Had wise words and measures been adopted at the 
 outset the Canadians might have l)een easily won to an alliance, for a 
 traditional feuil between tlie Frencli and English had existed for a 
 thousand years, and the recent conquest of Canada by the Englisii was 
 yet a cause for much irritation ; or had Congress acted promptly upon 
 the suggestions of Colonels Allen and Arnold soon after the capture of 
 Ticonderoga, Canada might have been easily won by conquest. The 
 Xew York Provincial Congress thought it an '"' impertinent proposal 
 coming from Allen, a man who had been outlawed by the authorities of 
 Xew York." 
 
 The two heroes (Allen and Arnold) had already on their own respon- 
 sibility taken preliminary steps toward such conquest. They went down 
 the lake in a schooner and bateaux with armed men, and Arnold 
 captured St. Johns, on the Sorel (the outlet of the lake\ but could not 
 hold the i^rize. Again, wiien Arnold heard that the Governor of Canada 
 had sent an armed force to St. Johns for the purpose of attempting the 
 recapture of the lake forts, he proceeded without authority to fit out, 
 arm, and man with one hundred and fifty persons all tiie vessels he could 
 lay his hands upon, and, as self-constituted connnodore, he took post at 
 Crown Point and awaited the coming of the foes. They did not come. 
 This was the first Continental Xavy. It w<is put afloat in Xew York 
 waters before the middle of June, 1775. 
 
 Colonel Allen and his lieiitciiunt, Seth Warner, a)ipeared l)efore the 
 Continental Congress at Piiiladelphia, and on the floor of the House he 
 
E-AFPLOYMENT OF GREEN MOUXTAIX BOYS. '2i:i 
 
 revealed to the members, in quaint phrases and with slow speech, the 
 state of affairs on the northern frontier, and iirtjed tiie importance of an 
 immediate invasion of Canada before the small British force there should 
 be increased. He asked for authority to raise a new regiment of Green 
 Mountain Boys for that service. His words so deeply impressed the 
 members that on June ITth they 
 
 ^'Hesolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of Kew York 
 that they, consulting with General Schuyler, employ in the army to be 
 raised for the defence of America those called ' Green Mountain Boys,' 
 under such officers as the said Green Moiintaiu Boys shall choose." 
 
 Allen and Warner soon appeared in New York and craved an audience 
 with the Provincial Congress. Their errand produced much embarrass- 
 ment. How could members treat with men who had recently been pro- 
 claimed outlaws ? Debates ran high, when Captain Sears moved that 
 '•' Ethan Allen be admitted to the floor of the House." The motion was 
 adopted by a large majority. The old feud was instantly healed, and 
 the Congress decreed that a regiment of Green Mountain Boys, five 
 hundred strong, should be raised. 
 
 Already Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, had sent troops to 
 Ticonderosra, under Colonel Hinman, who held the chief command there 
 until superseded by General Schuyler. The military force then in the 
 province did not exceed three thousand men fit for duty, and yet prepa- 
 rations were made in Xew York for an invasion of Canada. The visit of 
 Allen and Warner had quickened the perceptions of the Continental 
 Congress of the necessity of such an invasion, and on June 2Tth that 
 body ordered General Schuyler, if he should " find it practicable and 
 not disagreeable to the Canadians, immediately to take possession of 
 St. Johns and Montreal, and pursue such other measures in Canada as 
 might have a tendency to promote the peace and security of these prov- 
 inces*' — in other words, to undertake an armed invasion of Canada. 
 
2-U 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 CITAl'TKU XYT. 
 
 General Sciuvlkk liad accoiiipaiiiL'il Washington from I'liilailelpliia 
 to New York. When liu arrived at Albany early in July he found the 
 
 aspect of affairs in Northern New 
 York dark and unpromising to the 
 lie])nl)iican cause. 
 
 Sir William Johnson,* who had 
 taken sides with the crown in the 
 political movements of the time, 
 had died the previous autumn. His 
 mantle of almost unlmnnded influ- 
 enceoverthe Indians of the Mdhawk 
 Valley and beyond had fallen iipon 
 his energetic son-in-law, (yolonel 
 Guy Johnson, who succeeded him 
 as Superintendent of Indian Affairs. 
 Sir William's son John inherited 
 the title and estates of the baronet, 
 and was at that time earnestly en- 
 gaged in keeping Toryism actively 
 alive in the Mohawk Yalley. He 
 had been appointed, in 1774, brigadier-general of the militia of Tiwou 
 County, which extended west of Albany County almost indefinitely. 
 These successors of Sir AVilliam, especially Guy, professed peaceable 
 
 8IK WILMAM JOIIMSOX. 
 
 * Sir AVilliara Jolin.ion was a conspicuous charaottT in llie Inter period of the colonial 
 liistory of New York. He was a native of Ireland, where lie wsis born in 1715. Educated 
 for a merchant, an iinforliinate love affair clianjred the tenor of his life. He eaine to 
 America to take charge of landed [iropcrty in the re;;ion of tlie Muliawk Valley belonging 
 lo his uncle. Admiral Sir Pcler Warren. His good treatment of tlie Indians made him ii 
 favorite with tliem, lie laiilt a tine mansion (yet stan<ling), which he called " .lohnson 
 Ilall," and there the village of .lohnstown. in Fulton County, now flourishes. lie 
 married a pretty German girl, by whom he had two children, a .son (.iflerward Sir John 
 Johnson) and a daughter. By his lious<'keeper, Mary Urant. the sister of IJranl. the 
 celebrated Mohawk chief, he had eight children. She lived with him until his death in 
 1774. When the French and Indian War broke out Johnson was appointed sole agent 
 of Indian affairs in the province of New York, and managed tlu; business most judi- 
 <iously. The king granted him 100,000 acres of land in tlie Mohawk Valley. He lived 
 on his domain in his fine mansion in rude baronial splendor. 
 
(U'V JOHNSON A>il) TIIK INDIAN'S. 
 
 225 
 
 intentions, l)ut tlie movements of tlio latter liad lieen so snspicious for 
 some time that tlie patrioti(! citizens of Tryon Connty were iilleil with 
 apprehensions. 
 
 Guy Jolmson M-as lioldinij a council, in tin; spring of ITT."), with the 
 Indians at his lionse* (near the 
 present village of Amsterdam), on 
 the Molniwk, \vhen new.s from 
 Lexington and intinnitions that ho 
 was abont to ho arrested so alarmed 
 him that he hastily adjonrned the 
 council, tirst to the German Flats 
 and tlien to Fort Stanwix, now 
 
 Home. lie liad taken his family with him. lie soon inished onward 
 to tlie heart of the country of the fierce Cayngas and Senecas, and at 
 Ontario (according to tradition) he called a great council of the Six 
 
 SIGNATUKK OF Silt WII.T.IAM .lOII.NSOX. 
 
 
 '■vv^-f, 
 
 
 'ftn^qirii' 
 
 GUY .lOHNSON S HOUSE. 
 
 ]!^ations. lie was accompanied by Braut (whose sister had been tlie 
 concubine — the wife, accoi'ding to Indian customs — of Sir William) as 
 
 * Tliis liousc, substantially built of stone, i.s yet standing on the north side of the 
 Mohawk River, a mile from the village of Amsterdam, in Montgomery County. Sir 
 "William Johnsun had an equally strong mansion, two stories in Iieight, with a high 
 peaked roof, wherein he resided twenty years before he built Johnson Hall. It is yet 
 standing, about three miles west of Amsterdam. It was fortified and ealled " Fort 
 Johnson." 
 

 TIIK K.MPIItr. STATK. 
 
 liis scerotiirv ; :ilsci hy Cidonel John Butler and liis eon Walter, wlio Avas 
 afterward en^airud in Moody forays iiiion tlie defenceless -white iidiah- 
 itants of the ^foliawk rej^ion. 
 
 The council at Ontario, at which ahnnt l'onrt(!cn hundred harharians 
 were assenililcd, was satisfactory to Colonel .lohnson. Thence lie went 
 to Oswej^o and invited rei)resentatives of the Six Nations to meet him in 
 
 JOHNBON n.M.L.f 
 
 (Knim 11 plcL'tfli mmlc in 18J8.) 
 
 council there, to " feast on a Dostonian and to drink liis hlood " — in other 
 ■words, to eat a roasted ox and to drink' a J'ipi; of wine." The council 
 was held ; and at the ct)nclnsion Johnson, with a large nundier of 
 Iroquois chiefs anil \varriors, crossed Lake Ontario, went down tlie St. 
 Lawrence to ^[ontreal, ami entered the I'ritish military service. Tliey 
 were chiefly Mohnwks under Brant. 
 
 * Somo doubt lins bepii expressed by a late invest iftator (Mr. A. McF. Davis) as to tiM 
 conferences in the suninicr of 1775, iis Ontario and t)swego were names sometimes applied 
 to the same place at the mouth of the Oswego liiver by writers at that day. There was 
 a place in the Seneca country on the borders of Lake Ontario called " Ontario," where a 
 conference inatj have been laid, us stated in the text. 
 
 \ Johnson Hall, yet .standing upo;i a gentle eminence about three fomlhs of a mile 
 north of the court house in the village of .Johnstown. Fidton County, was liiiilt about llie 
 year 1700 by Sir William Johnson, and was, probably, the linest mansion in the ])rovince 
 of New York at that lime. The main building is of wood, dapboardeil in a maimer to 
 represent blocks of stone. It is forty feet wide, sixty feet long, and two stories high. 
 The detached wings, built for flanking block-hou.se.s, are of stone. The walls are very 
 thiek, and pierced near the eaves for musketry. One of these was recently removed. 
 
COMMISSIOXERS OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 327 
 
 While Guy Johnson was tlius forming an active alliance of many of 
 the tribes of the Six Nations (and especially the Mohawks) with the 
 British in Canada, Sir John Johnson remained at Johnson Hall, the seat 
 of Sir William, which he had fortified, exerting an equally powerful 
 influence in a more quiet way in favor of the crown as a military leader 
 and as a manorial proprietor over a large number of Scotch retainers, 
 M'ho were all Loyalists. 
 
 So was inaugurated the coalition with the British of Indians and Tories 
 in ]S^ew York, whose atrocious deeds in the ]V[oliawk region gave it the 
 name of '' The Dark and Bloody Ground." 
 
 The Continental Congress now perceiving the necessity of securing the 
 neutrality if not the alliance of the Indians, established a Board of Com- 
 missioners of Indian Affairs in three departments. General Schuyler, 
 Major Joseph Hawley, Turbutt Francis, Oliver Wolcott, and Volkert 
 P. Douw were appointed commissioners for the Northern De])artnient. 
 Through this Board Congress addressed earnest and friendly " talks" to 
 the Six Nations, entreating them not to engage in the contest. " This 
 is a family quarrel between us and Old England," they said. " You 
 Indians are not concerned in it. We do not wish you to take up the 
 hatchet against the king's troops. We desire you to remain at home 
 and not join on either side." 
 
 Had a like humane and discreet policy governed the councils of the 
 British Ministry many a horrible deed the record of which stains the 
 annals of the period might never have been committed. 
 
 Tionderoga, or Ticonderoga, was made the ])oint of rendezvous for 
 the troops designed for the invasion of Canada. Schuyler was there at 
 the middle of July. Only a handful of meanly-clad and poorly-fed 
 armed men were there, under the command of Colonel Ilinman, among 
 whom insubordination was the rule. Brigadier-General Richard Mont- 
 gomery, Schuyler's second in command, had been left at Albany to 
 receive and discipline troops that might arrive until the commissariat at 
 Ticonderoga should be in an efficient condition. 
 
 It had been agreed that Connecticut should furnish men and New 
 York supplies. Both were tardy in performance, and the summer was 
 almost ended before there was a sufficient force fairly equipped at 
 Ticonderoga to warrant Schuyler in ordering an advance toward Canada. 
 Washington, in command of the Continental troops before Boston, gave 
 all aid to the enterprise in his power, and when the movement began he 
 sent Colonel Arnold Avith over a thousand men across the wilderness of 
 Western Maine to co-operate in efforts to seize Quebec. 
 
 The Provincial Congress of New York was almost powerless to act. 
 
228 '11 IK EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 '* You cannot conceive," wrote its president to General Schuj'ler in 
 August, " the trouble we have with our troops for want of money. To 
 ilnc hour we have not received a shilling of the public money. Two of 
 our menihcrs have been at Pliihidelphia almost a fortnight waiting for 
 tlie Ciish. ( >ur men insist on being paid before they marcli. not tlifir 
 subsistence only, l)ut also their billeting money. Perhaps no men have 
 been more embarrasseil than we." 
 
 This inability was called indifference by some and disaffection by 
 othei-s, and drew forth ungenerous reflections. " That Congress," 
 wrote Samuel Mott to Governor Trumbull from Tieonderoga, " are still 
 unsound at heart. They make a great noise and send forward a few 
 officers to command ; but as to soldiers in the service, I believe they are 
 not more than one hundred and fifty strong at all the posts this side of 
 Albany." And Major Brown, then on a mission in Canada, wrote to 
 the same gentleman : " The New Yorkers have acted a droll part, and 
 are determined to defeat us if they can." 
 
 Schuyler had sent Major Brown, an American and a resident on the 
 Sorel, into Canada for information. At the middle of August he rejjorted 
 that there were seven hundred regular troops in Canada, of whom three 
 hundred were at St. Johns ; that live hundred Tories and Indians under 
 Sir Jolm Johnson were near Montreal trying to persuade the Caughna- 
 wagas to join them ; that the French Canadians, restive under British 
 rule, were generally disposed to remain neutral, and that he believed the 
 conquest of Canada, if undertaken at once, might easily be achieved. 
 
 Schuyler now resolved to push forward as speedily as possible. Troops 
 and supplies were coming forward. The Provincial Congress of New 
 York was using every effort to furnish its one thousand men. Four 
 regiments Avere organized under the respective commands of Colonels 
 McDougal, Van Schaick, Clinton, and Holmes, and Captain John Lamb 
 was authorized to raise a company of artillery one hundred strong, to be 
 attached to McDougal's regiment. The Committee of Safety of New 
 Hampshire sent to the gathering army on the lake three companies, under 
 Colonel Bedel, who were accustomed to the woods and well acijuainted 
 with Canada. But the Green Mountain Boys were tardy in forming 
 their regiment. 
 
 Toward the close of August the troops at Tieonderoga moved do\vn 
 the lake under the command of Generals Montgomery* and Wooster, 
 
 * Richard Montgomery wa.s born in tho north of Ireland in 1736 ; entered the British 
 Army ; a.>isisted in Hit' cnplurc of Quebec in IT.IO ; wjvs in the eampaign against Havana 
 with General Lyman, and, returning to New York, he made that city his residence. He 
 ■went to England, sold his commission in 1772, came back, and bought a beautiful estate 
 
CAPTUKE OF ST. J0H:S^S AND MONTREAL. 
 
 229 
 
 -i: 
 
 and took post at Isle aux Xoix, on the Sorel, a few miles above St. 
 
 Johns. There Schuyler joined them. He had been in attendance npon 
 
 his duty as Commissioner of Indian AfiEairs in holding a conference ■with 
 
 representatives of the Six Nations 
 
 at Albany. The troops remained 
 
 at Isle anx !Noix until the middle 
 
 of September, when Schuyler, 
 
 prostrated by illness, transferred 
 
 the chief command to Montgomery 
 
 and returned to Ticouderoga. 
 
 On the day of Schuyler's de- 
 parture ('Septefn])er 25th) Mont- 
 gomery advanced npon the fort at 
 St. Johns with aboxit a thousand 
 men without artillery, and began a 
 siege on the ISth. The garrison, 
 commanded by Colonel Preston, 
 maintained a vigorous resistance for 
 more than a month. The fort was 
 surrendered to Montgomery on 
 November 3fl, 1775. 
 
 Durino- the siege small detachments from Montgomerv's force went 
 out npon daring enterprises. Colonel Ethan Allen had joined the little 
 patriot army. At the head of eighty men, at the suggestion of Colonel 
 John Brown, wlio was to co-operate with him, he pushed across the St. 
 Lawrence to attack Montreal. Brown failed to co-operate. AUen was 
 defeated, made prisoner, and was sent to England to be tried for treason, 
 but was exchanged in ilay, 177S. Montgomery took Montreal. 
 
 General Montgomery wrote to the Continental Congress : "■ Until 
 Quebec is taken Canada remains unconquered." Impressed with this 
 idea, he lost no time in pressing toward Quebec in the face of terrible 
 discouragements — inclement weather, the desertion of troops, hostility 
 of the Canadians, and a lean commissariat. Frost was binding the 
 ■waters, snow was mantling the whole country, and the rigoi's of a 
 Canadian winter menaced him. 
 
 GENERAL RICHAKD MONTGOSIERV. 
 
 on the east bank of the Hudson, in Duchess Countv, and soon afterward married a 
 daughter of Robert Livingston. He espoused the patriot cause ; was comnii-ssioned a 
 brigadier-general, and joined General Schuyler in the expedition to conquer Canada in 
 177.5. He was in chief command of the troops that captured St. Johns and Montreal, 
 and laid siege to Quebec. In an attack upon that city he was killed. There is a fine 
 memorial monument to his mcraorv on the front of St. Paul's Church, Xcw York City. 
 
nw 
 
 Till-: E>[PIRE STATE. 
 
 Twent}' miles above Quebec Montgomery met Arnold (December 
 lltli) with a shattered remnant of his followers, tattered and torn, who 
 had been driven from before the city, when woollen suits brought from 
 Montreal were placed upon their shivering limbs. The united forces 
 stood iipon the Plains of Abraham, before Quebec, on December 
 1st, and demanded tlie surrender of the city. A scornful refusal 
 was followed by a siege which lasted three weeks. It was carried on 
 with a few light cannons and mortars jnountcd upon brittle ice redoubts, 
 the men exposed to almost daily snow-storms in tlie open fields. 
 
 On the early morning of the last 
 day of the year 1775 the little be- 
 sieging army attempted to take 
 (ijuebec by storm. Tiie force Av;i.s 
 divided. One portion was led by 
 Montgomery on the St. Lawrence 
 side of the town ; the other portion 
 was led by Arnold on tlio St. 
 Charles side. Tliey were to meet 
 and attempt a forced entrance into 
 the city througli Prescott Gate at 
 Mountain Street. Just before 
 dawn, while he was pressing for- 
 ward at the head of the New York 
 troojis in the face of a blinding 
 snowstorm, Montgomery w;is killed 
 by a grape-shot from a masked bat- 
 tery at the foot of Cape Diamond. 
 Arnold had been wounded and sent to a hospital. After a fnrtlier strug- 
 gle the British made a sortie through Palace Gate and captured the whole 
 of Arnold's division. Arnold, now in chief command, retreated a few 
 miles up the St. Lawrence, and for a while blockaded the garrison at 
 Quebec. He M'as soon succeeded in command by General Wooster,* 
 Avlio came down from Montreal. 
 
 nAvm woosTKU ix 1758. 
 
 * David Woostcr was Ixirii iit Stratford, Conn., March ad. 1710. and wa.s educated at 
 Yale College. He performed excellent military service anion-; provincial forces before 
 the Revolution. lie wa,s colonel of a Connecticut regiment, and iK'canie a brigadier- 
 general in the French and Indian ^Yar. lie wsus with Allen iind Arnold at the capture of 
 Ticondcroga in 1775 ; wa-s in command in Canada, witli the commission of a brigadier- 
 general, in the spring of 1776, and on hi.< return wsis made first major-general of Con- 
 • necticut militia. Opposing the inva.sion of his Slate in tlic spring of 1777, he was fatally 
 wounded in a skirmish at Uidgefleld, and died on May 2d. 
 
GfENERAL SCHUYLER AXI) SIR J. .lOIINSOX. 
 
 231 
 
 General Scliuyler liad just lieanl of tlie death of Montgomery, when 
 he was called up the Moliawk Valley to disarm the Tories of Tryon 
 County. It was evident tliat Sir John Johnson and his retainers were 
 preparing for au active armed alliance with the British in Canada. 
 Schuyler, acting under instructions from the Continental Congress, called 
 for seven hundred militia to assist him. The response was marvellous. 
 Before he reached Caughnawaga on the Mohawk, a few miles from 
 Johnson Hall, he had three thou- 
 sand armed followers, including 
 nine hundred of the Tryon County 
 militia. 
 
 By appointment Schuyler met 
 the baronet at tlie late residence 
 of Guy Johnson, o!i the Mohawk, 
 from whom he demanded, as terms 
 of peace, the immediate cessation 
 of all hostile demonsti'ations ; the 
 surrender of all arms, ammunition, 
 and stores in the possession of 
 Johnson ; the delivery to him of 
 all the arms and accoutrements 
 held by the Tories and Indians, and 
 Sir John's parole of honor not to 
 act inimically to the patriot cause. 
 Sir Jolin was compelled to comply with the terms, and gave his pledge.* 
 
 On January 19th (1776) the expedition \inder Schuyler was at Johns- 
 town, where the arms and military stores were delivered up, and at noon 
 the next day nearly three hundred Scotch Highlanders laid down their 
 arms before a line of armed militia in the streets of Johnstown. The 
 Mohawks meanwhile had remained neutral. "With six Scottish chiefs 
 and more than one liuiulred Tory prisoners, and some heavy guns as 
 trophies, Schuyler marched l)ack to Albany. He had disarmed between 
 six and seven hundred Tories, conciliated the Mohawks, and diluted 
 
 SIR JOHN .lOnNSON. 
 
 * Sir .Tohu Johnson was born in 1743 ; died at Montreal June 4th, 1830. In 1774 lie 
 ■was appoiuti'd major-general of the New York militia. He was an active Tory and 
 British jiartisan during the old war for independence, and ]irodue(.'d great distress among 
 the patriotic inhabitants of the -Alohawk Valley by participation with the Indians on their 
 destructive forays with his " Royal Greens," a partisan corps. lie went to England, but 
 returned in 1785 and resided in Canada, where he was made Superintendent of Indian 
 Affairs. He was also a member of the Legislative Coimeil of Canada. To compensate 
 liim for his losses, the British Government made him grants of land in Canada. 
 
232 THE KMPIKK ST.VTE. 
 
 the loyalty of some of the most ])i-<jiiiiiieiit leaders among the Six 
 oSations. 
 
 During tlio suiiinior and fall of 177.") stirring events occnn-ed in the 
 city of New York. The course of Governor Tryon was so evidently 
 hostile to the Ivepuhlican cause that the Provincial Congress, now 
 governed by the popular will, and perceiving a resort to arms to be 
 inevitable, ordered Captain John Lamb, then recruiting an artillery com- 
 pany, to take the cannons from the fort and the grand battery to a place of 
 safety. With a small military force and a body of citizens led by Cap- 
 tain Sears, lie went to the Battery at nine o'clock in tiie evening (August 
 25th) and began the task. A bullet was sent among the people from a 
 barge filled with armed men from the Asia, which was concealed near 
 by. A volley was returned, and the barge, bearing several men killed 
 and wounded, hastened back to the A-sta. That vessel immediately 
 hurled three cannon shots ashore in quick succession. Lamb ordered the 
 drums to boat to arms. The church-bells rang out an alarum ; and 
 while all was confusion and fear broadside after broadside of grape-shot 
 from the Asia was fired upon the town, injuring several houses ;* but 
 no life was sacrificed. Believing that the town was to be sacked and 
 l)urnt, hundreds of men, women, and children were seen at midnight 
 hurrying away with their light effects to places of safety in the sul)urbs. 
 Yet the patriots at the Battery stood firm, and in the face of the can- 
 nonade from the Asia every gun was removed. There were twenty-one 
 iron 18-]>ounders and some smaller cannons. 
 
 The conduct of the commander of the Asia caused intense exaspera- 
 tion among the patriots, and Govei'nor Tryon, taking counsel of 
 l)rudence and his feai-s, sought refuge from the wrath of the people on 
 board a British ship-of-war in the harbor. From that aquatic " palace*' 
 he attempted to rule the province. There his Cotincil joined him.f 
 But royal authority was at an end at New York forever. 
 
 Hivington, the loyal printer, had changed the name of his newspaper 
 to the Iioyal Gazette^ and was using his great intluence as a journalist in 
 
 * Among tlip liouscs iiijurpd at that time was the tavern of Samuel Fraunce, a West 
 Indian l)y birth, anil of such a ilark eomplexiou tliat he was familiarly known as " Black 
 Sam." His liouse was on the corner of Broad and Pearl streets. Freneau. in his 
 " P('tition of H\igh Gains," makes that time-.serving journalist say, in alluding to the 
 cannonade of the A»ia: 
 
 •'At flret wo Hiipposcd it was only a 8liam, 
 Till he drove a round ball through tlie roof of Black Sani." 
 
 \ The members of his Council who joined him were : Oliver dc Lancey, Hugh Wallace, 
 William Axtelle, John Harris C'ruger, and James Jauncev. 
 
SEARS' RAID ON A PRINTING OFFICE. 
 
 233 
 
 fostering Toryism in the province. He abused the Sons of Liberty 
 (especially Captain Sears) in his paper without stint. Fired by personal 
 insult and patriotic zeal. Sears went to Connecticut, and at noou on a 
 bright day in xfovember (25th) he entered the city at the head of seventy- 
 five light horeenien, proceeded to tlie printing establishment of Riving- 
 ton* at the foot of Wall Street, placed a guard around it, put the type 
 into bags, destroyed the press 
 and other appurtenances, and 
 then rode out of the city amid 
 the shouts of the populace and 
 to the tune of Yankee Doodle. 
 The type was cast into bullets 
 Eivington finding New York 
 too hot for him, fled to England, 
 but returned the next year, when 
 British troops held possession of 
 the city, and resumed the publi- 
 cation of his Gazetteer. 
 
 Notwithstanding this action 
 and the aggressive zeal of the 
 Republicans, disaffection to their 
 cause extensively prevailed 
 throughout the province of 
 New York during the winter 
 of 1775-76. In Queens County, 
 
 on Long Island, many of the people began to arm in favor of the crown, 
 and from his floating refuge in the harbor Governor Tryon kept up a 
 continual correspondence with Mayor Matthews, Oliver de Lancey, and 
 other Loyalists on shore. The Continental Congress as vigorously 
 opposed his influence, and took measures to disarm the Tories every- 
 where, while Washington, besieging Boston, kept a vigilant eye upon all 
 that might harm the colouv of New York. 
 
 JAMES RnTXGTOX. 
 
 * James Rivington, the " King's printer" in New York, was a native of England. 
 Failing in business as a bookseller in London, he came to America in 1760 and opened a 
 book-store in Philadelphia. He ojjened another the following year at the foot of Wall 
 Street, in New York. He printed books, and in 1TT3 he began the publication of the 
 Royal Qazetteer, a weekly newspaper. After the Revolutionary War began he took 
 strong ground in favor of the crown, and so continued imtil the close of the contest. It 
 seems to be a well-attested fact that Rivington played false to the Royalists, and furnished 
 much information to Washington. He, an apparent Anti-Loyalist, was permitted to 
 remain in the city unmolested when, at the evacuation in 1783, hundreds of lesser sinners 
 were compelled to Uee. He died in July, 1802, at the age of seventy-eight years. 
 
234 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Wlien, in .Taniiiin', lT7<i, Sir Iluiiry Clinton, witli a consideriiMe force, 
 sailed from Bcstun, Washington, helieviiig 2sew York to be his destina- 
 tion, sent General Charles Lee tliither, instructed to gather a force on 
 his way and take a position to defend that city. "With niarvullons 
 rapidity Luc collected about twelve hundred men and encamped with 
 
 skinati:kk ok .iamks uivixutok. 
 
 then^ in " The Fields" on the verge of the city, in spite of the protests 
 of the Committee of Safety, who had been made timid by a threat of the 
 conimander of the Asia that he would bombard tiie town if " reiiel 
 troops"' were allowed to enter it. Lee made liis headcpiarters at No. 1 
 Broadway and issued a pi'oclamation, in wiiich he said : 
 
 " I come to prevent the occupation of Long Island and the city by the 
 enemies of liberty. If the ships-of-war are quiet I shall be ijuiet ; if 
 they make my presence a pretext for firing upon the town, the first house 
 set in flames by their guns shall be the fnneral-pile of some of their best 
 friends. ' ' 
 
 At these brave words the Tories shrunk into inactivity ; the Provincial 
 Congress felt a glow of patriotism, and measures were immediately 
 adopted for fortifying the city and the approaches to it, and garrisoning 
 it with two thousand men.* Sir Henry Clinton arrived at Sandy Ilook 
 on the day when Lee entered the city. Informed of Lee's presence, he 
 sailed southward. Lee followed by land, leaving the little army at Xew 
 York in charjie of Lord Stirlins'. In June followinii Lee and Clinton 
 M'cre in conflict in Ciiarleston Harbor. 
 
 Washington prosecuted the siege of Boston with as nmch vigor as cir- 
 cumstances would allow, and in Mai'ch, 177(5, he drove General Howe 
 and his troops from the town literally into tlie sea. He allowed them to 
 evacuate Boston (Marcii 17th) and to sail away quietly and unmolested, 
 accompanied by a large numl)er of Loyalists, wiio fled before the indig- 
 nation of a multitude of Whigs whom they had persecuted for months. 
 
 * For a description of tlic forlifications thus erected, sec Lossing's Pirtorinl Field Book 
 of the lierolution. Vol. II., J). .5i«, iwti. 
 
A COXSPIRACY AGAIXST THE LIFE OF WASIIIXGTOX. 
 
 235 
 
 Howe sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the following summer lie 
 appeared with a large armed force before Xew York City, borne thither 
 in a fleet commanded by his brother, Lord Howe, and took possession of 
 Stateii Island. 
 
 Suspecting Howe had sailed for jSTew York, Wasliington, with a larger 
 ])art of his army, hastened to that 
 city immediately after the evacuation 
 of Boston, and held it until Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 During the heats of the summer 
 Washington made his headquarters 
 at Richmond Hill, far " out of 
 town," with the bulk of his army 
 encamped near by. Tryon was yet 
 at his floating headquarters in the 
 Duchess of Gordon war-ship plot- 
 ting, plotting, plotting with his 
 friends on shore for the ruin of the 
 Kepublican cause. He formed a 
 plan for the murder of Washington 
 and his principal officers, or for their 
 arrest and transportation to England 
 
 to be tried for treason, and the capture of the troops on Maidiattan 
 Island. He sent money ashore freely for purposes of bribery. The 
 Life Guard of AVashington* was tampered with, and two of them were 
 .seduced from their fidelity. To one of them, an Irishman named 
 Hickey, was intrusted the task of destroying Washington. He knew 
 that his commander was very fond of green peas, and he resolved to 
 
 trZAL KNAPP. 
 
 * Washington's Life Guard was organized in tlie autumn of 1TT6 on Harlem Heights, 
 and consisted of one hundred and eighty picked men, first commanded by Caleb Gibbs, 
 of Rhode Island, with the rank of captain. William Colfax was the last commander. 
 The special service of the Life Guard was to guard the headquarters of the commander- 
 in-chief, but they were never spared in battle. The last survivor of Washington's Life 
 Guard was L'zal Knapp, who died in the town of New Windsor, Orange County, N. T., 
 in January. 1857, when he was a little more than ninety-seven years of age. He was a 
 native of Stamford, Conn. . and was a sergeant in the Guard. Over liis grave near Wasli- 
 ington 's Headquarters at New burgh is a handsome mausoleum of brown freestone, made 
 from designs by H. K. Brown, the sculptor. 
 
 The sketch on the following page of the banner of the Guard was copied from one in the 
 museum at .\Iexandria. Va., in 1848, deposited there by George Washington Parke Custis. 
 The figure of the guardsman shows the uniform of the Guard. It consists of a blue coat 
 with white facings, white waistcoat and breeches, black half gaiters, a cocked hat with a 
 blue and white feather. The banner was white silk. 
 
3^^r, 
 
 TlIK K.Ml'lKE STATK. 
 
 slay him l)y jiDisoii ini.\L'<l in a <]isli of tlieiu to l>o set Ijefore liim at 
 dinner. 
 
 lliekey tried to iiiako tlie general's liousekeeper, a faitlifnl maiden, an 
 accomplice in tlie deed by placing tlie poison in tlie pens. Siie pre- 
 tended to favor iiis plans. At the appointed time for placing the savory 
 dish before the general Ilickey watched her movements through a half- 
 opened door. The general made some excuse for ordering the disli 
 away without tasting the peas. Tlie girl liad forewarned him. Ilickey 
 was arrested, found guilty, and lianged on a tree l.Tuno 2Sth, 17T<>) in 
 the presence of fully twenty thousand people. It was the lirst military 
 execution in tlie Continental Army. Mayor IVIatthews and more than 
 
 twenty others were ar- 
 rested on suspicion of 
 complicity in tlie plot, 
 but only Ilickey suffer- 
 ed. The plot was traced 
 directly to Tryon as its 
 auth(ir. 
 
 At tills juncture the 
 V c» I Continental Congress, 
 
 now become a permanent 
 ijody, sitting at Phila- 
 dc'ljiliia, were engaged 
 in the discussion of a 
 most important matter. 
 The peojilc in general 
 until lately had not ex- 
 pressed a desire for po- 
 litical independence of 
 Great Britain. There 
 were a few wlio had warmly advocated it for some time. At the be- 
 ginning of 1770 Thomas Paine, an English radical living in Philadelphia, 
 put forth a powerful i)ami)]ilet, at the suggestion of Dr. Hush, in which 
 he pleaded earnestly for independence. It was termed Common Sense. 
 In terse, sharp, incisive, and vigorous sentences bristling with logic, he 
 embodied the sentiments of retlectiuij men and wumeii throughout the 
 colonies. 
 
 "Independence," he .said, "is now the only bond that will keep us 
 together. We shall then be on a ])roi3er footing to treat with Great 
 Pritaiu. . . . Every quiet method for peace hath lieen ineffectual. 
 Our prayers liave i)een rejected with disdain. Reconciliation is now a 
 
 HANXEK OF WASmNflldN S 1,IFE GfAliD. 
 
PALN'E'S PLEA FOR rNDEPEXDE>XE. 237 
 
 fallacious dream. Bring tlie doctrine of reconciliation to the touch- 
 stone of nature ; can you hereafter love, honor, and faithfully serve the 
 power that hath carried fire and sword into your land ? Ye that tell us 
 of harmony, can you restore us to the time that is past { The blood of 
 the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ' ' Tis time to part. ' The 
 last chord is now broken ; the people of England are now presenting 
 addresses against us. A government of our own is a natural right. Ye 
 that love mankind, that dare oppose not only tyranny but the tyrant, 
 stand forth ! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. 
 Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia and Africa hath long 
 expelled her ; Europe regards her like a stranger ; and England hath 
 given her warning to depart. Oh, receive the fugitive and prepare an 
 asylum for mankind I" 
 
 The effect of this pamphlet was marvellous. It carried dismay into 
 the enemy's camp. One hundred thousand copies were sent Ijroadcast 
 over the land, and produced an almost universal desire for independence 
 among the people, for its trumpet tones awakened the continent and 
 made every patriotic heart thrill with joy. It gave expression to a 
 feeling that already filled the hearts of the people and was waiting for a 
 voice. 
 
 Very soon legislative bodies began to move in the matter. Xortli 
 Carolina was the first colony that took positive action. It authorized its 
 delegates in Congress to " concur -^vith those of other colonies in declar- 
 ing independence." Other colonies did the same. Others permitted 
 their deputies to do so. and still others refused assent and were silent. 
 Among the latter were Xew York, South Carolina, and Georgia. 
 
 At length the Continental Congress moved in favor of independence, 
 satisfied that the people were ripe for it. In April they recommended 
 the several provincial assemblies to form State governments. General 
 letters of marque and reprisal were granted, and the American ports 
 were opened to all nations excepting the British. Finally on June 7th, 
 on motion of Eiehard Henry Lee, of Tirginia (seconded by John 
 Adams, of Massachusetts), the Congress resolved that the colonies were, 
 and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and that all 
 political connection Ijetween them and the State of Great Britain was, 
 and ought to be, dissolved. 
 
 The consideration of this resolution was deferred, and a committee was 
 appointed to draw up a formal declaration of causes for the action. The 
 resolution was debated from time to time for nearly a month. It was 
 adopted on July 2d by the unanimous vote of the colonies mot of the 
 representatives), and on July ith the Declaration, written by Thomas 
 
238 TIIK KMPIHK STATIC. 
 
 Jefferson, was adopted l>y the same vote. The Declaration was signed 
 on the same day by all the meml)ers who voted for it, when it was 
 ]>rinted and sent out in every direction bearing tiie signatures of only 
 John Hancock, president, and Charles Tliomson, secretary. It M-as 
 engrossed on parchment and signed afterward. 
 
 Toward evening cm July 9tli the Declaration of Independence was 
 read to a brigade of tlie Continental .\riiiy in New York City, whicli 
 was drawn np in a hollow square on tlie site of the City Hall. Wash- 
 ington was present. The Declaration was read in a clear voice by one 
 of his aides. At early twilight the excited populace, citizens and 
 soldiers, were led to the Bowling Green, where they attached ropes to 
 the equestrian statue of (ieorgo HI. erected there, as we have observed, 
 in 1770 (see page 199), and man and horse were pulled headlong to the 
 ground. The statue, made of lead, was broken into fragments, and a 
 large portion of it was cast into bullets wliich were afterward used by 
 the Continental soldiers. " So," wrote a contemporary, " the British 
 had melted majesty hurled at them." 
 
 A sudden change in action now appeared in the newly-elected Pro- 
 vincial Congress of !Xew York. A large British force, just landed on 
 Staten Island, mms menacing the city. The Congress adjourned to 
 White Plains, in Westchester County, and reassembled there on July 
 9th. They emphatically approved the Declaration of Independence,* 
 and changed the title of their body to " Convention of Bepresentatives 
 of the State of Xew York," though the State was not yet organized. 
 That measure was then under con.sideration. 
 
 It was now clearly manifest that the province of Xew York was to be 
 the theatre of the first great effort to crusli the '' rebellion" iu accord- 
 ance with a plan devised by tlie British Ministry the year before, and 
 which had been partially revealed. It contemplated the seizure of New 
 York and Albany, and to strongly garrison both cities ; to declare all 
 persons " rebels" who should oppose the royal troops ; to take possession 
 of the Hudson and East rivers with small armed vessels, and so to form 
 a strong line of military power between New England and the rest of 
 the colonies, extending from Manhattan Island through the valleys of 
 
 * The Declaration was referred to a committee, of whieh .John .lay was chairman, 
 lie almost instantly reported the following resolution, which was adopted : 
 
 "UexDlnd, vnaniiiiouxl)/. That the rea-sous assigned by the Continental Congress for 
 declaring these united colonies free and indef)cndenl States are cogent and conclusive, 
 and that, while we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered the measure imavoid- 
 able, we approve the same, and will, at the risk of our lives and fortiuies, join with the 
 otlier colonies in .supporting it,'' 
 
A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS SENT TO CANADA. 
 
 239 
 
 the Hiidson to Ciinada ; to retake the forts on Lake Champlaiu, and 
 with regulars, Canadians, Tories, and Indians, easily make destnictivo 
 irruptions into New England and Pennsylvania. This would secure a 
 safe communication between Quebec and, New York, separate and 
 weaken the most imiDortant colonies, and make the suljjugation of all the 
 colonies an easy task. This plan was devised by the ministry after the 
 battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill, and was made known to members of 
 
 Cf * Pf 
 
 SAMUEL CHASE. 
 
 -4 }»-*?^_-- 
 BENJAMIN FR.^NKLIN. CHAKLES CARROLL. 
 
 the New York Provincial Congress by a letter from London during that 
 summer. 
 
 The Continental Congress, satisfied that such a plan of subjugation 
 was to be attempted, perceived the necessity of forming an alliance with 
 Canada or achieving its conquest, and in the sjiring of ITTfi Dr. Franklin, 
 Samuel Chase, and Charles Carrol], of Carrollton, were sent into thut 
 province invested with extraordinary powers. They were accompanied 
 by Eev. John Carroll, a Koman Catholic priest. They were authorized 
 to regulate all military matters in the Republican army there ; to treat 
 with the Canadians as friends and i)rethren ; to organize a republic 
 there, and to admit Canada into union with the colonies they represented. 
 
 The commissioners were cordially received at Montreal,* but circum- 
 
 * The commissioners were entertained at New York by Lord Stirlinsr, and set sail up 
 the Hudson in a sloop furnished by him for the puriwse at five o'cloeli p.>r. , April 2(1, 1776. 
 They came to anchor off the upper end of Manhattan Island, and lay there twenty-four 
 hours because of a heavy north-east storm. They proceeded, and had a perilous voyage 
 
240 THE EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 stances rendered their mission futile. Tiie British Government had 
 hired thousands of sohhers from petty German princes to assist in enshiv- 
 ing its subjects in America. Some of these, under the command of 
 General de Riedesel, with Britisii re-enforcements commanded by Sir 
 John Burgoyne, arrived at Quebec early in May (1770), and very soon 
 the little Itepiiblicun army in Canada, sorely smitten with tlie scourge 
 of sraall-po.K, \v;is driven out of that province. 
 
 General John Thomas, a brave and skilful officer, had been sent bv 
 "Washington to take command of the Republican troops in Canada and 
 attempt a i-etrieval of losses there. lie i-eached the camp near Quel)ec 
 late in April (1776). The arrival of British re-enforcements there com- 
 pelled him to retreat up the St. Lawrence. lie continued his retreat to 
 the Sorel, where he died of small-po.x, when the command devolved 
 npon General Sullivan. That officer stniggled bravely with fate, but 
 was compelled to yield to a superior force. Witli tlie shattered remnant 
 of the Ilepublican army he retreated to Crown Point. Of Kve thousand 
 troops gathered there, poorlv clad, fed, and sheltered, fully one half 
 were sick early in July. The jS'ortliorn army had lost, by death and 
 desertion, fully five thousand men. 
 
 So ended in disaster that remarkable invasion. The incidents of its 
 execution rank among the most startling and romantic in the annals of 
 war." 
 
 We have observed that Sir John Johnson gave his parole of honor to 
 remain cpiiet. Early in May (1770) Schuyler was informed that Sir 
 John, with Brant and others, w;is holding conferences with the Indians 
 and inciting them to war, and that the baronet was preparing to make 
 hostile movements in Tryon County with his Scotch retainers and the 
 barbarians. Colonel Elias Dayton, a judicious officer, wixs sent with a 
 competent force to Johnstown to arrest the baronet and take him to 
 Albany, with his Scotch retainers and their families. When Dayton 
 
 through the Highlands, for the storm continued. When it abated they sailed with a fair 
 wind and plea-sant weather to Albany, where they were hospitably entertained by General 
 Schuyler. Charles Carroll wrote : " He lives in pretty style ; hjis two daughters (Betsy 
 and Peggj-), lively, agreeable, black-eyed gals. " "Peggy" became Jlr.s. (Patroon) Van 
 Kensselaer, and " Betsy" Mrs. General Hamilton. The general conveyed them tii-st to 
 his country-.seat at Saratoga, and thence to liakc George, where he had i)rei)ared for tliem 
 a stout bateau. They crossed the lake among floating ice. Their bateau was drawn 
 over to Lake Champlain (four miles) by six yoke of oxen. Tliere the eonmii.ssioners 
 (lubarked on it and voyaged to St. .Johns, at the foot of the lake, and thence, by land, 
 to Montreal in calechen — two-wheeled vehicles. 
 
 * For a more minute account of this invasion, see Lossing's Life and Time» of PJiilip 
 Schuyler. 
 
SIR JOHN JOHNSON AND HIS FOLLOWERS. 241 
 
 arrived the baronet had fled to tlie forest, and Lady Johnson assured 
 him tliat her husband was on liis way to Niagara with his retainers, and 
 that liis enemies would " soon hear where he was." 
 
 Lady Johnson was a spirited woman, a daughter of John Watts, one 
 of the king's provincial councillors. Dayton informed her that measures 
 would l)e taken to frustrate her husband's designs, and that she must 
 accompany him to Albany. She was then conveyed thither, where she 
 was treated with all the delicacy due to her sex and her social position. 
 She was retained there some time as a hostage for the good behavior of 
 her husband. 
 
 Sir John and his followers did not go to Niagara, but started for the 
 St. Lawrence. They suffered intensely from weariness and starvation 
 on the M'ay, and reached that river in a wretched plight some distance 
 above Montreal. The baronet was immediately commissioned a brig- 
 adier-general in the British service. lie raised two battalions — a total 
 of one thousand men — composed of his immediate followers and other 
 American loyalists who followed his example in deserting their country, 
 and these formed that active and formidable corps known in the frontier 
 warfare of that ])eriod in Northern and Central New York as the 
 "Roval Greens." 
 
243 THE EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 CirAPTKR XVTI. 
 
 An arrangement had Ijuuii made \>y tlie l>ritisli Cabinet to attack the 
 Americans in 1776 simultaneously at tliree j)oints. Sir llenrv Clinton 
 ■was to invade the Southern co]ouie6 ; General Sir John Burgoyne was to 
 clear Canada of the " rebels ;" and General Howe, with the main army of 
 thirty thousand men, including twelve thousand Germans, was to seize 
 and occupy Xew York City, and thence form a junction with Burgoyne 
 at Albany. 
 
 At the close of June General Howe arrived at Sandy Hook from 
 Halifax with a hlrge army, in transports, and on July Stli landed nine 
 thousand troops on Staten Island, where he awaited the arrival of his 
 brother, Admiral Lord Howe, with British regulars and some of the 
 German hirelings. 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton joined Howe on the lltli with troops from Charles- 
 ton, S. C, where tliey had co-operated with Admiral Sir Peter Parker's 
 fleet in an unsuccessful attack upon Fort Moultrie, on June 2Sth. That 
 conflict raged furiously about ten houi-s, when the terribly shattered fleet 
 withdrew, and the seaworthy vessels sailed with the army for Sandy 
 Hook. 
 
 Admiral Howe arrived at Sandy Hook on the 12th, and \(iry soon 
 other vessels came with (Tcrman mercenaries. When August arrived 
 nearly thirty thousand veteran soldiers stood ready to fall upon the 
 llupublican army (who were mostly militia, and nearly one fourth of 
 them sick and unfit for duty), then occupying the city of Xew York, 
 under the immediate command of Washington. 
 
 General Howe and his brother appeared in the twofold character of 
 peace commissioners and as military commanders empowered to make 
 war. They were authorized to treat for peace, but only on the condition 
 of absolute suljmission on the part of the Americans. They were also 
 authorized to grant pardons and amnesty to penitents. They made a 
 most silly blunder at the outset in endeavoring to open negotiations with 
 Washington by sending him a letter addressed to " George Washington, 
 Esq." The general refused to receive it unless addressed to him b\' his 
 military title. This the commissioners were instnicted not to do : also 
 not to recognize the Congress in an official capacity. Howe's adjutant- 
 general (Major Patterson) was sent with another co)umunication. It was 
 
A BRITISH AK.MAMKXT BEFORE NEW YORK. 243 
 
 not received, but lie was admitted to tlie presence of Wasliiugtoi). He 
 expressed a hope that reconciliation might be effected, and said the com- 
 missioners had large powers. " Thej have power only to grant pardon," 
 said Washington. "The Americans are only defending their rights as 
 British subjects, and have been guilty of no act requiring pardon," lie 
 continued. Here ended the interview. 
 
 Admiral Howe, who was personally acquainted with Dr. Franklin and 
 most sincerely desired reconciliation, wrote to that gentleman on his first 
 arrival. The doctor's reply satisfied the earl that his Government mis- 
 apprehended the temper of the American people, and that Franklin 
 expressed the sentiments of the Continental Congress when he wrote at 
 the conclusion of his letter: " This war against us is both unjust and 
 nnwise ; posterity will condemn to infamy those who advised it ; and 
 even success will not save from some degree of dishonor those who 
 voluntarily engage in it." Here the commissioners paused in efforts to 
 negotiate, and prepared immediately to strike the '" rebellion" an 
 effectual blow. 
 
 Already British ships-of-war had run up the Hudson Kiver past 
 American batteries, and were menacing the country in the rear of ^lan- 
 hattaii Island with the intention of keeping open a free communication 
 with Canada and facilities for furnishing arms to Tories in the interior. 
 In the city of Xew York a majority of the influential inhabitants were 
 active or passive Tories. The provincial authorities were yet acting 
 timidly. In this exigency Washington appealed to the country. It 
 was nobly responded to by the farmers of Connecticut, New York, 
 Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, where harvest-fields needed 
 tliem, and very soon they swelled the army at New York to about seven- 
 teen thousand effective men. 
 
 Both parties now prepared for an inevitable conflict. Hulks of vessels 
 were sunk in the channel of the Hudson opposite the height on which 
 Fort WashingtoJi was built. Fort Lee was erected on the Palisades 
 beyond the river. Batteries were constructed at various points on 
 Manhattan Island, and troops under the command of General Greene 
 were sent over the East River to erect fortifications on Long Island back 
 of Brooklyn. Greene was soon prostrated by fever, and resigned the 
 command to General Sullivan, who had lately come from Lake Cham- 
 plain. Small detachments were placed on Governor's Island and at 
 Paulus's Hook (now Jersey City), and some militia were posted in lower 
 Westchester County under General James Clinton to oppose the landing 
 of British troops on the shores of Long Island Sound. Sullivan placed 
 guards at several passes through a range of wooded hills on Long Island 
 
244 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 extending from tlie Narrows to Janiaiea. Late in Angust tlie Aiiieri- 
 oans had a line of defences exteiuling from (present) Greenwood Cem- 
 etery to tlie Xavy Yard, a distance of nearly two miles. Tlicse were 
 armed with twenty cannons, and there was a strong redoubt with seven 
 great guns on Brooklyn lleiglits. 
 
 On August 2()th from twelve to fifteen tliousand liritish troops were 
 landed at the western end of Long Island. Washington immediately 
 sent over a small re-enforcenient to the Americans near Erooklyn, placed 
 General Putnam in chief command on Long Island, and ordered General 
 Sullivan to connnaiid the troops outside the lines. On that evening the 
 British began an advance in three divisions. Their left, under General 
 Grant, moved along tlie road nearest New York Bay ; their riglit, under 
 Sir Henry Clinton and Earl Coniwallis, accompanied by Howe, moved 
 toward the interior of the island, and their centre, composed of Germans 
 and led Ity General L)e Heister, advanced by Flatbnsh. The British had 
 then afloat in adjacent waters ten ships of the line, twenty frigates, some 
 bomb-ketehes, and almost three hundred and fifty transports. The 
 American troojw on Long Island did not exceed eight thousand in 
 mimber. 
 
 Informed that his pickets at the lower pass below (Treenwood liad been 
 driven in, Putnam sent General Lord Stirling with some Delaware and 
 Maryland troops to confront the enemy. He unexpectedly met a large 
 force. Planting his only two cannons upon a wooded height (" Battle 
 II ill " in Greenwood), he waited for the coming enemy, to give battle. 
 
 Meanwhile the Germans were pushing forward to force their way 
 through the Flatbnsh Pass (now in Prospect Park, its ])lace marked by 
 an inscription), while Clinton and Coniwallis were eagerly pressing on to 
 gain the Bedford and Jamaica passes. The latter had been neglected by 
 Putnam, and having no defenders, Clinton easily seized it. "While 
 Sullivan was defending the Flatbnsh Pass against De Ileister, the 
 baronet with a strong f((rce descended from the woods and attacked the 
 Americans there on flank and rear. Sullivan attempted to retreat to the 
 Aniui-ican lines, but failed, an<l with a large portion of his men he was 
 made a prisoner. 
 
 Stirling and his ])arty were now the only Americans in the field with 
 unbroken ranks. They fought Grant's column with spirit for four 
 hours. Then Cornwallis descended the Port or Mill Koad with the bulk 
 of Clinton's column and fell upon Stirling. The latter ordered a 
 retreat, but the bridge over Gowanns Creek was in flames and the tide 
 MMs rising. There was no alternative but to wade the creek. He 
 ordered one half of liis troops, with some German prisoners, to cross the 
 
A XOTABLE RETKKAT FROM LONG ISLAND. 
 
 24» 
 
 muddy cluiunel, while lie and the rest should tight Cornwallis. Stirling 
 M-as finally overcome and was made a prisoner."-^ By noon the victory 
 for the British was complete. The Americans had lost about five hun- 
 dred men killed and wounded, and one hundred and eleven made prisoners. 
 The victors encamped in front of the American lines and prepared to 
 hesiege them. 
 
 Washington, who had beheld these movements with great anxiety, 
 crossed the river on the morning 
 of the 2Sth, and was rejoiced to 
 ■find the British encamped and de- 
 laying an attack until their fleet 
 should co-operate with them. He 
 at once conceived a plan for the 
 salvation of his imperilled little 
 army. He resolved to attempt a 
 retreat across the river to New 
 York under the shadow of the 
 ensuing night. Providentially a 
 dense fog which overspread both 
 armies at midnight and covered the 
 whole region gave him essential 
 aid. It did not disperse until after 
 sunrise the next morning, when, 
 nnder its sheltering wing and im- 
 
 suspected by the British, the whole American army had passed the 
 stream in boats and bateaux, carrying everything with them except- 
 ing heavy cannons. Washington and his staff, who had been in the 
 saddle all night, remained on the Brooklyn side of the river until the 
 last boat-load had departed. 
 
 Immediately after the battle General Howe again proposed to treat 
 for peace. This was a reason for his delay in attacking the American 
 camp. He sent a verbal message to the Continental Congress, whose 
 
 * William Alexauder (Lord Stirling) was born in New York City in 1T30, a son of 
 Secretary Alexander, of New Jersey. Attached to the commissariat of the British Army 
 in Amcricji, he attracted the notice of General Sliirley, who made him his private secre- 
 tary. He went to Scotland in 17.55. and unsuccessfully presented his claim to the 
 Earldom of Stirling-. It was generally believed that his claim was just, and he ever after- 
 ward bore the empty thle of " Lord Stirling," in America. In 1776 he was coniniis.sioned 
 a brigadier-general in the Continental .Vrmy, and .served with distinction during the war 
 then begun. He married a daughter of William Livingston, of New .lersey. He was 
 one of the founders of the New York Society Library and King's (now Columbia) 
 College. Lord Stirling died Jime loth, 1783. 
 
 LORD STIRLING. 
 
24C 
 
 Tin; KMI'IKi; ST.VTK. 
 
 authority he liad hcen instructed not to recognize, proposing an informal 
 conference with any persons Avlioni tliat l)0(ly inigiit appoint. (Congress 
 consented, and early in 8ej)tenil)cr Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and 
 Edward Riitledge met Howe at a house on Staten Island opposite 
 Amlioy, known as the '* Billop House.''" The meeting was friendly, 
 lint liarren of expected fruit, llowe could not meet the three gentle- 
 men as mcmhcrs of Congress, hut only :is private citizens ; and lie 
 informed them that the independence of the colonies would not he 
 considered for a moment. The gulf iietween them w;is imjjassahle, and 
 tlie conference soon ende(h 
 
 The disaster on Long Island dislieartened the American arniv, and 
 
 TIIK BILI-OI" HOUSE. 
 
 hundreds deserted and went home. (Tcneral insuhordination prevailed, 
 and the army \vas weakened hy the practice of many vices. Drunken- 
 ness was very common, and licentiousness poisciued the regiments. The 
 outlook was extremely gloomy, and it was determined to take tlie sick 
 and M-ounded to New Jersey, the military stores up the Hudson to 
 Dohhs Ferry, ahandon the city, and estahlish a fortified camp on 
 Harlem Heights, near Fort Washington, toward the upper part of 
 Manhattan Island. f 
 
 * Tills house was the residence of Captain Christopher Hillop, formerly of the British 
 Navy. It WHS now aban(lone<l hy llie faniily. It stoml upon hiirh jrroiind opposite I'erth 
 Anihoy. 
 
 f Washington, in his retreat from the city to Hurleni Iliijrhls. made his headiiiiarters 
 liir a day or two at the home of Robeil Jlurray on (present) Murray Hill, where he gave 
 iiistruelions to Captain Nathan Hale, who had vohuiteered to visit the British camp on 
 Lonjr Island, in disguise, and obtain information. While on that business Hale was recog- 
 nized and expo.scd. He was arrested, sent to Howe's heathiuarters at Turtle Bay, East 
 Kiver (at Forty-seventh Street), and hanged as a spy by the notorious provost-marshal, 
 
BATTLE OX IIARLEJI PLAINS. 247 
 
 General Howe was indolent and fond of sensual j^leasures. Procras- 
 tination marred many of his plans. When he found the Americans had 
 escaped he leisurely prepared to invade Manhattan Island in the rear of 
 the American army there. Before ho M'as ready to do so that army 
 was so strongly intrenched upon Harlem Heights that they defied him. 
 Washington made his headcpiarters at the home of his companion-in-arms 
 on the field of Monongahela, Roger Morris, which is yet standing. 
 
 After various menacing movements had been made, a strong British 
 force crossed tlie East River (September loth) from Long Island and 
 landed at Kip's Bay, at the foot of (present) Thirty-foxirth Street, under 
 cover of a cannonade. The American guard there fled, but were soon 
 rallied. So long delayed were the movements of the British toward the 
 Hudson River that Putnam, who had been left in the city with a few 
 troops, was enabled to escape to Harlem Heights. 
 
 On the following day some British infantry and Scotch High- 
 landers, led by General Leslie, encountered some Connecticut Rangers 
 and a force of Virginians, under Colonel Knowlton and Major Leitch, 
 on Harlem Plains. They fought desperately until Washington sent 
 some re-enforcements, when the enemy was forced back to tlie high rocky 
 ground at the upper end of Central Park. Tliis affair greatly inspirited 
 the Americans, though they were compelled to mourn the loss of Colonel 
 Knowlton and Major Leitch. 
 
 General Robertson was now sent with a considerable force to take 
 possession of the city, where the British intended to make their com- 
 fortable M'inter cpiarters. AVhile his forces were reposing in their tents 
 on the hills not far northward of the town, at midnight (September 
 20th-21st j huge columns of lurid smoke arose above the houses. It was 
 soon followed by arrows of flame that shot upward. A terrible con- 
 flagration was begun. It broke out, by accident, in a low groggery and 
 brothel at Whitehall, and as most of the Whig inhabitants had fled from 
 the city, there were few to check the flames excepting the soldiers and 
 the sailors from the ships in the harbor. About five hundred buildings 
 were consumed, including Trinity Church, on Broadway. 
 
 Howe, re-enforced by troops from Great Britain and more Germans, 
 under the command of General Knyphausen, resolved to gain the rear 
 of Washington's army, which he dared not attack in front. The 
 
 Cunningham, ■who exercised the greatest cruelty toward the unfortunate young man. His 
 last words were, as he stood under the tree vipon wliich he was lianged, with a rope 
 around his neck : " I onl}^ regret that I have but one life to give to my country." Hale 
 is justly regarded as a martyr to lumian liberty. Andre, who suffered for the same 
 offence, was the victim of his own ambition. 
 
248 TlIK KMPIIiE STATE. 
 
 Germans had come in seventy vessels, and nnmbercd ;il)out ten thousand 
 men, swellinir Howe's forces to about tliirty-five thousand. On October 
 I'Jth llowu embarked a hir<;e portion of Iiis army in ninety flat-boats and 
 landed them on a Idw peiiinsnhi of the main of Westchester County. 
 "Wasliinixton sent (ieneral Heath to confront tlie invaders and check 
 their movements toward liis rear. 
 
 Perceiving his peril, Washingtcm called a council of war, when it was 
 resolved to evacuate ^fanhattan Island and take ])osition on the Bronx 
 River in AVestchestcr, to meet the invaders face to face, or secure a safe 
 retreat to the Hudson Iliji^hlands. Leaving a garrison of nearly three 
 thousand men in Fort Wiishington, iinder Colonel Magavv, the army 
 withdrew, and, marching up the valley of the Bronx, formed intrenched 
 camps from the heights of Fordham to WJiite Plains. Washington 
 made his headquarters near White Plains village on the 21st. General 
 Greene commanded a small force whicli garrisoned Fort Lee, on the 
 west side of the Jliulson. 
 
 After almost daily skirmishing the two armies, each about thirteen 
 thousaiul strong, met in battle array near the village of Wiiite Plains on 
 October 2Sth. The strongest position of the Americans was behind 
 breastworks upon Chatterton's Hill, a lofty eminence on the right side 
 of the Bronx opposite the village. 
 
 Howe's army advanced in two divisions, one led l)y Sir Henry Clinton, 
 and the other by Generals De Heister and Erskine. Howe was with 
 the latter. A hurried council of war was held by these officers on 
 hoi-seback, when sonic troops, under cover of a heavy cannonade, pro- 
 ceeded to build a rude bridge over the Bronx. Over this British troops 
 crossed and drove the Americans from Chatterton's Hill. The Repub- 
 licans retreated to their intrenched camp nearer the village, M'here they 
 remained unmolested until the night of the 31st. Howe dared not 
 attack the apparently formidable breastworks of Washington's intrench- 
 ments, which were really composed chiefly of cornstalks slightly covered 
 with earth. Tiie Americans withdrew in the night to a strong position 
 on the heights of North Castle, five miles farther north. The British 
 did not pursue. Washington with his main army cros.sed the Hudson 
 and encamped between Fort Lee and ILickensack, in New Jersey. He 
 left General Lee in command of a strong force at North Castle, with 
 instructions to follow him into New Jersey if necessary, and he put 
 Heath in command in the Hudson Highlands. 
 
 Isolated Fort Washington, standing upon the highest land on the 
 island, overlooking and commanding the Hudson River, between One 
 Hmulred and Eighty-first Street and One Hundred and Eighty-sixth 
 
CAPTURE OF Ff)RT WASHIXGTON. 240 
 
 Street, was tlie next point of attack bv the British under Howe. It 
 was a five-sided earthwork, two hundred and tliirty feet above tide- 
 water, a mile north of Washington's former headquarters at the Roger 
 Morris home. It mounted thirty-four great guns, and it was defended 
 by several outlying redoubts and batteries on the north and south, 
 extending across the island between the Hudson and Harlem rivers. 
 
 Howe procrastinated as usual, and it w;is the middle of November 
 before he attacked Fort "Washington. On the morning of the 16th he 
 put t"oops in motion for a simultaneous assault at four different points. 
 
 THE JERSEY PBISOX-SHTP. 
 
 They crossed the Harlem Eiver under cover of a cannonade. The troops 
 were led, respectively, by General Knyphausen (who commanded the 
 Germans), Lords Percy and Corawallis, General Mathews, and others. 
 Before noon the occupants of supporting redoubts and batteries were 
 driven into the fort. At one o'clock in the afternoon it had been 
 surrendered, and the British tiaff was waving over it. Its uame was 
 changed to Fort Knyphausen.* Twenty-six hundred men became 
 prisoners of war, and many of them were long sufferers in the loathsome 
 prisons of New York and the more loathsome prison-shij)s afloat in the 
 surrounding waters. f 
 
 * On the day of the final attack, Washington, with Gfenefals 5*utnam, Greene, and 
 Mercer, crossed the river, ascended the heights, and went to the abandoned mansion of 
 Roger Morris, where the commander-in-chief had established his headquarters on Harlem 
 Heights. From that point they took a hasty ^iew of the scene of operatioas, and hastily 
 departed. TVitliin fifteen minutes after they left the mansion the British Colonel Sterling 
 with his victorious troops took possession of it. 
 
 f Among the most notable of the.se pri.son-ships was the hulk of the Jirsei/, which was 
 moored at the "Wallabout, now the site of the Xavj- Yard at Brooklyn. It was called 
 "hell afloat." A greater portion of its inmates were captive American sailors. The 
 most wanton outrages were suffered by the poor Wctims. The ntinilur of deaths in this 
 
250 Tin: K.MIMUE STATK. 
 
 "Washinnton, satisticil that lluwe would now turn liis attention to the 
 reileral City (Pliiladelpliiaj, where Congress M'as sitting, prepared to 
 hasten to its defence. Fort Lee was abandoned, but before its stores 
 could l)e removed Cornwallis had crossed the Hudson with six thousand 
 men, an<l was rapidlv approaching it. The garrison fled to the camp 
 near Ilackensack, and then began AVashington's famous retreat across 
 Xew Jersey, pursued by Cornwallis, to the Delaware River. 
 
 The British were now in full possession of the city of !New York ami 
 Manhattan Island, and held them more than seven years. The Pro- 
 vincial Congress of New York became nn'gratory. Driven from the city 
 in August (1770), they sat a short time at Harlem, then at Ivingsbridge. 
 AVhite Plains, the Philipse JManor, Fishkill, Poiighkeepsie, and finally at 
 Kingston, in Flster County. Tliere they remained until their final 
 dissolution on the establishment of a State Government, in the spring 
 and summer of 1777. 
 
 AViiile the im])oi'tant military events just recorded were occurring in 
 Southern Xew York near the sea, others of great importance were 
 occurring in Northern Xew York near the borders of Canada. A large 
 Britisli and German force were in the latter province under the general 
 command of Sir John Burgoyne, and were united with troops under 
 General Guy Carleton, tlie Governor of Canada, in preparation for 
 executing the plan for the severance of New England from the otlier 
 colonies, already mentioned. This gave the Continental Congress and 
 their constituents great anxiety, :ind in June the Congress sent General 
 Horatio Gates to take command of the Republican army in Canada, 
 independent of General Schuyler's control. 
 
 When Gates arrived in All)any he Avas thus first informed that the 
 army was out of Canada, and the remnant of it was at Crown Point. 
 He hastened thither, took command of that remnant, and proceeded to 
 
 "hell" was frightful. Starvation, fever, and even .suffocation in the pent-up air .it 
 iiiirlil made a fearful daily sacrifice of human creatures. Every morninir there went 
 down the hatchway fiom the deck the terrible cry, "Rebels, turn out your dead!" 
 Then a score of dead bodies covered with vermin would be carried up by tottering half 
 skeletons, their suffering companions, when they were taken to the shore and lightly 
 bvnicd in the sands of the beach. Such was the fate of eleven thousand American 
 prisoners during the war. 
 
 The cruelties infliclcd by Cunningham, the brutal provost-marshal, who had the gencnd 
 supervision of American prisoners in New York City, were terrible. He seemed to be 
 acting independent of the military ollieers. In his confession before his execution in 
 England for a capital crime, he .sjiid : " I shudder to think of the murders I have been 
 accessory to, with and williout orders from Government, especially while in Xew York, 
 during which time there were more tlian two thousand iirisoners starved in the different 
 buildings \ised as i)risons, by slopping their rations, which I sold I" 
 
XAVAL EXGAGEMEXT OX LAKE CHAMPLAIX. 
 
 251 
 
 construct a flotilla of anned vessels to oppose the advance of the British. 
 General Arnold wns appointed commander-in-chief of the flotilla, and 
 by the middle of August (1776) ten vessels, large and small, were ready 
 for service. Meanwhile the British were busy in the construction of an 
 armed flotilla at St. Johns, on the Sorel. 
 
 Toward the close of August the impatient and impetuous Arnold was 
 permitted to go down the lake to meet the foe, but instructed not to go 
 beyond (present) Rouse's Point, on the boundary-line between IXexv 
 York and Canada. He soon found himself in a perilous position, and 
 fell back some distance. In the course of a few weeks his flotilla was 
 increased, and early in October he was in command of a fleet composed 
 of three schooners, two sloops, 
 three galleys, eight gondolas, and 
 twenty-one gun-boats, bearing an 
 aggregate armament of sixt3'-seven 
 cannons and ninety-four mortars, 
 and manned by about five hundred 
 men. 
 
 Ignorant of the strength of the 
 naval armament preparing at St. 
 Johns, and unwilling to meet a 
 superior force on the broad lake, 
 Arnold committed the foolish blun- 
 der of arranging his vessels in a 
 line across the comparatively narrow 
 channel between Yalcour Island 
 and the M'estern shore of the lake. 
 a few miles below Plattsburg. His 
 
 flag -ship was the schooner Itoyal Savage, twelve guns. There he was 
 attacked by a formidable flotilla, manned by many veterans of the Royal 
 Kavy, on the morning of October 11th. It was commanded by Captain 
 Pi'ingle in the Inflexible, though the expedition was under the supreme 
 command of General Carleton, who was with the fleet, with British and 
 German officers and troops. A severe action ensued, which continued 
 almost five hours. Arnold and his men fought desperately. His vessel 
 grounded and was burned by the enemy, but the crew were saved. 
 Night closed upon the scene, when neither party was victorious. 
 
 The two fleets anchored within a few hundred yards of each other. 
 
 THE ROYAI, SAVAGE.' 
 
 * Copied from a water-color sketch found by the writer among the papers of General 
 Philip Sfhuyler in 18.56. It settled the important question, Wliat was the device on the 
 " Union flag" hoisted over the American camp at Cambridge on January- 1st. 1776 ? 
 
•-'52 Till: KMl'lKE STATK. 
 
 Arnold (Ictennincd to retreat to Crown PoiTit that nii^lit. Anticiiiatinff 
 such a niuveinent, the British flotilla was anchored in a line across the 
 lake to intercejit his vessels. The night was intensely dark, heavy 
 clouds having gatliered over the sky. At ten o'clock the Americans 
 weighed anchor, and with a stiff l)reeze from the north the whole flotilla 
 jjassed through the British line unobserved. The astonished enemy 
 gave chase the next morning. Calms and liead winds ensued, and it was 
 not until the morning of the IHth that the fugitives were overtaken. 
 Then another desperate tight ensued for several hours. One of the 
 American vessels (the \Vas/nn<jto?i) was (-aiiturud, and General Water- 
 l)urv and lier crew were made prisoners. Arn(jld was on the ('(»itjress. 
 When she became shattered almost to a wreck he ran her ashore, with 
 other vessels, a few miles l)el()w Crown I'oint, set them on Are, and 
 escaped. 
 
 (ieneral Carleton, with Generals JJurgoync and Riedesel (the latter 
 the commander of the Germans), wlio accompanied the expedition, took 
 possession of Crown Point and held it about a fortnight, but refused to 
 attempt to recapture Ticonderoga. The whole British force sailed down 
 the lake early in November, and went into winter quarters in Canada. 
 Burgoyne soon afterward returned to England. At the end of 1776 
 Lake Cliamplain was really at the mercy of tlie British, and tiiu Ameri- 
 cans Iiad lost all territory acquired since Allen took Ticonderoga. 
 
 Early in the struggle British cruisers kept the 2>eople on the New 
 England coasts in a state of continual alarm. One of them I)ombarded 
 and burnt Falmouth (now Portland), in Maine, and other dejiredations 
 were committed by Bi-itisb armed vessels. The Continental Congress, 
 perceiving the necessity for meeting this exigency, took measures for 
 creating a uavy. At near the close of the year they ordered a consider- 
 able number of armed vessels to be built. Esek Hopkins, of llhode 
 Island, was appointed the chief naval commander, aiul in February 
 (1776) he sailed from the Delaware with a little squadron to oppose Lord 
 Dunmore, the fugitive royal governor of Virginia, who was devastating 
 the shores of that province. On January 1st (1776) he had burned 
 Norfolk. Hopkins went on to the Bahama Islands, seized Nassau, and 
 carried off one huiulred cannons and a large (luantity of stores. The 
 Continental Navy was never powerful, but numerous ])rivateers autlior- 
 ized by Congress performed efticicnt service. 
 
 Two of the vessels of war ordered by Congress were bnilt at Pough- 
 keepsie, on the Hudson, by Van Zandt, Lawrence & Tudor, who estab- 
 lished a " Continental Ship Yard "" there. These were the Co/ir/ress, 
 twentv-eight guns, and the JLi!iti/o?Hci'y, twenty-four guns. These 
 
A RACE FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER. 
 
 253 
 
 naval coiistruct(jrs were also einplojed in building the ])00in composed 
 of timbers and iron chains across the Hudson at Anthony's Xose, at the 
 southern entrance of the Higldands. It was constructed by command of 
 the Committee of Safety appointed by the Provincial Congress. It was 
 completed in the spring of 1TT7.* 
 
 The military disasters in different parts of Xew York wore partially 
 counterbalanced by brilliant achievements of American soldiers in New 
 Jersey, in the early winter of 1770-77. In the race for the Delaware 
 River between Washington and Cornwallis the former won ; but impor- 
 tant places — Newark, Brunswick, Princeton, and Trenton — fell into the 
 hands of the invader. The little army of Washington continually 
 
 LINKS OF THE CHAIN AT WEST POINT. 
 
 diminished during his flight across New Jensey, and when he reached 
 the Delaware and crossed tlie river into Pennsylvania he had scarcely 
 three thousand soldiers left. Tlepublicans in New Jersey seemed para- 
 lyzed in the presence of the British army. Washington had urged Lee 
 to join him with the troops left at North Castle, but he would not do 
 so ; and after the little army had crossed the Delaware that officer, who, 
 it is now known, was a traitor to the cause, allowed himself to be made 
 a prisoner in New Jersey and taken to New York. 
 
 The procrastinating Howe, feeling sure that he could now capture 
 Philadelphia at any time, ordered Cornwallis to defer the crossing of the 
 river until it should be sufficiently frozen to allow the troops to move 
 
 * The boom consisted of a heavy iron chain borne by strong floats. A more powerful 
 boom was stretched across the river from West Point to Constitution Island. The chain 
 was buoyed by logs about si.xteen feet in length sharpened at each end. so as to offer little 
 resistance to the tides. To these logs the chain w^as firmly fastened. Several links of the 
 chain may be seen at West Point surrounding a mortar. The links are made of iron bars 
 two inches and a half square and a little more than three feet in U-ugth. Each weighed 
 about one hundred and sixty pounds. 
 
254 llli; KMPIIiK STATK 
 
 over upon tlic ice. Tlicy were cantoned along tlie Xew Jersey side of 
 the river from Trenton to rjurlington. A detacliinent of rierinans 
 under Colonel Rail and i^onie I'ritish light horse were stationed at 
 Trenton ; and so confident were the British tliat the inchoate repnbh'c 
 M-as mined, tliat Cornwallis ])rcparcd to retnrn to England. When Rail 
 sent to General Grant for re-enforcenients, the latter said to the mes- 
 senger : "' Tell the colonel he is very safe. I will undertake to keep the 
 peace in Xew Jersey with a corporal's guard." 
 
 Dark, indeed, was the aspect of public affairs for the Rei)ul)licans at 
 that moment. The frightened Congress had fled from Piiihidel[)hia to 
 Baltimore. The public mind was despondent. Recruiting for the army 
 seemed impossible. Terms of service of the soldiers were about to 
 expire, and the army was reduced to seventeen hundred men. Yet 
 "Washington, knowing the cause to be just, and relying upon ()iiinip()- 
 tence, never lost hopc^ At that gloomy hour he conceived a masterly 
 stroke of military .-^kill. Liberal bounties were offered for recruits, and 
 lirought them. Lee's division, under Sullivan, joined him. So, also, 
 did regiments from Ticonderoga. The Pennsylvania militia turned out 
 with considerable alacrity, and the spell-bound people of Xew Jersey 
 began to recover their senses. 
 
 Thus strengthened, Washington I'csolved to recross the Delaware and 
 smite the enemy at Trenton, lie chose Christnuis night for the enter- 
 prise, knowing that a large portion of the Germans would probably be 
 disabled by their holiday indulgences. 
 
 Li a storm of sleet the Americans, two thousand strong, witli twenty 
 cannons, crossed the Delaware at night on flat-boats amid thin floating 
 ice, and hoped to reach Trenton before daylight. They could not. 
 The German guards at the outskirts of the village, surprised, were 
 driven in, and gave an alarm. The drums beat to arms, and very soon 
 Colonel Rail and his disordered troops were in the streets. In the sharp 
 skirmi.*h that ensued Rail fell, mortally wounded. His troops, panic- 
 stricken, broke and Bed in (•onfusion, but were intercepted by some 
 Pennsylvania riflemen under Colonel Hand and made ])risoners. The 
 light horse esca[)ed. The victory was complete. As a prudential 
 measure Washington immediately recrossed the river with his captives 
 and spoils. 
 
 The British were astounded, and fell back from the Delaware. Wash- 
 ington's ranks were rapidly filled. Congress had clothed him with the 
 powers of a dictator. He recrossed the Delaware (December 30th), 
 took post at Trenton with about five thousand men, and resolved to act 
 on the offensive. Cornwallis returned to New Jei*sey, and the British 
 
BATTLE AT PRINCETON. 255 
 
 and German troops were concentrated at Princeton, only ten miles 
 distant. 
 
 On January 2d (1777) Cornwallis, with a strong force, moved against 
 Washington from Princeton. At Trenton they liad some skirmishing, 
 when each party encamped for the night upon opposite sides of a small 
 stream. Expecting re-enforcements in the morning, Cornwallis felt 
 sure of his prey. Put Wasliington, with his troops, moved secretly 
 away after midnight, and before sunrise he was engaged in battle near 
 Princeton with the reserved troops who had started to re-enforce Corn- 
 wallis. The battle was short, sharp, and decisive. The brave General 
 Hugh Mercer was mortally wounded, and many other American officers 
 were slain on that snowy field. 
 
 When the astonished Cornwallis found that his anticipated prey had 
 escaped, and he heard the booming of cannon at Princeton, he liastened 
 back ; but not a " rebel " was found there. They had won a victory 
 and passed on, and made their way to Morristown, in the hill country of 
 East Jersey, where Washington established his winter quarters. 
 
25(j THE EMPIRE ^TATE. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Two veiy important events occurred witliiii tin; doiiiuiii of New York 
 during the year 1777, namely : (1) The framing of a constitution for the 
 government of the Commonwealtli and tlie estahiislmient and organization 
 of an independent State govurnmont ; (2) A formidahle invasion of tlie 
 State by British troops from Canada, under the command of Lieutenant- 
 General Sir John Burgoyne. 
 
 Tlie final movement in their migrations b}' the Provincial Congress, 
 or, rather, the " Convention of Representatives of the State of New 
 York," as that Ijody was now called, occurred in February, 1777, when 
 they adjourned from Poughkeepsie to Kingston. In April, the pre- 
 vious year, the Continental ( 'ongress resolved, " That it be recommended 
 to the several Assemblies and Conventions of the United Colonies, where 
 no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs hath hitherto 
 been established, to adopt such a government as shall, in the opinion of 
 the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and 
 safety of their constituents in particular, and of America in general." 
 
 This was a Itold but cautious step in the direction of imlependence. 
 The people of Xew York, though Toryism was yet rife among them, 
 favored the recommendation of Congress by a large majority, and pro- 
 ceeded to elect a new Convention.* It assembled at White Plains in 
 
 * At that time the State was divklod into fourteen eounties — namely, New York. Rich- 
 monfl. Kings. Queens, Suffolk, Westchester, Duchess, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Tryon, 
 Charlotte, Cumberland, and Gloucester. The last two counties formed a part of the 
 (]ircsent) State of Vermont. Tlie following are the names of the members who were 
 present at the session at Kingston and assisted in the formation of a State government for 
 New York : 
 
 Neic York Oity. — John Jay, James Duane, John Morin Scott, James Beekman, Daniel 
 Dunseomb, Robert Harper, Philip Livingston. Abraham P. Lott, Peter van Zandt, 
 Anthony Rutgers, Evert Bancker, Isaac Stoiitenburgh, Isaac Roosevelt, John van Cort- 
 landt, William D<nning. 
 
 Alhniii/. — .Vbraham Ten Broeck, Robert Yates, Leonard Gansevoort. Abraham Yates. 
 Jr., John Tell Broeck. John Taylor, Pct(T R. Livingston, Robert van Rensselaer, 
 ^Matthew .Vdgate, John I. Bleccker. Jacob Cuyler. 
 
 Diirliim. — Robert R. Livingston, Zephaniah Piatt, John Schenck, Jonathan Landon, 
 Gilbert Livingston, James Livingston. Henry Schenck. 
 
 Ulster. — Christopher Tappen, Matthew Rea, Matthew Cantine, Charles De Witt, 
 Arthur Parks. 
 
FORMATION" oF A STATE COXSTITrTIOX. 
 
 557 
 
 Jnlv, for the double purpose of framing a State Constitution ; 
 cising all the powers of government until that duty should be 
 
 On August 1st (1TT6) the 
 Convention appointed a commit- 
 tee to prepare a Constitution. 
 Mr. Jay was made chairman of 
 tlie committee. The exigencies 
 of public affairs, in which he 
 was deeply engaged, caused con- 
 siderable delay in their work, for 
 almost the entire laljor devolved 
 niKin him. The draft, in the 
 handwriting of Mr. Jay, was sub- 
 mitted to the Convention on 
 March 12th, 1777. That body 
 were then sitting at Kingston, in 
 
 a substantial house built of blue * - , i j^ 
 
 limestone, on the coi-ner of Main '^ 
 
 and Fair streets, which is yet John jay,* 
 
 (1886) standing. It was one of 
 
 the few houses spared by the torches of British incendiarie 
 Kinifston in the autnmn of the same year. 
 
 ind of 
 perfoi 
 
 exer- 
 nied. 
 
 M'lii) burned 
 
 Wr.ilclifxter. — Pierre vau Cortlandt, Gouverneur ^Morris. Gilbert Drake, Lewis 
 Graham, Ezra Locliwood, ZebediaU Mills, Jonatliaii Piatt, Jonathau G, Tompkins. 
 
 OraiKjc. — William Allison, Henry AVisncr, Jeremiah Clarke, Isaac Sherwood, Joshua 
 H. Smith. 
 
 Suffolk. — William Smith. Thomas Treadwell, Joliu SIoss Hobart, Matthias Burnet 
 Miller, Ezra L'Hommedieii. 
 
 Qtiiriis. — Juuatluiu Lawrence. 
 
 Tri/oii. — William Harper, Isaac Paris. Jlr. Vedder. John Jlorsc, Benjamin NewUirk. 
 
 Charlotte. — John Williams, Alexander Webster. AVilliam Dtier. 
 
 Cumberliiiid. — Simon Stephens. 
 
 Kings, Riehmond, and Gloucester were not represented. v. ' 
 
 * John Jay was boru iu the city of New York on December 12th, 1745. He entered 
 King's (now Columbia) College when he was fourteen years old, and gave earh- i)romise 
 of a brilliant career. He was admitted to the bar in 1768 ; soon became an eminent 
 lawyer ; married a daughter of William Livingston, of New Jersey, in 1774, and joined 
 vigorously in opposition to the measures of the British ministry as a champion of popular 
 rights. He was the youngest memlier of tlie tirst Continental Congress, and was one of 
 the most efficient men in that body. After assisting iu the organization of the State of 
 New York, he became president of the Continental Congress, and in 1779 was sent as 
 minister at the Spanish court. He 'was one of the commis.sioners to negotiate the Pre- 
 liminary Treaty of Peace in 1782, and the following year he affixed his signature to the 
 definite Treatv. On his return he a.ssumed tlir duties of eliief of the Foreign Depart- 
 
J58 
 
 Tin-: KMi'iui: statk. 
 
 The Constitution \v;is under consideration for more tliun a niontli. 
 ]\[r. Jay, on reflecting upon the character and feelings of tlie nieniliers 
 of tlie Convention, had omitted several important provisions, which he 
 proposed to offer separately as amendments before it should be finally 
 acted upon. That action was taken, in a precipitate manner, on April 
 l2oth.* Mr. .Tay mms then al)sent in attendance upon his dying mother. 
 J5eforo his return the instrument was adojited, with some additions and 
 
 HOUSE IX WIIKII TUE COXSTITCTIOX WAS ADOPTED. 
 
 omissions, which lie regretted. In a letter penned a few days afterward 
 concerning the hurried manner in which this important business hail 
 been concluded, Mr. Jay wrote, after pointing out his olnections : 
 
 " The other parts of the Constitution 1 approve, and only regret that, 
 like a harvest cut before it was well ripe, some of the grains have 
 shrunk. Exclusive of the clauses which I have mentioned, and which 
 
 mt-nt of Iho Fcileral Govcninu'nt, and so rcniaiiipd until tho Xational Government 
 was established, lu 1789, when lie was appointed the first Chief-.] list iee of the United 
 States. In 1794 he negotiated a new treaty with Great Hiitain. During his absence lie 
 was elected Governor of the State of New York, and held that office until isol. Gov- 
 ernor Jay died May 17th, 1829. 
 
 * On April 22d the Constitution was published by the reading of it to the members of 
 the Convention and the people by Robert Benson, the secretary, in front of the court- 
 house in Kingston. Benson stood upon a barrel, and his clear voice was distinctly heard 
 by the multitude. Three thousand cojiies of the document were printed by John Holt, 
 at Fishkil), for distribution. 
 
FEATURES OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 t>59 
 
 I wisli hud been added, another material one has been omitted — namely, 
 a direction that all persons holding office iinder the government should 
 swear allegiance to it, and renounce all allegiance and subjection to 
 foreign kings, princes, and States, in all matters, ecclesiastical as well as 
 civil. I should also have been for a clause against the continuance of 
 domestic slavery, and for the support and encouragement of literature. " 
 Because of Mr. Jay's temporary absence from the Convention it is 
 ]>robable that the State of Xew York was deprived of the honor of 
 
 
 PrBI.ISniXG THE COXSTITITIOX. 
 
 setting the first example in America of the voluntary al)olition of slavery. 
 Among the most prominent features of the Constitution, and which 
 were subsequently eliminated from it by revisions and amendments, 
 were (1) a provision for a Council of Appointment, composed of the 
 governor and four Senators, the latter chosen by the Assembly to serve 
 for two years. This Council appointed nearly all officers, excepting the 
 chancellor and Supreme Court judges. The term of office of their 
 appointees depended upon the will of the Council ; (2) a Council of 
 
200 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Revision, composed of tlie governor, the chancellor, and Supreme Court 
 iudges, whose duty it was to revise all hills about to be passed into laws 
 by the Legislature ; (3) a property (pialitication to enable a citizen to 
 exercise the riglit of the elective franchise, and recjuiring Senators to be 
 freeholders ; giving power to the governor to prorogue the Legislature. 
 
 Unlike the more democratic usage of to-day, no provision was made 
 for the submission of the Constitution to the judgment of the jieople, 
 and the Litter had no opportunity to discuss its provisions or form an 
 opinion of it until it was too late to do so. The Convention mils urged 
 l>y the '• L'nion Mechanics," of Xew York City, to submit it to the 
 people ; but as the members of the Convention were anxious to return 
 home, and public affairs re<piired a speedy organization of a State govern- 
 ment, this fundamental law of the State was put forth, the product of 
 the representatives only of the people. 
 
 In the full history of these nmvements toward the perfecting the 
 Constitution of the State of Xew York is developed much of the phi- 
 losophy of that progress which marks so distinctly the onward career of 
 our Commonwealth. From the old Dutch laws, sometimes narrow and 
 despotic, but usually marked l)y a sound and expansive policy, have 
 evolved, by degrees, the enliglitened features of the present Constitution 
 of the State. In it we may trace the growth of the benevolent principles 
 of human equality and the correct appreciation in the pnl>lic mind of 
 the rights of man. 
 
 Provision was made for putting the State Government into active 
 operation immediately.* Eobert R. Livingston was appointed by the 
 Convention, Chancellor ; Jcjlin Jay, Chief-Justice ; Robert Yates, Jr. , 
 and John Sloss Hobart, puisne justices, and Egbert Benson, Attorney- 
 General. The benches of the courts of the several counties were filled. 
 A Council of Safety was appointed, composed of John Morin Scott. 
 Robert R. Livingston, Charles Tappen, Abraham Yates, Jr., Gous-erneur 
 Morris, Zephauiah Piatt, John Jay, Charles Dc Witt, Robert Harper, 
 Jacob Cuyler, Thomas Treadwell, J. Sloss Ilobart, and Jonathan 
 G. Tompkins. To this Council were confided all the powers of the State, 
 ■ to be exercised without control, until superseded by the regularly con- 
 stituted authorities. 
 
 The Convention also appointed a sort of Yigilance Committee, for 
 
 * A committee comiwsed of .John .Jay. liolxTt R. Livincston, Gouverneur Jlorris, .Jolm 
 Morin Scott, Abraham Yates, and Jolin Sloss Hobart \va.s apixjintetl to reiwrt a plai\ for 
 orgiinizinsr the State Government. Fifteen of the members of tlie Convention were 
 emiK)wered to jrovern the Stale until an election could be held for llie State officers. 
 They constituted a board calleil the Council of Safety. 
 
A VIGILANCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED. 2(;l 
 
 '• iiKjuiniig into and detecting and defeating all conspiracies that may be 
 formed in the State against the liberties of America." John Jay was 
 the lirst chairman. They were empowered to send for persons and 
 papers ; to call out the militia in the several counties for suppressing 
 insurrection ; to apprehend, secure, or remove persons whom they might 
 judge danojerous to the State ; to make the necessary drafts upon tlie 
 treasury ; to enjoin secrecy upon their members and the persons they 
 employed. They were empowered to raise and officer two hundred and 
 twenty men, and to avail themselves of their service whenever the 
 committee might see fit. 
 
 This formidable committee was kept in active existence during the 
 war, and its powers were employed with energy. A vast number of 
 arrests, imprisonments, and banishments from the State or to within tlie 
 British lines at ]SIew York were made by it. Many Tories and their 
 families were sent into the city of New York from the rural districts ; 
 otliers were expelled from the State, and others were required to give 
 seciirity to a pledge to reside within preserilied limits. Occasionally the 
 jails and even the churches were crowded with prisoners, and many were 
 sent to jails in Connecticut for safe keeping. Among the latter was the 
 Mayor of New York.* 
 
 The Convention defined the crime of treason against the State, and 
 imposed the penalty of death upon the offender. They established a 
 system of confiscation ; and soon after the Constitution was adopted a law 
 was passed requiring an oath of allegiance to the State. All persons 
 refusing to take snch oath were sent within the British lines or Avere 
 exchanged for prisoners of war. An act of attainder was passed, 
 together with an act for the " forfeiture and sale of the estates of persons 
 
 * This conmiittee was timely, for tlie southern portion of the State was so strongly 
 Torv in sentiment that sit one time the inhabitants were on the point of open opposition 
 to Congress before the entry of the British troops into New York City. Governor Tryon 
 resumed his authority as supreme ruler. He received the congratulations of the loyal 
 inhabitants signed by Daniel Ilommanden, Oliver de Lancey, and nine hundred and 
 forty-six others. They also addressed the brothers Howe, as peace commissioners, praying 
 that reconciliation and general loyalty might be restored. A similar address was made to 
 the governor and the commissioners in October, signed by David Colden and two thou- 
 sand one hundred and eighty-four inhabitants of Queens Couniy. On the 20th of the .same 
 month the committee of Suffolk County dissolved, disclaimed and rejected the orders of 
 Congress, and declared themselves " desirous to obey the legal authority of government, 
 hoping that the governor woidd pass by their former misconduct and te graciously 
 pleased to protect them, agreeably to the laws of the province." The disaflfected every- 
 where began to correspond with the enemy, and authority was given to county com- 
 mittees to arrest and punish them. 
 
2ii2 THE EMIMHK STATK. 
 
 wlio liiul iiilhcrcd to the encin}-, and for declaring tlie sovereignty of the 
 State ill respect to all property nitliiii it.'"* 
 
 The Convention adjourned in May. The Council of Safety imme- 
 diately ordered an (flection of a Legislature and State officers. The returns 
 were made to the Council early in July. General George Clinton 
 was chosen governor, and Pierre van Cortlandt lieutenant-governor. 
 Clinton held the position by successive elections until 1795, when he was 
 succeeded by John Jay. Tie was installed in office on July 30th, at 
 Kingston. Being then actively engaged in command of the New York 
 niiliria, he did not quit the field until the defeat of J'urgoyne, in the 
 fall, but discharged his civil duties by correspondence with the Council 
 of Safety, which body was continued until the fidl organization of the 
 State Government, in the spring of 1T7>^. 
 
 The first meeting of the Legislature of Xew York took place at King- 
 ston, f when Walter Livingston M-as ciiosen Speaker of the Assembly. 
 Pierre van Cortlandt, the lieutenant-governor, jiresided over the Senate. 
 John Morin Scott was chosen Secretary of State, and Comfort Sands 
 Auditor-General. 
 
 Thus was completed by the process of cvoluti(jn the transformation uf 
 the alternate Dutch and English province of Kew York into an inde- 
 pendent commonwealth. It formed a constituent of the then inchoate 
 jiation which has become the mightiest power on the earth. Isew York 
 
 * The pereons subjected to special attention under this law weie : .Jolin >Iurray, Earl 
 of Dunmorc ; AVilliara Tryon, governor ; .John Watts, Oliver de Laneey, Huirli Wallace, 
 Henry White, .John Harris C'ruger, William Axlell, Koger Jlorris. late members of the 
 Council ; George Duncan Ludlow and Thomas .James, late justices of the Supreme 
 Court ; .John Taber ICempe, late attorney-general ; William Bayard, Hobcrl IJayard, 
 .Tames ile I,.anccy, David Matthews (late Mayor of New York), .Tames .Jaunccy, George 
 FoUiot, Thomas White, William ^McAdam, Isaac Low, Jliles .Sherbrooke, Alexander 
 Wallace, .John Wealherhead, Rev. Charles Inglis, rector of Trinity Church, and 
 Margaretta, his wife ; Sir John Johnson, Guy Johnson, Daniel Claas (son-in-law of Sir 
 William Johnson), John Buller, John Joost Herkimer. Frederick Philipse, Senior and 
 Junior ; David Colden, Daniel Kissam, Gabriel J>U(llow. I'hilii) Skene, Andrew P. Skene, 
 Benjamin Seaman, Christopher Billop, Beverly Robinson, Senior and Junior ; JIalcomn 
 Morrison, John Ivane, Abraham C. Cuyler, Robert Leake, Edward Jes\ip, Ebenezer 
 Jesup, I'eter Dulx)is. Thomas H. Barclay, Susaiuiah Robinson and her sister, Maj' 
 Morris, John Rapelje, George Morrison, Richard Floyd, Parker Wyckham, Henry 
 IJovd, and Sir Henry Clinton. 
 
 t ICingston was then a pretty, thriving village situated on a plain a short distance west 
 of the river. It was one of the earliest Dutch settlements in the State. It was originally 
 named Esopus, and that region was the theatre of a tragedy, already noticed, in which the 
 Indians took a conspicuous ]>art in Stu\-\-esant's time. There were Dutch trading settlers 
 there so early as 1616. At the time in question it was one of the larger villages in Xew 
 York. 
 
INVASION FROM CANADA THREATENED. 203 
 
 is a peerless member of the Tliirty-eiglit United States which form the 
 Great Kepulilic of the AVest. 
 
 Wiiile these civil matters were occupying the earnest attention of the 
 people of New York, a most imposing military spectacle was seen within 
 its borders, and filled the minds of every patriot with anxiety and alarm. 
 
 We have observed that General Burgoyne was in Canada at the close 
 of 1776 with a large British force. lie went to England early in 1777, 
 but i-eturned to Quebec on May 5th following. He came bearing the 
 commission of lieutenant-general and invested with the chief command 
 of the troops in Canada, superseding Governor Carleton. To soothe the 
 feelings of the governor, Burgoyne bore to Carleton tokens of knight- 
 hood which had just been bestowed upon him, and thenceforth he was 
 known as Sir Guy Carleton. 
 
 Burgoyne was instructed to attempt the execution of the ministerial 
 plan for the severance of New England from the other States then in 
 revolt. lie at once made preparations to invade Northern New York 
 by the way of Lake Champlain, with a large force of Britons, Germans, 
 Canadians, and Indians. 
 
 The vigilant Schuyler, anticipating such an invasion, had written to 
 Washington early in the year that at least ten thousand troops, well 
 supplied, would lie required at Ticonderoga, and two thousand at Fort 
 Stauwix (now Rome) and at other points on the Mohawk Kiver. 
 Schuyler also engaged two trirstworthy residents of Canada to furnish 
 him with the best intelligence of affairs there, from time to time. 
 
 Washington made strenuous efforts to strengthen the northern army. 
 Some New York and New England trooj^s had joined the garrison at 
 Ticonderoga ; but when, so late as June 20th, Schuyler visited that post, 
 he M'as deeply concerned to learn from General St. Clair that the garrison 
 was still very weak, the soldiers miserably clad and fed, and that there 
 was almost nothing in store for them. A strong redoubt had been built 
 on Mount Independence on the opposite shore of the here narrow lake, 
 but there were not men enougli to properly man it. 
 
 At dawn on the very day when Schuyler arrived at Ticonderoga 
 (June 20tli), the drums in the British camp at St. Johns, on the Sore), 
 l)eat the generale, and very soon the army which Burgoyne * had 
 
 * Sir John Burgo_vue was born in England about 1730, and entered the army in his 
 youth. He married a daughter of the Earl of Derby. He became distinguished as a 
 soldier, served with honor in Portugal in lT(i~, and became a member of Parliament. 
 With the commission of brigadier-general he arrived in Boston late in May, 17T.J. He 
 returned to England late in 1776, and came back to America in the spring of 1777. and 
 undertook the invasion of the State of New York. He and his whole army were made 
 
204 TlIK E.Ml'lUE STATE. 
 
 cjathcrcd there were upon vessels lioniul up the lake. The wives of 
 many of the otHcers accoiupaniod their husbands, for they e.xpeeted a 
 pleasant summer journey over the country to New York, the lieutenant- 
 general having written to General Howe that he should very soon join 
 him on the navigahlo waters of the Hudson. Tiie Indians were to 
 spread terror over Xorthern New York by their atrocities, and so make 
 concjuest easy, and the voyage up the lake and the march to Albany 
 almost a pleasure excursion. 
 
 At the same time an expedition under ('olonel St. Leger, composed of 
 regulars, Canadians, and Indians, was despatched to Lake Ontario with 
 orders to cross it, land at Oswego, penetrate and desolate the Moliawk 
 Aalluy, and join the victorious tr<)o[)s wliich might sweep down from 
 the noi-tii into tlie valley of the Hudson. The Canadians and Indians 
 were led by Sir John Johnsun. At the same time a British foi'ce was to 
 ascend the Hudson, seize the American fortifications in the Highlands. 
 waste the country above in case of resistance, and form a junction with 
 Burgoyne at Albau}-. 
 
 To alarm and distract the inhabitants in the lower valley of the 
 Hudson and on the seaboard, marauding expeditions were sent out from 
 New York. Late in April a strong British force went up the Hudson 
 to destroy American stores at Peekskill, at the lower entrance to the 
 Highlands. Too weak to defend them, the vVmericans, under General 
 McDougal, set them on tire and retreated to the hills in the rear. 
 A little later Governor Tryon, with aljout two thousand British and 
 Tories, landed on the shores of Connecticut, penetrated the country, 
 destroyed the stores at Danbury, and jilundered and burnt that 
 village. 
 
 With nnu-h display Burgoyne went on board the schooner Ladij 
 Marij, at St. Johns, when a discharge of cannons from her deck gave a 
 signal for the fleet to move. His second in command was General 
 ^\ illiam Phillips. The Baron de Riedesel * \yas the commander-in-chief 
 
 prisoners nt Siirato;ia. when he returned to England and resumed his seat in Parliament, 
 lie becjiine a Privy ('(Hineiildr, eonimander-in-ehief in Inland, and retired from public 
 life in 1TH4. He dieil in Limdon in 1792. 
 
 * ISaron <le Kiedesel was a German oflicer, boru in 1738, and died in Bruuswiek in 
 1800. He served in the English army in the Seven Yeans' War in Eui;ope under Prince 
 Ferdinand, and became captain of Hessian Hus-sars in 1760. In 1767 he becjmie adjutant- 
 general of the Brunswick army. With the rank of major-general he commanded tlie 
 Brunswickers liired by Greorge HI. of England for ser\nce in America, and landed with 
 Burgoyne in Canada in the spring of 1775. He assisted that general in his invasion of New 
 York, and was made a prisoner of war. His eharniing wife a( •eom|>.inied him. and after- 
 
BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF NEW YORK. 
 
 ■2 05 
 
 of the Germans. At tlie mouth of tlie Boquet River (site of WilLs- 
 liorough, ill Essex County) Biir<;;oyne feasted about four hundi'ed Indians, 
 to whom lie made a speech, praising them for their fidelity to the king, 
 and exhorting them to " strike at 
 the common enemy of their sov- 
 ereign and America." lie forbade 
 them to kill any excepting in bat- 
 tle, or to take scalps from any but 
 the dead. The Mdiolo invading 
 army arrived at Crown Point on 
 June 26tli. They then numbered 
 .something less than nine thou.sand 
 men, with a powerfid train of artil- 
 lery. 
 
 The garrisons at Tieonderoga 
 and ]\Iouut Independence had an 
 aggregate force of not more than 
 thirty-five hundred men, and only 
 one in ten of them possessing a 
 Ijayonet. Schuyler, who was at 
 Albany making provision to meet 
 the invasion of the Mohawk region, 
 had too few troops to spare a re- 
 enforcement for St. Clair without uncovering points which, left un- 
 protected, might allow the invaders to gain the rear of the lake 
 fortresses. There were strong outposts around Tieonderoga, but there 
 were not troops enough to man them ; and there were eminences that 
 commanded the fort that were left \ingnarded for the same reason. 
 Between Tieonderoga and Mount Independence was a boom which the 
 Americans thought would effectually bar the way of British vessels 
 ascending the lake ; but it utterly failed in the lumr of need. 
 
 At Crown Point Burgoyne issued a pompous proclamation to the 
 inhaliitants of the upper Hudson Yalley, which lie prefaced with a 
 list of his titles, followed by terrible threats in allusion to what the 
 Indians might do if unrestrained. It did not frighten the peojile at all. 
 They knew the character of the Indians, and regarded the proelama- 
 
 B.\RONES8 DE RIEDESEL. 
 
 ward publislied an interesting account of her experience in America. Tlie baron wa.s 
 exchanged in 1T80 and was made licutcnant-scncral. His wife was a daughter of the 
 Prussian Minister Massow. Slic died in lierlin in ISOH. The baron's Memoirs and his 
 wife's Letters and .luurnal liavc been translated into English and publislied 1)y AV. L, 
 Stone, Esq. 
 
^00 THE K.Ml'IKK STATE. 
 
 tkm with contp.inpt." St. CMair also iiululfred in liopus and a little 
 Ijoasting. 
 
 On July 1st, a l)riglit, Imt day, the invading army moved in two 
 divisions from Crown Point to attack Forts Ticonderoga and Indepen- 
 dence. Tlie right wing, led by General Phillips, moved up the west side 
 of the lake, and tiie left wing, composed of the Germans commanded liy 
 General Iliedcsel, moved up the east side. The dragoons formed the 
 advance guard. General Ihirgoyiie and his staff were on the schooner 
 Royal Gi'orge, from whicli he could watcli the movements of each 
 division. The whole force halted within three miles of Forts Ticon- 
 deroga and Independence. 
 
 A detachment of the right wing of the army seized an eminence that 
 commanded the road to Lake George and some mills, and they soon took 
 possession of the crest of !Mojint Detiance, and planted a battery upon it, 
 whence plunging shot niigiit l)e hurled into Fort Ticonderoga from a 
 point several hundred feet above it. This was done so secretly that the 
 first intimation St. Clair liad of it was the startling sight, at dawn on 
 July 5th. It seemed to the Americans more like the lingering appari- 
 tions of a night vision than the terril)le reality they were compelled to 
 acknowledge it to be. 
 
 The fort was now clearly untenable. A cfiuncil of war determined 
 that only in secret tlight might the garrison hope for salvation from 
 destruction or capture. The flight was undertaken the same night. 
 The invalids and convalescents, stores and l)airira<re, were sent up the 
 lake tliat ev^enino; to Skcnesljorougli (now "Whitehall) oil bateaux ; and 
 at about two o'clock in the morning (Sunday, July 6th) the garrison 
 
 * The foUowing poetical paraphrase of the prochiniation was attributed to FraiuiN 
 Ilopkiiison, author of " The Battle of the Kegs :" 
 
 " I will let loose the dogs of hell, 
 Five thousand Indians, who slmll yell, 
 And foam and tear, aod grin and roar, 
 And (In-nch their moccasins in gore ; 
 To these Til give full scope and play, 
 From Ticonderog' to Florida. 
 They*ll scalp yolir heads and kick your phiufi, 
 And rij* your — and flay your t-kini* ; 
 And <tf your ears he nimble croppers, 
 And make your thumbs tobacco- stoppers. 
 If after all the.^c loving warnings. 
 My wishes and my bowels' yearnings, 
 You shall remain as deaf as adder, 
 C>r gn>w with hostile rage the madder. 
 1 swear by St. George and by St. Paul, 
 I will exterminate yon all. 
 Siibseribt^d wiih my manual elgn. 
 To test these pn'scnte— John Bi"Rooyne.'* 
 
EVACUATIOX OF TICOXDEROGA. 267 
 
 crossed a floating bridge at the boom to Fort Independence, leaving- 
 almost two hundred cannons behind tlieni. With the garrison of the 
 latter they fled southward through the forests of Vermont, hotly imrsued 
 by the grenadier brigade of General Fraser and some of the Germans. 
 Overtaken at Ilubbardton, the Americans, after a short and sharp battle, 
 were defeated and dispersed. St. Clair finally rallied about two thousand 
 men, and with these reached Fort Edward, on the \ipper Hudson, in safety. 
 
 In the mean time Bnrgoyne had ordered his gun-boats and other 
 vessels to pursue the fugitive bateaux. Before sunrise these vessels had 
 burst asunder the boom on which the Americans relied, and the whole 
 British flotilla engaged in the chase. The bateaux were overtaken near 
 Skenesborough and destroyed, with all their contents, but the men 
 escaped. 
 
 General Schuyler, who was constantly engaged in the oversight of 
 everything in the Northern Department, was severelv censured for the 
 evacuation of Ticonderoga, when he had no connection with the event. 
 The evacuation was done without his orders or his knowledge, for he 
 was then at Saratoga on important public business. He was tried for 
 the offence by a court-martial, and most honorably acquitted.* 
 
 From Skenesborough Burgoyne sent out a boastful and arrogant proc- 
 lamation, in which he demanded the instant submission of the j^eople, 
 and reipiired them to send deputies from the several townships to meet 
 Colonel Philip Skene f in conference at Castleton, on July 15th. lie 
 threatened them with " military executions" if they refused to obey his 
 commands. At the same time he promised them ample protection if 
 they should be obedient. 
 
 General Schuyler, vrho had hastened to Fort Edward, issued a stirring 
 counter-proclamation, \<-arning the people against the wiles of the enemy, 
 whose sole ol)ject was by threats and promises to induce the inhabitants 
 to forsake the cause of their injured country, and to assist the enemy in 
 
 * For minute particulars concerning the eminent public services of General Schuyler 
 from 1760 until his death in 1804, see Lossing's Life atid Times of Philip SchuyUr, 
 published by Henry Holt & Co., New York. 
 
 + Philip Skene came to America with British troops in 17.i6. and ^vas wounded in the 
 attack on Ticonderoga uniler Abercrombie. He had entered the i\n\\x in 1739. He was 
 in command of Crown Point for a while. He planted a settlement at the head of Lake 
 Champlain (now Whitehall) which was called Skenesborough, and there he made his resi- 
 dence in 1770. .\dhering to the British crown, he was arrested in Philadelphia, but was 
 exchanged in 1776, and accompanied Burgovne in his invasion of New York. He was 
 with the British detachment defeated at Bennington, and was taken prisoner at Saratoga. 
 The Legislature of New York conliseated his property in 1779, when he returned to 
 Endand. ami died there in 1810. 
 
•iOS Till-: IC.MI'IUK STATE. 
 
 forcing slavery upon the people of the United States. He warned his 
 fellow-citizens that the invaders would bring upon theui tiiat niiserv 
 which similar promises brought upon " tlie dehuled inhabitants of New 
 Jersey who were weak enough to confide in them, but soon experienced 
 their fallacy l)y being treated indiscriminately witli those virtuous citizens 
 who came forth in defence of their country, with the most M-autoii 
 biirl)arities, and such as hitiierto liatli not even disgraced barl>ariau>. 
 They cnielly butciiered witliout distinction to age or sex,'" Schuyler 
 continued. " They ravished cliildren froiu ten to women of eighty 
 years of age ! they liurnt, pillaged, and destroyed whatever came into 
 their power, nor did those edifices dedicated to tiie worship of .Vlmiglity 
 God escape tlieir sacrilegious fury." 
 
 Schuyler warned the people of Northern New York th.it tin's would 
 be their fate if they heeded Burgoyne's proclamation ; and he told them 
 distinctly that any persons holding any correspondence with the invaders, 
 or wiio should accept protection from them, would be regarded and 
 punished as traitors to their country. 
 
 P>nrgoyne pushed on from Skenesborough toward Fort Edwai-d, on 
 the uj)per Hudson, but met with obstructions at almost every stej), 
 which had been cast in his way by General Schuyler, who destroyed 
 liridgcs and felled trees across the roads. Schuyler was then in command 
 of not more than four thousand effective men, a mimbcr entirely inado- 
 (piate to combat a foe twice as strong in iiumbers and flushed with 
 victory ; but so effectually did he em])loy his troops in impe<ling the 
 march of tiie invading army that they did nut arrive at Fort Edward 
 before the close of July. Then occurred there the sad tragedy of the 
 death of Jane McCrea, the story of which, as set afloat at that time, is 
 familiar to all readers of American history ; but truth changed its 
 features many years ago, and gave the story as follows : 
 
 Jane McCrea, a daughter of a elergviuau in New Jersev, was visitiui^ 
 friends at Fort Edward at the time of the invasion. She was betrothed 
 to a young man living near there, who Wiis then in Ihirgoyne's army. 
 When that army ajjproaclied Fort Edward some prowling Indians seized 
 Miss McCrea .and her feminine friend with whom she was staying, and 
 attempted to convey them to the British camp at Sandy Hill. They 
 had placed them upon horses (probably by direction of the lover) and 
 were ascending a hill when a detachment of Americans, who were sent 
 to rescue the captives, tired upon the dusky kidnappers. One of the 
 bullets pierced the brain of tlie maiden, and she fell dead from the 
 horse. Her captors scalped her and carried her glossy tresses into the 
 camp as a trophy. Her lover, shocked b^' the event, left the army and 
 
PERILOUS CONDITIOX OP BURGOYXES AIOIY. 269 
 
 retired tu Canada, carrying with him tlie precious locks of hi.s aHiauced. 
 He lived, a moody bachelor, until he was an old man. 
 
 The body of Miss McCrea was recovered by her friends, and was 
 buried at Fort Edward. A tale of romance and horror concerning the 
 manner of her death went abroad. In Septemljer an open letter of 
 General Gates (who liad superseded Schuyler in command) to Burgoyne, 
 full of exaggerations and holding the latter responsible for the deatii of 
 the maiden, gave great currency to the story ; and hundreds, perhaps 
 thousands, of young men, burning with indignation and a spirit of ven- 
 geance becaiise of the outrage, flocked to the American camp. 
 
 Schuyler continually fell liack before the pressure of Burgoyne's 
 superior numbers, nuide stronger by discipline, until, in August, he 
 resolved to make a stand near Stillwater, on the Hudson, and there 
 establish a fortified camp for recruits, who were coming iu rapidly. 
 Burgoyne was evidently becoming weaker as he departed farther from 
 his now precarious supplies. His army was soon in an almost starving- 
 condition, and menaced on every side by constantly increasing enemies. 
 
 Necessity now compelled Bnrgojme to make a bold sti-oke for food, 
 forage, and conquest. He was informed that the Americans had a large 
 quantity of stores at Bennington, in Vermont. He sent a detachment 
 of Germans, Canadians, Tories, and Indians, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Breyman, to seize tliese supplies, jirocure horses, and organize the Tories 
 in that region. This force was met by New Hampshire militia and 
 others under General John Starke a short distance from Bennington, 
 and on August KUh (1777) a severe battle occurred. The invaders were 
 defeated and dispersed, and about seven hundred of them became 
 prisoners, ilany of the Canadians and Indians deserted, and the 
 survivors marched back in most melancholy mood. 
 
 This was a disastrous expedition for the invaders. It greatly inspirited 
 the patriots, disheartened the Tories, and depressed the spirits of the 
 whole of Burgoyne's army. It crippled his movements when it was all- 
 important that he should go forward with celerity, for St. Leger, whom 
 he had sent by way of Lake Ontario and Oswego to invade the Mohawk 
 Valley, was then besieging Fort Stanwix (then called Fort Schuylen, 
 with the expectation of soon meeting the lieutenant-general at Albany. 
 His plans were frustrated. It was perilous for him to remain where he 
 was ; it would lie perilous to move forward. His troops had to be fed 
 with provisions brought from England by way of Canada and Lakes 
 Champlain and George and a land journey through the forests. Let us 
 leave Burgoyne in this dilemma and take a glance at passing events in 
 the Mohiiwk Valley. 
 
270 
 
 TIIK KMIMIIK STATE. 
 
 CIIAPTEIl XIX. 
 
 'i '^v 
 
 Tn order to moderate the zeal of tlie Tories and to encourage and 
 support tliu Wliiifs of Tryoii County, Fort Seluiyler (on the situ of 
 Rome, X. Y. ) had hecn garrisoned hy seven liundred and fifty men. 
 
 eoninianded liy Colonel Peter 
 Gansevofirt. In 'Tuly (1777) Colo- 
 -'T' , ./ nel Marinus Willett, an active and 
 
 judicious officer, joined the garri- 
 son witii liis regiment. Anotlier 
 re-enfiircement arrived soon after- 
 Avard with provisions sufficient to 
 subsist the garrison for at least six 
 weeks. 
 
 Brigadier-General Nicholas Her- 
 kimer, a venerable citizen si.\ty- 
 five years old, was then in command 
 of the Tryon County militia. Tlie 
 Mohawlc chief, I'.i'ant,* had re- 
 turned from Canada in the spring 
 and placed himself at tlie head of 
 a band uf Indian marauders in tiie 
 vicinity of tlie head-waters of the 
 Susfpiehanna lliver, and the briga- 
 dier had watched him for several 
 weeks with sleepless vigilance. 
 At the beginning of August Colonel St. Leger, Avith a motley host of 
 Tories and Canadians — the " Johnson (or Royal) Greens" — comuuiuded 
 l)v Colonels Sir John Johnson, Chias, and Hutlcr, and Indians led by 
 
 JOSKIMI IIUANT. 
 
 * .Joseph Brant (Tliay-on-dn-nc-gfii) was an eminent Mohawk chief, born about IToS. 
 and (lied at the western end (if Lake Ontario, in Cana(hi, in 1S07. Sir "William .Tohnson 
 had him eduealed by Dr. Wheelock at Hanover, X. H. lie engaired in the war airainst 
 Pontiae in 1703. lie became .secretary to Guy .Johnson. In 1770 lie went to England 
 and olTered his own and his people's .services in suppressing the relM-Uion in llie colonies. 
 He and most of the Jlohawks remained friends of tin; crown throughout the war. After 
 the war he prevailed on the Six Nations to make a permanent peace with tlur new govern- 
 ment. He went to England a .second time, in 1780, in the interest of his people, who 
 •were settliMl on a reservation on the T.rand River, in Canada. IIi< remains rest beneath a 
 
ILVTTLE OF OKISKANY. 271 
 
 Brant, arrived before Fort Scluiyler from Oswego, and l)egan a close 
 siege.* Herkimer with his mihtia, eight hundred strong, hastened to 
 the assistance of the garrison, sending them word tliat he M'as comino-. 
 Encouraged by this news, Colonel Willett naade a sortie with a part of 
 two regiments. He fell upon the " Greens" so suddenly and furiously 
 that they were compelled to tly in confusion. Sir John had not time to 
 ])nt on his coat. His papers, l)aggage, clothing, blankets, and cani]) 
 equipage, sufficient in bulk to KU twenty wagons, were the spoils of 
 victory. The trojihies were five British flags. A portion of the 
 " Greens" had gone to meet Herkimer and liis men. 
 
 On the morning of August (3th Herkimer and his little force were 
 marching, iu fancied security, at Oriskany, a few miles west of Utica, 
 when they fell into an ambush of Tories and Indians. They were 
 assailed at all points by pikes, hatchets, and rifle-balls. Herkimer's rear- 
 guard broke and fled ; the remainder sustained a fierce conflict for more 
 than an hour, interrupted about fifteen minutes by a sudden thunder^ 
 storm. A bnllet shattered the leg of the brave old coniniander,f and 
 
 liandsomc mausoleum near a church built on the reservation. His .sou .lolm was aetive 
 on the side of the British in the Eastern movements of the War of 1812. 
 
 In October, 1886, a slightly colossal statue of Brant, nine feet in height, in Indian 
 costume, was unveiled on the 3Iohawk reservation at Brautford, on the Grand River, 
 Ontario, Canada. Tlie likeness we give of the chief is from a miniature, exquisitely 
 painted on ivory, from life, when Brant was in London in 178.5-86. It is in possession 
 of the Brant family, and has ever been considered the best likeness of him ever painted. 
 
 Colonel AVilliam L. Stone, the eminent journalist of New York fifty or .sixty years ago, 
 has made the students of the history of our Commonwealth his debtors by his elaborate 
 biographies of both Brant and the great Seneca chief, Red .Jacket, the most conspicuous 
 representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy. 
 
 * The garrison was without a flag when the invaders appeared. One was soon sup- 
 plied, in pattern that was uniform with the prescription of the Continental Con.gress, by 
 resolution, adopted a few weeks before — " thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, and 
 thirteen stars displayed upon a blue tield. " Shirts were cut up to form the wlute stripes ; 
 bits of scarlet cloth were joined for the red stripes, and the blue ground for the stars was 
 composed of a portion of a cloth cloak belonging to Captain Abraham Swartwout. of 
 Duchess County, N. Y., who was then in the fort. It is believed this was the tirst 
 garrison flag displayed after the passage of the resolution of Congress on .June 14th, 1777. 
 
 f Nicholas Herkimer (Herkheimer) w-as born about 1727, and died in 1777. He was a 
 son of a Palatine who settled below Little Falls, in the Mohawk Valley, in the reign of 
 Queen Anne, and Wiis one of the patentees of present Herkimer County. In 17.58 Nicliolas 
 was made a lieutenant of provincials, and was in conuu.-uid of Fort Herkimer in that 
 .vear. Ho was appointed colonel of the first battalion of Tryon Couiily niililia in 177.5 ; 
 also chairman of the County Conmiittee of Safety, and in September. 1776. was made a 
 l)rigadier-general by the Provincial Convention of New York. He died at his home ten 
 days after he was wounded at the battle of Ori.skany. The Continental Congress voted to 
 erect a monument to his memory of the value of |,500, but it lias never been done. 
 
273 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATK 
 
 killed the horse upon whicli he wus riiliiii,'. Seated vipon his saddle at 
 the foot of a tree, he calmly gave orders. At length the Indians, hear- 
 ing the tiring occasioned hy Willett's sortie, lied to the deep woods in a 
 panic, and Avere soon followed by the equally alarmed Tories, leaving 
 the patriots masters of the field. Herkimer was taken to his home helow 
 
 the Little Falls of the ^fohawk. 
 where he soon afterward died from 
 excessive bleeding from his wound, 
 the result of l)ad surgery. 
 
 The siege of Fort Schuyler was 
 vigorously pressed by St. Leger. 
 On August Hth lie made a formal 
 demand for the surrender of the 
 fort. Tt was refused. Fi'aring the 
 assailants might be re-enforeed, anil 
 that his own jirovisions might fail, 
 (^ansevoort sent Lieutenant-Colo- 
 nel AVillott * to Schuyler to ask 
 him tu furnish relief. Willett, 
 with a single companion, who was 
 an expert in woodcraft, left the 
 fort stealthily during a series of 
 heavy thunder-storms, lie reached 
 the quarters of Schuyler at Still- 
 water on the 12tli, and I'evealed the urgency of the case to the general. 
 
 Schuyler, fully comprehending the importance of checking the 
 advance of St. Leger in the M-est while endeavoring to i-oll back the 
 invasion from the north, called a council of officers and ])ropDsed to send 
 a detachment to the relief of Fort Schuyler. The council objected 
 because of the pressing need <»f men for the army confronting Burgoyne. 
 
 '/•" 
 
 ,J 
 
 M.\RINUS WII.I.KTT. 
 
 * >Iarinus 'Willett Tvas born at Jamaica, L. I., in 1740, and died in New York City in 
 1830. He was graduated at King's (now Columbia) College, and soon afterward served 
 with Abcrcrombie in the attack on Ticonderoga in 1758. He wsus with Bnulstreet 
 against Fort Frontenac. Willett was one of the most eminent of the " Sons of Liberty," 
 and became a captain in McDougal's regiment in the invasion of Canada in 177.5. He was 
 promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Third Xew York Kegiment. In 1777 he was in 
 Fort Stanwix and assisted in its defence. In August he bore a message by stealth to 
 General Schuyler asking for relief, which was sent. He was in the battle of Jlonmoutli 
 in 1778, was with Sullivan in his campaign again.st the Indians in 1779, and in 17s4 
 became sheriff of New York City, in which position he served ten years. In 1807 he 
 was elected mayor of the city. He liad been appointed a brigadier-general in the army 
 to act asainst the Indians in the North-west in 17H2. but declineil the honor. 
 
FORT SCHUYLER RELIEVED. 273 
 
 Scliuvler heard one of the ofRcers say iu a half-suppressed whisper, '' lie 
 means to ■weaken tlie army." This was an echo — an epitome — of the 
 slanders witli whieli the general had been assailed since the evacuation of 
 Ticonderoga. With hot indignation he turned upon the .slanderer, and 
 imconsciousl}' biting in pieces a clay pipe that he was smoking, exclaimed 
 in a voice that awed the whole company into silence : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I shall take the responsibility upon m^'self ; where is 
 the brigadier who will take command of the relief ? I shall beat up for 
 volunteers to-morrow. " 
 
 The brave Benedict Arnold, one of the council, who knew how unjust 
 was the thought that there could be treason in the heart of General 
 Schuyler, immediately stopped forward and offered his services. The 
 drums beat for volunteers the next morning, and before noon (August 
 13th) eight hundred stalwart men were enrolled for the relief expedition. 
 They were chiefly from the Massachusetts brigade of General Larned. 
 
 With such followers — men who had implicit confidence in him — Gen- 
 eral Arnold pushed rajjidly up the Mohawk Valley. By stratagem, 
 audacity, and prowess Arnold impressed the followers of St. Leger with 
 the startling idea that the Americans advancing njson them were over- 
 whelming in numbers.* So impressed, the Indians resolved to fly. Xo 
 persuasions could hold them. Away they went, as fast as their legs 
 could carry them, toward Oswego and the more western forests. They 
 were followed by their pale-faced confreres, pell-mell, helter-skelter, in 
 a race for safety to be found on the bosom of Lake Ontario. 
 
 So was suddenly raised the siege of Fort Schuyler, and so ended the 
 really formidable invasion from the west. 
 
 The failure of the expedition of St. Leger f was a stunning blow to 
 the hopes of Burgoyne. This disaster, following so closely tipon that 
 
 * At the German Flats Arnold found a lialf idiotic Tory under sentence of deatli for 
 some crime he had committed. His mother begged Arnold to pardon him. Her prayer 
 was granted on the condition tliat he sliould accompany a friendly Oneida chief among 
 the barbarians into St. Leger's camp, and by representing the oncoming Americans, from 
 wliom they liad just escaped, as very numerous, frigliten them away. The prisoner 
 consented. The Tory had .several shots fired through his coat, and with these evidences 
 of a "terrible engagement with tlie enemy," he ran, almost out of breath, into the 
 Indian camp. Pointing toward the trees and the sky he said : " They are as many as 
 the leaves aud the stars at night." Very soon his companion, the Oneida, came running 
 from another direction with the same storv, when, as we have seen above, the Indians 
 fled. 
 
 t Colonel Barry St. Leger entered the British army in 1749 ; came to America with his 
 regiment in 17.57, and was with Wolfe at Quebec. He became lieutenant-colonel in 
 1772, and was sent to Canada in 177.). After his failure in the ^Mohawk "\'alky he dis- 
 xippears from history. He died in 1789. 
 
274 THK K.Ml'lUi: STATK. 
 
 near BeiiniiiEjtoTi, stiigij;cvo(l liiin. Tlis vibions of conquest, '' orders," 
 and perhaps a peerage for liiiuself vaiiislied. Ilis army was already con- 
 quered. The sad news thorougldy dislieartened liis troops. The fidelity 
 of the Indians, always fair-weather warriors, waned, and these ami 
 Canadians and timid Tories became lukewarm, aiul they deserted hy 
 hundreds. 
 
 Burgoyne's perplexity was great. To ]>roceed would be madness ; to 
 retreat would give hosts of friends to the Rejjublicans and dissipate tlie 
 idea of British invincibility, lie complained to the ministry that Howe 
 had not co-operated in liis favor by movements below, and consequently 
 troops from above the Iligldands had swelled the Northern army of the 
 Americans. lie resolved to remain where he was (on the heights of 
 Saratoga, where Scluiyler\ille now stands) until the j^anic in his army 
 should subside and he should receive supplies from posts on Lakes C'liam- 
 ])lain and George. By great diligence he soon afterward had sufficient 
 provisions l)rought from Lake George to last his army a month. 
 
 At this juncture, when Schuyler, who for weeks had retarded the 
 invasion of Burgoyne with a handful of men ; when his wisdom, prowess, 
 and patriotism were inducing recruits to flock to Ids standard, now tliat 
 their summer crops were generally gathered and he was ready to strike a 
 blow for victory, he was superseded in the command of the Xorthern 
 Department by General Gates. This change had been effected by 
 intrigues, a faction in Congress, and widely circulated slanders. That 
 Schuyler was the victim of a conspiracy no careful student of our history 
 can reasonably doubt. ■ Yet he patriotically acquiesced, and generously 
 offered to give Gates all the aid in his power. Had Gates. wisely accepted 
 the generous offer and acted with a proper spirit at that time, he might 
 have gained an early victory over the invaders. But he did not act 
 wisely, generously, nor efficiently, and when a victory was finally won in 
 spite of 1dm, he was not entitled to the honor of achieving it. 
 
 Burgoyne established an intrenched camp on the heights of Saratoga. 
 Early in September Gates found himself in command of an army 
 stronger in nundjers than the whole Britisii force oppo.sing him. The 
 American forces were well posted on Bemis's Heights, two nales above 
 Stillwater, the right M-ing resting upon the Hudson Kiver below the 
 Heights, and their left upon gentle hills. Upon their front was a well- 
 constructed line of fortiti(!ations. 
 
 Imperious necessity compelled Burgoyne to move forward. He took 
 a ])osition within two miles of the Americsm lines, and on the morning 
 of Septendier l!>th he advanced to offer battle. He had no alternative 
 but to tight or surrender, for he had been informed that General Lincoln, 
 
r.ATTLE OX BEMIS'S HEIGHTS. 275 
 
 with two thousand Xew Enghind militia, had ixotteii in liis rear and had 
 cut off his conimunication with Canada. On tlie day before, Colonel 
 John Brown, despatched by General Lincoln with a few troops and some 
 lioavy guns, had surprised an outpost between Ticoiideroga and Lake 
 George ; had taken possession of Mount Defiance ; cannonaded Ticon- 
 deroga and Fort Independence ; destroyed two hundred vessels, includ- 
 ing seventeen gun-boats and an armed sloop, at the outlet of Lake 
 George ; seized a large (quantity of stores ; released one hundred Ameri- 
 can prisoners, and captured about three hundred British soldiers. 
 
 Burgoyne's left wing, with an immense artillery train, commanded by 
 Generals Phillips and Biedesel, kept upon the plain near the river. The 
 centre and right, composed largely of Germans, e.xtendud across the 
 rolling country on the Heights, and wore commanded by Burgoyne in 
 person. Upon the hills on the extreme right General Fraser with 
 grenadiei"s and Colonel Breyman with riflemen were posted for the pxu-- 
 pose of outflanking the Americans. On the front and right Hank was a 
 body of Canadians, Tories, and Indians designed to attack the central 
 outposts of the Americans. 
 
 During the morning General Arnold, who commanded a division, had 
 observed through vistas in screening woods prejjarations of the foe for 
 an attack, and urged General Gates to send out a detachment to confront 
 them. But Gates had determined to act on the defensive within his 
 lines, and hesitated. At length he permitted Colonel Morgan and his 
 riflemen, and some infantry under Colonels Dearborn and Scammell, to 
 make an attack upon the Canadians and Tories. After severe skirn)ish- 
 ing the parties retired to their res]jective lines. 
 
 At eleven o'clock Burgoyne gave a signal for his whole army to move 
 forward. Gates seemed indisposed to fight, and remaineil in his tent. 
 General Fraser began the battle by making a rapid movement to tiirn the 
 .Vmericau left commanded by Arnold. At the same time Arnold, with 
 equal celerity of movement, attempted to turn the British right. lie 
 was frustrated by the refusal of Gates to send him ro-enforcements. He 
 was forced back, when Fraser, by a quick movement, called up to his 
 aid some German and other troops fron; Burgoyne's centre column. 
 Arnold brought his whole division (chiefly New Englanders) into action 
 and called for re-enforcements. They were not supplied ; yet he smote 
 the enemy so lustily that their lino began to waver, and it soon fell into 
 confusion. 
 
 General Phillips, below the Heights, hearing the din of l)attle, hurried 
 over the hills with fresh troops and artillery, followed by German 
 dragoons under Riedesel, and appeared upon the ground just as victory 
 
276 TlIK K.Ml'IUK S'I'Ali;. 
 
 soenied about to rest with the Americans. Still tlie ])attle raij:e(l. The 
 raiiivS of tiie Britisii were l)ecoiiiiiiij; fearfully Ihiiiiied, when I'iedesel 
 made a furious attack upon the flank of the Americans with cannon aiul 
 inusketrv, which coni])elied tlioni to give way. So tiie Germans saved 
 the I'ritish army from I'uin. 
 
 At the middle of the afternoon there was a lull in the touipest of 
 battle. It was soon succeeded by a nu)re violent outburst of furv. 
 Burgoyue opened a iieavy cannonade upon the Americans, who made no 
 response. Then he ordered a bayonet charge. As the invaders rushed 
 forward to the assault their silent antagonists sprang forward from tiieir 
 intreuchmcnts like tigers, and attacked the British so furiously with ball 
 and bayonet that they soon recoile'l and were puslied far back. 
 
 At that nionicnt Arnold Avas at headquarters seated on liis pow-erful 
 liorse, vainly begging for re-enforcements. The sounds of battle made 
 him exceedingly im|wtient, and wlicn it was announced that ilie conthct 
 was indecisive he could uo longer brook delay, but turning his horse's 
 head in the direction of the storm, exclaimed, " I'll soon put an eml to 
 it I"' Putting spurs to his charger, he dashed away on a wild gallop, 
 followed by a young staff officer (Wilkinson), who was sent by Gates to 
 order the impetuous general back. The subaltern could iu)t overtrd'CC 
 Arnold before he reached the scene of (tontlict, where, by words and 
 deeds, the gallant general animated his troops. 
 
 For three hours more tlie battle raged. The Americans had almost 
 turned the British flank when Colonel I>reyman with his German rifle- 
 men, fighting bravely, averted the blow that might have been fatal to 
 the British army. The combatants had surged in doul)t backward and 
 forward across the fields b'ke the ebb aiul flow of the tide. Darkness fell 
 upon the .«cene and ended the conflict. The Ib-itish slept that niglit 
 upon their arms, and the .VmericLiUS slumbered within their lines. The 
 Amei'ican forces much outnuml)ered those of the British. 
 
 Betty jealousies marked the conduct of the opposing chief commanders 
 in this conflict. Twice the German troops had saved the British army 
 during the battle. Burgoyne, regarding Riedesel with envy, withheld 
 the honor due him in his ofticial report. Had Arnold been furnished 
 ■with re- enforcements wlien he asked for then^, no doubt lie would have 
 won a victory in the morning. Gates was not seen on the field during 
 the day,* nor any other general officer besides Arnold but Learned ; and 
 
 * Tlic cdiicurniU testimony of contomporarics plainly shows that Gates scarcely left 
 his tent (lurinir llii> day of Ihe liallli', anil that uiuUt its shelter he freely iniliilged iu 
 strong drinks and in nnheeoinini; remarks coneerninir offieers of whom lie was jealous. 
 
BURGOYNE HOLDS A COUNCIL OF WAR. 277 
 
 but f(ir tlie prowess and skill of the former, all candid historians admit 
 that Burgoyne would undoubtedly have entered Albany in triumph as a 
 victor at the autumnal equinox. Gates, angry because the army praised 
 Arnold and Morgan, did not mention their names in his official report 
 of the battle ! 
 
 The wretched condition of his army was revealed to Burgoyne on the 
 morning of the 2()th. He liad lost about six hundred men. He expected 
 an immediate renewal of the battle by the Americans. With that 
 impression he hastily buried his dead in holes and trenches, and withdrew 
 to high ground about two miles from the American lines. The latter 
 had good reason for removing within tlieir lines, for their anuuunition 
 was exhausted. This fact was known onl}' to Gates. He was justified 
 in not acceding to j\ mold's urgent request to attack the enemy on that 
 morning. 
 
 Burgoyne and the whole army were greatly depressed in spirits by the 
 events of the 19th, yet, hourly expecting good news from Howe or 
 Clinton below, he addressed his troops in a cheerful tone, and declared 
 that he would either leave his dead body on the field or piish his way to 
 Albany. On the following day he received a despatch from Clinton, 
 who was in command at New York, promising aid by attacking the forts 
 or the Hudson Highlands. He also gave him tlie cheering news of 
 Howe's victory on the Brandywine Creek. Burgoyne assured Clinton 
 that he could maintain his position until October 12th. 
 
 Burgoyne waited many days for more tidings from Clinton. None 
 came, and on the evening of October 4th he called a council of officers. 
 Phillips proposed an attempt to turn the American left flank by a swift 
 circuitous march. Riedesel favored a rapid retreat to Fort Edward. 
 Fraser was willing to flght then and there. The latter course was agreed 
 upon, and on the morning of the Ttli, after liquors and rations for four 
 days had been distributed to the whole army, Burgoyne moved toward 
 the American left with fifteen hundred picked men, eight brass cannons, 
 and two howitzers. He formed a l)attle-line behind a forest screen three 
 fourths of a mile from the American intrenchinents. Generals Riedesel, 
 Phillips, and Fraser were with the lieutenant-general, who sent out a 
 party composed of Canadians, Tories, and Indians to make a circuit 
 through the woods, and, hanging upon the American rear, keep them iu 
 check while he should attack them in front. 
 
 Burgoyne was discovered before he was ready for battle. The drums 
 of the Americans beat to arms, and an alarm was sent all along the lines. 
 They had been re-onforced by Lincoln, and their army now numbered 
 about ten tlujusand men — nearly double the number of tlie British force. 
 
278 THE EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 Gates inquired tlie cause of tlie clisturljaiice, and wlicii lie .iscertained the 
 trutli lie sent out Colonel .Morj^aii with his ritleinen and some infantry to 
 secure a position to attack tlie liank and rear of the British rif;ht and to 
 "begin the game." At the same time Kew Jlainpshire militia undei- 
 General Poor and New "^Ork militia under General Tenbroeck advanced 
 .jigainst the British left. 
 
 Meanwhile the Canadians and Tories had turned tiie flank of tlie 
 Americans and attacked their jjickets in the rear. The British grenadiers 
 soon joined these assailants and drove the Americans back to their lines, 
 Avhere a hot contest ensued, lasting half an hour. In that flght ^forgan 
 and his men assailed the foe so vigorously that they were driven back in 
 confusion to the Th'itish line, svhich then stood in battle order in an open 
 field. Grenadiers under Major Acland and artillery commanded by 
 Major Williams formed the left of the line upon rising ground. The 
 centre was composed of Britons and Germans led by Phillips and 
 Riedesel, and the extreme left of infantry under Earl Balcarras. General 
 Fraser at the head of five hundred picked men was a short distance in 
 advance of the P)ritish right ready to fall upon the left front of the 
 Americans. 
 
 Just as Burgoyne was about to advance, at three o'clock in the after- 
 noon, he was astounded by the thunder of cannons on his left and the 
 rattle of small arms on his right. New Engianders under (General Pooi- 
 had moved stealthily up the slope, upon the crown of Mdiich were the 
 troops of Acland and Williams, and pressed through the thick Mood 
 toward the batteries of the latter. When the Republicans were dis- 
 covered the British opened upon them a heavy storm of musket-l)alls and 
 grape-shot with very little effect, for the missiles passed over their heads. 
 The Americans then sprang forward with a shout and tired rapid volleys, 
 when a fierce conflict ensued. The Itepublicans rushed up to the mouths 
 of-the cannons and engaged in a hand-to-hand strnj'gle for victory amonii: 
 the carriages of the fleld-i)ieces. Five times one of the cannons was 
 taken and retaken. It Anally remained with the Americans, and as the 
 British fell back Colonel Cilley mounted the gun, waved his sword liigh 
 in air, and dedicated the weapon to " the American caiise." 
 
 In this fierce combat Major Acland was seriously wounded * and ^lajor 
 Williams was made a prisoner. Their men, panic-stricken, fled in con- 
 
 * The wives of Gcnenil Riedesel, Major Acland, and others were with their liusbinds. 
 When Mrs. Acland, a diiugliter of the Earl of Ilchester, heard of her husband's eon- 
 dition — wounded and a ])risoner within the Anieriean lines — she obtained jicrniission 
 from Burgoyne to go to him. She was admitted, and was at her hu.sband's Ix'dside at a 
 hoiLse on Bemis's Heights until lie recovered sufBcienlly to proceed to New York. 
 
GENERAL ARNOLD UN THE liATTLE-FIELI). 279 
 
 fusion, and the wliole eight brass cainions and tlie fiehl remained in pos- 
 session of the Americans. 
 
 Morgan in tlie mean time led an attatdc npon General Fraser and drove 
 him back upon tlie British lines ; then falling upon their right tlank, he 
 broke their ranks and put them in confusion. Colonel Dearborn attacked 
 their front with fresh troops and broke their line, but it was soon rallied. 
 
 It was at this moment that (renend Arnold reappeared upon the scene. 
 Gates's treatment of him had so greatly irritated him that he had de- 
 manded a ]iass to go to Washington's headquarters. It was readily 
 granted, for Gates, now feeling sure of success, did not wish the brave 
 general to have a share in the glory of the achievement. He did not 
 thereby actually take the command of the divisionfrom Arnold, but he 
 assigned its control to General Lincoln, who tried to reconcile the differ- 
 ences between the two generals. The officers of the latter, by personal 
 entreaties and a written address, persuaded him to remain, hut Gates 
 refused to give him any command. Arnold had no authority even to 
 Jiyhf, much less to order. He was eager to join in the condjat at the 
 beginning. 
 
 " Xo man," he exclaimed to his aides, "' shall keep me from the field 
 to-daj'. If I am without command I will fight iu the ranks ; but the 
 soldiers, God bless them ! will follow my lead." 
 
 Thorougldy aroused by the din of battle at the moment just alluded 
 to, Arnold leaped into his saddle and dashed away to the point of conflict 
 in which his division was engaged, again followed by one of Gates's aides 
 (Armstrong) with instructions to order him back. The chase was in 
 vain. Arnold plunged into the thickest of the fight, where the subaltern 
 dared not follow. His troo])s welcouied him with shouts. He immedi- 
 ately led them against the British centre, riding along the lines, giving 
 orders, and exposed to imminent peril every moment. 
 
 The Germans received the first furious assault from Arnold's troojw. 
 They made a brave resistance and flung the assailants back at first, but 
 when at a second charge Arnold dashed among them at tlie liead of his 
 troops, they broke and fled in dismay. 
 
 And now the battle became general all along the line. Arnold and 
 Morgan were the ruling spirits that controlled the storm on the part of 
 the Ameri(!ans. The jjallant Fraser M-as the direetina; soul of the British 
 troops in action. His skill and courage were everywhere conspicuous. 
 When the lines gave way he brought order out of confusion ; M'hen regi- 
 ments began to waver he infused courage into them by voice and 
 example. The fate of the l)attle evidently depended upon him. 
 
 Arnold ]ierceivod this, atul said to "ACorgan, •' That officer in full 
 
2S0 TITK K^[I>II!1•. SI'ATK. 
 
 utiifonn is General Fraser. It is essential to our success tliat lie l)e dis- 
 ])i)se(l of. Direct the attention of some of tlie sliar])slioi>ters of vour 
 ritlenien to Iiini.'' Tlie order was olieyed, and verv soon Fniser fell 
 from liis liorse iiiDrtaliv wimiided. It is diffitnilt for a ininiane and tren- 
 erous mind to acci']>t anv excuse for tliis ci'uel order and the deed tiiat 
 ensued." 
 
 When tlie gallant Kraser fell a panic, ran along the British line. At 
 tliat moment tiiree tiionsand New York militia under (xeneral Tenbroeck 
 a])peared, M'lien tlie wavering line gave way and the British troops, 
 (•overed by Phillips and Kiedesel, fled to their intrenehinents. Up to 
 these works, in the face of a terrible tempest of bullets and grape-shot, 
 the Americans eagerly pressed, with Arnold at their head, who was seen 
 at all j)oints, through the snl|)liuroiis smoke, encouraging his men. His 
 voice could be heard above the din of battle. "With a part of the 
 brigades of Generals Paterson and (rlover he drove the troops of Earl 
 lialcarras from an (ih/tlis at the point of the bayonet, and attempted to 
 force his WAX into the liritish cani[). l''ailiiig in this, he led Learned's 
 brigade against the British right. For a while the result was doubtful, 
 but at length the Britons gave way, leaving the Germans under General 
 Specht entirely exposed. 
 
 At this moment Arnold ordered up from the left the New York regi- 
 ments of Colonels Wessen and Livingston and jMorgan's riflemen to make 
 a ceneral assault, while he, with the Massachusetts regiment of Colonel 
 Brooks, attacked the Germans comnianded by Colonel Breynian. He 
 rushed into the sally-port on his horse and spread terror among them. 
 They had seen him for two hours in the thickest of the light unhurt, and 
 tliey regarded him with superstitious awe as a charmed character. They 
 Itroke and tied. A bullet from a parting volley which they gave on 
 their retreat killed ^Vrnold's horse and wounded him in the same leg that 
 was badly hurt at Quebec, -lust then (iates's subaltern overtook the 
 wfiunded and victorious Arnold and gave his commander's order to return 
 to cam]) I Gates had expressed a fear that Arnold might " do some rash 
 thing." He lia<l done a "rash thing" in achieving a decisive victory 
 M-hi(di (iates was incoin]>etent to win. Yet the hitter clainu'<l and 
 received the honors of the achi(^venient 
 
 * Goneral Fni.ser died nil (he moinin^ nfliT tlie liiilllc. His body was liuru'd at tlie 
 evening twilight of tlie same day within a redoubt upon a gentle eniinence. which the 
 (lying hero designated as the place of his sepulture. It was followed to the grave by 
 Burgoyne and a large miinber of otlk-ers. As soon as the solemn character of the proces- 
 sion was recognized by the Americans a cannonade which they had begun cea.sed, and 
 thev tired minute-guns in honor of the memorv of the brave soldier. 
 
THE SURRENDER OF BURCJOYNE. 
 
 281 
 
 Tlie rout of tlio Gennaiis was complete. They threw down their anus 
 and ran, and could not be rallied. Colonel Breynian v,as mortally 
 wounded. Darkness ended the conflict. 
 
 Burjjoyne, resolved to retreat, withdrew his whole force a mile north 
 of his intrench ments, and on the night of the Sth he marched, in a cold 
 rain-storm, for the heights of Saratoga, wi)ere tlie troops arrived, in a 
 most wretched plight, on the morning of the loth. They had burned the 
 mansion, mills, and other property 
 of General Schuyler on their way. 
 
 The American army also moved 
 northward, and a part of it took a 
 position on the hills on the east 
 side of the Hudson directly op- 
 posite Burgoyne's cam]) and within 
 cannon-shot of it. Satisfied that 
 he could neither tight nor retreat 
 with safety, Burgoyne opened nego- 
 tiations with Gates for a surrender 
 upon honorable terms. A capitu- 
 lation was signed, and on October 
 17th, 1777, his troojis laid down 
 their arms in submission on the 
 plain, near the Hudson, in front of 
 (present) Schuylerville. Burgoyne 
 
 surrendered his sword to Gates at the headquarters of the latter, not 
 far from the ruins of General Schuyler's property.* 
 
 The whole number of troops surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga 
 was five thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, of whom two thousand 
 four hundred and twelve were Germans. Besides these there were 
 eighteen hinidred prisoners of war, including sick and wounded. The 
 entire loss of the British army after they entered the State of New \ ork, 
 including those under St. Leger, who were disaliled or captured at Fort 
 Schuyler and Oriskany, was almost ten thousand men. On Burgoyne's 
 
 i"^ 
 
 PHII^Il' SCHUYLER. 
 
 * The value of tlie property destroyed was fully $50,000. When General Schuyler 
 heard of his loss lie wrote to Colonel Varick : " The event [the victory] that has taken 
 jilace makes the heavj' loss I have sustained sit quite easy upon me. Britain will prob- 
 ably see how fruitless her attempts to enslave us will be." 
 
 After the surrender of Burjroyne, Schuyler entertained the captive oviieral at his hovise 
 in -Vlbany. The latter spoke feelinaly of the injury his troops had done to the private 
 property of General Schuyler. " Say nothing about it," responded Schuyler ; " it was 
 the fortune of war." 
 
282 
 
 Tin-; EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 staff were six members of Parlianu'iit. Among the spoils were forty- 
 two pieces of tlie best brass camion then known, forty-six hundred 
 musl<ets and rifles, and a large (juaiitity of munitions of war. Congress 
 awarded tlianks and a gold medal to Gates. 
 
 Very generous terms were granted to r>urgoyne 1)V the capitulation. 
 The trt)ops were hold as ])risoners of M"ai', l)ut allowed a free passage to 
 Europe for those who wished to go there, and free permission for the 
 Canadians to return to their lR)mes on the condition that none of the 
 
 troops surrendered should serve 
 against the Americans. The cu])- 
 tives were marched to Cambridge, 
 near I'oston, expecting to embark 
 for England, (^oiigress ratified the 
 generous terms, but ^Vashingtoll 
 and that body were soon convinced 
 liy circumstances that IJurgoyne 
 and his officers intended to violate 
 the agreehnent at the first oppor- 
 tunity. It was therefore resolved 
 not to let the caj)tives go until the 
 British (xovernment should ratify 
 the terms of the capitulation. Here 
 was a dileinnia. Tiiat (iovurnment 
 could not recognize the authority 
 of Congress. So the " convention troops,'' as the captives were called, 
 were sent to ^'il■gillia, and they remained idle in America four or five 
 years. lbiri;oyno and his chief oiKcers were allowed to depart for home. 
 The surrender of IJurgoyne was a turning-point in the war in favor of 
 the Americans. It ins])irited the patriots ; revived the credit of the 
 Continental (Tovernment ; the armies were rapidly recruited, and public 
 opinion in Europe set strongly in favor of the struggling patriots. In 
 less than four months after this event France had formed a treaty of 
 alliance with the United States and acknowledged their independence. 
 
 THE GATES MEDAL. 
 
ATTACKS OX FORTS CLINTON AND MONTGOMERY. 283 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 AViiiL?: Genei'al Burgoyne M^as struggling for victory and conquest in 
 the upper valley of the Hudson, General Sir Henry Clinton, whom 
 Howe had left in command at New York, was making earnest endeavors 
 to aid him and to gain possession of the country between Albany and the 
 sea. 
 
 At the lower entrance to the Highlands the Americans had erected 
 two forts — '' Clinton"' and " Montgomeiw"' — on the west side of the 
 Hudson. They were upon a high, rocky shore, one on each side of a 
 small stream. Between these forts and Anthony's Nose (a lofty hill) 
 opposite they had stretched a boom and chain, as we have observed, to 
 check British vessels ascending the river. These forts M'ere under the 
 immediate command of Generals George and James Clinton, the former 
 then Governor of the State of New York. There was another fort 
 (" Constitution") Tipon an island opposite West Point. They were all 
 under the chief command of the veteran General Israel Putnam, whose 
 headquarters was at Peekskill, just below the Highlands. The garrisons 
 of these posts were weak at the begimiing of October (1777), the aggre- 
 gate number of troops not exceeding two thousand. 
 
 Sir Henrv Clinton had M"aited at New York very impatiently for the 
 arrival of re-enforcemeuts. They came at the beginning of October, 
 after floating npim the bosom of tlie Atlantic Ocean about three months. 
 On the morning of the 4th ho went np the Hudson with between three 
 and four thousand troops, in many armed and unarmed vessels com- 
 manded by Commodore Hotham, and landed his men at Yerplanck's 
 Point, a few miles below Peekskill, feigning an attack iqion the latter 
 DOst. This feint deceived Putnam, and he sent to the Highland forts 
 for re-enforcements. But Governor Clinton was not deceived, and held 
 back all the forces iu the Highlands. 
 
 At dawn on the morning of October Cth, under cover of a dense fog^ 
 Sir Henry crossed the river to Stony Point with a little nmre than two 
 thousand men. He there divided his forces. One party under General 
 Vaughan, acconqjanied by the liaronet, pushed on through a defile in 
 the rear of the lofty Donderberg to fall npon Port Clinton. The party 
 numbered about twelve hundred. Another party nine hundred strong, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel Canqibell, made a longer march around Bear 
 
284 
 
 TlIK EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Mountain, to fall upon Fort Montgomery at the same time. Sir Ileniv 
 liad ordered his war vessels to anclior within point-blank eannou-.shot of 
 the forts to co-operate in an attack upon them. On the herders of Lake 
 Sinnipink, at the foot of Bear ^[ountain, Yaughan encountered some 
 troops sent out by Governor Clinton, and a severe but short l)attle ensued. 
 The Americans fell back to the fort. Lieutenant-Colonel Campl)ell ap- 
 peared before Fort Montgomery toward evening, when a peremptory 
 demand for the surrender of both ])0sts Avas made. It was refused with 
 
 ■words of sconi, when a simultaneous 
 attack was made upon both forts by 
 the forces on laud and water. The 
 garrisons, mostly militia, lield out 
 bravely until dark, wlien tlieysought 
 safety in the adjacent mountains. 
 Many were slain or made prisoners. 
 Governor Clinton escaped across 
 the river, and at uddnight wa.s in 
 Putnam's camp at Pcekskill. His 
 brother (_(Tciieral James Clinton), 
 badly wounded, made his way over 
 the mountains to his lunae at New 
 Windsor. The frigate Monhjoinenj, 
 a ten-gun sloop, and a row-galley 
 lying above the boom attempted 
 to escape, but could not for want of 
 wind, so their crews set them on tire and abandoned them. The con- 
 flagration was a magnificent spectacle. A British oflicer wrote con- 
 cerning it : 
 
 " The flames siuldunly liroke forth, and as every sail was set the 
 vessels soon became magnificent pyramids of fire. Tiie reflection on 
 the steep face of the opposite mountain, and the long train of ruddy 
 light which shone upon the waters for a ])rodigiou.s distance, had a 
 
 rAMES (CLINTON. 
 
 * Guntral .Jiuncs Clinton was born in Oningc County, N. V., iu 17aO. anil died there 
 in 1812. He was fond of military life. At the age of twenty-two he was a eajilain 
 under Bradstreel in the capture of Fort Frontenac. He was afterwar<l in command of 
 four regiments for the protection of the frontiers of Ulster and Orange counties. When 
 the war for independence began he was a|>poinled colonel of the Third Xew York 
 Regiment, and accompanied Jlonlgomery to Quebec. He was make a brigadier-general 
 iu August, 1776, and was active in the si-rvice during a greater part of the war. He 
 joined Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in 1779, and was stationed at Albany 
 most of the time afterward ; yet he was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He 
 lield civil offices after the war. f!ineral Clinton was the father of De 'Will Clinton. 
 
CLINTON'S BULLET DESPATCH. 
 
 285 
 
 CLINTON S DESPATCH. 
 
 wonderful effect ; while the ear -was awfully tilled with the uontinued 
 
 eclioes from the rocky shores as the flames gradually reached the loaded 
 
 cannon. The whole was suhlimely terminated by the explosion, which 
 
 left all again in dark- 
 ness.'" 
 
 The boom and chain 
 
 were broken by the 
 
 Britisli early on the 
 
 morning of the 7th, 
 
 and a flying squadron 
 
 of light vessels com- 
 manded by Sir James 
 
 Wallace, bearing the 
 
 whole land force of 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton, 
 
 went up the Hudson 
 
 to devastate its shores 
 
 and keep the militia 
 
 from joining Gates. 
 
 They took possession 
 
 of Fort Constitution 
 
 on the war. At the same time Sir Henry despatched a messenger with 
 
 a, note to Burgoyne, as follows : 
 
 "JVoiis y void [Here I am], and nothing between mo and Gates. I 
 
 sincerely liope this little success of ours may facilitate your operations. 
 In answer to your letter of September 2Sth by 
 C. C, I shall only say I cannot presume to order, 
 or even to advise, for reasons obvious. I wish 
 you success. — II. Clintox.'' 
 
 This despatch was written on tissue paper and 
 enclosed in an elliptical hollow silver bullet made 
 so as to l)e opened at the middle, and of a size 
 to lie swallowed conveniently. The messenger 
 was sent up the west side of the river, and while 
 in the camp of Governor Clinton, near Xew 
 Windsor, he was suspected of being a spy. He 
 was arrested, and was seen to suddenly put 
 
 something in his mouth and swallow it. An emetic was administered, 
 
 when the silver bullet was discovered and its contents were revealed. 
 
 He was hanged as a spy not far from Kingston while that village Avas in 
 
 flames, kindled by the hands of British incendiaries. 
 
 SIl.VEK BULLET. 
 
280 Tin-: E.MPiHi-; state. 
 
 The British troops in tlie inaraiuliiig expedition, tliirty-six liundred 
 strong, were coninianded by General Van^lian. Every vessel found on 
 tlie river was burned or otherwise destroyed. Tlie houses of known 
 "Whigs on tlie shores were lired upon, and small parties landing from the 
 vessels desolated neig]ilK)rlK)ods witli fire and sword. Tliev penetrated 
 as far north as Ivingston (Ulster County), then the political capital of 
 the State, and applying the torcli (October 13th), laiil almost every jiouse 
 in the village in aslies. The Legislature fled to Ducliess County, and 
 soon afterward resumed their sittings at Poughkeepsie. 
 
 Leaving Ivingston, the marauders went up the river as far as Living- 
 ston's Manor, destroying much property at Iiiiinebeck on the way. 
 They had begun to desolate Livingston's estate when they were arrested 
 by the alarming intelligence of IJurgoyne's defeat. Then they made a 
 hasty retreat to New York. 
 
 So ended the efforts of the Hritish i[inistr\- for taking possession of 
 the valleys of the Hudson and Lake Chanijilain. On the surrender of 
 Burgoyne the invaders M-ore compelled to evacuate Ticonderoga and 
 Crown Point. Britisii power was now prostrated in the northern section 
 uf Xew York, and the Americans were nuistors of tiic territory of tlie 
 commonwealth from tlie l)orders of Canada alnmst to tiie sea. 
 
 While the events just recorded were occurring in the vicinity of the 
 Hudson or North River, very important events were occurring beyond 
 the Delaware or the South Biver. For several weeks Washington and 
 Howe confronted each other in hostile movements in New Jersey, each 
 doubtful of the intentions of the other. Finally, at tlie close of June, 
 tlie British troops left New Jersey and passed over to Staten Island ; and 
 on July 23d Ilowe, leaving Sir Henry Clinton in comnuuid at Xew 
 York, end)arked with eighteen thousand troops for more southern waters. 
 
 Susjiecting Howe's destination to be the Continental seat of govern- 
 ment, Washington, leaving a strong force on the Hudson, hastened to 
 Philadelphia, where he was joined l)y the young ^larquis de Lafayette as 
 a volunteer. Hearing tliat the Ih-itish army had landed at the head of 
 Chesapeake Bay, he pushed on to meet Howe. They came in collision 
 on the l^anks of the Brandywine Creek on Se]7tend)er 11th, when a very 
 severe battle was fought. The .Vmericans were defeated, and their 
 shattered battalions retreated to Philadelphia. 
 
 So soon as his troojis were rested Washington recrossed the Schuylkill 
 aiul proceeded to confront Howe, who was slowly moving toward the 
 Continental capital. Some skirmishing occurred, and on the night of 
 Septcjid)er 20th a detachment under General Wayne was surprised near 
 the Paoli Tavern and lost about three huiulred men. 
 
CONSPIRACY AGAINST WASHINGTON. 287 
 
 While Washington was engaged in securing liis stores at Iluading, 
 Howe suddenly crossed the Schuylkill and took possession of Piiiiadel[)liia 
 (September 26th, 1777) without opposition. The Continental Congress 
 tied at his approach, iirst to Lancaster and then to York, beyond the 
 Susquehanna. It reassembled at York on Septendjer 30th, and con- 
 tinued its sessions there until the following summer. The British a.vmj 
 encamped at Germantown, about four miles from Philadelphia. 
 
 Howe's troops had landed at the head of Chesapeake Bay. While 
 they were pressing on toward Philadelphia the fleet that bore them sailed 
 round to the Delaware, I)ut could not pass obstructions which had been 
 placed in the river just below the city. Above these obstructions were 
 two forts, Mifflin, upon an island, and Mercer, upon the Xew Jersey 
 shore.. These were captured by Britons and Germans sent from Howe's 
 camp, after stout resistance. They took possession of the forts before 
 the middle of Xovember. This conquest greatly strengthened Howe's 
 position. 
 
 Meanwhile the British canqi at Germantown had been attacked early 
 on the morning of October 4th. A severe battle ensued, which con- 
 tinued nearly three hours. The Americans, who became confused by a 
 dense fog that began to rise at dawn, were defeated, and retired to their 
 camp on Skippack Creek. Washington soon prepared to put them into 
 winter quarters at Whitemarsh, only fourteen miles from Philadelphia. 
 Howe broke up his encampment at Germantown, and made Philadelphia 
 the winter quarters of his army. 
 
 AVashington did not remain long at AVhitemarsh, for lie found a more 
 eligible position. He broke up the camp toward the middle of December 
 and remos'ed to Valley Forge, where he was at a greater distance from 
 his foe and could more easily protect the Congress, and his stores at 
 lieading. For about six months the American ariuy lay at Yalley Forge, 
 and suffered intensely for want of sufficient food, clothing, and shelter 
 during the first half of that period. It was tiie severest ordeal in which 
 the patriotism of the soldiers was tried during tlie long war for inde- 
 pendence. 
 
 It was at this jieriod that the conspiracy' of General Gates aiul others 
 to deprive Washington of the chief command of the American armies 
 was in active operation — a conspiracy known in history as " Conway's 
 Cabal."* Gates was then president of the Board of War, sitting at 
 
 * Count de Conway, of Irish birth, was anionj; the French brigadiers in the Con- 
 tinental service. He never won the confidence of ^\'aslliugtou, and when it was proposed 
 to promote him to an important command tlie commander-in-chief strenuously opposed 
 
288 THE E.Ml'lUi: STATE. 
 
 York, the residence of Congress. Tliat Hoard planned a winter cam- 
 paign against Canada. So fcasihlo seemed tlie i)lan and so glorious werr 
 the results to he obtained, as set forth by Gates and his friends, that 
 Congress approved. The ardent Lafayette was captis'ated, and strongly 
 urged its prosecution. Washington was not consulted. lie, however, 
 obtained such valuable infonuation from (ieneral Schuyler, showing the 
 absnrdity of the midertaking, that he not only perceived the jilan to be a 
 part of the scheme to dei^rivc him of the chief command, but he was 
 enabled to defeat the project and thus save his country from a most 
 perilous, if not ruinous midertaking. 
 
 The Board of AVar, evidently hoping to win Lafayette to the support 
 of their schemes by conferring honors upon him, appointed him com- 
 mander of the expedition. This also was done without consulting Wash- 
 ington. The shrewd young marcpiis very soon suspected his appoint- 
 ment was a part of the scheme to injure his revered friend, and lie 
 resolved to show his colors at the tirst opportunity. His suspicions were 
 confirmed while on a visit to York to receive his instructions. At table, 
 with Gates and other members of the P.oard of War, wine flowed freely 
 and many toasts Avere given. Lafayette finally arose and said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, one toast, I perceive, has l)ccn omitted, and which I 
 M-ill now give." They filled their glasses, when he gave, "' The com- 
 mander-in-chief of the American ai'mies." The coldness with which the 
 sentiment was received contirnicd the manpiis's worst o])inions of the 
 men around him. 
 
 Lafayette, with General Conway, who was appointed third in com- 
 mand, proceeded to Albany, where he was cordially received by General 
 Schuvler, and became his guest. It was evident that with materials at 
 hand a successful expedition into Canada was impossible. The marquis 
 had been promised three thousand men well supplied. There were not 
 twelve hundred men at Albany fit for duty, and one fourth of these were 
 too naked even for a summer campaign. Gates had assured him that 
 General Stark with Xew England troops would be at Ticonderoga await- 
 ing his coming, and that he would have burned the British fleet on Lake 
 Champlain before his arrival. lie only found a letter from Stark impiir- 
 ing what number of men, from where, and at what rendezvous he desired 
 him to raise. 
 
 The marquis now fully comprehended the vile trick of which he had 
 
 the measure. Conwuy was otTindcd, niid Iiciainc !i willing instruiiHiit of Gate.s in liis 
 con.spiraey. The proiniiiciil part wliitli he tool; in tli;it movement caused it to be called 
 " Conwav's Cabal." 
 
COUNCIL WITH THE INDIANS. iSO 
 
 been made tlie victim. He had been ntterlj deceived by the false utter- 
 ances of Gates. "I fancy," he wrote, "the actual scheme is to liave 
 me out of this part of the country and General Conway as chief under 
 the immediate connnaud of Gate.s." The conspirators found they could 
 not use Lafayette. Congress abandoned the enterprise, and the marquis, 
 disgusted with the whole affair, returned to Washington's camp at Valley 
 Forge. 
 
 The British held possession of Fort Niagara and exercised a powerful 
 influence over the Six Nations, especially the more western tribes. They 
 had nearly all become more or less disaffected toward the American 
 cause, and at the close of 1777, so threatening became their aspect, that 
 Congress recommended the Commissioners of Indian Affairs of New 
 York to hold a treaty with them, defining the chief objects to be (1) to 
 induce the Indians to make war upon their enemies, M'ho were then 
 desolating the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and 
 (2) to induce them to surprise and capture the British post of Niagara. 
 
 The connnissioners complied. A council was opened at Johnstown 
 early in March (1778), at which about seven hundred barbarian delegates 
 appeared. Lafayette accompanied the commissioners. James Deane, 
 an Indian agent living among the Oneidas, was the interpreter of a 
 speech sent by Congress and read by General Schuyler, in wliich the 
 power of the United States was asserted most emphatically, and the 
 magnanimous manner in which they had always treated the Six Nations 
 was recounted. The speech charged the Indians with ingratitude, 
 cruelty, and treachery, and demanded reparation for their crimes. From 
 these charges the Oneidas and Tuscaroras were exempted. 
 
 The council was not satisfactory. The Mohawks and Cayugas were 
 sullen ; the Senecas refused to send delegates. An Oneida sachem, con- 
 scious of the faithfulness of his people (and also of the Tuscaroras) to 
 their pledges of neutrality, spoke eloquently in Ijehalf of both, and these 
 two nations renewed their pledges. It was clearly evident, however, 
 that the more powerful of the Six Nations, with Brant at their head, 
 were devising schemes for avenging their losses at Oriskany, and that war 
 was inevitable. " It is strange," said the Senecas, by a messenger sent 
 to announce their refusal to attend the conference. " that while your 
 tomahawks are sticking in our heads [referring to the battle of Oriskany], 
 our wounds bleeding, and our eyes streaming with tears for the loss of 
 our friends, the connnissioners should think of inviting us to a treaty." 
 
 Earnest efforts were made to avert war with the Indians. Attempts 
 to recruit four hundred warriors of the Six Nations for the Continental 
 service were only partially successful. When the news of the alliance 
 
290 TlIK EMl'lKE STATE. 
 
 witli France \v:is roceived, early in -May, it was circulated as widely as 
 possible among the Iroquois tribes. But little impression seemed to have 
 been made upon the barbarians, and the wliite people bej^an at once to 
 make preparations to meet hostility. At Ciierry Valley the house of 
 Samuel Campbell, the strongest in the settlement, was fortified ; ami in 
 the Sclioliarie Valley three buildings were intrencdied with breastworks 
 and block-houses and stockaded, i)y order of Lafayette. Each was 
 garrisoned and armed witli a small Ijrass field-piece. These were called 
 respectively the Upper, the ^liddle, and the Lower Fort. To these 
 strongholds the women and children might fly for safety. Forts Schuyler 
 and Dayton (the latter on tlie site of the village of Herkimer) were 
 strengthened, and Fort Plain, lower down the ^[ohawk Valley, was 
 enlarged and better armed. 
 
 Tiiese precautionary movements were not made too soon. They were 
 keenly watched by Sir John Johnson and his kinsmen and friend>. 
 Among them the most active were Colonels Jolm Butler, Guy Johnson, 
 and Daniel Claas, the latter Sir John's l)rotiier-in-law. At the same 
 time a nephew of Sir Guy Carleton was lurking near Johnson Hall for 
 the same purpose. 
 
 We liave ol)served tliat I'.rant returned from Canada in the spring of 
 1777 with a large band of Mohawk warriors. After tlie dispei"sion of 
 St. Leger's invading force, in August, Brant and his followers retired to 
 Fort Niagara, and there dui'ing the ensuing winter and spring they made 
 preparations for war. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1778 Brant ami his warriors appeared at 
 Oghkwaga, their place of I'endezvous the jwevious year. There he 
 organized scalping parties and sent them out upon the borderers, cutting 
 them off in detail. They fell like thunderbolts upon isolated families. 
 Very soon the hills and valleys were nightly illuminated by the blaze of 
 burning dwellings and made hideous by the shrieks of women and 
 children. The inhabitants stood continually on the defensive. Men 
 cultivated the fields with loaded muskets slung upon their backs. 
 Women were taught the use of fire-arms, and half-grown children 
 liecame expert scouts and discerners of Indian trails. Such w;us the con- 
 dition of the settlers in the ^lohawk region and the country south of it 
 during a greater portion of the war. 
 
 In May (1778) Brant desolated Springfield, at the head of Otsego 
 Lake, ten miles from Cherry Valley. Every house was laid in ashes. 
 At the beginning of June he was in the Schoiiarie Valley with ai>out 
 three hundred and fifty Indian followers, and on the upper watei-s of the 
 Cobleskill he had a .severe encounter with some regulars and militia com- 
 
MASSACRE AT CHERRY VALLEY. 291 
 
 inanded by Captains Brown and Patrick. Twenty-two of tlio Rejnil)- 
 iieans wure killed and several were wounded. The houses in that region 
 were plundered and burnt. A month later the terrilile tragedy in the 
 AVyoMiing Valley (to be noticed presently) occurred. 
 
 The Johnsons and their Tory followers were the allies of the barbarians 
 in tiieir bloody work south of the Mohawk Rivx-r. Tlie most savage of 
 these Tories was Walter j^. Bntler, sou of Colonel John Butler, who 
 was in conunand of a detachment of his father's liaiujers and had joined 
 Brant. The latter, who was humane and even generous toward women 
 and children placed at his mercy,* detested young Butler for his 
 cruelties, and at first refused to serve with him. The matter was finally 
 adjusted, and at near the middle of i^ovcmber (177S), during a heavy 
 storm of sleet, the two leaders and their followers fell upon Cherry 
 Valley, the wealthiest and most important settlement on the head-waters 
 of the Susquehanna River, in Xew York. 
 
 A fort had been erected at Cherry Valley around a church l)y order of 
 Lafayette, and was garrisoned by some Continental troops commanded 
 by C'olonel Ichaljod Alden. He was forewarned by reports of approacli- 
 ing danger, but would not believe the messengers. He was tliei-efore 
 unprepared for an attack when, early in the morning of Xovendier 11th, 
 snow, rain, and hail falling copiously, the motley hosts of Brant and 
 IJutler burst n]ion the settlement. Tliey murdered, plundered, and 
 destroyed without stint. Birtler was the arch-fiend on that occasion, 
 anil would listen to no appeals from Brant for mercy to their victims. 
 
 The invaders first entered the hoiise of Mr. 'Wells, who.se wife was a 
 daughter of the venerable minkster, ^Ir. Dtmlap. They massacred the 
 whole family. Old}- his son John, afterward the eminent lawyer of 
 New York, who was then at school in Schenectady, was saved. The 
 family consisted of Mr. Wells, his wife and four children, his mother, 
 lirother, sister, and three servants. Colonel Alden, wlio was in the 
 house at the time, was tomahawked and scalped. The savages then 
 rushed to the dwelling of Rev. Afr. Dunlap and slew his wife before his 
 
 * M:iny instances of Brant's humanity are related. When, in 1780, he and Sir John 
 Johnson desolated the Mohawk and Sehoharie valleys an infant was carried otT. The 
 frantie mother pursued, l>ut could not recover her bahe. A day or two afterward 
 General Van ReiissehuM-, in eommand of Fort Hiniter, received a visit from a youn.i? 
 Indian bearing; the infant in Ids arms, and a letter from Brant, who wrote : '' Sir : I 
 send you by one of mv lunners the child which he will deliver, that you may know th:'.t 
 wliatevcr others may do, /do not make war upon women and children. I am sorrj- to 
 sny that I liave those engaged with me who are more savase than the .savajres tliem- 
 - Ives. " He named the Butlers and others. 
 
292 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 eyes. His own life aiul tlmt of liis daughter were saved Ijy the inter- 
 position of a Mohawk chief.* 
 
 Thirty-two of tlie inhabitants of Clierry Valley, mostly women and 
 c'liiklren, were murdered ; also sixteen soldiers of the garrison there. 
 Nearly forty men, women, and children were led away captives, march- 
 ing down the valley that night in the cold storm, hnddled together, half 
 naked, with no shelter but the leatless trees, and no rest iug-j)l ace but the 
 cold, wet gnnind.+ With the destruction of Cherry Valley all hostile 
 movements ceased in Tryon County, and were not resumed until the 
 following spring. 
 
 A few months before this event the dreadful tragedy in the Wyoming 
 Valley occurred, in which the chief actors were Tories and Iroijuois 
 Indians from New York. That valley is a beautiful and picturescpie 
 region of Pennsylvania, lying between lofty ranges of mountains and 
 watered by the Susquehanna Jliver, which flows through it. Its inhab- 
 itants were mostly from Connecticut. At the close of June (1778) 
 Colonel John Eutler, with over a thousand Tories and Indians, entered 
 the valley from the north and made his headquarters at the house of 
 Wintermoot, a Tory. He had been guided by some Tories of the valley, 
 who had juined them. Butler had captured a little fort in the u|)per 
 part of the valle}'. 
 
 * Unfortunately, Brant wa-s not in cliief command of the expedition. Walter Butler 
 ■was the commander. 15rant did all in his power to prevent the shedding of innocent 
 blood. On the morning of the attack he left the Indians and endeavored to reach the 
 families of Jlr. Wells, jMr. Dunlap, and others, to give them warning, hut coidd not do 
 it in time. He entered dwellings to give the women warning. In one the woman 
 engaged in household duties replied to his advice to fly to some place of safety : " I am 
 in favor of the king, and the Indians won't hurt me." 
 
 " That plea will not save you." Brant replied. 
 
 " There is one, .Joseph Brant." said the woman ; " he will protect me." 
 
 " I am .Jo-seph Brant, hut I have not the command, and I may not Ik" able to save 
 you," he Replied. 
 
 At that moment he saw the Senccas approaching. "Get into bed tjuick." he slid. 
 " and feign yourself sick." 
 
 The woman did so, and so he saved her. Then he gave a shrill signal, which rallied 
 the Jlohawks, when he directed them to paint his mark upon the woman ami her 
 children. 
 
 " You are now probahlj- safe," said Brant, and departed. 
 
 f Among the captives were the wife and four children of Colonel Samuel Cani])bcll. 
 who.se house had been fortified. Ho was absent at the time, and on his return he found 
 his property laid waste and his family carried into captivity. They were taken through 
 the wilderness to Fort Niagara. They were treated kindly by the Senecas, and wi're 
 held as hostages for the safely and exchange of the family of Colonel John Butler, who 
 were then in the cu.stody of the Committee of Safety at Albany. 
 
DESOLATION OF THE WYOMING VALLEY.' 293 
 
 The wholo luilitury force to oppose this invasion was composed of a 
 small company of regnlars and a few militia. When the alarm was 
 given the whole population flew to arms. Aged men, hoys, and even 
 women seized such weapons as were at hand and joined the soldiery. 
 Colonel Zebulon Butler, an officer of the Continental Army, happened to 
 lie at home, and by common consent he was made commander-in-chief 
 of the defenders. Forty Fort, a short distance above Wilkesbarre, was 
 the place of general rendezvoiis, and in it were gathered the women and 
 children of the valley. 
 
 On July 3d Colonel Butler led his little band of patriots— citizens and 
 soldiers — to attempt a surprise of the camp of the invaders at Winter- 
 moot's. The latter, informed of the movement, were ready to receive 
 them. The Tories formed the right of the line of the intruders, resting 
 on the river ; the Indians, led by Gi-en-gwa-tah, a Seneca chief,* were 
 on the left on a line that extended to a swamp at the foot of the moun- 
 tain. Upon the latter the defenders struck the first blow, when a 
 general battle ensued. For half an hour it raged furiously, when, just 
 as the Indians were about to give way, a mistaken order caused the 
 Republicans to retreat in much confusion. Tlie infuriated barbarians 
 sprang forward like wounded tigers and gave no quarter. The ))atriots 
 were slaughtered by scores. Only a few of them escaped to the moun- 
 tains and were saved. In less than an hour after the battle began two 
 hundred and twenty-five scalps were in the hands of the Seneca Itraves. 
 
 Terror now reigned at Forty Fort, to which the women and children 
 had fled. They had heard the fearful yells of triumph of the Indians. 
 Colonel Dennison, who had reached the valley that morning, had escaped 
 to the fort and prepared to defend its inmates to the last extremity. 
 Colonel Zebnlon Butler had reached Wilkesbarre fort in safety. 
 
 * The earlier historians of this event asserted (and believed) that Brant and the Jlohawks 
 •were the chief actors in this dreadful tragedy. Brant denied it, but the testimony of 
 history was against him. Campbell, in his poem, " Gertrude of Wyoming," published In 
 1809, piisled by the historians, makes an Oneida chief say : 
 
 " 'Gainst Brant himeelf I went to battle forth ; 
 Accursed Brant ! he left, of all my tribe. 
 Nor man, nor child, nor thing of li\ing birth — 
 No ! not the dog that watched my household hearth 
 Escaped that night of blood upon the plains." 
 
 In 1823 .John Brant, son of the chief, being in Engliind, opened a correspondence with 
 Campbell on the subject of the injustice done to his father in the poem. Partial justice 
 was accorded in the next edition of "Gertrude of Wyoming." The poet, after noting 
 in a note the |)roufs of error which had been furnished him. said : " The name of Brant, 
 therefore, remains in my poem a pure and declared character of fiction." He did not 
 alter the poem, however, and so it remains. 
 
294 
 
 Till-: KMI'IKK 
 
 •■r.vri;. 
 
 I);irkiiess jnit an I'liil tn tliu conflict, Imt increased tlie liorrors of the 
 scene. Pri^^one^s -were toi'tured anil murdered. Sixteen of them were 
 arranged around a low rock, and while held hy strong men were iniarly 
 all murdered hy a tonudiawk and chih nseil alternately hy a half-l)lood 
 AVfinian called ()uecn Esther. Two of them threw olT the liarharians who 
 held tiieni and escaped to the mountains. 
 
 On the following morning Forty Fort was surrendered. Colonel .lohn 
 Ihitlur promised the imnates protection of their persons and projierty, 
 and they went hack to their homes ; but so soon as the Tory leader left 
 the valley the Indians wiio lingered spread over the plain, and with 
 torch, tomahawk, and scalpingdiuifesoon made it an absolute desolation. 
 
 Scarcely a dwelling or an 
 outbuilding was left uncon- 
 sunied. Not a field of grain 
 was left standing ; not a 
 life was spared which the 
 barbarians could leach. Tiie 
 inliaiiitaiits who had not lied 
 (hiring the ])revious night 
 were slaughtered or nar- 
 1 owly escaped. Those who 
 departed nuide their May 
 toward Connecticut. Many 
 ^~ jierished in the great swamp 
 on Pocono Mountains, ever 
 since known as " The 
 Shades of Death." 
 
 The details of the deso- 
 lation of the beautiful Wy- 
 oming "N'alley and of the 
 horrors of the ilight of the survivors of the nuissacre form one of the 
 darkest chapters in human history. Tiie Ih'itish secretary for the colonies 
 (Lord George Germaine) praised the liarharians for their i)rowess and 
 humanity, and resolved to direct a succession of similar raids upon the 
 frontiers, and to devastate the older American settlements. " After- 
 ward among the extraordinaries of the army," said a bishop in the House 
 of Lords, " was an order for scalping-knives." 
 
 Very important events outside of the State of New York occurred 
 during the year 1778. In general interest tlie most important was the 
 arrival, at the beginning of ^lay, of the cheering news that a treaty of 
 alliance between France and the Fuited States had been signed at Paris 
 
 INniAX WAI! nil'I.KMKNTS. 
 
THE BRITISH FORCES LEAVE PEXXSYLVAXIA. 295 
 
 on Fehniarv tltli. Tlie gl;ul tidings greatly inspiritud the Americans. 
 Almost sinmltaneously appeared a gleam of liope emanating from the 
 Ilritisli tiirone and Parliament. The general failure of the campaign of 
 1777, ending in the capture of Burgoyne's army, made the English 
 people and a powerful minnrity in Parliament clamorous for peace. 
 Commissioneis were sent to America to attempt a settlement of the dis- 
 pute. They ^vere authorized to treat with Congress as a competent 
 Itody ; hut the conciliatory measures they were empowered to agree to 
 did not include a proposition for the independence of the United States. 
 Their mission w:is therefore a failure. 
 
 The English ministry, regarding the alliance with France as equivalent 
 to a declaration of war on the part of that countrj', felt much anxietj^ 
 for the safety of their army at Philadelphia and their navy on the Dela- 
 ware River, especially when informed that the French were fitting out a 
 fleet for American waters. Orders were sent to Howe to evacuate Phila- 
 delphia, and to his brother (the admiral) to leave the Delaware and pro- 
 ceed to New York. The land and naval forces were ordered to concen- 
 trate there. The French (iovernment sent twelve ships of the line and 
 four frigates, under the C^ount d'Estaing, to blockade the British fleet on 
 the Delaware. The latter had escaped to sea a few days before the 
 arrival of D'Estaing at the mouth of that river, and found safety on the 
 waters of Amboy or Paritan Buy. into which the heavy French vessels 
 could not enter. 
 
 Creneral Sir Henry Clinton had succeeded General Sir "William Tlowe 
 in conmiand of the army at Philadelphia when the order came for the 
 evacuation of that city. He instantly obeyed the order, and on June 
 IStli (177S) passed the Delaware with eleven thousand troops, and 
 attempted a flight across New Jersey to New York by way of New 
 Brunswick and Amboy. Ilis design was frustrated by Washington, 
 who left Valley Forge with a renovated army stronger in numbers than 
 that of his foe, crossed the Delaware, and compelled Clinton to turn his 
 face toward Sandy Hook. 
 
 Washington pushed on vigorously in juirsuit of the fugitive army. 
 He overtook the British near Monmouth Court-House, and there a 
 sanguinary battle was fought on Sunday, June 2Stli — an exceedingly hot 
 day. Darkness ended the conflict without any decisive result. The 
 Americans slept on their arms, determined to renew the struggle the 
 next morning ; but Clinton stole away silently in the darkness at mid- 
 m'ght nnoliserved by the wearied Americans, reached Sandy Hook in 
 safety, antl proceeded to New York by water. Washington did not 
 pursue. He marched to the Hmlson River, crossed into AVestchester 
 
296 THE KMI'IHK STATE. 
 
 County, remained there until the autiinin, and then recrossed into New 
 Jersey, and made liis winter <juarters at MicUHehrook, on tlie Raritan. 
 Clinton lost about six hundred men by desertion during his tiiglit across 
 New Jersey. 
 
 At this time the British were in possession of Rhode Island. At the 
 request of Washington, D'Estaing proceeded to Newport to assist Gen- 
 erals Sullivan and Lafayette in driving them from the island. On the 
 arrival of the fleet the Americans crossed over from the main to Rhode 
 Island and pressed on toward tlie British camp. At that moment Howe, 
 with a strongly re-enforced fleet, appeared. D'Estaing went out to meet 
 him. A terrible storm dispersed and shattered both fleets. The French 
 vessels hastened to Boston for repairs, leaving the Americans, who liad 
 been promised four thousand troops from the Gallic ships, in a perilous 
 situation. They fell back to the northern end of the island pursued by 
 the British. A severe battle was fought upon Quaker Hill (August 
 2!tth), in which the Americans were victorious. The next morning the 
 latter withdrew to the main, leaving the British still in possession of Rhode 
 Island ; but they were in the real position of prisoners. Such also was 
 their position at Now York until D'Estaing sailed for the West Indies 
 late in the autumn, when Sir Henry Clinton sent two thousand troops, 
 under Colonel Campbell, to invade Georgia, then tlie weakest member of 
 the Confederacy. After some resistance the British took possession of 
 Savannah, and it became the headquarters of the British army in the 
 South for some time. 
 
BRITISH EXPEDITIOX UP THE HUDSON. 297 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Sir IIenet Clinton * was in comiiiiiiid of a force of over sixteen 
 thousand men in the spring of 1779, yet his instructions confined him to 
 a predatory warfare upon tlie coasts. In May a squadron commanded 
 by Sir George Collier conveyed transports and galleys bearing twenty- 
 five liundred troops, under General Matthews, to the waters in South- 
 eastern Virginia. The connnanders sent out parties against ^Norfolk antl 
 other places on the Elizabeth River and tlie neigliborhood, to seize or 
 destroy an immense quantity of naval and military stores and other prop- 
 erty gathered there. That whole region was ravaged and made a scene 
 of plunder and conflagration. Soon afterward these forces appeared at 
 New York to join Sir Henry Clinton in an expedition up the Hudson 
 River. 
 
 After the capture of Forts Clinton and Montgomery in the Highlands, 
 West Point and Constitution Island opposite were strengthened by forti- 
 fications, and forts were erected upon Stony Point and Verplanck's 
 Point opposite, a few miles Iielow the Highlands. Fort Fayette, upon 
 ^'erplanck's Point, was completed in the early summer of 1770, but that 
 on Stony Point was then unfinished. These forts were to serve the 
 double purpose of protecting the King's Ferry, on the Hudson, the most 
 direct and convenient connuunication between the Eastern and Middle 
 States, and of disputing the passage of British vessels through the High- 
 lands. 
 
 At the close of May, Collier's vessels, seventy in number, great and 
 small (and one hundred and fifty flat-boats), bore Sir Henry Clinton and 
 a land force, under General Vaughan, up the Hudson, to attempt the 
 capture of the two posts last mentioned. The troops were landed l)efore 
 dawn on May 31st, a part of them, under Vaughan, a few miles below 
 Verplanck's Point, and the remainder, led by the baronet, a little below 
 Stony Point. The handful of men at the latter place set fire to the 
 
 * Sir Henry Clinton was a son of Admiral Sir George Clinton, colonial Governor of 
 Kew York, and born in 1738. He died in 1795. He entered the army when quite 
 young, and rose to the rank of major-general iii 17To, when he was sent to America with 
 Howe and Burgoyne. He was active during the war with the American colonies until 
 1783, when he returned to England. He had succeeded Sir William Howe as com- 
 mander-in-chief of the British forces in America in 1778. 
 
298 'llli; KMIMKi: STATK. 
 
 l)lock-]ionse tlicre, ahamloiiod tlio iinfinislicd fort, and fled to tlie moiin- 
 taiiii*. lloavy artillery was dragj^ed to the crest of the rocky proinoiitory 
 and turned xi[)oii Fort Fayette, while A^aughaii's troops and the vessels 
 joined in an attack upon that post. The little garrison of seventy ineii 
 v.-ere compelled to surrender. Sir Henry garrisoned both posts, and pro- 
 ceeded to tinish, arm, and man the fort at Stony Point. 
 
 Meanwhile Washington, lielieving Sir Jlenrv"s object to be the seizure 
 of the Highland forts, had advanced his army toward the river moun- 
 tains, and made his headipiarters at Xew Windsor, above the Highlands. 
 This movement checked Sir Henry's ilesigns. He .soon returned to 
 New York, and sent Collier's vessels on a marauding cxpt'dition to the 
 shores of Connecticut. They bore about twenty-tivc hundred British 
 and Hessian (as the Germans were called) marauders, commanded by ex- 
 Governor Tryon, who seemed to find the errand congenial to his nature 
 He made the Hessians his incendiaries and executors of his most cruel 
 work. 
 
 The expedition left New York on the night of July 3d (1779), and in 
 the space of a week laid waste and carried away a vast amount of private 
 projierty, and cruelly abused the inhabitants. They plundered New 
 Haven on the Tjth ; laid East Haven in ashes on the Otli ; destroyed 
 Fairfield by fire on the Sth, and plundered and burned Norwalk on tiie 
 12th. The soldiers were given free license to abuse and oppress the 
 defenceless inhabitants. While Norwalk was in llames Tryon sat in a 
 rocking-chair upon a hill in the neiglilioi'hooil, a delighted sjiectator of 
 the ruin wrought by his orders. In allusion to this and kindred expedi- 
 tions Trumbull, in bis •• ]\[cl-'ingal," makes Malcolm say : 
 
 " Behold ! lik(; wliclp of Britisli lion, 
 Our waiiiois, Clinton. Vauijlian, iiml Tryon. 
 Maioli fortli witli patriotic joy 
 To ravish, ])luu(lcr. and destroy. 
 Great srcnerals, foremost in their nation. 
 The journeymen of Desolation, 
 Like Samson's fo,\es, each assails. 
 Let loose with firebrands in their tails. 
 And spread destruction more forlorn 
 Than they among Philistines" corn." 
 
 The British finished, armed, and garrisoned the fort on Stony T'oiiit 
 early in July. The Americans resolved to capture it. The impetuous 
 General Wayne * was then in command of some infantry in the High- 
 
 * Anthony Wayne was Uorn in Chester County, Penn., .Tainiary 1st, 174.'); (lie<l .-it 
 Pre.sque Isle (now Firie). Penn., December l.-|lli, 17!)l>. His father was comniander of a 
 
THE AMERICANS CAPTUHE h^ToXY POINT. 
 
 299 
 
 liiiids. He proposed to surprise the garrison and take tlie fort hv storm. 
 •• Can jou do it V asked Washington. 
 
 " I'll storm hell if you'll plan it," said Wayne. 
 
 "Washington gave him permission to mulertake Stony Point lirst. 
 Leading a few hnndred men seeretiy throngh a mountain pass, Wayne 
 was within lialf a mile of the rocky 
 promontory on the evening of July 
 15th. They stealthily approached 
 tlie only accessible way to the fort, 
 across a marshy strait by a narrow 
 causeway in the rear. They reached 
 that point at midnight. After pass- 
 ing the causeway the little force was 
 divided into two columns to make 
 the attack at different points. With 
 loaded muskets and fixed bayonets 
 they marched \\p to the attack, pre- 
 ceded b}' a " forlorn hope" of picked 
 men to make openings in an ahatin 
 at designated points of assault. 
 
 Tlie assailants had nearly reached 
 the abatis before they were discov- 
 ered. The alarmed sentinels fired 
 their nniskets, when the startled 
 
 garrison flew to arms. The stillness of that hot sunnner night was sud- 
 denly broken hx the rattle of musketry and the roar of camions from the 
 ramparts. In tiie face of a terrible tempest of bullets and grape-shot the 
 assailants forced their way into the fort at the point of the bayonet. 
 Wayne, who led one of the divisions in person, had beeu brought to his 
 knees Ijv a stunning blow from a musket-ball that grazed his head. 
 
 f.ENERAT. ANTHONY WAYXE. 
 
 .squadron of dragoons under William III. of England at the battle of the Boyne. After 
 liis marriage Anthon_v became a farmer and a surveyor. He was a member of the Penn- 
 sylvania Legislature in 1774-75 ; became a colonel in the Continental army in 1776 ; went 
 with his regiment to Canada in that year : was wounded in battle, and early in 1777 was 
 commissioned a brigadier. He was in the battle of Braiulpvine, September 11th, 1776. 
 and a few nights afterward his camp, near the Paoli Tavern, on the road between Phila- 
 delphia and Lancaster, was assailed by a British force, and many of his men were slain. 
 He wa.s in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth, and lie captured Stony Point, on 
 the Hudson, in July, 1779. Warae did admirable sersice in the Southern States during 
 the remainder of the war. In 1793 he became general-in-chief of the armies of the United 
 States. He brought the Indians in tlie North-west to peaceful relations, and was stationed 
 at Presque I.sle at the time of his death. Brave almost to rashness, he received the title 
 nf '■ 3Iad .Vnthonv." 
 
300 
 
 Tin; KMl'IKK STATE. 
 
 Believing himself mortally wounded, he exclaimed : " March on I 
 Carry me into the fort, for 1 will die at the head of my column." lie 
 soon recovered, and at two o'clock in the morning he wrote to Wash- 
 ington : 
 
 " The fort and garrison, with General Johnston, are ours. Our 
 officers and men behaved like men determined to be free." Wayne also 
 wrote in a subsequent despatcli : " The humanity of our brave soldiers, 
 
 =^^ 4^^^ ^^'T^r^ 
 
 '^a.^T- 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 ^^ ' ^y-^T^ 
 
 FACSIMII.K OP ^VAY^"K S DESPATCtl. 
 
 who scorned to take the lives of a vancjuishud foe when calling for 
 mercy, reflects the higliest honor on them, and accounts for the few of 
 the enemy killed on the occasion." 
 
 Johnston, the commander of the fort, and five hundred and forty- 
 three men were made prisoners. He had si.xty-three killed. The 
 Americans lost one hundred men killed and wounded. The British 
 ship))ing lying in the river near by slipped their cables and moved down 
 the stream. The Americans attempted to capture Fort Fayette, l)Ut 
 
WAH WITH THE IXDIAXS JX THE INTERIOR. 301 
 
 failed. Unable to hold and garrison the fort in Stony Point, they 
 removed the heavy ordnaiice and stores to "West Point and abandoned 
 the post. The British repossessed it a few days afterward. 
 
 The terrible atrocities of bands of the Six Nations in 1778 aronnd the 
 head-waters of the Susquehanna and their vioinity and in the valley of 
 Wyoming impelled the Americans to the exercise of vengeance against 
 them in the most eifeetual manner. All of these nations, excepting the 
 Oneidas and Tuscaroras, had been won over to tlie side of the crown by 
 British emissaries amoiig them, employed by the Johnson family, and 
 the task of chastising them would be hard and perilous. A question of 
 life or death of the frontier settlements was involved, and the people did 
 not hesitate. They cheerfully joined in an expedition to penetrate the 
 heart of the Iroquois country, for the purpose of spreading desolation with 
 fire and sword, and conquering and securing peace by the force of terror. 
 
 In the spring of 1779 some preliminary movements to this end were 
 undertaken. The first was against the Onondagas. Between five and 
 six hundred troops, led by Colonels Goose Van Schaick and Marinus 
 Willett, left Fort Schuyler on April 19th, and penetrated the heart of 
 the Onondaga nation south of (present) Syracuse. They took the bar- 
 barians by surprise, destroyed three of their villages, burned tlieir pro- 
 visions, and slaughtered their live-stock. It was an unfortunate expedi- 
 tion, for it exasperated the Indians and did not spread terror among 
 them, as was anticipated. Three hundred Onondaga braves were imme- 
 diately sent out iipon the war-path charged with the vengeance of the 
 nation. They spread terror and desolation far and near in conjunction 
 with other members of the Confederacy. They pushed southward to 
 the waters of the Delaware and the borders of Ulster County. 
 
 On the night of July 19th, Brant, with sixty Mohawks and a band of 
 Tories disguised as Indians, fell upon the settlement of Minisink, on the 
 Neversink Kiver, in the M'estern part of Orange County, at the foot of 
 the Shawangmik Mountains. They destroyed the growing crops, burned 
 the church and ten houses, mills, and barns in the neighborhood, and 
 retired with considerable plunder without attempting further violence. 
 
 When Colonel Tusten, at Goshen, heard of this raid he hastened with 
 one hundred and fifty men (many of them volunteers) to the scene of 
 desolation. They held a council, when it was concluded to pursue the 
 marauders. Colonel llathorn had arrived with a few recruits, and took 
 command of the pursuing party. They overtook the niain body of them 
 near the mouth of Lackawaxen Creek (July 22d), when Brant by a quick 
 movement threw his force in Ilathorn's rear, placing the republicans in 
 an ambush. More than fifty men were separated from the main body, 
 
30:2 
 
 Tin: KMI'lIiF. STATK. 
 
 leaviiii;- tlie reiuiiiiuler to sustain the shock ot' a furious attack. A severe 
 ciniflicr I'lisueil, lasting fnun eleven o'clock in the inorniui^ until sunset. 
 The repiililicans M-ere beaten, and were niunlered after they were made 
 
 prisDueis. ( )nly thirty of 
 the nearly three hundre<l 
 pursuers survived to tell 
 the sad story of the luassa- 
 cre. Fort\'-three years af- 
 terward the citizens of 
 Orange Count}' caused the 
 hones of the nlain tu Ix; 
 gathered and Iniried near 
 the centre of the Green in 
 the village of fioshen, and 
 over them a neat white 
 marhle monument was 
 erected, bearing the names 
 of the slain. A more elegant 
 monnnunit commemorative 
 of the event was erected by 
 order of the supervisors of 
 Orange County in 1S62. It 
 was the gift of the late Dr. 
 M. II. Cash. 
 
 A more powerful instru- 
 ment for the chastisement of the offending Iroquois M'as formed in the 
 summer of 1771'. (iuneraMVashington f)laced General John Sullivan'" 
 
 MOXrjreXT AT GOSHEN. 
 
 * Jolin Sullivan was born at Berwick. Me., February 17th, 1740 ; died at Dnrliani. 
 X. II., .laimary 23d, 1795. He wa-^ a lawyer, a member of the first Continental Conjcre.'is. 
 and in Deeember, 1774, with John Laugilon, led a patriot force again.st Fort AN'illiain and 
 Mary, at Portsmouth, K. H., and took from it one hundred barrels of gunpowder, fifteen 
 cannons, many small-arms and stores. In June, 177.'), Sullivan was appointed one of the 
 four hrisiadier-jrenerals of the Continental army ; commanded a portion of the troops that 
 be.sieged Boston, .mil after tlie evacuation, in the spring of 177(), he went with troops to 
 re-enforee the patriot army in Cinada. On the death of General Tlionias there he took 
 the eoniTnanil of tlie army ; skilfully elTeeted a retreat from that pidvin<e : was made 
 prisoner in the battle on Long Island in August ; was exchanged, .md joined Washington 
 in Westchester County ; did good service in the battles at Trenton and I'rineelon. at 
 Hiandywine and Gerimmtown. .and in Rhode Island. After his expedition against tin' 
 Indians in the State of New York he left the army on account of .shattered health, and 
 took a seat in Congress late in 1780. He wjis attorney-general of New Hampshire from 
 1783 to 1786. and president of that commonwealth from 1786 to 1789. From the latter 
 date until his death he was I'liited States .Judge of New Hampshire. 
 
Sl'LLIVAN'S nES()LATING CAMPAIGN. 
 
 303 
 
 ill command of a force of Continental soldiers gatliered in the Wyoming 
 Valley, where the horrible massacre occurred the previons year. lie was 
 instructed to penetrate the heart of the Iroqnois country and desolate it. 
 
 Sullivan left the valley with throe thoiisand men at tlie close of July, 
 marched np tiie Susquehanna River, and arrived at Tioga Point on 
 Augnst 22d. Tiiere he was joined liy General James Clinton with 
 about sixteen Imndred men, who came down from Canajoharie, on 
 the ^Mohawic Kivcr. liy way of Otsego Lake, debarking on the site 
 of Cooperstown. The combined 
 forces nimd)ered al)out five thou- 
 sand, consisting of tlie brigades of 
 Generals f 'baton, Hand, Maxwell, 
 and Poor, with Proctor's artille- 
 rv and a corps of riflemen. So 
 Tardily had the expedition moved 
 that the P>ritish authorities liad 
 time to send regulars and Tories 
 from Canada and Xiagara to assist 
 the Indians in opposing it. 
 
 Marching up the eastern bank 
 of the Chemung River on the 
 morning of Augnst 2'.ttli. the 
 invaders destroyed the growing 
 crops, and at length encountered 
 a force of regulars, Tories, and 
 Indians, strongly fortified, not far 
 
 from the site of (present) Elmira. The Indians were commanded 
 by Brant, and the remainder by Sir John Johnson,* the Butlers, and 
 Captain ilcDonald. A fierce engagement ensued, and it was long 
 doubtful which party would win the laurels of victory. It was finally 
 decided for Sullivan when Proctor's artillery was brought into play and 
 dispersed the terrified liarbarians. The invading army rested on the 
 battle-ground that niglit, and the ne.xt morning pushed on in pursuit of 
 the fugitives. 
 
 That pursuit was quick and distressing. The army after a perilous 
 
 ^ 
 
 JOHN SULLIVAN. 
 
 * Sir .Toliii .Johnson, son of Sir AVilliam, was born in 174:2. His motlu'r wa.s a German 
 girl. He was u stanch and active; loyalist ; fled lo Canada with several hundred 
 followers ; in connection with the Indians desolated the Mohawk Valley and its neighbor- 
 hood, and was defeated by General Van Rensselaer in 17S0. He went to England after 
 the war, but .soon returned to Canada, where he remained in tliu capacity of Super 
 intendent of Indian Affairs until jiis drath in 1880. 
 
304 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 marcli encamped before Catharine's Town, near the head of Seneca Lake, 
 on the morning of Se])teml)er 2(1, and destroyed the vilhige, tlie siir- 
 roundinir crops of corn, und the orcluirds. Tiiu tivinir camijaiifn, charired 
 with tiie forces of destruction, hml now fairly begun. " The Indians 
 shall see,"' said Sullivan, " that there is malice enough in our hearts to 
 destroy everything that contributes to their support." Jlis men, burn- 
 ing with indignation, eagerly sought to avenge the cruelties of the bar- 
 barians and Tories who had made the region of the ^lohawk a " dark 
 and bloody ground." The Indians fled before them like frightened 
 deer to cover, and the wail of desolation M-as heard throughout their 
 pleasant land, from the Sus(juehanna to the Genesee. 
 
 On September 14th General Sullivan and his army encamped before 
 Genesee, the capital of the Senecas, in the beautifid Genesee Valley — 
 the paradise of the Six Nations. There everything indicated the pres- 
 ence of civilization. There was not a M-ildcrness feature in the scene. 
 The rich intervales presented the appearance of cultivation for many 
 generations, and the farms, gardens, and orchards bespoke a degree of 
 comfort and refinement that Avonld be creditable to any civilized com- 
 munity. But a terrible doom hung over the smiling country. The 
 Genesee " Castle" was destroyed and the cajjital was laid in iishes. 
 " The town," wrote Sullivan, " contained one hundred and twenty-eigiit 
 houses, mostly large and ver^' elegant. It was beautifully situated, 
 almost encircled with a clear flat extending a number of miles, over 
 which extensive fields of corn were waving, together with every kind of 
 vegetable that could be conceived." 
 
 The work of destruction now spread over the whole valley and tlie 
 surrounding country. Fort}' Indian villages were burned ; one hundred 
 and sixty thousand bushels of corn in the fields and in granaries were 
 destroj'ed ; a vast number of the finest fruit-trees, the jjroduct of yeare 
 of tardy growth, were cut down ; inindreds of gardens were desolated ; 
 the inhabitants were driven into the forests to starve, and were hunted 
 like wild beasts ; their altars were overturned ; their graves were 
 trampled upon l)y strangers, and a beautiful, well-watered country, 
 teeming with a ])ros[)erous jieo]ile and just rising to the level with the 
 ])roductive regions of civilization, was desolated and thrown ])ack a cen- 
 tury within the space of a fortnight. 
 
 This chastisement awed the barliarians for the moment, but it did not 
 crush them. In the reaction tliey had greater strength. It kindled the 
 fires of deep hatred, which spread like a conflagration far among the 
 tribes upon the borders of the great lakes and in the valley of the Ohio. 
 
 After Sullivan's campaign very few militar\' operations occurred at 
 
SIR JOHN JOHNSON at home. 305 
 
 the Kortli during the remainder of tlie year. Lafayette had been ia 
 France during the sunnner, and had induced the French Government to 
 promise to send a more powerful fleet and several thousand troops to aid 
 the Americans. Whispers of this intention readied the ears of tlie 
 British Cabinet, when the evacuation of Kliodo Island and the concentra- 
 tion of British troops at New Yorlc were ordered. 
 
 A land force under General Lincoln and troops sent ashore from the 
 French fleet of D'Estaing made an attack upon Savannah, Ga., in Sep- 
 tember, and carried on a siege until the second week in October, wdien 
 it was abandoned in consequence of the sudden withdrawal of the French 
 troops. Lincoln was compelled to cross the Savannah Kiver into South 
 Carolina and retreat to Charleston. Toward that city Sir Henry Clinton 
 sailed from Now York at the close of the year with five thousand troops, 
 to open a vigorous campaign in the Carolinas. 
 
 Li September the intrepid John Paul Jones, in command of the 
 frigate BonJiomme Richard, fitted out in a French port, gained a deci- 
 sive victory in one battle over two British frigates, the Serap'ts and the 
 Countess of Scarborough. They fought in the waters of the North Sea, 
 off the north-eastern coast of England. 
 
 Sir John Johnson took advantage of the hot indignation of the 
 Iroquois, kindled by Sullivan's chastisement, to make a raid into the 
 IMohawk Valley with five hundred Tories and Indians, in May, 17S0. 
 lie ^lenetrated the country from Crown Point to the Sacandaga River, 
 and on Sunday night, May 17th, he arrived at Johnstown. Between 
 midnight and dawn his force, divided, began to devastate that region, 
 Imrning every house excepting those which !)elonged to Tories. In the 
 course of this raid many persons were slain and homes desolated. Such 
 wild terror was spread all over that region that Sir John was enalned to 
 accomplish the chief object of his visit — naniel}', the recovery of his 
 family plate, wliich was buried near Johnson Hall when he fled to Canada 
 in ITTfi. lie recovered twenty of his negro slaves, one of whom was 
 the man wdio buried the treasure. It filled two barrels, and when it was 
 exhumed it was carried away in the knapsacks of forty soldiers. With this 
 property, his slaves, some prisoners, and much booty, Sir John was allowed 
 by the panic-stricken people to leave for Canada without molestation. 
 
 On hearing of this invasion, Governor Clinton, then at Poughkeepsie, 
 ordered a pursuit. lie led a division in person to Ticonderoga, where 
 he was joined by some militia from Vermont. Eight hundred militia, 
 under Colonel Van Schaick, pursued the fugitives from Johnstown ; but 
 Sir John had such a start that he escaped. He had wisely avoided the 
 lakes on his retreat, and passed through the interior of the country. 
 
30G 
 
 Till-: K.Ml'IliK ST ATI-: 
 
 In August the Canajoliuric and Fort Plain - settlements were deso- 
 lated by Brant and five hundred Indians and Tories. Fifty-three 
 dwellings and many barns were l)urned ; sixteen inhabitants were killed ; 
 between fifty and sixty persons, chiefly women and children, were made 
 captive ; implements of husbandry were destroyed, and over three 
 hundred cattle and horses were driven away. 
 
 In the autumn of 17S(» an extensive expedition against the settlements 
 in Tryon County was planned. The Indians were thirsting for revenge 
 for the wrongs and misery inflicted >ipon them by Sullivan. The leadens 
 
 in the expedition were Sir John Johnson, 
 Joseph Brant, and a famous half-breed 
 Seneca chief named Corn Planter. The 
 Indians rendezvoused at Tioga Point, 
 and at I'nadilla they formed a junction 
 with Sir John and his forces — regulars, 
 Tories, and Indians — who came from 
 Niagara and Canada by way of Oswego, 
 bringing M'ith them some light artillery. 
 Their plan was to desolate the Schoharie 
 Valley to the Mohawk, and then devastate 
 that beautiful and bountiful region down 
 to Scheiicctaily. 
 
 The invaders reached the Schoharie 
 Valley at the middle of October. The 
 inhaiiitauts were taken by sur])rise. Their 
 barns Nvere filled with the products of a bountiful harvest, and stacks of 
 hay and grain were abundant. The invaders besieged the forts, but 
 failed to capture them. Believing them to be stronger than he had 
 supposed, and fearing re-enforcements were coming, Sir John ordered 
 his forces to swcc[) the valley with the besom of destruction to the 
 ^lohawk. Everywhere they applied the torch. Every house, barn, and 
 stack belonging to a Whig was laid in ashes. Fully one hundred thousand 
 bushels of grain were destroyed during that one day's march. So soon 
 as the invaders had departed the exasperated Whigs burned the spared 
 
 FOUT I'LAIK BLOCK-lIDLtiK. 
 
 * After tlic desolation of tlie ."Moliinvk and Schoharie valleys in 1778, Fort Plain was 
 erected near the mouth of the Os(niaj;a Creek, and became an important fortress. It 
 stood upon a hill at the (present) villajre of Fort Plain. It was an irrejrulartiuadransrle in 
 form, with earth and lojjr bastions. It finally had a block-house (built in 1780) three 
 stories in heijiht pierced for musketry, the lower story for cannon. It was built of hewn 
 logs. Each .story projected about five feet beyond tlic one below it. The powder maga- 
 zine was under it. 
 
OPERA rioXS IX THE MOHAWK VALLEY. 
 
 307 
 
 houses ami other ju-dpcrty of the Tories. Tlie Schoharie Valley was 
 made a smoking ruin. Several persons were slain during the r:iid. Sir 
 John remained two da^'s at Fort Hunter, at the mouth of tlio Seliohario 
 Creek, and destroyed everything belonging to the Whigs in the neighhor- 
 Iiood ; and on October 18tli he began a 
 desti'uctivc march up the ]\Iohawk Valley. 
 He l)urned C'aughnawaga and every dwell- 
 ing on both sides of the river as far as 
 Fort I'lain. On the morning of the l!>th 
 he sent a detachment to attack a small 
 stockade called Fort Paris, in Stone Ara- 
 bia, about three miles north of the river. 
 
 When Governor Clinton (then at 
 .Vlbany) heard of the invasion of the 
 Sehoiiarie A'allcy he hastened with a 
 strong body of militia, accompanied by 
 General liobert van Rensselaer, to the 
 aid of the people of the smitten region. 
 They arrived at Caughnawaga while it was 
 in flames. There Clinton gave the chief 
 command of the troops to Van Rensselaer. 
 The latter, apprised of the intended at- 
 tack upon Fort Paris, ordered its com- 
 mander. Colonel P)rown (distinguished 
 in former campaigns), to march out and 
 
 meet the invaders. lie did so about a mile from (present) Palatine 
 Piridge, was overpowered by superior numbers, and with forty of hLs 
 soldiers was slain. The remainder of his troops Hed to Fort Plain.* 
 
 .■^>^- 
 
 COI.ONEI. BUOWN S MONl MENT. 
 
 * Colonel John Brown was a citizen of Massachusetts, a graduate of Yale College, and 
 a lawyer by profession. lie aeeonipauied the expedition to Canada in 1776, and was 
 specially distinguished in the capture of Fort Chanibly. lie hung on the rear of 
 Burgoyne's army in 1777, destroying his stores, and so etliciently assisting in the work of 
 his capture. Xo mention was made of these services in official reports, as Arnohl, who 
 had at that time the ear of Gates, prejudiced that officer against him. Colonel Brown 
 and his .sl-iin companions were buried in the grounds adjoining the church in Stone 
 Arabia, and fifty-six years afterward (1836), on the anniversary of the battle, a small 
 monument erected on the spot by Mr. Henry Brown, a son of Colonel Brown, of Berk- 
 shire, Mass., was dedicated. There was a large concourse of citizens assembled in the 
 church on the occasion, when an address was pronounced by Mr. Gerrit L. Roof, then a 
 young lawyer of CiUiajoharie, and afterward a clergyman. The above engraving is from 
 a drawing made for the late Dr. Franklin B. Hough, who wrote an interesting and valu- 
 able narrative of " The Northern Invasion," of which only eighty copies were printed by 
 the ■■ Hradtonl Club," of Xew York. 
 
308 THE EMPIKK STATE. 
 
 Sir John desolated Stone Aral)ia. He halted to rest at a place called 
 " Kloek's Field.'' General Van Rensselaer was in pnrsnit of liiin with 
 fifteen hnndred men, inclnding a Ijody of Onei<las, led \>y Chief Loui.s, 
 whom Congress had commissioned a colonel. Nan Rensselaer's move- 
 ments were so tardy that the invaders were rested liefore he was ready 
 to attack them. Toward evening a general Ijattle hegan, wlien a furious 
 charge made by the patriots caused the invaders to give way and lly. It 
 was now twilight, and Van Rensselaer Avould not allow his impatient 
 troops to pursue nntil tlie ne.\t morning, when the fugitives were 
 followed by the whole body of the victors as far as the German Flats, 
 where tliey halted. 
 
 Van Rensselaer ordered tlic Oneidas and Captain Mt-lvcan, witli some 
 volunteei-s, to press on in advance, promising to follow immediately in 
 their support. Tiiey had nearly overtaken the fugitives when the pur- 
 suers learned tliat Van Rensselaer had abandoned the pursuit. Tliey 
 retraced their steps as an act of safety, and Sir Jolm and his invading 
 party, who had inflicted such unutterable miseries upon tlie inhabitants 
 of Tryon County, wore allowed to escape to Canada l)y way of Oswego. 
 
 ^Feanwhile JFajor Carloton of tiie Britisli army, witii one tlionsand 
 regulars, Tories, and Indians, went U]i Lake Cliamplain, captured and 
 burned Fort Anne, between tlie head of the lake and tiie Hudson, and 
 sent forward marauding and incendiary parties toward Fort Edward. 
 At tlie same time Carleton himself pushed on to tlie head of Lake 
 George, and captured and destroyed Fort George there. A part of the 
 expedition liad landed at Crown Point and made its way through the 
 forest to attack Schenectady, but proceeded no farther than the settle- 
 ment at Ballston, which they desolated. At about the same time 
 another expedition sent out from Canada fell upon the upper settlements 
 of the Connecticut Valley. Tiiese expeditions avoided doing injury to 
 the inhabitants on the New Hampshire Grants (Vermont), because the 
 leaders of those people were then corpietting with tlie Rritisli antliorities 
 in Canada. For what purpose will appear hereafter. 
 
 When Sir Henry Clinton sailed for tlie South at the close of 1779 he 
 left the German General Knyphausen in command at New York. The 
 fleet of Admiral Arbutlinot, carrying two tiiousand marines, bore Clinton's 
 troops. They went first to the coast of Georgia, but soon proceeded to 
 Charleston Harbor and prepared to besiege that city, where General 
 Lincoln was in command of a considerable body of troops. The city, 
 the army, citizens, four hundred cannons, and a large quantity of stores 
 ■were surrendered on May 12th. Tiie Baron de Kalb had been sent with 
 troops to assist Lincoln, but did not arrive in time. 
 
THE BRITISH IX SOUTH CAKOLINA. 309' 
 
 Tlie fall of Charleston paralyzed the people of South Carolina. Three 
 British detachments proceeded to take possession of the State. Lord 
 Cornwallis was appointed to the chief command in that region. Clinton 
 proclaimed a general truce, and pardon and protection for all who should 
 accept it. The silence of fear overspread the country for a while. Mis- 
 taking this lull in the storm of resistance for ahsolute submission and 
 permanent tranquillity, Clinton, with a large part of his army, sailed in 
 the Heet of Arhuthnot for New York early in June. 
 
 Cornwallis unwisely began a reign of terror to overawe the panic- 
 stricken patriots. His course aroused their fiercest indignation, and so 
 soon as an army, first under De Kalb and then commanded by Gates, 
 approached the borders of their State they flew to arms. Energetic 
 partisan leaders like ilarion, Sumter, Pickens, and others now appeared, 
 and South Carolina and Upper Georgia became a theatre of active war- 
 fare, until Gates was beaten and his army -was dispei"sed in a battle with 
 Cornwallis, near Camden. This disaster seemed again to paralyze the 
 people, and the State lay prone for a while at the feet of the invader. 
 
 Cornwallis, now confident of his power, proceeded to invade North 
 Carolina. It was begmi, but was soon checked by the defeat of a body 
 of Tory militia, led I)y IMajor Patrick Ferguson, in a battle on King's 
 Mountain (October 7th), l)y the mountaineers of the Carolinas. At the 
 same time ^[arion and Sumter were keeping British regulars and Tories 
 exceedingly lively in an attitude of defence, until they became thorougidy 
 alarmed. The British called Marion the " Swamp Fox" and Sumter the 
 " South Carolina Game Cock." 
 
 "\Mule these operations were going on in the South and in the State of 
 New York the American people were inspirited by the presence on their 
 shores of a large land and naval force sent by France to aid them. They 
 arrived at Newport, H. L, on July 10th, 1780. The fleet was com- 
 manded by Admiral Ternay. It bore six thousand troops, commanded 
 by Lieutenant-General Count de Eochambeau. This event made Sir 
 Henry Clinton more circumspect and cautious. He had been trying to 
 entice "Washington, after he left his winter quarters at j\[orristown, 
 N. J., to fight ; now he changed his course of action, and endeavored to 
 gain, by conqilotting with a traitor, what he had failed to do by arms. 
 
:3in 
 
 THH KMPIHK STATK 
 
 CIIAPTEE XXII. 
 
 Benedict Arnold was in coininaiul of tlie impditant post of "West 
 Point, ill tlie Hudson Tliglilands, late in the summer of 1780. He was 
 
 a bravo soldier, and liad fonglit 
 nobly for the indupeiidence of liis 
 country. Ibit he was never a Inu: 
 patriot, or he wonhl never have 
 become a fraiior. He lacked vir- 
 tue, and became the slave and tjie 
 victim of passions iinrestrained by 
 conscience. 
 
 Arnold was military governor at 
 Philadelphia in thesnminer of 177S. 
 He there married a beautiful maiden 
 (Miss Shippen), only eighteen years 
 of age. He was forty-eight. He 
 lived in splendor at an expense far 
 be3'on(l his means, became involved 
 in debt, and to meet the demands 
 of his creditors he engaged in practices which caused him to be charged 
 Avith dishonesty and malfeasance in office, lie was tried by a court- 
 
 r 
 
 BENEDICT AUNOI,!).- 
 
 * Bonediit Ainold, a brave SDldicr who liocainc a conspiruous traitor, was born at 
 NorwifU, Conn., .January 3(1. 1741 : died in Loudon, .June 14tli. 1804. Apprentici'd to 
 an ajiotlu'cary, lie ran away ; enlisted iis a soldier ; deserted ; en^ajred a few years in the 
 business of a bookseller and druggist in Kew Haven, and a trader with the AVest Indies. 
 After the affair at Lexington he raised a company of volunteers, and accompanied Allen 
 in the capture of Ticonderoga. lie performed gallant service in naval warfare on Lake 
 Chainiilain the following year. Meanwhile he h.ad made a perilous march through the 
 wilderness from the ICennebec River to Quebec ; engaged in the siege of that city ; was 
 badly wounded; was chietly instrumental in winning the battles that resulted in the 
 surrender of Burgoyne, and was again wounded in these eonlliets. While in command 
 as military governor at I'liiladelphia he opened a treasonable correspondence with the 
 Ibilish. His allcmpt to betray West Point failed, and he e.seai)ed to the British lines. 
 \h- served in the British army in predatory warfare ujion liis countrymen ; went to 
 iMigland, where he was despised by all honorable men ; l)eeaine for a while a resident of 
 St. .Johns, New Brunswick, where he was hung in effigy. He soon returned to England, 
 where he lived in obscurity. One of his sons became a lieutenant-general in the British 
 armv. 
 
THE TREASON OF GENERAL ARNOLD. 311 
 
 martial, and sentenced to be reprimanded liy the comniander-in-eliief of 
 the armies. It was done by Washington in the most delicate mniiner. 
 
 Vengeful feelings took possession of the heart and mind of Arnold, 
 which led him to make an attempt to betray his country. He made 
 treasonable overtures secretly to Sir Henry Clinton, and held treasonable 
 correspondence for several months, under assumed names, with Major 
 Andre, Clinton's adjutant-general. Before they met face to face Arnold 
 pronn'sed to surrender the post of AYest Point and its dependencies (of 
 which, on his earnest solicitation, he liad been made commander in 
 August) into the hands of the enemy. The possession of West Point 
 by the British would secure the control of the Hudson ; cut off 'New 
 England from the rest of the States ; facilitate intercourse with Canada, 
 and lead to the speedy accomplishment of all that the expeditions of 
 Burgoyne and St. Leger were expected to effect. Arnold agreed to 
 strike this deadly blow at the liberties of his patriotic countrymen for the 
 consideration of a brigadier's commission in the royal army and $50,000 
 in gold. 
 
 The time chosen for the consummation of this unholy bargain was late 
 in September, 17S0, when Washington would be in Hartford, Conn., 
 conferring with the French officers. Arrangements were made for a 
 personal interview between Arnold and Andre to conclude a final settle- 
 ment of the details. The place selected by Arnold for the interview 
 was a lonely spot not far below Haverstraw, on the west side of the 
 Hudson, and the time midnight, September 20tli. 
 
 Andre ascended the river on the sloojj-of-war Vulture, and was taken 
 ashore in a boat * sent by Arnold, in charge of his friend, Joshua Hett 
 Smith, who lived between Haverstraw and Stony Point. The corn- 
 plotters met in the dark. Andre's uniform was concealed by a surtout. 
 He had been instructed to neither carry nor fetch any papers. The con- 
 ference was protracted. Day dawned and it was not ended. Arnold 
 persuaded Andre to accompany him to Smith's house to complete the 
 arrangements, without informing him that the dwelling was within the 
 American lines. Meanwhile the Vulture had been driven down the 
 river by cannonading from Teller's Point, on the eastern shore. 
 
 * On tlic morning at first fixed for his execution (Oetober 1st, 1780) Major Anilre made 
 a pcn-and-inli sketch representing his conveyance to tlie shore from the Vulture in a 
 small boat. There arc two [jcrsoiis in the boat besides the oarsman. This sketch, with 
 " J. \., fecit, Oct. 1, 1780," written in a corner, was found on his tabic after his execu- 
 tion, on October 2d ; also a pen-and-ink sketch of his own portrait silting at a table. 
 His servant delivered tliese sketclies to Colonel C'rosbie. of tln' Twenty-second Hejrimcnt, 
 on Iiis return to New York. 
 
313 THK K.MI'IKi: STATE. 
 
 At Smith's lionso tlic final arraiiiijuiiicnts -were made. Clinton was to 
 ascend the river with a i)owert'iii force, when Arnold, after makiiij; a 
 show of resistance, should surrender the post, pleading as an excuse the 
 weakness of the garrison. 
 
 This wicked scheme perfected, Andn'^ was anxious to return to tlie 
 Vulture that night, but Sniitli refused to go so far down the river, and 
 it was arranged for tlie adjutant-general to return to New York Ky laud. 
 Exchanging his uniform for a suit sup])lied hy Smith, and accompanied 
 by that gentleman, he crossed the river at the King's Ferry at twilight, 
 bearing the following passport : 
 
 " Permit j\[r. John Anderson [an assumed name] to ])ass the guards 
 to the White Plains, or below, if he chooses, he being on public 
 business. B. Arnold, M. G. " 
 
 In violation of his instructions, Andre had received from Arnold some 
 papers explanatory of the condition of West Point and its dependencies, 
 and concealed them in his stockings beneath his feet. lie and iiis 
 attendants passed the night near the Croton River. The next morning 
 ho journeyed on alone on -horseback, and soon reached the neutral 
 gi-ound in W^estchester County. 
 
 Near Tarrytovvn three young militiamen— John Paulding, Isaac van 
 Wart, and David AV'illiams — were ])laying cards on the edge of a wood 
 when Andre approaclied. Paulding, dre.-^sed in a British troojier's coat, 
 stepped into the road ami hailed Iiim. The young man had been a 
 prisoner a short time, and had been strip[)ed of his better farmer's coat 
 and given the old red one he had on. The traveller, misled by this coat, 
 said : 
 
 " Cientlemen, I hope you lielong to our party." 
 
 " Whicii party ?" asked Paulding. 
 
 " The lower part V." 
 
 "We do." 
 
 Thus completely thrown oil his guard, Andre avowed himself to be a 
 British officer, when they said : 
 
 " We are Americans." 
 
 Astonished and alarmed. Andre now cxhil)ited ^Vrnold's jiassport. 
 The young men shook tiieir heads. lie had avowed liimself a Hritish 
 officer. His speech contirmed the truth of that avowal. Their sus- 
 ])icions that he might be a spy were aroused. They invited him to dis- 
 mount, and then pro(!eeded to search him. Pulling oil his boots, the 
 tell-tale papers were discovered. 
 
 " ]\[y (rod !" exclaimed Paulding, " he is a spy !" 
 
 The major offered the young men large bribes if they would let him 
 
TREASONABLE DESIGNS FRUSTRATED. 
 
 313 
 
 pass on. Tlicy refused, and delivered liiiu to Colonel Jameson, then in 
 command of a post at North Castle. Jameson sent the papers found in 
 Andre's boot by express to Wasliington, who was returning with his 
 suite from Hartford. Andre, still maintaining the role of an American, 
 begged the colonel to inform his (Andre's) commander at West Point 
 that John Anderson, tliough bearing his passport, was detained a pris- 
 oner. This Jameson thoughtlessly did, and so Arnold was informed of 
 his own peril in time to allow him to escape. 
 
 Arnold's head(piartei"s were at the country-house of Beverly Tli)l)inson, 
 opposite West Point. Mrs. Arnold had lately arrived there with her 
 
 THE ROBINSON HOUSE. 
 
 infant son. On the morning of Septemlier 25th Washington, with 
 Generals Knox and Lafayette, arrived in the vicinity two days earlier 
 than tliey were expected. AVord was sent to Arnold that they would 
 breakfast with him. Wasliington and tlie two generals turned aside to 
 inspect some redoubts, while Colonel Hamilton and others rode on to tell 
 Mrs. Arnold not to detain breakfast for the generals. It was the very day 
 (September 2.5tlO that had lieen fixed for Clinton to ascend the river and 
 receive the surrender of West Point. Washington's early return frus- 
 trated the treasonable designs. 
 
 While Arnold and his guests were at breakfast a courier arrived with 
 Jameson's letter, which revealed to Arnold the terrible fact that Andre 
 
314 THK r.MPIRK STATIC. 
 
 was a prisoner ; that all was known — that all was lost. With marvellous 
 self-possession the traitor excused himself to his guests, retired, ordered a 
 horse, and then going to ^Mrs. Arnold's room, sent for her. In a few 
 words he told her of his ])eril. 
 
 " I must tlv instantly,"' he said. " ^[y life depends upon my reaeh- 
 ing the ISritisli lines without detection." 
 
 lie then returned to the breakfast-room, and again excusing himself 
 with the plea that he must hasten to West Point to prepare for the 
 reception of Washington, he leaped into the saddle on his horse at the 
 door and dashed down a path to the river, where his six-oared harge was 
 moored. Quitting his horse, he hurried into his boat, with his pistols in 
 his hands, and ordered the oarsmen to pull to the middle of the stream 
 ajid then to row with speed to Teller's (now Croton) Point, saying he 
 nnist hasten and return to meet General AVashington. Near that point, 
 sitting in the bow of his barge, Arnold raised a white handkerchief, and 
 ordered his men to row to the Vulture, lying within sight. They did 
 so, and the traitor, reaching her deck, was safe from pursuit. The 
 barge was retained and the crew were sent on shore. 
 
 Washington took a late i)rcakfast at Arnold's (piarters, and then 
 crossed over to West Point, expecting to meet the general there. He 
 had not been there for two days I Still unsuspicious, the commander- 
 in-chief did not return until about noon. lie was met by Colonel 
 Hamilton, who put into his hands evidences of Arnold's treason. Orders 
 had already been issued to attemjit to intercept the flight of the guilty 
 fugitive. It was too late. 
 
 Arnold had left his wife lying in a swoon. She had not been dis- 
 covered until some time after her husljand's departure. Recovering 
 consciousness, she became frenzied, and for a long time refused to be 
 comforted. Washington went to her room, and succeeded in soothing 
 her. He assured hei- of the personal safety of her husband, of his own 
 londer regard for her, and also of the personal safety of herself and 
 (.•hild. lie comprehended the gravity of tiie situation, hut seemed undis- 
 turbed. To General Knox he said sadly : " Arnold is a traitor ; who 
 can we trust now '."' 
 
 Andre was conveyed first to West Point, and thence to Tajipan, on 
 the west side of tlie Hudson, then the headquarters of the army, where 
 a board of in(piiry was organized (Sc])tember :5(>th), composed of fourteen 
 general officers, to consider the pi'isoner's case. They nnaninu)nsly 
 reported that '' Major Andre, adjutant-general of the British army, 
 ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy, and that, agreeable to 
 the law and usage of nations, it is their opinion he ought to suffer death."' 
 
THE FATE OF AHXOLD AND AXDRfi. 315 
 
 He was accordingly executed on October 2il, ITSO. Andre Avas not then 
 twenty-nine years of age. 
 
 Great efforts were made to save the life of Majc>r Andre. It was 
 known that he did not voluntarily become a spy, and almost imiversal 
 sympathy was then, and has been ever since, evinced for him. Wash- 
 ington would have saved him had the stern rules of war allowed. Sir 
 Henry Clinton might have saved him had honor permitted him to 
 exchange Arnold for Andre.* Ilis king pensioned his family and 
 knighted his brother ; a mural monument to his memory was jilaced in 
 AVestminster Abbey, and in 1SS2 a granite memorial stone was erected 
 by a citizen of New York (Cyrus W. Field) on the spot where he was 
 hanged as a spy, to commemorate that event. It wa.s destroyed by a 
 miscreant with dynamite on the evening of November 2d, 1S85. It 
 bore an inscription written by the late Dean Stanley, of London. 
 
 The captors of Andre M-ere each awarded a silver medal and an 
 annuity of 8200 for life. Arnold received his stipulated reward for 
 his treasonable endeavors, and served as a British general in cruel 
 marauding expeditions against his eountrymeii. None of the British 
 officers woiild serve with him in the regular army. He was forever 
 afterward shunned and despised by all honorable men on both sides of 
 the ocean. 
 
 A few weeks after the execution of Andre a stirring military event 
 occurred on Long Island. Some refugee Tories from Rhode Island had 
 taken possession of the St. George's Manor-house on Smith's Point and 
 fortified it, and were cutting wood for the supply of the British at New 
 York. Late in November Major Benjamin Tallniadge crossed Long 
 Island Sound in whale-boats from Fairfield, Conn., with eighty dis- 
 mounted dragoons, and at dawn (Noveml)er 23d) appeared before the 
 Manor-house, burst through the stockade, rushed across the parade, and 
 assailed the garrison on three sides, shouting, " Washington and glory !'' 
 The garrison surrendered without resistance. Having secured three 
 hundred prisoners, they were returning to their boats when they made a 
 detoui-, and at Coram destroyed three hundred tons of hay gathered there 
 for the nse of the British in New York. The expedition returned to 
 
 * An attempt wa»inade to abduct Arnold from Clinton's headquarters at No. 1 Broad- 
 ■way, New York, and carry him to Wasliington's lieadquarters at Tappan. Serireant 
 Champc, of Lee's Legion, was allowed to play the role of a deserter. He was met by the 
 traitor with much cordiality. Arrangements were made for a party to seize Arnold while 
 walking in the garden at the British headquarters with C'hampe, at evening of the day 
 inecf'ding tlie execution of Andre. The quasi-deserter was foiled by being sent away 
 wilh a i)arty of British to Chesapeake Bay on tliat day. 
 
316 TlIK EMI'IUE STATE. 
 
 Connecticut without losing a man. Congress thanked the victors, ami 
 "Washington warmly commenfled their valor.* 
 
 Civil events in tiie regi()n known ;is tlie Xew Hampshire (irants created 
 much uneasiness not only in Xew York, but throughout the Confederacy 
 in 17S0. The controversy between New York and tlie Grants paused, 
 as we have observed, at the beginning of the war for independence ; lint 
 the spirit of liberty among the settlers east of Lake Ciiam plain continued 
 conspicuously all tiirough the period of that war. Tiiey had assumed a 
 provisional independent political organization, and in 1770 had petitioned 
 tiie Continental Congress to admit them into tiie union as sucli. X'ew 
 York so vehemently opposed their pretensions tliat their petition was 
 rejected. 
 
 At a popular convention held at Westminster in January, 1777, the 
 people of the Grants declared their domain an independent State, for- 
 ever thereafter to be " known and distinguishcil by the name of Xew 
 Connecticut, alias Vermont." This position they maintained until 
 Vermont was admitted into tiie tTiiion in 1791. 
 
 Tlie State of Vermont was mucli strengrhened by tlic annexation of 
 si.xteen towns laying east of the Connecticut River, which were claimed 
 as part of the domain of New Hampshire. The latter State protested : 
 New York denied tlie autliority of Vermont as independent of her juris- 
 diction, widlst Congress, appealed to, could do notliing. 
 
 In the southern portion of Vermont w'as tiie county of Cumberland, 
 one of the fourteen political divisions of New York. Over tin's county 
 New York exercised autliorit}'. Vermont claimed it as her own, and 
 Massachusetts put in a claim for it and a portion of New York, trutii- 
 fully asserting that the boundary between tlie Bay State and New York 
 liad never been settled. Tiie inhabitants tiieniselves claimed ti> belong 
 to Xew York, and in 1770 Governor Clinton gave commissions tci persons 
 in tiiat county, whereupon Vermont ordered Colonel Ethan Allen to 
 raise a militia force, marcli into the disputed district, and assert her 
 autliority there, (xovernor Clinton directed the people to remain tirni 
 
 * A similar gallant feat by soldiers from Conncctioiit had been pcrformcil on Loni: 
 Island in the spring of 1777. Colonel K. .J. ileigs Wius .sent from Guilford with oni- 
 hundred and seventy men in whale-boats, aceompanied by two armed schooners, to 
 destroy British stores at Sag IIarlx)r, on the oa.stern end of Long Island. At night they 
 crossed over a portion of Long Island to Peconic Bay, carrying their Ixiats with them, 
 and at two o'clock in the morning attacked the British guards. An armed schooner 
 0]X'ned fire upon them. The fire was returned with spirit, and the Americans killed or 
 captured the whole British force, destroyed twelve brigs and sloops, one hundred tons of 
 hay, a large quantity of rum and other stores and merchandise, and returned to Guilford 
 with ninety prisoners. Congress thanked Meigs, and gave him an elegant sword. 
 
VERMONT COQUETS WITH THE BRITISH. 317 
 
 in their allegiance to Xew York, and promised tlieni military assistance 
 if required. Congress, having been appealed to, advised the four claim- 
 ants to autliorize that body to determine the respective boundaries ; but 
 really independent Yermont paid no attention to the recommendation, 
 and nothing was then done. 
 
 At this juncture a question of greater magnitude than these local dis- 
 putes presented itself. The British authorities in Canada had eagerly 
 watched the j^rogress of the quarrel with Yermont, and now entertained 
 hopes that the latter would be so far alienated from the " rebel " cause, 
 1)V the opposition of Xew York and the injustice of Congress, as to be 
 induced to return to its allegiance to the British crown. Accordingly in 
 the spring of 1780 Colonel Beverly Eobinson wrote to Ethan Allen from 
 New York, making overtures to that effect. The letter was delivered to 
 Allen in the street at Arlington by a spy disguised as a New England 
 farmer. 
 
 Allen laid the letter of Robinson before Governor Chittenden and 
 others, who advised silence. In February, 1781, Robinson wrote 
 another letter to Allen, enclosing a copy of the former. Allen made no 
 reply, but early in March he sent Robinson's letter to Congress, with 
 one from himself, which closed with the words : 
 
 " I am as resolutely determined to defend the independence of 
 Yermont as Congress is that of the United States ; aiid, rather than fail, 
 I will retire with the hardy Green Mountain Boys into the desolate 
 caverns of the mountains and wage war with human nature at large." 
 
 Meanwhile information of the first letter written by Robinson, and 
 the sending of a delegation from Congress to Yermont, had alarmed the 
 authorities of New York. Governor Clinton, snsjjecting a combination 
 against his State, wrote to James Duane (October 29th, 178(>) that in 
 the event of a certain contingency the New York delegates would be 
 withdrawn from Congress, '' and the resources of the State, whicili have 
 hitherto been so lavishly afforded the Continent, be withheld for 
 the defence of New York." Clinton called the attention of Washing- 
 ton to the apparent danger, when the latter issued orders to General 
 Schuyler to arrest Allen. Schuyler shared in Clinton's apprehensions, 
 and wrote from Albany to the governor at Ponghkeepsie (October 31st), 
 saying : 
 
 " The conduct of some people to the eastward is alarmingly mys- 
 terious. A flag, under pretence of settling a contest with Yermont, luis 
 been on the Grants. Allen has disbanded his militia, and the enemy, in 
 number upward of six hundred, are rapidly advancing toward us. The 
 night before last thev ^vcre at Putnam's Point. Entreat General Wash- 
 
;jLs 
 
 lllK K.Ml'lKK STATK. 
 
 in<i;toii for more CoutiiuMitul troops, ami let iiu' licg of your Exculloiu-y 
 to hasten up here." 
 
 This M'iis iu alhision to a confcreuee between Allen and Coloiiul 
 Dundas at Isle aux jS'oix coiiceniin*^ an cxchanj^e of prisoners. At that 
 conference Dundas, under the direction of Governor Ilaldiuiund, made 
 verbal proposals to Allen similar to those made by Robinson.* Allen now 
 
 saw the opportunity for Vermont. 
 He received the overtures witii 
 apparent favor. Ilaldimand and 
 Dundas were delighted with their 
 apparent skill in diplomacy, and 
 readily agreed to a ]iroposition 
 from Alk^n not to allow hostili- 
 ties on the Vermont frontier 
 until after the meeting of the 
 Legislature. Hence the dismis- 
 sal of Allen's militia. 
 
 The coquetry of the brothers 
 Allen (Ethan and Ira) and six or 
 eight other leaders in \'ermont 
 with the British authorities in 
 Canada continued nntil the peace 
 in 1783, when dissinnilati(jn was 
 no longer necessary. The con- 
 clusion of the whole matter may be stated in a few words. The shrewd 
 diplomatists of Vermont had been working for a twofold object — 
 namely, to keep the British troops from their territory and to induce 
 Congress to admit the independence of their domain as a State of the 
 Union. They outwitted the Britons, hoodwinked Congress, and tinally 
 gained their point. f 
 
 * Beverly Robinson, a .stanch royalist, was bom in Virijiuia in 1734 ; died an exile at 
 Thornbnry, England, in 1793. lie was a major under Wolfe at CJuebec. He married a 
 dauirhter of Frederick Pliilipse. Up to tlie Declaration of Independence lie ol)posed the 
 lueasiires of the Biilisli Government ; then ho espoused the cause of the crown, lie took 
 an active tliou?.di srenerally a .secret part in the plot of .Vrnold and Andre. lie accom- 
 panied the luller on his voyage up the Hudson in the Vulture to have an interview with 
 Arnold, who occupied Robinson's house as headquarters at that time. He fled to England, 
 and his property was confiscated. The British Government allowed him $80.1)00 as an 
 indemnity for his losses. His wife died in England in 1832, at the age of ninetj-four 
 years. 
 
 f Ethan imd Ira .Mlin were remarkable men. Tliey were boih born iu Connecticut, 
 Ethan in 1737. and Ira in 1751. The latter was Ethan's younger brother. Ethan was 
 one of the proprietors of the iron works at Salisbury, Conn., in 1703. In 17G0 he went 
 
 BEVEUI.V HOIil.NSON. 
 
A LONG DISPUTE SETTLED. 319 
 
 Yet the difficnlties between New York and Vermont were not settled. 
 Violent nieasnres had ceased forever. Both parties, however, were 
 nnwilling to yield. Finally the Legislatures of the two States appointed 
 commissioners late in 1789 to settle all matters of controversy. The 
 only serious difficulty that remained related to compensation for the 
 lands claimed by citizens of Xew York which had l)een granted to them 
 by Vermont. It was finally agreed that the State of Vermont should 
 ])ay to the State of New York S30,000 in settlement of their claims. 
 All other matters in dispute were adjusted, and so, amicably, was ended a 
 bitter controversy which had been carried on for more than twenty-six 
 years, at times threatening immediate civil war. In the spring of IVOl 
 Vermont was admitted into the Union as an independent but not a 
 sovereign State. 
 
 Tlie Americans were not subdued at the close of 1780, but their cause 
 was in great peril because of the extreme weakness of material props and 
 the absence of an efficient civil government. The Continental paper 
 money, which had hitherto greatly assisted in sustaining the cause, liad 
 become almost worthless. " A M-agon-load of money," said a contem- 
 porary, "would not buy a wagon-load of ])rovisions."' The several 
 States were urged to supply quotas of funds fi)r the common use. Their 
 responses were slow and feeble, for there was no central power compe- 
 tent to levy taxes or demand forced loans. The idea of State sovereignty 
 was all-controlling. Finally a plan of govermnent which had been dis- 
 cussed in Congress since 1775 was adopted late in 1777, anil submitted to 
 the State Legislatures for ratification. It was yet unratified, and the 
 Continental Congress had but a shadow of power independent of the 
 States, whose supremacy M'as made potential by the new constitution of 
 government, which was entitled " Articles of Confederation." 
 
 Id the New Ilumpshiru Grants, tlicii almost a wilderness, and, as we have observed, was 
 a bol<l leader in the eontrovers_v with the settlers and the authorities of New York. He 
 wrote several pamphlets during that controversy. He was outlawed by the authorities 
 of New York ; took a conspicuous place in the opening scenes of the Revolution ; was 
 carried a prisoner to England ; was exchanged in 1778, and invested with the chief com- 
 mand of the Vermont militia. He was a leading coquette with the Canadian authorities ; 
 served as a member of the Legislature of Vermont and a delegate iu Congress after the 
 war, and died at Burlington, Vt., and was buried there iu February, 1789. 
 
 Ira Allen was also an active patriot during the old war for independence in military 
 and civil affairs. He was Secretary of State and member of the Council of Vermont. 
 As .senior major-general of Vermont, in 1~Q.> ho was sent to Europe to piu'chasi- arms for 
 his commonwealth. On his way homeward, with muskets and cannons, he was captured 
 and taken to England as a French emissary intending to supply the Iri.sh with arms. He 
 was soon released. He died in Philadelphia in 1814. Allen wrote a Natioiud and 
 Political History of Vermont. 
 
320 
 
 THE KMI>IHE STATE. 
 
 Thoughtful men were alarmed and perplexed. The young Alexander 
 Ilaniiltou (then in "Wasliington's military family), in a letter to James 
 Duanu, one of tlie four New York menihers of Congress, denounced 
 this sclieme of government as '• neither ^It for war nor peace. The 
 nncontroilahle sovereignty in each State," he wrote, '" will defeat the 
 jxiwers of Congress and make our union feeble and precarious." In 
 his letter to Duane lie proposed a convention of all the States, for the 
 purpose of constructing a national govermnent under the superintendence 
 of one supreme head, and he proposed a plan, in the form of suggestions, 
 
 which was substantially adopted 
 several years afterward. 
 
 There were no military opera- 
 tions of great i-nportanee in the 
 State of Xew York in 17S1 Ix'- 
 fore the arrival of the Fi-ench 
 troops, under Rochanibeau,* from 
 Rhode Island, in the vicinity of 
 the Hudson River, early in July. 
 Sir Henry Clinton had sent the 
 traitor Arnold, at the head of 
 aljout sixteen hundred British 
 and Tory marauders, into Yirgi- 
 iiiu. Anxious to serve his royal 
 master, Arnold was exceedingly 
 active. He ascended the Jaines 
 River to Ric-hinond, burned it, with a very large quantity of public 
 and private ])roperty, and then made a plundering raid down the river. 
 Alarmed by information that the French tleet from Rhode Island had 
 sailed for Chesapeake Bay, lie fled up the Elizabeth River and took 
 post at Portsmouth, opposite Norfolk. Great efforts were made to 
 seize him. Lafayette w:is sent to Yirginia with troops to assist the 
 Baron von Steuben, f then in command there. The Yirginia militia turned 
 out in large numbei'S to oppose the traitor. 
 
 * Count (If Hocluinibcau was bom at Vendome, France, in 1725 ; died in May, 1807. 
 He entered the army in his youth, and rose rapidly to distinction. With tlie commission 
 of lientenant-jreneral he eanie to America witli troops to ns.sist the patriots in llieir 
 sliii^tnie with British power. After the capture of C'ornwallis at Yorktown, in 1781, he 
 remained some time in Atnerica, returnins to France late in 1782. In 1791 he was made 
 a inarslial of France and placed in command of the Army of the North. He narrowly 
 escaped the guillotine. Bonaparte pensioned him in 1804, and gave him the decoration 
 of the Cross of Grand Oflicer of the Lejrion of Honor. 
 
 t Frederick W. A. (Baron) von Steulx'n was a native of Prussia, born at ifagdeburg. 
 
 COUNT m: HOCIIAMHE.M'. 
 
CORXWALLIS IN VIHGIXIA. 
 
 331 
 
 Governor Jefferson offered ;i reward of S2o,000 for liis capture, and a 
 portion of the French Heet shut him up in the Elizabetli River. The 
 fleet was soon compelled to retreat, after a conflict with Admiral 
 Arhiithnot. 
 
 General T'hillips soon afterward joined Arnold with two thousand men, 
 and took the chief command. Finally Lord Cornwallis entered Virginia 
 from Xorth Carolina, joined the forces of Phillips and Ai-nold, and 
 attempted the subjno-ation of that State, lie was driven back to the 
 coast early in the sum 
 mer by the forces of 
 Steuben and Lafayette, 
 and took post at and 
 fortified Yorktown, on 
 the Ycn-k River. Clin- 
 ton liad ordered him to 
 be near the sea, in order 
 to rc-enforce the garri- 
 son at Xew York, if 
 necessary. It was then 
 seriously menaced 1)V the 
 combined American and 
 French forces. 
 
 The Count de Grasse, 
 a distinguished admiral, was tlien in conmiand of a French fleet in the 
 West Lidies, and Washington was assured that he was ready to co-op- 
 erate with the allied armies in any undertaking that promised success. 
 Meanwhile Rochandieau had led the French troops from IS^ew England 
 to the Hudson River, and the junction of the Americans and their allies 
 took ])l;ice near Dobb's Ferry on July Gth. Washington was tlien con- 
 templating an attack upon the British in the city of New York, but 
 l)efore De Grasse was ready to co-operate with him Sir Henry received 
 
 in 1780. He hckl a distinguished place in the Prussian army, and rose to the office of 
 grand marshal in 1764. He joined the Continental array in America in 1777, and was 
 appointed inspector-general, doing excellent service until the close of the war. For his 
 services the State of New York gave him sixteen thousand acres of wild land in Oneida 
 County, where he built a log-house for himself. The National GovernmenI gave liim au 
 annuity of $2500. He withdrew from society, and dwelt on his domain until his death, 
 in November. 1794. By his will he ])areelled his estates among his aides (Colonels North, 
 Popliam, and Walker) and twenty or thirty tenants. The State of New .Jersey also gave 
 him a small farm. He was kind, generous, and witty, and possessed polished manners. 
 ( )ver Ids grave in the town of Steuben, about seven miles north-west of Trenton Falls, a 
 ]ilain monument was erected, by private subscription, in 1826 — simply a recumbent slab 
 with his name upon it. 
 
 STEUBEX S MOSUMEXT. 
 
323 
 
 THK EMI'Iin: STATK. 
 
 re-cnforcements (August lltli) of tlirec tliousiiiul troops from England. 
 At about the same time Wasliinirton was informed that De Grasse could 
 not leave the "West Indies just then. 
 
 Lafayette had written to Wasliington that (Jornwallis had made a great 
 mistake in intrencliing himself at Yorktown, and urged the eommauder- 
 in-ehief to marcli into Virginia. " Should a Frencli Heet entei' nanipton 
 Koads,'' lie wrote, " the Britisli army would ho (•ompelled to surrender." 
 For six weeks the allied armies lay in ^Vestchester County, waiting for 
 the arrival of De Grasse to attack Xew York. When, a few days after 
 the arrival of Clinton's re-enforeenients, Washington was informed that 
 De Grasse was about to sail for the Chesapeake, lie resolved to march to 
 
 Virginia and assist Steuben and 
 
 ^ — Lafayette in opposing Cornwal- 
 
 / lis. lie wrote misleading letters 
 
 to General Greene in New Jer- 
 sey, and sent them so as to be 
 intercepted by Sir Henry. Gen- 
 eral Schuyler also wrote a letter 
 to Washington for the same pur- 
 pose. These letters so adroitly 
 concealed Washington's reid in- 
 tentions that it was ten days after 
 the allies had crossed the Hudson 
 and were marching fur the Dela- 
 ware and beyond l)efore Clinton 
 was convinced the movement was 
 not a feint to cover a sudden 
 descent upon Xew Yoik. It was 
 then too late to interce])t or suc- 
 cessfully to pursue the allies, and he sent Arnold with a band of maraud- 
 ere to desolate the New England coast, hoping to recall the Americans. 
 
 Washington M'as in chief command of the allied armies, and bearing 
 the commission of lieutenant-general from the King of France. He 
 arrived before Yorktown Avith twelve thousand troops on September 
 2Sth, and soon began a siege. De Grasse had already arrived, and was 
 guarding the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. The siege was carried on 
 vigorously, and on October I'Jth Cornwallis was compelled to surrender 
 to Wasliington and De Grasse, himself and about seven thousand troops, 
 the post \vith all its ordnance and sujjplies, his shipping and seamen. A 
 vast concourse of people, etpnd in number, it was said, to the military, 
 was assendded from the surrounding country to participate in the event 
 
 BARON VON STECnEN. 
 
EFFECTS OF THE SUHREXDER OF CORNWALLIS. 323 
 
 so jovt'iil to the Americans. Ciiiitou appeared at tlie entrance of ('liesa- 
 peako Bay a few days afterward with seven tliousand troops to re- 
 ouforee Cornwall is. It was too lato, and he sailed back to New York 
 amazed and disheartened. 
 
 The surrender of Cornwallis filled the hearts of patriotic Americans 
 with joy, for it was a prophecy of peace and independence. That 
 ]irophecy was soon fnltilled. The desire for peace, which had long- 
 liiirneJ in the hearts of the British peojjle, now found such potential 
 expression that it was heeded by the British Ministry. 
 
 The news from Yorktown fell like a lighted bombshell in the midst of 
 the war party in Parliament, and public ojiinion found immediate and 
 vehement expression in bath Houses. Lord North, the premier, who 
 had misled the nation for twelve years, retired from ofHce (March 20th, 
 17S2), the advocates for ]icace came into power, and early in May 
 ensuing Sir Guy Carleton, who had succeeded Clinton as commander-in- 
 chief of the British forces in America, arrived at Xew York with propo- 
 sitions for a reconciliation. 
 
 Measures were immediately taken by Congress and the Britisli Gov- 
 ermnent to arrange a treaty of peace. Commissioners were appointed 
 by the high contracting powers, in which France, an ally of the Ameri- 
 cans, was included, and on November 30th a preliminary treaty was 
 signed at Paris. A definitive treaty was signed at the same place on 
 September 3d, 17S3, by which the independence of the United States 
 was acknowledged by the King of Great Britain. 
 
 War had raged in the South during 17S1. General Nathaniel Greene 
 liad succeeded General Gates in command of the Sonthern army, and 
 with the main body took post at Cheraw, east of the Pedee River. 
 Among his most active lieutenants was General Daniel Morgan, who 
 with a thousand men occupied the region near the confluence .of the 
 Pacolet and Broad rivers. 
 
 f'lirnwallis M'as al)Out to march into North Carolina, when he found 
 himself between two tires. lie sent the energetic Colonel Tarleton to 
 capture or disperse Morgan's men. The belligerents met in battle at 
 the Cowpens, in Western South Carolina (January ITth, 17S1), where 
 Tarleton was defeated with much loss. Congress rewarded Morgan with 
 a gold medal, and his two lieutenants, Colonels Howard and Washington, 
 with a silver medal each. 
 
 Morgan started for Virginia with his five hundred prisoners and much 
 spoil. Cornwallis attempted to intercept or overtake him, but failed. 
 Morgan crossed the Catawba before him, and on the banks of the Yadkin 
 he was joined by Greene and his escort. 
 
324 TIIK KMIMKF, f^TATE. 
 
 Now began the famous retreat of the Aiiiuricaii army, iimler General 
 Greene, from the C'ata\vl)a tliroiigli North Carolina into Virginia. Corn- 
 wallis had been detained by the sudden swelling of the Catawl)a by a 
 heavy rain. He reached the Yadkin (February Sd) just as the Ameri- 
 cans were safely landed on the opposite shore. Swelling tioods again 
 arrested him. The patriots pressed onward, and Cornwallis was soon 
 again in full pursuit. At Guilford Court-IIouse Greene was joined by 
 his main army from Clieraw, but he was not strong enough to light. 
 They all continued the lligiit, and after many escapes the Amuric-ans 
 reached the Dan (Fe])ruary loth), ;md (;rossed the rising waters into the 
 friendly bosom of Halifax, in Virginia. Cornwallis, again foilcil by a 
 tiood, abandoned the chase, and moved sullenly southward tlirough 
 North Carolina. 
 
 Greene soon recrossed the Dan, to prevent Cornwallis organizing the 
 Tories in North Carolina, llocruits had swelled his rai:ks, and at the 
 beginning of March he found himself in command of about live thousand 
 troops. He sought an engagement with Cornwallis, and on March loth 
 they fought a very severe battle near Guilford Court-Ilouse. Although 
 the British remained masters of the field, the victory was almost as 
 destructive for Cornwallis as a defeat. "Another such a victory," 
 said Charles J. Fox, in the Jlousc of Commons, " will luin the British 
 army." The battalions of (Jornwallis were .so shattered that he 
 could not maintain the advantage he had gained. Thoroughly dis- 
 pirited, he abandoned Western North Carolina, and niuved with his 
 whole army to AVilmington, leaving Lord Rawdon in command of a 
 iJritish force at Camden. Cornwallis soon afterward marched into 
 Virginia. 
 
 Greene with all his force pursued Cornwallis some distance, and then 
 inarched for Camden, lie encamped upon llobkirk's Hill, within a 
 mile of Rawdon's encampment, where he was surprised l)y the British 
 forces on the morning of April ^.jth. After a sharp battle of several 
 iiours Greene was defeated, but on his retreat he carried away all his 
 artillery and baggage and fifty British prisoners. 
 
 Greene's army began to increase, when Rawdon, alarmed for the 
 safety of his posts in the lower country, abandoned Camden and took 
 position at Nelson's Ferry, on the Santee. Within the space of a week 
 the Americans seized four important posts, and Greene was making rapid 
 marches toward Fort Ninety-Six, on the site of the (present) village of 
 Cambridge, in Abbeville District. In all these operations Greene was 
 greatly aided by Colonel Henry Lee ('' Light Horse Harry") and his 
 famous Legion. At the beginning of June the British po.^sessed only 
 
GREENES OPERATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 325 
 
 three posts in South Carolhui — namolj', Cliarleston, Nelson's Ferry, and 
 Ninety-Six. 
 
 General Greene began the siege of Ninety-Six on May 22d, hnt on 
 the approach of Rawdon with a strong force he was compelled to 
 abandon it on June 19th. Meanwhile Lee, Pickens, and others had 
 gained victories on the Savannah River. They captured Fort Galphin, 
 below Augusta, on May 21st, and after a siege of eleven days and a iinal 
 assault Augusta was surrendered to Lee and Pickens. Then the victors 
 hastened to join Greene before Ninety-Six, and with him they retreated 
 beyond the Saluda River. The Americans finally crossed the Congaree, 
 and the main body encamped during the hot and sickly season on the 
 High Hills of Santee, in Santee District. 
 
 Rawdon left his army at Orangeburg with Colonel Stewart and 
 returned to England. Re-enforced by North Carolina troops, Greene 
 crossed the Wateree at the close of August, and marched upon Orange- 
 burg, when Stewart I'ctreated to Eutaw Spi'ings, near the Santee, (Treene 
 pursued and overtook him tliere, and on the morning of September Sth 
 they fought a sanguinary battle. The Americans were victorious at 
 first, but lost the prize for which they contended, by imprudence. Unex- 
 pectedly the British renewed the conflict, and after a severe struggle for 
 several hours the Americans were defeated. Stewart, however, thought 
 it prudent to retreat toward Charleston during the night, and on the Hth 
 Greene took possession of the battle-field. Congress rewarded him with 
 a gold medal and other honors. 
 
 Annoyed by the active partisan corps in South Carolina, the British 
 soon afterward evacuated their interior posts and retired to Charleston. 
 At the close of 1781 they were confined to the cities of Charleston and 
 Savannah. 
 
336 
 
 TIIK KMIMHE STATK. 
 
 ClIAl'TKli XXIII. 
 
 TiiK Americans did not j'elax their vigilance wliile negotiations for 
 peace wen; in progi-ess. Tiie army was kept intact, for liritisli troops 
 seemed still disposed to he aggressive. The last hlood shed in the Itev(j- 
 Intion was spilled in a skirmish Avith a Ih-itish foraging party not far from 
 Charleston in August, 17S2. Already the Britisli troops had evacuated 
 (Savannah (July 11th), hut they held Charleston until Dccendjer 1-lth, 
 
 liOOM IN" WASHINGTON S IIKAIKJIAHTKUS. 
 
 when they left it forever, and the city of i\'ew York alone was then in 
 possession of the Britons. They remained tliorc ahnost a year longer. 
 
 ^reanwhilo the State of Xew York became tlie theatre of most 
 important events in the career of the Continental army, encamped hetween 
 TCewljnrgh and Xew "Windsor, ahove the Hudson Highlands. Tiic head- 
 • piarters of the army was at Xewbiirgh.* Tn the autumn of 17^2 it was 
 
 * The quaint old stone house at Newbursrh used by Wn.shington as headquarters is yet 
 .'ilrinilinir. and is preserved in its oriL'inal form outside anil in. It i< the iiroperty of Ilie 
 
PATRIOTISJI EXPOSED TO TEMPTATION. 337 
 
 temporarily transferred to Verplanck's Point, below the Highlands, to 
 meet the French troops on their return from Virginia, preparatory to 
 their marching into New England to embark for France. At that time 
 the Continental army numbered about ten thousand men. 
 
 The joy inspired by the prospects of peace was mingled by gloomy 
 forelwdings concerning the future. The army, which through the most 
 terrible sufferings had been faithful and become a conqueror, was soon 
 to be disbanded, and thousands of soldiers, many of them uiade invalids 
 by their hard service in tiie field, would be compelled to seek a liveli- 
 liootl in the midst of the desolation which war had produced. 
 
 For a long time the public treasury had been empty, and neither 
 officers m^r private soldiers had received any pay for several months. 
 Murmurings of discontent were heard throughout the army. The weak- 
 ness of the Confederation was ascribed to its republican form, and many 
 men sighed for a stronger government. A change, to be wrought by 
 the army, was actually proposed by Colonel Nicola, a meritorious foreign 
 officer of the Pennsylvania line. In a well written letter addressed 
 (May, 1TS2) to the comnumder-in-chiiif at his headquarters at Newburgh, 
 he not only urged the necessity of a monarchy, but endeavored to 
 persuade Washington to become King, by the voice of the army, in 
 imitation of the actions of the Roman legions. The sharp rebuke admin- 
 istered by the commander-in-chief in his reply checked all further move- 
 ments in that direction. 
 
 Toward the close of the winter of 1783 the discontent in the army 
 assumed a more formidable shape. The officers had asked Congress to 
 make a full settlement of all accounts, past and present. That body, 
 feeble in resources, would not make any definite promises of present 
 relief or future justice. This increased the discontent, and early in the 
 spring (March 11th) a well-writfen anonymous address, purporting to be 
 from a suffering veteran, was circulated through the American camp. 
 It advised the army to take matters into its own hands, and make a 
 demonstration that should alarm the people a,nd Corigress, and thus 
 obtain justice. It declared that to be tame in their present situation 
 would be worse than weakness on the part of the soldiers, and it 
 exhorted them to " suspect the nuui who could advise to more modera- 
 tion and longer forbearance."' The tenor of the whole address was 
 inflammatorv. With it was privately circulated a notification of a meet- 
 
 Stato of Xcw York, and in tlio custotly of the corporation of Xtnvburgh. It presents tho 
 remarkable feature in one room (whicli Wasliiugton used as a dining-room) of seven doors 
 and only one window, with a luige tireplac<'. which is large enough to admit of roasting 
 a small bullock whole. The house is filled with relics of the Hevulution. 
 
328 
 
 Tin: i;mi'Ii;i; statk. 
 
 ing of officers at a larire buildiiii;: tvillud tlie Teinple, wliicli liad l>eeii 
 erected lor the use of piiMic gatherings and the Free ^lasons of tlie arinv. 
 These papers were hrouglit to the notice of VV^asliington on the day 
 they were issued. lie referred to tliein in general orders tlie next 
 morning ; expressed his disapi>roval ; invited the general and field- 
 officers of tile army to assemble at the Temple at noon on the I'.'th 
 ([March, ITS.'Ji, and retpiested General (rates to preside at the meeting. 
 There was a full attendance. Washington stepped upon the platform to 
 read an address which he had prepared for the occasion. As he put on 
 Iiis spectacles he remarked : "' You see, gentlemen, I have not only 
 
 grown gray but Wmd in your 
 service." These words touched 
 a tender choi'd of sympathy in 
 all hearts. 
 
 The address was a model — 
 compact in construction, digni- 
 fied and patriotic in sentiment, 
 mild yet severe in its strictures, 
 and abounding with the nu)st 
 important suggestions concerning 
 the best interests of the army, 
 represented by the men before 
 him, the citizens, the TJepublic, 
 and human freedom. On clos- 
 ing his address Washington ini- 
 mediately retired, leaving the 
 officers to discuss the subject 
 unrestrained by his presence. 
 The deliberations of the officers were brief. They unanimously con- 
 demned tlie addresses ; voted thanks to their chief for the course he had 
 pur.'^ued ; expressed tiieir unabated attachment to his person ; declared 
 their unshaken confidence in the good faith of (Congress, and their 
 determination to bear with ])atience their grievances until they should 
 be redressed. 
 
 The author of the seditious addresses was ^lajor John Armstrong, a 
 member of (rates's military family and a young man tiien twenty-tive 
 years of age. He was Secretary of War in Madison's Caliinct in ISl-i. 
 
 A few weeks later the disbanding of the Continental army began at 
 Xew Windsor and its vicinity. Congress proid.iimeil a cessation of 
 hostilities on A])ril IKtli. The soldiers who liad enlisted '" for the war" 
 
 claimed the right to go home. 
 
 Congress insisted that their terms of 
 
LATEST SURVIVOU OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. 3-29 
 
 eiilistiiient would not exjjire before a dofinitive treaty of peace sliould he 
 effected. Washington exercised the office of mediator and pacificator, 
 lie issued long and really indefinite fiirlcmghs to all the soldiers excepting 
 those who re-enlisted nntil a peace establishment should be orijanized. 
 The furloughed soldiers went home and never returned. A definitive 
 treaty of peace was signed at Paris on September 3d (1783), and on 
 ( (ctobcr isth Congress, by proclamation, discharged the soldiers of the 
 Continental army.'" 
 
 Before the beginning of the disbandment of the army in June (1783) 
 the officers, at the suggestion of General Knox, formed an association at 
 their cantoTiment, near Nevvburgh, having for its chief objects the promo- 
 tion of cordial friendship and indissoluble union among themselves, and 
 to extend l)enevolent aid to such of its members as might need assistance. 
 They named the organization the Society of the Cincinnati. Wash- 
 
 * The number of the soldiers of the Continental army at its disbandment, and its con- 
 dition, was much tlie same as it was at the time of the Declaration of Independence, seven 
 j-ears before. On .July 4th it consisted of 7T54 men present and lit for duty, including 
 one regiment of artillery. Their arms were in a wretched condition. Nearly one half 
 the muskets of the infantry were without bayonets. During the war 231.771 soldiers 
 were enrolled in the Continental army. These were furnished by llie respective States, 
 each in numl)er, as follows : 
 
 New Hampshire 12.497 [ Deluware ^. 2.380 
 
 Mussacliugetts GT.iKJT 
 
 Rliode Island 5,908 
 
 CoEiieclicut 31,9.39 
 
 New York 17,781 
 
 New Jersey 10.726 
 
 Pennsylvania 25, 678 
 
 Maryland 13,912 
 
 Virginia 26,078 
 
 North Carolina 7,263 
 
 South Carolina 6,417 
 
 Georgia 2,679 
 
 Total 231,771 
 
 The last two survivors of the Continental army were Lemuel Cook, of New York, and 
 AVilliam Huteliings, of Maine. Cook was born at Plymouth, Liehtield County, Coim., 
 in 1764, and died at Clarendon, Orleans County, N. Y., May 20th, 1866, at the age of 
 one hundred and two years. Hutchings was born at Y'ork, Maine, October 6tli, 1764, 
 and died May 2d, 1866, also nearly one hundred and two years of age. Lemuel Cook 
 entereil the military service of his country in the spring of 1781, at the age of seventeen 
 years, anil was with the allied armies in the campaign against Cornwallis in Virginia. 
 He was one of the regulars, and was a member of the Second Regiment of Light 
 Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Sheldon, but was soon mustered into tlie infantry. 
 At the end of the war lie was discharged at Danbury, Conn. He soon afterward married 
 Hannah Curtis, of Cheshire, Conn., by whom he had seven sons and four daughters. 
 He married a second wile when he was seventy years of age. In his earlier j'cars he 
 lived in the tlien almost wilderness region of L'tica, N. Y. Most of his ehildren were 
 born in Connecticut. He moved into Central New York with liis young family, and 
 lived at Clarendon jtbout thirty years previous to his death. He was a farmer all his life. 
 In 1863 his annual pension was increased from $100 to $200, and the la-st year of his life 
 to $300. New Y'ork has the distinction of having as a citizen the kmt surviBinff soldier of 
 the Continental iirmy. 
 
330 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ington was chosen its president and General Henry Knox its secretary. 
 This was called the General Six:iety. State societies were fonne<J 
 auxiliary to the general society. To perpetuate the association, its con- 
 stitution entitled the eldest masculine de- 
 scendant of an original member to wear 
 the order, or badge, and enjoy the priv- 
 ileges of the society.* 
 
 The last act in the drama uf the old 
 war for indej)endence was |>erfonned at the 
 city of Xew York late in 17S3. The 
 opening scene was the flight of the Loyal- 
 ists, or Tories. These supporters of the 
 crown were numerous and actire, especially 
 in Xew York City and State. They had 
 aroused the most intense indignation — nay. 
 hatred, of the Whigs against them by their 
 oppressive conduct, civil and military, and 
 when it was known that the British troop^^ 
 were soon to leave the city of Xew York 
 they hastened, with the utmost consterna- 
 tion, to fly to some place of refuge from 
 the impending wrath of the patriots. 
 
 In October a fleet of transports conveyed 
 hundreds of Loyalists, or Tories, to Xova 
 Scotia, and at the evacuation (which wa- 
 delayed for want of vessels to transport 
 them) other hundreds fled to the same 
 British province. 
 
 The property of many Loyalists in the 
 State of Xew York was confiscated by law:; 
 passed for the purpose during the war, but 
 after peace and independence were estab- 
 lished justice and policy required a general 
 amnesty. The harsh laws were repealed, 
 and much of the confiscated property was 
 restored. Many of the refugees in Xova Scotia who could procure the 
 means to do so came back, and in the course of a score of vears the 
 
 ORDER OF niE SOCrETT OF THE 
 CISCtXSATI. 
 
 * Till- order or badsre of the society consisted of a golden spn-ad easle. with eniimti- 
 linsr. ->i>pended on a ribbon. On the brea.«t of the eajile is a medallion with a device repn- 
 s«-ntin2 C"incinnatu.s at hLs plough receiving the Roman senators who came lo offer him 
 the chief niajTsfratv of Rome. 
 
EVACUATION OF XEW YORK BY THE BRITISH. 331 
 
 social animosities engendered l)y tho \\:ir were healed or greatly modi- 
 fied. 
 
 Tlie time fixed for tlie evacuation of ISew York was Novemljcr 2.5th. 
 On tlie morning of that day General Washington and his staff and Gov- 
 ernor Clinton and staff, escorted by General Knox and some troops who 
 came down from "West Point, appeared at tlie (present) junction of Tliird 
 and Fourth avenues — the " liead of the Bowery Lane" — and halted there 
 until noon. At one o'clock, when the IJritisli had withdrawn to the 
 water's edge for embarkation, the Americans marched into tlio city, the 
 ireneral and governor at their head, and before three o'clock General 
 Knox liad taken possession of Fort George, at tho foot of Broadway, amid 
 tlie acclamations of thousands of citizens and the roar of artillery. Tiien 
 Washington and his officers retired to Fraunce's Tavern. '■' Governor 
 Clinton and the civil officers went to the City Hall and re-established 
 civil government, and at evening the cliief magistrate gave a public din- 
 ner at P'raunce's Tavern. The last sail of the British fleet that bore 
 away the army and the Loyalists did not disappear beyond the Narrows 
 liefore twilight. 
 
 The final scene in tlie last act was now performed. Washington as- 
 sembled his officers in a large room in Fraunce's Tavern on December 
 4th, and there bade them farewell, lie entered the room, and taking a 
 glass of wine in liis hand, said : 
 
 " AVith a heart full of love and gratitude 1 now take leave of you. I 
 most devoutly wish tliat your latter days may be as prosperous and 
 hajipy as your former ones have Ijeen glorious and honorable." Flaving 
 tasted the wine, he continued : " 1 cannot come to each of you to take 
 my leave, but shall be obliged to you if each will come and take me by 
 the iiand." 
 
 A tender scene ensued. Tears moistened the war-worn cheeks of tiie 
 veterans before him as each pressed the hand of their beloved commander 
 and received from his lips a kiss upon their foreheads. Then Wasli- 
 ington left the room in silence, passed through a corps of light infantry, 
 walked to Whitehall (now tlie Staten Island Ferry), followed by a large 
 multitude of grateful citizens, and at two o'clock p.m. entered a barge that 
 
 * This building, jet staiifling, is on the conicr of Broad aud Pearl streets. It was 
 partially ilestroyed by tire in .June, 1852. Samuel Fraunee, the proprietor, liad a dark 
 complexion, and was called "Black Sam," When President Washin.gton resided in 
 New Y'ork Fraunee became the caterer for the Presidential mansion. Freneau, in his 
 '■ Hugh Gaine's Petition," makes that time-server allude to the cannonade of the Asio, 
 man-of-war. and say : 
 
 " At firt^t we supposed it wat* only a sham 
 Till he drove a rouud ball lhroui;h the roof of BUick Sam." 
 
Xii 
 
 THE EMl'IHE S'PATK. 
 
 conveyed liim to Paulus' Hook (now Jersey City), wlience he journcycil 
 iirst to Pliiladelpliia and thence to Anna])olis, wliere the Continental 
 Congress Wius in session. To that hody, assenihled in the Senate Ciianiber 
 of the old State House, at noon on December 23d (17S3>, lie resigned 
 his commission of commander-in-chief of tlie armies, which he received 
 from tliem more than eii;iit years before. 
 
 From Anna])iili> Wasiiington journeyed to Mount Vernon in liis owi, 
 carriage, accompanied l)y liis wife, wlicre lie arrived on Cliristmas eve. 
 Then lie laid aside his sword and military garments, and, joyfully resign- 
 
 FIKST fiREAT SEAL OF THE STATE <1K NEW YORK. 
 
 ing tilt' cares of publit- life, like ( 'incinnatus, returned to his plough — a 
 farmer on the banks of the Potomac. 
 
 During all the storir.y period, from the foundation of the State Govern- 
 ment, in tiie summer of 1777, until the departure of the last hostile foot 
 from its shores, in 1783, New York had been laying the foundations of 
 its future greatness strong and deep, and at the same time it had been 
 just and generous in its fraternal relations with its sister States. It 
 grappled the great task before it with en(;rgy and wisdom. It held 
 a commanding ])osition. The ])rominent part it had taken in the mighty 
 struggle just ended ; the fact that it alone uf all the States had promjttly 
 
CAPITAL OF THE STATE AND SEALS. 
 
 333 
 
 met every requirement of tlie Provisional General Government, and even 
 made advances on its own credit to supply the deficiencies of other 
 States ; its extensive conuiierce and large territory, and the al)ility and 
 patriotism of its leading statesmen, entitled it to special consideration, 
 and gave it great ■weight in 
 the councils of the nation. 
 
 The sessions of the State 
 Legislature were held alter- 
 nately at Poughkeepsie, New 
 York, and Albany, after the 
 tiiglit from Kingston in the 
 fall of 1777. until the begin- 
 ning of 179S — a period of 
 about twenty years. At that 
 time All):uiy became the per- 
 manent political capital of the 
 State, and a new great seal 
 was adopted.* 
 
 The first care of the Leg- 
 islature after the war was 
 the adjustment of boundaries, 
 land claims, etc. In this par- 
 ticular Xew York found itself in a peculiar situation, because of rival 
 claims to its soil. Of the territory which, by the treat}' of peace, was 
 ceded by Great Britain to the Ignited States in their collective capacity, 
 each of tiie individual States claimed such portions as were compre- 
 
 SECOXD GKEAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF XEW YORK. 
 
 * Three great seals of the State of Xcw York have been made. The first two were 
 pcndaut, and the thh-d is incumbent. The first great seal, adopted in 1777 by the con- 
 vention that framed the State Constitution, was rudely engraved on brass. It bore on 
 one side a rising sun ; motto. Excelsior ; legend, The Great Seal of the State of 
 New York. On the other side a rock in the midst of the ocean, and the word Fiustba. 
 The aliovc engraving is from a drawing of an impression made on bceswa.x and attached 
 to a commission signed by Governor Clinton. It shows the method of attaching pendant 
 seals lo the parchment. It is three and a quarter inches in diameter and about three 
 eightlis of an inch in thickness. A second seal was authorized in 1798. and the description 
 was recorded, January 22d, 1799, as follows : " The arms of the State complete, with 
 supporters, crest, and'motto ; round the same. The Great Seal of the State of New 
 York. On the reverse a rock and waves beating against it ; motto, ' Frustra above ; 
 1798 below. ' " The obver.sc of the seal is delineated above. 
 
 In 1809 the great seal (incumbent) now in use wa.s ordered, and was first attached to a 
 docinnent in November of that year. Il bears the arms of the State of New York, a little 
 Miipclified in the design. In the second seal the supporters are standing : in the third they 
 are sitting. In both the crest is the siimt — an eagle preparing to soar from a demi-globe. 
 
334 THE EMPim; STATi: 
 
 hended witliiu tlieir original grants or charters. Massachusetts conse- 
 qneiitly hiid claim to a strip of land equal to its own extent north and 
 south, and extending westward to "the South Sea,"' or tlie Pacilic 
 Ocean. Tliis included all the territory of New York between tlie 
 latitude of Troy on the nortli and tlie northern part of Ducliess County 
 on the south. Connecticut made a similar claim on the same pretext. 
 This would have included nearly all southern New York. Before con- 
 sidering these claims, let us take a hricf notice of the rights of older 
 and more legitimate possessors and actual occupants of the soil of New 
 Y'ork — the Six Nations. 
 
 The conditions of peace with the Six Nations were settled hetween 
 them and the United States at a treaty held at Fort Stanwix (Sciunder, 
 now Home) in October, 1784, at which Oliver Wolcott, llicliard Butler, 
 and Arthur Lee represented the United States. By that treaty the 
 ■western boundary of the Six Nations was fixed at the longitudinal par- 
 allel of BulTalo. lied Jacket, afterward the great Seneca chief, then 
 first appeared as an orator in opposition to the treaty, which deprived 
 the Confederacy of their hunting-grounds north of tlie Oiiio. The Six 
 Nations were guaranteed the peaceable ])Ossessioii of their lands eastward 
 of the boundary named, excepting a reservation of six miles square 
 around Fort Oswego. 
 
 From time to time after 1785 the State and individuals procured lands 
 from the Indians by cession or by purcha.se. The Tuscaroras and 
 Oneidas first ]iarted with some of their territories in 178."). In 17S8 
 both the Oneidas and the Onondagas disposed of all their lands, except- 
 ing some reservations, and in 1789 the Cayugas ceded all their lands to 
 the State, excepting a reservation of one hundred square miles excdusive 
 of Cayuga Lake. In each case the right of free hunting and fishing in 
 all the counties was reserved. 
 
 The Senecas parted with most of their territory in 1797. The same 
 year the Mohawks, most of whom fled to Canada at the clo.se of the war, 
 relinqui-shed all their lands to the State for a consideration. So late as 
 1819 there were about five thousand of the Six Nations in the State, in 
 possession, in eleven reservations, of two hundred and seventy-one 
 thou.sand acres of land. In 1838 these lands had been disposed of, 
 nearly all the titles extinguished, and the Indian population had removed 
 westward, some of tliem l)eyond the ^lississippi Bivcr. Sucii was the final 
 act in the drama of tlie once ])owerful barbarian republic in tiie State of 
 New York — the great Iroquois League. It now disappeared from the 
 face of the earth and entere>l the realm of past history. 
 
 The claim of Massachusetts to a part of the territory of New York 
 
DISPOSITION OF NEW YORK TERRITORY. 335 
 
 was aniicalily adjusted Iiy a convention held at Hartford in December, 
 ITsii, wlioii it was agreed that the Bay State should cede to Xew York 
 all claims to " govermnent, sovereignty, and jurisdiction" over about 
 six million acres of the soil, including wiiat is known as " Western New 
 York." The domain extended from a line drawn north and south 
 between Pennsylvania and Canada on the meridian of Seneca Lake to the 
 western boundary of the territory of the Six Nations, already defined. 
 At the same time Xew York ceded to Massachusetts and to her grantees 
 and tlieir heirs the right of pre-emption of the soil from the native 
 Indians, and ■■' all other estate, right, title, and property," excepting 
 government, sovereignty, etc. Tlie claim of Connecticut was summarily 
 rejected.* 
 
 Massachusetts proceeded to .sell the right of pre-emption of tliis tract. 
 In 1788 Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham bargained for the whole 
 tract, agreeing to pay ^1,000,000. Unable to fulfil the conditions, they 
 took two million six hundred thousand acres. Between that time and 
 1793 the remainder of the domain was disposed of to several purchasers,t 
 and settlements were soon afterward begun. 
 
 After the peace (1783) Congress, considering measures for meeting the 
 claims of public creditors, invited the several States to vest in that body 
 j)0\ver to levy duties on imports within their respective jurisdictions. 
 All the States had acceded to tins reipiest in 1786 excepting New York. 
 Tliis Slate reserved that right to itself, and refused to make the col- 
 lectors amenable to and removable by Congress. It also made the duties 
 payal)le in the bills of credit issued by the State. At tliis juncture 
 Congress asked Governor Clinton to call a special session of the Legisla- 
 ture, for the purpose of passing a law conformable to those of other States 
 concerning the public revenue. The governor refused compliance. 
 
 * Under this cUiim Connecticut made .some grants to settlers within the State of New 
 Yorlv, also in Pennsylvania and in Ohio. The Wyoming Valley was settled by Con- 
 necticut people, so also was the region in Ohio known as the Western Reserve. 
 
 t The following is a list of the titles of the subdivisions of the Ma.ssachusetts domain in 
 Western New York purchased of the Indians, with the number of acres in each : 
 
 Phdim and Goi-hum tract, 2,600,000 ; Morris liaterre, .500,000 ; Triaiiyular. 87,000 ; 
 Ojiuierticiit, UM.OOO; Crayir. 'iOfiOO : ft/rfc//. 50,000 ; Cottinger, rM.imO ; Forty Thuumnd 
 Acre, 40,000 ; Strrritt, 1.50,000 ; Cliinrli. 100,000 ; Morrh'ti Hononiri/ Creditors, .')8,570 ; 
 nolhiiid Compdiiy's Piurhnse, .3,600,000 : Boston Ten Towns, 2a().400. Before the close 
 of tli<; last century a larger portion of the soil of Northern New York was in the po.sses- 
 sion of land speculators. Among them Alexander JIacomb, father of General Macomb, 
 was the most extensive holder, in Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and 
 Herkimer coimties. He purchased over two million live hundred thousand acres for 
 eighteen cents an acre, on along credit, without interest. This reckless .squandering of 
 the public domains by the commissioners of llie Limd Office was .severely condemned. 
 
336 THE KMI'lltK -^I'ATK. 
 
 This independent action of Xew York made the inherent weakness of 
 the Articles of Confederation, as a form of national irovcrnnient, very 
 conspionons. New York had already taken otlioial action, for the pur- 
 pose of giving to Congress more power for the collecting of revenue than 
 had yet been proposed.* 
 
 Wasliington had ol^servcd with great anxiety the tendency toward ruin 
 of the new government, and ho now proposed a convention of rei)resen- 
 tatives of the States to consider amendments of the Articles. A conven- 
 tion was called at Annapolis in Septcml)er, llsO. Only five States 
 responded. Xew York was one of them, and was represented by Alex- 
 ander ilaiiiilton. X(>tliing was done except to recommend the assem- 
 bling of anotiier cuiiveiition at Tiiiladelpliia in ilay the next year. It 
 was d(»iie. .Vll tiie States but New IhunpsJiire ami lihode Island were 
 represented. Ilobert Yates, John Lansing, Jr., and Alexander Ham- 
 ilton rei)resented Xew York. Wasliington, a delegate from A'irginia, 
 was chosen jjrcsident of the convention. lie was al)iy supported Ijy 
 eminent statesmen from the several commonwealtlis. The convuntion 
 was in session from ]\lay until September, 1787. It framed a new Con- 
 stitution — the one (with some amendments) under which the llepiibiic 
 has ever since been governed. Copies of the instrument were sent to 
 the Legislatures of the several States, to be submitted by them to conven- 
 tions of delegates chosen by the peoi^le for approval or disapproval. 
 
 !Now came the tug of war. Differences of opinion concerning the new 
 
 * " It is the glory of New York," says Bancioft, " tlmt its Losislaturi' was tlio first to 
 imi)art. the sanction of a Slate to tlie groat conception of a Federal Convention to frame a 
 constitution for the United States." The chief instrument in bringing about such action 
 by tlie Legislature of New York was the then foremost character in the State. General 
 Philip S<huyler, assisted by liis son-in-law, Colonel -Vlcxander Haniillon. From the very 
 beginning of the discussion of plans for a national goverinnent Schuyler had deprecated 
 the essential weakness of the proposed Articles of Confederation, and urged, on all occa- 
 sions, the absolute necessity of a strong general government. At length the Continental 
 Congress, in May, 1783, considering the desperate condition of the finances of the country, 
 appointed delegates to explain the common danger to tlic authorities of all the States. 
 Governor Clinton called an extra session of the Slate of New York to receive the delega- 
 tion which had httcn sent North. Tliey met at Poughkeepsie in July. Hamilton repaired 
 thither and held consultations witli the members of the Legislature, especially with his 
 fatlierin law. On motion of Schuyler the Legislature resolved it,self into a Commille<' 
 of the Whole on the State of tlie Nation. They adopted a series of resolutions, drafted, 
 it is believed, by Hamilton, declaring the necessity for a .stronger national government, 
 that should have power to provide itself with a sufficient revenue for the public use. 
 The Legislature incited Congress, for the common welfare, " to recommend and each 
 State to adopt the measure of a.ssemhling a general convention of the States specially 
 authorized to revise and amend the Confederation, reserving the right of the respective 
 Legislatures to ratify their determinations." 
 
POLITKAI. PARTIES IX NEW YOUK. 
 
 33': 
 
 Constitution everywhere prevailed. Radical differences in sentiment 
 had been conspicuous in the convention that framed it. The adherents, 
 respectively, of the idea of a strong central government and of State 
 supremacy were apparently irreconcilably antagonistic. 
 
 Two of the New York delegates — Yates and Lansing — were decidedly 
 favorable to the doctrine of State 
 
 supremacy, while Hamilton* as ' "^ ' 
 
 strongly advocated the plan of 
 a powerful Federal Government 
 wielding supreme authority. Ham- 
 ilton's opinions prevailed in the 
 convention. Yates and Lansing 
 were so dissatisfied with the evi- 
 dent sentiment of the convention 
 that they withdrew, leaving Ham- 
 ilton the sole representative of 
 New York in the convention. 
 
 This was the birth-time of tlie 
 stalwart twins — the first two op- 
 posing political parties in the 
 United States — the Federalists 
 und the Antl- Federalists. These 
 parties were of a more pronounced 
 and violent type in New York 
 than elsewhere. ILamilton was 
 
 the acknowledged leader of the Federalists, and Governor George Clin- 
 ton of the Anti-Federalists. 
 
 On January ITth, 178S, Egbert Benson f offered in the Legislature of 
 
 ALEXANDER HAMILTON. AFTER CARRACI. 
 
 * Alexander Hamilton -was born at Nevis, West Indies, January 11th, 1757. He wa.^ 
 of Scotch descent. Educated at King's (now Columbia) College, New Yorii, he engaged 
 in the political controversy preceding tlie Revolution ; became a captain of artillery in 
 Marcli, 1776 ; a member of Washington's military family in the spring of 1777, and 
 served as his secretary and trusted confidant luitil 1781. He was of essential service to 
 Wasliingtou. Hamilton married a dauglUer of General Pliilip Schuyler late in 1780. 
 He was colonel of a regiment of New York troops at tlie siege of Yorktown, soon after 
 wliich he left tlie army, studied law. and soon became eminent in his profession. He 
 served as a member of Congress and of tlie New York legislature ; was a member of the 
 convention that framed tlie National Constitution, and was one of its chief advocates 
 through the press. Washington appointed liim Secretary of the Treasury in 1789, which 
 post lie resigned in 1795. When in 1798 war with France seemed probable, he was made 
 .second to Washington in command of the armies of the United States. On July 12th, 
 1804, Hamilton died of wounds received in a duel with Aaron Burr. 
 
 f Egbert Benson was one of tlie most active and useful men in New York at this time. 
 
338 TUK KMi'iHi; s'rA'ri:. 
 
 New York a resolution jjrovidiug for a State convention of representa- 
 tives chosen by tlie pt'ople to consider tlie new Xational Constitution. 
 Tliis resolution elicited much and warm deiiate, but was finally adopte<l 
 by both branches of the Legislature. 
 
 From the moment when the new Constitution was publisheil in New 
 York sjjirited and somutinies violent contests Ijetween the advocates and 
 opposers of the instrument occurred at public gatlierings and in the 
 ])ublic prints. Acrimoiuous publications ap[)eared in newspajiers and in 
 pamphlets during the canvass and the sittings of the convention. On 
 the one hand it was urged by the opponents of the proposed Constitution 
 tliat by its adoption a fatal blow would be struck at tiie so-called " inde- 
 pendent sovereignty" of the States, by the gradual absorption of the 
 principal functions of government by the central power ; that the wealth 
 and immense resources of New York especially, instead of being devoted 
 to the development of its vast territory and possibilities, would be largely 
 given to the accumulation of the M'ealth and power of the National 
 Government, and that its political influence would be greatly diminished. 
 It was argued that the inevitable tendency of such a state of things 
 woidd be the cstal)lishment of a virtually monarchical govormnent. 
 
 To these arguments the advocates of the Constitution replied, pointing 
 to the provisions of the instrument itself, that the disti'il)ution of the 
 powers of the proposed new govermnent M-as so carefully arranged that, 
 so far fi-oin enabling it to trench upon tlic jurisdiction of the States, it 
 was itself liable to constant and serious cnicroachments on their part, 
 and that the existing Confederacy— a mere league of inde[)endent States, 
 held together oidy by the common interests of all its members and sub- 
 ject to disintegration at the pleasure of any — was wholly inadequate to 
 the purpose of a national government. It was at this period that the 
 able essays in favor of the Constitution, written by Hamilton, Jay. and 
 Madison, known collectively as Tlie Federalixf, were published and 
 scattered widely over the Union with powerful effect. 
 
 The sole (piestion which seemed to govern the electors of New York 
 in their choice of delegates to their convention seems to have been whether 
 the candidates were for or against the adoption of the Constitution. 
 
 He was horn in New York f'ity in 1740: died .U .laniaic;!, L. I., in is:!:!. I U' was a 
 most c'tlicicnl nicinhi-r of tin- Hcvolulionary Coniniitlcc of Safety, and was a distiniruishiMl 
 jurist, holdini; a Iii^di rank in jurispnidi-nco. He was the first attorney -jreiieral of tlie 
 State of New York, and niejuher of the first State Legislature ; a delejrate to tlie old 
 Confrress in 17.S4-H8 : a member of C'on.sress, 1789-8:? and 18l:?-l."> : and judge of the 
 Supremo Court of New York 1794-1801. He received tliedejiree of LL.D. from Harvard 
 and Darlnioulli eolleires, an<l was Ihe first president of the New York Historical Society. 
 He wrote a " Vindiealion of Major .\ndrc. " 
 
(•OXSTITLTIONAL CONVENTION AT POUGHKEEPSIE, 339 
 
 The iiieml)ers of the convention chosen in tlie several counties 
 assembled at the court-house in Poughkeepsie on June ITth, 178S, and 
 was organized by the choice of (lovernor Clinton for its president, John 
 ^[cKe.sson and Aljraliani T>. Bancker, secretaries, and Nicholas Power, 
 printer to the convention. The convention was composed of sixty-one dele- 
 gates,* a clear majority of wlium were opiDOsed to the new Constitution. 
 
 Tlie discussion of the sev- 
 eral articles of the Consti- .^^ y/y j ,<:t-i 
 tution began on June lOth /[yj^y//^0~^/^ /^^^^'-^X-^^-y'''^' 
 and continued three weeks, 
 
 during which time several siaxATruK ok nk imr.As i-oweu. 
 
 amendments were proposed 
 
 and adoj^ted. On July lltli John day moved that •" the Constitution be 
 ratified, and that whatever amendments nught be deemed expedient 
 should \iQ recommended.'''' 
 
 This motion called out the most vigorous opposition from the Anti- 
 Federalists, and the majority of the convention urged the calling of a new 
 national convention, for the puiiiose of making additional amendments 
 specified by them. They proposed to amend Jay's motion so that it 
 slionhl read. " ' that the Constitution be ratified on the condition that certain 
 specified amendments should be made." An able and prolonged diseus- 
 
 * Tlif following arc the names of the delegates chosen by the peojile of the several 
 counties : 
 
 City <iiid Cixnily of Xiw Tor/:. — John .fiiy, Uichard Morris, .John >?loss Iloljarl. .Vlex- 
 aniler Hamilton, Robert R. Livingston, Isaac Roosevelt, James Dnane, Richard Harrison, 
 Nicholas Low. 
 
 CJitj/ and Con nty of Albany. — Robert Yates, John*tausing, Jr., Henry Oothont, Peter 
 Vroman, Israel Thompson, Anthonj- Ten Eyck, Dirck Swart. 
 
 Comity of Suffolk. — Henry Sciidder. Jonathan N. Havens. John Smith. Thomas Tread- 
 well, Daviil Hedges. ^ 
 
 County (f Ulxtti-. — George Clinton, John Caulin<\ Cornelius C. Schooiunakcr, Ebenezcr 
 Clark, James Clinton, Direk Wynkoop. 
 
 Comity of Qiiecihi. — Samuel Jones, John Schen<-k, Nathaniel Lawi-ence, Stephen Carman. 
 
 County of Kiiujs. — Peter Lefferts, Peter Vandervoort. 
 
 County of Rt'c/imoncl. — Abraham Baneker, Gosen Rycrss. 
 
 County of iVtstc/ii'ster. — Lewis Morris, Philip Livingston, Rielianl Halliilil, Philip van 
 Cortlandt. Thaddcils Crane, Lott W. Sarles. 
 
 County of Orange. — John Haring, .Jes.se Woodliull, Henry Wisner, Jolin AVood. 
 
 County of I)ur^t*i<. — Zephauiah Piatt, Melanethon Smitli. Jacobus Swartwout, 
 Jonathan .Vkin, Ezra Thompson, Gilbert Livingston, John De Witt. 
 
 County of irontr/oniiry. — William Harper. Christoplier P. Yates, John Frey, .lolin 
 Wiim, Volkert Veeder, Henry Staring. 
 
 CountiiK of Wos/iinfjton and Clinton. — Jchabod Parker, John "Williams, .\ll)ert Baker. 
 
 I copied the above names froni the origin.-d printed Journal of the Convention, in my 
 possession. It was printed by Nicholas Power, in (|\i.'U-lo I'orm. 
 
340 
 
 TlIK K .MI 'IKK STATE. 
 
 ■1 
 
 IMP 
 
 1 
 
 1 i f ^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 \ I 
 
 V 
 
NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVKS IN CONGRESS. 341 
 
 sioii ensued, but before any vote was taken news readied Pon^likeepsie 
 that the convention of New Ilanipsliire liad ratified the Constitution. 
 
 Tin's settled tlie question. Tlio people of tiie requisite number of 
 States had now spoken in tlie affirmative. The question for the people 
 of New York now to decide was not whether they pi'eferred the new 
 Constitution to tlie Articles of Confederation, but whether tliey would 
 secede from tlie Union. The Anti- Federalists decided wisely and 
 patrioticali3\ The Federalists proposed a compromise between Jay's 
 proposition and that of their opponents. The latter, not without hesita- 
 tion and reluctance, yielded their assent to the following resolution : 
 
 '•'liesolvcd, That tlie Constitution be i-atified, in. full confidence that 
 the amendments proposed by this convention will be adopted." 
 
 A most remarkable speech of tliree hours by Alexander Hamilton 
 and a patriotic one by Gilbert Livingston, of Duchess, effected the happy 
 result. There were fifty-seven members present and voted, thirty of 
 tliem for the ratification of the Constitution and twenty-seven against it 
 — a majority of three. This decision was taken on July 28tli, and on 
 that day the convention finally adjourned. On September 13th Gov- 
 ernor C-'linton officially proclaimed the National Constitution as the funda- 
 mental law of the Iie]iublic. 
 
 At a special session of the Legislature of New York, l)egun in tiie 
 city of New York on December Sth (17SS), they chose delegates to 
 rejiresent the State in the concluding session of the Continental Congress. 
 They also appointed presidential electors and provided for the election, 
 by the people, of six members of Congress. LTnder this provision 
 Egbert Benson, William Floyd, John Ilathorn, Jeremiah van Ilensselaer, 
 and Peter Sylvester were elected the first representatives of New York 
 to .peats in the National Congress under the new Constitution. The two 
 Houses of the Legislature could not agree upon a method of choosing 
 United States Senators, and none were appointed at tliat session. The 
 State remained unrepresented in the National Senate during the first 
 session of the first Congress. Finally the Legislature, convened in 
 special session, by joint resolution passed on July 19th, appointed 
 General Philip Schuyler and Rufus King* Senators. The latter gentle- 
 man had only recently become a citizen of the State of New York. 
 
 * Riifus King -n-'as born at Scarborough, Me., in March, 1755, and died at Jamaica, 
 L. I., in April, 1827. He -n-as a graduate of Harvard ; became a lawyer ; married the 
 daughter of John Alsop, a rich merchant of New York, and ever afterward made tliat 
 city his home. Mr. King, like Schuyler, was a leading Federalist. From 1798 to 1804 
 he was United States minister at the court of Great Britain. He was again in the Senate, 
 for the third time, in 1818. Always an anti-slavery man, he was one of the leaders of the 
 opposition to the admis.sion of ^Missouri as a slave-labor State. He; again went to 
 Enaland as American minister in 1S25, but soon returned in feeble health. 
 
342 TlIK KMIMKK STATE. 
 
 CIIAPTEPt XXI\'. 
 
 So soon as the (|iie.stioii8 coiiecruiiig territory, boundaries, f)\vnersliip, 
 and government, wliidi liad occupied the minds of the people of New 
 York, were settletJ and adjusted, tlie virgin soil and topography of the 
 State attracted the attention of enterprising ])eo)>le, and settlements 
 began to carry light and civilization into the dark wilderness. 
 
 New political divisions were rapidly organized. In 177<i Albany 
 County embraced all of New "i'ork northward of Fister County and west 
 of the Hudson Tliver, also all nortli of Duchess County and eastward of 
 that river. In 1772 Charlotte and Tryon counties were taken from 
 Albany. The name of the former was changed in 1784 to "Washington, 
 and that of the latter to Montgomery. A part of Charlotte was included 
 in the counties of Cunibei-lund and Gloucester in forming the State of 
 Vermont. 
 
 Tryon County included all the ])i-ovince west of a longitudinal lim." 
 running nearly through the middle of Schoharie County. lu 17>i'.' 
 Ontario County was taken from Montgomery Count}', and included all 
 the land of which pre-emptive right had been ceded to the State of 
 ilassachusetts. 
 
 No State in the Fm'on presented so wide a range for enterjirise and 
 exertion as New York after the war, especially in the industries of 
 agriculture and commerce. The borders of its great river were then 
 settled with wealthy, industrious, and thriving people. Campaigns 
 against the Indians, esjiecially that of Sullivan in 177!', had revealed to 
 soldiers of the latter, who were largely New Englanders, the richness of 
 the soil of the interior, and they gave glowing at^counts to their friends 
 of the beauty ami fertility of the land they had traversed. The purchase 
 of great tracts of laud for speculative purposes, already mentioned, 
 followed, and set in motion emigration from the east int(f that region. 
 
 The lirst emigrant from New England was Hugh White, of .Middle- 
 town, Conn., with his own family and those of four of liis neighbors. 
 They seated themselves, at the beginning of 1784, about four miles west 
 of (present) Ctica. This settlement was the Hrst rose that blossomed in 
 the wilderness of Central ami AVestern New York. The now beautiful 
 and thriving borough of Whitestown is of itself a grand monument to 
 the memory of its founder, who died there, in 1>;i-2, at the aire of ei'ditv 
 
EMIGHATIOX TO CENTRAL NEW YORK. 343 
 
 years. Before 1790 scores of families flocked into tliat region, largely 
 from New England, and thenceforth emigrant wagons with families, 
 implements of labor on farms and for domestic purposes were continually 
 can-ying forward population farther and farther into the wilderness of 
 Western New York. 
 
 In 1788 Mr. Phelps, one of the purchasers of the six million acres 
 tract, penetrated to the country of the Genesee. He and some 
 friends went up the Mohawk in boats from Schenectady as far as pos- 
 sible, and made their way to the outlet of Canandaigua Lake, where they 
 planted the seed of a flourishing settlement by constructing some log- 
 huts and making it the business capital of the domain. The Rev. 
 iSamnel Kirkland, an earnest missionary laborer among the Oneidas, was 
 their interpreter. Gorham procured cessions of lands from the Senecas. 
 
 Li 17'.'1 a party of emigrants constructed a wagon-road from Whites- 
 town to Canandaigua, the flrst ever opened from the Mohawk Rivei" to 
 the Genesee country. These jiioneers suifered great hardships in the 
 performance of their task, for the route lay over lofty hills and deep 
 ravines, broad marshes and swift-running streams ; yet they persevered, 
 and made a highway for swarms of emigrants from New England, who 
 soon made it a beaten jiath. It was soon afterward continued to the 
 foot of Lake Eric, at the site of Butfalo. In this Nvork the Government 
 did nothing ; private individuals did evei-ything. This highway was the 
 flrst work of internal improvement in the State of New York. Others 
 of greater importance will be noticed presently. 
 
 AVhen the National Constitution was adopted by the requisite number 
 of States the patriotic opponents of the instrument generally acquiesced 
 in the decision. Judge Yates, who in the National and State conven- 
 tions had strongly opposed it, now, in his first charge to the Grand -Tury 
 at Albany after the ratiflcation, said : 
 
 '■ Before the Constitution was ratified I had been opposed to it ; it is 
 now mine and every other man's duty to support it." 
 
 But it was not long before party strife became more violent than ever 
 throughout the country, especially in the State of New York, where 
 party lines were .sharply <lrawn between the luderalidfi and Anti-lU'der- 
 al'ixtx. Washington identified himself M'ith the former. The Constitu- 
 tion was not all that he could have Avished, yet he regarded its adoption 
 as a real blessing to the country. In a letter to CJeneral Schuyler on the 
 subject he wrote : 
 
 '■ That invisible Hand which has so often interposed to save our 
 country from impending destruction seems in no instance to have been 
 more remarkably exerted than in that of disposing tiie people of this 
 
344 
 
 Tin: r.MriKi: statk. 
 
 continent to adopt, in ;i peaceable manner, a constitution wliidi, if well 
 administered, bids fair to make America a bappy nation." 
 
 Tlie clioice of tlie first President of tbe United States under tlie 
 National Constitution was done very (piietly, for tliere was no partisan- 
 sbip displayed. Tlie eyes and tbe bearts of tbe wbole peojiie were 
 instinctively turned toward Wasbingtoii, tbe " Saviour of bis Country," ' as 
 tbo fittest man to guide tiie vessel of State, with its precious freigbt, on 
 
 
 TlfE Cri'Y n.M.I- I.N WAl.l. ^;TliEI•'.T. 1789. 
 
 its Krst necessarily ])erilous voyage. He received every vote in tbe Elec- 
 toral College. John Adams was cbo.sen Vice-President. 
 
 The Continental Congress bad decreed that the city of New York 
 should be the residence of the Xational Government. The City Hall, 
 in "Wall Street, fronting tbe head of Broad Street. Mas fitted up for the 
 use of the National Legslature. Mai-cb 4th (ITlMii was the day designated 
 for the organization of the new governmciit. That auspicious day was 
 ushered in l>y tbe ringing of bells and tbe booming of cannons ; but the 
 members of Congress were tardy in their journeys to the capital, owing 
 to the wretched state of tlie roads. On the appointed day only a few of 
 them were present. It was A])ril (!th before a (juonun was assend)led. 
 
INAUCilKATIoN OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ;?45 
 
 when the two Houses jiroceedod to cuimt the votes for I'resideiit and 
 Vice-President and dechire the result. 
 
 The Vice-Preisident reached New York on April 21st. Tiic President 
 arrived two days later. His journey from Mount Vernon had been an 
 almost continuous ovation. A committee of Congress met him at Eliza- 
 bethtown, N. J., and from its port he was conveyed in a barge to the 
 foot of Wall Street, at the East 
 Kiver, where he was met by the 
 
 governor, the municipal authori- -^' ' 
 
 ties, and a vast concourse of citi- 
 zens, M'ho formed a procession and 
 conducted him to the mansion 
 in Cherry Street, near Franklin 
 Square, prepared for his residence. 
 That was then the most fashion- 
 al)le ]iart of the city. That even- 
 ing the whole town was illumi- 
 nated. / 
 
 At noon on April ?>flth- after 
 religious services had been held ^ 
 in all the churches in the city, 
 "Washington left the presidential 
 man.sion, escorted by a procession 
 formed of members of Congress 
 
 and heads of departments in carriages, led by the City Cavalry, and pro- 
 ceeded to the City Hall, where, in its street gallery, in the presence of a 
 vast nniltitude of people, the inaugural ceremonies were performed. The 
 oath of office was administered by Robert E. Livingston,* the first 
 Chancellor of the State of New York. Returning to the Senate Cham- 
 ber, the President read his inaugural address, after which the whole 
 assembly went on foot to St. PauTs ChajH'l, on r>roadway, where prayers 
 
 ROIiEKT H. LIVIXCSTON. 
 
 * Robort R. Livingston was born in New York City November 27th, 1747 ; died at 
 the Livingston Manor-House February 36tli, 1813. He was graduated at King's (now 
 Coliunbia) College, became a sueeessful lawyer, and was recorder of the city of New 
 York in 1773. He was elected a member of the Continental Congress in 177.5 ; was one 
 of the committee to draft tlie Declaration of Independence, but necessary absence from 
 Philadeljihia prevented his voting for and signing it. He was appointed the first chan- 
 cellor of tlie State of New York, whicli position he held until 1801. He was secretary 
 for foreign affairs of the General Government from 1781 to 1783 ; a member of the com- 
 mittee that framed the National Constitution ; minister of the United Stales to France in 
 1801-1804, and negotiated for the purchase of Louisiana, and was the etlicienl condiutor 
 of Robert F\ilton in jierfecting navigation on tlic Hudson River by steam. 
 
34f. Till-: KMI'IKK STATK. 
 
 were read by the cliiipluin of tlie Senate. Tlien tlie President was 
 escorted to his residence. Tlie ceremonies of tlie day were concluded 
 by a display of fireworks in the evening;. 
 
 CToneral Schnyler, .lolm .lay, and CJolonel Alexander Hamilton were 
 the chief leaders of the Federal Party in New York, and had i^reat iiitiii- 
 eiice with President Washini^ton. Schuyler and Hamilton were uncom- 
 promising partisans, as all men of strong moral convictions are apt to be, 
 and they induced the President to bestow (Tovernment ])atronage upon 
 men who were, either person;dly or politically, op|)osed to (iovernor 
 Clinton, day was appointed Chief -Fustice of the United States ; James 
 Duane, Judge of the District of New York ; Richard Harrison, United 
 States Attorney ; and William S. Smith, Marshal. Hamilton, who was 
 the sonl of the Federal Party, was called to the Cabinet as Secretary of 
 the Treasury. 
 
 The spirit of the Constitution of New York was less democratic than 
 that of any other State. It placed an enormous amount of power and 
 patronage in the hanrls of the governor. With this ailvantage Clinton 
 anti his friends were enableil to curry on a j)olitical warfare with gi-cat 
 vigor and success for a very long time ; but the ('onstitutinn atfordeu a 
 check upon an undue exercise of that ]iowcr w lien bearing n])on the 
 control of offices by the provision of a Council c)f Appointment. That 
 Council, as we have observed, was created by the choice of the Assenddy, 
 of one Senator eacdi year out of each Senatorial district, and these, with 
 the governor, formed the Conncil. The governor had a right to give a 
 casting vote, but had no vote for any other purpose. lie was ex- 
 officio president of the Council, and was required, " by the advice and 
 consent of the Council, to appoint all officers" whose appointment was 
 m)t otherwise provided for. 
 
 After the inauguration of Washington jxilitical parties in New York 
 became mixed. The Federalists determined to fi)rm a coalition for the 
 ])urpose of breaking the A nti- Federalist ascendency. They induced the 
 Anti- Federalist Judge Yates to accept from them the nomination for 
 governor in opposition to Clinton. The coalition was nnsuccessfid. and 
 Clinton was re-elected by a strong majority. The election was warndy 
 contested. The whole mnnbcr of votes cast in the State was 12,343. 
 The census of IT'.m ccrtilicd the number of the ])i>])ulation then in the 
 State to be 34n, 120, an increase of more than So.OdO in live years. This 
 increase had been caused largely by endgration into the northern and 
 western parts of the State. The city of New York then contained a 
 jiopulation of 33,131. 
 
 The subject of improving the internal navigatinu (d' the State nt)W 
 
INLAND NAVKJATIOX OF NEW VOUK CONSIDEKED. 347 
 
 engaged the earnest iittfiition of tliouglitfiil iiiuii. General Seliuyler 
 saw, when in England in 1T*>1, the canal constructed by the Duke of 
 r>ri(!gewater. lie was deeply impressed with what he saw and heani, 
 and as opportunities offered he urged the importance of improving the 
 navigation of the Mohawk River by short canals around rifts and 
 shallows. lie suggested that by a short canal between the Mohawk and 
 Wood Creek, which flows into Oneida Lake, and the improvement of 
 the navigation of that stream and the outlet of Oneida Lake into the 
 Oswego River, continuous navigation between the Hudson and Lake 
 Ontario might be effected. At Schuyler's suggestion. Governor Sir 
 Henry Moore presented the subject to the Colonial Legislature in 1768. 
 
 So early as 1772 Christopher Colles * lectured in New York and 
 Albany on Iidand Lock Navigation, and warmly advocated Schuyler's 
 ]>roject. Schuyler also urged the construction of a canal between the 
 Hudson and Lake Champlain so early as 1770. In 1784 Colles presented 
 a memorial to the Legislature proposing the improvement of the naviga- 
 tion of the Mohawk, and that year he penetrated the country to Wood 
 Creek, ])ublished an account of his observations in a j)amphlet, and in 
 tlie M'inter of 1780 the Legislature nuide a report favoral)le to his project. 
 Nothing more seems to have been done. 
 
 At about that time Washington made a tour in the interit)r of the 
 State of New York. He was then much interested in the subject of 
 internal navigatiiiu in his own State. He passed over Lake George and 
 diiwn Lake Ciiamplain as fai' as Crown Point. Returning to Schenec- 
 tady, he went up the Mohawk to Fort Schuyler (now Rome), and visited 
 Otsego Lake and its vicinity. He observed the feasibility and com- 
 mended the importance of inland navigation in the State of New York. 
 
 Soon after this Elkaiuvh Watson appears npon the scene as a most 
 larnust advocate of a continuous water eoniniunication between the 
 
 * Christopher Colics was born in Ireland about the year 1737, and was educated by 
 liichani Pococke, the Oriental traveller. After the death of his patron, in 17(i5, he eame 
 to Ameriea, and, as we have observed, became an earnest advocate of caual naviiiation. 
 He was a skilful engineer, lie proposed plans for supplying the city of New York witli 
 pure water so early as 1774, In 1797 lie propo.sed to bring the waters of the liron.x 
 liiver, in Westchester Couuty, into the city. He constructed a ,series of sectional road 
 maps for the use of travellers. His active mind kept his hands busy in a variety of 
 <-niployments. .Vt one time he was the actuary of tla; Academy of Fine Arts, lie was 
 also a notable inventor, and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of I)c Will Clinton, Dr. 
 Samuel L, Mitchell, Dr. Hosack, .Tarvis, llu! painter, and other distinguisiied men of New 
 York. The clligy of Colles was borne in the grand procession in New York which cele- 
 brated the completion of the Erie Canal. lie had then been in his grave about four years, 
 liaving died in llieautinnn of 1821. His remains Vn- unhonored in (he burying-ground 
 of tlie Episcni)al Cliurili in Hudson Street. 
 
348 
 
 THE EMI'IKK STATE. 
 
 k^P 
 
 Hudson Tiivor aiwl Lake Ontario. Tn this projcft lie s|)C'nt iiiucii tinir 
 for ycai-s, and was a most cfKcnent supporter of (iuneral Sciiuylcr's canal 
 projects. IIo made journeys westward from Ali)aiiy to gatlier up facts, 
 and lie ])enetrated the country to Seneca Lake.* 
 
 The final result of the endeavors of these pnlilic-.spirited men was the 
 passaf:;e of an act by the Legislature of Xew York, in January, 1792, for 
 
 chartering two inland lock naviga- 
 tion companies. One Avas called 
 the Western Inland Lock Naviga- 
 tion Company, and the other the 
 Xorthern Inland Lock Navigation 
 Company. These companies were 
 formed, and General Schuyler was 
 nnanimously chusen president of 
 each company. Thomas Eddy, an 
 enter])rising (Quaker, was a])pointe(l 
 treasurer of the Western Company. 
 Accompanied liy CJoldshrow Baii- 
 yer and Elkanah Watson and sur- 
 veyors and engineei's, Schuyler 
 made a thorough exploration of the 
 whole route for the western enter- 
 prise, from Schenectady to the 
 waters of Lakes Seneca and Onta- 
 rio, in August and SeptcHii)er, 1 T'.'2. They also explored the route 
 for the northern canal, from the head of tide-water of the Hudson, 
 just above Albany, to the liead of Lake Champlain, at (present) White- 
 hall. These explorations were satisfactory to both companies, and in the 
 spring of 1793 the Western Company 1)egan work at the Little Falls, 
 in Herkimer Coiintv, Mith artiticers and about three hundred laborers. 
 
 ^ 
 
 'O 
 
 ft 
 V 
 
 EI.KANAII WATSOS. 
 
 * Elkanah Watson was born at Plymouth, Mass., in January, 1758, and died at Port 
 Kent. Essex County, X. Y., in December, 1842. He was a clerk in the employ of .lolin 
 Brown, of Providence, H. I., wlio sent him to Boston with a large amount of jwwder for 
 the patriot army besieiiim; it in 177o. Before he was nineteen years of ajie Brown .sent 
 him to Charleston and other Southern ports with ^.")(),(M)0, to buy carjioes for the Euro- 
 pean markets. At the age of twenty-one Congress sent despatehes by him to Dr. 
 Franklin, in Paris. lie remaineil in France until 1784, engaged in a commission business 
 at Nantes in connection with .Mr. Brown. He went to Albany in 178!), and became 
 greatly interested in General Schuyler's canal projects. He afterward travelled in Europe, 
 and in 1807 settled at Pittstic'ld, Ma.ss., as a farmer, and made many improvements in 
 agriculture, .\fter a visit to the lake region in the North-west he .settled at Port Kent, 
 on the west side of Lake Champlain, where he resided until his death. Ilis autobiog- 
 raphy was completed and published by his .son. Wiiislow C. Watson, in 1850. 
 
COXSTKrCTIOX OF CANALS IX NEW YORK. 349 
 
 Tlie Xortlieni Company began work at Stillwater the same year. Delays 
 followed, chiefly on account of a want of funds, and yet so vigorously 
 (lid the president and his associates, especially Mr. Watson, push on the 
 work when means were at command, that boats of sixteen tons burden 
 passed over the whole route, from Selienectady to Oneida Lake, iu ITiX!, 
 without interruption. There were only about six miles of canallirig 
 altogether. 
 
 Unfortunately, the locks in tlie canals had been constructed of wood, 
 and were too perishable. William Weston, a distinguished canal 
 engineer, came to this country from England early in '1705. He was 
 employed to examine the whole work of the companies with General 
 Schuyler, and the result was an order for him to reconstruct the locks of 
 stone. Tliis operation exhausted the funds of the company. 
 
 In 1793 Isambert Brunei, a distinguished French engineer, arrived 
 with a letter of introduction to General Schuyler. He was employed in 
 17!>-t in a survey of the jSTorthern or Champlain Canal. That was 
 almost fifty years before he completed the famous tunnel under the 
 Thames, at London, and received the honors of knighthood from the then 
 young Queen of England. 
 
 In 1790 Mr. Weston, imder the direction of the Western Company, 
 made an exjiloratiim of a route for a canal between the Mohawk and 
 Seneca rivers. A canal was speedily constructed, and liecanie the living 
 germ of the grand Erie Canal %yliich was afterward built bj' the State. 
 It led Gouverneur Morris, in ISttl, to conceive the greatest of canal 
 ]>roj('cts — namely, the connection of Lake Erie with the Hudson by an 
 artiticial river, a work that was completed a little more than twenty years 
 aft(n'ward. This great work will receive special notice presently. 
 
 The interest of General Schuyler in canal navigation never flagged 
 during his life. So late as the summer of 1S(I2, when he was almost 
 sixty-nine years of age, he endured the hardships incident to an explora- 
 tion of the whole line of the Western Canal route, and gave his personal 
 attention to the construction of new locks, repairing old ones, and 
 lemoving obstructions. His manuscript journal kept during that explo- 
 ration is before me, and is filled with vivid pictures of tlie labors and 
 jn-ivations which he then endured. To General Schuyler is undoubtedly 
 due the honor of the paternity of the canal system of New York, which 
 contributed so much to its prosperity. 
 
 Immediately after the war for iiulependence the city of New York — 
 the commercial metropolis of the State — began the task of I'ecuperation. 
 Fire had consumed a vast number of its dwellings ; its churches had 
 been desecrated and laid waste ; its commerce had been destroyed bj' 
 
350 
 
 THE EMl'lUi: SIATK. 
 
 tlio war, and its people had been estranged from cacli otlior liy diffur- 
 ciiees in political ()])iMions. Now York was compelled to l)Ufjiii life 
 anew, as it were. TIks tril)iite which it paid to the cause of human 
 freedom was large, Imt had heen most freely and cheerfully given. 
 
 The Whig refugees ruturiieil to the city, niany of them to find their 
 dwellings in ruins. The old ehartw' was resumed, and municipal govern- 
 ment was soon re-established. In I'cliruary, 17S4, James Duane,* an 
 
 ardent AV^ln'g, was chosen mayor. 
 .,- •- lie had found his dwelling on 
 
 his farm, near (present) (Tfamercy 
 Park, in ashes and his fortune 
 wrecked. Although the vitality of 
 the city had been paralyzed, yet 
 men — '' higli-minded men"' who 
 "constitute a tState," were left, 
 and their intluenee was soon mani- 
 fested in the visible aspects of pub- 
 lic spirit and tlie revival of com- 
 merce. Ihit not much was done 
 in the way of public, improvements 
 before the clo.se of the century. 
 
 One hundred years ago there 
 was only here and there a house 
 above ^Turray Street on the west 
 side of the city of New York, and 
 above Chatham Square; on the east side. Not a bank or insurance company 
 existed in the city. Wall Street was the seat of wealth, elegance, and 
 fashion. Its dwellings were chieHy of wood and roofed with shingles, 
 and the sides of many of them were of the same materials. Between 
 Broadway and the Hudson River above Reade Street might be seen 
 scores of cows belonging to the citizens grazing in the fields. In 170i> 
 the first sidewalks in the city were laid on each side of Broadway, 
 
 * James Diiaiu". was Ixirn in New York City in February, 1733. He inherited ii larjrc 
 estate in the lower Mohawk region, and began a settlement tliere in 1765. Duanesbur^^ 
 wa.s the i)rodiiet. He married a daugliter of Colonel Hol>ert Livingston. A memlH-r of 
 the tii-st Continental Congress, he was an active patriot all llirough the war that ensiieil. 
 lie was residing in New York City ill the brc'.-iking ont of the war : left il when the 
 Hritish took possession of it, Init returned inimcdiiitely after the Hritish evaeual<'d it. lb' 
 was made tlie first mayor under the new order of things. lie was a membir of th<- 
 State Coimei! of Appointment .-uid of the Senate, also of the convention that ralitied the 
 National Constitution. He was Vnited States District .Judge from 17(<9 to 1794. .Judge 
 Duane <lied at Duanesburg in February, 1797. 
 
 I.VMKS r)r.\NK. 
 
FEDERAL CKI.EBHATIOX IN NKW YOKIC. 
 
 351 
 
 l)et\veoii Vesey and Murray streets. They were of stone ami lirick, and 
 60 narrow tliat only two persons might walk abreast. 
 
 Tlie city was the seat of tlio National Government from 1785 until 
 1790, when it was transferred to Philadc'lj>liia. During tlie session of 
 the State Convention at I'oughkeepsie in the summer of 1788 the city 
 was much excited by the discussions of opposing factions. Congress 
 was then in session at New York. On July 8th, eighteen days before 
 the Constitution was ratified, its ardent friends in New York, feeling 
 confident of success, fitted \\]> a little frigate on wheels, and called it 
 
 jMit^J^i^Mim^. 
 
 TAHI.KS AT Till'-. FKllEltAI. DINNKK. 
 
 the Federal Ship ILn/u'/fon. It was conininmled by Connnodore 
 Nicholson and manned liy thirty seamen and mariners. Accompanied 
 by a great procession, it was drawn by ten horses from the Bowling Green 
 to Bayard's Farm, near Grand Street and the Bowery, where tables were 
 spread and dinner was provided for four or five thousand people. At a 
 circular table, which was a little elevated, were seated niend)ers of 
 Congress, heads of departments, foreign representatives, and other dis- 
 tinguished persons. From this table thirteen other taldes diverged, at 
 which sat the multitude. 
 
352 'II IK KMFIHE STATi:. 
 
 All Anti-Federal iie\vs[)ai)er (Greenleaf's Patriutic lieglster) lam- 
 pooned the profession and its promoters. The Federalists were j^reatiy 
 irritated, and wiieii the Constitution M'as ratitied a inoli broke into the 
 office of the offending newspaper and destroyed the press and types. 
 They then attacked tlie house of General Lamb, the Collector of tiic 
 Port,* in Wall Street. He had been forewarned, and was forearmed. 
 He had barricaded the lower story of his house, and with two or three 
 fri'Mids with muskets, in the second story, and iiis daughter, a young lady 
 from Connecticut, and a colored servant in the attic well supplied with 
 tiles and glass bottles to sliower on tiie heads of the rioters, they so well 
 defended the castle that tiie a.ssuilauts were compt'lluil to raise the siege 
 and retire discomfited. 
 
 The city of New York was several times scourged by yellow-fever. It 
 appeared there in 1742, but its most frightful ravages occurred during 
 the closing decade of the last century. It broke out in 1701, but it was 
 so late in the season that frosts soon checked it. In 1795 it slew 77ii 
 pereons. Its most fearful visit was in 1798, when it raged from July 
 until November, and killed 2100 persons in the city and 300 residents 
 who had lied from it. In 1799 and ISDO this plague prevailed, 1)ut in a 
 mild form ; but in 1S03 the disease slew about 000 pei"sons. When it 
 again broke out in 1805 witli much violence, so great was tlie panic that 
 one third of the population, then numbering 75,000, fled to the country. 
 
 The city was almost entirely exempted from this dreadful scom-go 
 from 1803 until IS 19. when yellow-fever raged there to a considerable 
 extent. It again appeared in 1822 and 1823, but in a comparatively 
 mild form. Since the latter year only sporadic ciises have been known. 
 It lias never appeared in the form of an epidemic. Tills disease never 
 originates or scarcely over exists north of the latitude of ihe city of New 
 York, uidess the seeds of the malady sliall l)e carried by fugitives from 
 the plague in lower latitudes. 
 
 * A part of Lamb'.s residence wiis used for the Custom Iloiise, the business of the pint 
 of New York not then being extensive enough to need the spaee or warrant the exiM-nse 
 of a separate building. 
 
THE FKDEHALISTS AND HEPUBLICANS. 353 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Gkorgk Clinton, the Tlepublicaii governor, was re-elected in the 
 spring of 1792, witli Pierre van Cortland as lieutenant-governor. The 
 opposing candidates were John Jay and Stephen van Rensselaer, the 
 latter a son-in-law of General Selniyler and the last of the patroons. In 
 the autumn of the same year presidential electors were chosen, and 
 Washington was re-elected hy the unanimous vote of the Electoral 
 College. 
 
 The dividing line between the two great political parties —Federalists 
 and Republicans — ^was now more distinctly drawn than ever, owing to 
 the influence of the French Revolution. When that great movement 
 l)egan, and until it had progressed some time, there was only one feeling 
 among Americans in regard to it, and that was earnest sympathy for 
 tlieir old ally. But when the movement fell under the control of violent 
 demagogues, and conservative men like Lafayette were driven from tlieir 
 country ; when the civilized world was shocked by the terrible excesses 
 of the Jacol)ins, many of the leaders of opinion in America paused. 
 Apprehending that the intrigues of the French and the generous sym- 
 pathy of the Americans might involve the young Republic in a European 
 war, they not only withdrew their sympatiiies, but soon went so far as 
 to denounce the original revolution. These were chiefly Federalists. 
 
 The Repul)licans, on the other hand, advocated the French Revolution 
 with great warmth, hailing its authors and promoters as friends and 
 l>rotliers. Tiiey wrongly charged the Federalists with hostility to the 
 ]Miiu-iples of the French Revolution, with friendship for their late 
 enemy. Great Britain, and even with anti-republican and monarchical 
 tendencies. This antagonism of opinion grew more and more intense 
 when, in the spring of 1793, £. C. Genet — " Citizen'' Genet, as he was 
 styled — arrived in this country as the representative of the French 
 Republic. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson, a member of Washington's Cabinet as Secretary of 
 State, was in France when the revolution there broke out, and he had 
 come home filled with admiration and love for the cause, which had not 
 then been stained b}' the outrages of the Jacobins. He expected to find 
 equal enthusiasm among his countrymen ; but when he reached New 
 York he was chilled bv the frigiditv which he encountered. He was 
 
354 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 cordially received by the wealthier and more refined classes of society at 
 New York, but these were composed largely of members of the old Tory 
 families, whose opinions, frankly spoken, often shocked him. He 
 became painfully sensitive, and he soon regarded the conservatism of 
 "Washington, Adams, Hamilton, and otiier conspicuous Federalists as 
 evidence of their nnfaitlifuhu'ss to the cause for which they had so zeal- 
 ously contended. Toward Ham- 
 ilton lie indidged positive dislike, 
 and considered him a dangerous 
 citizen. 
 
 By common consent ilr. Jef- 
 ferson became the leader of the 
 rapidly growing Republican Party, 
 which hailed with enthusiasm the 
 tidings of the death of the French 
 King, the ])roclamation of the 
 Republic with all its horrors, 
 the virtual declaration of war by 
 France against all monarchical 
 Europe, and its actual c-outpicst of 
 a part of the Netherlands, a friend 
 of the United States. Perceiving 
 the danger with which sucii blind 
 enthusiasm menaced the Repub- 
 lic, Washington issued a proclama- 
 tion of neutrality in the spring of 1793. It was bitterly denounced by 
 the French Party, as the Republicans were now called. 
 
 It was in the midst of this excitement in the public miiul that Citizen 
 Genet arrived* at Charleston, S. C, and in defiance of the proclama- 
 tion, proceeded to fit out privateers (which were manned chiefiy by 
 American citizens) to prey upon British commerce in our w^aters. One 
 
 * Edniuiiil Charks Gcni't was born at Versailles, France, in January, 17C3, and ilieil 
 at Greenbush, opposite Albany, N. Y., in .Inly, IXM. lie was a i)recoeious lad, who 
 early developed a taste and talent for literature, like his notable sister, Madame Campan. 
 He was attached to foreijrn embi».ssies in hi.s youth, and had been trained in the arts of 
 diplomacy before he came to America. As will be observed in the test, Ills conduct as 
 representative of the French revolutionists became very obnoxious to our Government. 
 Such changes took place in France that Genet dared not return. He remained in Xew 
 York, and married the danshler of Governor Georjro Clinton, and Iwcame one of the 
 best citizens of the conimonweallh. He was twice married, his .second wife being the 
 daughter of Mr. Osgood, the first Postma-sterGeneral under the Xalionat C'(mslltulion. 
 Fond of agriculture, he took great interest in its ])ursuit. His last illness was occiisioued 
 by attendance at a meeting of an agricidlural society of which he was president. 
 
 EDMUND C. OENET. 
 
THE MADXESS OF PARTISANSHIP. 355 
 
 of these — L' Amhu-wadt' — tlie fria;ate that broui'lit the minister to our 
 shores, went prowling up tlie coast, seizing EugHsli vessels, and pro- 
 ceeded to Philadelphia, bearing at her masthead and elsewhere liberty- 
 caps. She was greeted by a multitude of citizens witli " peal>; of exulta- 
 tion,"' Jefferson wrote to Madison. Genet soon followed. He had 
 received everywhere on his land journey demonstrations of delight. 
 He M'as met at the Schuylkill liy a crowd of citizens and escorted into 
 Philadel])hia, where he was entertained at a public banquet by his 
 liepublican friends before he had presented his credentials to the Presi- 
 dent of the ITnited States ! He had changed the name of L' A inhuscade 
 to Little Democrat, in French, and from that time the Ile]iublicans were 
 called '' ])eniocrats' ' in derision.* 
 
 Genet bore secret instructions from his Government to foment discord 
 between Great P>ritain and the United States, and to set the American 
 Government at defiance, if necessary, to accomplish his purpose ; and 
 yet when he presented his credentials to the President he uttered the 
 most vehement protestations of the peaceful and friendly intentions of 
 the French Republic. " Xothing," wrote Jefferson, "could be more 
 affectionate, more magnanimous than the purport of Genet's mission. 
 . . . He offers everything and asks nothing." But when Genet left 
 the presence of Washington the minister's pride was touched and his 
 hopeful ardor was chilled. He had found himself in an atmosphere of 
 the most profound dignity in that presence, and he was made to realize 
 
 * Madness appears to have seized some of the staid citizens of Philadelphia at that 
 inoraeut. The sympathizers with tlie French revolutionists at that banquet (May 2:W, 1793) 
 presented some strange scenes. GJovernor Mifflin was among the guests. The chief 
 music was the air of the "Marseillaise." A Liberty Tree crowned the table. The 
 flags of the two nations were fraternally enfolded. A red cap of liberty was tirst placed 
 on the head of Genet and then upon the head of each guest, who. while it rested there, 
 uttered some patriotic sentiment. A roasted pig on the table received the name of the 
 nnu-dered King of the French. The head of the pig was severed from the body and 
 carried round to each guest, who, after placing the liberty-cap on his head, pronounced 
 the word "tyrant," and proceeded to mangle with his knife the head of the luckless 
 porker ! Earlier than this, at a public dinner in Pliiladelpbia to celebrate the alliance 
 with France (February 6tli, 1TT8), a pike at the head of the table bore u|)on its point a 
 bonnet roiuje entwined with the flags of the two nations. 
 
 There was a strange political demonstration at Boston a few days earlier. An o.x was 
 roasted whole, decorated with ribbons, and Irarne in a procession through the streets on 
 a car drawn by si.vteen horses, followed by carts carrying sixteen hundred loaves of bread 
 and two hogsheads of punch, which were distributed among the people. Three hundred 
 citizens, with Samuel Adams at their head, sat down to a banquet. The children of all 
 the schools were paraded in the streets, to whom cakes were presented bearing the 
 stamped words. Liberty (mil Equality. 
 
 The citizens of Xew^ York did not indulge in such cxlrnvagances at that time. 
 
356 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 liis own littleness while standing beforo tliat noble representative of the 
 best men and soundest principles of the American Republic. He with- 
 drew from the audience abashed and subdued. lie had heard sentiments 
 of sincere regard for the French nation that touched the sensibilities of 
 his heart, and he had felt in the genuine courtesy and severe simplicitv 
 and frankness of the President's manner, wholly free from effervescent 
 enthusiasm, a witliering rebuke, not only of the adulation in ])ublic 
 places, but also c>f liis omu ])retentious aspirations and ungenerous 
 duplicity. He had already been rebuked by the action of more than 
 three hundred merchants and other substantial men in Pliiladeljiliia, 
 who on the day <if his arrival had signed and presented to President 
 AVasJiiiigton an addivss exjux'ssing tlieir unswerving loyalty to the letter 
 and spirit of his proclamation of neutrality. 
 
 The Republicans were irrepressible. In their infatuation they formed 
 Democratic societies in various cities, in imitation of the Jacobin 
 cluijs of Paris. Their operations were in secret, and their proceedings 
 were often extremely disloyal. In servile imitation of tlieir prototypes, 
 they adopted the peculiar phrases of the populace of Paris, and a power- 
 ful faction was soon visible in tiie Fnited States more French than 
 American in their habits of thought and political principles. 
 
 The Government went straight forward in the performance of its 
 duty, satisfied that it would be sustained by the great mass of the 
 American people. IJritish vessels 'captured by privateers were restored 
 to their owners ; American citizens acting as privateers were prosecuted ; 
 collectors at ports of the T^nited States were ordered to seize all priva- 
 teers that entered them ; Ciiiuf Justice Jay declared it to be the duty of 
 all Grand Juries to present for trial persons engaged in sucli violation of 
 the laws of nations : and tlie privateers v,-ere ordered to leave American 
 waters forthwitli. 
 
 Genet and bis American partisans were greatly irritated. Encouraged 
 by the disloyal faction, Genet vehemently protested against the acts 
 of the Government, and even threatened to " appeal from the Presi- 
 dent to the people'" — in other words, to incite an insurrection. He 
 actually began to fit out a privateer at Philadelphia, when Governor 
 Mitiiin, though a liepubliean, threatened to seize the vessel if he per- 
 sisted. Je(ferson soon found his French friend exceedingly troublesome. 
 He begged him to pause in liis outrageous career. Tiie minister refused 
 to listen, and raved like a madman. Jefferson, disgusted with his con- 
 duct, joined 'Washington in re(juesting the French Government to recall 
 their obnoxious representative. Genet went to New York, where he 
 was received with more enthusiasm, if possible, than at Philadelphia. 
 
CITIZEN GEXET IX XEW YORK. 357 
 
 lie WcOS welcomed by ringing of bells and salvos of cannon tired in honor 
 of the success of the Republicans of France. A great meeting had been 
 lield in the Fields (now City Hall Park), at which a committee of forty 
 had been ap.pointed to meet liini at Paulas Hook (Jersey City) and 
 escort him into the town. The Federalists, supported by the Chamber 
 of Connnerce, held counter meetings, denounced CTcnet's conduct, and 
 ■warmly endorsed the Proclamation of Xeutrality. 
 
 The Republican newspapers in Xew York had zealously espoused the 
 Frencli cause, and the minister was/iVrfZ and caressed to his heart's con- 
 tent. The liberty-cap was raised upon the flag-staff at the Tontine 
 Cotfee-IIouse ; tri-colored cockades were worn by many citizens ; the 
 Marseillaise Ilyinn was chanted and the cnrnuujnole'-'' was performed in 
 the streets. For a time Xew York seemed transformed into a French 
 city.f 
 
 Genet was recalled. A political change had taken place in France. 
 He was of the Girondist or more moderate faction, who nded when lie 
 came here. They had fallen, and the Jacobins were conducting the 
 dreadful Reign of Terror. He dared not return, so lie married a 
 daughter of Governor Clinton, and remained in the State of New York. 
 
 During the' Reign of Terror in France an immense number of its 
 wealthier and more refined jjopulation fled to other countries. America 
 became the favorite refuge for these emigres, and the city of New York 
 
 * A dance, witli sinsrinp;, performed in the streets of Paris during the Revohition. 
 f At a meetinir of the Democratic Society in Xew York the following song, com- 
 ])osi il In- Thelwall, an English Radical, was sung to the air of " God Save the King :" 
 
 ■' God save the Guillotine ! 
 Till England's King and Queen 
 
 His power shall prove ; 
 Till each anointed knob 
 Affords a clipping job, 
 Let no rude halter rob 
 
 The Guillotine. 
 
 "France, let thy truni])et sonml— 
 Tell all the world around 
 
 How Capet fell ; 
 And when Great George's poll 
 Shall in the basket roll. 
 Let mercy then control 
 
 The Guillotine. 
 
 ' When all the sceptred crew 
 Have paid their homage due 
 
 The Gullotine, 
 Let Freedom's flag advance 
 Till all the world, like France. 
 O'er tyrants' grave.'^ shall dance 
 
 And peace begin !" 
 
358 Tin; KMl'IKK STATi:. 
 
 ■\v;is their princij^ul resort. Tliuy producutl a seiisildc effect upon society 
 there. French fashions, French furniture, Frencii luiiuners and customs, 
 and the French language became prevalent. Even when the emigrants 
 M'ere jierniitted to return home after the downfall of Robespierre and 
 they had left this country, their inHuence continued to be felt in social 
 life in New York for many years. 
 
 The disloyalty and insubordination of the Republican faction, inaugu- 
 rated by the official acts of (ienet, were conspicuously manifested the 
 following year in the event known in our history as " The Whiskey 
 Insurrection ;" and the violence of political antagonisms was as conspic- 
 uously displayed in 17fi5, when the provisions of a treaty with Great 
 Ihitain, which Mr. Jay had negotiated, were made known. That treaty 
 was the result of an attempt on the part of the President to avert the 
 <'alamities of war with (Treat Britain, which circuinstaiioes seemed to be 
 engendering. The British Government hail failed in cDUiplying with 
 the treaty of peace of ITS-"), in giving up forts in the western country' 
 and in other matters. This event, on one side, and the hostile attitude 
 toward Great Britain and i)artiality for France of the Republicans, on 
 the other side, so menaced the peace between the two nations that 
 Washington sent Jay on the righteous errand to secure trampiillit}' and 
 justice. The Republicans opposed the mission as a cringing to Great 
 Britain and an affront to France, and when it was known that the treaty 
 had not secured all that the United States demanded, and especiall}' that 
 it bound our Government to a strict neutrality in all wars between Great 
 Britain and otlier nations (the spirit of the proclamation of neutrality), 
 there was a burst of indignation from the opposition which knew no 
 bounds for a while. They used the most strenuous efforts to induce the 
 President and Senate to refuse their ratification t)f the treaty. 
 
 Tlie first public demonstration in that direction was made in Boston. 
 An anonymous handl)ill was distributed throughout New York, calling 
 on the citizens to meet in front of the City Hall, in Wall Street, on July 
 18th (1795), to join the Bostonians in c.\])ressing their opposition to the 
 treaty. The meeting assembled. Aaron Burr, Chancellor Livingston, 
 and Brockholst Livingston (the latter a brother-in-law of Jay, who had 
 joined the Republican Party) were leadei*s of the op])osition. The 
 Federalists had gathered there in full force, and were led b}' Alexander 
 Hamilton and Richard Yarick.* They succeeded in electing a chairman 
 
 * TJivIiard Varick was a descendant f)f one of the earlier Diitcli settlers of New York. 
 He was horn in llackensack. X. .1.. in 1T.">:{. and died in New York City in .July. IHIil. 
 Wlien the war for independence broke out he was a younji lawyer in Xew York. He 
 entered the militarv service, and was General Schuvler's niililarv .secretary until after the 
 
JAYS TREATY. 
 
 369 
 
 from among tlieir mimlier, and tlien proposed to adjourn. Tlie Repub- 
 licans objected. Tlien it was moved tliat the disposition of the treaty 
 be left to the President and Senate. The f]uestion being taken, botli 
 sides claimed the majority, when a scene of violence ensued. Hamilton, 
 standing upon the elevated " stoop" of a Dutch liouse on the corner 
 of Wall and Broad streets, attempted to speak in defence of the treaty, 
 when lie was stoned, dragged to the ground by tlie Republicans, and 
 roughly handled in the street. A 
 motion was made to appoint a 
 committee of fifteen to report 
 three days later. It was pro- 
 nounced carried. Tlien the tumult 
 increased. Some jierson in the 
 crowd shouted : 
 
 " All you who agree to adjourn 
 to Bowling Green and burn the 
 British treaty will say Aye."' 
 
 There was a tremendous affirma- 
 tive response, and the excited o]>- 
 position ran, shouting, to the 
 Bowling Green, where a copy of 
 the treaty was burned beneatli the 
 entwined folds of the American 
 and French flags, while the car- 
 
 inagiiole was performed. At the adjourned meeting, on the 21st, attended 
 mostly by Repul)licans, a series of resolutions was adopted condemnatory 
 of the treaty. The next day the Chamber of Conmierce adopted counter 
 resohitions. 
 
 Mr. Jay was violently abused. He was denounced as a " traitor who 
 liad sold liis country for British gold." In Charleston the populace 
 trailed the British flag in the dust and burned it at the door of the British 
 con.sul. Some of the more violent Republicans longed for the guil- 
 lotine, while leaders in Virginia, ever ready with the panacea of dh- 
 
 .surrcndcr of Burgoyiie. He was inspector-geniTal at AVt'st Point until after tlie treason 
 of Arnold, when he became a member of "Washington's military family, and was his 
 recording secretary until the close of the war. After the British evacuated the city of 
 New York, in November, 1783, he was appointed recorder of that municipality, and held 
 llie ofHce until 1789, when he hecame attorney-general of the State, and subsequently 
 mayor of the city, which position he held until 1801, He had been associated with 
 Samuel Jones in making a revision of the laws of the State (1786-88). In 1787 he was 
 speaker of the Assembly, Colonel Varick was one of the founders of the American Bible 
 Sccietv and one of its most cflicient members. 
 
 lilCIIAIil) VAIIK'K. 
 
360 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 luiion, offered their prescription in vehement lanjjuage. The treaty was 
 rati tied in August, anil tiio elfervescence of ]»assion soon ceased. 
 
 These tnrl)nlent events in New York and elsewhere, and the snpport 
 given them by the secret Democratic societies, caused Washington to 
 dcnonnce secret associations as (hingcrous to the j)iil)lic welfare. Tiie 
 Tammany Society, or Coliiniliian Order, which had been formed at the 
 l)eginning of his administration as a patriotic and benevolent institution, 
 regarding itself as pointed at, and being largely composed of Repuldicans, 
 or Democrats, was transformed into a political organization in opposition 
 to the Federalists. It still exists, and plaj's an iin[)oi'tatit part in the 
 politics of the State of New York.* 
 
 In his message to the Legislature, which convened at Ponghkeepsie on 
 January 6th, 1795, Governor Clinton reminded that body that while 
 liberal provisions had been made for the endowment of colleges and 
 other higher seminaries of learning, no legislative aid had yet been given 
 to common schools. lie recommended that provisions be made for 
 their encouragement and improvement. This was the first official move- 
 ment in the State of New York for extending the fostering care of the 
 
 * Tlio Tammany Sooiety, or Columbian Oriler, was formi-d chiefly throusli the exertions 
 of William Mooney. an uiiholsterer in the city of New York, in Jl.iy. 1789. Its tirst 
 meeting was held on the VM\\ of tliat month, a fortnii;ht after the inauL^uration of Wash- 
 ington. It took its name from a great ami good Delaware chief, who was suiiposeil to 
 have been one of those who made the famous treaty with \Villiam Penn. He was revere<l 
 by the Delawares, and the early settlers called him " Saint Tammany," or Tameuantl. 
 He " loved liberty better than life," it w'as asserted, and the new soeietj' professed the 
 .same. The officers consisted of a grand sachem and thirteen inferior .sachems, represent- 
 ing the President and the governors of the thirteen Slates in the Union. There was also 
 a grand council, of which the sachems were members. It was patriotic in its influence 
 and very popular, and its membership comprised many of the best men of Xcw Yiirk. 
 For reasons given in the text. >Iooney and others adhered to the organization, but look 
 part with .Jetterson and the Democratic Party. They first met as a political organization 
 at Martling's Long Room, at the .south-cast corner of Xa.s.sau and Spruce streets. 
 They built a wigwam on the spot. The corner-stone of the hall wa.s laid in -May, 
 1811, and the building was completed the following year. The venerable Jacob Barker, 
 who died in Philadelphia in 1871, at the age of ninety-two years, was the last survivor of 
 the building conunittee. Tlie certificate of membership of the reorganized Tammany 
 Society bore a device of an arch composed of two cornucopias ; the supports, resting upon 
 a solid stone arch composed of eighteen blocks, represented the seventeen States and one 
 Territory then in the Union, that of Pennsylvania forming the keystone. Under the 
 cornucoi)ia arch are the words : 
 
 ■' Civil Liberty the Glory of yV.m. This Shewcth a Link of that Bright and La.sting 
 Cn.MN of Patriotic Friendship which binds together 
 
 The Sons of Tammany." 
 Then follows tlie certificate, with the seal and signatures of the grand sachem, s;igamore, 
 and .sentrv. 
 
THE COiLMUN-SCIlOOL SYSTEJI. 361 
 
 commonwealth to tliese most important institutions — far more important 
 to the welfare of the commonwealth than colleges and universities. 
 The Legislature heeded the recommendation of the governor, and at 
 that session passed a law appropriating annually for five years §50,000, 
 and directed the specific sums to be paid by the State treasurer to each 
 county. The act provided that the supervisors of the several counties 
 siiould apportion the money among the respective towns, and a sum 
 equal to one half the sum received from the State by the several towns 
 was recpiired to be raised I)y a tax in such towns and added to the bounty 
 of the State. The sum thus made up was to be distril)uted in each 
 school district, under the direction of the town commissioners. 
 
 A Literature Fund was created Ijy tlie operation of an act passed in 
 April, 1801, whicii authorized four lotteries, for the purpose of raising 
 $100,000 for tiio joint benefit of colleges, academies, and common 
 schools, but chiefly for the latter. This fund has been increased from 
 various sources from time to time. It was managed by the regents of 
 the University until 1832, when it was transferred to the comptroller for 
 investment, the Legislature appropriating the proceeds annually. 
 
 The State of New York has been and continues to be very liberal in 
 its provisions for popular education. Daring the closing year of the 
 first century of the Republic (1875) the expenditure from the public 
 treasury of the State for educational purposes amounted to about 
 Sll, 364,(1(10, of which amount about $2,960,000 were the proceeds of a 
 direct tax of 1^ mills for connnon schools.* 
 
 * There was no general system of primary edueatiou in the State of New York before 
 the Kcyohitionary ^Var. The scliools were chiefly of a private character, and eihieatiou 
 was confincil largely to the wealthier classes. In 17^9 an act was passed appropriating 
 certain portions of the public lands for gospel and school purposes. The regents of the 
 University in 1793 recommended the establishment of a general system of common 
 .schools, and this led to the recommendation of Governor Clinton in his message mentioned 
 in the text. In the spring of 1801 Judge Peck, of Otsego County, then a memlwr of the 
 Legislature, introduced a bill which by its provisions created the Literature Fund 
 mentioned in the text. 
 
 The great benefits of the common-school .S3"stem were immediately apparent, and 
 successive governors recommended the passage of new laws for tlie encouragement and 
 .siipport of common .schools. Nothing definite was accomplished until ISll. when five 
 commissioners were appointed to report a complete system for the organization and estab- 
 lishment of common schools. In 1812 the Legislature passetl a bill in accordance with 
 their report, under which Gideon Hawley was appointed State Suiieriutendentof Connnon 
 Schools. The office was abolished in 1821, and his duties were a.ssigned to the department 
 of the Secretary of State. In 1835 teachers' departments in aciidemies, one in each sena- 
 torial district — a sort of normal school — were authorized. In 1838 the school district 
 library system was established, and in 1841 the office of deputy superintendent was 
 created — in other words, county superintendent; and in 1843 the Board of Town 
 
'M>-i Tin; K.MiMiu; st.vtk. 
 
 Till' lioanl of lu>i;iMits of tlio Stsito of New \'ork ulliidod to was estah- 
 lislifil ill 1TS4, wlu'ii tilt' iiiiiiii' of Iviiiu's Colk-j^c was cliaii^etl to (-o- 
 liiiiiMa Colli'iji', and tliat in^Iilutioll was t^i l)c made llic <'ciitiT <d' a 
 (levisLMl t'Nti'iisivc system of rdm-aiioii. Suliordiiiatc lii-aiii'lics wero to 
 he ostalilishi'd in dilTerciit parts of tin- State, tlie wlioic to In- under tlie 
 C'onti'ol of tlie rej;;ents. The hoard was to lie eoiiiposed of tlie iii'iiu'i|ial 
 State ollieeiv- two persons from eacli eoniity, and one cliosen liy oacli 
 relii^iciiis denomination. Tlie iinmher of tlie rei^ents was afterward 
 ineroascd 1)V iiddinfr tliirty-tliroo otliors, twenty of whom were to reside 
 ill the city of Mew ^(ll•k. The autiioishii) of this selieme is attrihutod 
 to Alexander Hamilton, then in the .Vssemhly, assisted hy Ezra 
 l/lloiiiniedieii,* then in the Senate. It was foiiinl to lie imi)raetical>le, 
 and li\' an act |)a.ssod in iVpril, ITsT, it was siipei^seded l>y a sy.stem wliiidi 
 has eontiiiiied, with slijjlit inoditieations. until the ]iresent time. The 
 ollieeis of the hoard are a ehaiieellor, viee-elianeellor, and seeretary. 
 Tlioy liavo the <!;eiieral siiporvisioii of all the ediieatioiial institutions 
 of the State and the distrihutioii of a portion of the Literature Fund. 
 They appoint the lihrariaii and assistants <>( the State Lihrary and 
 a curator of the State (Jal)iiiet. Six nuMiihei's form a iiiiorum for the 
 transaction of hiisiness. 
 
 liotli (loNi'rnor Cliiiloii and i.ieiileiiaiil -( ioxenior \an ('orllandt de- 
 clined to he a candidate for re-eK'ctioii in the soriiiir of IT'.'-''. It was 
 
 Inspectors iind Srluml (\)inmissi()iu'rs wns iibolislipd and tlic olUcoof town .•itipcrintontlpul 
 was sulisliliilcil. Ill ISli II Slate iionniil sclinol wns cslalilislifd al .Mliany for Ilie 
 inslniilioii (if Iciii'lu'is, In Hie siiiiic vciir llu' ollli-c of louiily supi riiilciuliiil was iiliol- 
 islud. 1111(1 Icailu Ts' iiisliliili's wcir Icpilly cslnlilislictl. 
 
 Uy iicl of till' htirisliil lire ill Ilie siiviiii;' of I84!l free .scluiols were rslalilislicd lliroiisrli- 
 onl the ."^liilc, and Ilic coiuliliuii of llic liileliill .syslcm wasaliolislied. It was soon found 
 not lo woiU well in praeliee. The law was repealed in is.'d. and the rate hill syslem 
 was resion il. hi IS.'i;! I'liioii free schools were peniiilled under certain conditions. 
 
 hi the .sprinjr of IS.M llie olliee of snperintendeni of pulilie instruction was created — a 
 virtual rcsloralion of the olliee (illed liy (Sideon llawley from 181!t to 1801. hi IfCiri the 
 rejrenis of the I'liiversity were authorized to desisnate certain academies in the several 
 counties in which teachers' classes uiinhi lie tauiiht free, allowiiii: SjSlO for each pupil so 
 tausrhl, to a iniiiilier not cxeecdin?; twenty in each aeadeniy. The olliee of .school loinmis- 
 sioiier was created in ISrilt— really a leiiistatenieiit of the otHee of county superinleiident. 
 
 * K/.ra h'llomniedieu was horn al Soulhold, l.onsr Island, X. Y.. in .Viijiusl. 17;!4, and 
 died there in Septemlier, 1.><I1. lie was of a Ilii.irueiiot family from Hoehelle, Fiance. 
 K/ra was a lawyi'r, an active patriot, and a memlier of the New York Provincial I'on- 
 jrress, 17T5-TS. lie assisted in framinir the first Stale Constitution, and was for many 
 years a incmlier of the t'ontiiienlal Con.irro.ss. lie was also a Stale senator from 17S4 
 until ISdl). lie had In-en a memher of the Slate Assiemlily from 1777 lo 1783. Once he 
 was a meinher of Ihc Council of .VppointmenI, and he was a rejrenl of the I'niversity 
 from 17S7 until his death. In polilio he was a Fcdi'ialisl. 
 
PoI.lTICAl, cilANdlCS IN NKW VOliK 3G3 
 
 (■\iilciit tli;it llic liiiri'di's (if till' I'Vi'iicli IIcN'oluticdi liml lai';;'('ly dii'iiiiisliod 
 llu' miinluT ol' Ainoriciiii syiiii);itlii/.ri-s willi tliu fiiuso of tlio l'"rcimli 
 l;('|iiilili<';iiis, :niil tlici'i- sci'ini'il little dniilit, tliiil the I'V-ilcnilistK wore 
 niMiiil to iissunic |)oliliiMl coiit I'ol of llic St;it('. ('liiitoii luid hucii j:;()V- 
 criior, liy siu^ccssivc! re-clci'tions, siiici; 1777, and liiid served the puldie 
 with idiility iiiid faitld'uliiess. The I'Y'dendists luiiiuiiatcd John .lay foi' 
 the e\ahed stiilion. He \v;is then in I'hi^hind, hut was okx'ted iiv a 
 hirt;e majority, witii Stephen van UiiMssehicr (tlie |)atr<)on) as lieutenant- 
 ^•overnoi-. The I'oduralists also sociircd a uiajority in both branulics of 
 tlie lie^'islal nri^ 
 
 Xoni! Imt frotdioldors — men in piissession of jiroporty of a ])res('ril>ed 
 <'liaraeter and valnr — wei'c then allowed to voto. Thuru woro aiiout 
 :;r,,iiiio freelKildeis in the State. Of those, 2r),;-J7Heast their votes at that 
 eleetion. The western i)()rtion of the Slate had rapidly iiieroased in 
 population. Now eoiinties had lieen (jrfiani/.ed. l"\)rty-foiir senators 
 iiad to he chosen — a scon; moi-e than in 1777. Seventeen of the new 
 senators wore chosen fnnn the western disti'iet. 
 
 At the first session in (iovernor day's administration a hill was intro- 
 duced toi- the ^'I'ailnal alxdition of slavery in the Stitte of New York, a 
 measure in which the governor fcdt (lee|)ly interested. After a hinjj; 
 (h'liat(^ the hill was rejected in the Assemhiy hy the easting' vote of the 
 chairmiin of the Comnnttce of the Whole. 'I'Ik' vot(! stood '.':)i to lU . 
 
 Tii(! F(;deralists cunt inued to increase in numerical strenij;th, hut in tin; 
 ])residential canvass in 17'.lt! ( W'ashinijton having;' decdined to Ik; a candi- 
 date) tlier(! was a. division in the l'\'d(H'al i'arty as to thidr candidate, 
 .lolin Adams and 'i'liomas I'inckiu'V were nonunati^d h)' the I'\!deralists, 
 ami 'I'homas Jell'ei'son hy the li(!pul)licans. Tlu; State of NtiW "^'ork 
 iiave ;\danis its twidve votes in the Klectoral ('olle{i;e. lie was elected 
 I'l-esidcnt, with .Mr. delTi^rson as Vice- ['resident.* 
 
 Tlu! twentietli session of the Lcf^islatui'e convened at New York on 
 .Xovcndier 1st, ami sat till Novcndier I Itli. A secoml meeting heji'an at 
 Alhany (iu .lanuai-y L'd, i7'.'7, .lUil from that time until now tliat <!ity 
 has heen the political capital of the State. Durini;- this session the otKce 
 of comptroller was Krst created. The law made liini the liigliost linaneial 
 
 * rndcr llic Coiisiiliition ns nri.ifinally luloptod tlic candidiitcs for Prcsiilciil. luiil XUv- 
 I'lTsiilciil were vnlud liir in llic Klccloriil ('iillc;;i' iif cucli Sink', willimil (lcsi;iMiilinjt 
 uhicli 111!' clccler inlciidcd I'nr llic liisl mid wliicli lor llic second olllcc. [JhIs ol' llicsc 
 were liuiisiiiillcd lo llic seal iil' (iovcniiiiciil, anil llic iviiididalc liiiviiijr llic Kl'dlcst 
 Miiiiilicr of votes {of II iniijoiily of llic whole) hccaiiic I'nvsidciil, mid the one liiiviiif: llic 
 iicxi H'i'ciilcst minilicr Vicc-I'n'sidcnl. Tlic Twclflli ,\niciidniciil of Ilic CoMsliliilion 
 I limiur,.!! il,|. modi' of voIIiik for llic Iwo olllccis, llic clcclors hcinn rci|iiiicil lo voli> iiy 
 vcpm-iilc hallols for I'residciil anil Vicc-1'i'csldciil. 
 
304 THE E.MPIHE STATK. 
 
 officor of tlie State, and tlio treasurer merely a clerk to liiiu. .Sauuiel 
 Jones, a member of the Senate, Avas appointed hy the Council of 
 Appoiiitment tlie first comptroller of the State of New York. 
 
 On February (itli, ITOG, there Avas a notable celebration at New York 
 by the Republicans and the many French temporary residents of that 
 city, of the nineteenth anniversary of the treaty of alliance between 
 France and tlie United States. There were a bancpiet, speeches, and 
 toasts. Chancellor Livingston offered the sentiment : 
 
 '■ May tlio i>rcsent coolness between France and America produce, 
 like the (piarruls of lovei-s, a renewal of love." 
 
 The chancellor had l)een an ardent Federalist, but, with others of the 
 Liviuifston family, luid become !an Anti-Federalist in 1790, because, it 
 was said, of his oppt)sition to the views of Colonel Hamilton contained 
 in the famous report of the latter as Secretary of the Treasury, and es- 
 pecially those in I'elation to the funding of the natioiud debt. The 
 change was attributed also by his political antagonists to his disappoint- 
 ment in not having been nuide Chief Justice of the United States. 
 
 The coolness between France and the United States alluded to by 
 Livingston continued to increase until, during the administration of John 
 Adams, both nations prepared for war, and hostilities upon the ocean 
 actually occurred ; yet neither party made a declaration of war. Bona- 
 parte overturned the republican government of France in 1T90, and in 
 the earlier ])ortion of tlie opening year of the nineteentli century there 
 was peace and friendsiup lietween Franco and the United States. 
 
 The llepnlilican Party had lieeii making desperate efforts to maintain 
 its ascendency. A wide breach in the Federal Party promised it success 
 in the spring of ll'M, but a dishonorable transaction of Colonel Aaron 
 i'.urr, who was at the head of the Republican ticket in New York City, 
 caused its defeat. The stock of the Bank of New York, chartered in 
 IT'.tl — the first bank established in the State — happened to be ehielly 
 owned by Federalists. After the election of Adams to the presidency, 
 in 1707, i)arty spirit Avas nowhere so violent as in the State of New York. 
 Suspicion was on the alert. The Republicans suspected the Federalists 
 of using the funds of the bank for partisan purposes, and they deter- 
 mined to procure a charter for another bank that should l)e under 
 Republican control. As the majority of the mendiers of the Legislature 
 were Federalists, they saw tiie necessity of adroit management to obtain 
 a charter. This was left to Colonel Burr, who was e(pial to the occasion.* 
 
 * Aaron Burr was born at Newark, N. J., February 6th, 1756 ; died on Staten Island. 
 X. Y.. Scplembcr 14th, 1836. At the ago of nineteen years he entered the Continental 
 army at Cambridge as a private soldier, and accompanie<l Arnold in his exjiedition 
 
THE JIANHATTAN WATER COMPANY. 
 
 365 
 
 The yellow-fever luid devastated tiie city of Jsew York in ITDS. Its 
 general prevalence was attributed to the use of unwholesome water. 
 Colonel Barr originated a scheme ostensibly for the cure of the evil, 
 lie drew up and presented to the Legislature a bill for the chartering of 
 a company for " supplying the city of New York with pure and whole- 
 some water." As the amount of the capital which might be needed was 
 uncertain, he asked for authority 
 to raise 82,000,000. As that sum 
 would probably not be absorbed in 
 the construction of the water- works, 
 he asked for a provision that the 
 " surplus capital might be employ- 
 ed in any way not inconsistent with 
 the laws and Constitution of the 
 United States or of the State of 
 New York." This request ap- 
 peared reasonable. Under the 
 authority of these few words the 
 Manhattan Company, as the cor- 
 
 1)oration was called, was ii;iven ' . / fr; -i > m L < ^SV / 
 
 banking privileges — really the chief 
 ol)ject to be attained by the charter. 
 The bill was rushed tiirough the 
 Legislature at near the close of the 
 session, the greater number of the 
 
 members having no suspicion that they were chartering a powerful 
 banking institution under the control of Burr and other Republican 
 leaders. Such was the origin of the Maniiattan Bank in the city of 
 Xew York, which still exists. Water- works were established by the 
 corporation, but were inadequate for the promised service. This trick 
 
 
 
 -V.VRON BUUH. 
 
 thvoiifrh tlie ^Viklernc•ss to Quebec. On the way he was .seut with despatches to General 
 3Iontguiueiy, anil johiiil .Vruold at the siege of Quebec. In the spring of 17T(i Burr 
 joined Washington's military family, but soou left it, and in 1779 retired from military 
 life and became a lawyer and an active politician. He was twice a member of the New- 
 York Legislature (1784. 1798). He was adjutant-genera! of the State in 1789, and United 
 States .senator from 1791 to 1797. In 1801 he was chosen Vice-President of llie United 
 Slates. In 1804 he was ruined politically and socially by his .slaying of Alexander Ham- 
 ilton in a duel. In ISOo-lSOO Burr was engaged in a supposed treasonable .scheme in the 
 Jlississippi Valley, and was tried and acquitted — " not proven." He lived abroad several 
 years, returning to New York in 1812, where he resumed the practice of the law, living 
 in obsevuily and comparative poverty. In 1834 he married a wealthy widow of a 
 Frenchman, but tliey soon parted. 
 
366 TIIK KMP1KI-; STATE. 
 
 produced widespread indignation, and, as we Iiave observed, caused the 
 defeat of tlie Uepublicans in Mie city and tlirougliout tlie States. 
 
 A young man, notable for the dignity of his personal presence, 
 appeared on tlie stage of political action as a nieniljer of the Assembly 
 in 171)7, who afterward I)ecanie a leading tigure in tiie history of New 
 York. lie was Do Witt Clinton, son of General James Clinton, a 
 graduate of Columbia College, and having the reputation of high scho- 
 lastic attainments, and then twenty-eight years of age. lie had been the 
 private secretary of his nncle, the governor, and had already engaged, 
 witli his pen, in political discussions. It was hoped titat he would join 
 the Federal Party ; hat he did not. He was a conspicuous Republican 
 leader until the " era of good feeling" — the period of the dissolution of 
 the two great parties — during Jlonroe's administration. We shall meet 
 him very frequently hereafter. lie took an active part in New York in 
 the presidential canvass of ISOH, which resulted in the triumph of the 
 Republicans in the State and nation. Jefferson and lUirr were rival 
 candidates nominated by the Republicans, and John Adams was tlie Fed- 
 eralist candidate for re-election. Jefferson and Burr having an e(jnal 
 number of votes, the choice was made by the House of Representatives. 
 It was given to Jefferson, and Burr became Vice-President. A jubilant 
 Democratic rhymer of the day wrote : 
 
 " The Federnlists are down at la.st ! 
 Tlie Monarchixts conipleteh' cast ! 
 Tlie Antocmts are .slriitped of power — 
 Storms o'er the Biitiuli f(ii-(iniix lower. 
 Soon we Rtpiihlimiin shall see 
 Columbia's sons from bondage free. 
 Lord ! how the FederaliKts will stare 
 At .Ieffeuson in An.ois' chair !" 
 
 From that time the Republicans were generally called " Democrats," 
 and so we will designate them hereafter. 
 
 Washington had died at near tiie close of the previous year ( Decemlier 
 1-ith, li^yj. The event cast a gloom over the whole country, for he 
 was beloved by the nation. The asperity with which lie had been 
 ass;iiled by political antagonists had already been transformed into pro- 
 found respect and reverence. His death was felt as a national calamity- 
 — an irreparable loss. It was especially so to the Federalists, with whom 
 he was identitied, for his name was a tower of strength. After his 
 death the party was weakened by factions. The most imposing funeral 
 honors were paid to the memory of Washington everywhere. In the 
 city of New Y''ork particularly all parties joined in expressions of pro- 
 found and tender regard. 
 
XEW YORK IN THE YEAR 1800. 367 
 
 CHAPTEE XXVI. 
 
 At tlic begiiiiiini;' of tliis century tlie popubitioii of the State of Xew 
 York was 589,000, ami of tlie city of Xew York, its coinmercial metrop- 
 olis, it was no, 000. The decidedly Dutch aspect of tlie city in architec- 
 ture and social manners had almost disappeared. The houses, the furni- 
 ture, the amusements, and the dress of the people were imitations of 
 English life. To London the ladies and gentlemen looked for fashions, 
 and even in the Dntcli Reformed churches the language of Holland was 
 now seldom heard in the pulpit. Xew York was a complete trans- 
 formation of Xew Amsterdam. 
 
 Tiiat metropolis, now (1SS7) numijering, with its suburl)an munici- 
 palities, fully 2,500,000 inhabitants, was then only a large village in com- 
 parison. Its northern boundary on the west "was Harrison Street, some 
 distance below Canal Street ; on the east, Rutgers Street, and at the 
 centre by Anthony (now Worth) Street. Xorth of there, and extending 
 from river to river over a hilly country, were fields and orchards, farm- 
 houses and pretty country-seats. Broadway, which crossed by a stone 
 arched bridge the little sluggish stream that passed between the Fresh 
 Water Pond (where the Tombs, or Halls of Justice, now stands) and tlie 
 Hudson River, througli Lispenard's oozy meadows on the line of Canal 
 Street, was terminated by a jMcket- fence across the road at Astor Place. 
 That was the southern boundary of the farm of Captain Randall, the 
 founder of the Sailors' Snug IIarl)or, who gave it for an endowment 
 for that institution. From near this point the Boston Road led, by 
 a crooked way, to Harlem, which liad been founded by the early Dutch 
 settlers. There Dutch farmers were seated, and on Harlem Plains tliey 
 raised vegetables for the traders at Xew Amsterdam. The Middle 
 Road, beginning at the Randall farm, also extended to Harlem by a 
 devious w-ay, to avoid rocks and morasses, and the King's Bridge, or 
 Bloomingdalo Road, extended l)y present Central Park and Manhat- 
 taiiville to the famous bridge which spanned Spuyten Duyvil Creek. It 
 was the beginning of the post road to Albany. 
 
 On the site of Washington Square, a portion of which was a swamp, 
 was the new Potter's Field, a bnrial-phice for paupers and strangers. 
 The Jews' burial-ground was near Chatham Square, and the negro burial- 
 ground was at the north-east corner of Broadway and Chambers Street. 
 
3C8 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Burial-grounds were also attached to tlie suvltuI c-hurclies. I !iiii;ils Kolaw 
 Canal Street were prohibited in 1S13. 
 
 There were two little villages on the Hudson River (Greenwich and 
 
 NEW YOUK COSTUMES AT TIIK BE(iINSINti OF THE XIXETEENTH CENTlltY. 
 
 Chelsea), not far nortii of the city pro])er. At Greenwich was the 
 States Prison, a strong stone building. It was the second States prison 
 built in the Ignited States. At the foot of Park Place was Columbia 
 
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF NEW YORK CITY. 
 
 3 09 
 
 JOHN CRrGER.t 
 
 College ; and on Broadway, between Pearl and Diiane streets, was the 
 New York Hospital, chartered in 1771. The oidy medical school in 
 the citj was the Medical Faculty of 
 Columbia College. 
 
 The benevolent institutions were 
 tlie Chandler of Commerce ; * the 
 Marine Society, for the benefit of the 
 families of seamen ; the Humane 
 Society, for the relief of distressed 
 debtors and of the poor in general ; 
 the Manumission Society, composed 
 chiefly of Friends, or Quakers, de- 
 signed for the amelioration of the 
 condition of the slaves and the ac- 
 complishment of their freedom ulti- 
 mately ; the Sailors' Snug Harbor, 
 for the comfort of decrepit and worn- 
 out seamen ; the General Society of 
 Mechanics aud Tradesmen, for the 
 
 benefit and relief of the families of necessitous mcnd)ers ; the Society of 
 the Cincinnati ; the Tammany Society, already mentioned ; a Dispensary, 
 
 * This most useful organization was formed in 1TC8 at tlie Queen's Head Tavern, 
 afterward Fraunce's Tavern, wliere Washington parted witli his otticers, and yet stand- 
 ing, at the corner of Pearl and Broad streets. It was founded by twenty leading mer- 
 chants, .some of whom afterward appeared conspicuous in public affairs. They avowed 
 the purpose of the association to be "promoting and extending all just and lawful 
 commerce, and for affording relief to decayed members, their widows and children." It 
 was incorporated in ilarch, 1T70. The following are the names of the original members : 
 John Cruger, Elias Desbrosses, James Jauncey. Jacob Walton, Robert JIurray. Hugh 
 Wallace, George Folliot, William AValton, Samuel Verplanck, Theophylact Bache, 
 Thomas Wliite, Jliles Sherbrook, AValtcr Franklin, Robert Ross AVaddel, Acheron 
 Thompson. Laurence Kortright, Thomas Randell, AVilliam McAdam, Isaac Low, and 
 Anthony van Dam. John Cruger was the first president. Robert ^Miirra^- and Walter 
 Franklin represented the Quaker element in the commercial features of New York. Its 
 sittings were interrupted when the British took possession of tlie city in 1776, but in 1779 
 the Tory members who remained in the city met at the Merchants' Coffee-House, corner 
 of Wall and Water streets, and renewed the sessions. It was rechartered by tlie State 
 Legislature in 1784, and its first president was John Alsop. The Waltous were among 
 the most eminent and opulent merchants of the city. The Walton House, on Franklin 
 Square, was long the most magnificent dwelling in the city of New York. It is now 
 devoted to the uses of various kinds of business. It is opposite the pulilishing house of 
 Harper & Brothers. 
 
 ■|- John Cruger was mayor of the city of New York when the Chamber of Commerce 
 wa,s founded, and the next year (176.5) was speaker of the Assembly from 1709 to 1775. 
 During the perilous time just preceding the outbreak of the Revolution liis infiuence was 
 
3T0 Tin; K.Ml'lKE STATE. 
 
 Oil Trynii How, not fur from tlie site of tlie (present) City Hall ; tlie St. 
 Aiulrew'.s Society, and severii! Masonic Ludjijes. 
 
 Tliere were twenty-six cinirclies in tlie cit}- — namely, 3 Dutch Re- 
 formed, 1 (Tcrinan Kuformed, 7 Protestant Episcopal, 1 l>utlieraii, 
 5 Presbyterian, 2 Baptist, 3 A[etliodist, 1 Moravian, 1 Friends' Jlect- 
 inj^-IIouse, 1 Ilonian Catholic, and 1 Jews' Synat^ogue. The only 
 public lii>rary in the cit}' was the Society Library, founded in 1754r. The 
 Post-Ottice M'as kept in a room of the dwellino; of the postmaster (Gen- 
 eral Bailey), on the corner of William and CTarden streets, and contained 
 one hundred boxes. There was only one theatre in the city. The 
 Maidiattan Water Company had a distributing reservoir on Chambers 
 Street, then quite " out of town." 
 
 The most noted of the country-seats on Manhattan Island were those of 
 Hoger Morris, on Harlem Heights ; of Robert [Murray, on the Tnchberg 
 (now Murray IWW) ; the Apthorp Mansion, on the Bloomingdale Road ; 
 "The Grange,'' llamiltoirs residence near Carmansville, yet (1S,S7) 
 standing, and of Richmond Hill, at the junirtion of Charlton and A'^arick 
 streets, then the residence of Colonel Aaron Burr. 
 
 Such is an outline picture of the city of Kew York less than one 
 Imndrt'd years ago. 
 
 The State Constitution made no provisions for its own alteration or 
 amendment. A necessity for an amendment appeared at the beginning 
 of this century. In accordance with its provisions, the members of the 
 Legislature, and particularly of the Senate, were increasing in numbers 
 to a degree that was already inconvenient. Governor Jay, in his speech 
 at the opening of the session of the Legislature, in January-, ISOl, called 
 the attention of tliat body to the subject. Having no legal power under 
 the Constitution to order a convention, to consider amendments, they 
 recommended such a convention, to consist of delegates from the several 
 counties, crpial in nund)er to the members of the Assembly. It was 
 done. The deligates were chosen in .\ugust, aiul assembled at ^\.lbany 
 on Octolier 13tli. .Varoii l!urr was chosen President of the con- 
 vention. It remained in session until the '2~th. and adopted, liy unani- 
 mous vote, an amendment pro])osed by i)e Witt Clinton, which provided 
 that the number of the members of the Assembly should never exceed 
 one hundred and fifty, and of the Senate, thirty-two. At that time 
 
 * 
 
 powiil'iil ill iiKiiiilaiiiiiii: publii- ordcv iiinonjr the cili/.cns of Xcw York. He was an 
 active iiU'inlxT of tlio Stamp Act C'onirrcss in 170"), and prepared its famous Declaration 
 of Ki.irlits. lie wa.s also a prominent member of the New York Provincial Con^'ress, 
 1775. Mr. Cruder left the city before the British took possession of il in 17Tt!. He died 
 in New Y'ork C'itj' in 1791-9"-. al the aire of eighty year.s. 
 
POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF TWO FAMILIES. 371 
 
 there wei'8 oiio Imudrod asseiiihlyniun. An aiueiulfiient was adopted 
 requiring an increase of asseiriblymen, at the rate of two each year — 
 after tlie return of every census — until the whole ininibor should amount 
 to one hundred and fifty. The people ratified the auiendments. 
 
 The Democrats now lield the political ascendancy in the State and the 
 nation. E.k- Governor (leorge Clinton was elected Governor of New 
 York, and in February, 18(>3, his nephew, De Witt Clinton, was chosen 
 to fill the place of General Armstrong (who had resigned) in the Senate 
 of the United States. Clinton was then about thirty-three years of age. 
 Tie was also a member of the Council of Appointment, and was regarded 
 as one of the ablest of the younger public men of the State. 
 
 Colonel Curr, the Clintons, and the Livingstons M-ere then the ac- 
 knowledged leaders of the Democratic Party in the State ; but Burr's 
 popularity had already begun to wane. His ambition had impelled him 
 to acts which rendered him an object of .suspicion and the am'madver- 
 sions of leading members of his party. Tlie Clintons and the Livingstons 
 disowned him as a Democrat, and on the distribution of the great ofliees 
 of the State by the Council of Appointment not one of Burr's friends 
 received a place. 
 
 The Democratic Council of Appointment divided the offices among 
 the two leading families in the State — the Clintons and the Livingstons 
 — and their immediate friends. Edward Livingston was created Mayor 
 of New York City. The Secretary of State was removed in order to 
 make a place for Dr. Tillottson, a lirother-in-law of Chancellor Living- 
 ston. Morgan Lewis, another brother-in-law, was made Chief -Justice 
 of the State Supreme Court ; General Armstrong, another brother-in- 
 law of the chancellor, was appointed United States Senator. Brockholst 
 Livingston and Smith Thompson (the latter married a Livingston) were 
 created Judges of the Supreme Court. These persons, connected with 
 the Livingston family by marriage or otherwise, were all able men. 
 Governor (.'linton had declared, on taking office again, that the heads of 
 State Departments especially and the incumbents of minor offices 
 should be men in political accord with the majority of the voters who 
 appeared at the poles. This was a mild expression of the political maxim 
 enunciated long years afterward — " To the victors belong the spoils."' 
 
 ('hancellor Livingston having been disrpialitied by age to hold the 
 office of chancellor longer. Judge John Lansing succeeded him, and 
 Mr. Livingston was appointed by President Jefferson Minister at the 
 ( 'ourt of the First (Consul of France, where he negotiated the purchase 
 from that power of the immense territory known as Louisiana, for 
 s;!,( )(((), 000. 
 
372 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 In the summer of 18o2 a most bitter political and personal warfare 
 was wa_s:;ed between Colonel Burr and bis partisans, and the Clintons and 
 Livingstons and their adherents. The latter established a newspaper, 
 called the Americati Citizen, as the organ of the Democratic Party, 
 which was under the control of De Witt Clinton. It bitterly charojed 
 Iiiirr with ti'eason to tiie Democratic cause, and also with iiitriiruiiii' with 
 the Federalists to prevent the election of Jefferson, in order to secure 
 for himself the j)residential ciiair. An EnglisJunaM named Cheatham 
 was the editor-in-chief. To meet this formidable opponent in l>attle. 
 Colonel Burr and his friends established the Morniiuj Chronicle, edited 
 by Peter Irvinii', an elder brother of Washington Irving. 
 
 The CItronicle carried the war into the camp of the Clintons and Liv- 
 ingstons witli great vigor. It charged thein with inordinate personal 
 ambition ; with endeavoring to exercise dictatorial power over the Dem- 
 ocratic Party, and appropriating to themselves the spoils of tiie political 
 victories. It affirmed that they were jealous of Burr, and wished to get 
 rid of him, l)ecause he was an obstacle in the way of their efforts to 
 place a member of one of their families in the exalted position (Vice- 
 President of the United States) then filled by the colonel, and ulti- 
 mately in the principal chair. So heated did the controversy become, 
 that the two sections of the Democratic Party became personally hostile. 
 
 Burr's opponents managed to gain control of the Manhattan Bank 
 (already mentioned), and wielded its power against him and his friends. 
 Coloncd John Swartwout, one of Burr's most devoted partisans, was 
 turned out of the direction of the bank. Though his private character 
 was unimpeachable, De Witt Clinton — who was too apt to speak of every 
 man who opposed him as a knave or a fool — spoke of Swartwout as a 
 "liar, a swindler, and a villain." Swartwout challenged Clinton. A 
 duel ensued. Five shots were exchanged. Xobodv was hurt. Richard 
 Kiker. afterward the famous Pecorder of the city of New York, was 
 Clinton's second and warm personal friend. He so vigorously defended 
 Clinton, through the press, that a brother of Swartwout challenged 
 Piker. 
 
 In a duel that ensued, Piker was so severely wounded that he was 
 lamed for life.* 
 
 * Kieliarfl RikiT was loiitj a conspicuous fisure in official life in Xcw York. He wa.s 
 born on Lonjr Island in ScptcnilKT. 1TT3. upon land ceded to his ancestor. GeyslxTt Riker. 
 in KilJO. His father wiis an active patriot of the Revolution of 1775-83. AVhen (|uile a 
 youni; man Richard was made Attorney-General of the State of New York. He wji-s 
 first chosen Recorder of the city in 1815. He was ajrain chosen in 1821 and 1824, 
 serving fourteen years successively iu his last term. He died in October. 1S42. Sir. 
 
SCHISM IN THE DEMOCKATK' PARTY. 373 
 
 Cheatham published a paiiqildet against Burr, and Wilham P. Van 
 Ness (Burr's second in his duel witli Ilaniiltuu) puhlislied in the same 
 form, over tiie signature of " Aristides," a most violent attaeic upon the 
 character of the whole Livingston family. lie also attacked De Witt 
 Clinton and Ambrose Spencer \vith special severity. 
 
 In forming a judgment concerning this virulent controversy, it may 
 be well to remember the words of Lady Betty Germain — " 1 have lived 
 long eiuuigh never wholly to believe any side or party again.st the other." 
 
 This schism in the Democratic Party in the State vexed tlie leaders a 
 long time. Colonel Burr lost the confidence of his party not only at 
 home, but at the national capital ; but the continually increasing majori- 
 ties of the party at every election inspired his friends with hope. They 
 resolved to bring out Burr as a Democratic candidate for Governor of 
 New York against any regular Jiominee of the party. In Febriuiry, ISOi, 
 his friends in the Legislature held a meeting at Albany, and formall3' 
 nominated him. A meeting in New York City ratified it. Tliere being 
 no chance for the election of a Federalist, leaders of that party proposed 
 to take up Burr as their candidate, so as to defeat the Democrats by the 
 coalition. 
 
 At a private meeting of Federalists for con.sultation, held at Albany a 
 few evenings after Burr's nomination. General Alexander Hamilton, 
 then on legal business at Albany, took a conspicuous part. He advo- 
 cated voting for Chancellor Lansing, in case they had no candidate of 
 their own, declaring that no reliance ought to be placed on Colonel 
 Burr. He rejieated his declaration in substance at a private dinner-table. 
 One of the guests on that occasion (Dr. Cooper), in a letter to a friend, 
 repeated the substance of Hamilton's remarks in such a careless use of 
 words that they conveyed the erroneous impression that they impeached 
 the private character of Burr. He wrote that both Hamilton aiid Judge 
 Kent* looked upon Burr as a dangerous man, and one who ought not to 
 
 Rikcr was one of the most notable of the recorders of the city — etVicieiil, amiable, just, 
 and beloved by everybody. Fitz-Greene Halleck wrote : 
 
 " My Dear Rerorder, you and I 
 
 Have floated down life's stream together, 
 And kept unharmed our friendship's tie 
 Through every change in Fortune's slcy, 
 * Her pleasant and her rainy weather." 
 
 * .James Kent was born in Putnam (llien a part of Duehess) County in .July, 1763. 
 He wa.s graduated at Yale College : became a lawyer and ;i profound jurist ; in i)olities 
 he wa.s a Federtilist, and in ITitl mtide New York City his residence, where he formed an 
 intimate friendshi]) with Colonel Iliimilton. He became a judge of the Supreme Court 
 of New York in 179H and chief justice in 1804. In 1S14 he became chancellor, retired 
 
374 
 
 Tin: KMl'IHK STATK 
 
 l>u trusted witli the reins vf goveriiiMCiit, and ;idded : " I could detail ti. 
 yon a still more des|)ical)le opinion which General Hamilton lias ex- 
 pressed of iJurr." This letter was shown to many politicians before the 
 election, which took place in April, and soon after that event it found 
 its way into the newspapers. ^lany Federalists voted for Burr, hut lie 
 was defeated l>y a large majority of votes given to Morgan Lewis,* the 
 
 regular nominee of the party. lie 
 attributed his failure to gain the 
 ))rize to the adverse influence of 
 Ilamiltoii. When he saw Cooper's 
 letter in the newspapers his indig- 
 ii;ition knew no bounds. lie at 
 once wrote a note to Hamilton 
 (June isth, 18»)4), demanding a 
 " prompt and unqualified acknowl- 
 edgment or denial of the use of any 
 expression which would warrant the 
 assertions of Mr. C(joper."' An 
 unsatisfactory correspondence en- 
 sued. Burr finally challenged 
 Hamilton to fight a duel. The lat- 
 ter did all in the power of an 
 honorable man to avoid a personal 
 Yielding to the then prevailing public 
 opinion about the miscalled code of honor, Hamilton, in violation of his 
 moral and religious convictions, felt com(>elled to accept the challenge. 
 His son Phiiij) was killed in a duel not long before. 
 
 < >ii the morning of July lltli, ls<i4, the l)elligerents crossed the 
 Hudson in boats to the duelling-ground at Weehawken, with their 
 
 <^r:-^jy 'f'4' f^^ 
 
 MOKllAN l.KWIS. 
 
 renronfre. Burr was persistent. 
 
 frf)in tile office in 1823. ami bceamu law i>rofcssor iu Columbia College the secoml liiiii'. 
 His C'omiiieiitaiies on Aimiiraii Ijiir, four volumes, is a standard work. He died in 
 >'ew York in DeccmlxT. 1847. 
 
 * Morgan Lewis was born in New York City in October. 1T54, and died there in April. 
 1844. He was a son of Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He 
 was educated at Princeton ; studied law with. John .lay ; entered the Continental army at 
 Cambridge in June. ITTo, and was a gallant soldier, serving faithfully until ITStl. when 
 he left the army, having iM'en promoted to colonel on the staff of GJeneral Gates. He 
 began the practice of law in Drichess County, N. Y. ; married a sister of Chancellor 
 Livingston : U'came a judge : attorney-general of the State in 1701 : justice of the State 
 Supreme Coiui and chief justice in 1801. He was Governor of the State in 18<>4 : wius 
 made quartermaster-general with the rank of brigadier in 1812, and major-general in 
 1813. He served well during the war. Late in life he devoted himself to literature and 
 agriculture. In 1835 he wjus president of the New York Historical Society. 
 
DEATH OF IIA.AIILTON— JIILITAKV AC'ADEJIY. 375 
 
 ret:pective seconds — Mr. Van Ness with Burr, Mr. Pendleton with 
 Hamilton. The chosen weapons were pistols. At the c(iven word 
 Burr took deliberate aim and gave his antagonist a fatal wound. The 
 latter did not fire, at Burr. The wounded statesman was taken across 
 the river to the home of liis friend, Colonel Bajard, at Greenwich, 
 where lie died in the afternoon of the following day. The Federal Party 
 in Xew York thus lost its most efficient leader, and the nation was de- 
 prived of a iiiighty pillar of support. The remains of Hamilton rest in 
 Trinity Churchyard, near Broadway. 
 
 The death of Hamilton at the hand oi Burr created the most intense 
 excitement anaong all classes of society, first in the city of New York 
 and then throughout the Eepublic. It was regarded as a deliberate 
 murder. The recollection of Hamilton's past services, his transcendent 
 abilities, his marvellous powers for usefulness as a citizen, caused uni- 
 versal mourning among his countrymen. Even his political enemies 
 dropped a tear of sensibility. 
 
 At the moment when Hamilton fell Burr became politically dead. 
 He fled from righteous wrath, and became a fugitive. At length he 
 ventured to engage in some jnysterions scheme — treasonable it was 
 believed — for his own aggrandizement. He was arrested, and tried on a 
 charge of treason, but escaped conviction. It was virtnaily a Scotch 
 verdict — '' Not proven." lie lived thirty years afterward in obscurity. 
 
 At near the close of the last century a National Military Academy 
 was founded at West Point, among the Hudson Highlands, with pupils 
 composed of cadets attached to corps of artillerists and engineers then 
 stationed there for the purpose. Its first commander, or superintend- 
 ent, was Major Jonathan AVilliams. The institution rapidly grew in the* 
 luimber of the pupils and in tangible usefulness. The Academy was 
 reorganized in 1812, when the number of cadets was limited to two 
 hundred and si.xty. Then the broad foundation upon which the institu- 
 tion now rests was laid. The first graduate of this military academy 
 was the late General Joseph G. Swift, under whose directions the forti- 
 fications on and around New York or Manhattan Island were constructed 
 during the War of 1812-15. 
 
 The election of Judge Lewis Governor of the State of New York left 
 the office of Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court vacant. James Kent 
 was soon afterward appointed to fill the seat, and Daniel D. Tompkins 
 was created Associate Justice. Mr. Jefferson was re-elected in the 
 autumn of 1804, with George Clinton as Vice-President. 
 
 In a special message in January, 1805, Governor Lewis urged the ap- 
 plication of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands of the State (one 
 
.•iTfl 
 
 THE KJIl'lKl-: STATE. 
 
 iiiillidii tivc liuiulrcd tliousand :icrei?)to tlie iinproveincnt and elevation of 
 tlio coiiiiiion schools. The Legislature made an appropriation of live 
 hundred thousand acres for that purpose, and thus was laid the foundation 
 for a permanent school fund. At the same session the Society for 
 Establishing a Free School in the city of New York, for the education 
 of destitute children, was incorporated. De Witt Clinton, the first 
 signer to the petition for the incorporation, was made its first jiresident. 
 It was the legitimate offspring of the Female Association for the Kelief 
 of the Poor, founded in 1S(I2 hy benevolent women of the Society of 
 Fi'iends. They opened a school for the free education of white girls. 
 
 Its influence rapidly extended, and 
 at one time it had several large 
 elementary schools. 
 
 The first school of the Society 
 for Establishing a Free School was 
 opened on Madison Street, in May, 
 ISOG. Colonel Henry TJntgers 
 soon afterward gave land on Henry 
 Street as a site for a school-house. 
 The i^upils increased so raj)idly 
 that other builditigs were provided. 
 The Legislature, Trinity Church, 
 and the Municipal Cor])oration gave 
 the society ])ecuniary aid. In ISOS 
 the name of the society was changed 
 to Free School Society of tlie City 
 of New York ; and late in 181)0 a 
 school was o])cne(l in the old arsenal building,* on Clianil)ers Street, as 
 " Public School No. 1." It was held in a room large enough to accom- 
 modate fully five hundred children. It was agreed that the children in the 
 Almshouse should l)e taught there. At the opening of the school, De 
 Witt Clinton pronounced a memorable address, wiiich was spoken of 
 nearly fifty years afterward in a Public School Kejxjrt, as "' sowing the 
 seed-wheat of all the harvests of education which subsetpient years have 
 gathered into our garnere. " 
 
 In tlie State of New York one of the most important achievements in 
 
 ROBERT FtTLTON. 
 
 * Tliis was a brick building on Chambers Street and Tryon Row. The city corix)ni- 
 tion appropriated ^IHOO for the remodelling of the building inside and out, for the pur- 
 pose of a school. .Vmong the most eonspieuous working members of the society at that 
 time was De Witt Clinton, Thomas f'ddy, Samuel Wood, Thoin;is Brown, .Tohn Griscom, 
 Joseph Curtis, Charles Wilkes, Cadwallader D. Colden. and Dr. .lohii W, Francis. 
 
XAVIGATIOX BY STKA>r ON TITF. IIUDSOX 
 
 tlie history of human progress was accomplished in ISdT, in tlio per- 
 manent establishment of steam-navigation. Some feelilo attempts to ac- 
 complish tin's end had been made before in Europe;. Tloliert Fulton,* 
 an American citizen, a professional portrait-painter, had lived s(ime 
 years in Paris, had travelled in Great Britain, and had studied the sub- 
 ject and made some experiments. 
 
 In Paris he had interested (lianeellor Livingston in steam-naviyafinn 
 projects, and on his re- 
 turn home, in IS(N'), _. _ . 
 Fulton, in conjunction 
 with Livingston, built 
 a steamboat far up the 
 HudEon River, and 
 named it the V/cnnout. 
 She was one hundred 
 and thirty feet long, 
 sixteen feet wide, and 
 was one hundred and 
 sixty tons burden. She 
 was furnished with a 
 WattsiS: P)Oultou steani- 
 engine. 
 
 On the morning of August 7th, ISOT, the Clermont .started from New 
 York City on a trial-trip to x\lbany, one hundred and fifty miles. It 
 was successful, and was accom])lislied in thirty-six hours, against wind 
 and tide. Steam-navigation was now no longer an experiment ; it was 
 a demonstration. On September 1st the L'Jcrnivnt l)egan regular trips 
 over tliat route. Livingston had obtained from the Legislature the 
 exclusive right of steam-navigation on the ILidson for twenty years. In 
 
 * Robert Fulton was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1765. He was of Iri.sli 
 descent ; died in New York City February 21st, 1815. He became a skilful painter of 
 miniature portraits in Pliiladelphia, and went to England to study under Benjamin West. 
 He there made himself familiar with the steam-engine, then just improved by Watt, and 
 turned his attention to invention. He was seven years an inmate of Joel Barlow's house 
 in Paris, .studying languages and science and considering inveiUions. One of these was a 
 torpedo for use in naval warfare. He unsuecessfully offered his invention to the Frencli 
 and English governments. He became acquainted in Paris with Robert R. Livingston, 
 and was aided by him pecuniarily in perfecting his invention for navigation by steam. 
 Fulton returned to New York in 1806, and with Livingston built a boat, which was 
 successfully propelled by steam between New York and Albany in 1807. He could not 
 induce his Government to adopt his torpedo. He built steam ferry-boats, and in 1814 the 
 Government appointed Iiim to superintend one or more floating batteries. He built a war 
 steamer (tlie first ever constructed), which after his deatli was named Fulton the First. 
 
 THE CLERMONT. 
 
■.ila 
 
 rilK KMPIRE STATE. 
 
 less than six years from the exploit of the ( '/criiwii/ tharc were six steam- 
 boats navigating the Hudson, or North River, as it was then usually 
 called. 
 
 From the port of Xcw York went out the Stivannah, in 1S19, the 
 first steam- vessel that crossed the Atlantic, Ocean to Europe ; l^ut the 
 regular navigation of the sea was postponed until tlie sunnner of 1838, 
 when the (r/rat Wcniern steamship crossed from Bristol and entered the 
 harbor of Xew York. 
 
 jSew York was the most famous commercial marc in tlie United States 
 early in the century, and lias remained so. Iler merchants suffered 
 
 severely from the reckless foot- 
 l)all-playing with the world's 
 commerce, by Great Britain and 
 France, for several years. By 
 the operation of Britisli Orders 
 in Council, and Decrees i.ssued 
 by the Emperor Napoleon, all 
 American commerce in neutral 
 ships with either of the bellig- 
 erent nations was suspended. 
 
 Late in October, lS(i7, Con- 
 gress, as a countervailing meas- 
 ure, laid an emltargo on all ves- 
 sels in the harbors of the Inited States. These measures were disastrous 
 to the mercantile and shipping interests of the whole conntr}-, and to that 
 of the city of New York especially. The Federalists and many Demo- 
 crats strenuously opposed the Embargo Act, but it was suj>ported by 
 most of the Democratic Party. The Federalists justified the British 
 Orders in Council, and the Democrats justified the French Decrees. The 
 Embargo Act was repealed early in 1809. Another embargo was laid in 
 the spring of 1812. American commerce was now prostrated ; it was 
 annihilated in the ensuing summer by the declaration of war against Great 
 Britain. For several yeare the trading interests of New York City were 
 subjected to many vicissitudes 
 
 * Early in 1814 the first steamship of war was constructed at New York, at Noah 
 Brown's shipyard, and named Fulton the Fimt. It wjus a sort of catamaran. The hull 
 <onsisted of two boats, separated by a channel fifty feel wide. One boat eontaine<1 the 
 copper l)oiler for jreneratin^ steam, the other contained the machinery. The propellini; 
 wheel revolved in the space between them. .\ deck extended over the whole. The 
 ve.sst-1 was arranged for sails. It was designed for harbor defence. The Fiilton the First 
 made a trial-trip a short distance at sea. She made si.x miles an hour with steam alone. 
 She was onlv a floating batterv. 
 
 KII.TOX TIIK KIUST. 
 
CAUSE OF TllK (iVKKTHKOW i^V Tin-: FEDERALISTS. 379 
 
 ik-anwliile tlie politiciil (quarrels in the State of New York liad raged 
 with trreat violence. The schism in the Democratic Party continued, 
 and yet that party was so powerful in numbers that it continued its 
 domination in the State witli continnally increasing strengtli. One fac- 
 tion was led chiefly by the Livingstons, and the other faction was led by 
 De Witt Clinton and his friends. The Federal Party had fallen to rise 
 no more into permanent existence. 
 
 The chief cause of the overthrow of the Federal Party was the mis- 
 takes made by earnest but injudicious leaders in taking occasions to show 
 their partiality to the British nation.* This was natural in the fever 
 of excitement, ])ecanse the Democrats were more demonstrative in tokens 
 of their jjartiality for the cause of Napoleon, then scourging Europe with 
 his armies. Besides, many Tories of the Revolution and their friends 
 had become attached to the Federal Party, and so increased the animosity 
 and the suspicions of the Democrats. 
 
 Althougli Colonel Burr himself was politically dead and buried, his 
 friends, who formed a considerable faction, were very much alive and 
 aggressive. There appears to be evidence that De Witt Clinton and his 
 friends coquetted with the "' Burrites," in order to gain tlieir support in 
 the warfare with Governor Lewis ; anil that as Clinton had not the 
 ]iower at that time to give offices to Burr or his friends, it was proper 
 that he should give " pecuniar^''' aid, through the medium of the Man- 
 hattan ]?ank, of whii-h ('linton was a prominent director. f The revela- 
 
 * One Instance will suffice to illustrate this point. Previous to celebrating the anniver- 
 sary of intlepeiidence at Albany, in 180.5, the Ccjmmon Conncil of that city, composed of 
 a majority of Federalists, passed a resolution that the Declaration of Independence should 
 not be read on that occstsion, because the reading of that instrument, it was alleged, 
 tended to perpetuate prejudices against the British nation, when the causes of hostility 
 had long since ceased to exist. 
 
 f Matthew L. Davis, the bosom friend and biographer of Colonel Burr, states in a 
 pamphlet, composed of a series of letters published in a newspaper, over the signatures of 
 " JIarcus" and " Philo Cato, " that in December. 1M05. Levi 3[cKeau, a Binrite from 
 Poughkeepsie. a neighbor and friend of (Jeneral James Tallmadge, a zealous " Clintonian," 
 arrived in New York, and stated to his political friends there that overtures had Ix-en 
 made " by the Clinlonians to form a union with the Burrites," and that he had conversed 
 with General Bailey, the postnnister, on the subject. Mr. Da\'is states that earh' in 
 January, 1800, Colonel Swartwout, Burr's warm friend, accepted an invitation from 
 General Bailey to a personal interview, the latter avowing himself as the agent of De Witt 
 Clinton ; also that an agreement was made that : 
 
 1. Colonel Burr .should be recognized by the coalition ivs a Democr.it. 
 
 2. That attacks upon him should cease, and that the Biu-rites should not be regarded 
 as rrtnrniiifi to the Democratic Party ; and 
 
 8. That the friends of Burr should be placed on the same footing as the most favored 
 Clhitonians as respected appointments to offices of honor and protit throughoiU the State. 
 
3.->() Tin: KMI'IKK S-|'ATi:. 
 
 tioiis uf this coalitiDii and its cuiulitious prodiK-ed intense iiidignatiuii in 
 the Democratic Party. At a meeting at Martling's Long Room (Tam- 
 many Hall) it \\-as denounced. Mr. Clinton was then in Albany, lie 
 wrote a letter to General Tjailey, approving in general of the proceed- 
 ings of the meeting, and declaring that the Bujjport of the Democratic 
 
 Party hy the Burrites would lie 
 universally agreeal)le, but it ought 
 not to be purchased by a jironiise 
 of offices. 
 
 There being menaces of war 
 between the United States and 
 Great I'ritain, the governor, in his 
 speech at the opening of the Leg- 
 islature in ISOC), urged the necessity 
 of placing tiie State in a position of 
 defence, for it would l)e exposed to 
 attacks by land on tlie north and 
 from the sea on the south. Aery lit- 
 tle was then done to this enil. The 
 National Government built Foit 
 i.vMKi, 1,. ToMi-KUNs. j.^^, a,ic] Gistlc William on (iovern- 
 
 * or's Island, in Xew York Harbor. 
 
 Lj lS(1t) the Democrats elected Daniel D. Tompkins* Governor of 
 the State of Xew York, which position he held from 1807 until 1S17. 
 He filled the office with great distinction and efficiency during the trying 
 times of the War of 1812-15. In 1808 the Democrats elected James 
 
 Davis further stated that t'linton, ■nitli some frieiKls. anions tlipm a zealous partisan of 
 Burr, afterward met Colonel Swart wout at the house of General Hailey, when conjrratula- 
 tions on the coalition were exchanged ; and that iu February, at a supper at a hotel near 
 >ie\v York, the Clintoiiians and Burrites exchanged toasts and congratulations. 
 
 When these letters appeared Jlr. Clinton denied the truth of their allegations, and 
 publicly threatened to prosecute their author for libel. >Ir. Davis gave notiee that he 
 could prove all his sissertions. The case was never brought to trial. 
 
 * Daniel D. Tompkins was born in Westchester County, N. Y., in .June, 1774. and 
 died on Staten Island in .Tune. IS^.j. He was educated at Columbia College ; Ix'canie a 
 lawyer, and in IHOl was a member of the convention that revised the Stat<> Constitution. 
 He served in the State I.egislature, and was a member of Congress in 1S04-1S0.J. He was 
 made a judge of the State Supreme Court in 1804 : was chosen governor in IHIMi. and 
 served ten consecutive years, and was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1810. 
 He was chancellor of the University of the State of New York, and president of the 
 convention, in 1821, which re\-ised the State Constitution. He had recommended, by a 
 special mes.sage to the Legislature, the abolition of slavery in the State of Xew York. 
 Owing to reports of crooke<lness in his public financial affairs, he failed to secure a noni- 
 ination for the Presidency of the United States, for which he was an aspirant. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS IN COUNCIL UNREPEALED. 381 
 
 Madison President of tlie United States, with George Clinton Vice- 
 President. These gentlemen took their official seats in the spring of 
 1809. 
 
 Tlie great business depression, in consequence of the emljargo and tlie 
 quarrels of the Democratic factions, caused a temporary revival of the 
 strength of the Federal Party, and at the spring election in 1809 they 
 gained ascendency in the State of New York — the firet time in ten years. 
 
 The act repealing the Embargo Law went into effect on June 10th, 
 1800. On that day tliere were public rejoicings throughout the 
 State, and particularly in the city of Kew York. But the jubilant 
 feeliTigs of the peoj^le were soon repressed by the peremptory refusal of 
 the British Government to repeal the Orders in Council, in accordance 
 with a treaty made with its accredited agent. Tliis refusal caused intense 
 indignation against the British authorities, which the Federalists were 
 piiwei'less to assuage. 
 
38:2 
 
 THE K.MIMUK STATK. 
 
 CHAPTER x.wir. 
 
 The great canal wliicli bisects the State of New York, from tlie Hud- 
 sou River to Lake Erie, a distaueo of three liniKlred and sixty-three miles, 
 
 is a uioiniiueut of unsurpassed 
 magnificence, eomuiemorative of 
 the ])r.)found statesmansliip, tiie 
 prophetic wisdom, tiie far-reach- 
 ing sagacity, and tlie exalted public 
 spirit of tlie leaders of opinion in 
 the State during the earlier years 
 of this century-. 
 
 AVho first conceived the grand 
 idea of so wedding the great lakes 
 and the beautiful river is an un- 
 solved question. riidoubtedly it 
 was nebulous in the nn"nds of manv 
 thoughtful persons before it found 
 syuimetrical expression. Perhaps 
 it was a dream of Joel Barlow the poet (who so early as the year 1787 
 gave to the world his '' ^"ision of Cohnnbus"") wlien he wrote : 
 
 " He saw. as widely spreads tli' ineliaiincird jtlain, 
 Ayiicre inland realms for ages bloom 'd in vain, 
 Canals, long winding, ope a watery flight. 
 And distant streams, and seas, and lakes unite. 
 
 "From fair .Vlbania, toward the setting .sun, 
 Baek through the midland lengthening channels run ; 
 .\nd the fair lakes, their beauteous towns that lave, 
 And llmhou'n joined to fair Ohiu'x wave." 
 
 A dozen years later Gouverneur Morris,* while he was on a tour to the 
 
 OOIVEUXKII! MORRIS. 
 
 » Gouverneur JIorrLs was born at Morrisjmia, X. Y.. in 17.53. and died there in 
 November, 1816. He was a son of Chief-Justice Lewis .Morris ; was a -raduale of Kin-s 
 College, and became a practising lawyer in 1771. In 1775 he wius a delesiate to the New 
 York Pro^^ncial Congress, and one of the committee thai drafted the State Constitution 
 From 1777 to 1780 he wa.s a member of the Continental Con-ress. and was an efficient 
 member of several eommittees. In 1780 he removed lo Philadelphia, where thrown 
 from his carriage, his leg was fractured, and amputation was necessary. In 1786 he 
 
SUGGESTION OF THE ERIE f'AXAL. 383 
 
 Falls of tlie jSIiagara, littered a few prophetic Mords in a letter to a friend 
 in Loudon. After alluding to the buddiii!; coninieree on the lakes, and 
 the proi)al)ility that swarms of ships would appear there in the near 
 future, he wrote : 
 
 " Shall I lead your astoni.«hiiient up to the verge of credulity ? I 
 will. Know, then, that one-tenth part of the expense borne by Britain in 
 the last campaign [against Boiiaj)cirte] wouhl enable ships to «««;7 //-om 
 London through the Hudson River into Lake Erie." 
 
 To friends at home Morris suggested a direct canal from Lake Erie 
 through the centre of the State to the Hudson. In 1803 he submitted 
 an outline of a plan of such a work to Simeon De Witt, the Surveyor- 
 General of the State, who regarded it as visionary. In conversation with 
 James Geddes, a land surveyor of Onondaga County, the next year, De 
 Witt told him of the impracticable plan of Morris. Geddes viewed the 
 matter in a different light. He regarded it as the best that had been 
 suggested. He conferred with Jesse Hawley, a sagacious and public- 
 spirited citizen of Central New York. The latter, satisfied of the feasi- 
 bility of the project, wrote a series of essays on the .subject, over the sig- 
 nature of ■' Hercules."' They were published in a Pittsiiurgh paper and 
 in the Genesee Messenger, at Canandaigua, during the years 1807 and 1808, 
 and commanded wide and earnest attention. They were the first writ- 
 ings ever put forth in favor of the Erie Canal. 
 
 In 1S08 Joshua Forman, an intimate associate of Mr. Geddes, was 
 a member of the New York Assembly, and on February Ith intro- 
 duced a resolution, with a preamble, for the appointment of a joint 
 committee to '" take into consideration the propriety of exploring and 
 causing an accurate survey to be made of the most eligible and direct 
 route for a canal to open communication between the waters of the 
 Hudson River and Lake Erie, to the end that Congress may be enabled 
 to ajjpropriate such sums as may be necessary to the accomplishment of 
 that great national object." * 
 
 retired to the estate at Mcirrisatiia as sole owner. lie was tlie colleanue of Robert Morris, 
 Superiutentlent of Finaiice in 1781. The literary eonstruction of the National Constitu- 
 tion is tlie work of his hands. He was sent minister to France in 1793, returned home 
 in 1798, and wa.s chosen senator in 1800. He was a canal commissioner from their first 
 appointment until his death. In politics he wa-s a Federalist. 
 
 * President .lefferson in his message to Congress, in December, 1807, proposed the 
 application of the surplus funds in the National Treasury to the great national objects of 
 opening canals and making turnpike roads. In his preamble Mr. Forman jjointed out 
 the fact that the State of New York possessed the best route of communication between 
 the -Vtlantic and Western waters, " by means of a canal between the tide-water of the 
 Hudson and Lake Erie. ' ' 
 
;i84 THE E.Ml'lKK SIATK. 
 
 Tlio resolntioii was ailoptoil, aiul tlio siiiii of SfinO was appropriated fur 
 surveys to bo iiuide uiidur tliu direi-tioii of the siirv'eyor-yoneral. 'I'liis 
 was tlie first legislative iiioveiiieiit in reference to the Erie Canal. 
 
 Survcyor-(Teiioral Do Witt oiiiployod Mr. Goddes to survey a route 
 from Lake Erie to the Cionesee Kiver, and thence to the waters flowin<r 
 into Seneca Lake. His favorable report attracted great attention. Do 
 AVitt Clinton was then a member of the State Senate, and became deeply 
 interested in the matter. Tie warmly espoused the project. So also 
 did Stephen van Rensselaer in the Assendily. The matter rested until 
 the next year, when, on motion of Senator Jonas Piatt, commissioners 
 were ap])ointod to explore the whole route for a canal through the centre 
 of tlio State from Lake Erie to the Hudson River.* It was accom- 
 ])lish(Ml. 
 
 In April, ISll, an act was passed to provide for the "improvement 
 of the internal navigation of the State." Efforts were made to obtain 
 aid from the ?vatioiia! (loverninent and otherwise. The commissioners 
 Avcro authorized to make application to Congress or to any State or 
 Territory, and request them to co-operate with Now York in the jiroject. 
 Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton were added to the commission. 
 
 Early in December Messrs. Clinton and Morris appeared ])eforo Con- 
 gress and endeavored to obtain an appropriation for the work, but were 
 unsuccessful. This failure was a fortuiuite circumstance, for it allowed 
 the State of New York to construct the canal alono and unaided, and so 
 to secure to itself the undivided honor of the achievement and the undis- 
 puted possession and control of the great work for all time. The pride 
 and patriotism of the people of the State were effectually appealed to, 
 and in Juno, 1812, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the com- 
 missioners to l)orrow S5,(i(i(i, ()()(> on the credit of the State. But the 
 war with (ireat Britain, which br(tke out at that time, ca\ised a suspen- 
 sion of the work, and the law was repealed in IJSl-I. 
 
 A few months after the restoration of peace the subject w;us revived. 
 By the exertions of Thomas Eddy f a public meeting was held at New 
 
 * The commissioners were Gouverneur Morris, Stephen van Rensselaer. I)e Witt 
 Clinton. Simeon I)e Witt, 'William North, Thomas Eikiy, and Peter B. Porter. 
 
 ■f Thomas ICddy wa.s a philanthropist and an eminently public-spirited man. He \va.s 
 born in Philadelphia in September, 1758. and died in New York City in 1827. His 
 parents were Quakers, and he, a birllirijrht memlx>r, remained so until his death. He 
 made New York his residence! in early life, and was a successful insurance broker there 
 Mr. Eddy was active in oriirlnatini: the " Penitentiary System" of New York, and iu 
 1801 he published an admirable work on the vStatc prisons of New York. He was lonir 
 a governor of the New Yi>rk Hospital, and a director of the Rloominirdale Asylum for 
 tlie Insane. Mr. Eddy was one of the chief promoters of the canal system in the State of 
 
CONSTRUCTION OF TlIK ERIE CANAL. 
 
 385 
 
 York in tlio antiuiin of 1815, wliieli was acldret;sed l)y jVIr. Piatt, Mr. 
 Clinton, and others. The hitter more vigorously than ever pressed upon 
 the public attention the importance of constructing the projected canal, 
 lie devoted his wonderful energies to the subject. In a memorial of the 
 citizens of New York, prepared liy Mr. Clinton, such a powerful argu- 
 ment in its favor was produced that not only the majority of the people 
 of his State approved it, but of other States. Favorable action was 
 taken by the Legislature of New 
 York in the spring of 181G, and a 
 Board of Canal Commissioners was 
 created. 
 
 In the spring of 1817 the Legis- 
 lature authorized the beginning of 
 the construction of the canal. The 
 first contract was made in June, 
 and the first spadeful of earth 
 in the process of excavation was 
 thrown up at Home, Oneida Coun- 
 ty, on July ith. The middle sec- 
 tion, extending frmn the Seneca 
 Iliver to Iltica, including a branch 
 from S^'racuse to ( )noiulaga Lake, 
 was rendered navigable in October, 
 1819. The great work was com- 
 pleted in 1825, and the first boat — the Sencea Chief — with Mr. Clinton, 
 then Governor of tlie State, on board, passed from Lake Erie to the 
 Hudson late in the autnnni of that year. The entire cost of the canal 
 was over s;»,<iOO,0()0 It was a little over eight years a-l)uilding. 
 
 De Witt Clinton* had taken his seat as Governor of the State in the 
 summer of 1817. lie used ail his official and private influence in favor 
 
 New York, Ix'sjinning with the luhmd Lock Naviiration system. The Bibl(^ Society 
 fouud in him an efficient friend, and lie was an originator and promoter of banks for 
 savings. His benevolent works won for him the title of (lie " American Howard." lie 
 lived to see the great Eric Canal in successful operation. 
 
 * De Witt Clinton, son of General Jarao.s Clinton, was born at Little Britain, Orange 
 County, N. Y., 3Iarch 2d, 170!); died at Albany, February 11th, 1828. Was gradu- 
 ated at Columbia College, and became a lawyer, but practised his profession very little, 
 lie was for a long time private secretary to his uncle. Governor George Clinton ; served in 
 both branches of the New York Legislature, and from 1708 to 18(12 was the r>emocralic 
 leader in the State Senate. Between 1803 and 181 4 ho served as JIayor of New York City 
 ciglit years. He took a very active part in jiromoting iniblic education ; was one of the 
 founders of the New York Historical Society and of the Academy of Fine .Vrts, and, 
 l)eing ojniosed to the AYar of 1812-15, he was the peace candidate; for President of the 
 
 DE WITT CLINTON. 
 
38G TlIK EMPIKK STATE. 
 
 of tlio t'liiial. Tliere was eoiitintial aii<l powerful opposition to tlic proj- 
 ect almost to tlie hour of its completion ; Imt his faith in its vast impor- 
 tance to liis native State and the whole countrv never wavered. He lived 
 not onl}' to see it completed and to l)e a participant in the trium])h, lint 
 to enjoy most abundant demonstration of the wisdom and sagacity which 
 had conceived and carried out to completion that mighty work. To De 
 Witt Clinton more than to any other man our country is indebted for 
 the Erie Canal ; and the city of Xew York owes him a debt of gratitude 
 it can never repay for its wonderful growth in wealth and population to 
 which that great work so powerfully contributed. It is not creditable 
 to the citizens of tlic metropolis that among the many statues of eminent 
 xVmerieans and foreigners which appear in their public places no 
 memorial of stone or bronze has ever been erected in their city in com- 
 jnemoration of their great benefactor, Dk Wrrr Cr.ixTo.v. 
 
 At the lieginning of ISld tlie two great political parties in the State of 
 Kew York v,-ere nearly vi^wA in numerical strength. Tlie Democrats 
 renominated Tomjikins for governor, and the Federalists nominated 
 Jonas Piatt, of Oneida, for the same ofiice. The canvass was very 
 active, and the election was hotly contested. The Federalists felt that 
 if Tompkins should be re-elccfed their recently gained political ascend- 
 ancy in the State might be lost, perhaps forever. Yet they had strong 
 hopes of their success. Their opponents were doubtful of the result, 
 and both parties struggled mightily for victory. Contrary to the expec- 
 tation of both, the Democrats completely overthrew the Federalists. 
 Tomjikins was re-elected i)y ten thousand majority. The Legislature 
 was made strongly Democratic. A new Council of Appointment was 
 chosen, and very soon there was an entire change in the incuml)ency of 
 offices throughout the State. Political proscription w;is sweejiing and 
 severe. 
 
 Three causes comliined to effect this second overthrow of the Federal 
 Party in the State at this time— namely, 1. The adoption hy the National 
 Government of the more acceptable policy of non-intercourse instead of 
 end)argoes ; 2. The rapidly growing feeling of hostility to Great P.ritain 
 because of recent events, the germ of a war party having already 
 appeared ; and, 3. The influence of the patronage wielded by the 
 National Government. 
 
 The quarrel between De AVitt CUntou and a portion of the Democratic 
 
 United Slates in 1812, but was defeated by Madison. Mr. Clinton was one of the 
 founders of the Literary and Philosopliical Society of New York, and the most efficient 
 promoter of tlic construction of the Erie Canal, lie was Governor of the State in 1817-22 
 and 1824-28. . 
 
CIIIKF CAUSE OF THE WAR OP 1812-15. 387 
 
 Party in tlie t-ity of Xew York, who made Martling's Long Room (then 
 iieginning to 1)C known as " Tammany Hall ") their rallying-plaee, was 
 then as bitter as ever. Early in 1811 Clinton was nominated for lieu- 
 tenant-governor. The " Martling Men," or " Tammanyites," nominated 
 Colonel Marinas Willett, and the Federalists nominated Colonel [Xieholas 
 Fish. A majority of the Martling men evidently voted for Fish in 
 order to defeat Clinton. The latter received in the city only 590 votes, 
 and ^Yillett 678, while Fish received 20-1:4. The Federalists carried the 
 Assembly ticket by a majority of 1400. The vote in the State was gen- 
 erally favorable to the Democrats. Clinton M'as elected by the country 
 votes. 
 
 The vear 1812 was made memorable in our historv bv the besrinnina- 
 of a two years' war between the United States and Crreat Britain. For 
 several years incitements to this result had abounded. The British main- 
 tained the doctrine that a British subject can never become an alien, and 
 they claimed the right to search neutral vessels for deserters from the 
 royal navy, and to carry them away and impress them into the naval 
 service of Great Brit:iin without hindrance. The commanders of British 
 cruisers had practically asserted this right for many years, and thousands 
 of American seamen had been taken from American vessels on the pre- 
 tence that they were suspected deserters, and compelled to serve under 
 a flag which they detested. To every earnest remonstrance through the 
 voice of diplomacy the invariable answer had been : '"It is our ancient 
 custom, and we cannot consent to suspend a right upon which the naval 
 strength of the empire mainly depends ;"' and, governed by the ethics 
 of the mailed hand — •" might makes right" — they persisted. 
 
 The affair of the Cht-sapeake and Leopard, in 1807, in which the 
 officers of the latter (a British frigate) forcibly boarded the former (an 
 American frigate) and carried off some seamen, one an American, UTider 
 pretence that they were deserters, aroused a war spirit in the United 
 States. It was again awakened in 180'J !)y the disavowal by the British. 
 Government of an arrangement made in good faith with the British 
 Minister at Washington concerning a repeal of an Order in Council, 
 already alluded to ; and again in 1811, when British cruisers were sent 
 to prowl along the American coast with aiithority to seize American 
 merchant vessels and send them to England as lawful [)rizes. 
 
 These recent outi-ages, coupled with those of the past, and that of 
 inciting the Indians in the North-west to make war on the frontier settle- 
 ments of the United States beyond the Ohio River, became unendurable. 
 On June 2(lth, 1812, President Madison, by the authority of Congress, 
 issued a declai-atiou of war against Great Britain, and Congress made 
 
388 TIIK K.Ml'lltl-: STATE. 
 
 provision nccordinijly. A l;ir<j;e inajority of that hody ami the people of 
 the repnhlic favored the measure, yet there was general anxiety to avoid 
 the calamity of war if possible. There was also a larj^e and powerful 
 ])arty, composed chiefly of Federalists, who were decidedly opposed to 
 hostilities, and considered the declaration of war as premature. Tiiei-e 
 M'as also an active faction known as the " Peace Party," pledged to east 
 olistaclcs in the way of the Ciovernment so long as hostilities should last. 
 This disloyal faction was exceedingly mischievous during the whole war. 
 
 The authorities of several States took positive action against affording 
 aid to the (iovermnent in carrying on the war. The governors of 
 Massachusetts, Xew Hampshire, and Connecticut refused to conijily with 
 the requisition of the National Government for militia, and set the 
 President at defiance. The governors of two or three other States 
 approved their course, and others were lukewarm, while others took their 
 places promptly on the side of the National Government. The Legisla- 
 ture of Pennsylvania rebuked the governors of the three New England 
 States ; that of Ohio did the same, and said : " The man who would 
 desert a just cause is unworthy to defend it."' The governor of the 
 then new State of Louisiana, just admitted into the LTnion, said : " If 
 ever war was justifiable, the one which our country has declared is that 
 war. If ever a people had cause to repose in the confidence of their 
 Government, we are the people." Vermont w;us also loyal, and the 
 Governor of the State of New York (Mr. Tompkins), which then con- 
 tained a population of fully one million, exhorted the people to give a 
 hearty support to the National Government. The New York delegates 
 in Congress did not vote for a declaration of M-ar. 
 
 During the war that ensued the inhabitants of New York bore their 
 full share of the burdens imposed, as active participants in the stirring 
 events or as p:issive siifferere of calamities incident to a state of war. 
 In that contest, as in former times, the northern frontiei"s of the State 
 were peculiarly exposed to invasion by land and water. 
 
 At the time of the declaration of war the troops and military defences 
 on the northern frontiei" of New "\'ork possessed very little aggregate 
 strength. So on the other side. Tiiere were only about fifteen hundred 
 regular troops in Tpper Canada, but in Lower Canada there were about 
 six thousand. At tlie foot of Lake Erie, o]»posite Puffalo, was Fort 
 Erie, with a small garrison. At near the month of the Niagara Iviver 
 wiis Fort George, a small earthwork witli wooden palisades, mounting a 
 few guns not heavier than nine-pounders ; and a little above Niagara 
 Falls was Fort Chippewa, a small stockade. At York (now Toronto), 
 on the north shore of Lake Ontario, was an old fort and a block-house, 
 
 I 
 
DETROIT SURRENDERED TO THE BRITISH. 389 
 
 and at the eastern extremity of tlie lake, near Kiiig-ston, was a small 
 1 lattery of nine-pounders. 
 
 Tiiere was very little hostile movement on the soil of Xew York, 
 excepting that of preparation, until mid-autmnn in the year 1812. \Tar 
 had actually begun in the "West and on the ocean. Colonel William 
 Hull, then Govei'nor of Michigan, was commissioned a brigadier- o-eneral 
 and authorized to invade Canada on its western frontier in the summer 
 of IS] 2. lie crossed the Detroit River with a small force and encamped 
 at Sandwich, but was soon compelled to return to Detroit, where he was 
 menaced liy a British force under General Sir Isaac Brock early in August. 
 Alarmed by intelligence from the north, he surrendered his whole army 
 and the territory to the British on August ICtii. Meanwhile Fort 
 Mackinaw, one of the strongest posts of the United States in the North- 
 west, had been surprised and captured (July 17th) Ijy an allied force of 
 British and Indians. An escort of supplies for Hull, under Major 
 Van Ilorne, had been defeated below Detroit, and Fort Dearborn, on 
 the site of the (present.) great city of Chicago, had been taken by 
 Indians, and most of the girrison, with women and children, had been 
 slaughtered. 
 
 These events aroused the most intense indigiuition throughoTit the 
 country. Volunteers from Kentucky and Ohio pressed toward the 
 North-west to retrieve the disaster at Detroit, and the most active 
 preparations were made for an invasion of Canada on the Niagara 
 frontier. 
 
 The authorities of the State of New York had been vigilant ever since 
 light war-clouds had been seen in the political tirniament, so early as 
 ISdT. In order to enforce the revenue laws on the Canadian frontier, 
 the Governor of New Y'ork, in February, 1808, ordered five hundred 
 stand of arms to be deposited at Champion, in (present) Jefferson 
 County, and the following year he caused an arsenal to be built 
 at Watertown, on the Black River, twelve miles from Sackett's 
 Harbor. 
 
 By a general order issued from the War Department on April 21st, 
 1S12, the detached militia of tlie State of New York were arranged in 
 two divisions and eight brigades. Stephen van Rensselaer l^the patroon), 
 of Albany, was poniraissioned major-general and assigned to the com- 
 mand of the First Division, and Benjamin Mooers, of Plattsburg, was 
 appointed to the same office and assigned to the command of the Second 
 Division. The commanders of the eight brigades were : Gerard Steddi- 
 ford, of the city of New York ; Reuben Hopkins, of Orange County ; 
 Micajah Pettis, of Washington County ; Richard Dodge, of Montgomery 
 
390 TlIK K.Ml'lltE STATK. 
 
 County ; Jucol) I'rowii,* of JutTerson County ; Daniel Miller, of Cort- 
 land County ; AVilliani Wadswortli, of Ontario County, and George 
 McClure, of Steuben County. 
 
 In i^Iay a roifiment, coninianded by Colonel C. P. Bellinger, was sta- 
 tioned at Sackett's Harbor, and in June the lirst detaclinient of Xew 
 York's quota of militia called for by the President was placed under the 
 command of General Prown, who was charged with the defence of the 
 northern frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, a distance of about 
 two hundred miles. 
 
 An armed brig named Oneida had been built at Oswego, on Lake 
 Ontario, in ISOi), by Christian Bergh and Henry Eckford, to enforce 
 the revenue laws. In the spring of l^^l^ she captured several British 
 vessels — violators of these laws. Petaliation followed, ^yhen news of 
 the d(!claration of war reached Ogdensburg, on the St. Lawrence, eight 
 American trading vessels were lying tliere. They tried to escape to 
 Lake Ontario, bearing away some frightened families. Two of them 
 were captured by armed men in ))oats led h\ a Canadian ])artisan, and 
 were plundered and burnt. The other si.x returned to Ogdensl)urg. 
 This was tlie beginning of war on the northern frontier of New York. 
 
 Lieutenant Melancthoii "Woolscy was in command of the Oneida, and 
 he and General Brown were vested with full authority to repel invasion 
 fi'om Canada and to protect the inhabitants on the frontier. Pc-enforce- 
 mentsof militia were called out fi-oni the northern counties, and measures 
 were taken to concentrate a considerable force at Ogdensburg and Cape 
 A'inccnt, for the twofold [)Hrpose of guarding the frontier and keeping 
 Kingston, the chief military station of the British on the lake, in a state 
 of continual alarm. 
 
 Late in July a squadron of live small British armed vessels entered 
 Sackett's Harbor. Tliey carried an aggregate of eighty-two guns. The 
 Oneida was in the harbor, and seemed to be in great peril. Woolsey 
 attempted to gain the lake, but failed. He moored his vessel to a 
 position where her broadside of nine guns might be brought to bear on 
 
 * .Jacob Brown was born in Pennsylvania in >Iay, 1775, of Quaker parentage. He 
 died in Wsishington City in February, 1828. lie was lirst a scliool-tcaclier, then a land 
 surveyor, and finally became a lawyer. While General Hamilton was acting chief eora- 
 niander of the army intended to lijrht the French in 1798, Brown wius his secretary. He 
 settled upon lands he had ]iiir<hascd on tlie Black River, not far from Sackett's Harbor, 
 and was the founder of Brownsville. He became a eounty judge, a militia general, and 
 was jilaced in command of the northern frontier of Xew York in 1H13. He performed 
 eminent service during the war, and reeeived the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. 
 He was made general-inchicf of the army in 1821. At his death his remains were 
 interred in the Congressional burying-ground. 
 
A CONTEST AT SACKKTTS HAUHOU, 391 
 
 the enemy. The remainder of her gnns were taken out and placed in 
 battery on hind. An iron thirty-two-pounder liad already been placed 
 ill a battery, with three nine-pounders, on a rocky bluff at the foot of the 
 main street of the village. It had long been lying in the niud near by, 
 and was named the Old Soio. These guns, with two nine-pounders and 
 two six-pounders, constituted the artillery for the defence of tlie harbor. 
 The soldiers consisted of a few regulars, three hundred militia, and a 
 portion f)f the crew of the O/N'/dn, with Woolsey at their head. 
 
 Tiie flag-ship of the attacking scpiadron was the llvyal George. Wiien 
 the vessels were near enough for action the l)attle was begun by a shot 
 from the big iron cannon on shore. It was harmless, and drew peals of 
 derisive laughter from the crew of the tiag-ship, followed by two shots. 
 Firing was kept iTp for aliout two hours, the squadron standing, off and 
 on, out of range of the smaller guns. Most of the enemy's shot had 
 fallen against the rocks below the battery. At length a thirty-two- pound 
 ball came over the bluff, struck the earth, and ploughed a deep furrow. 
 It was picked up by a sergeant, who ran with it to Captain Yaughan, 
 who was in command of the Old Sine, exclaiming : 
 
 " I've been playing ball with the redcoats, and have caugiit 'em out. 
 See if the British can catch back again." 
 
 The ball exactly fitted the old cannon, while those which had been 
 sent did not. At that moment the lioyal George was nearing, to give 
 a broadside, when the big gun sent back the captive ball with such force 
 and jirecision that it struck her stern, raked her completely, sent splinters 
 as high as her mizzen-topsail, and killed fourteen men and wounded 
 eighteen. 
 
 The flag-ship had already received a shot that went through her sides, 
 and another Ijctween wind and water. Two other vessels had been 
 severely cri])pled, and a signal for retreat was speedily given. The 
 s^piadron sailed out on the lake while the band on shore played " Yaidcee 
 Doodle" in the liveliest manner, and tlie soldiers and citizens cheered the 
 retreating enemy in their departure. It was a serene Sabbath morning, 
 and at evening the village was as quiet as ever. 
 
 The command of Lake Ontario M-as now an object of great inqiortance 
 to both parties, and each put forth extraordinary exertions to that end. 
 To obtain this advantage required the speediest preparation. The six 
 American trading vessels were yet at Ogdensburg. To save and arm 
 them was an important object to the Americans ; to destroy them was 
 •an equally important object to the British. The latter sent two armed 
 vessels down the St. Lawrence to destroy them ; the Americans sent a 
 small force to protect them. The belligerents met eleven miles above 
 
392 
 
 Tin: EMl'IKE STATE. 
 
 Ogdeiishnrjj ;ui(l fnu<;lit three liours, wlicii tlic I'ritisli vessels witlidrew- 
 to the Canada sliore. The armistice tliat soon followed allowed the six 
 vessels to be taken to the lake and converted into warriors. 
 
 Captain Isaac Chauncey was appointed conmiander-in-cliief of the navy 
 to be created on Lake Ontario. In Septenii)er (1S12) he sent forty shij)- 
 carpenters to Sackett's Harbor, with Henry Eckford * at their head. 
 
 Others soon followed. Commander 
 Woolsey was directed to purchase 
 merchant vessels for the service. 
 Later, in September, one hundred 
 officers and men, with guns and 
 other munitions of war, left New 
 York for Sackett's Harbor, and 
 very soon a rcsj)ectal>le little Ameri- 
 can fleet was afloat on the lake. At 
 the same time the British had been 
 busy at Kingston in creating a navy 
 having a weight of metal double 
 that of the Americans. 
 
 During the summer of ls\2 the 
 National Government matured a 
 plan for the invasion of Canada on 
 the Niagara frontier. The militia 
 of the State of New York mider General Van Rensselaer were ordered to 
 concentrate near the Niagara River, chiefly at Lewist(m ; and from that 
 point the first demonstration against the neighboring province from New 
 York was made. In contemplation of such a movement, the British 
 jjosted troo])s in a strong position at Queenstown, opposite Lewistou. 
 General Dearborn, t the commander-in-chief of the Northern Depart- 
 
 * Henry Eckford was a famous naval constructor. He was born in Scotland in March. 
 1775, and died in Constantinople in November, 1832. He learned (he art of ship Iniildinsr 
 at Quelx'C, and bejiun the business on his own account at New York in 17!Mi. where he 
 soon look the lead in his profession. He construcled many vessels for the Government 
 durinj; the AVar of 1812-1."), and soon afterward built the sleam.ship }i"/itrt Fulton, in 
 which, in 1822, he made the fii-st succcssfid trip in a craft of that kind, to New Orleans 
 and Havana. He was naval constructor at the Brooklyn Navy- Yard several years, and 
 afterward made ships of war for European powers. In 1831 lie built a war vessel for the 
 Sultan of Turkey, and, goin^ to Constantinople, oriranized a navy-yard there. 
 
 ■f Henry Dearborn was born in New Hampshire in Ft'bniary, 17."(1. and died at 
 Roxbury, Mass.. in .June. 1829. lie became a physician, studied military .science, and 
 joined the little patriot army al CaMd>ridj;e with si.xty volunteers on the day after the 
 skirmish at Lexington. .\s a captain in Slark's rejriment he foujrht at Bunker (Breed's) 
 Hill, accompanied Arnold in his expedilion against QucIm'c, and was made prisoner 
 
 UE.NKY nr.AUIioHN. 
 
BATTLE OP QUEENSTOWN. 393 
 
 iiient, hiiil concluded an armistice in the summer witli tlie chief British 
 commander in Canada, and tin's caused dehiy in the gatherinji; of troops 
 on the Xiagara. But at length A"an Rensselaer found himself in com- 
 mand of about six thousand troops scattered along the river from 
 Lewiston to Buffalo, and he resolved to invade the neighboring province, 
 from Lewiston, on the night of October 12th, and take the British bv 
 surprise. 
 
 Intense darkness brooded over the waters and the land, for a heavy 
 storm was just ending. It was three hours past midnight when Colonel 
 Solomon van Rensselaer, in connnand of six hundred men, was ready to 
 cross the swift-running stream in Ijoats to storm the British works on 
 Queenstown Heights. There wera only boats enough to convoy less 
 tlian one half his force. AVith the brave three hundred he pushed across 
 in the gloom. The British were on the alert, for they liad discovered 
 the movement of the New Yorkers ; and when Van Rensselaer landed, 
 his little force was fiercely assailed with musketry and a small field-piece. 
 A battery on Lewiston Heights responded to this tiring, when the 
 British tied toward Queenstown, followed by some regulars imder 
 Captains Wool and Oglevie, wlu>, pushing gallantly up the hill, pressed 
 the British back to the plateau on which the village stands, fought them 
 there, and finally gained possession of Queenstown Heights. 
 
 Colonel Van Rensselaer, who had followed with the militia, was so 
 severely woniided that he was comjjelled to relinquish the command and 
 recross the river. Wool, who was now in chief command, was also badly 
 wounded, a bullet having passed through the fleshy part of both his 
 thighs ; but, unmindful of his wounds, he would neither leave the field 
 nor give up the command until the arrival of his senior officer, Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Christie, who had been in a boat whi(!h lost its way in the 
 darkness in crossing the river. 
 
 General Sir Isaac Brock, the Governor of Upper Canada, to whom 
 General Hull had surrendered in August, was at Fort George, several 
 miles below Queenstown, when the firing began. lie hastened to the 
 scene of action, and with his staff pressed up the heights to a redan 
 battery, where they dismounted. They were suddenly startled by the 
 
 there. He served faithfully during the whole war, and in 1781 was one of Washington's 
 military family, with the rank of colonel, at the siege of Yorktown. He tilled several 
 civil offices after tlie war, and was a member of Congress from 1793 to 1797. .Jefferson 
 appointed liim Secictary of War in 1801. From 1809 until called to the head of the 
 Army of the Northern Department by Madison, in 1812, he wits collector of the port of 
 Boston. In 1822 he was sent to Portugal as .Vmcrican Minister, where he remained two 
 vears, when lie returned to Roxbtu'v. 
 
394 
 
 TIIK K.MIMKK STATK. 
 
 crack of iiiuskotrv. Wool and his followor.s were close upon them. 
 Brock ;iik1 liis aides had not time to remount, l)ut tied down tlie hill, lead- 
 ing theirhorM's at full gallop. They were followed Iiy the dozen men 
 wlio maimed the lia.tterv. and in a few moments afterward tlie American 
 tiai; waa unfurled over that little work. 
 
 (' , ,1 
 
 jr-^ — 
 
 
 AN. INf'lDKXT AT THE liATTI.E OK (jrKEXSTOWN. 
 
 Brock placed himself at tlie head of some troops to retake the hattery 
 and drive Wool from the heights. The Americans were pressed hack to 
 the verge of the precipice two hundred feet ahove the rushing Niagara. 
 Seeing the peril of the little hand, who were in danger of being hurled 
 
BATTLE ON QUEENSTOWN HEIGHTS. 
 
 395 
 
 into the flood below, Captain Oglevie raised a white handkerchief on the 
 point of a bayonet in token of surrender. Wool sprang forward, 
 snatched the token of submission, addressed a few stirring words to his 
 men, Itegging them to fight as long as they held a weapon, and then, 
 waving his sword, so inspirited his comrades to a renewal of the fight, 
 that they soon made the British veterans break and fly down the hill in 
 confusion. Brock rallied them, and they were about to reascend the 
 heights when their commander was mortally wounded at the foot of the 
 declivity. At the end of a brief 
 struggle the British fled a mile 
 below Queenstown. After three 
 distinct battles young Wool (then 
 only twenty-four yeai's of age) 
 was left master of the heights, 
 with two hundred and forty men. 
 Soon afterward Brigadier-fTcn- 
 eral Wadsworth, of the New 
 York militia, took the chief com- 
 mand. 
 
 General Sheaffe succeeded 
 Brock in command, and rallied 
 the troops. Lieutenant-Colonel 
 "Winfield Scott, who had arrived 
 at Lewiston, crossed the river 
 and joined the troops as a volun- 
 teer, when he was requested to 
 
 take active command. Early in the afternoon quite a large nund)cr of Ind- 
 ians, painted and plumed and led by John Brant, a son of the famous chief, 
 fell with great fury upon the American pickets, uttering the horrid war- 
 whoop. The militia were about to flee, when Scott, by his voice and 
 commanding presence, inspired the troops to fall upon the barbarians. 
 The Indians fled to the woods in terror. 
 
 General Van Eensselaer,* who stood by the side of Scott, seeing the 
 troops under General Sheaffe pressing forward, hastened across the river 
 
 STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER. 
 
 * Sfi'phcii Viin Rensselaer, the last of tlie patroons, was born in New York City, 
 November 1st. 1T64 ; died at thi^ :Maiu)r House at Albany, .laimary 2Gth, 183'J. He wjis 
 the fifth in lineal descent from Killian van Rensselaer, the first jiatroon. His mother was 
 a ilauiibter of Philip Livingston. He married a daughter of General P. Schuyler. Mr. 
 Van Rensselaer sei-\-ed in both branches of the Legislature, and from 1T9.J to 1801 he was 
 Lieutenant-Governor of the State. He presided over the Constitutional Convention of 
 the State in 1801, and was made one of the first Canal Commissioners In 1810. He was 
 
390 THK EMI'IUE STATE. 
 
 to soml over re-eiiforcemeiits of militia. They refused to go, jileading 
 that tlioy -were not eoiupellod to leave the soil of their country ami 
 invade that of another. Very soon overwlielniiiig numbers compelled 
 the Americans to surrender, and they were made prisoners. They lost 
 on that memorable day (October Vh\i, l^i'2), in killed, wounded, and 
 prisoners, about eleven Inuidred men. Van Rensselaer left the service, 
 and was succeeded by General Alexander Smythe, of Virginia, who 
 accomplished nothing of importance during the remainder of the season. 
 
 president of the Canal Roard fifteen years. He wivs made commander of the Slate 
 cavahy in 1801, with tlie ranli of major-general ; and when war bejran in 1812 he was 
 the chief of the militia of the State. lie became a Regent and Chancellor of the State 
 University ; wa.s a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1821, and of Con- 
 gress from 1823 to 1829. At his own expense and under his direction a geological survey 
 of the State was made in 1821-23. and in 1824 he established at Troy, X. Y., a scientific 
 school for the instruction of teachers. 
 
NxVVAL OPERATIONS ON THE SEA. 397 
 
 CHAPTER XXA^II. 
 
 While the American armies were suffering defeat and humiliation, 
 and tlie disasters became a staple topic for rebuke of the Democratic 
 administration in the mouths of its opponents, the little American navy 
 was winning honors and renown for its skill and prowess on the ocean. 
 At that time the British navy comprised one thousand and sixty vessels, 
 while that of the United States, exclusive of small gun-boats, nunil)ered 
 only twenty. Two of these were unseaworthy, and one was on Lake 
 Ontario. Nine of the American vessels were of a class less than frigates, 
 and none of them could well compare in appointments with those of the 
 enemy. Yet the Americans went boldly out upon the ocean in their 
 ships to meet the war-vessels of the proudest maritime nation on the 
 earth, and won victory after victory. 
 
 Connnodoro Ilodgers * was at Sandy Hook, ]^. Y., with the frigates 
 President, Congress, and United States, and the sloop-of-war Hornet, 
 in June, 1812 ; and on the day after the declaration of war was pro- 
 claimed he put to sea in pursuit of a British squadron which had sailed 
 as a convoy of the West India merchant fleet. Ho abandoned the chase 
 at midnight, and returned to his anchorage. He had a slight skirmish 
 with the enemy. 
 
 On August 19th the American frigate Constitution, Commodore Isaac 
 Hull, fought the British frigate Guerriere, Captain Daeres, some distance 
 off the American coast, in the present track of ships plying between 
 New York and Great Britain. The contest lasted about forty minutes. 
 Hull was victorious. The Guerriere had become such a complete wreck 
 tliat he i)urned her. This victory had a powerful effect on the public 
 mind in both countries. 
 
 On October ISth the American sloop-of-war Wasp, Captain Jones, 
 captured the British brig Frolic off the coast of North Carolina, after a 
 
 * John Kodjrers was born in Jlaniuud in 1T71, and diud in Pliiladelpliia in .Vugust, 
 1838. He euterod thi' navy as lieutenant in 1798, and was exeetilive officer of the frigate 
 ConifUtntinn under Truxton. From 1802 to 1806 he did good serviee in the Mediter- 
 ranean. In the spring of 1811, in comrnand of the Pivddent, lie had an encounter with 
 the Little Belt. His services were conspicuous during the War of 1812-1"). He wa.s 
 acting Secretary of tlic Navy in 1823. For a long time he was a member of the Board of 
 Naval ComiTiissioners, which he left the year before his death. 
 
398 Till-: K.Ml'lHi: STATE. 
 
 severe contlict of forty-five niiimtes. Out of tlio 7u'olic\i ooiiipiiny of 
 eif;;litv-four iiieii and l)oy8 only three officers ami one seaman remained 
 unhurt at the close of the battle. They had been either slain or iiadly 
 wounded. The Waxj) lost only ten men. In the afternoon of the same 
 day the JJritish ship Puirtierx, seventy-four, recaptured the prize and 
 seized the victor. A week later (October 2.5th) the American frigate 
 United Siitfrs, Captain Decatur, fought the British frigate Mad (huria, 
 MX'stward of the Canary Islands, for almost two hours, and captured her. 
 She had been greatly damaged in the conflict, and lost more than one 
 hundred men, killed and wounded, while Decatur lost only live men 
 killed and seven wounded. A few weeks later (December 2l»th) the 
 Constitution, Commodore Bainbridge, captured the British frigate Java, 
 after a fierce battle for almost three hours, off San Salvador, on the coast 
 of Brazil. The Java had four hundred men on board, of whom more 
 than one half were killed or wounded. The Java was so much injured 
 that she could not be kept afloat, and was burned. 
 
 These victories greatly elated and inspirited the Americans. They 
 had also sent out numerous privateers that struck British commerce 
 heavy blows in every direction. During the latter half of tlie year 1S12 
 ni>ward of fifty British armed vessels of various sizes, and two hundred 
 and tifty inerchantnien, with an aggregate of over three thousand pris- 
 oners and a vast amount of booty, were captured liy the Americans. 
 British pride was fearfully wouiuled in a tender ])art, and the favorite 
 national song, 
 
 " liril^iiiiiin, KrilMimiii rules tlic waves," 
 
 was sung in ajninor key by the boasted '' ^listress of the Seas." 
 
 These events strengthened the national admiiu.stration, and Mr. 
 Madison M-as re-elected I'rcsident of the Uiuted States in the autumn of 
 1812 by an increased majority, with Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, 
 Vice-President. Gerry's venerable predecessor, George Clinton, had 
 died in the spring of the same year.* 
 
 * Georgo Clinton was born in Ulster County, X. Y.. in .luly, 1T:W, ami died in Wasli- 
 ington. D. ('.. in April. lsr>. In early youth he made a s\ieee.s,sful cruise in a privateer 
 during the French and Indian War, and was in the e.\])edilion against Fori Fronlenac 
 in lTr).S. lie studied law under William Smith, became a member of the Provincial 
 Assembly of New Y(jrk in 1708, and was a leading Whig. In 1775 he became a member 
 of the Continental Congress, and voted for the resohition for independence in June, 1T76, 
 but was in the military service when the Declaration of Indepondenec was adopted. As 
 brigadier he performed important services. He was elected the first Governor of the 
 State of New York in 1777, and retained the office, by re-election, eighteen years. In 
 1788 ho presided over the convention at Poughkecpsie which ratified the National Consti- 
 
A BANK CIIARTEK IX POLITICS. 
 
 399 
 
 The political situation, in l^ew York was still in a state of effervescence 
 owing to the continued bitterness of the riuarrel between the " Clin- 
 tonians"' and the '' Martling men," or the "Regular Democracy." 
 Tlie latter had "read" De Witt Clinton " out of the party ;" hut he 
 was a power too strong to be repressed by such " paper Ijlockades.'' At 
 the same time another important and disturbing cpiestion arose for dis- 
 cussion — namely, a i)r(iposition for an increase of the paper currency of 
 the States, l)y chartering a bank to be located in the city of New York, 
 with a capital of S<;.0oo,000, to be called the "Bank of America." 
 The petitioners for tlie charter 
 of the bank offered the extrava- 
 gant bonus of 8000, Ouo, to be 
 paid in the following manner 
 and for the following purposes : 
 $4-00,000 to the common-school 
 fund ; $100,000 to the literature 
 fund ; and 8100,000 to be paid 
 into the Treasury at the end of 
 twenty years, provided no other 
 bank should in that time be 
 chartered by the State. The sum 
 of $1,000,000 was also to be 
 loaned to the State at five per 
 cent interest, to be laid out in con- 
 structing canals, and $1,000,000 
 to be loaned to farmers. Solo- 
 mon Southwick, then a brilliant 
 young man and editor of the 
 
 Albany Register, the accredited organ of the Democratic Party in the 
 State, and a devoted and confidential friend of De Witt Clinton, was 
 one of the most persistent and efficient agents in efforts to procure the 
 proposed bank charter. 
 
 It was suspected that the l)ank would be used as a political machine, 
 like the Manhattan Bank, and there was much opposition to it. Mr. 
 Clinton avowed that he was opposed to it on other grounds, and protested 
 against making support of or o]jposition to it a test of political merit. 
 Mr. Southwick echoed Mr. Clinton's sentiments in the ii'cy/.s/t'/' by say- 
 ing : " He who supports or opposes a bank iipon the grounds of Federal- 
 
 tution, to which he was opposed. He was again elected governor in 1801, and in 1804 
 WHS chosen Vice-President of tlie United States, wliieh otiice lie filled until his death. 
 His remains rest in the Congressional biuving-ground at Washington. 
 
 GEORGE CLINTON. 
 
400 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ism or Repnl)licanisni is eitlicr a deceiver or deceived, and will not lie 
 listened to \>\ any man of cx])ericnce." 
 
 The friends of the bank in the Legislature determined that nothing of 
 inipi)rtance slionlil be done in that body until their favorite meiu^nre 
 sliouhl be adopted. They resorted to anotlier measure to force Mr. 
 Clinton and his friends to favor t\n: bill for the charter of the bank. 
 They all professed to favor his 7iomination for the jjresidency of the 
 United States, to which he aspired, by a legislative Democratic caucus ; 
 but liy one pretence and another they refused to go into caucus on that 
 subject until after the (picstion of ciiartering the baid< should l)e disposed 
 of. This course exceedingly aunoj'ed Mr. Clinton, for he desired that 
 the nomination, if made by the Legislature of T^ew York, should be 
 announced before a Congressional nomination of ^[r. Madison should l>e 
 declared. 
 
 A crisis was suddenly reached. Late in ]\rarcli the enacting clause of 
 tlie bank charter bill was passed by a vote of 52 to 40, when some start- 
 ling disclosures were made of attempts to brilie members of both houses 
 by frienils of the measure. Notwithstanding these damaging disclosures, 
 the bill was passed by a vote of 58 to 30. It was sent to the Senate, 
 where it was evident it would be almost immediately adopted. Governor 
 Tompkins, who had watched tiie measure with keen vigilance, satisfied 
 that it would be forced through by corrupt means, prorogued the Legis- 
 lature on ^Lircli 2Tth until ^[ay 21st. His message announcing his act 
 fell like a thunderbolt on both houses, and a scene of wildest confusion 
 and u])roar ensued ; but the legislators were compelled to submit to the 
 inevitable. 
 
 When the Legislature i-eassembled tiie bill for the charter oi the Dank 
 of America, which had produced so much social and political commo- 
 tion, was promptly passed, all the Federalists in both liouses voting 
 for it. Lnmediately afterward a meeting of the Democratic mcndiere 
 of the Legislature was held (May 2Sth, 1812), by which Mr. Clinton was 
 nominated as the candidate of the State of New York for the presidency 
 of the TTnited States. They recommended bis sup])ort to the Denuicratic 
 Party throughout the republic. 
 
 Mr. Clinton and his friends bavins been rather lukewarm on the sub- 
 ject of war, the Feilcralists felt kindly towanl him. The Clintonian 
 members of Congress from New York voted against the declaration of 
 war. At tbe election most of tbe Federalists voted for ]\[r. Clinton. 
 In the Electoral College lie received eighty-nine votes, and Mr. ]\[adison 
 received one hundred and twenty-eight votes. Clinton's course, regarded 
 as coquetry with the Federalists, lost him the friendship of many of his 
 
MILITARY MOVEMENTS ON THE NORTHERN FRONTIER. 401 
 
 party at home. An iiiniieiise majority of the Democrats of New York 
 City, where the " Tammanyites" were influential, l>ocame opposed to 
 him politically, and these influenced the party in the State. 
 
 There were some hostile movements on the Canada frontier of New 
 York near the St. Lawrence in the antnmn of 1S12 and in the M'inter of 
 1813. Late in September Major Benjamin Forsythc, with a company of 
 riflemen, appeared on tlie southern hank of the St. Lawrence, and after 
 some exploits among the Thousand Islands, he took post at Ogdensburg. 
 General Brown arrived there on October 1st, and on the same day a 
 large flotilla of British hateaux, escorted hy a gun-boat, appeared at 
 Prescott, on the opposite side of the river. On October 4th this flotilla 
 Lore armed men across the stream to attack Ogdensburg, when about 
 fifteen hundred American regulars and militia at that place repulsed the 
 invaders. 
 
 Nearly three weeks later a detachment of ahout two liundred militia, 
 chiefly from Troy, N. Y., led from French Mills by j\Lijor G. I). 
 Dudley, captured a larger portion of a British detachment stationed at 
 the Indian village of St. Regis, which lies on the boundary-line between 
 the United States and Canada. The late Governor !Marcy, of New 
 York, then a lieutenant, captured a British flag with his own hands. It 
 was the first trophy of the war taken on the land. 
 
 Early in Noveniljer Commodore Chauncey* appeared on Lake Ontario 
 with a little sipiadron of armed schooners. With these he made a cruise 
 toward Kingston, and after a slight skirmisli he blockaded a British 
 squadron in Kingston llarbor. In this cruise of a few days he disabled 
 the Royal George, destroyed one armed schooner, captured three mer- 
 chant vessels, and took several prisoners. Leaving vessels to blockade 
 the harbor until ice should seal it, he cruised toward the western end of 
 the lake, and soon returned to Sackett's Plarbor. The ao:gregate amoimt 
 of metal carried by his squadron was less than fifty guns, and the aggre- 
 gate numl)er of his men was only four hundred and thirty, including 
 nuiriues. 
 
 Meanwhile some stirring events had occurred at the head of the 
 
 * Isaac Chauncey was born in Conneoticnt in Filiiuaiy. 1T72, and died at Washing- 
 ton, D. C, in January, 1840. At the age of nineteen he eomniaiuled a mercliant ship, 
 and he made voyages to tlie East Indies in ships belonging to .1. J. Astor. He entcretl 
 the nav-y as lieutenant in ]S()2. and had become captain in 180(i. During the War of 
 1813-15 he was commander-in-chief of the United States naval force (m Lake Ontario. 
 After the war he commanded the 5Iedilerranean squadron, and assisted in negotiating a 
 treaty with Algiers. He was Naval Commissioner at Washiuglon in 1820, and held tlie 
 same position from 1833 until his death. His remains lie in the Congressional burying- 
 ground. 
 
402 
 
 THE E.MIMHE ESTATE. 
 
 Niagara River. Black Rock, near Buffalo, liad been chosen as a place 
 for the construction of war-vessels for service on Lake Erie. Lieutenant 
 J. D. Elliott had been sent tliither l)y Chauncej as superintendent. A 
 few days before the affair at Queenstown two British merchant vessels — 
 Caledonia and Detroit — had come down the Like ami ancliored under 
 the protection of the guns of Fort Erie, opposite BuH'alo. Elliott deter- 
 mined to seize them. At midnight (October 8th) he crossed the river in 
 boats with one hundred and twenty men, and surprised and captured 
 both vessels witli all their peojile. The .shouts of men at Buffalo and 
 Black Rock wlio witnessed the exploit aroused the garrison at Fort Erie, 
 who l)rt)uglit great guns to bear upon the assailants. A fierce struggle 
 for the possession of the captured vessels ensued. The Caledonia was 
 
 FOUT NIAOAKA FlidM KOIiT (IKOKOF.. 
 
 secured by the Americans, and was afterward convcrte.l into a war-vessel. 
 The Detroit was burned. 
 
 Near the mouth of the Niagara River stood old Fort Niagara, lightly 
 garrisoned by the Americans. On November 21st (1812) a heavy 
 artillery attack upon this post was carried on from the morning iintil tiie 
 evening twilight by five detached batteries on the Canada shore. Two 
 thousand red-hot balls and a tempest of bomb-shells were projected upon 
 the American works during the day. The cannonading and bombard- 
 ment was returned with spirit. The village of Newark, on the Canada 
 side, was set on fire several times by bombs, and little Fort George was 
 severely pounded by round-shot. Night ended this artillery duel. 
 
 This cannonade and bomliardment aroused General Smythe, Van 
 Rensselaer's successor in command at Buffalo, to spasmodic action. lie 
 made jireparations for invading Canada at once. In a fiaming jiroclama- 
 
GENERAL IIARUISOX-S CAMPAIGN. 403 
 
 tion lie said to ]iis soldiers : " Hearts uf war ! to-morrow will be memo- 
 rable in tlie annals of the United States. Neither rain, snow, nor frost 
 will prevent the embarkation. . . . The landing will be effected in 
 despite of cannon." 
 
 " To-morrow" was '"' memorable" for the failure of the boaster to 
 cross the Niagara. lie was afraid of Lieutenant-Colonel Bisshopp, who 
 commanded a small British force on the Canada side. Smythe was dis- 
 missed from the service. He petitioned Congress to be reinstated, ask- 
 ing to be allowed to " die for his country." A wag wrote with a jiencil 
 on the ]ianel of a door of the House of Representatives : 
 
 " All hail, great chief, who qiiaiU'tl before 
 A Bisshopii on Niagara's shore. 
 But looks on Death with dauntless eye, 
 And begs for leave to bleed and die. 
 Oh my :' 
 
 It is not our province to give more than the briefest notices of events 
 not specially connected with the history of the State of New York ; 
 therefore we present only an outline of stirring scenes elsewhere. 
 
 We have observed that the surrender of Hull and the atrocities of the 
 barbarians on the north-western frontier aroused the hottest indignation 
 and intense patriotisui of the people west of the Alleghany Mountains. 
 In the valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi the spirit of the old 
 crusaders seemed to have been awakened. Volunteers gathered in every 
 settlement, and for weeks they found emploj'ment in driving the hostile 
 Indians from post to post in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, desolating their 
 villages and plantations, and exciting the terrible wrath of the barbarians. 
 The people were so eager to smite the British and their dusky allies that 
 the campaign of 1813 opened at midwinter, and volunteers were more 
 plentiful than were needed. 
 
 General Hull had been succeeded in the command of the Army of the 
 North-west by General William II. Harrison (afterward President of the 
 United States), and General Sir George Prevost became the successor of 
 Brock iu Canada. Harrison marched a crude and undisciplined army 
 through a savage wilderness toward Detroit. They built roads and 
 block-houses by the way, created magazines of provisions and defended 
 them, and protected in a measure a frontier of several hundred miles ia 
 extent against the tomahawk and the scalping-knife of murderous savages. 
 Ilariison made the vicinity of the T\[aumee luipids, toward the westera 
 end of Lake Erie, the place of general rendezvous. 
 
 General Jatnes Winchester, with eight hundred young Kentuckians, 
 
4(1-1 TIIK K.MPIHE STATE. 
 
 anivcil at the Maumee Rapids in January, 1813. Informed that Britisli 
 and Indians were occupying the little settlement of Frenchtown (now 
 Munroe, Mich.), on the river Kaisin, he hastened thitlier to dislodge 
 tlie intruders. His advanced detachment had driven them out of the 
 hamlet on his arriv;d on tlio 2nt!i. (unuM'nl Proctor, witli a fonrc of 
 Ih'itisli and Indians (the latter conimandcd l)y Te(ninitiiM), tiicn occupied 
 Maiden, on the Detroit River. With iiftecn hundred mi^i of this motley 
 army he surprised Winchester at dawn on tiie 'i'iil, made iiiiii a jirisoner, 
 and slew many of his men. Winchester surrendered his troo[)s to Proc- 
 tor on the condition that they and the settlement shoidd he protected 
 against the fury of the barbarians. This promise was quickly violated. 
 The sick aiul wounded Americans were left behind when the prisoners 
 were marched away. The Indians soon turned back, murdered and 
 scalped those who were unable to travel, and took the remainder to 
 Detroit, twenty- five miles to the north, in order to procure e.xorbitant 
 sums for their rasisom. This perfidy and nuissacre created intense ex- 
 citement in Kentucky, for the victims were of the flower of society in 
 that State. After that the war-cry of the Kcntuckiuns was, '' Remem- 
 ber tiie river Raisin !" 
 
 Harrison advanced innnediately to tlie ilanmee Rapids, where, oppo- 
 site the site of present Perrysburg, he built a strong earth\\ork, witli 
 bastions, and named it Fort ^leigs. There he was Ijesieged many weeks 
 afterward by Proctor and Tecnmtlia and tiieir respective followers. The 
 assailants appeared Ijefore the fort at the close of April, and though tiie 
 post vvas strong and the gurrison had many great guns mounted, they 
 were in imminent peril for a while. The fort was relieved by the arrival 
 of forces under General Green Clay, of Kentucky, early in May, and 
 the siege was abandoned. Active military operations in the West then 
 ceased for a while. 
 
 At Lower Sandusky' (now Fremont, Ohio; was a regular earth and 
 stockaded military Avork named Fort Stephenson, garrisoned by one 
 hundred and sixty men under the command of young Major George 
 (Jroghan, then only twenty-one years of age. In July Proctor and 
 Tecumtha, with four thousand followers, again appeared before Fort 
 Meigs, but soon left it and puslied across the country to fall upon Fort 
 Stephenson. They made a furious attack ujion it, l)ut Croghan and his 
 men so skilfully and gallantly defended the post and made such havoc, 
 among the assailants that the latter fled in haste and great confusion to 
 Detroit. 
 
 The control of Lake Erie Avas as important to both parties as was that 
 of Lake Ontario, and to secure it the Americans and the Pritish each 
 
PERRY'S FLEET ON LAKE ERIE. 
 
 405 
 
 liastened to (create a fleet of war- vessels thereon. The Britisli l>uilt at 
 Maiden, the Americans bnilt at Presqne Isle, now Erie, Pa. 
 
 Captain Oliver Hazard Perr3',*a zealous youiifj naval officer of Rhode 
 Island, offered his services on the lakes. i\t the middle of January, 
 1813, he Avas ordered to report to Commodore Chaiincoy, and to take 
 with him all the best men from a flotilla of gnn-hdats wln'ch lie had com- 
 manded on Xarraganset Bay. He sent them forward in three companies, 
 flfty in each. Meeting Chauncey at Albany, they journeyed together 
 through the dark wilderness to Sackett's Harbor in a sleigh. Perry soon 
 proceeded to Presqne Isle to superin- 
 tend the construction and equipment 
 of a navy in that sheltered hai'bor 
 to co-operate with Harrison in an 
 attenq)t to recover Michigan. 
 
 At Plack Rock Henry Eckford 
 liad fashioned five merchant vessels 
 into war-craft. These were sent to 
 Presque Isle, where Perry had four 
 vessels built. Early in July he had 
 a squadron of nine vessels ready for 
 men and supplies. These Avere de- 
 layed several weeks, while a British 
 squadron under Commodore Barclay 
 was proudly and defiantly patrolling 
 the lake. Late in July Perry wrote 
 
 to Chauncey : " Send me men and I will have them all [the British ves- 
 sels] in a day or two. . . . Barclay has been beardiiig me for several 
 days ; I long to be at him." 
 
 At length Perry left the harl)or, his vessels fully manned, and on 
 Septend)er Iflth the two squadrons met toward the western end of the 
 lake and engaged in a fierce and sanguinary battle. The flag-ship 
 Lmorence, bearing on a lilue burgee the words of the dying hero in 
 M-ho.se honor she had been named — ^" Don't give up imc snip " — bore 
 the brunt of conflict about two hours, when she lay upon the water an 
 
 OI.TVEK IIAZ.VRn I'EIUiY. 
 
 * Oliver Hazard Perry was born at Soiilli Kingston, R. I., August 33d, 1785 ; diiil in 
 Trinidad. W. I., of yellow fever, .Vugust 23d, 1819. He entered the navy as a midship- 
 man in 1799, .served in the Tripolitan War, and was called to the command of a fleet on 
 Luke Erie in the sunnner of 1813, having first served with Chauncey on Lake Ontario. 
 In a liattle on Lake Erie on September 10th, 1813, with a British squadron he gained a 
 signal victory. Perry assisted llarri.son in retaking Detroit, late; in 1813. In 1815 he 
 commanded the Jdra in Decatur's squadron on the Jleditcrrauean. 
 
406 THE EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 silinost total wreck. Tho slaugliter liud beoi) ilreadful. Tlio yiatjdra, 
 .1 stanch vessel, was near and unhurt. To her Perry went iu a boat, 
 throuirh a tempest of bullets and grajje-sliot. lie hoisted his pennant 
 over her, dashed through the British line, and in eight minutes after- 
 ward the colors of Barclay's Hag-ship, the Detroit, were struck, and all 
 l)ut two vessels of his squadron were surrendered. Resting his naval 
 cap on his knee, Perry wrote to Harrison, witii a i)encil on tho back of 
 a letter, his famous despatch : 
 
 " AYe have met tlie enemy and they are ours ; twu s])ij)s, two brigs, 
 one schooner, and (»ne sloop." 
 
 Tlie control of Lake Erie by tlie Amciiciuis M^as iiow secured. Harri- 
 son puslied forward toward Detroit. .\ part of liis troops were taken 
 across tlie lake on Perry's vessels, i'roctor set tire to Maiden, and tied 
 into the interior of Canada with Tecunitha and his Indians. 
 
 Harrison crossed the river and pursued the fugitives. He overtook 
 theui at tho Moravian Towns on the little river Thames, where a sharp 
 battle was fought on October 5th, 1S13. Tecunitha w'as killed, the 
 British were defeated, and Proctor, with a few followers, escaped to the 
 head of Lake Ontario. At this battle the Americans recaptured six brass 
 field-pieces which had been surrendered by Hull, on two of which were 
 engraved the words : " Sukkendeukd by Buroovxe at Sakatooa."' 
 These precious relics of the old war for independence are now at West 
 Point, on the Hudson. 
 
 \\\ the territory wliicli Hull had lost was now recovered. The Indian 
 Confederacy on the north-western border of the re])ublic was broken up, 
 and war in that region was ended. 
 
 During the summer of ISlli the I'nited States were involved in war 
 with the Indians in the I'egioii of the (iulf of Mexico. In the spring 
 Tecuintha went among them to arouse them to wage war on the white 
 people. The j)owerful Creeks yielded to his persuasions. Late in 
 August a large party of them surprised and captured Fort Menis, on the 
 Alal)ama liiver, and massacred about four hundred men, women, and 
 children. This event aroused tlie whole South to vigorous retaliation, 
 and General Andrew Jackson, afterward President of the United States, 
 led twenty-five hundred Tennesseeans into the Creek country, where he 
 waged a destructive subjugating war against them. 
 
 Early in Xovcmber (Jcneral Coffee, Jackson's second in command, 
 with nine hundred men, siirroundeil an Indian force at Tallashateliee, 
 and slew two hundred of them. Not a wari-ior escajied. Within ten 
 weeks afterward bloody battles had been fought at Talladt\ga (November 
 8th), Autosee (November 29tlO. and Kmuckfaw (January 22d, ISU), 
 
TUE fllEKOKEE ^■ATIO^' RUIXED. 407 
 
 and several skirmishes had taken phice. The Tennesseeans were always 
 victorious, yet they lost many brave soldiers. The Creeks finally estab- 
 lished a fortitied camp at the Great Horseshoe Bend of the Tallapoosa 
 River, and there a thousand warriors, with their women and children, 
 determined to make a last decisive stand. On ]\[arch 2Tth, 1814, they 
 were surrounded by Jackson's troops and attacked. The dusky warriors 
 fought desperately, for they knew that there would be no future for 
 their nation in case of a defeat. They disdained to surrender, and 
 almost six hundred of them were slain. Only two or three were made 
 prisoners, with about tlirue hundred women and children. The result 
 of the battle crushed the spirit and the power of tlie Creek nation. It 
 was a sad picture for the eyes of good men to see one of the ancient 
 tribes of our land, who were then making rapid strides in the progress 
 of civilization, so ruthlessly and utterly ruined by the destructive hand 
 of war. 
 
408 TIIK EMPlUi; slAli:. 
 
 CllAl'lKU XXIX. 
 
 P]akly in 1813 important military movements occurred at Ogdensbmj; 
 and its vicinity. There were hostile incursions by botli parties across 
 the St. Lawrence. Major Forsythe, in command at Oirilcnslnirg, Jiad 
 crossed over to I'rockville early in February, released all the prisoners 
 in jail there, and .seized some troops and citizens, who were carried to 
 liis camp in triumph. 
 
 Retaliation soon ensued. Sir (jeorge Prcvost, Governor-General of 
 Canada, arrived at Prescott, oppo.site Ogdensburg, on his way to York, 
 tlio cajiital of T'[)per Canada, and assented to a proposal for troops to 
 cross the rivci- on the ice and assail the American village. Considering 
 his own person in danger of ca))ture. Sir George hastened forward 
 toward York, directing Lieuteuant-Colonel McDonnell to conduct the 
 attack. ■ 
 
 At dawn on the morning of February ii2d McDonnell appeared on the 
 frozen river M-itli about eight hundred soldiers, in two columns, and 
 pushed on to the village at separate points. Forsj'the, informed by spies 
 of this intended as.sault, had prepared to receive the invaders ; but he 
 could not withstand them. It was a sort of surprise. Some of the 
 inhabitants were in bed, others were at breakfast. They neai'ly all tied 
 in consternation, and after a conflict of an hour in the streets, Forsythe 
 and liis troops retreated to Black Lake, eight or nine miles distant. The 
 British became masters of the village. They plundered every house in 
 the town excepting three, burned the l)arracks near the riv(U" and two 
 gun-boats ami two armed schooners frozen in the ice, and returned to 
 Canada with a great amount of ])hinder. These events accelerated the 
 gathering of militia on the northern frontier, especially at Sackett's 
 Ilarlxir. 
 
 General L)earborn, the comnuuider-in-chief of the >iorthern Depart- 
 ment, unable to afford assistance to the exposed points of the frontier of 
 New York, resolved to invade Canada. lie was then in direct command 
 of the Army of the .North, which was al)out six thousand strong, and 
 were all within the State of New York. These were to defend the 
 frontier from Buffalo to St. Regis. Dearborn determined to attempt 
 the capture of Montreal, in Lower Canada, and York (now Toronto), 
 the capital of the upper province. Chauncey, as we have seen, had 
 
EXPEDITIUX AGAINST YOKK (TORONTO). 
 
 409 
 
 gained the control of Lake Ontario, and believed he could keep the ice- 
 bound British navy in the harbor of Kingston nntil the reduction of 
 York. 
 
 Dearborn concentrated troops at Sackett's Harbor and liuffalo ; l,ut 
 in March (lS13l he found only three thousand troops at the former 
 place. He directed General Brown to summon several hundred militia 
 to the field, and called Brigadier-General Z. M. Pike to the harbor with 
 four hundred of liis best men, then at Plattsburg, on Lake Ghamj.lain. 
 Henry Eckfonl was charged with the building of six A\-ar schooners at 
 the harbor, and Chauncey was authorized to purcliase as many vessels 
 as the exigencies of tlie service 
 might require. 
 
 At the middle of April a plan 
 was nuitnred for a land and naval 
 force to cross the lake, capture 
 York, and assail Fort George, 
 near the mouth of the Niagara 
 Kiver. At the same time troops 
 were to cross the river at Buf- 
 falo, capture Fort Erie and the 
 redoul)t at Chippewa, and meet- 
 ing the force from York at Foi't 
 George, reduce that work, and 
 then all press on to the captTire 
 of Kingston. 
 
 On April 25tli (1813) seven- 
 teen hundred troops, under the immediate command of General Pike, 
 sailed from Sackett's Harbor in Channcey's fleet, and on the morning of 
 the 27th appeared before York, then pretty strongly fortified. The land 
 forces were disembarked about two miles west of the British outworks in 
 the face of a destructive fire from regulars and Lidians under (Tcnei-al 
 vSheaflFe. The former were soon driven to tlieir fortifications, and the 
 .Vmericaus, led by Pike,* pressed forward and captured two redoubts. 
 At the same time Chauncey was smiting the foe with a tempest of grape- 
 shot from his naval cannons. The Indians, terrified In' the I'oar of artil- 
 
 ZEBULON MONTGOMERY I-njE. 
 
 * Zebuloii i[. Pike was born at Lamberton, N. J., iu January, 1779. He entered the 
 army iu his youth, and was made captain in 1806. In 1805 and 1806 lie was engai^ed in 
 searching for tlie sources of the Jlis.si.'^sippi Kiver, and exploring a jiortion of the vast 
 territory of Louisiana. He was commissioned a major in 1808. and rose to brigadier-gen- 
 eral in 1813. Early in that year he was appointed adjutant and inspector-general in the 
 Northern Department. He lost his life in an attack upon York, April 27th, 1813. 
 
410 Tin: K.MPIKK STATE. 
 
 lery, liad deserted the Uritisli at tlie beirinniiig, and tied ;us fast as their 
 IciTS could carry tliein. 
 
 Slieaffe now took post with tlie garrison near tlie governor's house, 
 and opened a lieavy fire of round and grape-sliot from a l)attery. Tliis 
 battery was soon silenced by Pike's heavy guns, and he was expecting a 
 white-flag token of submission, when an awful catastrophe occurred. 
 Tlie British, unable to hold the fort, fired a magazine of gunpowder on 
 the edge of the lake. The explosion which followed was terrible in its 
 effects. Timbers and stones, of which the magazine w;us built, were 
 scattered many hundred feet in every direction, carrying death and 
 destruction. Fifty-two Americans and forty British soldiers were slain, 
 and a much larger number were wounded. 
 
 General Pike at the time of the explosion was sitting on the stump of 
 a tree talking M'ith a captive P>ritish officer. Tiie general, two of his 
 aides, and the captive officer were mortally hurt by the flying missiles. 
 The dying leader was taken on board Cliauncey's flag-ship. His dulled 
 ears heard the shouts of victory, and just before he died the cajitureil 
 Briti-sh flag was brought to him. lie smiled, and made a sign to have it 
 placed under his head. It was done, and a nu'inent afterward he 
 expired. 
 
 Early in May the victorious Americans sailed from Sackett's Harl)or 
 to attack Fort George. The British had at that post and smaller works 
 along the Niagara Iliver about eighteen hundred men, commanded by 
 General Vint'cnt. The American troops landed and encamped five 
 iniles east of Fort Niagara, where they prepared for the task before 
 them. On the morning of ^fay 27th they were conveyed by Chauncey's 
 squadron to the month of the Niagara on the Canada side. 
 
 Led by Colonel Winfield Scott and Commodore Perry, the latter in 
 command of the boats, the invatlers ascended the bank in the face of a 
 shower of bullets and of glittering bayonets, and after a sharp conflict 
 tliey pushed back the British, ^'incent, discouraged, ordered the guns 
 of Fort George to be spiked, the ammunition to be destroyed, and tlni 
 garrison to join him in a retreat toward Burlington Bay, at the west end 
 of Lake Ontario. The whole British force retreated first to a strong 
 position in the hilly region of the Beaver Dams, where Vincent had a 
 magazine of stores and provisions. Forts Erie and Chippewa were 
 abandoned, and the Niagara frontier in Canada passed into the possession 
 of the Americans. 
 
 Generals (^handler and Winder were sent in pursuit of A'incent. 
 They encamped at Stony Creek on the night of June <>th, seven miles 
 east of the British forces, where thev were attacked by the latter at mid- 
 
BRITISH ATTACK OX SACKETTS IIARROH, 411 
 
 night. The darkness was intense ; surprised and confused in the gloom, 
 tlie two American generals were made prisoners. Expecting a renewal 
 of the attack, the Americans made a hasty retreat toward the Xiagara, 
 menaced on the way by a British squadron on the lake at their left, and 
 liy barbarians and local militia on the heights at their right. They 
 reached Fort George in safety. 
 
 Sackett's Harbor was now the chief depot of the military and naval 
 snpplies of the Americans on Lake Ontario, and offered a tempting 
 object to the enemy. When the British at Kingston heard of the de- 
 parture of a large portion of Chauncey's squadron with the land troops 
 from the harbor, they resolved to attempt the capture of that post. 
 
 On the evening of May i!7th Sir James Lucas Yeo,* the commander 
 of the British squadron, sailed from Kingston, and at about noon the 
 next day appeared oif Sackett's Harbor with six armed vessels and forty 
 bateaux, bearing over a thousand land troops, the whole armament under 
 the command of Sir George Prevost, the governor-general. 
 
 There were only a few regular troops at the harbor, commanded by 
 Colonel Backus. General Brown, who was at his home a few miles dis- 
 tant, hastened to the threatened post. He sent expresses in all directions 
 to summon the militia to the field, and fired alarm-guns to rouse the 
 inhabitants. The militia on their arrival were sent to Horse Island, 
 close by, where it was supposed the invaders would first attempt to land. 
 
 The British troops were embarked from the war- vessels in bateaux, 
 l)ut were soon ordered back, when the whole squadron put to sea. Sir 
 George, who was a timid naan, had been alarmed by the appearance of 
 some American guu-l)oats bearing a regiment from Oswego to re-enforce 
 the little garrison at the harbor. As soon as he perceived the real weak- 
 ness I if the approaching foe he returned, and on the morning of the 2t)th 
 landed a considerable force, with artillery, upon Horse Island. The 
 American militia were called from the island and placed behind a gravel- 
 
 * Sir .lames Lviciis Yeo wiis bom in Southampton, England, in 1783, and died in bis 
 native country in 1819. He was an active but very cautious officer. He was given to 
 boasting and promising more than he could perform. Offended witli Captain Porter, of 
 tlie .American ship Exui.r, because of the hitter's disparaging remarlis concerning the 
 baronet, he sent, by a paroUtd prisoner, a message to Porter inviting liim to a combat be- 
 tween their two ships, saying he " would be glad to have a tcte-d-tcte anywhere between 
 the Capes of the Delaware and the Havana, when he would have pleasure to break his 
 own [Captain Porter's] sword over his d — fl head, and put him down forward in irou.s." 
 Porter accepted the challenge in more decorous terms, but owing to the extreme caution. 
 of Sir .James, the meeting never occurred. His conduct on Lake Ontario on two or tliree 
 occasions was such that the wits of the day interpreted his cautious movements as 
 specimens of " heart disease" known to cowards. He had been instructed to " risk 
 iiolliing. " 
 
413 TIIK K.Ml'lKi: STATK. 
 
 ridge on the main, from wiiicii tiiuy scampered at tlie tirst tire of tlie 
 invaders. Tlie indignant General Brown attempted to rally them while 
 the regulars and a few Albany volunteers disputed the advance of the 
 foe inch by inch. At that moment a dense smoke arose in the rear of 
 the American forces. Brown was alarmed, but was soon relieved of 
 anxiety when lie learned that a friend and not <a foe was the incendiary. 
 When the militia fled the otHcer in charge of the public property at the 
 harbor, believing the ])ost would be taken, set tire to the storo-liouscs 
 and their contents, ami a ship on tin; stocks. 
 
 General Brown sunt some regulars to intercept the fugitive militia. 
 These, with the gathering of others, decci\ed and alarmed Sir (reorge. 
 lie had mounted a high stump and swept the horizon with his tield- 
 glass. Seeing numerous men, he supposed them to be re-enforcements 
 of regulars in large numbers, and immediately ordered a retreat. That 
 movement became a disorderly flight. The fugitives left their dead and 
 wounded behind, fled pell-mell to their vessels, and the whole scjuadron 
 liastily withdrew from the harbor. The post and the ship on the stocks 
 were saved, but stores worth half a million dollars were lost. Sackett's 
 Harbor was never again attacked, aiul it remained a chief place of 
 deposit of supplies for the Northern Army during the remainder of the 
 war. 
 
 General Vincent established an advanced post at the Beaver Dams 
 under the command of Lieutenant Fitzgibbon. Late in June Colonel 
 Boerstler was sent from Fort (Jeorge, with six hundred men, to capture 
 the garrison and stores at the Beaver Dams. Informed of their 
 approa(;h, Fitzgii)bon was prepared to rec(;ive them. Furiously assailed 
 by Indians under John Brant, and alarmed by an exaggerated account 
 of the number of the foe, Boerstler surrendered his whole force, when 
 the Ih'itish pressed forward and menaced Queenstown and Ftirt Cieorge. 
 The infirmities of General Dearborn now caused him to resign his com- 
 mand, and lie was succeeded by General James Wilkinson, another 
 officer of the old war for independence. 
 
 The attempts to seize Canada had been decided failures, and yet the 
 Government seemed not to have learned wisdom by dear-bought experi- 
 ence. The Secretary of War w;is John -Vrmstrong,* who had been a 
 
 * .lohn Armstrong was torn at Carlisle, Pa., in November, 17.58, and died at Red 
 Hook, X. Y.. in .Vjiril. 1843. lie was a student at Princeton when the Uevolvitionarv 
 War broke out, joined a Pennsylvania regiment as a vohiiiteer, and was on the staH of 
 General Mereer. He was afterward on the staff of General Gates with the rank of major, 
 and remained so until the end of the war. He wrote llic famous " Xewburg Ad- 
 dresses." He lield important civil otliccs in Pennsylvania ; conducted military operations 
 
MOVEMENTS OX THE NIAGARA FROXTIEK. 
 
 413 
 
 subaltern in the war for independence. He was jjossessed of a fiery and 
 obstinate spirit. He and Wilkinson could not agree. There was 
 another fiery spirit in the field in Xew York at that time— Wade 
 Hampton, of South Carolina — the lai-gest slaveholder in the republic, 
 ■who had been a partisan officer with Marion. He was haughty and 
 imperious, and could not brook official control. These old Kevolutionary 
 officers, jealous of each other, could not bear with complacency com- 
 mands from one of their number who might be superior in official station. 
 They were a decided disadvantage to the service from the beginning, 
 and until they were succeeded by 
 younger men the American armies 
 were generally unsuccessful. 
 
 Made bold by their success at 
 the Beaver Dams, the British be- 
 came aggressive on the Niagara 
 frontier. They closely invested Fort 
 George. On the night of July 
 4th, 1S13, a few Canadian militia 
 and Indians crossed the river to 
 Schlosser, and captured a guard, 
 arms, ammunition, and stores. On 
 the 11th Lieutenant-Colonel Bis- 
 shopp, with a motley force of four 
 hundred regulars, Canadians, and 
 Indians, crossed the river from Fort 
 
 Erie and surprised the post at Black Ilock, a little before dawn. 
 His object was to seize the stores collected there and the shipyard. 
 They were defended by a few militia. These, with others at Buffalo, 
 two miles distant, were under the command of General Peter B. Porter. 
 The militia at Black Kock fled. Porter rallied a portion of them, and 
 MJth fifty volunteer citizens drove the invaders across the river. Bis- 
 shopp was mortally wounded in the flight, and died five days afterward. 
 
 Wilkinson prepared for another invasion of Canada, or to " strike a 
 deadly blow somewhere.' ' He left eight hundred troops at Fort George, 
 
 .#^/v^ 
 
 JOirx ARMSTKOXG. 
 
 against settlers in the Wvoming Valley, in 1784 ; and declined the office of judge for the 
 Korth-western Territory, in 1787. Two years later he married a sister of Chancellor 
 Livingston, and pureha.sing a farm within the bounds of the Li\iugston .Manor, devoted 
 himself to agriculture. He was United States senator in 1800-1804, and succeeded his 
 brother-in-law. Livingston, as minister at the French Court. In 1812 he was commis- 
 sioned a brigadier-general, and entered iladison's cabinet the ne.xt year as Secretary of 
 War, resigning in 1814. He never entered public life afterward. 
 
414 
 
 ■nii; i;.Mi'ii;i: siatk. 
 
 undor C'uloncl Wiiiticld IScott, and witli tlio reiiiaiiidur of tlic forces on 
 tlie Xiajijara frontier he sailed eastward to undertake an exj)edition 
 against Montreal. lie instructed Scott, in case tlie British slioiild leave 
 that frontier, to j(;in his expedition on the St. Lawrence. This con- 
 tiiiiiency soon occurred. When Vincent heard of the defeat of Proctor 
 on the Thanies, he called liis troops from the Niagara to Ihirlington 
 
 Heights, ^fi-anwhile the Secretary 
 
 of War (Armstrong) had come on 
 
 to reconcile dilferences between 
 Wilkinson and Hampton, and to 
 assume tlie conduct of the in\ading 
 expedition. Armstrong established 
 the seat of the War Dciiartmciit at 
 Sackett's Harbor. 
 
 When Wilkinson * took com- 
 mand of the Army of the North 
 in the summer of 181:3, military 
 ailairs on Lake Champlain and in 
 its vicinity were in a peculiar posi- 
 tion. Captain Thomas Macdonough 
 had been charged with the con- 
 struction of a fleet on the lake in 
 the spring. At the beginning of 
 June he had two stanch armed ves- 
 sels — Euijh and Gnnclet' — ready for service. They were sent to the foot 
 of the lake to look after some l^ritish gnu-boats that were depredating 
 there. They ran far into the Sorel, when, tuining southward, they 
 were chased by British armed vessels and assailed by land troops on 
 each side t)f the narnnv river. The Eagle was sunk by a heavy rouml- 
 shot, and the Grvichr was captured. 
 
 * James Wilkinson was born in Maryland in 1757, anil died nwir the city of Mexico iu 
 December, 182.). He joined the Continental Army at Cambridiie iu 1775. nud was lui 
 active subaltern ollieer dm-ing the whole war. At its close he enfraged in mercantile 
 business in Lexington, Ivy. He was lieutenant-colonel in an expedition ajjainst the Ind- 
 ians in 1791. and was made lirigadier-general the next year. He commanded the right 
 wing of Wayne's army on the Mainnee in 1704, and was general-inehief of the I'nited 
 States Army from 17!)0 to 179S nnd from l.SOO to 1812. He was one of the commission- 
 ers lo receive Louisiana from the French late in 1803. and was governor of that territory 
 from 1805 to 1807. AVilUinson became entangled with Burr. Made major-general in 
 1813, he was ordered to the command on the northern frontier. His campaign against 
 Jlontreal was a failure, chiefly beeaii.se of tbu conduct of Wade Hampton. He left the 
 army at the close of the war. Having become possessed of large estates in Mexico, he 
 removed to thai countrv, and died there. 
 
 .l.VMICS WIIJilNSON. 
 
EXPEDITION AGAINST MONTUKAL. 415 
 
 Early in August Macdonough Iiad three armed schooners and six gnn- 
 hoats ready for service, fitted and manned. At about tlie same time 
 TMattsburg, on the west side of the hilvc, left nneovered by any military 
 fiirce, had been seized, plundered, and scorched by a British land and 
 naval force, fourteen hundred strong, under Colonel Murray, while 
 (ieneral Hampton, the connnander of that I'egion, lying at Burlington, 
 twenty miles distant, with four thousand troops, had made no attempt 
 to oppose the invaders. 
 
 In the mean time Clhaunccv had been busy on J^ake Ontario, lie 
 sought a conflict with Sii' James Yeo, l)ut the latter evaded him for 
 weeks, for he had been instructed to "risk nothing." The saved ship 
 at the harbor had l)een completed ami named the General Pike. 
 C'hauncey made her his flag-slilp. IIu h:i<l twelve other vessels, mostly 
 merchantmen altered into war-craft. Sir .Tamcis had six vessels built at 
 ]\ingston expressly for war. 
 
 One night in July the belligerents were about to engage in an 
 encounter when a sudden tornado capsized two of Channeey's vessels, 
 and all on board perished excepting sixteen men. Finally, at the middle 
 of September, Chauncey compelled the baronet to light. The Pike 
 fought the heavier vessels of the foe. The conflict was quick, sharp, 
 and ileeisive. The Wolfe, Yeo's flag-ship, too much bruised to fight 
 any longer, hurried away before the wind, covered by the Royal George. 
 (Jhanncey pursued to Burlington Bay, but the equinoctial gale made it 
 prudent for him to return to Niagara. He did little more during the 
 season than to watch the enemy and assist the expedition on the St. 
 Lawrence. 
 
 Armstrong directed Wilkinson to command the expedition against 
 Montreal, and ordered Hampton, who was in connnand of the right 
 wing of the army, to co-operate with the forces on the St. Lawrence. 
 Hampton moved forward from Plattslnirgh at about the middle of Sep- 
 tember with four thousand (tfFcctive infantry, a s(piadron of cavalry, and 
 a train of artillery, and on the 2-l:th encamped oti the Chateaugay River 
 near the site of the present village of Cliateaugaj', where he awaited 
 orders. 
 
 At the middle of October the troops destined for Montreal sailed from 
 Sa(!kett's Harbor in a Hotilla of open boats, and at the same time 
 Hampton was ordered to push on to the St. Lawrence, at the mouth of 
 the Chateaugay. The flotilla was dreadfully smitten by a gale on the 
 lake, and was dispensed. Much property was lost. The scattered troops 
 rendezvoused at Grenadier Island, excepting a detachment under Gen- 
 eral Brown, which pushed on to French Creek, now Clayton, on the St. 
 
410 TIIH K.MIMKE STATE. 
 
 Liiwrence, wliore, on Noveiiilior 1st, tlicy had a sliarp Imt successful 
 encounter with IJritish infantry on yun-hoats and schooners. 
 
 Tlie wlioie expedition was concentrated at Fi-encli Creek in the first 
 ■week in November. On tlie r)th the wliolc arnuunent moved down the 
 river in three hundred open boats. A Canadian winter was just at liand. 
 Snow had ah-eady fallen, and the cold was becoming severe. Their flags 
 were furled and their music was silent, for they wished to elude tlie 
 vijrilance of the British ; but they were discovered and pursued by troops 
 in a heavy-armed ijalley and some gun-boats through the sinuous 
 channels of the Thousand Islands. They had a battle by moonlight in 
 Alexandria Bay. 
 
 Land troops from Kingston arrived at Prescott before "Wilkinson could 
 reach Ogdensburg, on the opposite shore. He disembarked above that 
 village, marched around it to avoid the artillery on the Canada shore, 
 and at a point a few miles below re-entered the boats, wiiich had been 
 safely taken past tlie liatteries by General Brown. On November 10th 
 tiie flotilla lay anchored a short distance above tlie head of the Long 
 Kapids. 
 
 Meanwhile British troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, in boats 
 aTid on shore, had pursued the flotilla, and some of them were posted at 
 the foot of tlie rapids to intercept the Americans wlien they should come 
 down. INfany of the latter, under Generals Brown and Boyd,* were on 
 the Canada shore. Brown pushed forward with a detachment to dis- 
 lodge the British at the foot of the rapids, antl on the 11th Boyd met 
 the enemy face to face, who M'ere in battle array on the farm of John 
 Chrysler, a few miles below Williamsburg, in Canada. A severe battle 
 was fought in sleet and snow. Boyd was ably supported by Generals 
 Swartwout and Covington, and Colonels Coles, Ripley, and Swift. The 
 Americans were driven from the field with considerable loss. General 
 Covington was mortally wounded. Under cover of night the little 
 American force withdrew to the flotilla, which descended the Long 
 Kapids with safety the next morning. 
 
 General Wilkinson was then very ill. Word came that General 
 
 * John PaikiT Boyd was born at KowbiuTport, Jlass., in Decpinbcr, ]7(!S. and died in 
 Boston in OclobiT, 1S80. lie entered the military service and soon afterward went to 
 tlic East Indies, where lie entered the Mahratta service and soon rose to the rank of com- 
 mander, leading, at one lime, 10,000 men. lie served for some time, when, his iiresence 
 being no longer needed, he sold out and went to Paris. He returned home in 1808 and 
 re-entered the United Slates Army as colonel. He was distinguished in the battle of Tip- 
 pecanoe. In 1812 lie was commissioned a brigadier-general, and commanded an important 
 jtart of Wilkinson's expedition down the St. Lawrence in 181;}. General lioyd was made 
 naval ollicer at Boston in 1830, but died .soon afterward. 
 
 i 
 
NIAGAKA FRONTIER DESOLATED. 417 
 
 Hampton conld not form the ordered junction witli the expedition, but 
 would return to Lake Champhun. lie wouki not serve under Wilkinson. 
 The expedition did not proceed farther, but went into winter (jnarters at 
 French Mills, on the Salmon Tliver. So ended in disaster another 
 attempt to invade and conquer Canada. 
 
 Distressing events closed the campaign of the Northern Army on the 
 Niagara frontier. Early in December General McClure, regarding Fort 
 George as untenable with his little garrison of forty men, abandoned it 
 and crossed over to Fort Niagara. Before leaving Canada he set fire to 
 the beautiful village of Newark. One hundred and fifty houses were 
 destroyed (December 10th), and scores of men, women, and children 
 were turned into the keen wintry air, homeless wanderers. This savage 
 act created the most fiery indignation, and fierce retaliation followed. 
 The British captured Fort Niagara and massacred a part of the garrison. 
 The Indians were given full liberty to plunder and destroy. Every 
 village and hamlet on the New York side of the river was sacked and 
 burnt. Black Rock and Bufi^alo, though defended by some troops, did 
 not escape. The latter village contained about eighteen hundred iidiab- 
 itants. All but four of its buildings were laid in ashes. An immense 
 amount of public and private property was destroyed. With these 
 events the campaign of 1S13 in the north was closed. "We have already 
 considered the war with the Indians in the region of the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 The naval operations on the ocean during 1813 were very important. 
 As these were not specially connected with the history of the State of 
 New York, it is our province only to notice them very briefly. 
 
 The Unitfd States sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain Lawrence, fought 
 the British brig Peacoel- (February 24th, 1S13) off the mouth of the 
 Demarara River, South America. The Peucocl' surrendered after a 
 sharp contest of fifteen minutes, and innnediately suidc, carrying down 
 with her nine British seamen and three Americans. The generous con- 
 duct of Lawrence on that occasion drew from the survivors of the Pea- 
 cock a letter of thanks after their arrival, as prisoners, at New York. 
 
 Lawrence was promoted to the command of the American frigate 
 Chesapeake. On June 1st he sailed from Boston to respond to a chal- 
 lenge by the commander of the frigate Shannon, Captain Broke. He 
 found the boaster on the same day thirty miles from Boston Light. At 
 five o'clock in the afternoon a furious struggle began. The vessels 
 became entangled. The Britons boarded the Chesapeake, and after a 
 desperate hand-to-hand combat the Americans were over])owered and 
 the British flag was hoisted over the dreadfully injured vessel. Early 
 in the conflict a nmsket-ball mortally wounded the gallant young Law- 
 
418 Til 10 EMIMUE STATE. 
 
 reiK'.e. As lie was being taken to tlieeock|iit lie s;ii(i : '' Tull tlie luuu to 
 fire faster and 7iot to give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks !" These 
 dying words of Lawrence — '' Don't give np the ship I" — became a battle 
 cry of the Americans. The loss of men on tlie Chcmijjeah' was fearful. 
 She was taken to Halifax. Lawrence died on the way. Public honors 
 were awarded him. His monmuent staniis in Trinity church-yard. New 
 York City. 
 
 Li the spring of 1S13 the American brig Anjiis, Captain Allen, cari'icd 
 Mr. Crawford to France as the accredited American Mim'ster at the French 
 court. For two months after her arrival in Europe she greatly annoyed 
 the British slii|)ping in the English Channel. Several vessels were sent 
 out to capture her. At the middle of August she surrendered to the 
 J\'/ica>i, sloop-of-war. I'erry gained his great victory on Lake Erie less 
 than a month afterward, and on September oth the British brig Boxt/-, 
 Captain Biytlie, surrendered to the American hrig ^nterpj'ise. Lieutenant 
 Burrows, after a contest of forty minutes, oif the coast of Maine. Both 
 conmianders were slain, and their bodies were buried in one grave at 
 Portland. During the year 1S13 tlie American frigate Essex, Captain 
 Porter, made a long and successful cruise in the Atlantic and Paciiic 
 oceans. She carried at her masthead the popular motto : " Free Trade 
 and Sailors' Rights." In the spring of 1814 she was captured in the 
 harbor of Valparaiso by the British frigate Phahe and the sloop-of-war 
 Chcfuh, after a most desperate struggle. Porter wrote to the Secretary 
 of War : " We have been unfortunate, but not disgraced."" 
 
 While Porter was performing great exploits on the calm Paciiic Sea, 
 Commodore Ki>dgcrs was out on a long cruise on the stormy Atlantic in 
 the American frigate President. He sailed from Boston at the close of 
 April, 1813, and returned to Newport, R. L, after a cruise of one 
 hundred and forty-eight days. He had captured eleven J>ritish merchant 
 vessels and the armed British schooner Iliyhjii/cr. 
 
 During the spring and summer of 1813 a most distressing amphibious 
 warfare was cai'ried on along the coast of the United States from Dela- 
 ware Bay to the harbor of Charleston by a British squadron commanded 
 by Admiral Cockburn, which bore some land troops. This force 
 destroyed American shipping in Delaware River, cannonaded the town 
 of Lewiston on the shores of Delaware Bay, and plundered and burnt 
 the villages of Freru-litown, Havre de Grace, Georgetown, and Fred- 
 erickton, on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. It sailed into Hampton 
 Roads and menaced Norfolk. Driven off by troops on Craney Islaiul, in 
 the Elizal)eth River, under Major Faulkner (June 22d), the squadron 
 made a marauding voyage down the coast of North Carolina, and carried 
 
NAVAL FORCE OF THE AMERICANS, 1813. 419 
 
 away a great iininy negroes, wliom Cockburii sold as booty in tlio West 
 Indies. In pleasant contrast with the conduct of Cockl)urn was the 
 deportment of Coinniodoro Hardy, M'ho commanded a blockading 
 squadron on the New England coasts during the same season. lie was 
 a high-minded gentleman and a generous enemy. 
 
 During most of the year 1813 the Americans liad only three frigates 
 afloat on the sea — namely, the President, the Congress, and the Essex. 
 The Consfitution was undergoing repairs, tlie ConsteUation was blockaded 
 during the sunnner at Norfolk, and the Macedonia and United. States 
 were blockaded in the harbor of New London. The Adams was undei'- 
 going repairs, the John Adams was un tit for service, and the J^eio Yorh 
 and Boston were virtually condenmed. All the brigs had been captured 
 excepting the Enterprise ; and yet tlie Americans, with indonn'table 
 couriige, determined to continue the war on the ocean, with vigor. 
 
420 TlIK E.MFIKE STATE. 
 
 CliAl'TEU XXX. 
 
 Earlv in the year ISl-i tlie I'l'itisli Goveniinent seeined disposed to 
 prosecute the war against tlie United States witli increased vigor. Tlie 
 allied farces of Europe had checked the victorious career of Napoleon. 
 They had united to crush him and to sustain the sinking IJonrl^on dynasty 
 in France. Their armies, approaching from different directions, reached 
 the puburhs of Paris at the close of March, when the enijierors of Kussia 
 and Prussia entered the city. Nearl}' lialf a million disciplined troops 
 were hack of them. Napoleon, hoping to secure his crown for his son, 
 abdicated in his favor i^April 4tli, 1814), and retired to the island of 
 Ell)a. Peace for Europe appeared to be secured. British troops were 
 M'ithdrawn from tlie Cinitinent, and early in the sunnner of 1S14 fourteen 
 or iifteen thousand of Wellington's veterans were sent to (,'anada to 
 defend that provincjc or to invade the State of New York. 
 
 At the hegiuning of 1814 British war vessels swarmed in American 
 waters, and kept the seai)ort towns in such a state of continual alarm that 
 all projects for the conquest of Canada were kept in abeyance for a while. 
 They were not abandoned, however. 
 
 At this time the people of the United States were more united in sup- 
 port of the war than ever before. The best men of the Federal Party 
 patriotically aided the Government in its struggle. There were but few 
 ()])ponents of the Government outside of the mipatriotic Peace Faction 
 and the si)hero of its influence. The bulk of that faction was in New 
 England. They did everything in their power to embarrass the Govern- 
 ment, es]iecially in its financial operations. They upheld violators of 
 the revenue laws ; encouraged smuggling • secretly furnished the British 
 blockading squadron off the New England coasts with supplies,^ and 
 rejoiced when disasters Ijefell the arms of the T'^nited States. At length 
 their mischievous disloyalty and treason became so conspicuous and 
 obnoxious that the great bulk of the inhabitants of New England vehe- 
 mently condemned their course, and they gradually disappeared from 
 public view. To the credit of the State of New York, very few 
 members of the Peace Faction resided within its borders. 
 
 In February (1814) General Wilkinson with a part of his force 
 removed from the vicinity of the St. Lawrence to Plattsbnrgh, on Lake 
 Champlain, and General Brown, with two thousand men, marched to 
 
THE MASTERY OP LAKE ONTARIO. 421 
 
 Sackett's Harbor, preparatory to liis departure for the Niagara frontier. 
 Late in i[;ir('li Wilkinson erected a battery at Rouse's Point, at tbe foot 
 of Lake Ciianiplain, on tlie Canada border. He had resolved to march 
 on Montreal, with or without orders from Washington. Informed that 
 a considerid)lc British force was about to be gathered at La Colic Mills, 
 three or four miles witliin tlie Canada line, he pressed forward with 
 about four thousand men to preoccupy the place. The British arrived 
 there first, and were garrisoned in a very strong stone mill. They were 
 regulars under Major ILmcock. Although Wilkinson was informed 
 that re-enforcements for Hancock were approaching and were near, he 
 persisted in making an effort to dislodge the troops in the mill and in a 
 strong position near it. After a sharp engagement for two hours the 
 Americans were repulsed, with a loss of sixty-three men. With this 
 event the military career of Wilkinson was ended. He was tried by a 
 court-martial, but was acquitted. Suspended from command at the time, 
 he left the army and his troops were assigned to General Izard. 
 
 Both parties had been preparing during the winter and spring to make 
 a struggle for the mastery of Lake Ontario. As soon as the ice in 
 Kingston Harbor gave way, Sir James Teo, in command of a British 
 squadron there, went out upon the lake with about three thousand fight- 
 ing men. On May 5tli he appeared off Oswego with the design to 
 attempt the seizure of a large quantity of provisions and naval stores 
 which the Araei'ieans had gathered at the falls of tb.e Oswego lliver, at 
 the (present) village of Fulton. The post was defended by a fort on 
 the l>luff at the east side of the harbor and garrisoned by three hundred 
 men commanded by Colonel Mitchell, and a small flotilla under Captain 
 Woolsey. Commodore Chauncey was not quite ready to leave Sackett's 
 Harbor. Tlie British effected a landing at Oswego, and after a sharp 
 skirmish with the little garrison, in the open field, the latter retired, and 
 the invaders took possession of the fort. But they dared not attem])t to 
 penetrate the country in quest of the coveted prize, but hastily withdrew 
 early on the morning of the 7th, carrying away as prisoners several 
 prominent citizens. The British lost in the contest two hundred and 
 thirty-five men. 
 
 The principal military force of the British in Upper Canada was now 
 placed under the connnand of Lieutenant-General Drummond, and were 
 stationed chiefly on the peninsula west of the Niagara Kiver. Toward 
 that frontier General Brown marched from Sackett's Harbor at the close 
 of .rune, and on July 1st he was on the eastern bank of the Niagara near 
 the desolated town of BulTalo. 
 
 Brown had orders from Washin<rton to invade Canada. He regarded 
 

 TIIK KMI'IKK STATE. 
 
 liis forco sntHcieiit for tlmt acliievonieiit. It consisted of two Lrigados of 
 infiuitfy, c'oiiiiiKmdud respuftivoly by Generals Scott "" and Tlipley ; 
 some artillery under Captains Towson and llindnian, and a sniidl 
 t^quadron of cavali'v led l>y Captain S. D. Harris. These were all regu- 
 lars, lie also liad a briirade of 
 New York and Pennsylvania vol- 
 unteers, and nearly six hundred In- 
 dians. The latter comprised almost 
 all of the military force of tlie Six 
 Nations remaining witliin the State 
 of New York, of wiioin Red 
 Jacket + was the chief. This coni- 
 1 lined force was conmianded hy 
 (ielieral Peter B. Porter. 
 
 The Americans made the lirst 
 aggressive movement on duly 3d, 
 when fienerals Scott and Tvipley 
 crossed the Niaifura River to attack 
 Fort Erie, nearly opposite Buffalo, 
 which was then the chief impedi- 
 ment in the way of ;iii invasion of Canada. Scott led several regiments 
 and a (H)rps of artillery to the Canada shore, in boats, before the dawn on 
 the ;{d. He was followed by fieneral Brown and his staff. It was a late 
 hour before the more tardy Ripley joined them with several regiments, 
 
 WlNKIKI.l) SCOTT, 1820. 
 
 * Winficlil Scott was Ijorn in Petersburg. Va., in Juno, ITHfi, and died at ^Vest Point. 
 N. Y., in May, 1HG6. lie was aiiniitted to the bar in 180G, but entered the army as eap- 
 tain of artillery two years later. He became lieutenant-colonel in IXVi, and adjutanl- 
 general, with the rank of colonel, early in 1813. He wa-s made prisoner at the battle of 
 Queenstown. In the spring of 1814 he was conmiissioned a brigadier-general, and fought 
 battles on the Niagara frontier for which lie received the thanks of Congress and a gold 
 medal. After the war he was sent to Europe in a military and diplomatic capacity. He 
 remained in the army. His services in the South — in Charleston during the nullification 
 movenunls, in the war witli the Seminolcs and Creeks, and in the partial removal of the 
 Cherokees from Georgia in ls:!H — were very .salutary. He was a discreet i)acitier of 
 trouble on the northern fronlier in 1839, and on the borders of New IJrunswick. He 
 performed admirable service in the war with Mexico. "When the Civil AVar broke out. in 
 1861. he was general-incliief of the armies of the I'nited Stales, but l)eing inlirm he soon 
 resigned his trust. In 1853 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of the 
 United States. 
 
 t Red Jacket (fyi-go-yc-trat-lia) ■kos a celebrated Seneca orator. He was Imrn ni-ar 
 Buffalo, N. Y., in 1751. His nation was on the side of the British during the old war 
 for indeiiendencc. He was conspicuous for his oratory at a council held at Fort Stanwi.x 
 (Schuyler) in 1784, in a speech against ceding lands to the white jieople. In an interview 
 with President Wiushinston lie received from the latter a silver medal, which he ever 
 
CAPTUHE OF FORT ERIE. 
 
 423 
 
 when the combined troops invested the fort. Brown demanded its 
 surrender. There was a parley, but little fio:htinl,^ and in the af'ternoDii 
 the fort M'as given up. At six o'clock the little garrison, comnianded by 
 Major Buck, marched out and laid down their arms. They were sent 
 across the river and marelied to tlie Hudson, jirisoners of war. During 
 the forenoon cannons had been fired from the fort, which killed four 
 Americans and wounded two or 
 three. The Americans had driven 
 iu the r>ritish pickets and killed 
 one man. This was all tlie bhjod 
 shed in the capture of Fort Erie. 
 
 Measures were promptly take 
 to secure the advantages of tli 
 victory to the Americans, (ren- 
 eral liiall, an able soldier and chief 
 commander of the British under 
 Drummond on that frontier, was "^"^"^^ 
 marching toward Fort Erie when 
 he heard of the investment of that 
 post. lie at once sent forward 
 some veterans to re-enforce the 
 garrison. At C'iiippewa they heard 
 of the capture of the fort, when 
 Riall resolved to press forward and 
 attack the invaders at once. In- 
 formed that I'e-enforcements were coming to him from York, he jjost- 
 poTied the attack until the next morning. (Teueral Brown sent General 
 Scott with his i)rigade, accompanied by Towson's artillery, to meet this 
 force. Scott moved early on the morning of the 4th (Juh', 181-1). 
 General Ripley was ordered in the same direction, Ijut always tardy 
 and slow to obey, it was late in the afternoon before he was prepared to 
 move. Scott pushed on toward ('hip>pewa, and drove in a Britisli ad- 
 
 KED JACICET. 
 
 afterward wore witli pride. It Ls in posses.sion of Colonel Parker, now (1887) chief of the 
 leiunant of the nation. In 1810 he informed the United States Government of tlu' attempt 
 of Teeumtlia to draw the Senecas into the Xorth-western Confeileraey. He fouijlit 
 for the United States in the War of 1812-15. Red .laeket was a pcrsi-stent opposer of 
 Christian missionarie.s. His influence over the remnant of his nation was supreme. He 
 remained a thorough Indian, and held in contempt the language, dress, and customs of 
 the English-speaking people. Late in life he became an intemjierate man. In 1884 a 
 beautiful monument to his memory was erected in a cemetery at Buffalo (where he died 
 in .January, 1830). under the auspiees of the Buffalo Historical Society. Colonel Wil- 
 liam L. Stone wrote and publisheil a life of Red Jacket. 
 
424 THE K.MPIKK STATE 
 
 vaiiced (Ictaclunent nhout a mile from that ])ost. Tlierc lie was joiiied 
 at oveiiiiij^ liy Jirown's entire force, and on tlie morning of the Titli tlie 
 hostile armies were only two miles apart. 
 
 Scott was joined liy (ieneral Porter, with his vohmtecrs ami Indiana, 
 at noon on the 5th. lliall had been re-enfoieed. There was skirmishini^ 
 during the afternoon. Toward evening Riall advanced with his whf)le 
 force. A desperate battle ensued between Street's Creek and Chippewa. 
 It was very sanguinary. At lengtii the British line gave way under 
 the pressure of a flank movement by ^fajor ilcXeil and a terrific Are 
 from a corps under ^rajor Jesnp. The foe broke and fled to the intrench- 
 'ments at Chippewa, tearing up the bridge over Chippewa Creek behind 
 them, and so leaving an impassable barrier between themselves and the 
 victorions Americans. The battle-tield was strewn with the dead and 
 wounded — six hundred and four of the I'riti.sh, and three hnndrcd and 
 tifty-five of the Americans. A shower of rain descended like an angel of 
 mercy that night, and gave comfort to the maimed and dying of both armies, 
 who were tenderly cared for. Much of the ne.\t and fV)llowin<; day were 
 spent by the Americans caring for the wounded and in burying the dead. 
 
 1 )riiiiiniond was mortitied by this discomfiture of his veteran troops 
 by what he deemed to be raw Americans, and he resolved to wipe out 
 the stain. IIi> gathered troops from every available point, in number 
 about one third larger than that under Urown, and soon advanced to 
 meet the invader. 
 
 Brown was anxioris to push on toward the month of the Niagara, 
 where he expected Chauncey would co-operate with him. He crossed 
 the Chippewa Creek in boats with a part of his army before daylight on 
 the morning of the Stli, when Iviall fled to Queenstown, put some of his 
 troops into Forts (reorge and Mississangua, and established his head- 
 quarters near the lake, twenty miles westward. Brown pushed on to 
 Queenstown and menaced Fort George. After waiting many days he 
 learned that Chaimcey was sick and his s(juadron was blockaded at 
 Sackett's irarboi-. Hopeless of aid from the navy, he ordered the army 
 to fall back to the battle-ground of Chippewa and await develojmients. 
 They did not rest long, for on the morning of the 24th Brown wjis 
 startled by the intelligence that Drnmmond had landed with a tlmnsand 
 troops at Lewiston, many of them "Wellingfoirs veterans : that a liritish 
 force occupied (Queenstown, and that Riall had joined the lieutenant- 
 general with his own troops and a body of loyal Caiiiidians. 
 
 Brown now ordered Scott to march rapidly with a part of the army 
 and menace the forts at the mouth of the Niagara. He pushed forward 
 toward evening with his brigade, Towson's artillery, and some mounted 
 
RATTLK OF I-UXDY'S LA-NE. 4;i5 
 
 men, and near the verge of the great cataract he saw some British officers 
 come out of a house, leap into their saddles, and ride swiftly away. Ho 
 daslied into the woods, exjiecting to find a small detachment of the liritish 
 arniy, but soon discovered that Kiall was tliere with a force larger tliiiu he 
 led at Clii[)pewa. Scott measured the peril of his situation instantly. 
 To stand still would be fatal, and to retreat might demoralize tlie army 
 he had just left ; so he resolved to fight witli great odds against him. 
 
 A desperate Inittle began at sunset, and did not cease until almost mid- 
 nigiit. Tlie British line encountered by Scott, eigliteen hundred strong, 
 was on a Jiill over which passed a highway known as Lundy's Lane. 
 Near its crest the British had a fine battery- of brass cannon, which 
 inflicted fearful havoc in the ranks of the Americans, ^yl^ile Scott was 
 hotly engaged with Kiall, Major Jesup secretly led a small force in the 
 gloom to the rear of the British and kept back re-enforcements sent by 
 Drummond. Meanwhile General Brown, apprised of the situation by 
 the booming of cannons and from messengers, pushed forward with his 
 whole army. Perceiving the battery on the hill to be the key to the 
 enemy's position, he turned to Colonel James Miller and asked : 
 
 " Can you storm that work and take it ^" 
 
 "Fll try !"■ said :Mil]er. 
 
 The l)attery was soon taken, and the exploit led to victory. Miller 
 was promoted to brigadier general. 
 
 Scott, fighting gallantly, was severely wounded in his slioulder by a 
 musket-ball. Brown, too, vras badly wounded, and the command 
 devolved upon the inefficient Ripley. The British had ah'eady been 
 driven from the field, notwithstanding Drunnnond had brought tliem a 
 re-enforcement of fifteen hundred men. The Americans retired to 
 Chippewa, a sliort distance off, but could not take the captured battery 
 with them. Brown ordered Ripley to return after a brief rest and take 
 possession of the Ixittle-field and the ])attery before daylight. That always 
 tardy and disobedient officer hesitated to obey. The British returned, 
 retook the battery, and held the field, while Ripley led the little American 
 army back to Fort Erie, and deprived them of all the advantages they 
 had gained at this battle of Lundy's Lane. He was immediately super- 
 seded by C4eneral E. P. Gaines. Both parties claimed the victory.* 
 
 Drummond was wounded in the battle. As soon as he was able he 
 
 * The British li;ul about four thousand five hundred troops in this battle, and the 
 Americans two tliousand six Imndred. The hitter lost about one third of their nnmlxr, 
 and the British lost a few more. The eontiiet is sometimes called the battle of Bridge- 
 water, from a hamlet near by, and also the battle of Niagara, it having been fought in 
 sight of the great cataract. 
 
421] 
 
 Tin; KMl'IKK STATK. 
 
 jnislied forward and hcpiegod Fort Erio with al)ont five tlioiisand men. 
 Kroiii tlie Ttli to tlie 14tli of August (1S14) aluiost continuous c-annonad- 
 ing l)Ot\veeii the besiegers and the besieged was kept up. At evening 
 twiliglit nil the 14th a sliell liurled from a I'ritisli mortar came .screaming 
 into tlie fort, Kxiged in an ahno.st empty magazine, and blew it up. 
 Drummond, supposing lie liad fired one of the principal magazines of 
 the fort, proceeded to assail the works in strong force. Before dawn on 
 the l.">th fifteen hundred of his men furiously attacked the fort. Tiiey 
 gained a bastion, but were repulsed at ail other points. They held the 
 ba.stion with tenacity. The Americans mined it and blew it u)>. The 
 explosion was terrific. Mingled earth, timl)ers, stones, and human 
 ])odies rose one hundred feet in the air and spread a shower of ruins t(» a 
 
 great distance. The British, amaz- 
 ed, soon afterward broke and fled, 
 and victory remained witli the 
 Americans. 
 
 I'otli ]>avties prepared to renew 
 tlio struii^jle. (ieneral I!rown liad 
 recovered, and was again in com- 
 mand of liis army. I)runnnonil"s 
 force again invested Fort Erie, bur, 
 occupying low ground, many died 
 of typlioid fever. 
 
 On September 17th a sortie Avas 
 made from the fort, and after a 
 severe contest the Americans cap- 
 tured the advanced works of the 
 The British were driven back to Chippewa, with a loss of almost 
 a thousand men, killed, wounded, and prisoners. " TIius,'' wrote Gen- 
 eral Brown to the Secretary of AVar, " one thousand regulars and an 
 eijual proportion of militia destroyed the fruits of fifty days' lalwr, and 
 diminished his [DrumuKind's] efifeetive force one thousand men." 
 
 This victory, won by the Americans so soon after those acliieved at 
 Ciiippewa and Lundy's Lane, and occnirring a few days after a trium])li 
 of their arms at Plattsburgh, on Bake Champlain. and the expulsion of 
 tlie Britisli from B>altiniore, dilTused great joy tiiroughoiit the country, 
 and dispelled the gloom wliicli tlie recent capture of the national capital 
 by tlie enemy had spread over tlie land. 
 
 General Izard,* the successor of General Wilkinson, led about five 
 
 * Gi'orjre Izard was a native of South Carolina, wIutc lie was Ixirii in 1777 anil tiled at 
 Little Rock, Ark., in XovemlxT, 182s. He \vu.s ediiealeil in Enirland. and .Mmn after 
 
 'I 
 
 cnemv. 
 
 GENKU.VT. IZ.Mtl). 
 
 I 
 
STIRRING EVENTS ON LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 
 
 427 
 
 thousunil troops to tlie Niagara frontier in October, and, raiik..,g Brown, 
 took the oliief eoinmanJ. Tlie conihined forces, niinibering about eight 
 thousand men, were preparing to attack Driiuiniond, when he withdrew 
 to Fort George and Burlington Heights. Perceiving that further offen- 
 sive operations on the Canadian peninsula would be perha])s perilous, 
 Izard caused Fort Erie to be abandoned and blown up early in Novenilier, 
 and, leaving Canada, he crossed the Niagara and put tlie troops into 
 winter ipiarters at Buffalo, Black 
 Bock, and Batavia. 
 
 There were stirring scenes on 
 Lake Chani]ilaiu early in Septem- 
 ber, ISl-i. When, in August, Izard 
 marched westward he left about 
 fifteen hundred regulars near Platts- 
 burgh under the command of Gen- 
 eral Alexander Macomb. (General 
 Benjamin Mooers * was at the head 
 of the militia force in that region. 
 
 Daring the summer the Ameri- 
 cans and the British had been busy 
 in the preparation of vessels of war 
 on Lake Champlain. The Ameri- 
 can squadron was placed in charge 
 of Cajttain Thomas Macdonough, 
 
 and was ready for service at the middle of August. At the beginning 
 of September Macomb was iu command of about three thousand four 
 liundred armed men all told. With great exertions he had completed 
 redoubts and block-houses there and other preparations for defence. He 
 also took measures to prevent expected invaders from Canada crossing the 
 Saranac River. lie had learned that fifteen thousand of Wellington's 
 
 BENJAMIN .MOOERS. 
 
 his return he entered the army (1794) a.s a lieutenant of artillery. In 1799 he was ap- 
 pointed aide to General Hamilton, and resigned hi.s office in 1803. lie was appointed 
 colonel of artillery in the spring of 1812, and brigadier-general a year later. On Lake 
 Champlain and on the Niagara frontier, he connnauded with skill and prudence, with the 
 rank of major-general. In 182.T he was ajipointed governor of the .Vrkansas Territory, 
 and so remained until his death. 
 
 * Benjamin .Mooere, born in Massachusetts in 1761. wa-s a young soldier in the old war 
 for indcpendenec. He was chosen commander of one of the two gn^at divisions of the 
 militia of the Stale of New York in 1812, but did not appear active on the tield until the 
 invasion of the Champlain region by the British in 1814, when he was in command of the 
 mililia who defended Platlsburgh. In that position he did his duty nobly. He died at his 
 residence on Cumberland Head, in February, 1838. 
 
428 
 
 Tin; K.MiMui; statk 
 
 x<!%. 
 
 vcteriiiis were at ^[oiitreal, under tlie coniinand of Sir George Prevcst. the 
 (Toveriior-Cieiieral of Canada, who was preparintj to invade tlie State of 
 New York. 
 
 At the hci^nnninij of Scpteiubcr Prevcst,* with fourteen thousand men, 
 c'hietlj Wellington's soldiers, penetrated the country from the St. Law- 
 rence to a point a few miles fro)ii Plattsburgh. lie avowed his intention 
 to seize and hold Northern New York as far south as Tieonderoga, and 
 by proclamation culled on the iidiabitants to cast off their allegiance to 
 tlieir government and to furnish him with su])plies. At the same time 
 
 the British squadron, built 
 
 ' - ^ . on the Sorel, moved into 
 
 Lake Champlain, under 
 the general command of 
 Commodore Downie. 
 
 On the morning of Sep- 
 tember 6th Prevost ad- 
 vanced upon I'lattsburgh in 
 two columns. One of 
 these encountered and had a 
 ~~ severe .skirmish with a small 
 force of regulars and mili- 
 tia under Captain Wool, 
 the hero of Queenstown. 
 The Americans were press- 
 ed back by overwhelming mimbers, and retired to the south side of the 
 Saranac, tearing up the bridges behind them and using the timbers for 
 breastworks. In trying to force their way across the Saranac the British 
 were repulsed by a company of musketeers in a strong stone mill. 
 Prevost soon learned that his invasion was not to be a pleasant holiday 
 excursion, and he paused for the coming up of batteries and supplies, and 
 for the construction of works to command those of the Americans on the 
 south side of the river. 
 
 Meanwhile the British naval force had a]ipeared off Cumberland Head, 
 at the entrance to Plattsburgh Bay, in which lay the stpiadron t)f Mac- 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 STONE inLL AT PLATTSBURGH. 
 
 * Sir Ocorsro Prevost was born in \t'W York in 176". iind died in Ensrlanil in ISlfi. 
 He cnlcrcd the British Army in his youth, and served witli distinction in the West 
 Indies late in the hist century. In 1805 lie was commissioned a niajor-jreneral, an<l tlu- 
 same year wa.s created a barcniet. lie was .second in command at the capture of Jlar- 
 tiniijue in 1808. and became Governor of Nova Scotia the same year. He was made 
 lieutenantjjeneral in 1811, and the same year wa.s appointed Governor-General of Canada. 
 He retained that office until his return to Ensland, in 1814. 
 
NAVAL BATTLES NEAR PLATTSBURGH. 
 
 429 
 
 THOMAS JtACDONOrGH. 
 
 <lonoiigh.* His flag-ship was tlie Saratoga,^ which was assisted by one 
 brig, two scliooners, and ten gun-boats, or galleys. Downie's flag-ship 
 was the Conjiance, which was assisted by one brig, two sloops, and 
 twelve gun-boats. The British land 
 and naval forces began an attack at 
 about the same time on the morn- 
 ing of the 11th. The battle was 
 opened by the navy. Macdonough 
 was only thirty-one years of age, 
 pious, and trustful in Providence. 
 When his ship was cleared for action 
 lie knelt on her deck, with his chief 
 ofticers around him, and implored 
 the aid of the Ahuighty. Very 
 soon the thunders of great guns 
 boomed over the lake, and a sharp 
 naval battle, wliieli lasted nearly 
 two hours and a half, began, f The 
 sublime spectacle was seen by 
 
 hundreds of spectators ou the headlands of the Vermont shore of the nar- 
 row lake. Tlie battle ended in a complete victory for the Americans. 
 Both squadrons were dreadfully shattered. " There was not a mast in 
 either squadron," Macdonough wrote, '' that could stand to make a sail 
 
 * Thomas Macdonough was born in Dehiware in December, 1783, and died at sea, 
 Xorombfr 14tli, 1825. lie was of Scotch-Irish descent. lie became a midsliipraan in 
 tlic United States Navy in 1800, lieutenant in 1807, and commander in 1813. He had 
 served with Decatur and Bainbridire in tlie Jlediterranean, and won a signal victory in a 
 naval battle off Plattsburgh on September llth, 1814. for which service he received the 
 thanks of Congress and a gold medal, and other rewards. Civil honors were bestowed 
 upon him in several places. His health declined from the close of the war, and he lived 
 but ten years afterward. 
 
 f At the beginning of the battle a shot from a British vessel demolished a hen-coop on 
 the Sarat<ir/,i. where a young game-cock which the sailor.s had brought from the shore, 
 released from confinement and startled by the sound of cannons, flew up on a gun-slide, 
 jxnd Happing his wings, crowed lustily and defiantly. The sailors regarded the incident 
 as an omen of victory, and felt their courage strengthened. In a rhvming Kpixlle- of 
 Bmther Jinuitlia n to Johnny Bull, written at the close of the war, is the following allu- 
 .sion to this event : 
 
 "O, Johnny Bull, my .Joe. John, 
 
 Behold on Lake Champlain. 
 With more than equal force, John, 
 
 You tried your fint again ; 
 But the cock saw how 'twas goinir. .John, 
 
 And cried • cock-a-doodle-doo.' 
 .\nd Macdonough was victorious, John, 
 
 O. Johnny Bull, niv Joe." 
 
430 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 on." " Our masts, yards, and sails," wrote an officer of tlic Confiancc, 
 "were so sliattered that one looked like so many bundles fit" matches, 
 and the other like so many l)undles of rags .''' The Americans lost one 
 hundred and ten men. the British over two hundred. Among the 
 latter M'as (Commodore Downie, who was, slain, and was buried at 
 Plattsburgh. 
 
 There was a sharp and decisive conflict on the land at Plattsburgh while 
 
 the battle was rairinir on the 
 water. At the discharge of the 
 first gun on the lake the British 
 troops moved forward in thiee 
 columns to force their way across 
 the Saranac at the sites of the two 
 destroyed bridges and at a ford 
 three miles from the mouth of 
 the river, to carry the American 
 works by storm. After a des- 
 perate battle for about two hours, 
 with varying fortunes for both 
 sides, the British were repulsed 
 by the brave men under ilaconib* 
 and Mooers. Tiie Americans 
 were driving hack some of the 
 way across the river, when Ilirani 
 AValworth (afterward Chancellor of the State of Xew York) dashed 
 up, his horse flecked with foam, ami announced that the British 
 squadron on the lake had surrendered I The Americans gave hearty 
 cheers. The enemy wavered. The timid Prevost, seeing the militia, 
 who had come streaming over from Vermont and from the surrounding 
 country, gathering on his flanks and rear, sounded a retreat. At mid- 
 night he fled Canadaward with such precipitation that he left his sick 
 
 .\I.EXANI>K1! MACOMB. 
 
 enemy who had forced their 
 
 * Alexander Macomb was son of a fur merchant, and wa-s born in Detroit in April. 
 1782. Died in Wa.slungton, D. C, in June, 1841. He entered the army as cornet of 
 cavalry iu 1799. At the lio,!:innin<r of the second war for indeix'ndence (1812-15). lie was 
 a lieutenant of engineers and adjutant-jreneral of the iirniy. In the artillery service, he 
 distiniruislud himself on the Xiajiara frontier. He was jironioted to briirailier jrenerai 
 early iu ISH. and w.is left in chief command in the I.nke C'hamplain rcirion in the sum- 
 mer of that year. His victory over the British at Plattsbiirirh in Seiitembcr won for liim 
 great honoi-s — the thanks of Congress and a gold medal, and awar<ls from others. «)n 
 the <leath of General Brown, in 183.i, he was made gencral-in-chief of tlie armies of the 
 United States, which position he held at the time of liis death. His remains repose be- 
 neath a handsome monument in the Consrressional burving groimd at Wa.shington. 
 
THE BUITISII KEPULSED AT PLATTSBURGH. 431 
 
 and wounded and a vast amount of stores beliind. A pursuit was begun^ 
 but lieavy rains compelled the pursuers to give up the chase. The 
 British had lost in killed, "wouiuled, and deserted, from the t.Uh to the 
 11th of September, about twenty-five hundred men. Macomb and 
 Macdonongli became the recipients of high lionors and of solid rewards. 
 The flight of Prevost to Canada ended military operations of impor- 
 tance on the northern frontier of Xew York.^ The activt^ and eflicient 
 Chauncey had been compelled to remain inactive during a large portion 
 uf the season. Tie M-as blockaded at Sackett's Harbor b}' a British 
 squadron, and when he was ready to go out and fight tlie bloekaders he 
 was prostrated l)y severe sickness. While convalescing he went out on 
 a cruise and blockaded the British squadron in Kingston Harbor. A 
 
 * The viclorv at PlattshiirGrh and the flight of Prevost fornied the burden of one of 
 the most popiihir of the many soni^s composed durina: tlic war. It was written by Micajah 
 Hawkins, and "was first sung at a theatre in AUiany by him. in the character of a negro 
 sailor. It was entitled 
 
 THE SIEGE OF PLATTSBURGU. 
 Tune, " Boyne Waler.'^ 
 
 Backside Albany stan' Lake Champlain, 
 
 Litlle pond half full o' water : 
 Plat-te-bnr^h dar too. close "pon de main : 
 
 Town pmall, he grow bigger, do, herearter. 
 On Lake Champlain Uncle Sam get he boat, 
 
 An' Maissa Macdonough sail "em ; 
 While (TJneral Macomb make Plat-te-burgh he home 
 
 Wid de army whose courage nebber fail *em. 
 
 On 'lebenth day Sep-tem-ber, 
 
 In eighteen hnn'red and fourteen, 
 Gubbernor Probose an" he British so-jer 
 
 Come to Plat-te-burgh a tea-party courlin'. 
 An" he boat come, too, arter Unele SamV boat. 
 
 JIassa 'Donough look sharp out de winder ; 
 Den Gineral ]\Iacomb lah I he always at home) 
 
 Cotch fire too, Sirs, like tinder. 
 
 Bang ! bang ! bang ! den de cannons "gin to roar 
 
 In Phit-te-bnrgh an' all 'bout dat quarter ; 
 Gubbernor Probose try he ban' 'pon de shore. 
 
 While he boat take he hick "pon de water. 
 Bui Maf^sa Macdonough knock he boat in he head. 
 
 Break he heart, break he shin, 'tove he caff'n in ; 
 An' Ginerai Maccmib start ole Probose home, 
 
 'Tot nie soul den I muss die a laffin. 
 
 Proboge scare so he lef all behine. 
 
 Powder, ball, cannon, tea-pot an' kittle; 
 Some say he cotch a cole— trouble iu In- mine, 
 
 'Cause he eat so much raw an" cole viule. 
 X'ncle Sam berry eorrj', to be sure, for he pain ; 
 
 Wish he nuss hisself up well an" hearty. 
 For Gineral Macomb and Massa "Donough home 
 
 When he notion foranudder tea-party. 
 
i32 THE EMPIKE STATE. 
 
 vessel niinied iSf. Lawrence, pierced for one Iiuiidrcd and twelve ijnns, 
 was completed at Kingston on September 1st, wlien Cluiuncey prudently 
 raised the blockade and returned to the Iiarbor. That ship, carrying 
 over one tliousand men, with other vessels of war, made Sir James Yeo 
 lord of the lake during the remainder of the season. The Americans 
 determined to match the St. Laiorence, and laid the keels of two tirst- 
 class frigates at Sackett's Iiarbor. The New Orleans, nearing com- 
 pletion when peace came early in 1S15, is still on the stocks at the Harbor. 
 A land and naval force was prepared in the spring of 1814 for tlie 
 purpose of recapturing Fort Mackinaw in tlic far North-west. It left 
 Detroit early in July. It destroyed the post of the Xortli-west Fur 
 Company at the Falls of St. Mary. The agents of this company liad 
 been persistent in inducing the Indians to make war on the frontier 
 settlements of tlie United States l)eyond the Oiiio. The garrison of tlie 
 fort to be taken was too strong for the small Amejicaii force, and the 
 enterprise was abandoned. 
 
THE BRITISH OX THE NEW ENGLAND COASTS. 433 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 While tlie military events we luive considered in the preceding 
 chapter were occurring on the borders of the State of New York during 
 ISl-t, otliers of equal importance were taking place at various points in 
 the republic. 
 
 Late in August (ISl-t) General Duncan McArthur, with seven hundred 
 mounted men of Kentucky and Ohio, left Detroit, crossed into Canada, 
 and made a terrifying raid through the western portion of the province 
 from Lake St. Clair eastward to the Grand River, and back to Sandwich. 
 lie spread alarm everywhei'e. Fear magnitied the number of his men 
 to thousands. The object of the raid was to create a diversion in favor 
 of the Americans on the Niagara frontier. It was effectual. For four 
 weeks McArthur skurried hundreds of miles through the enemy's 
 country, disarming and paroling the militia, and destroying public prop- 
 erty ; but he was generous to inoifensive citizens. 
 
 New England had experienced very little actual war before the year 
 ISl-i. From the end of 1813 until the close of the contest, British block- 
 ading s(piadrons and single cruisers hovered along its coasts, barred its 
 sea-ports against commerce, and kept its maritime cities and villages in a 
 state of continual alarm and dread. 
 
 Pursuant to an order of the British Admiral Cochran given to the 
 commanders of war- vessels to " destroy the sea-port towns and desolate 
 the country," much property M'as wasted on the coasts of Maine and 
 Massachusetts ; and Stonington, in Connecticut, a little east of New 
 London, sutTurcd a severe bomliardment. Formidable sfpiadrons block- 
 aded the Delaware River, New York Harbor, New London, and Boston. 
 The largest of these squadrons on the New England coast was com- 
 manded by Commoilore Sir T. M. Hardy. 
 
 After seizing a portion of Eastern Maine, Hardy menaced Portsmouth 
 and Boston. The hast-named city was almost defenceless. Stimulated 
 l)y alarm and the instinct of self-preservation, citizens of Boston of every 
 class turned out daily with implements of labor, ami worked energetically 
 in the construction of defences for the town. Informed of these prep- 
 arations, and having a wholesome fear of Fulton's torpedoes, with which 
 common report said some of the American sea-port harbors were strewn, 
 Hardy did not venture within the roads, and Boston was saved. 
 
434 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 New York was eriually excited by patriutisiii and alarm. In daily 
 expectation of an attack by a British land and naval force which iiad 
 been operating in Ciiesa])cake Bay, men of all classes and occnpations 
 worked daily in building fortitieations at Brooklyn and Harlem. De 
 Witt Clinton was then mayor of the city of New York. lie issued a 
 stirring appeal (August 2d, 1814) to the patriotism and the interests of 
 the citizens, calling upon them to offer their personal services and 
 pecuniary means to aid in the completion of the uniinishcd fortifications 
 around the town. The response to this appeal was prompt and gen- 
 erous.* ^remljers of various churches and of social and benevolent 
 organizations went out in groups, as such, to the patriotic task. So also 
 did different craftsmen under their respective banners : 
 
 " Plumbers, founders, dyers, tinners, tanners, sliavcrs. 
 Sweeps, elerks, and criers, jewellers, enfrravers, 
 C''>tU\ers, drapers, players, cartnien, hatters, nailers, 
 Gaugers, scalers, weighers, carpenters, and sailors." 
 
 TVitliin four days after Clinton's address three thousand persons were 
 at work on the fortitieations under the direction of a Defence Committee 
 and engineers guided by lines drawn by General Joseph G. Swift. The 
 enthusiasm of the people was intense. School-teachers and their piijjils 
 went together to the patriotic task, and little boys, too small to handle a 
 spade or pickaxe, carried earth on shingles, and so added their mites in 
 rearing the breastworks. New York City was soon well defended by 
 fortifications and numerous militia, and no blockader ventured within 
 the harbor. Sanmel "Woodworth concluded a stirring poem published 
 at that time with the following lines, addressed to the British :t 
 
 " Better not invade ; recollect the spirit 
 Which our dads displayed and their sons inherit. 
 
 * Money to ei-eet forlilieations must be had at once. The Legislature was not in ses- 
 sion. The credit of the National Government was so low at thai, the most critical period 
 of the war. that Ihe lianks would not loan money on its stock or its Treiisury notes with- 
 out other .security. It was understood, however, that if Treasury notes were dei)osited, 
 endorsed by Governor Tompkins, the banks would advance four or five hundred thousand 
 dollars. Rufus King went to the governor and said. " The time is arrived when it is the 
 duty of every man to put his all at the rerpiisition of the Government." and (hat he him- 
 .self (tliouiili a leader <if tlie opiionent.s of ifr. Madison) was rea<ly to do so. The governor 
 said he shoidd be obliged to take the responsibility, and should Ix' ruined. " Ruin your- 
 self if it becomes neces.s,iry to save j-our country," said the patriolie ^Ir. King. " and I 
 pledge you my honor that I will supi)ort you in whatever you do." The governor en- 
 dorsed the notes and Ihe banks loaned the money. 
 
 t The whole poem, in eight stanzjis, may be found in Lossing's Pictorial Field Book 
 of the War of 1812, page 970. 
 
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL THREATENED. 435 
 
 If you still advance, friendly caution slighting, 
 You may get, by chance, a bellyful of fighting. 
 
 Pickaxe, shovel, spade, crowbar, hoe and barrow ; 
 
 Better not invade ; Yankees have the marrow." 
 
 Philadelphia e.\liil)iteil a similar spirit on a like occasion at that time, 
 and the aiiiphiliioiis marauders met with such resistance at every point 
 that the terrible order of Cochran conld not be executed. Hardy was 
 kept out of the Thames and from New London by Commodore Lewis 
 with some gun-boats on Long Island Sound, and lie was discomfited at 
 Stonington and driven away by a few determined men. 
 
 Early in Jaimary, ISl-i, the National Government was informed that 
 four thousand British troops destined for the United States had landed 
 at Bermuda. At the close of April intelligence was received of the 
 temporary downfall of Napoleon, as we have observed, which would 
 release man}' British troops from service on the Continent and allow 
 them to come to America ; and on July 1st official intelligence reached 
 the President that a fleet of transports with a large land force bound to 
 some port in the United States, " probably in the Potomac," was about 
 to sail from Bermuda. 
 
 The Government gave little heed to these warnings, and when, at the 
 middle of August, a British squadron of about sixty sail appeared in 
 Chesapeake Bay, with si.\ thousand land troops under General Boss, one 
 of Wellington's best officers, destined for the capture of the national 
 capital, there was no force to oppose the invaders excepting a small 
 flotilla of armed barges and a schooner under Commodore Joshua Barney, 
 and a few scattered militia. The British fleet drove Barney's flotilla 
 into the Patuxent River, and blockaded it there. The flotilla went far 
 up the river to a point not to be reached by the British ships. 
 
 Meanwhile the invaders in armed barges pursued the flotilla, when 
 Barney blew it up, and with his marines joined the forces which General 
 Winder,* the commander of the district, was hastily gathering. Five 
 thousand of the British force landed at Benedict, thirty miles from the 
 mouth of the Patuxent. Finding the American flotilla a smoking ruin, 
 
 * William H. Winder was a native of Somerset County. Md. , and was born in February, 
 1775. He died in Baltimore in Jlay, 1824. He was a successful lawyer in Baltimore 
 from 1798 until 1812. when lie was appointed colonel of infantry in .Inly, and served on 
 the Niagara frontier. In the spring of 1813 he was commissioned brigadier-general ; 
 made prisoner at Stony Creek. Canada : was exchanged, and made insi>ector-general in 
 May, 1814. He commanded the Tenth District, and was engaged in the defence of Wash- 
 ington City and the city of Baltimore in the summer of 1814. After the war he resuinccl 
 the practice of his jinifession, and served with credit in important civil stations. He 
 was a State senator of .Maryland at one time. 
 
4:!G TIIK KMIMKK STATK. 
 
 tlioy jiressed forward towanl Wiisliiiii;ton. Wiiulor, wlio liad only about 
 tliroo tliousaiid iiK-ii, most of tliein uiidiscipliiicd, retreati-d in tliu direc- 
 tion of the capital, and that nij^lit (August 23d) the invaders, w Iid had 
 been joined hy Cockhurn and his ani|)hi!)ions niaranders, eiicanii>ed 
 witiiin ten miles of Wasiiinijton. 
 
 Winder left some troo])s at J>ladensburir, four miles from the caijital, 
 nnd with otliers watched the hiujhways leadinj; from it, uncertain what 
 point niij:;]it be iirst attacked. On the morniiii:: of tiie '2Mi, while 
 Winder and the Cabinet were in consultation, word came to the general 
 tiiat the Ihitish were pressing toward l)ladensburg. lie huri'ied to that 
 village with re-enforcements. His little arm}' was in great ])eril, for the 
 invaders were overwhelming in numbei*. To retreat would be perilous, 
 lie must either tight or surrender, lie chose to fight, and at a little 
 past noon a sharp battle was begun. Many of the militia soon tied. 
 Karney ami his men sustainetl the brunt of the conflict until that leader 
 was badly wounded, when Wimler, seeing no ground fi>r hope of a 
 victory, ordered a retreat. Tlie invaders had lost fully five hundred 
 men in killed and wounded during a struggle of four hours. Among 
 their lost were several officers of distinction. 
 
 The President (Madison) and some of his Cabinet, who had watched 
 the battle, hastened back to the city as fast as fleet horses could carry 
 them, conveying the first news of impending danger. The victoi"s 
 followed, and entered the city at evening twilight. Tiiey at once l>egan 
 to plunder and tiestroy. The l'rt'sident"s house, the Cai>itol, the 
 Treasury buildings, the arsenal and the barracks were burned. Of the 
 public buildings only the Patent OfHce was saved. 8onic private houses 
 were sacked and some were burnt. Aleanwhiie the commandant of the 
 Navy-Yard fired the public property there — buildings, vessels, and stores 
 — in obedience of an order to prevent their falling into the hands of the 
 enemy. Altogether proi>erty of the estimated value of s2,(lU(i,0l»0 wiis 
 laid waste. 
 
 While the people of England loudly condemned and deplored this 
 barbarous act, the British (Tovernment caused the Tower guns to be fired 
 in honor of Ross's victory, and at his death, a few weeks later, it decreed 
 biiu a moiiiiiiient in ^Vcstminstcr Abbey. This was well, for he was a 
 lirave and humane soldier. 
 
 The Ih-itish now menaced Baltimore. They started from Washington 
 on the night of the ;i.")th, and after resting and recruiting at the mouth 
 of tiie Patnxent, they a|>i>eared in force on Patapsco Pay, at the head of 
 which Baltimore stands, then a city of forty thousand iidiabitants. The 
 people of that cit}' had wisely prepared for the reception of the invadere. 
 
TIIK I'.HIIISII KKITLSEI) AT liALTIMOUE. 437 
 
 Fort ilcTIenry, wliicli defended tlie harbor, was garrisoned by a thousand 
 men nnder Major Arniistead ; rodou!)ts were erected, and a large 
 number of troops were gatliered around tlie city. 
 
 On the morning of September 12th General Ross, witli nine thousand 
 troops, landed at North Point, twelve miles from Ualtimore. The 
 Americans had about the same nundjer within call. Three tliousand of 
 these, under (Jencnd Strickiir, were sent out to watch the invaders. 
 C!onfi(h'nt of success, Kdss and (!iicl<bui'ii were riding gayly at the head 
 of the advancing liritish troops, when a rille-l)all from a company of 
 concealed shar))shooters mortally wounded the Uritish conimanding 
 general. Tin' troops wei'(! then led by ('olonel Brooke. Tlicy ])ressed 
 on toward Ualtiniore, encountering (General Strieker's advanced troops 
 in a sharp engagement, 'i'he liritish bivouacked on the battle-iield that 
 night. 
 
 In the mean time a heavy iiritish naval force was anchored before Fort 
 Mclleiu'v out of range of its moderate-sized guns, and prepared to bom- 
 bard it and its supporting redoubts the next morning (Se])tcnd)cr K^th), 
 when the British land force should move upon lialtimore. This was 
 done at the appointed time. Arinistead gallantly defended the fort 
 thrcnigh all the bond)ardment, and ke])t the assailants at bay. The contest 
 contimiod twenty-iive hours, during which time fully twenty-five hundred 
 shells were thrown." The land forces of the enemy were confronted by 
 determined troops nnder Generals Strieker and Winder. Very soon the 
 British commaiulers hecame convinced that they ctould iu)t take Balti- 
 more, and the bombardment of I'ort Mcilenry suddenly ceased on the 
 morning of the 14th. The British troops hastily withdrew to their shi|)s 
 in darkness anil rain at three o'clock in the morning, and the entire 
 armament went down the bay, greatly crestfallen. Sir (Jeorge Brcvost, 
 wbu liad n^turned to Afontreal from Plattsburgh, postponed rejoicings 
 there because of the capture of Washington iintil he should hear of the 
 
 * The iKiinbanlmciU of Fort McIIciiry was llic occasion wliicli inspired Francis S. Key 
 to write the popular song, " The Star-s|iaMnle(l Banner." Dr. Means, a ilistin.s;iiisheil 
 and nuieh-loveil physician of Maryland, hail licen carried liy llie Hrilisli. when reln'alinj; 
 from \Vashin.i;lon, on board their ship. Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner, of Baltimore, went to 
 thutleet with a tla.;;, to procure Dr. Beans's release. They also were detained on lioaril 
 as the fleet was about to sail for Baltimore. They were compelled to witness the l)oni- 
 bardment from one of the British ships. Tlieir an.xiety wa.s very great when, before the 
 dawn of the 14th, tlie fort was silent. They did not know whether it had surrendered or 
 not. They were rejoiced when. " at the dawn's early li.nht," tliey saw tliat " our Hag wa.s 
 slill llnre." waving over the fort. It was while pacing the deck at that early hour in 
 the morning, tilled with doul)l, tliat, Key composed that stirring song. The prisoners 
 were sent on shore when the tleet dei)arted. 
 
438 Tin; kmi'Iui: siatk. 
 
 seizure of JJaltiiuore, tliat hoth events iiiiglit lie (celebrated at tlie same 
 time. lie was denied tiiat gratification. 
 
 Let us turn for a moment to the consideration of operations on tlie 
 ocean during tlie remainder of the war. 
 
 In May, 1814, Captain Johnston Blakcly crossed the sea with tli(3 sloo])- 
 of-war Wmj>, of eighteen guns, and spread terror among the I>ritish 
 Rhip))ing in the English Channel. She captured one sloop-of-w:ir and 
 fought others. During the autumn she was lost somewhere witli all her 
 company. She was never heard of afterwanl. 
 
 Captain Warrington had sailed on a cruise from .New "^'ork in the 
 sloop-of-war T'cdn/ck, and in April caj^tured the JJritish sloop-of-M'ar 
 £pe7iner, a valuable prize having §118,000 in .specie on board of her. 
 In a later cruise to the shores of Portugal the Peacock captured fourteen 
 vessels, and returned to New York in October. 
 
 The frigate Constitution was thoroughly repaired after Ijainbridge 
 relinquished the command of lier, and she went to sea uiuler the eom- 
 inand of Captain Charles Stewart * late in 1813. She sailed to the coast 
 of Surinam, South America, captured the sloop-of-war Pictou, and, 
 returning to the ?s'e\v England coast, was chased into the harbor of 
 ]\larblehcad by two powerful British frigates. She did not go to sea 
 again until near the close of December, 181-1, Nvhen she started ou a 
 cruise, crossed the Atlantic, ami late in l''ebruary, 1815, she fought at 
 the same time and captured two Bi-itish vessels (the frigate Cijane and 
 sloop-of-war Levant) off the coast of Portugal. Peace had then been 
 declared. 
 
 This exjdoit gained for Stewart great renown. Congress gave him 
 thanks and a gold medal, and the city of New York awai'ded him the 
 lienor of the freedom ()f the city in a gold box. After that the Conxti- 
 
 * Charles Stewart wa.s born in PliiUulelphia in July, 1778 ; died at Bordentown, N. J., 
 in Xdveniber, ISIiiJ, in Ihc iiincly-sw-ond year of his a;j:i'. He wa.s the. youngest of eight 
 <hildr(-n, and lost his father when he was two years old. lie went to sea as a cabin boy. 
 and became captain of an I'>a.st Indiainan when he was eighteen years of age. In 1798 
 he was commissioned a lieutenant in the navy, and was in command of the schooner 
 Expcriiiuiit, in 1800, in a light with the French .scliooner Tlic Tiro fruiDln, whieli he caji- 
 tured. He .soon made other Cdiujuesis. He .served gallantly against tlie Haibary powers, 
 and in May. 1H04, became a master commandant, and was placed in charge of the frigate 
 Esscj: lie became captain in 180(i. In 1S12 he was placed in command of the Ctinstiita- 
 iioii. Ilis chief exploit w.as the capture of two ves,sels at the same time with the Cniisti- 
 iiitioH. After the AVar of 1812-1.1 lie was in command of the Mediterranean siiiiadnin. 
 and was almo.st continually in the naval serrice until the breaking out of the Civil AVar in 
 1861. In 1857 he wa.s placed on the retired list, but in 1859 he was replaced on the active 
 list (then eighty-one years of age) by .special legislation. In 1862 he was promoted to 
 rear-admiral on the retired list. 
 
AMERICAN PHIVATEEKIXG. 
 
 439 
 
 tution was called Old Ironsides, and Stewart bore the same title until 
 his death in ISG'J, when he was in the ninety-second year of his age, and 
 held the rank of rear-admiral. The Constitution still (1887) survives. 
 
 In the snnunier of ISl-t Commodore Decatur, whose vessels had been 
 blockaded at New London a long time, M-as placed in command of the 
 frigate President and three other vessels — Peacoch, Caj)tain Warring- 
 ton ; Hornet, Captain Biddle, and a store-ship — destined for a raid on 
 the British shipping in the East Indies. The President left the harbor 
 of New York at the middle of January, 1815, eluded the blockades at 
 Sandy Hook, and put to sea. She was chased by four British ships-of- 
 war. Heavily laden for a long cruise, the President could not sail fast, 
 
 A CWPPER-BITILT SCHOONER. 
 
 and after a jirotracted chase and running fight she was compelled to 
 surrender. 
 
 Late in January the commanders of the other vessels of Decatur's 
 squadron, ignorant of the fate of the President, put to sea and sailed for 
 an appointed place of rendezvous at one of a group of islands in the 
 South Atlantic Ocean. There the Hornet met the British sloop Penguin. 
 They had a desperate fight, and the Hornet gained the victory in twenty 
 minutes. This brilliant exploit won for Biddle honors and rewards. 
 Captain Warrington proceeded to the East Indies, and in June, 1815, 
 the /'eacoc^" captured the i\^'<(^?' /'/;/* in the Straits of Sunda. Informed 
 the next day of the ratification of the treaty of peace some months 
 before, Warrington gave up the prize. On his return home he also 
 received honors. The war was over, and every American cruiser, 
 public and private, had returned to port. 
 
 The achievements of American privateers upon the ocean during the 
 war were wonderful. The romantic story of their exploits has filled a 
 
440 
 
 Tin: i:.>[i'ii{K statk. 
 
 urge volu,ne (Cog.eshaIl'« JIUory of American Privateers), and yet 
 the half ]k,,s not l.eon told. Tliese exploits were b..t a repetition „f the 
 doings m the reorular service. After the first six n.onths of the war the 
 l.ulk of the naval conriiets upon the sea on the part of the Americans 
 wa.s carncf ,m hy private ar.ne.l vessels, which " took, l.nrned, and 
 destroyed ,,xteen hundred British nierchantn.en, of all classes, in the 
 
 space of three years. The most 
 famous of these privateers for 
 speed and efficiency were the Bal- 
 timore clippers. 
 
 A large number of privateers 
 w-cre sent ont from the port of 
 Xew 1 ork, and muny merchants 
 reaped more bountiful pecuniary 
 harvests by this me;u)s than they 
 could have done by the slower 
 processes of commerce. The most 
 noted of these New York priva- 
 teers was the General Annxtrunij, 
 Captain Samuel C. Iteid." in 
 September, 1814, while slie was 
 lying in the harbor of Fayal, at 
 one of the islands of the Azores, 
 of the same name, belonging to 
 Bortugah she w:i.s suddenly" at- 
 I'V a part ot a large P.ritisb squadron. The attacking vessels 
 (•arned one hundred and thirty-three guns in the aggregate, while the 
 General Arrmtrong carried only seven. There were three attacks between 
 the evening and the morning twilight. A terrific conflict lasting forty 
 nunutes occurred at nudnight. At each attack the plucky Armstrong 
 epulsed her assa, ants, who lost in the struggle of ten hours over three 
 iH.ndred men, winle the An.ericans lo.<t only two killed and seven wounded 
 
 CAPTAIN SAMUEL C. UKm. 
 
 tacked 
 
 lo.k in .ani.nj, 1861. lie ^sm^ to sea when only eleven rears of a-e He was an 
 ; "'i:t r:;:;: -"f :^'"""r-« ^mxton; became enan^redwinrme;;.:r: 
 
 position unt. his death. He wa.s for a time warden of the Port of Xew Y„rk -.n,! Mu- 
 . ventor of the se.naphore or telegraph ti.sod at the Narrows before ,.h eu' o n. ie ^ 
 elegraph w„.s perfected. Captain Heid has the honor of bein. ,he desi^ne o he ~ 
 
JACKSON OALLKD TO NEW ORLEANS. Wl 
 
 War at the Xorth was now ended, hut there was ti-oul)le in the South- 
 west late in ISl-i. We have considered Jackson's eanipaii^n against the 
 Creek Indians. The British, favored hy the Spanish governor of 
 Florida, had t-iven the Creeks hope, and induced them to join the forces 
 from Great Britain against the Americans. A British squadron, hy 
 permission of the Spanish authorities, took possession of Pensacohi, and 
 there titted out an expedition against the fort at the entrance to Mobde 
 Bay. British Lmd troops and Creek Indians attacked it at the middle 
 of Septendier. They were repulsed. 
 
 General Jackson, then at ilobile, hokling the Spanish governor 
 responsible for the attack on the fort, marched from that to^m with two 
 thousmd Tennessee militia, seized Pensacola, drove the British from the 
 harlior and compelled the Spanish governor to beg for mercy and to 
 surrender the tnwn and the military works unconditionally. On return- 
 ino- at once to ^[obile, tlie victorious general found messengers with 
 urgent calls for him to hasten to New Orleans to assist in defending that 
 city and Louisiana from a threatened formidable invasion. The British 
 cniising in the Gulf of ^lexico had been re-enforeed by thousands ot 
 troops from Great Britain. 
 
 Jackson instantly obeyed the call. He arrived at iNew Orleans on 
 December 2d (ISUi, and found the people in a state of fearful alar.n 
 and eonfusion. He assumed heavy responsibilities He dec ared 
 martial law, and by vigorous measures under that rule he soon placed 
 the c ty in an attitude of comparative security. When an eftic.ent oflicer 
 fresh from the Spanish peninsula, Generul Bakenham, .vith about twelve 
 thousuid troops, most of them Wellington's veterans, entered Lake 
 Borgie, Jackson felt confident of success even against such fearful odd.. 
 Afte^ a naval stru-le on Lake Borgne, in which a flotilla ot American 
 ; gun-boats was destroyed, twenty-four hundred British troops under he 
 Irish General Keane pushed on to the Mississippi P.iver, nine mdes 
 below New Orleans, with the expectation of taking that city by surprise, 
 keane was betrayed by an escaped prisoner, and in the gloom on he 
 \i<rU of December 23d he was attacked and defeated by Americans led 
 ;; General Jackson in person. In this aifray the Ameru^ans bst m 
 Klled and w.-unded about two hundred men ; the British lost about torn 
 Ikndred. The Americans were assisted by an armed vessel on tlie m ei, 
 ?iv ^Viich produced a panic. , ,. 
 
 "* ^J Orleans wis saved from surprise : no. it kuI to 1- -ed horn 
 
 oin invasion. General Bakenham took the chief — ^"^ « J^^ 
 t?6ps, and pushed on toward Kew Orleans. Across ns ^f^^"^ 
 Miis ippi to a deep cypress swamp Jackson cast up a line ot breast, oik. 
 
U-i THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ■with <j:rcut colerity. Wlicii tlie invador aiiproacliud to the phiin of 
 Chahiiette (Jaiiuaiy stli, \X\^>) witli liis mIioIi; land force, and stood in 
 battle array before the ini|)r(>vi;;ed fortifications, hope for the Americans 
 seemed very dim. 
 
 Behind those breastworks there was an ominous silence as the British 
 veterans approached to tlie attack. When they had reached within 
 oannon-sliot range of Jackson's batteries the latter ojiened npoi; thciii 
 with terrible effect, cutting fearful lanes through the ranks of the British. 
 Yet the latter pressed forward until they were within range of the 
 American rifles, when a host suddenly arose and with a deadly tempest 
 of bullets swept the British line. Whole platoons were mown dowu like 
 grass before a scythe. Officer after officer was slain. Pakenhani fell, 
 bleeding and dying, into the arms of McDougall, his favorite aide. Very 
 soon the assailants l)roke and fled, their retreat covered by General 
 Lambert at the head of reserves. The slaughter and maiming had been 
 dreadful. The vampiished left seven hundred of their dead ai'd four- 
 teen hundred of their wounded on the field, and five hundred wei'e made 
 prisoners. The .Vmericans lost only eight killed and thirteen woiuided. 
 They had been protected by breastworks, while the invaders were 
 exposed on an open plain. 
 
 The vanquished Britons, led Ijy (Tcneral Lambert, stole away .inder 
 cover of darkness on the night after the battle, and escaped to their 
 ships. General Jackson and his men entered Xew Orleans as vi:'tors. 
 There special honors were bestowed upon the conqueror as a delirerer. 
 lie had saved the city and the State. Thirteen years afterward the 
 jieople of the United States chose him to be the Chief Magistrate of the 
 republic. 
 
 Before this conflict on the jilaiii of Chalmette peace between the 
 United States and Great Ijritain had been secured by a treaty negotiated 
 and signed at Ghent, in Belgium. Commissioners of the two govern 
 ments,* chosen for the j)urpo,se, met in ,Vugust, lSl-4, and conclude( 
 their labors on Decendjer 24th following. The treaty was ratified b' 
 the British Govcirnmetit on the 'iSth, and by that of the ITnited State 
 on February 17th, ISL").- ,\s the uews of peace went slowly over tie 
 land intense joy and satisfaction were everywhere felt. 
 
 Nowhere was the intelligence more welcome than in the commenal 
 city of Xew York. The Jiews was* brought to that port on the evenng 
 of February 11 th by the .sloop-of-war Favorite, forty-two days fom 
 
 * The United States C-'ommissioners were John Quincy Adams, James A. Board, 
 Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and .Mbeil Gallatin. Tlie British Commissionerswere 
 Lord Gan)l)icr, Ilenrv Goidboiirn, anil William Adanis. 
 
PEACE WITH CHEAT BRITAIN PROCLAIMED. 443 
 
 Portsmontli. Now it might come in forty-two seconds ! The streets 
 M-ere speedily thronged witli an excited multitude. Placards were 
 printed by the 2fercantile Advertiser, announcing the happy event, and 
 thrown out of the window. They were caught up and read with the 
 greatest avidity by the people. The air was soon resonant with huzzas. 
 Cannons thundered, bells were rung, and bonfires blazed. In cities and 
 large villages all over the land the abounding joy was manifested by 
 banquets, orations, and illuminations. There were rejoicings in Great 
 Britain ; and there were rejoicings in Canada because of the deliverance 
 of the people from the fear of invasion. 
 
 This sudden outbreak of joy was soon tempered by the unpleasant 
 reflection that much advantage expected to be gained by the war and 
 the treaty had not been ac(piired. Indeed, the subjects of impressments, 
 the right of search, the orders in council and ])aper blockades, had all 
 been passed over without specific notice in the treaty. These omissions 
 were made powerful weapons in the hands of the opponents of the war. 
 The New York Evening Post, anticipating this failure, printed in the 
 " New Year's Address" of its carriers, several weeks before the arrival 
 of the treaty, the following stanza : 
 
 " Your commprce is wantonly lost. 
 
 Your treasures are wasted and gone ; 
 Y'ou'vc fought to no end, but with niillions of cost ; 
 And for rivers of blood, you've nothing to boast. 
 
 But credit and nation undone." 
 
 But the war did secure the positive and permanent independence of 
 the United States, and gave our republic a position among the most con- 
 spicuous of the nations of the earth. 
 
 The haughty spirit manifested by the British Government during the 
 negotiations at Ghent in dcnuiuding terms which were humiliating to 
 the Americans had excited anew the war spirit here, and the Govern- 
 ment determined to prosecute the struggle with more vigor than ever. 
 Conscription was resorted to in the early fall of IS 13. This measure, 
 which offended State pride, brotight matters to a crisis in New England, 
 where the Peace Faction was yet quite j^owerful. The jjcople of that 
 section had been suspected of disloyalty to tiie National Government, 
 while the latter adopted some injudicious measures calculated to promote 
 such a feeling. Suspicions aiul discontents culminated in a conference 
 of sympathizing New England States to consult upon j)ublic matters and 
 to consider a radical reform in the National Constitution. A convention 
 composed of twenty-six delegates assembled at Hartford, Conn., on 
 December 15tli, 1S14-, and held their sessions in secret. 
 
m THE K.MPIKE STATE. 
 
 The sittings of tlic Hartford Convention continued about three weeks. 
 At the time of its adjournment it was believed a necessity niiglit recjuire 
 the members to assemble again, and the seal of secrecy was not removed 
 from their proceedings. This gave rise to wild rumors, conjectures, and 
 suspicions. The convention had been suspected of treasonable designs, 
 and had been closely watched ; now the members were regarded as dis- 
 loyal to the Government, and dared not avow it. When, in after years, 
 the proceedings were made pul)lic, it was perceived tliat the Hartford 
 ronventioii was composed of as loyal and patriotic men as any in the 
 land. Their political opponents, however, made the most of the public 
 prejudice which had been created, and for more than a score of years 
 afterward tiie partisan cry, "a Hartford Convention Federalist !" cast 
 in some degree a sort of undefined odium on the man to whom the 
 epithet was applied. 
 
GOVKKNORS TOMPKINS AND CLINTON. 445 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Druixi; tlio war we liave jnst liecn coiisiderinir, and which made tlie 
 noitiieni and western frontiers of the State of New York the tiieatre of 
 almost (tontinualiy stirring military events, the civil affairs of the eom- 
 nionwealth were eonducted in an admirable manner under tlic i>;niding 
 hand of Daniel D. Tompkins, who was Governor of the State from ISO" 
 until 1817. He was energetic, judicious, courageous, and patriotic. In 
 politics he was of the " JelTersoii School." lie had serveil his country 
 in the State Constitutional Convention ; in the State Legislature ; in 
 Congress ; as Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and as Ciian- 
 cellor of tlie University. lie was commander of the Third Military 
 Disti'ict during the war, and he contributed greatly to the success of the 
 national arms by his energy in calling out and etpiipping troops fctr the 
 service. Governor Tompkins was Vice-President of the United States 
 during the eight years of ^lonroe's administration, and early in the last 
 year of his governorship he won iMmu)rtal honor by reconuiiending to 
 the Legislature in a special message the total abolition of slavery in the 
 State of New York after duly 4th, 1827. 
 
 During the lirst quarter of this century De AVitt Clinton was 
 uniiiuibtcdly tlie foremost public man of the State in pciiiit of mental 
 force, wisdom, sagacity, energy, and statesmanship ; and he was more 
 active aiul effective in the promotion of measures for the general benetit 
 of society than any other citizen of his time. We have noticed his career 
 up to the breaking out of the War of 1812-15. He was appointed 
 Mayor of tlie city ot New York in 1803, and held that important position 
 continuously until 1815 (excepting two years when he was lieutenant- 
 governor) witli great acceptance to the people. lie divided the nation 
 with Mr. Madison as a candidate for the presidency, but did not win the 
 prize. Li 1817 he was chosen Governor of the State almost without a 
 contest, and was re-elected in 1S20, and again in 1S24. His was the 
 chief moral and intellectual force which carried forward from conception 
 to completion the great Erie Canal. 
 
 It was in the year 1812 that Martin Van Euren,* who so long held a 
 
 * Martin Van B>n-en, the eighth Presiik'nt of the United States, was born in Kinder- 
 liook, N. Y., December 5tli, 1783 ; died tliere July 24th, 18()3. lie was admitl.d to the 
 bar in 1803. Fond of politics, he took an active part in elections while yet a youth. At 
 the age of twenty-four he was appointed Surrogate of Columbia County, and iu 1812 was 
 
440 
 
 THE K.MI'IlfK STATE. 
 
 -J^ 
 
 coiit^piciioiis position in tliu politics of the State aiid nation, made liis 
 first appearance in a legislative capacity as a senator fi-oin the .Middle 
 District of Xew York. His mental ahilitics, tact, and c;ip;icity for 
 adroit manaircnient of men speedily irave him the position of leader of 
 the democratic meml)ers of the Legislature. He was a zealous " Clin- 
 tonian" then, and an earnest advocate of the war. 
 
 It was at this period th;it the Legislature took a step which was 
 
 of vast benefit to tiie cause of po]ni- 
 lar education. \t the ndddle of 
 January, 1S12, tln'y apj)ointed Gide- 
 on ILiwley, an energetic, hard-work- 
 ing, benevolent-minded and modest 
 young lawyer of Albany. Super- 
 intendeiit of Public Schools, under 
 the provisions of an act passed at the 
 ])revious session. Tie perfected a 
 system for the management of the 
 school fund and for its equitable dis- 
 / ■ ^S^^ v: ' * tribution into every school district in 
 
 the State, which he had organized 
 in every neigliI)C)rli()od. lie devised 
 a jilai; of operations by which this 
 vast machinery might be moxcd and 
 managed by a single individual. For 
 these important services, with others, the State paid Mr. Ilawley §300 a 
 year I Posterity has rewarded this fine scholar and pul)lic benefactor with 
 full appreciation and unstinted praise when contemplating the result of 
 his benevolent labors. Mr. Ilawley died in 1870 at the age of eighty- 
 five years, having served as a Regent of the University twenty-seven 
 years, and a Hegent of the Snnthsoniau Institution twenty-four years.* 
 
 sent to tlic Slate Senate. From 1815 lo 1819 he was Attorney-General of the Stale. In 
 1819 he bejian a reorganization of the Democratic Party, anil became the leader of the 
 IMlilicians known as the " Albany Regency." In 1821 lie became a menilKT of the 
 United States Senate, and again in 182T ; was chosen Governor of New York in 1828 ; 
 entered President .Jackson's Cabinet as S<'eretary of State in 1829. and was sent Minister 
 to England in 18;U. The Senate refused to ratify his appointment, and he was chosen 
 Vice-President of the United States. He was elected President in 183C. His adminis- 
 tration was marked by great commercial troubles. In 1848 lie wa-s an unsuccessful 
 candidate of the "Free Soil" Party for President. He visited Europe in 18.");i-.')5. 
 AVhen the Civil War broke out ilr. Van Buren took decided grounds against the enemies 
 of the Republic. 
 
 * Gideon Ilawley was born in Iluntiuglou. Conn., in 1785 ; died at Albany, X. Y., in 
 August, 1870. He was a graduate of Union College. In 1794 he took up his abode at 
 
 I 
 
 M.VKTIN V.\N niliEN. 
 
CIVIL AFFAlliS IN TUK STATE. 447 
 
 In the session of tlic Le>i;iKliiture early in 1S1;{ sliarp collisions began 
 to oceiir between the two houses on all (]uestioiis which related to the 
 ]>rosecution of the war. The niiiitia which had been called out the pre- 
 vious autumn by the governor had returned dissatisfied with the service. 
 The Federal politicians took advantage of this dissatisfaction, and pro- 
 moted it so as to increase their own power and intluence. 
 
 The National Government had already become embarrassed by lack of 
 money to carry on the war ; and this, too, was used as a weapon of 
 attack by the Federalists. A resolution which was adopted liy the State 
 Senate to loan to the National Government S.")(»(),()iiO was defeateil by 
 the Federalists in the Assembly. During the same year Solomon South- 
 wick,* the able editor of the AJhainj /icf/i.sfcr, tiie organ of the Demo- 
 cratic Party, showed lukuwai'niness in support of the war, and lost tlie 
 confidence of the ])arty leaders. Thej' made the Argi/n, just established 
 by Jesse ljue],f their organ. 
 
 The next session of the Legislature (1814) was marked by lii)eral 
 appropriations of money to be raised by lottery for the benefit of Union, 
 
 Saratoga. In 1813 he was admitted to the bar in Albany, and the next yetw became 
 secretary to the Resents of tlie University. lie was a regent of tlie Universit_y from 1814 
 to 1841, and of tlie Smithsonian lustituiion fiom 1810 until his death. ^Mr. llawley wrote 
 an<l printed for private distribution Ksmi/s on 2'nith ami Km/itkclr/i: 
 
 * Solomon Southwick was for some years a brilliant journalist in Albany. He was a 
 son of Solomon Southwick, a journalist of Newport, R. I., where this son was born in 
 1774. He learned the trade of a baker, but became a practical printer in Albany. About 
 the year ISOO he was the assistant editor of the; Alhiiiiji Riyixtcr, which finally became 
 the accredited organ of tlu^ Democratic Party. Southwick became sole editor in 1807, 
 and conducted it with great ability. He was personally iiopular.' with a handsome face 
 and pleasing depoilment. He was a firm supporter of T)e Witt Clinton and his friends. 
 In 1809 he was appointed SheritT of .Vlbany, and in 181 1 was a bank president there. He 
 was printer to the State ; also a regent of the University. He quarrelled with his party 
 leaders, when the NiyiKter w;i.s abandoned by them, and in 1818 it dieil. He had been 
 superseded as State printer, and ho lost the office of [tostmaster at .Vlbany in 1822. Vari- 
 ous speculations of his were unsuccessful. In 1821 he established The Plonghboi/. and 
 then the National Democrat. Both were short-lived. He became a candidate for gov- 
 ernor of the State in 1823, when he was defeated by an overwhelming vote. He was 
 again a candidate for the same office in 1828, reiiresenting the Anti-iMa.sonic Party, and at 
 the same time became Ihe editor of the Xational Ohsener, an Anti-Masonic journal. -Mr. 
 Southwick died in 18;i!). 
 
 f .Jcs.se Buel was born in Coventry. Conn., in 1778. and died in Danbury, 1830. He 
 was educated a printer. He published the I'lMrr liiiinhlimit. and in 1813 went to .Vlbany, 
 where he established the Aiyus. which, on the parly defection of Solomon Southwick, be- 
 came the organ of the Democratic^ Party. He was soon chosen Stale printer. He left the 
 Ai-ff/iit in 1831, having acquired a competency. Bucl was Whig candidate for governor 
 in 183(5. Two years before, he established T/ie CuUimtui; a periodical devoted to agricul- 
 ture, which for years exerted a wide and salutary influence among farmers. At the 
 time of his death >Ir. Buel was a regent of the University. 
 
44S 
 
 llli; K.Ml'IliK STATE. 
 
 
 rolmiibia, and Ilaiiiiltoii collej^es ; an African churcli ; tlie New York 
 Historical Society, and varicjns medical colleges. At the same session 
 James Kent was appointed Chancellor of the State of New York, and 
 Smith Thompson Chief-Justice of its Supreme Court. Tliey were botli 
 natives of Duche.«s County. 
 
 The Legislature put forth the juost vigorous exertions to ]>lace and 
 
 maintain the State in an attitude of 
 secure defence against invasion, 
 and to aid the general Ciovernment 
 against the enemy. They increased 
 the pay of the militia, and jiassed 
 an act to encourage i)rivateering by 
 aiitliDrizing associations for that 
 purpose. This was done in spite 
 of a very learned protest from 
 CJiancellor Kent" and others. The 
 chancellor was answered, and a 
 controversy in tlie newspapers oc- 
 curred, in Avliich Judge Kent, 
 Colonel Samuel Young, and ^lartin 
 Van Jiuren particij)ated. A law 
 was passed for enlisting twelve 
 thousand men for two years ; and 
 another was adopted for raising a corps of " sea fencibles," a sort of 
 minute-men ; and still another for raising a regiment of colored men, 
 among whom slaves might be enlisted by consent of their masters, and 
 who were to be manumitted when honorably discharged. 
 
 Intelligence of the proni])t passage of these several laws by the Legis- 
 lature of New York at the short session in the fall of 181-t was received 
 by President Madison witli great joy and satisfaction, for the event 
 
 * .lames KpiiI, iin I'liiiiicnt jurist, was born jil Pliillipslown, Putniim (then Duchess) 
 County, N. Y., in .July, 17G3 ; died in Xcw York City in Deeenilier. 1H47. lie studied 
 law witli E,i;l)ert Benson, and began its practice at Poufrhkeei>sie in ITST. From 1790 to 
 17!)H lie was a member of the Xew York Assembly. In the latter year he became pro- 
 fes.sor of law in Columbia CoUeire : in 1790 he was made Master in Chancery ; Recorder 
 of New York City in 1797 ; Judge of the Supreme Court of Xew York in 1798 ; Chief 
 Justice in 1804, and wsvs Chancellor of the State from 1814 to 1823. He took an active 
 part in the State Constitutional Convention in 1821, and soon afterward again became 
 law profes.sor in Columbia College. The lectures he delivered there form the ba.sis of 
 his famous Cotnmentnriiit nn the I'uittd Stiitin fniintitiition. ])ublislied in four volumes. 
 Judge Kent was one of the clearest legal writers of his time. In 1828 he was chosen 
 President of the New York Historical Society. In his later years he revised his Com- 
 mentiiries. 
 
 ,J.\MKS KKNT. 
 
VIRGINIA THE '• >[OTirEI{ OF PRESIDENTS." 449 
 
 added much strengtli to the tlien exceedingly weak CTOvenunent. 
 Oppressed by painful appreiiensioiis, the President gratefully tendered 
 to Goveriioi' Tompkins the important position in his Caiiinet of Secretary 
 of War, which General John Armstrong, of ]S^ew York, jiad lately 
 resigned. Tlie governor declined. 
 
 The Federalists gained political ascendancy in Xew York in l,sl5, and 
 the Council of Appointment, influenced by the many political enemies 
 of De Witt Clinton, proceeded to deprive liim of the lucrative office of 
 Mayor of New York. This left him in straitened pecuniary circuiu- 
 stances with a large family, but he maintained his dignity of deportment 
 and his cheerfulness of spirits. He engaged in literary pursuits, and 
 increased his efforts to induce the State to construct tiic great Erie Canal. 
 He was successful, as we have observed. 
 
 Governor Tompkins was now one of the most popular men in the 
 State, and was an aspirant for the office of President of the United 
 States. At the close of the war Mr. Madison began to give tokens that 
 he expected Mr. Monroe to be his successor. Already the President of 
 the republic had been taken from Virginia twenty-four out of twenty- 
 eight years of the existence of the National Government. This continu- 
 ation of the " Virginia dynasty," as it was called, had become distaste- 
 ful, especially to New Yorkers. At the same time the Virginians were 
 evidently jealous of New York because of her rapid growth in popula- 
 tion, commerce, wealth, and political influence. 
 
 Wlien the congressional caucus assembled to nominate a candidate for 
 the jiresidenc}-, it was found that nearly tlie whole delegation from New 
 York were for (rovcrnor Tompkins. The majority of otiier Democratic 
 members were from the South, and were opjiosed to him ; wliile the 
 New Eno-land delegates were all Federalists. Monroe was nominated 
 and elected in 1816, and Tompkins was chosen Vice-President. 
 
 Great was the rejoicing in the legislative halls and among the people 
 all over the State when tlie news of peace and of the victory at New 
 Orleans was spread over the commonwealth. Then the thoughts of all 
 were directed to the pursuits of peace, the readjustment of business rela- 
 tions, and the development of the resources of the State, especially to 
 the importance of a speedy construction of the projected great caiud. 
 Tiie friends of that project moved with vigor. A most important meet- 
 ing held in New York City in the autumn adopted strong resolutions in 
 its favor, and a powerful memorial to the Legislature was drawn up by 
 De Witt Clinton, and widely circulated and signed, commending the 
 project. 
 
 T'his movement in New York City was followed by a large gathering 
 
450 THE EMPIUE STATE. 
 
 at Ciinancliiii^iia, Ontario f'oiiiity, of leadiiijr ficntloiieii in TTestem New 
 York. At tliat nii'utiiiij .Myron Iloiluv, oiio of tlio canal ('oniniissioneis 
 and one of tlie hri<^litest and wisest men in tiie State, was the cliief 
 actor." Governor Toni])l<ins, in liis message at tlie o])ening of the 
 session of tlie Legislature in ISK!, expatiated upon the vast importance 
 of such a work not only to the State of New York, hut to the nation ; 
 and at a large meeting of citizens at Albany earnest resoluttons in favor 
 of the jiroject were adopted. 
 
 Notwithstanding the treasury of the comnionweaith had been nearly 
 exhausted by the efforts to sustain tlie National (Taverninent in its prose- 
 cution of the war, and all aid from that Government in carrying out the 
 project liad been withheld ; notwithstanding the resources of private 
 enterprise had lieen crippled by the financial embarrassments of the 
 crisis and the ])revalence of an impression that the scheme was altogether 
 visionary, the leaders of sober thought and opinion in the State were 
 strong enough to induce the Legishitiire to authorize the prosecution of 
 all necessary surveys for the great work ; to a[)propriat(! S20.0()i) for the 
 purpose, and to appoint a new Hoard of Canal Commissioners.f 
 
 The most powerful advocates of the measure at that time were Do 
 Witt Clinton, Martin Van Buren, and Samuel Young. It was observed 
 that most of the leaders of the opposition to the canal project were 
 political enemies of Mr. Clinton ; and so strong was this partisan enmity 
 that it formed the chief constituent of their motives in <i|)p(ising the 
 scheme. 
 
 At the ojjening of the session of 1S17 Governor Tompkins, as we have 
 
 * Tlic niocliii^ in New York City was asscmhkil thrnuirli tho instrumontality of 
 Thomas Eddy. Judge Jonas Piatt, Dc Witt Clinton. John Pintard, and a few others, the 
 zealous, persistent, and earlier friends of the i)rojeet. They sent cards of invitation to 
 about one hundred gentlemen of that city, to meet at the City Hotel, to consult concern- 
 ing the Canal. William Bayard [iresided at the meeting, and John Pintard was the secre- 
 tary. Judge Piatt mad(^ a convincing address to the meeting. A resolution was pa.s.sed 
 approving the scheme, and a committee, composed of I)e Witt Clinton, Thomas Eddy. 
 Cadwallader D. Colden. and John Swartwout, was appointed to prepare and <-irculale a 
 memorial to the Legislature in favor of the canal. That memorial — a master])iece — was 
 drawn by Mr. Clinton. 
 
 The meeting at Canandaigua was held on January Hili. ISIT. Gideon Granger, after- 
 ward Poslmasler-CJeneral. was the chief speaker on that occasion ImiKirtaiil resolutions, 
 drawn by Myron Holley, were .idopted. These resolutions, it was observed, "both in 
 matter and .s'tyle may be .I'uslly denominated a ncdr reUition of Mr. Clinton's memorial." 
 The proceedings of this meeting made a deep impres-sion on the public mind, and pow 
 erfuUy contributed to the enlightened policy which the Legislature subsequently pursued. 
 
 f Stephen van Kensselaer. I)i' Witt Clinton, Samuel Young, Joseph Ellirott, and 
 Myron lloilcv. 
 
ABOLITION OF TlIK SLAVIO SVSl'KM. 
 
 451 
 
 /■ 
 
 
 observed, recoimneiidcd tlie unconditional ami entire abolition of the 
 slave sj'steni in the State uf New York after -Inly -itli, !S27. The 
 rcconiiuendation was concurred in by the nnaiiiinons voice of tlie lA'gis- 
 latnrc. Thus were the ])ersistent benevolent etTorts of the Society of 
 Friends, or Quakers, to erase from 
 the escutcheon of the State of New 
 
 Tork the dark stain of human ^ . - _.. 
 
 slavery given encouragement and 
 final success. In Ijringiiig about 
 this act of the Legislature in islT 
 they wei'e powerfully aided by 
 Cadwallader J). C!olden (grandson 
 of Governor ( 'olden'), Peter A. 
 Jay, William .lay, '•'■ Governor 
 Tompkins, and other earnest labor- 
 ers in the cause. 
 
 On March 10th, ISIT, the canal 
 commissioners presented to the 
 Legislature an elaborate I'cport. 
 Most strenuous opposition to the 
 canal scheme was then manifested 
 
 in and out of the Legislature. It was ridiculed as the conception of 
 lunatics ; condemned as a project which, if attempted, would ruin the 
 State finaiu'ially ; and its advocates were declared to be enemies of the 
 commonwealth. The excitement throughout the State was intense. T>ut 
 common-sense and sagacity prevailed in the Legislature, and on April 
 
 Wll.l.IAM .lAY. 
 
 * William Ja_v, IX. D., was an eminent jurist and earnest philanthropist, son of Gov- 
 ernor John .lay. lie was l)oni in New York City in 1789, and died at Bedford. West- 
 chester County, N. Y.. in October, 1858 He was a graduate of Yale CollciJCe. On ac- 
 count of weak eye.s he was compelled to abandon the practice of law, for whieli he was 
 prepared. He was one of the founders of the American Bible Society, in 1815, and was 
 ever an active member of it. He was one of the earliest advocates of the temperance 
 reform, and found(!d a temperance society in 1815. He was active in founding and pro- 
 moting the work of tract, missionary, and educational societies. In 1818 he wasappointed 
 Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Westchester County, and was first judge from 
 1820 to 1843. when he was superseded on account of his radical anti-slavery sentiments. 
 He was one of the founders an<l most etlicient .supporters of the .\merican .Vnti-Slavery 
 Society. In 1843 Judge Jay visited Europe, and with the eminent Egyptologist. Sir 
 Gardiner AVilkinson. investigated the subject of .slavery in Egypt. Judge Jay held a 
 vigorous pen, and wrote muc'h on the subject of temperance, slavc^-y, and peace. He 
 was for several years President of the American Peace Society. His numerous iiubliea- 
 tions were widely eireidated, and exercised great and good intluence. Juilge Jay prepared 
 a biogra])hy of his father. John Jay and a collection of his writings, in two volumes, 
 which was pnlilished in 183:1 
 
ibi TIIK KMIMIU-; STATIC. 
 
 ITth it p;isso(l iiii ;ict iuitliin'i/.iiii^ tliu coiistnictioii of tlie greut work of 
 iiitcriiiil iiiiproveiiioiit. Tliu work u])oii it was bejrini less tliaii tliree 
 months afterward. 
 
 With kaleidoscope rapidity and variety were the changes in the posi- 
 tion of the leaders of political parties and factions in Xew York at that 
 time. They were then in a sort of transition state. Each faction was 
 controlled by a few men. Personal politics was the rule. It was at this 
 time that a small clique of shrewd politicians known as the " Albany 
 Regency'' came into power and ruled the State, in a degree, for almost 
 twenty years. The leader of the " Regency" was ^[artin Van Buren. 
 and his chief associates were Benjamin F. Ihitlcr. Eilwin C'roswell, ami 
 William L. ^larcy. 
 
 We have seen De Witt Clinton, in 1S1.5, "shelved"' by the Council 
 of Appointment, which was composed chiefly of men of his own party, 
 and he was i-elegated to the class of political fossils. Judge S|)encer,* 
 between whom and (Clinton there had long been maintained bitter polit- 
 ical and jiersoual am'niosity, and who had been a power in the politics 
 of the State and puissant in the annual creation of the Council of 
 Appointment, had been the chief instrument in destroying the confidence 
 of the Democratic Party in Mr. Clinton. Now Spencer was menaced 
 with a similar fate, and sought to avert it. The popularity of Tom])kins 
 and the talents and fascination of Van Buren made them exceedingly 
 influential among the members of the Legislature, with whom the3' were 
 in constant intercourse. They were now the political antagonists of 
 Clinton, and disposed to give the cold shoulder to Spencer. The latter 
 well knew that there was no man who could neutralize the influence of 
 these rivals more elfectnally than ^[r. Clinton, and Spencer sought and 
 obtained a reconciliation with his old friend and kinsman, !^[rs. Sjiencer 
 was a sister of Clinton. 
 
 In February, 1817, Governor Tompkins resigned his seat to occupy 
 
 * Ainhrose Spc^nccr, LL.D. , was the son of :i farmer ami meelianic, and wa-s born in 
 Salisbury, Conn., In 1765. lleiiiedal Lyons, N. Y.. in Mareli, Is-lt*. He \va.s icnulualed 
 at llarviird. and studied law with .lohn C'antield, of Sharon, Conn., whose daujrhler he 
 married before he was nineteen years of aire. After her death he married a sister of De 
 AVIII Clinton. They settled in Hudson. X. Y. In 1793 he was eleeled to the .\ssenibly. 
 and was Slate .-senator from KO.") to 1802. He was the author of a bill whieh abolished 
 the penalty of death cxeeptinc; for the crimes of treason and murder ; also for the erection 
 of a Stale prison near New York, and for the amelioration of the condition of prisoners. 
 In 1802 he was appointed attorney general, and in 1804 was made Cliief-.Iustice of the 
 Slate Supreme Court. .ludfje .Spciucr was always an aetive politician. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Slate Constitutional Convention in 1821 ; was Mayor of .VIbany. and fnmi 
 1829 to 18:il a meinbcr of Coni5re.s.s. In 1839 he removed to the villajre of Lyons, where 
 he died. 
 
THK FIRST BOAT OX THE ERIK CANAL. 453 
 
 tliat of Vice-President of tlie United States. Tlicre appeared a strong 
 (iis[)Osition in the Le,o;islature to nominate Mr. Clinton for govei-nor. 
 Mr. Van Duren and liis friends opposed it. Spencer worlced valiantly 
 for it. Clinton was nominated, and in April was elected by an almost 
 nnanimons vote. The Federalists did not make any nomination, and 
 they generally voted for Clinton. 
 
 How " the whirligig of time brings ahont its revenges"! Only two 
 years before, Mr. Clinton had been expelled by liis party from the office 
 of Mayor of New York, denonnced by the leading Democrats in In's 
 native State and the nation as ntterly unworthy of their confidence, and 
 consigned to political perdition ; now we see him elevated to the highest 
 official position in his State by a majority of the Democratic Party and 
 of the opposing party as their best man I 
 
 A formidable political faction opposed to Governor Clinton soon 
 appeared, and gave origin to two distinctly marked parties known as 
 " Ihicktails," or Democrats, and '' CMintonians."' * 
 
 Little of special importance outside of the political arena occurred in 
 the State of Xew York during the remainder of Governor Clinton's 
 administration. The construction of the great water highway across the 
 St;ite was pushed on with vigor, and on October 22d, 1819, the firet boat 
 on the Erie Canal floated between Rome and Utica, with the governor 
 and other distinguished citizens on board. 
 
 In the spring of 1S2U a hot contest for tiie governor.ship of the State 
 occurred. The I'ucktails nominated Vice-President Tompkins for that 
 position, aiul the Clintonians renominated Mr. Clinton. The canvass 
 was very spirited, and resulted in the re-election of Mr. Clinton by about 
 fourteen hundred majority. 
 
 Just before the election a most singular movement took place among 
 the ])oliticians of the State, designed to " put down Mr. Clinton at all 
 hazards." On April 14th fifty professed Federalists, representing the 
 intelligence and wealth of the State (among them sons of the late General 
 Hamilton and also of Rufus King), issued an address to the people, in 
 which they affirmed that the Federal Party no longer existed, and 
 avowed their intention to snp])ort Mr. Tompkins for governor and to 
 attach themselves to the great Democratic Party of the nation— the 
 
 * There was an order in tlic Tammany Society who, on certain occasions, wore a iior- 
 tiiin of the lail of a deer in tlieir liats. Tlie Tammanyites were all opixjsed lo Clinton, 
 and had a conlrollinj;- inlluenee in llie Denmcralie Party in the State. The friends of 
 Clinton jjave to Iheni the name of ■ Bucktails," as the order that wore that insignia was 
 a leadin,!! one in the society. Hence the party oiiposed lo Mr. Clinton was called, for a 
 Ion;;- time, the Biuktail Party. 
 
454 TllK KMriKi; STATE. 
 
 T5iicUtails in New York. Tliuy <lid not ohject to Mr. Clinton's capacity, 
 liis morals, or his public lucusurus, l)iit opposed him solely hocanse, they 
 alleged, he wiis attempting to form a " jiersonal party." At the same 
 time Mr. Van Buren and his friends Mere as strenuously opposing Mr. 
 CMiuton, solely on the ])rofessed ground that the Federal Party (//(/ ccIkI 
 in the State, and that he was secretly inclint'd to favor it. They, too, 
 admitted the tidonts and virtues of Mr. Clinton, and did not object to 
 his public measures, but they suspected him of political cfxpuitry ! The 
 common-sense of the better ])cople of the State perceived the absurdity 
 of the actions of the intriguing politicians, and gave ]\Ir. Clinton a 
 trium])hant majority vote, (iovernor Clinton's success at this time was 
 largely due to his i)opularity as the leading champion of the canal 
 interest. 
 
 At a session of the Legislatuie held in Movember (^l82(ij Governoi" 
 Clinton recommended the passage of a law for the choice of presidential 
 electors directly by the people ; also another for the calling of a conven- 
 tion for the consideration of amendments to the State Constitution. ,V 
 bill for the latter purpose was passed by both houses in January follow- 
 ing, but was rejected by the Council of Revision * by the casting vote 
 of the governor, who did not approve of some of its provisions. 
 
 Early in the session of 182 1 another bill providing for a convention 
 was ])ass(!d, and became a law. The Legislature and the Cuuiicil of 
 Apj)ointment M^ere politically o]>[)osed to the govci'iioi', and the latter 
 body soon set the woi'k of otHcial decapitation in morion. One of the 
 victims was Gideon Ilawley, the wise and able Superintendent of Com- 
 mon Schools, whose removal Avas without excuse. They proceeded to 
 fill his place by appointing to the position a vonng lawyer who was 
 utterly incompetent to perform the duties. The removal of Ilawley was 
 regartled as so gross an outrage against the best interests of society that 
 the political friends of the Council in the Legislature M'ould not submit 
 to it. 13y an almost unanimous vote the Legislature abolished the office 
 
 * The Council of Revision, ns wc have observed on page 259, like the Council of Ap- 
 |i(>iiitiiieiit, was a |)art of tlie uiiidiincry of the E.xeculive Department of the Stale Gov- 
 eninieut. It possessed and exerc-ised th(' veto power. All bills jiassed bv the Legislature 
 were subniilled to its iiispeelion and revision before becoming laws. But if, after bills 
 had been rejected and returned to the Legislature with objections stated, by the Council 
 of Revision, they should again be pas.sed, by a vote of two thirds, they beenine laws. 
 This council, after an existence of about forty years, was abolished by the ('onventi<n 
 of 18".il, and its power lodged in the hands of the governor by the Constitvitiou frame<l 
 that year. During its existence the Council returned one Innidred and sixty-nine bills, 
 with their objections, to the Legislature. Fifty-one of the bills so returned were pas.sed 
 inid l.iws by the Legislature by a two-thirds vote. 
 
 i 
 
COXVEXTIOX TO UEVISK TIIK STATIC COXSTITlTKiX. 455 
 
 of Snpeiiiiteiulent of Coininoii iScliools, ami assii:;iHMl tliu duties of that 
 official to the Secretary of State. 
 
 So eager M-ere the people for a revision of the State Constitution tliat 
 at the April election (1821), when the suliject was suimiitted to them, 
 tliere was a majority of nearly seventy-five thousand votes in favor of a 
 convention. On the third Tuesday in June elections of deloo-ates to a 
 constitutional convention were held tliroughout the State. Some of the 
 nuxst distinguished men in the commonwealth were chosen delegates, 
 some of them having heeii selected on account of their superior al)ility 
 rather than for any partisan consideration ; yet a larger jjortion of the 
 representatives were Democrats. 
 
 The convention assembled at the Capitol '" iu the city of Albany on 
 August 2>itli, when one hundred and ten delegates were present. They 
 presented an array of talent, experience, and weight of personal character 
 unsurpassed by any similar body of men ever before assembled in the 
 republic. f They chose Vice-President Tompkins to preside over their 
 deliberations, and John F. Bacon and Samuel L. (lardiner to record the 
 proceedings. William L. Stone, editor of the JVew York Commercial 
 Advertiser ; N". II. Carter, of t\vQ Statesman ; and M. I. Cantine were 
 the official reporters. 
 
 The convention renuiincd in session nearly two months and a half, and 
 made many important changes iu the fundamental law of the State. 
 The debates, especially those concerning the right of suft'nigo, were 
 inarked by signal ability, and were exceedingly interesting. The labors 
 
 * The State Capitol at llial lime sluod on tlie site of the new one not yet (1887) eoni- 
 jileted, at the head of State Street; cue hundred and thirt}- feet above tide-water. Its 
 eorner-stoue was hiitl iu 1806. It was a substantial stone building, veneered with brown 
 sandstone from quarries below the Hudson Highlands, The columns, jjihisters, and 
 decorations of tlie doors and windows were of white or grav marble fi-om Berkshire, 
 Mas.s. As it was in part designed for city offices, it was erected in part at the expense of 
 the city of Albany. The whole expense was a trifle over .$120,000, oi wliicli amount the 
 eity paid $34,000. It was begun iu 1803 and finished iu 180T. 
 
 f Tlic following gentlemen were among the most distinguislied delegates elected by 
 the Democrats : Nathan Sandford, .Jacob Radcliff. William Paulding, llemy Wheaton, 
 Ogden Edwards, .John Oliver. Samuel Nelson (afterward cliief-justiee of tlie State), Martin 
 Van Buren, Daniel D. Tompkins, Samuel Young, .lacob Sutherland, Erastus Root, Kufus 
 King (the latter liad been a very prominent leader among the Feder.alists), General James 
 Talhnadge, and Peter R. Jjivingston. Those most distingui.sbed wlio were elected by the 
 other party were Stephen van Rensselaer. Chancellor Kent, Ambrose Spencer Abraham 
 van Vechten, AVilliam W. Van Ness, Elisha Williams. .J. Rutsen van Rensselaer, Peter 
 A. Jay, Judge Jonas Piatt, and Ezekiel Baum. The labor of reporting and jirepsn-ing for 
 the press the proceedings of tlie convention was performed almost wliolly l)y Colonel 
 AV, L. Stone. It was done with remarkable accm-aev. 
 
4r)() Till-; KMI'IKK STATE. 
 
 of tlu! foiivciitioii worn uihIl'.I oh XovtMiihcr Int,]) ("1^21), wlicri it :ul- 
 joui'iied nine die.'- 
 
 Allotted space will allow only brii't' allusion to the most important 
 labors of tlie convention and the chief new features j,dven to the instru- 
 ment then adoi)ted. The suljjects of (1) the Legislative Department ; 
 (2) the Executive Department ; (3) tlie Judiciary Department ; (4) tlie 
 Council of Revision ; (,")) tiie Council of Apjiointment ; (fi) the Riijiit 
 of Suffrage ; (7) tlie Rights and Privileges of Citizens ; (8) Miscellaneous 
 Matters ; (9) the Legislative Year and Terms of Elective Officers ; 
 (10) the Mode of ^^aking Future Amendments, were referred to standing 
 committees. 
 
 The Legislative I)c[)artment was declared to consist of a Senate com- 
 posed of thirty-two mend)ers, distributed etpially over eight Senate dis- 
 tricts, elected for four years, one fourth of this number going out each 
 year and presided over by the lieutenant-governor, with a casting vote ; 
 and an .\sscmlily consisting of one hundred and twenty-eight members, 
 appiirtioned among the several counties according to population, anil 
 annually elected. 
 
 The E.xecutive Department to consist of a governor and iieutenant- 
 goveruor to be elected biennially, and the several State orticers, with the 
 ex(!eption of the adjutant-general, chosen by joint ballot of the Senate 
 and Assembly once in every three years. Sheriffs, county clerks, aiui 
 coroners to be elected by the people of the several coniitics for a term of 
 three years. 
 
 The judiciary system was remodelled by the substitution of circuit 
 courts in (jight judicial districts into which the State was divided, in 
 jilace of tlSe previous system of trials of important issues before one of 
 the judges of the Supreme Court ; the redntrtion of the Supreme Court 
 to a chief-justice and two assist, nit justice's, with tin' right of appeal to 
 the Senate, chancellor, and judges of the Supreme Court, sitting as a 
 court for the correction of errors, the several judges to hold otHce until 
 the age of sixty years, unless previously removed for cause ; and the 
 appointment of a chancellor, for the determination of all cases of equity 
 jui-isdiction, subject to the same riglit of appeal. Judges of the county 
 courts of Common I'leas and justices of the peace to be appointed I)y 
 the iTOvernor and Senate. 
 
 * It wa."! (luring this ycnr that ^fartin Van Burcn was chosen to represent the State of 
 New York in tlu- Senate of llic I'nited States, a tieUl eominensurale witli his anibitiotis 
 aspirations and his eminent inlellecliial ability. Me now entered the .irena of nalion.d 
 polities, and rose to the hiirhest station in the republic. 
 
IMPORTANT FEATl-RES OF THE XEW ('OXSTITFTTOX. 457 
 
 Tlic Councils of Revision and Appointment * were abolislied. The 
 functions of tlie latter were devolved upon the sjovernor and the Senate, 
 and of the former upon the governor, who was vested with the veto 
 power. 
 
 The right of suffrage was extended to every male citizen of the aire of 
 twenty-one years and upward, Vvith no other restrictions than tliat of 
 residence and exemption from criminal conviction, and the requisition 
 of a freeliold (|ualifieation of S2.">(), in the case of colored voters. 
 
 A section retpiiring the call of future conventions for the amendment 
 of the Constitution on the exjiiration of (^acli period of twenty years 
 thereafter was ado2:)ted. Also another, authorizing the Lcgisluture, in 
 the mean time, hy a two-thirds vote, to submit any amendment deemed 
 retpiisite to a popular vote for its ratification. At a special election lield 
 in Fel)ruary, 1822, the new Constitution wns ratified and adopted hy a 
 majority of thirty-four thousand votes. 
 
 * The Council of Appointmt'iit was one of tlie most gigantic political maeliines siibjc'ct 
 to partisan purposes ever put in motion. That it did not work more political mischief 
 than it did must Iw credited to the prevalence of great public virtue. At the time of its 
 abolition the Council had at its disposal six thousand six hundred and sixty-three civil 
 offices and eight thousand two hundred and eighty-seven military offices. The patronag(? 
 dispensed by the civil officers was enormous in amount. The Council could appoint and 
 dismiss at pleasure, and as its political complexion was subject to frequent and sudden 
 changes, the temn-e of office was as weak as a rope of .sand. Such a condition was most 
 demoralizing to the civil service. 
 
4:>8 Tin; k.mimuk statk. 
 
 CIlAl'TKU XXXIII. 
 
 Tin: pi)inil:iriuii of the Stato of Xew York at tlie time of tlic adoption 
 of tlio new Constitution was aljout one million four linndred tliousanil, 
 of wlioni forty tliousaiid were colored, ineliidini:: i> little more than ten 
 thousand slaves. Albany, the political capital of the State, contained 
 between twelve and thirteen thousand iidiahitants, and Xew York City. 
 its commercial metropolis, had a population of one hundred and twenty- 
 five thousand. Its agricultural products ; its mineral resources ; its 
 manufactures, commerce, and trade ; its accumulated wealth and its 
 political influence in the nation gave New York even then a fair claim 
 to the title of The Emprre State. 
 
 The Algerine corsairs in the ^[editerranean Sea had been suppressed 
 and the piratical Ilarbary Powers had been humbled by a squadron of 
 the United States Navy, commanded by Commodore Decatur.* Ameri- 
 can commerce, thus untrammelled, was making its way even to the 
 Levant and the Golden Horn, and her white-winged ships flecked the seas 
 of far-otf India. New York had begun to send its argosies everywhere, 
 and held a jM-oud position among its sister commonwealths. Sagacious 
 men saw clearly that it was at the entrance upon a far more wonderful 
 career of commercial activity and geuei'al prosperity than ever before, 
 for the Eric Canal, with all its possibilities foreshadowed, was well 
 advanced toward completion. 
 
 I hit little of imi)ortance was done by the Legislature which convened 
 early in .lanuary, 1S22, excepting to provide for setting in motion the 
 machinery of civil government under the amended Constitution. Gov- 
 ei-)ior Clinton congratulated the Legislature upon the great progress 
 made in the construction of the canals — the Erie and the Champlain — 
 and recommended various modiflcations of the civil and criminal laws. 
 
 * Commodore Stephen Decatur was sent to the Mediterranean with a squadron to 
 hiiml)lc the Harliary Powers and to lm'al< iiji the nests of pirates that infested tliose 
 walcrs, lie caplnred two pirate vessels and then sailed for .Vlsiers. ^vlieri \h- dcmiinded 
 the instant surrender of all Anicriean |irisoners, full indemnity for all properly destroyed 
 l)y Knsrlish vessels which were alloweil lo enter his harbor, and absolute nlinqnisliment of 
 all claim to tribute from the United States. The Dey of Aliriers yielded. Decatur then 
 visited Tunis and Tripoli with a similar result. lie received from the two latter ]X)wers 
 $71, (MM). This cruise gave full security lo Amcrlean commerce in the Jlediterranean Sea. 
 
•■THE VAiX OF GOOD KEELING." 
 
 459 
 
 Tlio new Constitution liaving provided that no lottery should there- 
 after be authorized in the State, and the sale of tickets prohibited except- 
 ing m lotteries already established, two pei-sons (Messrs. Yates and 
 Mclntyre) were appointed managers of the State Lottery for the ])ro- 
 visiou of funds for colleges, etc. At the termination of this lottery soon 
 afterward this vicious system of supporting institutions of learning in 
 the State was abandoned forever. 
 
 The new Constitution changed the time for holding the general State 
 elections from April to November. Mr. Clinton was not reiionjiuated 
 for governor. Indeed, in the 
 gradual disintegration of parties 
 then in progress, the Clintonian 
 party had nearly disappeared. 
 So, also, had the Federal Party 
 in the State. There was tiuu- 
 sual (piict in the political arena 
 throughout the republic. Thi.s 
 state of things gave to the second 
 term of Mr. Monroe's adminis- 
 tration the title of " The Era 
 of Good Feeling."' Joseph C 
 Yates, * of Schenectady, was 
 elected Governor of New York 
 with 110 other opposition than a 
 few scattering votes in differ- 
 ent parts of the State given fur 
 Solomon Southwick, a self-nom- 
 inated candidate for governor, 
 overwhelmingly Democratic. 
 
 At the first meeting of the Legislature under the amended Constitution 
 (January, ISio) measures were taken for adjusting the government 
 machinery in accordance with its requirements. John Savage was made 
 Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, and Jacob Sutherland and John 
 Arot)d\vt)rth were created associate justices. Nathan Sandford was ap- 
 pointed Chancellor ; J. Van Ness Yates, Secretary of State ; W. L. 
 
 JOSKI'II C. YATES. 
 
 Botli Itranches of the Le<::islature wore 
 
 * Judge Yates i^as born in Schenectady, N. Y., in November, 1768, and died tliere in 
 :March. 1837. He was a son of Colonel. Christopher Yate.s of the Hevolulion ; gainwl 
 eminence a.s a lawyer, and from 1803 till 1823 was a judge of the State Supreme Court. 
 Hewa.soneof the foundei-s of Union College, in 1795; was flavor of Schenectady in 
 1798. and State senator in 1806-1807. He was governor of the Static in 18-33-24. and after- 
 ward remained in private life. 
 
■400 ini: k:mpii{e state. 
 
 ilarcy, Comptroller ; S. A. Tulcott, Attoiiiey-Geiieral, and Simeon l)c 
 "Witt, Surveyor-General, an office he had then held about fifty years. To 
 the classical taste of Mr. De Witt the interior of the State of ?^e\v York 
 is inilehted for its burden of ancient names given to townships and 
 vi Unices. One might easily suppose that region iiad been settled by Greek 
 and Roman colonics.* 
 
 The puissant Democratic Party in the State was split asunder at the 
 fall elections in 1S2:] largely by the question of submitting the choice of 
 presidential electors to the people. A new organization sprang u]) 
 known as " The People's Party," and carried several of the largest 
 Democratic counties of the State. Its strength was increased by the 
 unwise action of the Legislature early in lsi>! in refusing to give the 
 people the power to choose presidential electors, and by an extraordinary 
 exhibition of personal enmity toward Mr. Clinton. The Senate passed 
 a resolution for the removal of Mr. Clinton from the office of canal com- 
 missioner. The Assembly inniiediately concurred by a large majority. f 
 
 This unwarrantable and purely partisan conduct produced intense 
 indignation throughout the State. Large public meetings were held in 
 many places, at which the conduct of the Legislature was denounced and 
 the high character and valuable public services of Mr. Clinton were 
 recounted and a[)proved. A State Convention held at Ftica nominated 
 him for governor, and at the November election he was chosen for that 
 office over Samuel Yoniig by a majority of nearly seventeen thousand 
 votes. General James Tallmadge, of Duchess, was elected licutenant- 
 govenujr over General Root by thirty-four thousand four humlred and 
 nine majority, having received the comI)ined votes of the Democratic and 
 the People's parties. 
 
 * Simeon De Witt w:is Ihh-ii in Ulster County, N. Y., in December, 1756 ; died in 
 Alb.my in is:i4. lie was a graduate of Queens (Rutgers) College, N. J.; entered the Con- 
 tinental Army, where he held the position of " geographer," and was with Gates at the 
 surrender of Burgoyne. He was also at the surrender of Cornwallis. lie was Surveyor- 
 General of the State of New York from 1784 until his death. In 179G he declined the 
 offlee Of Surveyor-General of the United Slates. In 1798 he was appointed a regent of the 
 University ; 1817, Vice-Chancellor. and in 1829. Chancellor of the State. He made a map 
 of the Stale of Xew York in 1S04. Mr. De Witt was a member of many literary and 
 seientitic societies. 
 
 + This movement was probably preeonocrted. Only a short time before the hour 
 fixed for the adjournment of the Legislature — " perhaps I may say minutes," wrote >Ir. 
 Ilanunond — Mr. Bowman, a .senator from Monroe County, submitted a resolution for the 
 removal of Mr. Clinton from the olTice of canal commissioner. It was acted \iy>on im- 
 mediately, all but three senators voting in the affirmative. The resolution was forthwith 
 sent to the Assembly, where it was immediately passed by a vote of sixty-four against 
 thirty-four. This action caused the political death of Mr. Bowman. 
 
LAFAYETTE THE XATIOXS CrEST. 
 
 461 
 
 At the middle of August, ISS-t, Lafayette arrived in the United States 
 as the guest of the nation, after an absence of forty yeare. lie landed 
 at Staten Island, and remained there, the guest of Vice-President 
 Tompkins, until the next day, when he was escorted to the city of ^ew 
 York !)}• a large fleet of vessels of every kind. There he was received 
 with great honors — booming of cannons, pealing of bells, and shouts of a 
 multitude — and was welcomed by the municipal aiitboritics. He was 
 conducted to the City Hall, and was the guest of the cor]ioration for 
 several days. He visited tiie principal institutions, and held crowded 
 receptions of the citizens. He made an extensive tour through the 
 
 K !■'// 
 
 
 
 CASTLE G.\RDEX IX 1852. 
 
 United States. It was a continued ovation. In Septendier the follow- 
 ing year, after a brilliant reception at Castle Garden by the citizens of 
 New York, he departed for his home in France. He was conveyed to 
 liis country in the frigate B rand ij wine, so named in compliment to him. 
 He was wounded at the battle on Brandywine Creek. 
 
 While Lafayette was in the United States a presidential election 
 occurred, and resulted in the choice of John Quincy Adams, son of 
 ex-President John Adams, as Chief Magistrate of the republic. There 
 were five candidates in the field— namely, John Quincy Adams, Henry 
 Clay, William H. Crawford, Andrew Jackson, and John C. Calhoun. 
 The Electoral College failed to make a choice, and that duty devolved 
 
4i;-i 'niK KMi'iiii; s-i-atk. 
 
 upon tlie IIoiiso of Ile])roseutiitives for the sec-oiid tiiiio in tliu liistoi-y of 
 the (lovernnient. One of the earliest acts of President Aihinis after liis 
 inauguration on March 4tii, 1825, was to offer Governor Clinton the 
 ])osition of ^finister of the United States to Great IJrirain. It was 
 ri'spectfidly declined, when it was conferrei] u])on Rufiis Kinji;, of Xew 
 York. 
 
 In his message to the Legislature at the lioginning of 1S2">, (rovernor 
 Clinton reconinicndud the j)assage of a law giving the choice of presi- 
 dential electors to the people : the creation of a lioard of Internal 
 7iii])i'ovenienl's for the completion and extensirm of the canal s\'stem of 
 the State, and the construction of a great highway througii the southern 
 tier of couiilics, then rather sparsely settled. The Legislature passed an 
 act for the appointment of these coiuinissions to explore and cause to he 
 surveyed a route for such road. It was never built 1)V the State, hut 
 canals were rapidly multiplied soon afterward.* 
 
 The year 1825 was a memorable om^ in the history of the State of Xew 
 York. It was the beginning of a new era in its woiuierful career of 
 prosperity. The great Erie Canal, which traversed the State from west 
 to east — the most gigantic; work of tlu^ kind in the world — was completed 
 in the autumn of that year — an artificial navigable river more than three 
 humlrcd and sixty miles in length. (Toveriiur Clinton, its mightiest 
 champion, had made a tour the ])revious summer, lirst to Philadelphia, 
 and tliLii to Ohio and Kentucky, for the purpose of inspe(!ting public 
 improvements in jjrogrcss in those States, lie was everywiiere I'eccived 
 with earnest demonstrations of respect, for his fame was now national — 
 nay, even international. 
 
 The half decade of years previous to IS.'jK presented in the State and 
 city of New York a nu)st exciting drama to the e^'e of the social observer. 
 It was the great transition period from the stagnation of business atul 
 enterprise caused by the late war to the awakening to new and prosperous 
 life throughout the whole country. Nowhere in our broad land w;is that 
 awakeidng more pronounced and the results more marvellous than in the 
 St;ite of New York and its great seaport. The grandest and most 
 puissant of the forces which jiroduced this awakeinng in New York and 
 
 * The f'li;iiiii)laiii Canal was completed in the stininier of 1822. .V jreiitleiiian eiv^aged 
 ill tli(^ lumlxr trade in Xoillieiii Xew York wrote lo his brother from Fort Ivlward on 
 Anijust 2S)tli, 1822 : " This niornins. at cii^ht o'tloek, I had the satisfaction of seeinir the 
 water pour over the bi.u: dam [a feeder for the canal]. It tilled in about sixty-two hours 
 after the planks were laid down, which was much fpiickcr than was anticipated, in con- 
 se(|uence of the river bcinfc so very low. The canal will be in full operation by Satur- 
 day." This caual connects Lake Champlain with the Hudson River at Fort Edward. 
 
PROCESSION' OF liOATS 0\ TIIK KKIH CANAL. 
 
 463 
 
 the region west of it was the putting into operation tlie great Erie Canal. 
 It luul occupied in its construction the time of ciglit veais and four 
 months from its coniniencenient at Rome on July -tth, ISIT, until tlie 
 celebration of its completion on November -ttli, lS:i5. That celeijration 
 presented one of the most remarkable pageants ever before seen in the 
 State or Tiation. 
 
 The first flotilla of canal-boats left Buffalo, on Lake Erie, for the city 
 of Xew York on the nionn'ng of 
 October 2(>tli. On that morning 
 the waters of Lake Erie first flowed 
 into the " Great Ditch," as doubt- 
 ers and opposers of the canal con- 
 temptuously called it. Tidings of 
 this event were sent from Tinffalo 
 to Xew York, in the space of one 
 hour and twenty minutes, on the 
 Mungs of sound produced by dis- 
 charges of cannons placed at inter- 
 vals along the line of the caiud and 
 the Hudson River. 
 
 The flotilla, beautifully decora- 
 ted, was led l)v the barge Seneca 
 Chief, drawn l)y four powerful gray 
 horses. It l)ore as passengers Gov- 
 ernor Clinton, Lieutenant-Governor 
 
 Tallmadge, General Stephen van Rensselaer (the ^^a?!;wo«). General 
 Solomon van Rensselaer, Colonel W. L. Stone,* a delegation from New 
 York City, and gentlemen and ladies who were invited guests. One 
 large boat called Ji'o(ih''s Ar/c contained a bear, two fawns, two live 
 eagles, and a variety of birds and " four-footed beasts,"' with two 
 Seneca Indian youths in the costume of their dusky nation. 
 
 * William Leet Stone was born .at Esopus, N. Y., in April, 1793; died at Saratoga 
 Springs in August, 1844. He made his residence at Cooperstowu in 1809, and there 
 learned the art of prinlin;;. In 1813 he became editorof the Herkhinr American. After- 
 ward he was an editor ut Hudson, and at All)any, N. Y. , and at H:n-tford, Conn. From 
 1821 until his deatli he was tlie able editor of the Ne.io York ConiuwrriiU Adrertincr. For 
 some years lie was Superintendent of Common Schools in the eity of New York, and 
 did etficient service in the cause of education. Colonel Stone held a ready pen, and wrote 
 and published several volumes of much value. The most conspicuous of these are The 
 Life of Joseph. Brant, The lAfe of lied Jacket, and Border Warn of the Amerimn. Revo- 
 lution. .\t the time of his death he had completed the collection and arransrement of 
 materials for a life of Sir William .Tolinson, whicli was tiuished and jiublished by his son, 
 AVilliam L. Stone, himself an aceom[)lished writer. 
 
 Wn,I,I.\.M I,. STONK. 
 
4G4 TIIK EMPIHE STATE. 
 
 Crowds irathered at villnjies ami liaiiileU aloiii; tlie roiitu at all hours 
 of the day and iiiglit to see and greet the novel procession. At liocliester, 
 where tlie canal crosses tlie Genesee River, a man was stationed as a 
 sentinel in a l)oat on the Genesee, and when the Seneca tVaVy entered 
 the acjueduct he called out : 
 
 " Who comes there V 
 
 " Your brothers from the West, on tlie waters of the (xrear I^akes, " 
 answered a voice from the Vh'x'f. 
 
 " By what means have they been diverted so far frcjui their natural 
 course ?" the sentinel incjuireil. 
 
 " Through the channel of the grand Erie Canal," responded the same 
 voice. 
 
 '' Rv whose authority and l)y whom was a work of such magnitude 
 accomplished C' asked the sentinel. 
 
 " By the authority and by the enterprise of the people of Xew York/" 
 cried many voices as one from the deck of the Chief. 
 
 A canal-boat called Thr Yovtuj Lion of tlie lIVs/-, having on board 
 several distinguished gentlemen, two living wolves, a fawn, a fox, four 
 raccoons, and two eagles, here joined the flotilla, which was ever3'where 
 greeted with demonstrations of joy as it glided down the beautiful 
 Mohawk Yallev. At Albany, the eastern terminus of the canal, where 
 it is connected with the Champlain Canal, the voyagers were receivetl 
 by a gi'and civic and military procession, who escorted the governor and 
 his travelling comj)anions to the ('aj>itol, where interesting services were 
 held while bells rang and cannons thundered. People had gathered at 
 the State capital from all ])arts of Northern Xew York, Vermont, and 
 even Canada to witness tiie imposing spectacle. Philip Ilone,* the 
 Mayor of New York, made a congratulatory speech, and in the name of 
 his constituents invited the Corporation of Albany to accompany the 
 voyagers down the river and ])artake of the hospitality of the commercial 
 metropolis. There was a grand illumination in Albany that evening. 
 
 * Philip Ilono was a prosperous and public-spirited merchant of New York City, 
 where he was born in 1781 and died in 18.")1. He was a ver.y pojiular man of business, 
 and in social life a fluent public speaker, and active in all important movements in the city 
 of his birth. Mr. Hone was tlie ehief founder of the Mcreantile Library Association 
 of New York. In 1835-2« he was JIayor of New York. lie was the life of the Hone 
 Club, composed of the literary and other celebrities of the city. President Taylor ap- 
 pointed him naval officer at New York, which post he held at the time of his death. 
 Dr. .1. W. Francis wrote of Mr. Hone as a p\iblic-spiriled citizen : " From tlie laying of 
 a Russ pavement to the elaboration of a church portico, frOm the wideninjr of a street or 
 aveiuie to the nuisnifieent enterprise which resulted in the Croton Aqueduct, he was the 
 efficient coadjutor of his fellow-citizens." 
 
GItAXI) AQUATTC DISPLAY AT NEW YOUK. 
 
 465 
 
 f^^n 
 
 A flotilla of canal-boats was towed from Albany to New York by 
 Iludson River steamboats. The CkunceUor Livingston was the flag- 
 ship of the squadron, having in tow the Seneca Chief\ whose passeiigei-s 
 were novv transferred to her escort, and were joined by many others. 
 
 The aqinitic procession moved at an early hour in the morning. It 
 was greeted by groups or crowds of men, women, and children, the flring 
 of great guns, and the waving of flags all along the banks of the Iludson. 
 The flotilla was fully twenty -four hours descending the noble stream ; and 
 when it anchored oif Greenwich Village, a suburb of the great city, 
 before the dawn of November ith, the people of the metropolis were 
 astir, for ample preparations had been made for cehibrating the event. 
 
 The day was welcomed by the ringing of bells and the roar of cannons. 
 At a signal given from the Chan- 
 cellor Livingston flags were un- 
 furled all over the city, and 
 the new steamboat Washington, 
 handsomely decorated and bear- 
 ing the banner of the corpora- 
 tion, proceeded to the fleet, 
 conveying a committee of the 
 municipal authorities and the 
 ofticers of the governor's guard. 
 When within hailing distance of 
 the Seneca Chief, one of the 
 officers of the Washi/igton in- 
 quired of the strange craft, 
 " Where are you from and what 
 is your destination ('' 
 
 The response was, " From 
 Lake Erie and bound for Sandy Hook. '" At an early hour the waters 
 at the mouth of the Hudson and the harbor of New York were dotted 
 with floating craft of every kind. The fleet from Albany took a 
 position between the Battery and Governor's Island, where it was 
 joined by several steamboats conveying naval, military, and civil ofiicei's 
 and invited guests. After receiving salutes from the Battery, Castle 
 "Williams on Governor's Island, and two British ships-of- war lying 
 in the harbor, a grand procession was formed, composed of twenty- 
 nine steamboats and sailing ships, schooners, barks, canal-boats, and 
 sail-boats in large numbers, led by the Chancellor Livingston, and 
 moved toward the sea. After passing the Narrows and receiving 
 salutes from the forts there, the United States schooner Dolphin, 
 
 PHII.n> HOKE. 
 
466 THE EMiniU-: STATK. 
 
 apprnac'lied, !is a " inesseiiijor from N('])tniio/" to iiK]nin> wlio tlic visitors 
 were Mini wluit was tlie ohjuct of tiieir foiiiing. Tiiis (jiiery answered, 
 the motley fleet formed a circle around tiie Dolphin about three miles 
 in circumference, prciparatorv to tlie jicrformance of tlie fjrand nii))- 
 tial ceremonies of wedding the gentle lakes and the sturdy Atlantic 
 Ocean. 
 
 The A' w^vvf Chiif\\^A brought from Buffalo two handsomely painted 
 kegs filled with water from Lake Erie. One of these kegs was received 
 by Governor Clinton on the deck of the Chancellor Livirxjsion. Then 
 there was silence and eager watching among the vast multitude floating 
 on the unruffled bosom of the Atlantic under a serene and cloudless sky. 
 Then Governor Clinton, lifting the keg of Erie water in full view of the 
 spectators, stepped to the side of the Chancellor Liviiujston and jjoured 
 its contents into the sea, saying : 
 
 " Tiiis solemnity, at this place, on tlie first arrival of vessels from 
 Lake Erie, is intended to indicate and commemorate the navigable com- 
 munication which has l)een accomplished between our Mediterranean 
 seas and the Atlantic Ocean, in about eight years, to the extent of 
 more than four Inuidred and twenty-five miles, by the wisdom, public 
 spirit, and energy of the people of the State of New York ; and may 
 the God of the heavens and of tlie earth smile most propitiously on 
 this work, and render it subservient to the best interests of tlie human 
 race." 
 
 After a long address by Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell,* personal congratu- 
 lations between men of the seaboard and "Western New York, and the 
 firing of a salute, the fleet, enlivened by the music of several bands, 
 moved back to the city in a grand triumphal procession, the passengei-s 
 on the steamlioats partaking of a collation on the way. 
 
 Meanwhile a vast civic procession such as had never before been seen 
 
 * Samuel Latham Mitchell, M.D., was an eminent scientist, Iwrn at Hiiii|i>i<;t>l, 1.. 1.. 
 in August, 1764. and died in New York City in September, 18S1. Me .studied both law and 
 medicine. He was a member of the Xew York Legislature in 1790 ; made Professor of 
 Cheinislrv, Natural History, and Philosophy in Columbia College in 17!(',i. and in 17i)(5 
 puVilished a report of his tour along the Hudson Kiver which gave liini fame at liome and 
 abroad. He was one of the founders of a Society for the Promotion of .Vgrienlturc, 
 Maiuifaelures. and the Useful .Vrts. He was a member of the lower house of Congress 
 twice between IHOl and 1S13. and was United States Senator, 1804-1809. AVas active 
 in the College of Physicians and S\irgeons and the Rutgers Jledical School, in New 
 Y'ork. With other eminent men he founded the New York Literary and Philosophical 
 Society. A warm friend of Fulton, he accompanied him on the trial trip of the Clermont, 
 in 1807. Dr. Mitcliell was endowed willi a remarkably retentive memory, and possessed 
 great learning. 
 
WEDDIXG THE LAKKS AND THE SEA. 
 
 467 
 
 in the city of New York liad been foniieil aiul paraded througli the juiii- 
 cipal streets. It was composed of representatives of every respectable 
 class in the metropolis arranged in 
 organized gronps. The benevolent, 
 literary, and scientific institntions 
 were represented, also the Fire De- 
 partment, the bar, the pnlpit, and 
 varions occupations. Ever}- society 
 seemed emnlons to excel in the rich- 
 ness and beauty and art excellence of 
 its banner and designs. Twenty-two 
 industrial societies had fnrnished 
 themselves with large platforms, upon 
 which the artisans were employed 
 in their several occupations as the 
 procession moved throngh the streets, 
 l^pon one car was a ])rinting-press, 
 
 from which were continually issned and scattered among the jie(i]ile cojiics 
 of a long " Ode for the t'anal ('eleitration,"' opening with the following 
 stanzas ; 
 
 " 'Tis (lone ! TU (lone ! The mighty chaiu 
 Which joins bright Ehie to the Main 
 For aacs shall perpetuate 
 The irlorv uf our native State. 
 
 tvEG wit;! I.AIvE ERIE WATEli. 
 
 ' To-day the Siiv of Ocean takes 
 A sylvan maiden to his arms, 
 The Goddess of the crystal Lakes 
 In all her native cliarms 1" 
 
 The festivities of the day were closed in the evening by tlie iiinininn- 
 tion of the public buildings. On the following day (Saturday) the dele- 
 gations from t!ie West were eiitertaineil at a banqnet given in their honor 
 on board the Chancellor Livingston. The pnblic institutions were 
 opened to them. Sunday was passed quietly, and on Jlonday, the 7th, 
 the festivities of the " canal celebration" were closed in the evening by 
 a grand ball in the vast rooms of the Lafayette Amphitheatre in Laurens 
 Street, near Canal Street. It was a brilliant assemblage (estimated) of 
 more than three thousand persons. Among these were Governor Clinton 
 and his wife. 
 
 To every guest of the corporation of New York on that occasion, both 
 ladies and gentlennni, a beautiful medal was presented, bearing on one 
 side the image of I'an and Neptune in loving eiid)race, and also a well- 
 
4G8 TIIK EM1MIU-; ST.VTi:. 
 
 fillod cornncopia sliowiiii; tlie productions of tlio laud and sea, witli the 
 words, " Uxiox OF EiiiK WITH TIIK Arr-ANTic." On the otlier side were 
 tlio anus of tlu; State of New Yoriv — the State wliieh liad boruL- the 
 wliole burden in tiie construction of the great work — and a representatitdi 
 ■of a section of tlie canal, its locks and a(|ueducts, and a view of the 
 liarhor of New York. On this side were the words, " Ekik Canal, 
 
 •COMMEXCICI) 4tII day UK JuLY, 1817; COMl'LK-rEI) 20X11 OtTolJKR, ls:i5. 
 
 Pkksentkd i!Y TIIK City of Nkw Yokk."* 
 
 Wise and sagacious men had propliesied that this canal, when coin- 
 ])leted, Would give an impetus to business of every description in the city 
 of New York and in the interior of the State, and j)roduce a wonderful 
 increase in the population, commerce, and wealth of both sections. Tiiis 
 ]>roi)hecy was speedily fullilled.f The canal did nuire. It presented an 
 ample outlet to the sea for the ])roducts of the then rapidly de\-eloping 
 region in the vicinity of the great lakes and the valley of the Ohio, 
 which added untold millions to the value! of that then almost wilderness 
 region ; and tluis it became a national benefaction. It changed the 
 whole as]iect of commercial affairs in the lake region. The total area of 
 these four gi'cat inland seas is about nine thousand sipmre miles, and 
 their inlets drain a region estimated at about three hundred and thirty- 
 six thousand sipiare miles. Upon its bosom have floated j)roducts of the 
 North-western States and Territories valued at billions of dollars. In 
 the year 1S72 the value of ])roperty transported on that canal, not- 
 withstanding a three-track railway lies parallel with it, was about 
 $168,000,000. 
 
 The Erie Canal M'as built by the State of New York at a cost of 
 §9,(»00,0(»0. A greater portion of the country through which it jiasses 
 was then an uncultivated wilderness. It was by far the most extensive 
 public work ever attempted in this country up to that time, and excited 
 
 * Tlie int'dals were ma(l(! of while metal. Some were mafle of .silver, aiul lifty-one 
 gold ones were struck and sent to European monarchs and other distinguished persons. 
 They were presented by a committee composed of Recorder Richard Riker, John Agnew, 
 and AVilliam A. Davis. 
 
 f In the \i'ar 1813, live years before the construction of tli<' ("iiial was begim, the lately 
 appointed canal cominissioners — Oouvprneur ^Morris. Stephen van Rensselaer, Do Witt 
 Clinton, and Peter B. Porter— gave the following iirophetic utterance : 
 
 " Viewing the extent and fertility of the country with which this canal is to open com- 
 munication, it is not extravagant to suppose tliat, when settled, its product will equal 
 the present export of the United Slates [f.lS.OOn.OUO]. AVill it ajipear improbable that 
 twenty j-ears hence [1833] the canal .shoidd annually bring down 250,000 tons ?" 
 Twenty years after the completion of the canal (1845), there came upon it to tide-water 
 1,107,000 tons of produce, valued at !f;45,000,000, the tolls upon which amounted to 
 $2,500,000. 
 
INFLUENCE OF THE ERIE CANAL. 
 
 4r,9 
 
 universal admiration. It lias been twice enlarged, and is now seventy 
 feet wide on the surface east of Eochester (and larger westward of tliat 
 city), fifty feet wide at the bottom, and seven feet doej). 
 
 The canal system of New York rapidly extended after the completion 
 of the Erie Canal, embracing nearly every section of the State. The 
 wJiole number of the canals is fifteen.* The larger ones after tlie Erie 
 are the Champlain Canal, 6-i miles in length, finished in IS22 ; the 
 Black River Canal, with its feeder, 87.5 miles in length, finished in 
 1S4-9 ; the Genesee Valley Canal, with its Danville branch, 125 miles 
 
 .£v^ A i- ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 BUFF.\I,0 IN 1815. 
 
 long, begun in ISi'li and finished in isOl : and the Chenango Canal. !*T 
 miles in length, completed in 1836. 
 
 The marvellons influence of tiie Erie Canal in ])r(nnoting the increase 
 of population in Western New York may be approximately estinuited by 
 the growth of two of its chief cities — Buffalo and Rochester. Tiie 
 British, as we have observed, literally " wiped out" Buffalo in 1813. 
 In 1S25, on the completion of the canal, it contained a population of 
 about sixty-three hundred. Five years later the population had doubled. 
 Now (1887) it is over two hundred thousand. Rochester was a wilder- 
 ness three fourths of a centur}'^ ago. The first dsvelling — a log-cabin — 
 
 * Erie Canal, 364 miles in length ; Champlain Junction, 64 ; Watcrford Junction, 3 
 Oswego, 38 ; Cayuga and Seneca, 21 ; Crooked Lake, 8 ; Clicnuing, 39 ; Chenango, 97 
 Genesee Valley, 108. H ; Danville Branch, 11; Black River, 77.5 ; Black River Feeder, 10 
 Delaware and IIud.son, 83 ; Oneida. 8. Total length of canals in the State, !)46.10 miles. 
 
470 
 
 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 ■was built tlicre in 1812. Tlic picture shows an actual occurrence at that 
 time. In 1825 it had a pojnilation of about eighteen hundred. Five 
 
 I 
 
 ROCHESTER IN 1812. 
 
 years later it was eleven thousand. Now the population is probably 
 one hundred and fourteen thousand.* 
 
 * At the iK-ginuing of 18K$ the Si'Ikm;i Indiiiiis. ;it a great galheriiig of the tribe, cn- 
 caiiiixd oil the site of Koehe.ster, performed pagan rite.s there. It was a " great sacrifice 
 ami tlianksgiviiig" after the corn luirve.st was seciu'ed aud the barbarians returned front 
 their fir.st hunting. The festival occupied several days. Two dogs, as nearly pure white 
 as could be found, were killed by strangulation (for the effusion of blood would sjioil the 
 victim for sacrificial purposes) at the door of the council-house. The dogs were then 
 ])ainted with bright colors, decorated with feathers, and susjiendcd about twenty feet 
 above the ground at thi' centre of the cam]!. Then the ceremonies, whicli consisted 
 chiefly of feasting and dancing, began. 
 
 Two carefully chosen bands, one of men the other of women, ornamented with trinkets 
 and feathers, each person furnished with an ear of corn in the right hand, danced in a 
 circle arountl the council fire, their steps regulated by rude music. Thence they went to 
 every wigwam in the camp, and in like manner danced in a circle around each fire. (Jii 
 another day, several men, clothed in the skins of wild beasts, covering their faces with 
 hideous masks and their hands with the shells of tortoises, went among the wigwams, 
 making friglitful noises, taking the fuel from the fire and scattering the embers and the 
 ashes about the lloor for the jiurpose of driving away evil spirits. 
 
 Tliese persons were supposed tluis to concentrate within themselves all the sins of llieir 
 tribe. These sins were transferred into one of llx'ir own number, who. by magic, 
 worked off fremi himself into the two susiiended dogs the ccmcentrated wickeilness of 
 the tribe. The dogs were tlien placed on a jiile of wood which was ignited, while the 
 s\n rounding multitude cast tobacco and other " incense" upon the flames, the odor of 
 whicli was supposed to be a "sweet-smelling savor," which would conciliate the favor 
 
STORY OP JIORGAX, A FREE MASOX. 471 
 
 In his message at the operiiiig of the session oi tiie Legislature early in 
 January, 1826,* Governor Clinton urgently called attention to needed 
 improvements in the eomnion-sehool system of the State, and recom- 
 mended the establishment of normal schools for the education of teachers. 
 In accordance with this rcct)mmendation John C Spencer, a son of 
 Judge Ambrose Spencer, submitted an able report from the Literature 
 Committee of the Senate, early in February, concurring with the gov- 
 ernor's recommendation and directing tlie attention of the Legislature to 
 the propriety of employing the various academies of the State for the 
 purpose ; also appropriating a specitic portion of the public funds to 
 this important end. The report also suggested the expediency of a plan 
 of county supervision of the common schools ; resolutions recommend- 
 ing the election of justices of the peace by tlie people and an amendment 
 of the State Constitution removing all restrictions to the riglit of voting, 
 excepting only citizenship and a residence of six months. These resolu- 
 tioTis were adopted by the Legislature, and the amendment was made 
 accordingly. So, in the year 1827, the people of the State of Xew York 
 were forever freed from the control over public oj^inion by the central 
 power, and universal suffrage lias since prevailed. 
 
 Early in the autumn of 1820 an event occurred in Western New York 
 which produced a great effect on society in general, and upon the political 
 parties in this State and in several otiier States in the Union. William 
 Jlorgan, a native of Virginia, a jirinter l)v trade, and a Royal Arch Free 
 Mason, living in Catavia, X. Y., determined, for some reason, to publish 
 a pamphlet in which the secrets of Free Masonry were to be disclosed. 
 Some of his fellow-memljers discovered this intention, and it was soon 
 made known to Masonic lodges iti Western Xew York. On Septend)er 
 11th Morgan was arrested at his home, on a charge of theft, at the 
 instance of the master of a lodge of Masons at (^anandaigua, and by him 
 and other members of the order was hurried into a coach and taken to 
 that town, lie was discharged by a justice because he found no cause 
 
 of the Great Spirit. When the dogs were partially cousumed, one was taken from the 
 sacrificial pyre, put into a large kettle with vegetables of various kiuds and boiled over 
 a fire, when the whole company devoured the contents of the caldron. After tliis they 
 performed the dances of war and peace, and smoked the calumet. Thus purified from 
 •sin, they returned to their homes and began the occupations of the new year. 
 
 * The year 1836 is memoraI]le in our national history because of the almost sinudtane- 
 ous deaths of two of the leading founders of our Republic— Thomas Jefferson and John 
 Adams. They botli died on July 'Ith. within a few hours of the same time. It was the 
 fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independeuee. They were both 
 on the committee which was aiipointed to draw up that Declaration. Jelferson wrote it, 
 and both signed it. 
 
*'^^ TlIK K.MI'IIiK S'lA-l'i;. 
 
 of action. He was in.iiiediatcly rearrosted oi, a <-ivil pr..<-..ss f,„- a tririin- 
 debt and cast into jail. "' 
 
 On tl.e following ni-l.t Moi-an was taken fr,,,,, tlie jail l,v a umnhrv 
 of I-ree ila.son.s, tlirnst into a carria-e in waitin- taken l)v a relay of 
 horses to Fort Nia-ara, at the month of the Nia-ara River, and confined 
 in the ].owder nia-azine there. II,: was taken from that prison on the 
 nii^dit of Septeml)or 2!tth, and was never heard of afterward 
 
 It was known that Mor-an's hretl-.ren liad made violent attempts to 
 suppress li.s book, and when this ontra-e was made pnblie the Free 
 Masons were charged with its j^erpetration. There was widespread 
 excitement. A pnblie meeting held at JJatavia appointe.l a committee 
 to investigate the aifair. They found evidence of what they believed to 
 be an extende.l conspiracy to effect Morgan's death, with many a-ents 
 m..ve.l by powerlnl motives. Similar meetings were held elsewhere 
 I'ul.lic excitement continually deepened and widened, and a stron- feel- 
 ing soon pcrva.led the public niind that the :\[asonic institution M'as 
 responsible for the crime. 
 
 The i)rofoun.l mystery in which the allair was involve.] .mvc win-s to 
 a thousand absurd rumors. Mutual criminations and ivriminadons 
 became very violent, and entered into all religions, social, and political 
 relations. A very strong Anti-ilasonic party was soon created, at first 
 only social n, its character, bnt very soon it assumed a decided political 
 aspect. 1 Ins feature of the party first appeare.l at town meetings in the 
 spring of fS2-, when it was resolved by considerable majoritie; that no 
 Iree Mason was worthy to receive the votes of free men. 
 
 A ])olitical party formed for the exclusion of Free Masons from public 
 offices was spread over the State of New York and into several other 
 btates, and continued several years. In August, 1830, an Anti-Masonic 
 Convention at I tica nominate-] Francis Granger for Governor of New 
 
 IOC o.o ^'''"" ^' '^ '"'""P '™' ^'"^ m^'^^Wg candidate. Throoj> received 
 128,842 votes am] Granger 120,8til votes. This result showed a i.ower- 
 f ul anti-:yrasomc sentiment in the State. Mr. Granger was again nominated 
 for governor in 1S32. In tlie same year a National Anti-Masonh- Conven- 
 Av'n-''^ ll*:-^ '" Plnhulelphia, at which several States were represented. 
 \\illiam Wirt, of Virginia, was nominated for President of the United 
 States. The party polled a considerable vote, but soon afterward it be<ran 
 to gradually fade, and speedily ],ecanie extinct as a political organization, 
 llie fate of Morgan will never be known. It is l)elieyed that lie M-as 
 tjil^en in a boat f ron^ Fort Ni agara, casHnto^the water, and drowned.* 
 
 * In a series of letters written bvYv.lonel W. L. Btoni^^u^U^Mvir.^nl to .T.,l,n Qui„e> 
 Adams m„l published .n u v„l„me of over five hundred pages, a full an.l important his- 
 tory of the events I have alluded to is iriveu. 
 
NATIONAL TAHIFF CONVENTION. 473 
 
 CHArTEll XXXIY. 
 
 In the fall of 1826 Governor Clinton was re-elected, with Xathaniel 
 Pitcher as lieutenant-governor. The chief events in the history uf the 
 State during this— the fourth— term of ^h: Clinton as governor were 
 the Morgan'episode and a State Convention held at Alliany on July 27th, 
 1827, to appoint delegates to a National Tariff Convention, which was 
 held at Ilarrisburg, Pa., on the 30th of the same month. 
 
 At the close of the war foreign goods, admitted almost free, prevented 
 the revival of American manufactures, especially of woollen goods. A 
 inoderate tariff law was passed in 1818, and continued seven years. It 
 was inadequate, and the manufacturers of New England and the Middle 
 States clamored for protective laws. An act imposing heavier duties 
 was passed in 1821. Still the northern manufacturers clamored for more 
 protection, and called a convention at Ilarrisburg, Pa. 
 
 Tlie cotton-growers of the South, meanwhile, perceiving tliat the 
 tariffs were injurious to their interests, opj^osed them. Only four of the 
 slave-labor States were represented at Ilarrisburg. Those of the North 
 were numerous. New York sent about ten delegates to the convention. 
 That body adopted a memorial to Congress on the subject, and Congress 
 passed laws in 1827-28 which established a most stringent tariff. It was 
 denounced by the Southern people as unjust and unconstitutional ; and 
 it led to the " nullitieation movement" in South Carolina in 1^-32. 
 These tariff laws, of which Henry Clay was the principal chamiuon, 
 formed the foundation of the "American System," so called, tor 
 protecting home manufactures. 
 
 The State of New York and. indeed, the whole country now experi- 
 enced a severe loss. Governor Clinton had suffered symptoms ol organic 
 disease of the heart for several months. On the evenino-^ot_ lebiuary 
 11th 1S2S, while sitting in his study conversing with two of his sons, lie 
 suddenlv fell forward and expired. His death caused deep and smcere 
 sorrow throughout the State and nation. The voice of partisanship was 
 hushed Mi^ Yan Buren, long his most persistent political antagomst, 
 said in "a public address: "The triumph of his talents and patnotism 
 cannot fail to become monuments of high and enduring iame. ^^''';^'- 
 in- to their political antagonism and nmtual personal respect, -Mr. Nan 
 
'*^'* 11 n-: KMI'IKK STATK. 
 
 .nro„ .sa,d : " I ^.ho, wl.ile living, never, ,.o. never, envied l.in. anv- 
 tlung, no. that he h.. fallen, I an. greatly ten.pte.l to envv In", il 
 gnjve vv, h ,t. honor.'- Lientenant-Governor Piteher perfonned th 
 dutie.. of governor dnnng the remainder of the term 
 
 An act w:,s passed dnring the session of 1S2,S for the or-Mni/ation in 
 t^e cty of ^e. York of a Superior Conrt of Con.non Plea;;: U^ i^ 
 of c.vd actions of wh.ch Chaneellor Samuel Jones- was appointe.l 
 
 J. tice... In the san.e year a contest for the Presidency of the United 
 States oeeurred hetwecn J,.h„ Q„i„ey Adams and General Andrew- 
 Jackson, wind, resnlted in the election of the latter, with .I..h„ 
 C. Calhom. as A ,ce- President. The New York Legislature chose twenty 
 e ee ors favorable to Jackson and sixteen favorable to Adan.s In the 
 dechon for State officers i„ the fall, Martin Van P.urcn was chosen 
 Governor of New "l ork. 
 
 In his message at the opening of the Legislature in 1S2!) Cn.vernor 
 V an I.uren reconnnended the appropriation of the surplus fun.is of the 
 btate and a jud.oous use of its credit to an extension of the svstem of 
 njernal nnprovements ; also the establishment of a safetv fund for the 
 utnnate redemption of the notes of the several State banks, the choice 
 of presidential electors by the poojde, an.l the promotion of the interests 
 of popular education. A .safety-fund bill planned bv Joshua Forman" 
 of Onondaga, ^vas passe.l. and thirty-one banks, exclusive of three of 
 the city of New 1 ork, were rechartered under the law. This excellent 
 safety-fund system prcvaile.l in Xew York until the estaldishment of 
 our present national ciirrcncv during the late Civil War 
 
 In March, 182-.. (Governor A'an Duren accepted the position of Secre- 
 tary of State of the I nited States in the Cabinet of President Jackson 
 and fortlnvith he resigned his chair, which was tille.l bv Lieutenant' 
 Governor Throop. The fall election gave a very large niafority of the 
 x.htUMi rien.ls of .Tack.son (Democrats) to both branches of'tlie Lcnsla- 
 ture Tlie Anti-Masons carried lifteen of the western counties" and 
 polled sixty-seven thousand votes. 
 
 Sauu-lJones was born .„ Xew York in 1769; wa.s educated a, Col,.M..,ia Colle.^e ■ 
 .n f :; 7 ', V^ "..''""'"" '" '"^ ^"'"^'^■'' "ffl^-^'- »'- t'luef-jusliee of Xew Y^rk 
 o the >,ew lork .Usembly. lHlo-t4 ■. Ue.or.ler of New York Ci.v in KS23 ; ap,H,in.e.l 
 eellor of .he State ,n mi^. and accepted the office of Chief-.Iustice of the Sup" o 
 
AN INFLUENTIAL A.NTi-.MASONIC JUUKNAl, 
 
 475 
 
 ^'^ 
 
 r 
 
 SILAS WUICHT. 
 
 It was at tliis time tliat Silas Wriglit,* who liocaine cdiispicuons in the 
 State and nation, api)eai'(j(l veiy prominent in pnijiic atfairs in New York. 
 He liadbeen State Senatoraml mem- 
 ber of Congress ; he M'as now made 
 comptroller — the manager of the 
 complicated financial operations of 
 the State. He proved himself com- 
 petent and trnstworthy. After con- 
 ducting that office with signal abil- 
 ity for some years, he was transferred 
 to the Senate of the Ignited States. 
 
 Early in 1830 the Anti-Masons 
 established at the seat of the State 
 government the Alhany Eveninc/ 
 Journal^ with Thurlow Weed f as 
 editor. It took a conspicuous place 
 in journalism from the start, and 
 for a generation, uudei" the manage- 
 ment of Mr. Weed, it e.xerted mar- 
 vellous power over the jiolitics and politicians of the State. Mr. Weed, 
 wrote Hammond, :j: was " one of the most shrewd and sagacious political 
 
 * Silas Wright was born at Amherst, Mass., in May, 1795 ; died at Canton, N. Y., in 
 August, 1847. Hl' was admitted to tlie bur in 1819, and began the pracfic(; of law at 
 Canton. He was appointed surrogate of the county (St. Lawrence) in 1820. In 182H he 
 became State Senator, and a member of Congress 1837-29. In 1829 he was made 
 Comptroller of the State of Kew York ; United States Senator in 1833 ; defended Jack- 
 son's course in his warfare on the L'nited Slates Bank ; voted for the annexation of 
 Te.xas ; declined to be made a justice of the Supreme Court, and in 1844 declined the 
 nomination for the vice-presidency. The same year he was elected Governor of Ninv 
 York. The next year he was offered the jilace of Secretary of the Treasury in President 
 Polk's Cabinet. He retired to private life on leaving the chair of Governor of New York, 
 and died soon afterward. 
 
 f Tluulow Weed was born in Cairo, N. Y., in NovciiilHr, 1797. Ih^ was a cabin-boy 
 on a North River .sloop at ten years of age ; learned tlu; ])rinter's trade at Catskill, and 
 in 1812 was a vohmteer in the military .service on the northern frontier of New York. 
 He imsuccessfuUy attempted the establishment of a newspaper in Central New York, 
 and in ]82()-27 he edited the Anti-Maixmic Eiujnlrer. He w'as twice elected to the 
 Assembly. lu 1830 he became the editor of the Alhdiiy Eceniiifj Joiinuil, and very soon 
 became a i>roniincnt leader of the Whig and then the Kepublican Parly, but he would 
 never accept public otlice of any kind. In 18(il President Lincoln sent liini to Europe in a 
 senii-diplomatic capacity. He returned home in .lime. lS(i2. Then for a while lie was 
 editor of the Xi ir York C'limmeiriiil Adrertisev. In 186.-) he took u]) his permanent abode 
 in the city of New York with his family, and died at his home there on November 22d, 
 1882. He had visited Europe .several times, the last in 1871. 
 
 X Politiml Uiittory of Nno York, by Jabez D. HaninKmd, LLH., vol. ii.. p. 339. 
 
470 Tin: i;mi'I|{|". state. 
 
 editors and eagle-eyed politicians tlie State of Xew York ever pro- 
 cliieed."" 
 
 A " Workiniinieii's I'urty"" was formed in tlie State of New York in 
 1830, but was short-lived. It was complained that workingmen did not 
 receive a fair share of tlie pulilic offices and emohnnents. Others besides 
 Workingmen flocked tf) tlie new standard. General Erastns Root was 
 nominated \>y tlie ]>arty for governor. It was professedly opposed to 
 I)anks and paper money. It was soon controlled l)y others than working- 
 men— aspiring ])oliti(Mans — and, like all organizations effected and ruled 
 by demagogues, it tlourished awhile and then disappeared. 
 
 The rapid influx of ])o]iulati(in into tlie city and State of Xew York, 
 especially from the Xew England States, after the completion of the 
 Erie Canal, speedily put an end to the reign of the Knicker])o5ker ele- 
 ment on society. Fashions, customs, and the general aspects of social 
 life were modified by this immigration, and Xew York soon became 
 largely, what it is to-day, a cosmopolitan city.* 
 
 It was at this period that "William II. Seward, then a very young man, 
 was sent to the State Senate. lie took his seat in January, 1831. when 
 only thirty years of ago. He had been elected by the iVnti- Masonic 
 Party, who at tlie same time chose thirty members of the Assembly. 
 That l)arty nominated Francis Grangei- for governor and Samuel Stevens 
 for lieutenant-governoi- in 1S32, Avitli an electoral ticket led l)y Chan- 
 cellor Kent and John C. Spencer. The '' Xational Repuldicans,'' as 
 the adherents of Henry Clay called themselves, ado])ted the Anti- 
 Masonic ticket ; i)ut tlie Democratic majority in the State at the election 
 was thirteen thousand. General Jackson M-as re-elected President and 
 Martin Van Iluren Vice-President. With this contest the existence of 
 the ]iolitical Anti-Masonic Party, State and Xational, Avas virtually 
 terminat(!d. The institution of Free Masonry soon recovered from the 
 shock and regained its good reputation and influence. 
 
 * Tlic older reatUn- will rcmcmlxr the fashions of the ladies about 1833. They were 
 generally rather plain, but rich in material and colors. The walking-dres.s was lavender 
 gray in color. The .sleeves were tight from the elbow to the wrist, and very full above. 
 They were called ■'mutton-leg sleeves." A ruche trimmed the corsage and extended 
 straight down the front of the dress, wdiich was short, showing the whole of the black 
 prunella gaitcr-slioes. The bonnet was Leghorn straw, with .square brim lined with 
 green satin. The crown was trimmed with three bands of green ribbon and a full 
 cockade ill the centre. The necU-knot was a green ribbon. The evening-dress was of 
 Chinese green faced with dark green velvet and " mutton-leg" sleeves with velvet cuffs. 
 Tlie trimming of the skirt was a velvet band from which depended larg(' leaves. The 
 hair was dressed in fidl curls on the forehead, and in bows of moderate height on the top 
 of the head. A wreath of roses and bluelx-lls surrounded the base of the bows. Delicate 
 iiioroeco or satin slippers covered the feet. 
 
THE NAMING OF THE WHK! I'AKTV. 
 
 477 
 
 In 1832 tlie Whig Party was formed in this wise : James Watson 
 Webb, the editor and proprietor of the Neiv York Cojtrii'r anil EiK/uirer, 
 who attended as a spectator the Anti-Masonic Convention at Piiiladeljihia 
 
 NE\v YoitK COSTUMES aboi;t 1832. 
 
 which nominated AYilliam Wirt for President, wrote a letter to liis 
 journal, in which he pointed ont the folly of the different parties wasting 
 "their energies in separately opposing General Jackson. He ])roposed a 
 
478 
 
 TlIK KMI'IKK ST.VTK. 
 
 >^, 
 
 a^ 
 
 coalition of tlie generaFs opponents under one rallyinic name to " tight 
 the dangerous democracy."' He chiimed tliat these parties were contend- 
 ing for tlie Constitution against executive usurpation, while their opjxj- 
 nents were battling to sustain sucli an usurpation. '" "VVe, therefore, are 
 lf7(/y.<," he said, " while they are Tor'u's. Why not, then, take to our- 
 selves the name of Whi(j, which represents our jirinciples, and give to 
 our opponents the name of Tories ?" 
 
 This letter was read to a very large meeting assendiled at Masoinc Hall, 
 
 Broadway near Pearl Street, 
 Kew York, by Philip Hone, 
 who presided, and who suggested 
 
 .- - — the adoption of the name of 
 
 "Whig." It was done. The 
 press and the people all over the 
 country ac(juiesced. Thus it was 
 that the great historic " Whig 
 Party" received its name. 
 
 At tliis period the State of 
 New York took the lead in a 
 most important measure of re- 
 form, marked by justice and 
 humanity. Enos T. Throop * 
 took his seat as Governor of the 
 State early in 1S81. In his 
 message to the Legislature he 
 reconnnended the passage of a 
 law for the abolition of imprison- 
 ment for debt ; also for restrict- 
 ing tlie deatli penalty to oidy one 
 specific crime. A law for the abolition of imprisonment for debt was 
 passed at that session, and so Xew York acquired the honor of being 
 the pioneer among the States in the work of abolishing from its statutes 
 that absurd and barbarous law. 
 
 The enil)ittered op]ionents of Anti-]\Iasonry had joined in the supjwrt 
 of Mr. Throop, and his election by over eight thousand majority gave to 
 
 * Enos T. Throop was born at Johnstown, N. Y., in August, 1784 ; died at Auburn, 
 N. Y.. Xovcmbcr 1st. ISTo. lie acquired by hard study ii chissical and Ii'.L'al education, 
 wliile performin;; the duties of an attorney's clerk. He .scttUfl in Auburn, X. Y., rose to 
 eminence in his profession and as iin acute politician, and was appointed circuit judjre in 
 1823. He was a memlxr of Conjrrcss, 1815-17, and in 1828 was elected Lic\itenant- 
 Governor of the State of New York. In 1830 he was elected governor. In 1838 Gov- 
 ernor Throop W!is appointed ehitrifi (Vnffaires to the two Sicilies. 
 
 ENOS T. TinSOOP. 
 (From painling by Charles L. Elliott.) 
 
RENEWAL OF THE V. S. BANK CIIAKTEK OPPOSED. 
 
 479 
 
 the Jackson party a large ami pormaiioiit accession of voters in the State 
 of Xew York William L. Marcv,* a distinguished jurist, rij)e scholar, 
 and expert politician, was elected governor by that strengthened party, 
 and took his seat early in January, 1833. lie was a member of the 
 United States Senate at the time of his election, and in that body he had 
 frankly ]>roninlgated the maxim that " to the victor belong the sjwils. " 
 His seat there was filled by Silas 
 Wright, and the vacant seat of 
 another Xew York Senator was 
 given to Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, 
 of Duchess County. 
 
 The State of New York became 
 very early a party to the vehement 
 discussion, which took a national 
 range, concerning the renewal of 
 the charter of the Um' ted States 
 Bank, for the destruction of which 
 President Jackson was then waging 
 an uncompromising war. Its char- 
 ter would expire in 1S3G. In the 
 winter of 1832 the bank applied to 
 Congress for a renewal of its char- 
 ter. During the sitting of the 
 Legislature of New York the same 
 
 winter a joint resolution was passed, after a warm debate, instructing the 
 senators and requesting the members of the House of Representatives 
 to resist such renewal. The resolution received an overwhelming major- 
 ity of votes. 
 
 !Mr. Van Buren, then designated the " Favorite Son of New York," 
 felt the effects of this vote. lie was known also us the " court favorite" 
 
 Wll.I.IAM I.. MAUrV. 
 
 * William Learned Marcy was born in Sovithbridgo, Mass., in December. 1786 ; died 
 at Balston Spa, N. Y. , Jidy 4lli, 1857. He wtw graduated at Brown University in 18(18 ; 
 taught school in Newport, R. 1., awhile ; studied law and began its practice at Troy, 
 N. Y. He joined the army as a volunteer in 1812, and assisted in the capture of Canadian 
 militia at St. Regis, the first prisoners taken on laud. In 1816 he was Recorder of Troy. 
 He edited tlie noj/ Jiuilr/ct for a time as the leading Democratic organ in Rensselaer 
 County, and was made .Vd jutant-General of the Stat(! in 1821. In 1823 he was State 
 Comptroller, and in 1829 justiee of the State Supreme Court. In 1831 lie was ehosen 
 United States Senator, and was elected Governor of the State in 1833. He held that 
 office by re-election until 1839. He was Secretary of War in Folk's Cabinet from 1845 
 to 1849. during the war with ^Mexico. He was I'liited States Secretary of State, 1853-57. 
 Governor Marey was the autlior of several important State paix-rs. 
 
480 IIIK KMl'lKK STA'I'K. 
 
 — the i)ct of tlie PiTsi(l(!iit, wlio dusiri'il liini to lie his successoi' in tlie 
 proHidciitiiil cliiiir. Jiicksuii apjioiiiteil liiin ^[inister to Eiiiilaiid (iiiriiig 
 tlio recess of the Senate, lie sailed to that country, and was installed as 
 accredited Minister of the United States. Henry Clay was a candidate 
 for the presidency. By his tact and talcTit he succeeded in forming a 
 party in the Senate opposed to the President. It consisted of a majority 
 of the members of that body. The Senate was induced to refuse to 
 ratify the appointment of Van Buren, and the uncunMrnKMl minister was 
 compelled to return homt; a private citizen. 
 
 The rejection of Mr. Van Buren jiroduced intense indignation, espe- 
 cially in the State of Xew York. Indignation meetings denounced the 
 act in no measured terms. Van Buren was considered by a large pro])or- 
 tion of the American people a victim of persecution, and their love of 
 fair ])lay and theii' admiration fni- his ability caused them to elect him 
 President of the United States as the successor of General Jackson. 
 
 It was at this ])eriod that the country was violently agitated by a 
 movement in South Carolina to carry into practical effect tlie doctrine of 
 supreme State sovereignty by an attempt to nullify or to defy laws of 
 tiie United States. President Jackson promptly met this revolutionary 
 movement l)y issuing a j>roclamation,* in which he denied the right of 
 any State to nullify a law of the National Government, and commanded 
 immediate obedience to all the laws. The proclanuition was followed by 
 prompt action, and very soon the coimtry was relieved from menaces of 
 civil Avar. The President was sustained by the loyal and patri<itic men 
 of l)oth parties. 
 
 The most effective blow given to the United States Bank by the I'resi- 
 dent in his warfare upon that institution was the removal from its 
 custody of the deposits of the national funds, amounting to about 
 $10, 000, (too, and ])lacing the money on depiosit in the State banks in the 
 fall of 1833. 
 
 The Legislature of New York, then strongly l)enu)cratic, passed a 
 resolution early in 1S3-I-, by a large majority, approving of the action of 
 the President in ordering the removal of the deposits. It was believed 
 that the deposit of the funds in the State baid<s would be of great benefit 
 to the business community by affording facilities for acquiring loans 
 from the banks. So it did : but the final result was anything but 
 salutary. It led to the creation of a vast and dangerous credit system 
 and wild speculations, which ultimately caused widespread disaster, as 
 we shall perceive presently. 
 
 * Tliis proclamatinii w as written by the able Socrotary of State, T-ouis ^IrLanc. 
 
FIRST POPULAR ELECTION OF :MAY0R OF NK\V YORK. 481 
 
 The managers of the United States Bank " got even'" witli tlie New- 
 Yorkers by bringing to bear upon them with peculiar severit}', because 
 of that resohition, the system they had adopted at tlie time of the 
 removal of the deposits, of a great and sudden curtailment of discounts, 
 and making forced (collections from debtors. Their loans then amounted 
 to §(5(),0<)(),000. This severity brought the baidcs of New York to the 
 verge of suspension of specie payments. To avert this cahunity the 
 Legislature, on the recommendation of the governor, tendered a loan to 
 the banks of the credit of the State to the amount of $."'),()()o,()()()j should 
 relief become necessary. Tliere was widespread commercial distress 
 and a panic for a while. Very soon the gi'eat hank afforded relief by a 
 sudden enlargement of discounts and a great eximnsion of its circulation, 
 allowing the State deposit banks to loan freely. This revelation of the 
 inherent ]>ower of the baid-c for working mischief attested the wisdom of 
 the President in making war upon it. 
 
 By an act of the Legislature passed in March, ISJiJr, the people of 
 New 1 ork City were empowered for the tirst time to elect their own 
 mayor. Hitherto that officer had been chosen by the Council of 
 Appointment or by the Governor and Senate of the State. The first 
 mayor elected by a popular vote was Cornelius W. Lawrence. 
 
 At that time a feud in the ranks of the Democratic Party in the city 
 ■was disturbing its harmony, distracting its organization, and weakening 
 its power. There luid been formed, under the teachings of Fanny 
 "W^right and others of communistic proclivities, a " Padical"' or " Equal 
 Eights" faction, which appealed to the sympathies of the vvorkingmen. 
 It occasioned a split in the Democratic Party and the application to it of 
 a nickname that adhered for several years. At a meeting in Tammany 
 JLdl just before the election in the fall of 1S35, both sections of the 
 party zealously claimed the right to the chair and the management of the 
 proceedings. Violence ensued, and a grand row was the consecpience. 
 In the midst of the affrfw the gas was turned off' and the room was left 
 in darkness. One of the E(|ual Eights Party having some " loco- 
 f oco " matches in his pocket, relighted the lamps, and the business of the 
 meeting proceeded. '' I was one of the vice-presidents,'" wrote an actor 
 in the scene, " and the next day I was compelled to buy a suit of new 
 clothes. In a short time the whole Democratic Party were known as 
 ' Loco-focos.'' " 
 
 In January, 1S3I^ tlu; Eipud Eights T'arty organized as distinct from 
 the Denujcratic Party, and adopted a Declaration of Eights, which 
 condemned all monopolies and the issuing of a pajjcr cnrrency by banks. 
 They declared no man eligible for nomination for otffce by this party 
 
482 THE KMl'IKK STATK. 
 
 unless lie had signed the Declaration. One of the active memhers — ■ 
 John Windt, a ])rinter — issued a journal called The Democrat as the 
 ornan of the new party. They nominated a candidate for flavor of New 
 York in the spring ; proposed to nominate Colonel Sanmel Young for 
 govcM-nor, and attempted to form a State E(pial Tvights Party at a 
 convention held at Utica in Sej)temlier, wlien they nominated Isaac 
 8. Smitli, of liutValo, for governor, Uol)ert Townsend, of New ^'ork, for 
 lieutenant-governor, Frederick A. Tailmadge for State Senator, and a 
 full Assembly ticket. They appointed a State ('orresi)on(ling Com- 
 mittee. At the municiiial election in the spiing of 1S3T their candidate 
 for mayor received over four thousand votes. At a convention held at 
 Utica in September they devised a State Constitution 
 
 The days of the Equal llights Party were few. In the fall of 
 1837, finding very few adherents to the party outside of the city of New 
 York, they effected a reunion with the Tamnumy ])arty, or the old Demo- 
 crats. Probably no political party in the State ever received more 
 severe attacks and scathing animadversions than this. All the hanks 
 and the whole influence of chartered corporations and associated wealth 
 were agniiist them. Also the press of both parties, ex('epting the lirvn- 
 ing Post, conducted by William C. llryaiit and William Leggett.* The 
 Post did not ajiprove of a separate ]iarty organization, but warndy a<lvo- 
 cated its juinciples. 
 
 This was also a ])eriod of a radical revolution in jonrnalism, which was 
 inaugurated in the city of New York by James Watson Webb,t 13enja- 
 
 * William Le^frctt wtis a jiowcrful writer uiid ii radiciil rcfoiincr in his proflivitics. 
 He was born in the city of New York in 1802 ; died at New Koehelle. N. Y., in May. 
 1839. He was a graduate of Georgetown (Roman Catholic) College, and was a midship- 
 man in the United Slates Navy, 1822-36. Then he devoted himself to literary pursuils 
 chiefly. He was a constant contributor to Morris's JVVw York Mirnir iwuX other publica- 
 tions for years, under the title of "Tales by a Country Schoolmaster. " In the autumn 
 of 1828 he eslMblished in New York Cit\' a weekly literary ]>erio(lical called 'I'lw Ci-itir. 
 It was .soon united with the Mirror. In 1829 he became a.ssoeialed with William CuUen 
 IJryant in the management of the yrw York Kri niup PuKt, and was its chief editor in 
 1834-3."). He sympathized with the anti-slavery iiiovrinciils (if that day. and ably 
 defended the right of free speech and dLseussioii. hi ISIiti he established T/it Plniii 
 Dealer, devoted to polities and literature, but failing health soon compelled him to relin- 
 quish literary labor. ApjHjinted diplomatic agent to the republic of Gu.itemala, he was 
 preparing for a voyage thither when he suddenly died at his home. 
 
 f .lames Watson Webb, son of General Samuel H. Webb, of tlii' Hevolution, was born 
 at Claverack, N. Y.. in February, 1802. He entered the army as second lieutenant in 
 -Vugust, 1819: was first lienteiiaiil in 1828; resigned in 1827, and entered the arena of 
 journalism in the city of New York, in which he wrought with power for Ihirlysix years 
 —1827-61. He formed a conspicuous jiarl of the social and political history of the city of 
 New York. He was the itublisher and chief e<litor of the Morning C>>"riir nni? Knr/uirer 
 
A REVOI-l'TIOX I\ JoruXAMSM 
 
 483 
 
 nifu II. Day, and James Gordon Bennett, ('olonel Welil) initiated the 
 enterjM'ise of collecting news by sending a fast-sailing clipper-built 
 schooner many miles at sea to meet vessels from foreign ports, gather 
 the latest news from abroad, and speedily publish it to the world. His 
 contemporaries soon followed his example. 
 
 On September 3d, 1S33, Mr. Day issued the lirst number of the Sun, 
 the first one-cent daily newspaper ever pul)lishcd. Imitations soon 
 followed. On May 6th, 1835, Mr. 
 Bennett issued tlie first number of ^ ' 
 
 the permanently estaiilished Herald 
 on a nominal capital of !r^.">00, and 
 introduced a new feature in jour- 
 nalism — the ''Money Article."' 
 His contemporaries followed his 
 lead. At that time (1835), of the 
 fifteen daily newspapers published 
 in the city of New York, tlien 
 having a poi)ulation of two liimdred 
 and seventy thousand, only the Sun 
 had a circulation of over six thou- 
 sand daily. 
 
 This was also a period of riots in 
 the city of New York. Emigration 
 had recently given to the city a 
 
 large population of ignorant, ex(;ital)lc, and often vicious foreigners, and 
 these were s])ee(lily transformed, Iiy unwise naturalization laws, into 
 citizens and legal voters. This class of voters was out in full force at 
 the first popular election of a mayor of tiie city in the sjiring of 1834. 
 They generally affiliated with the Democratic Party, and were always 
 the pliant tools of demagogues. 
 
 Early in the morning of the first day of the election (the polls Avere 
 then opened three days in succession) riotous symptoms appeared. The 
 
 .lAMKS WATSON WKISl!. 
 
 from 1830. In 1842 he Wiis wounded in the leg in a duel with Thomsis F. Mar.sliiill, of 
 Kentucky — an affair which was the result of gross misrepresentations. In 1846 lie was 
 made military cngineer-in-chief of the State, and ever after he bore the title of " general." 
 In 1861. after declining a mission to Constantinople, he was appointed hy President 
 Lincoln Minister to Brazil, where he performed etheient serviees, and returned home in 
 1861, when \w. retired front publie life. General "Webb died at his residenee in New 
 York on June 7th, 1884. 
 
 The above portrait represi'uts Iiim when over eighty years of age. General ^\ ebb, 
 through his personal intimacy w^ilh the Emperor Napoleon III., was instrumental in pro- 
 curing the withdrawal of the French troops from Mexico diu'ing our Civil \<m\ 
 
484 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 DcniDcratic leaders were ex<asperated hy tlio opproljrious name of Tories 
 applied to tlieir ])arty hy their uppoiioiits, and seemed determined to win 
 the victory at all hazards. The Whigs were nnmerous and strong ; tlie 
 Democrats liad l)een weakened I)y discord. 
 
 In the Sixtli Ward, where there was a hirge foreign population, a nioh 
 M-as soon gathered, and, led l)y an cx-alderman, ruslied into the Wliig 
 counnittee-room, tore down the political hanners, destroyed the liallots, 
 and made a wreck of everything. They had felled to tlie floor, hruised 
 and l)leeding, ahout twenty of the inmates. The remainder escaped 
 witli hnn'ses and torn garments. Clnhs and even knives liad heen used, 
 and one man was carried out in a living condition. This occurrence 
 gave tire ward the title of the " ijloody Sixth." 
 
 This outrage aroused the <)pj)osite party to vigorous action, and under 
 the lead of Colonel Welih an organized force of Whigs preserved com- 
 parative order, especially at the polls, the next day ; hut at night an 
 enormous moh assemhled in the City Hall I'ai'k. A cross had heen set 
 up near hy hearing the words, " Down wnii iiik Courier and Enquikkr 
 Building," a five-story structure in Wall Street. Colonel Wehh, the 
 editor and proprietor of that journal, \vas the chief ohjeet of the wrath 
 of the assendded multitude, who were required to march hy and touch 
 the cross. Then speakers in the park iii-ged the excited populace to pro- 
 ceed to Wall Street. They did so with shouts and yells, which sent a 
 thrill of alarm throughout the city. They found Colonel Wehh's castle 
 so strongly fortified, with him at the head of a well-armed and deter- 
 mined garrison, that they not only refrained from attack, hut, cowards 
 as they were, scampered away as fast as their legs could carry them. 
 
 On the following day there was a fierce collision in Broadway in front 
 of Masonic Hall, M'here Mayor Gideon Lee, who attemj)tod to quell the 
 disturhaiice, was severely heaten. The rioters prepared to seize the 
 Arsenal, when the mayor called out the (now) Seventh Regiment, 
 National Guards, when order was soon restored hy them ; hut the city 
 was kept in a state of excitement for nearly two days longer. The 
 Democrats had elected their candidate for mayor, Mr. Lawrence. 
 
 The election riots of 1S34 and the increasing nund)ers and influence of 
 foreign-horn citizens finally alarmed thoughtful men. It was found that 
 these adopted citizens held the halance of power hetween the Whig and 
 Democratic parties, and that whichever party gained a victory they 
 claimed an unreasonahle share of the "spoils." The l)est citizens of 
 New York, helieving it to he their duty to check this influence, so 
 menacing to our free institutions through the instrumentality of the hallot- 
 box, cond)ined, in the winter of 1S42-43, in forming a new political 
 
ABOLITION UIOTS IN NEW YORK CITY. 485 
 
 organization for the purpose, wliich was called the Native American 
 Party. They elected James Harper,* of the puhlishing house of 
 Harper A: Brothers, Mayor of New York in the spring of 1844-, by a 
 majority of over four thousand. From this auspicious heginning the 
 ])arty spread over the State and the republic, l)ut its policy l)ecame so 
 narrow and so really anti- American in character that after the presi- 
 dential election in IS.'iO, when its candidate for President of the United 
 States was Millard Fillmore, it v.-as dissolved. 
 
 The passions of the lower orders in New York City were so excited to 
 do mischief by the election riots, that immediately afterward they were 
 incited by the demagogues who had led them before to engage in a fearful 
 public disturbance known as '' The Abolition Riots." New York City 
 was the headipiarters of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Their 
 meetings were frecpiently disturlied by their ignorant or unreasoning 
 opponents. In July, IS'M, these disturbances blossomed out into a wild 
 Tiot, Avhicli spread terror over the entire city. Houses of humane 
 citizens were sacked, the property of others was destroyed, and no less 
 than five churches in the city were attacked and partially demolished. 
 Again the (now) Seventh Regiment, National Guards, was called out 
 to suppress the dangerous tumult and to restore order. In this elfort it 
 succeeded admirably. 
 
 In the years 1S?A and 1S;]5 a spirit of wild speculation scourged the 
 land. Trade was brisk ; the shipping interest was prosperous ; prices 
 ruled high ; luxury abounded, and nobody seemed to perceive the under- 
 current of disaster that was surely wasting the foundations of the ai^surd 
 credit system and the real prosperity of the people. The credit system 
 collapsed at the touch of the Ithuriel spear of Necessity. The Bank of 
 England, seeing exchanges running higher and higher against that 
 country, contracted its loans and admonished houses giving long credits 
 to Americans by the use of money liorrowed from the bank to curtail that 
 liazardous business. At about the same time the famous '' Specie 
 Cii'cuhu" went out fi'om our Treasury Department (July, 1S'M>) directing 
 
 * James Harper, the senior member of the original firm of Harper & Brothers, was the 
 .son of Joseph Harper, of Newtown, L. I., where he was born in April, lT9.i. At sixteen 
 years of age he went to New York to learn the art of printing. Iniluslrious and thrifly, 
 he was able, soon after his majority, to begin business on his own aeeonnt. In the eonrsc 
 of time his three brothers, John, Joseph AVesley, and Fletcher, became ;i.ssociated with 
 liini ill the printing and publishing business under the firm name of Harper it Hrotliers. 
 This brotherhood remained unbroken forty-three years, when, in March, 1839, James 
 died at St. Luke's Hospital, New Y'ork, whither he had Ixien taken, mortally hurt by 
 being thrown from his carriage while his horses were ruiuiing away. 3Ir. Harper was 
 ever prominent in good works. 
 
480 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 the collectors of tlu' i)iil)lic money to receive nothinji; hut coin. From 
 the ]);irlor of the l!;iiik t)f England .and from the Treasury of the T'nlted 
 States went forth the unwelcome tiat, " Pay u]) !'" American houses in 
 London failed for many millions, and every bank in the I'nited States 
 suspended sjiecio ])ayments in ls;5T. Tn IS.'iO the Bank nf the Ignited 
 States, which had been rechartered by tiie State of Pennsylvania, fell 
 into hopeless ruin, and with it went down a large number of the State 
 banks of the country. A general Bankrupt Act, passed in 1S41, 
 relieved of debt about forty thousand persons, who.se aggregate liabilities 
 amounted to about $441,000,000. 
 
 Tiie business men of the city and State of New York suffered intensely 
 from these financial troubles. Already the merchants of the city had 
 been severely smitten by a fearful conflagration on a bitterly cold night — 
 December IGtli, 1S;5.5 — which reduced to ashes and cinders in the space 
 of a few hours jiroiierty valued at almost $20,000,000. But from this 
 calamity and the tinancial troultles of 1837 the merchants of ^ew York, 
 by their energy and plucic, presented the spectacle of a speedy and 
 marvellous rebound. 
 
 The construction of tlie L'roton A(pieduct for the sanitary and other 
 ■uses of the iidiabitants of the city of New York had been begun a few 
 weeks before the great fire. It was completed in ls42 at a cost of 
 $10,370,000, including $1,S((0,000 for distriljuting pii)es and amounts 
 jiaid for the right of way. It extends from the Crotou River, in West- 
 chester County, where the waters of that stream are collected in a largo 
 reservoir, to the distributing reservoir at Forty-second Street and Fifth 
 Avenue, in New York City, a distance of about forty miles. The 
 a'pieduct is tubular in form, and (crosses the Harlem River over the 
 magnificent High Bridge. The receiving reservoir within the Central 
 Park covers an area of thirty-live acres. 
 
FREE SCHOOL FJBIJARIES ESTABLISHED. 487 
 
 CHAPTER XXXY. 
 
 Ctoternor Marcy's administration cxtundud from 1833 to 1839, 
 during which time wise and important measures were adopted by the 
 Legislature on his recommendation. The most conspicuous of tliese 
 measures was a provision, at the session of 1835, for the enhirgemeut of 
 tlie Erie Canal and for the promotion of popular education and enlighten- 
 ment. The Legislature responded generously. It instructed the canal 
 commissioners to " enlarge and improve the Erie Canal, and construct a 
 doulile set of lift-loeks therein." These improvements were finally 
 made, at an expense far greater than the cost of its original constru(!tion. 
 This enlargement had hecome necessary because of the increasing busi- 
 ness of the canal within ton years after it was completed. 
 
 This provision foi- the material prosperitj^ of the State was supple- 
 mented in April, 1835, by a provision for the intellectual advancement 
 of the people of the commonwealth. A law was passed for the establish- 
 ment of a free library in every school district in the State, then number- 
 ing over nine thousand six hundred. Governor Marcy took special 
 interest in the matter, and made untiring efforts to accomplish this 
 important object — this grand feature of our common-school system. He 
 desired to afford an opportunity to every child within the border of the 
 commonwealth, of whatever color, race, creed, or condition, to acquire 
 intellectual and moral cultivation and enlightenment. The late General 
 John A. Dix was the Secretary of State and Superintendent of Common 
 Schools when these libraries were established. To his wisdom and sound 
 judgment, aided by his deputy, S. S. Randall, the people of the State 
 were indebted for the excellence of the selection of the books for the 
 liitraries.* These were pretty generally estal)lished in 1S38, when the 
 
 * In tlie selection of books the following directions were adhered to ; 
 
 " 1. No works written professedly to uphokl or attack any sect or creed in i>ur country 
 claiming to be a religious one sliall be tolerated in tlie school libraries. 
 
 " 3. Standard works on oilier topics .sliall not be excluded because they incidentally 
 •and indiivelly betray the religious opinions of their authors. 
 
 ■■ 3. Works avowedly on other subiecls which abound in direct and unreserved attacks 
 on or defence of llie character of any religious .sect, or those which hold up any religious 
 body to contempt or execration by singling out or bringing together only the <larker part 
 of its history or character, shall be excluded from the school libraries. In the selection 
 of books for a district library, information and not mere amusement is lo be regarded as 
 
488 
 
 TIIK r.MIMKi: STATE. 
 
 pupils attending tlie district schools of the State iniiiil)ercil alxmt live 
 Iniiidrod tlioiisaiiil five litmdred. An annual appropriation of S5r),(l(i() 
 was niade for tlie purchase of books for the libraries. In iS-ii a State 
 Normal School (the first in the coinmonwealth) was established at 
 Albany, of whicli l>avi(i 1'. Patce \vas tlie first priiici]>al. It occupied a 
 
 STATK NOHMAI. SCIIOOI. lUII.niNCi AT AI.HANY. 
 
 bnildinii on State Street fllT) oriijinally erected by the Mohawk and 
 Ilndson rtailrtiad Company for a ]>assenger depot.* 
 
 It was at this period that great improvements were made in the system 
 of ])op>dar education in tiic city of New York. Tlie Lancastrian or 
 monitorial form <A government and instruction had long prevailed there 
 
 tlic primary objccl. Suitiil)lc ]iii)visi(in sliimld, liowever, be iiuuic for the inlclleolual 
 wants of llu; yoiiiii; by furiiisliin!; llicm with books which, without boiiiu' im-icly juvenile 
 in clmnutcr. may be level to Ihifir coinprehension and sullieiently enlertaininir to excite 
 and };ratify a taste for readinj;. It is useless to buy books that are not read." 
 
 * A spacious building for the use of the State Normal School was completed late in 
 1885, and the school wius opene<l therein on September 9th, with represt-ntative.s from 
 forty-three of the sixty counties of the Slate. During the first term in the new structure 
 the attendance in the Xormal I)e|iartnieiil was three hundred and si.xty. 
 
KEVOLITIONAKV MOVKMEXTS IX CAXADA. 489 
 
 and in otlier parts of the State.'* The Pestalozzian f system had also 
 been pretty extensively adopted. In 1S3'2 a now or<>;anization of the 
 public schools was effected, and these two i^rafts from foreit^n systems 
 were pruned away. The schools in the city were placed upon a per- 
 fectly free basis, and were graded in 183-i. The six schools for colored 
 children were transferred to the I'uldic School Society (the formation of 
 which has already been noticed), and ])hu'ed on an equality witli the 
 other s(!h<)ols. 
 
 Toward the close of ls3Ta popular outbreak occurred in the neighbor- 
 ing Erirish provinces of Tpjior and Lower Canada, which caused intense 
 excitement among the ])eople of the Tiortliern portions of New York. 
 Their sympathies with the insurgents were aroused, and citizens of the 
 State engaged in an uidawful invasion of the territory of a friendly 
 neighbor. 
 
 There had been popular discontent in these provinces for some time. 
 It finally assumed the aggressive form of a concerted attempt in hotii 
 territories to cast off dependence upon (Treat I>i'itain. The chief leaders 
 in this movement were WiUiam Lyon .Mclvenzie, in Upper Cimada, and 
 Joseph I'apineau, in Lower Canada. Mclvenzie was a Scotchman, a 
 journalist of rare ability, and a restless political agitator. Papineau, of 
 French descent, was an extensive land-owner in the Lower Province, of 
 cool judgment, and very influential among the French iiduxbitants in 
 that region. Both leaders were republicans in sentiment. 
 
 This movement was regarded as patriotic by the Americans, and the 
 active sympathy of the New Yorkers along the frontier was evoked. 
 At the middle of December (1837) nearly a thousand New York volun- 
 teers, with provisions and twenty pieces of artillery, seized Navy Island, 
 in the Niagara River, two miles above the falls. There they were joined 
 by Mclvenzie, who was already a fugitive. They employed a small 
 
 * It was so called aflcr .Inscpli [.aiirastcr, a iiK'iuIx'r of the Society of Frieiuls, or 
 Quakers, who at the l)ejciuuiii,i,' of the century iiilroihiced into the schools in England the 
 monitorial system, which consisted of the emiiloynient of monitors, so called, composed 
 of some of the briirli test boys and girls in scliool, who each had charge of the diseipline and 
 tuition of a section of llu? school. They enforced discipline by watchfulness and promjit 
 reporting to the teacher. The system was designed to carry on the imblic teaching of 
 children in the most economical way. By this means a teacher couhl manage a school 
 of three or four hundred children. But this system of cs])ionage was mi.schievous. 
 
 f The Pestalozzian system originated with .John Pestalo/.zi. a Swiss teacher and 
 reformer, and was designed to educate infant pupils by a combination of industrial, 
 entertaining, intellectual, and moral instruction, without the use of books aii<I by oral 
 and object teaching entirely— llie fundamental basis of the kindergarten .system of 
 Froebel. It was put in practice first in New York by the Infant School Society, founded 
 by Mrs. Divic Bethune and others, in 1H28. 
 
I'.IU Tin: K.Ml'lKK STATE. 
 
 steamboat named tlie Varolhw as a ferry-vessel hetween tlie New York 
 shore and the ishiud. On a dark night at the close of December, while 
 persons on board of her were asleep, a party of armed Canadian loyalists 
 from Chippewa seized her, killed some of her people, cut her loose from 
 her moorings, set her on fire, and allowed lies' to go blazing down the 
 fearful rapids and over the crown of the mighty cataract into the seetliing 
 gulf below. It is believed that some persons were alive on board and 
 piM'islii'il with the vessel. 
 
 McKenzie, whose rashness imperilled tli(! cause at the outset, fled to 
 New York. The (lovi^rnor of Caniula made rei{nisitii>u upon (rDverimr 
 l\lar(!y fur the surrender of the arch-agitator, llarcy declined to do so, 
 for McKenzie's ull'eiice wa.^ poJii'n'nl , not criiiiinal, and he was seeking 
 an asylum ou neutral tcrritctry. 
 
 jreanwhile all along the New York frontier, from Cape Vincent to 
 Rouse's Point at the foot of Lake (Jhamplain, American synn)athizers 
 continued to cross into Canada and join the insurgents. At Clayton, on 
 the New York shore of the St. Lawrence, lived William Johnston, a 
 bold Hritish subject, who was appointed commodore of the naval force 
 of the insurgents by their authority.* lie kept up an am])]iibious war- 
 fare among the Thousand Islands, and others on the Canada shore kept 
 the frontier in continual excitement for months. At length the Presi- 
 dent of tlie United States (Van liuren) issued a proclamation forbidding 
 American citizens engaging in the insurrectionary mc^vemeiit. General 
 Scott was sent to Northern New York to preserve order. Governor 
 
 * Williinii .loliiistoii was born at Tlirco Hivcrs, Ciinaihi. in February, 1TH"2. His father 
 wivs an Irislimaii, and a Dulcli girl from New Jersey was his iiiollicr. He Wius living at 
 Clayton (French Creek), on the St. Lawrence, wlien tlu^ insurrection brolie out. Cor- 
 dially haling the British Government and its employes, and fond of advei;turc. he was 
 easily persua<led to join in llie strife. Ho was bold and courageous. The " Patriots" 
 commissioned liim " eoniniddore" and commander-in-chief of llie navy on the lake, 
 among the Thousand Islands. an<l on the bt. I.awienee Hivcr. .^fter he had burned a 
 IJrItlsh steamboat and conunitted other excesses, a reward for his apprehension wasolTered 
 by lidlh governments, and for a long time he was a fugitive, hiding .-unong the islands 
 and supplied with food l)y his charming daughter, a girl of eighteen years, who was 
 e.vperl in tlie management of a boat. He linally gave himself ui> to the American author- 
 ities. He wius sentenced to one year's imprisonment and a fine, and w.-is confined in jail 
 at Albany, where liis daughler joined him to solace him in his .solitude. They manag<-<l 
 to escape, and Johnston was unmolested. WIkii I visited him in ISISO, at Clayton, he 
 was the keeper of a light-house a few miles lielow. His daughter, the " Heroine of the 
 Thousand Islands," was then a matron with several chililien, but retaining many traces 
 of her former iH'auty. Johnston gave me his photograph ; also his commission from tin- 
 (iiand Council, the \Vestern Cana<lian .Vssocialion, the Grand Ea.srle Chapter, and the 
 Grand F.agle Chapter of I'pjxr Canada, creating him " Commodore of the Xavy. Com- 
 mander-in-Cliief of .all the Xaval Forces of the Canadian Provinces on Patriot service. ' 
 
DISTUKBAXCE OF INTERNATIONAL AMITV TIIKKATKNEI). 491 
 
 ^[arcj also issued a proclamation of the tenor of that of the President. 
 The open contest soon ceased, hut for some time secret associations called 
 '' Hunters" Lodges" on New York soil kej)t up the excitement. These 
 lodges nuiuhered ahout twelve hundred. They were suppressed by 
 President Tyler in 184'i. 
 
 Early in Januaiy, 1841, an incident occurred on the Niagara frontier 
 which for a moment tlireatened to disturb the existing amity between 
 tlie governments of the United States and Great IJritain. Alexander 
 ^[(•Leod, a resident of Chippewa, l)eing at Lewiston, on the New York 
 shore of the river, boasted that lie was a participant in the destruction of 
 the steamer Caroline and in the nuu'der of one of her men. He was 
 arrested and sent to the Lockport jail. He was indicted for murder, and 
 the owner of the vessel instituted a civil suit against him. Mr. Fox, the 
 British Minister at Wasliington, demanded of our (rovernment the 
 release of McLeod, and avowed and justified tiie destruction of the 
 Caroline as an act of his Government. The Secretary of State (Mr. 
 Webster) informed J\[r. Fox that it was a State affair, and the National 
 Goveriniient had no right to interfere with tlie judicial proceedings of a 
 State ; that the matter was before the Supreme Court of New York, and 
 tiiat he believed that tribunal would agree with him that the prisoner 
 ought to be given up, for he was acting in obedience to orders from a 
 superior. That court remanded McLeod for trial before a s])ecial circuit 
 court sitting at Utica. After an exciting trial the imiocence of the 
 prisoner was proven, he having made the boast in a spirit of bravado 
 while intoxicated, lie was acquitted. 
 
 ^^artin Van Ihiren was nominated fur the Presidency of the United 
 States in 18;5(i. Perceiving the necessity of taking ground against the 
 Abolitionists, now organized and aggressive, in order to secure the votes 
 of the Siiutheru States, he did so, and was elected, taking his seat as 
 Chief Magistrate; in the spring of 1837. Governor ^Farcy also took a 
 position antagonistic to the Abolitionists ; and so the Democratic Party 
 of the State and n;ition liecame wedded to tin; u[)liiihlers of the system 
 of slavery. Tlie nuptials jiroved disastrous to the party. 
 
 Never did aiiv ])olitical party seem to stand on a more secure founda- 
 tion than did the Democratic Party in Xew York in the winter of 
 lS3(>-37. Alas! before the lapse of a year it was utterly overthrown. 
 In the fall the Whigs elected one hundred and one of the one hundred 
 and twenty-eight members of the State Assembly, and carried six of the 
 eight senatorial districts. The country had been swept by a fearful 
 tornado of financial disaster. The baid<s of Xew York were compelled 
 to suspend specie payments ; commercial distress was the rule, and the 
 
492 
 
 TIIK K.Ml'IKi: STATE. 
 
 liuge, liollow credit system fell into ruins. All this Ii;id followed the 
 
 terrii)le tiat of the " Specie Circular"' and cu<;nate instrumentalities. 
 
 The Willi? leaders adroitly charged the jiuhlic calamities to the misrule 
 
 of the Democratic Party. The rank and Hie accepted the solution, 
 
 and the overthrow of Democratic 
 domination in Xew York was the 
 logical consequence. William 11. 
 Seward was elected Governor of 
 the State in the fall of ls3s, over 
 Governor Marajj by a majority of 
 ahout ten thousand.* 
 
 The hnances of the State at this 
 juncture were admiral ily managed. 
 The l)anks conducted their ])usines3 
 with so much prudence that they 
 were able to resume specie pay- 
 ments in 1S39. A Free Banking 
 Law had been enacted in ISJJS on 
 the recommendation of Governor 
 i\Iarcy. Governor Seward in his 
 
 message in is;j;) s])oke highly of the measure, and he eulogized the 
 
 iinancial position of the State of iS'ew York, saying : 
 
 " History furnishes no jjarallel to the financial achievements of this 
 
 State. It surrendered its share in the national domain, and relinquished 
 
 WII.l.lAM II. sKWAItn. 
 
 * William Henry Seward.was born at Florida, Orange County, N. Y., in 5Iay, 1801 : 
 died at Auburn, N. Y., in October, 1872. He was a graduate of Union College, and 
 began the practice of law at Auburn in 1823. He .soon acquired a high reputation in his 
 profession. He first appeared conspicuous in poHtics as president of a State convention 
 of young men who fa\ored the election of John Quiucy Adams to the Presitlencv of the 
 United Slates. He was a member of the State Senate, 1830-34, and iK'Came a leader of 
 the newly-formed Whig Party. He was elected Governor of Xew York in 1838. and 
 again in 1840. For several years he (juietly pursued his lucralive profession. In lS4i) 
 he was chosen United States Senator, which position he held until called to the seat of 
 Prime ^[inister (Secretary of State) in the Cabinet of President Lincoln in the spring of 
 1861. He tilled the olliee with great honor to him.self and (he nation during the trying 
 period of the Civil War. He continued in the same ofHcc in the Cabinet of President 
 Johnson. Jlr. Seward was regarded for many years as one of the leading and most 
 eflieient opposers of the .svstem of slavery. Early in 180.") he was confined to his bed by 
 an accident, and on the nighl of the murder of President Lincoln an a.ssassin found hi.s 
 way into >lr. Seward's home and attempted to slay him. He never recovered from the 
 shock. In the spring of 1809 he retired from publie life. In .Vugust. ISTl. he started 
 with .some friends on a lour anmnd the world. He was everywhere received with marks of 
 great respect. Mr. Sewaril died at .\uburn. October 10. 1873. One of the most notable 
 of his public acts was the iiurehase of Ahuska from Russia for $7,200,000 in gold, in 1867. 
 
A FUGITIVE-SLAVE CASE. 493 
 
 for the general welfare all the revenues of its foreign commerce, equal 
 generally to two thirds of the entire expenditure of the Federal Govern- 
 ment. It has, nevertheless, sustained the expenses of its own adminis- 
 tration, founded and endowed a broad system of education, cliaritable 
 institutions for every class of the unfortunate, and a penitentiary estal)- 
 lishment wliich is adopted as a model l)y civilized nations. It has 
 increased fourfold the wealth of its citizens, and relieved them from 
 direct taxation ; and in addition to all this has carried forward a stupen- 
 dous enterprise of improvement, all the while diminishing its debts, 
 magnifying its credit, and augmenting its resources." * 
 
 Governor Seward recommended tlie Legislature (IS-iO) to provide for 
 the speedy completion of the enlargement of the Erie Canal, but told 
 them frankly that the cost, which the State officers had estimated at 
 $12,000, ooo, would l)e at least §2:3,0()0,()()(>— possibly §2.5,000,000. lie 
 also iirged the construction of the Genesee Valley and Black River 
 canals, which would recpiire an expenditure of §6,000,000. In the same 
 message he invited the attention of the Legislature to the fact that he 
 had received from the Governor of Virginia a demand for the return of 
 three colored " fugitives from justice," charged w'itli stealing a negro- 
 slave. Governor Seward refused compliance on tlie ground that such 
 alleged felony was not recognized as such liy the laws of civilized nations 
 or those of the State of New York.f This w-as Mr. Seward's lirst official 
 encounter with the slave power. 
 
 * Tlie Statu of New York has the lienor of liavhii^ -svithiii its borders the first passenger 
 railway built in the United States, The first railway charter granted in America was 
 given b}- the Legislature of New York, in 1820, to the Mohawk and Hudson Kailway 
 Company. Their road e.vtended from Albany to Schenectady, a distance of about fifteen 
 miles, and was completed in the fall of 1831. 
 
 •|- The Governor of Virginia in his next annual message referred the matter to the 
 Legislature of his State, and haughtily declared that if the construction of the Constitution 
 of the United States by the Governor of New York should be allowed to i)revail, and no 
 relief could be obtained against a " flagrant violation of the rights of Virginia" to re<-laim 
 lier fugitive slave, it would be proper for her " to appeal from the cancelled obligations 
 of the national compact to original rights ;" in other words, to secede from the Union. 
 
 The matter did not end here. The Virginia governor entered upon the work of retalia- 
 tion. A citizen of New York charged with the crime of forgery fled to Virginia. Gov- 
 ernor Seward forwarded a rcciuisition for him to be surrendered as a fugitive from justice. 
 The Governor of Virginia refused compliance, and kept the prisoner in jail a long time 
 waiting for the Governor of New Y'ork to give up the three colored A'irginia fugitives. 
 Tlus unjustifiable conduct on the part of the governor was disclaimed by the Virginia 
 Legislature. The Legislature of New York adopt('d a joint resolution sustaining the 
 claim of the Governor of Virginia for the three fugitives, and dir<>ctcd Governor Seward 
 to transmit the resolution to tlu; executive of Virginia. He declined to do so, and sug- 
 gested the employment of some other agent than himself to perform that task. Here the 
 matter was dropped. 
 
404 TIIK K.MI'IUi: STATE. 
 
 The Wliij;: Party liad now the entire political control of the State of 
 Kew York, ami the result of the jjresidential election that year (lS4n) 
 gave them the political control of the nation for a while. In New York 
 Governor Seward was re-elected, and the AVhig candidate for the presi- 
 dency, (xeneral William Henry Harrison, of ( )hio, was chosen hy a very 
 large majority, after an exciting and demoralizing ca!ivass, known in 
 political history as " The Hard-Cider Campaign."* 
 
 President \'an Piiren had made himself very unpopular with the 
 baid<ing and commercial interests of the country because of iiis successful 
 e.\ertions in the establishment of the independent treasury ; also with a 
 large portion of the people of the noii-slaveholding States because of his 
 alleged subserviency to the Southern slave oligarchy. Harrison took his 
 seat on March 4th, 1S41, and died just one month afterward. Then 
 Vice-President John Tyler, of Virginia, assumed, by constitutional pro- 
 vision, the exalted jjosition of President of the United States. 
 
 x\.t this time the population of New York was about two million five 
 hundred thousand. Of this number, it was estimated that about thirty 
 thousand children were uneducated, of whom fully one third were of 
 foreign parentage. These were destined to become future citizens. In 
 view of these facts thoughtful men pondered the matter witii anxiety. 
 Governor Seward was keeidy alive to the foreshadowed danger, and in 
 his message to the Legislature in 1841 he stronirlv urired that bodv to 
 ])rovide b^' law for the elementary education of the children of foreigners, 
 of whatever nationality or religious belief. He said : 
 
 " I could not enjoy the consciousness of having discharged U)y duty 
 if any effort had been omitted which was calculated to bring within the 
 schools all who are destined to exercise the rights of citizenship ; nor 
 shall I feel that the system is perfect or liberty safe until that object be 
 accomplished." 
 
 The wise and cultivated citizen, John C. Spencer,t was then the 
 
 * General Harrison lived in the growing West, and his dwelling had once been a log- 
 cabin, at Xortli Bend, Oliio, wliere he exercised great liosjiilality. In the campaign 
 referred to his partisans made a log-cabin a symbol of his democracy — a man of the 
 people — and a barrel of cider symbolized his hospitalitj'. In hamlet.s, villages, and cities 
 log-cabins were built as rallyiug-places for tlie members of the party, and there cider was 
 freely given to all. Drinking carousids were tlie results, and the demnrali/ation of young 
 men wius fearful. Horace Greeley edited a campaign paper calUvI Tin Ijuj-Cabin, whieli 
 became tlie jiredecessor of the Seir York Tribune. 
 
 t John C'anticid Spencer, son of .ludge Ambrose Spencer, was born at Hudson, X. Y., 
 in .January. 17S,S ; died in All)any in .May, 18.5.1. He wjus a graduate of Union College ; 
 studied law and began its practice at Canandaigua. X. Y., in 18(19. At tlie age of nine- 
 teen he had been private secretary of (ioveiiior Tompkins, and was ever afterward prom- 
 
I^'TEKESTS OF POPULAR EDUCATIOX PROMOTED. 495 
 
 Secretary of State and State Sajjoriiiteiulent of Coininon Schools. He 
 was ill full accord with the views of Governor Seward. In response to 
 petitions from the city of New York upon this subject, which were 
 referred to him, he made an able report, in which lie recommended the 
 election of a Board of Commissioners of Common Schools in that citv, 
 authorized to establish and organize a system of ward schools, Avhicli 
 .should co-operate with those of the Public School Society in furnishino- 
 the requisite facilities for the education of all classes of (ihildren. On 
 Mr. Spencer's recommendation provision was made for a State I)e])uty 
 Superintendent of Common Schools, to which important office S. S. 
 Randall, who had been Secretary DI.k's deputy, was appointed. Pro- 
 vision was also made for the election of county superintendents through- 
 out the State. A liberal appropriation was made for the support of the 
 Common ScJiooI Journal, which was devoted to the interests of popular 
 education.* 
 
 Out of these and cognate proceedings grew a violent controversy 
 which had been begun mildly many years before. Its essence was the 
 
 incut in the pulilic iiffnirs of the State. In 1811 he was appointed master in eliancery, 
 and in 1813 judge-advocate in active military service on the frontier. In 1814 lie was 
 postma.-iler at Cauaudaigua, and was a.ssistant attoruey-general in 1815. He was a 
 member of Congress, 1817-19, and a member of tlie Assembly and its Speaker in 1820. 
 He was State Senator, 1824-28, and in 1827 was one of the commissioners to revi.sc the 
 statutes of Xew York. He became an anti-Mason, and was a special officer appointed to 
 liro.secute the persons connected with the alleged abduction of Morgan. Judge Spencer 
 was Secretary of State, 1839-41. He was first made Secretary of War and then Secretary 
 of the Treasury in Tyler's Cabinet. Opposed to the annexation of Texiis, he resigned in 
 1844 and resumed the practice of law. To Judge Spencer is due, to a great extent, the 
 greater improvements in the common-.school .system of the State. He edited the first 
 edition of De Tocqueville's Demvcracij in Amcrirn. 
 
 * The apathy of the people concerning popular education in the State of Xew York at 
 that time was most remarkable. It was stipulated that one copy of the Common S-/tool 
 Journal should ba sent regularly to the clerk of every school district in the State free of 
 charge. " It is mortifying and painful to state," says Hammond, in liis Political History 
 of JVew Tor/c, vol. iii., p. 22.5, " what the truth of history requires us to record, that it is 
 within our personal knowledge that the trustees of many school districts refused to take 
 from the post-office this excellent journal, every number of whidi contained nuich 
 important and useful information, the cost of which is jiaid from the State Treasury, 
 because they were unwiliiiig to pay from the common funds of their respective districts 
 the sum of one nhillinrj n year for jx/starje .'" — one cent a month. 
 
 The author of this volume was one of a few citizens of Duche.ss County who, at the 
 beginning of 1837. formed a society for " The Improvement of Common Schools and the 
 General Diffasion of Knowledge." Many of the best citizens of the county l)ecame 
 members of the a.ssociation, and meetings were held by the society at various places in 
 the countj- with a hope of exciting public interest in the important subject. Yet such 
 was the marvellous apathy of the trtistees of the common schools and of parents iu gen- 
 eral, that after a trial of about fifteen months the effort was abandoned as useless. 
 
49(1 
 
 THK K.Ml'IHK STATE. 
 
 antagonism of religions denominations, some of whicli liad participated 
 in the henetits of tlie public money placed nnder the control of the 
 Pulilic School Society (which was a close corporation and had supreme 
 power in the distribution of the funils intrusted to it by the State), and 
 others had been denied sneh participation. The sul)ject was In-ought 
 before the J.egislatnre. That body by act transferred the whole matter 
 
 of the ilistribntion of the school 
 fund in the city of ^yew York to 
 the Common Council, witli full 
 powers. 
 
 The trustees of the Iloman Cath- 
 olic Free Schools applied to the 
 Cnmiiion Council for a separate 
 projiortionate share in the distribu- 
 tion of the school fund. Their 
 schools were nnmerons and were 
 lapiilly increasing. The Public 
 School Society remonstrated, and 
 the chamber of the Common Coun- 
 cil became a notable arena for the 
 display of argumentative oratory. 
 The I'ulilic School Society em- 
 ployed some of the best legal talent in tlie city to champion their cause. 
 Thev were confronted by the astute Archbisiiop Hughes,* who ajipeared 
 iu l)ehalf of the Homau Catholics. 
 
 The controversy became exceedingly hot, ami great public excitement 
 jn'evailcd. Tlie (Common Council sustained the Public School Society. 
 The Iloman Catholics appealed to the Legislature. On the, recommen- 
 dation of Governor Seward that body extended to the wards of the city 
 
 * Archbishop John Hughes, an eminent Roman Catholic prehite, wa.s born in county 
 Tyrone. Ireland, in 1797; (lied in Xew York City in .Jamitiry, IHtU. He emi<rrale(l to 
 America with his father in 1817 ; received a good ediuatiou at a Uoman Catholic sem- 
 inary in Maryland, and remained there as a teacher several years. In 1825 he was 
 ordained a priesi, and was settled in Philadelphia. In 1838 he Ix-came coadjutor to 
 IJishop Dubois in New York, and on the death of the latter in 1842 he became bishop, 
 lie visited Europe in 1839, and in 1841 opened St. John's College at Fordham, which he 
 had organized. lie held the first diocesan synod in New York in 1842, where alterations 
 were made iu the methods of the administration of churches without trustees. In 1850 
 he was created archbi.-ihop. lie held the first provincial council of his Church in New 
 York in 1S54. On the breakinv out of the late Civil War .Vrchbishop Iluirhes was sent 
 to Euri>pe with the late Tliurlow AVeed on an informal dipliimati<' mission in behalf of 
 the I'nited States Government. His health failed soon after his return. He was a 
 powerful controversialist, and did nuicli to advance the prosperity of his Church. 
 
 .\KClUiISlI01' HUGHES. 
 
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SOCIETY AND THE CATHOLICS. 497 
 
 of Xew York tlie coininon-scliool system wliich luid prevailed for many 
 years tliroughuut tlie State. Tlie niaiuigeiiieiit of tlic schools (iiidei>en- 
 deiit of tliusu under the control of the Public School Society) was placed 
 in the hands of inspectors, trustees, and commissioners elected by the 
 people ; and so all schools were allowed to participate in the benetits of 
 the public funds according to the number of their scholars ; but such 
 participation was prohibited to any school in which any religious sectarian 
 doctrine or tenet should l)e taught, inculcated, or practised. 
 
 Both contestants were dissatisfied. The friends of the Public School 
 Society regarded the measure as a serious blow to popular education. 
 The Roman Catholics considered the exclusion of all religious instruction 
 from the schools as most fatal to the moral and religious principles of 
 their children, and said : " Our only resource is to establish schools of 
 our own." The Public School Society kept up its organization several 
 years longer, but, convinced of the superiority of the State system, it 
 was dissolved in 1853, and some of its members took seats in the Board 
 of Education, whi(!h was organized in 1842. That board has ever since 
 had the supreme control of public instruction in the city of New York. 
 
 Under the auspices of the Board of Education a nornud school was 
 established in the city of New York in lS(!',t. An elegant, spacious, and 
 well-e(]uippud ediKce for its use was completed in 1873, and the school 
 was opened in Septeml)er, that year, under the title of " The New \ ork 
 Normal College." * Already a State Normal School had been estab- 
 lished at Albany (1844), as we have observed, under the control of an 
 E.^ecutive Committee comjjosed of the Superintendent of Common 
 Schools and four other gentlemen. 
 
 In the fall of 1842 aiiother political revolution in the State of Xew 
 York occurred. The AVhig Party was overthrown, and William 
 C. Bouck, the Democratic candidate for governor, was elected by about 
 twenty-two thousand majority.f The Democrats also elected a large 
 majority of the members of both branches of the Legislature. The 
 Abolitionists, who were chiefly Whigs, gave to their candidate for gov- 
 ernor — AlvjMi Stuart^about seven thousand votes. 
 
 * The Normal College in New York is devoted to tlie trainiiifr of female leailiers. 
 All its teachers, outside the faculty, are women. The building, froutiug on Si.My-eighth 
 Street, is an elegant one, four stories in height. 
 
 \ William C. Bouck was liorn in Schoharie, N. Y'., in 1786 ; died there in April, 1859. 
 In 1812 he was appointed sheriff of Schoharie County. He was a member of the 
 Assembly, 1813-15 ; State Senator in 1820, and canal commissioner, 1821-40. From 1843 
 to 1845 he was Governor of the State, and in 1846 was a member of the State Constitu- 
 tional Convention. From ]S4(> to 1849 he was assistant treasurer in New York City, 
 after which he devoted himself to agriculture. 
 
498 
 
 THE K^IPIRE STATE. 
 
 Governor Bouck took his seat at the i)eginning of 1843. In February 
 Silas Wriglit, wlio now ranked among the ablest members of the Senate 
 of the United States, was re-ele(^ted to a seat in that body for six years. 
 The new State administration was moving on quietly and harmoniously, 
 when Colonel Samuel Young, the Secretary of State, created much 
 excitement in and out of the Legislature by declining to carry out one 
 of its important orders. 
 
 Several years before, the Legislature authorized a geological survey of 
 the State under the supervision of competent scientists. It was now 
 completed, and their elaborate report, in ten volumes, accompanied by 
 numerous illustrations, was submitted to the Legislature. That body 
 ordered three tiiousand copies to be printed and deposited witii the 
 
 Secretary of State for distribution 
 among the State officers and mem- 
 bers of the Legislature. 
 
 In a communication to the Leg- 
 islature, in March, tiie Secretary of 
 State declined to carry out the pro- 
 visions of the act. lie declared it 
 to be unconstitutional, because it 
 had failed to receive the assent of 
 two tliirils of all the members elect- 
 ed to each House, as directed by 
 the (Constitution. He pointed out, 
 with stinging words of censure, 
 other violations of the Constitution 
 by the Legislature in the creation 
 of stocks and the grants of public 
 money. He said : 
 " i\nilions of outstanding stocks are now impcTuling over the State 
 which were (-reated by laws in clear and direct hostility with the ])lain 
 provisions of the (Constitution ; null and void in their inception, and 
 imposing not even the shadow of a moral obligation for the fulfilment of 
 their ostensible demands."' 
 
 These assertions created instant and warm debates in the Legislature 
 and alarm among the holders of these securities. That alarm was soon 
 quieted by resolutions adopted by the Legislature, declaring that the 
 State would sacredly fulfil all its obligations without regard to technical 
 informalities. The secretary, however, persisted in refusing to comply 
 with the law during his whole official term. 
 
 At this time the State was nnu*h agitated by the presentation of a 
 
 <=^.- 
 
 W^A %////f^ \' 
 
 / 
 
 WII.T.IAM r. BOUCK. 
 
AXTI-RKXTISM. 499 
 
 social problem which had been pressing for a solution for some time. It 
 was a question of land tenure. 
 
 We have noticed the acquirement of vast tracts of land in New 
 Netherland, under tlie Dutch rule, by privileged persons callad patroons. 
 After the old war for independence, when the laws of primogeniture 
 were abolished, a large pro])oition of the land of the settled ])iirt of the 
 State of New York was held by these patroons, and tiic cultivators of 
 the estates occupied farms on leases for one or more lives, or from year 
 to year, stipulating for the payment of rents, duos, and services, some- 
 what after the manner of the old feudal tenures in IlollaTid and England. 
 These feudal tenures having also been abolished, the proprietors of 
 manor grants contrived a form of deed by which the grantees agreed to 
 pay rents and dues almost precisely as before. These temires became 
 burdensome and odious to the tillers ; and in 1839 associations of farmers 
 were formed for the purpose of devising a scheme of relief from the 
 burdens. They were the tenants of J'atroon Van Kensselaer, who had 
 just died. 
 
 This movement soon l)ecauie known as " anti-rentisin.'' It speedily 
 manifested itself in open resistance to the service of legal processes for the 
 collecting of manorial rents. The first overt act of lawlessness that 
 attracted public attention was in the town of Grafton, in Rensselaer 
 County, where a band of anti-renters killed a man. Yet the criminal 
 was never discovered. 
 
 In 1841 and 1842 Governor Seward in In's messages recommended the 
 reference of the alleged grievance and matters in dispute on botii sides 
 to arbitrators, and appointed three men to investigate and report to the 
 Legislature. Nothing was accomjjlished, and the disaffection spread 
 and was intensihed. So rampant was tiie insuljordination to law in 
 Delaware County that the governor (Silas Wright) in 1845 recommended 
 legislation for its suppression,* and declared the county in a state of insur- 
 rection. Finally the trial and conviction of a few persons for conspiracy 
 
 * Tlie Loffislature passed an " act to prevent persons appearing disguised and armed." 
 It authorized the arrest of all persons wlio appeared having tiieir faces concealed or dis- 
 colored, wlio might be punished as vagrants. It authorized sheriffs to call a posse to his 
 aid in making arrests. 
 
 At about the same time an Anti-Rent State Convention wa.s held at Berne, in Albany 
 County, at which great moiieration was displayed by the chief actors in il. Eleven 
 counties and a greater number of associations were represented. They disapproved the 
 outrages that had been committed ; appointed a State Central Committee and a committee 
 to present petitions to the Legislature. A newspaper called The (hinrdiaii of the Soil, 
 devoted to the anti-rent cause, was published at AUiany, and was conducted with much 
 ability and prudence. 
 
iiOO THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 uiiil i-t'.sist;int'C' to thu liiws, iiud tlicir cniitiiieinoiit in the State prison, 
 oaused ;i cessation of all operations by the masked bands. 
 
 Tiiere was so imicii popular sympathy manifested in behalf of tiie 
 anti-renters that the association in 1839 organized a political party favor- 
 able to their cause. It succeeded in 1S42, and for several yeai"s after- 
 ward, in clectins^ one eighth of the Legislature, who favored anti-rentism ; 
 and in the revised Constitution of 184fi a clanse was inserted abolishing 
 all feudal tenures and incidents, and forbidding the leasing of agricul- 
 tural lands for a longer term than twelve years. 
 
 Tlie Democratic Party triumphed in the State and nation in 1844. 
 James K. Polk was elected President of the United States, and Silas 
 "Wright was chosen Governor of New York by a majority of more than 
 ten tliousand votes over ^Millard Fillmiux'. His majority in New York 
 city alone was three thousand three hundred and eighty-six. 
 
 The same year was made memorable by the successful establishment 
 of instantaneous eoniMUUiication between distant places by means of the 
 electro-magnetic telegraph, to which intelligence and a language had 
 recently been given Ijy a citizen of New York — Professor S. F. B. 
 Morse. A line of telegraphic communication between Baltimore and 
 Washington had just been completed, and the first public message sent 
 over it was an announcement from Baltimore of the nomination of Mr. 
 Polk for the presidency by the Democratic Convention then in session in 
 that city. Other lines were speedily set up, largely through the wonder- 
 ful executive al)ility of Henry O'Reilly, of New York, who was the 
 editor of the first daily newspaper (at Rochester, N. Y.) established 
 between the Hudson River and the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 Governor Wright's administration was a quiet one, disturbed only by 
 the anti-rent excitements, which he did much to suppress. These excite- 
 ments gradually sulisided, and only in courts of law were the associations 
 seen.* 
 
 Governor Wright, like Governors Marcy, Seward, and Bouck, made 
 special efforts to increase the efiiciency of the conunon-school system of 
 the State. In his first message to the Legislature he said : 
 
 " Our school fund is not instituted to make our children and youth 
 either partisans in politics or sectarians in religion, but to give them 
 education, intelligence, sound principles, good moral liabits, and a free 
 and independent spirit ; in short, to make them American freemen and 
 
 * Stephen van Rensselaer, the eldest son of tlie last patroon, and who inherited the 
 estate, sold his interest in the lands of the great manor to a judieious kinsman hy mar- 
 riage, who made amicable arrangements with all the tenants for the rent, sale, and pur- 
 cliiuse of the fnniis. 
 
TEXAS, AND WAR WITH MEXICO. 501 
 
 American citizens, and to <|nalifv tlieni to judge and choose for tlieni- 
 selves in matters of politics, rclii,non, and ^ovenunotit. . . . No public 
 fund of tlie State is so unpretending, yet so all-pervading ; so little seen 
 yet so universally felt ; so mild in its exactions, yet so bountiful in its 
 benefits ; so little feared or courted, and yet so powerful as this fund for 
 the support of common schools. The other funds act upon the secular 
 interests of society ; its business, its pleasures, its pride, its passions, its 
 vices, its misfortunes. This acts upon its mind and its morals." 
 
 The common-school system of the State of New York is its chief 
 glory. The annals of that system form the brightest and most important 
 page in the history of the commonwealth. Whoever shall directly or 
 indirectly conspire to use it for any other than its high and holy mission, 
 to entangle it in the miserable meshes of political strife or the more 
 unholy warfare of religious denominationalism, should be regarded by 
 every true American citizen as a public enemy, and treated as such. 
 
 It was at about this time that the Democratic Party in the State pre- 
 sented two opposing factions, called respectively "Barn-burners" and 
 "Hunkers." The former M'ere progressive. They were for reform — 
 radicals,' anti-slavery men, and sympathizers with the anti-renters who 
 had burned barns ; hence the name given this faction in derision. The 
 " Huidvers" were conservatives ; non-progressive, " old fogies." The 
 Native American Party, recently organized, was a disturbing element in 
 both parties, and being largely composed of former members of the 
 Whig Party, it somewhat diminished the political strength of that 
 party. 
 
 The Democratic national administration took a bold step in 1845 in 
 the interest of the slaveholders, who desired an expansion of the territory 
 of the United States on its south-western borders in order to provide 
 more ample breathing spacefor their peculiar institution, then threatened 
 with suffocation by overcrowding. On that border lay the independent 
 State of Texas, which had been wrested from Mexico by filibusters from 
 the United States. Its annexation to our republic was determined upon. 
 The South, as a unit, favored the measure ; the North generally opposed 
 it. President Tyler, who had deserted the party (the Whigs) which had 
 elected him, favored the annexation. Texas consented. James K. 
 Polk, of Tennessee, Tyler's successor in office, urged it ; and on Jidy 
 4th, 1S45, the annexation of Texas was effected. 
 
 Mexico had never acknowledged the independence of Texas. It 
 remonstrated in vain against the annexation. The United States sent an 
 " Army of Observation" into Texas, on the border of Mexico ; and in 
 1846 war between the two countries began. It ensued in the conquest 
 
502 THE EMPIKE STATE. 
 
 by the United States troops of the Mexican territories of California and 
 New Mexico. 
 
 Texas was so large that it was designed to divide it into five slave- 
 labor States, and so increase the political power of the Southern oligarchy. 
 Happily this scheme was never accomplished. In tlie whole iiii(piitons 
 plan of annexation, and the more ini(piitous war that ensued, citizens 
 of New York — politicians and volunteer soldiers — bore a conspicuous 
 part. 
 
THIRD REVISION OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. 503 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 The prescribed time for the consideration of amendments to the State 
 Constitution was now at hand. There was a difference of opinion as 
 to methods for the aceomphshment of this object. Many preferred 
 liaving amendments adopted by tlie Legishxture and afterward sub- 
 mitted to the peo|)le for their ratification or rejection. Others preferred 
 a convention of delegates chosen by the popular voice to discuss, form, 
 and propose amendments to be submitted to the people. 
 
 Governor Wright, who was opposed to a convention, suggested to the 
 Legislature of 1845 several amendments, which were submitted to the 
 people and approved by them at the general election in the fall. To 
 make them a part of the Constitution a vote of two thirds of the 
 members of botli houses of the Legislature was required. They failed 
 to receive the requisite number of votes. Then a convention was 
 authorized. 
 
 An election of delegates was held in April, 1846. In nearly all the 
 counties it was made a partisan question, and a majority of the delegates 
 chosen were Democrats. They assembled at Albany on June 1st, one 
 hundred and twenty-eight in number. Only one of them — General 
 James Tallmadge, of Duchess — was in the convention of 1821. 
 
 The convention was organized by the choice of ex-Lientenant-Gov- 
 ernor John Tracy for president. Tiiomas Stanbuck and Henry 
 W. Strong were appointed secretaries. A committee of seventeen was 
 appointed to formulate topics to be considered in the revision. Tliey 
 reported eighteen, and these were referred to as nniny standing com- 
 mittees. Tliey embraced different and important subjects to be discussed. 
 
 The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial departments were first con- 
 sidered. No material alterations were made in the organization of the 
 existing Executive Department. In the Legislative Department the 
 onlj' essential change was for the election of senators and assemblymen 
 by single districts. Tiie power of impeachment of public oflicers was 
 vested in the Assembly. The Senate and the judges of the Court of 
 Appeals, presided over by the lieutenant-governor, constituted the 
 tribunal for the trial of such impeachments. 
 
 The Judiciary Department was reorganized. Its power was greatly- 
 increased, while the number of judicial officers was diminished. Cen- 
 
OU-t 
 
 Tin: I'.Mriiu-: statk. 
 
 truliziition of judicial power was iiholislied, and tlie judges were made 
 dependent upon the people directly 1)}' being chosen Ijy tlie voters at 
 general elections. -V Court of Appeals was organized, to consist of 
 eight judges, four to be elected by the people, the remainder to be 
 selected from the class of justices of the Supreme Court liaving tlie 
 shortest time to serve. The judges were made removable by a concur- 
 rent resolntii)n of both houses of the Legislature. Tribunals of Concill- 
 atiiDi were authorized for tlie voluntary settlements of litigated cases. 
 
 Tiie prerogative of appointment to otKce was taiven from the governor 
 and Senate and given to the people. Tiiis ciiange gave to the latter, 
 acting in tlicir sovereign capacity, tlie vast patronage which liad Ijeeu 
 M'ielded by a central power. Some of tlie State officers composed tlie 
 commissioners of tlie Land Office and of the Canal Fund, and, with the 
 canal commissioners, constituted the CanaJ Board. 
 
 Provision was made for tlie certain payment and total extinction of 
 
 the pul)lic debt (then ai)out 817,UO(J,000) 
 within a comparatively sliort and defined 
 [)eriod. Tlie power of the Legislature in 
 creating State indebtedness without tlie sanc- 
 tion of a majority of the people, declared at 
 tlie polls at elections, was restricted, and cer- 
 tain means were ])rovided for cidarging the 
 grand canal and for the completion (jf canals 
 already l)egun. 
 
 Tiie banlcing monopoly was abolished liy 
 taking from the Legislature tlie power of 
 granting special ciiartei's for banking j)urposes. 
 Authority was given for the formation of banking and otiier corpora- 
 tions nnder general laws, but the Legislature was prohibited from 
 sanctioning the sus[)ensioii of specie payments. Bills or notes put into 
 circulation by such corporations as money M"ere required to be regis- 
 tered, and ample security given for their redemption in specie. 
 
 Provision was made for tlie preservation of the School, Literature, 
 and State Deposit funds, and tlie legitimate expenditure of the revenues 
 arising from tiiein. Tlie Legislature was also directed to provide for the 
 organization of cities and villages, with authority to restrict their powcr.s 
 of taxation, assessment. lK)rron'ing money, contracting debts, and loaning 
 their credit. 
 
 The tenure of all lands was declared to be allodial. All restrictions 
 ii])on alienation were aiiolislied, and tiie lc;ising of agricultural lands for 
 a longer term than twelve years was proliibited. 
 
 EXF.CITIVK PlilVY SKAI, 
 
AX OLIGARdIV DISAPPKAKS. 505 
 
 It was during the sessions of this convention that the first movement 
 was made for the establislunent of absohitely free schools tlirougliout the 
 State. Tlie subject was introduced by Robert Campbell, of Otsego, on 
 June 15th, in tlie form of a resohition. With a memorial on the same 
 subject from the State Convention of County Superintendents, it was 
 referred to the Committee on Education. On July 22d that committee 
 reported to the ^invention a series of resolutions, one of them providing 
 for the establishment by the Legislature of a system of free schools, for 
 the education of every child in the State between the ages of four and 
 sixteen years, whose parents were residents of the State. This resolution 
 was adopted on the day before the final adjournment of the convention, 
 but, on being reconsidered, was rejected. This desirable measure was 
 only postponed for a season. 
 
 The convention adjourned on October ;>th, after a session of about 
 four months. Although it was composed of warm partisans, there did 
 not appear the shadow of partisanship in the debates. It exhibited to 
 tlie world a spectacle never before seen. 
 
 The instrument then adopted became a mighty emancipator of the 
 people-a marvellous and puissant supporter of popular liberty and the 
 popular will. Before the convention of 1S21 every ofiicer, civil and 
 nn-litarv, with a few exceptions, was appointed by a board-the Council 
 c,f Appointment-possessed of absolute power within its legitimate 
 domain It was composed of only five members, sitting at the State 
 caintal At its own sovereign will it played at football with the ..thces 
 of trust and emolument in the State, appointing and dismissing in.n.m- 
 bents ill obedience to the Ix'hests of partisan or personal favor or dislike, 
 or the dictates of self-interest or mere caprice. 
 
 The convention of 1S21 wrested some strength from this tyranmcal 
 oligarchy. The convention of ISiG wholly annihilated this terrible 
 power, and placed the jnihlic interests under the direct control of the 
 people, the true source of all political sovereignty. 
 
 In less than a month after the adjournment of the convention the 
 people of the State, at a general election, adopted the revised Const.t^- 
 lion bv a majority of about one hundre.l and thirty thousand. At the 
 same Section John Young,* the AVi.ig and anti-rent candidate for gov- 
 
 * John ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>^<^>^, Vt., in 1803; died in New York C-Jy^n A^ 
 became an Anli-Mason in 1S2!.. a.ul was el(..te.l to Congress by the Whig.. 
 
500 
 
 TIIK E.MPIJtK STATE. 
 
 ernor, w.xs electod over Governor Wriglit ])y eleven tliousan*! miijority, 
 wliilo Addison (iardiner, tlie Duinocratii! canilidate for lieutenant-gov- 
 ernor, was elected over Hamilton Fish by about tliirteen thousand 
 majority, f )ii tlie elevation of Gardiner to the bench of the Court of 
 A])peals Mr. Fish was aj)pointed to till tlie chair of lieutenant-governor. 
 Governor Young gave special attention to the suijject of common 
 schools. The system of county superintendents had worked admirably, 
 but a growing tendency of supervisors to make the appointments to that 
 office on political grounds merely, caused widespread dissatisfaction. At 
 
 the special session of the Legisla- 
 ture in the fall of 1847 the office 
 was abolished and that of town 
 superintendent was created. The 
 best friends of popular education 
 lamented the change. Tlic schools 
 steadily retrograded in efficieiKjy. 
 Finally, in ISoC, the office of 
 school commissioner was created, 
 tiiat of town superintendent was 
 aliolislied, and that of county 
 superintendent was practically re- 
 instated. 
 
 The free - school s^-stem was 
 thoroughly discussed after the 
 adjournment of the convention of 
 ]8i6, and in the s|)ring of 1849 
 an act was passed for the estab- 
 lishment of fi'ee schools throughout the State, and the abolition of the 
 rate-bill system. Tiie law was ratified by a nuijority of one hundred and 
 fifty-eight thousand votes of tlic people, every county in the State but 
 four giving majorities for it. Tiie wliole of the expense of the scliools 
 beyond tlie State appro]>riatiou was made a tax upon the property of 
 each district. This act was sustaiiu'.d l)v a majority of three to one of tlie 
 people. At the same session teachers' institutes, which had existed for 
 some years as voluntary associations, were legally established. 
 
 Tiie free-scliool system did not work satisfactorily, owing to inequality 
 ill the taxation imposed. The peojile murmured. They rcmonstKited, 
 and clamored for a repeal of the law. Tiie <pi(^stion was submitted to 
 
 JOHN YOrXG. 
 
 elected Governor of llie Stale by the Wliiirs and Anti-Renters in 1s4T. and in 1849-.'>2 he 
 was Assistant United States Treasurer in New York City. 
 
THE WHIG PARTY IN POWEK. 
 
 507 
 
 HAMILTON FISH. 
 
 them in 1 S50, and tlie law was sustained l)y a diminished majority.* It was 
 repealed in the spring of 1851, and the rate-bill system was reinstated. ' 
 
 At the election in the fall of 1848 the Whigs were triumphant in the 
 Stiite and in the choice of Presi- 
 dent of the United States. Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor Fish t was elect- 
 ed Governor of New York, and 
 General Zaehary Taylor, a brave, 
 skilful, successful, and honest 
 military leader in the war with 
 Mexico, was chosen Chief Magis- 
 trate of the republic, with Millard 
 Fillmore, of Xew York, as Vice- 
 President. Mr. Van Buren ac- 
 cepted the nomination for Presi- 
 dent from the Free-Soil or anti- 
 slavery Democrats, and thus 
 diminished the strength of the 
 regularly nominated candidate. 
 General Lewis Cass. President 
 Taylor died in the summer of 1850, 
 his official successor. 
 
 The administration of Governor Fish (1849-51) was a very quiet one, 
 nothing of sjiecial importance in the history of the State occurring except- 
 ing the excitement concerning the repeal of the free-school law. There 
 
 * Tlie vote in favor of the free-school law iu 1849 was 249,873 against 91,951. In 18.50 
 it was 209,347 against 184.208. 
 
 f Hamilton Fisli, son of Colonel Nicholas Fish, a distinguished ofliccr of the Revolu- 
 tion, wa.s born in Xew York tity in August, 1808. Ho was graduated iit Columbia 
 College iu 1827, and was admitted to the bur in 1830. He took an active part in politics 
 in early life as a member of the Whig Party, and in 1842 he was elected to a .scat in Con- 
 gress. He denounced the principles of the Anti-Reuters, and in 1846 he was defeated by 
 them as a candidate for the office of lieutenant-governor of the State. He was after- 
 ward chosen to fill that office, and in 1848 was elected Governor of the State by a large 
 majority. In 1851 he was chosen United States Senator, and in 1854 he strenuously 
 opposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He was a most earnest supporter of the 
 Government during the late Civil War. President Grant called him to his Cabinet as 
 Secretary of State in 1869, and in that capacity he served eight years, retiring to private 
 life on the accession of President Hayes. In 1854 he was chosen President-General of the 
 Society of the Cincinnati, which office he yet (1887) holds. The next year he was chosen 
 President of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati. He has been an active and 
 influential member of the Union League Club from its organization, and has long been 
 an efficient officer of the New Y'ork Historical Society. Ilis hand and bounty are felt iu 
 many benevolent works. 
 
 and Vice-President Fillmore became 
 
508 
 
 Tin; lO.MPlllE .STATE. 
 
 ■\vas a very heated eaiivass of the matter, and at tlie fall election in lS5ii, 
 as wo have seen, there was a diminished majority against repeal. The 
 rural counties were generally for repeal. Forty-two of the Kfty-nine 
 counties of the State gave an aggregate of forty-idne thousand votes for 
 repeal, while the seventeen remaining counties, including the city of 
 New York, gave an aggregate niajority of seventy-two thousand against 
 repeal. New Yorlc City and County alone gave thirty-seven thousand 
 
 eight hundred and twenty-seven 
 votes of tiiat majority. 
 
 At tin; full election of 1850 
 Washington Hunt,* ("omptrol- 
 ler of the State, and a Wliig, 
 was elected Governor of New 
 York by a small majority over 
 Horatio Seymour. The Demo- 
 cratic candidate for lieutenant- 
 governor, Sandfonl 1-". Clmi-cli, 
 was elected. 
 
 The administration of Gov- 
 crniir Hunt was also a rjuiet 
 one. The most exciting question 
 was that of the repeal of the 
 free-school law, in the winter 
 and spring of 1851. The gov- 
 ernor urged upon the Legis- 
 lature tlie inipiiitanee of making satisfactory amendments to the law, so 
 as to secure its sustentation. Tlie Legislature was beset with petitions 
 for its re[)eal, from ta.\i)ayers of the rural districts especially. The 
 pressure was so great that tiie law-makers yielded, and repealed the law 
 in April. Tlie governor, in a subseijuent message, characterized the 
 actions of the people of the State and of the Legislature as a '" temporary 
 compromise" between the advanced views of the advocates of free 
 schools and the fears and prejudices of a majority of the taxpayers and 
 
 WAS11IN<:T<>X ihxt. 
 
 * W:isliiiii;l(m Hunt wii.s born in Windliani. X. Y., in .Vugust. LSll ; tlied iu New 
 York City in tVbniary. 186". He was a<lniittc'(i to tlit" bar at Lockport. N. Y., in 1834 ; 
 was appointed tirst judge of Niagara County in 1836, and was elected to a seat in Con- 
 gre.ss in 1843, where he served initil 1849 as ehairman of the Committee on Commerce. 
 In IS-'jl he wjis Governor of Xew York. He was a Wilis, and in 18.'i4 was one of the 
 founders of the Republican Party. He became a leader of the conservative wing. lie 
 IM-csided over the convention that nominated Mr. Lincoln for the presidency, but soon 
 aflcrward j()ini<l the Democratic Party. In 1864 lie was a delegate to the convention 
 thai nominated McClcllaii for President of the United States. 
 
THE coMMON-srnooi, find and laws. 
 
 509 
 
 inhabitants of the rural districts long accustomed to tlie existing system. 
 He said tliat the progress of public opinion iiiiglit be relied ujjon to 
 diffuse a more ]il)ural view of tlie relations of the State to its future 
 citizens. At that time the capital of the eonuiion-school fund was 
 $(1,5O((,0O0, of the revenue of 
 which nearly $l,5<iu, 00(1 juid been 
 expended during the current year 
 (1S51-52) in the payment of 
 teacliers'' wages and tlie purchase 
 of scliool libraries. The number 
 of pupils in attendance upon tlie 
 several public sciiools was 726,000. 
 The Legislature in 1852 authorized 
 the governor to appoint a special 
 commission for the revision and 
 codification of the scliool laws of 
 the State. For this task S. S. :■ 
 Randall, Deputy Superintendent 
 of Common Schools, was appoint- 
 ed. 
 
 Again the Democratic Party in 
 the State and nation acquired 
 political ascendancy. In the fall 
 of 1852 Horatio Seymour* was elected Governor of the State of !New 
 York, and General Franklin Pierce, of New HaTnpshire, was chosen 
 President of the United States by a large majority over General Winfield 
 Scott, the Whiar candidate. 
 
 '1' 
 
 IIOHATIO SKVMOIU, 
 
 * Horatio Seymour was one of the most notable of the later governors of New York. 
 He was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in Mav, 1816, and went to Utica with Iiis 
 parents in early childhood. He was educated for a lawyer, but, inlieriting a large estate 
 frnni his father, he devoted his time to the care of it. Very studious, he acciuired much 
 and varied knowledge, which he used with skill. Becoming attaelied to the staff of 
 G(i\-erii(ii- .Marey in young manhood, on which he served six vears, lie became en;imored 
 with public life. In 1841 he was elected a member of Assembly by tlie Democratic Parly, 
 and held tlie ivisitiou four j-ears. He was ehosen Speaker in 184:5. He had been elected 
 Mayor of Uliea in 1842. In IS'yZ he was elected Governor of the State. By vetoing a 
 lirohibitory liquor bill in 1854 he incurred the displeasure of the .idvocates of temperance, 
 and he was defeated as a candidate for re-election. Mr. Seymour was again elected 
 governor in 1862, in the midst of the Civil War, and he gave liis support to the Govern- 
 ment, though not very cordially. He was defeated in the fall of 18(i4. In 1888 lie was 
 nominated for the presidency, but failed to be elected. He then retired to private life, 
 but keeping a lively interest in all passing events until his death at Utica in February, 
 1886. 
 
510 
 
 Tin: E.Ml'IKK STATE. 
 
 The adiiiinistratioii of Governor Scyiiiour was also a quiet one, yet 
 important measures were adopted. In his first message (LS53) he 
 urgently reeommended provision to be made for the speedy completion 
 of the canals, and the establishment of a State agricultural college and 
 experiment;d farm. A charter for such an institution avus granted that 
 sjiring. 
 
 At a special session convened immediately after the adjournment of 
 the regular session in 1853, an act was passed for the consolidation of 
 the ward and Piiljlic School Society's schools in the city of ^'ew York, 
 and placing them umUu- the supreme control of a Board of Education, as 
 we have already observed. At that time there were two hundred and 
 
 twenty-four of these schools in the 
 city, with about l(i(i(i teachers and 
 123,r)3n pupils on register; also 2.5 
 evening schools, M'ith 40(1(1 pupils. 
 
 In the spring of 1854 the Legislature 
 created the office of State superintend- 
 ent of public instruction. The tirst 
 incumbent of this office was Victor M. 
 Ilice. The superintendent is made, ex- 
 officio, a regent of the University. At 
 that session an amendment to the Con- 
 stitution proposed the preceding year 
 was ratified, requiring an amiual ap- 
 jiropriatldU of a sum not e.\eee<ling 
 $2,25n,0()<i for the conqjletioii of the 
 canals. \n act for that puri)ose was 
 passed. The Whigs gained ascendancy in the State in the fall of 1S54-. 
 Governor Seymour had lost the favor of the friends of temperance by 
 vetoing an act ])assed by a large majority of the Legisl.-iture which 
 aimed to prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks. lie pronounced it 
 " unconstitutional, unjust, and oppressive," and declared his belief 
 that intemperance could not l^e extirpated by prohibitory laws. The 
 press and the pulpit denounced his action. He was a candidate for 
 re-election in the fall. The Whigs were not represented in the canvass. 
 A fusion convention, which met at Syracuse, nominated for governor 
 Myron II. Clark,* of Ontario, a stanch advocate of prohibitory liquor 
 
 SE.VT, OF THE DF-PAHTMENT OK Plli 
 l.IC IXSTIU'CTION. 
 
 * Myron ITallcy Clark wa.s horn in Naples, Ontario County, X. Y., Ootobor 23il, 
 1806, and has been a resident of that connly ever since. His father, .Joseph Clark, was a 
 native of Cuninirton, Berkshire Comity, Ma.ss. ; his frrandfatliers were natives of Con- 
 necticut. He attended the eonunon schools of his native town three winter months each 
 
FORMATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. 
 
 oil 
 
 laws, and he was elected over both Seyiiiour and Daniel Ullinan, the 
 candidate of the Native American Party. There was a Whig majority 
 in both branches of the Legislature. 
 
 During that year a new national party was formed, and grew vigor- 
 ously. It was composed largely of progressive and independent Whio-g 
 and many Democrats. It is claimed that Jackson, Mich., was the place of 
 its nativity, and July 0th, 1854, the 
 time of its birth, when a political 
 convention was held at that place 
 pursuant to a call signed by more 
 than ten thousand names. The 
 chief planks in the platform con- 
 structed by the convention were 
 opposition to the extension of 
 slavery and its al)olition in the 
 District of Columbia. The name 
 of " Republican " was given to 
 the new party. 
 
 Two years later tlie Republican 
 Party was thoroughly organized 
 and strong in numbers. They 
 nominated Colonel J. C. Fremont 
 for President of the United States 
 in l.S5(i. lie was defeated by 
 
 liis Democratic competitor, James Buchanan. Fremont received one 
 hundred and fourteen of the two hundred and eighty-eight electoral 
 votes cast. At tlie next presidential election (iSG(t) the Republican 
 candidate, Abraham Lincoln, was elected by a majority of fifty-seven of 
 the electoral votes over three other candidates — Breckinridge, Douglas, 
 and Bell. It was the final political triumph of the anti-slavery men 
 
 MYHOX n. CLARK. 
 
 year, and worked on his father's farm the remainder of the year until lie wa.s eighteen 
 years of age, when he became a merchant's clerk in his town. At the age of twenty-one 
 lie became a clerk in Canandaigua. Two years later he returned to Naples and engaged 
 in mercantile business on his own account witli partners, and married in 18ii0. In 1837 
 lie was elected sheriff of the county, and made Canandaigua his residence, where he still 
 resides. At the close of his term of office he again engaged in trade. In 1851 Mr. Clark 
 w.'"' "lected State Senator, where he was distinguished for his advocacy of legislative 
 enactments in linor of temperance. He was chairman of the committee that reported the 
 "Bill for the Suppression of Intemperance," which, as we have observed. Governor 
 Seymour vetoed. Senator Clark was the leader of the debates on tlie subject. He had 
 served only one half of a second term in the Senate when he was elected Governor of the 
 State, in 1854. He was appointed United States Collector of Internal Revenue in 1863. 
 
51-^ THE EMIMUE STATE. 
 
 ami women of tlio Union. an<l li'il to tliu speedy cnianclpatioii of tlie 
 slaves in every i)avt of tlie lie[)ulilic. 
 
 After ^Ir. Lincoln's iiianj^uration, in the spring of l^'U, the Tlepnli- 
 lican Party retained its domination of the National (iovermnent for 
 abont a quarter of a century, and heeaine a great liistoric party. ]\Iean- 
 wliilc, as usual, Xew "\ ork was an " uncertain" State in |>olitical calcu- 
 lations, for its political aspect frequently changed, tlie Ifepublican and 
 Democratic parties alternately holding the reins of power. 
 
 Governor Clark, in his first message to the Legislature (1855), called 
 their attention to a pending controversy with the State authorities of 
 Virginia concerning the force and operations of tlie infamous Fugitive 
 Slave Law passed hy Congre.ss in 1850, wiiicli made every citizen a slave- 
 catcher.* Its practical operations aroused the slunihering con.scieiice of 
 the people of the free-labor States and their intelligence to the danger 
 foreshadowed by the increasing aggressiveness of the upholders of the 
 slave system ; and several of these States passed "Personal Liberty" 
 bills in opposition to the obnoxious law. 
 
 The State of Xew York had statutory laws already wliicli met the ca-^e, 
 and when, late in 1852, Jonathan Lemon, of Xorfolk, \a., brouglit 
 eight slaves to Xew York City for resliipment to Texas, they were taken 
 before Judge Paine, of tiie Sujicrior (Jourt, on a writ of Iiahcax rorpiin 
 to claim their riglit to freedom undei- the provisions of a law of the State 
 which declared that every slave should be free on touching its soil when 
 brought thither by his or her alleged owner. The judge set them free, 
 and they tied to Canada. The ca.se was lirought Ijefore the Supreme 
 Court of the United States, which sustained Judge Paine's decision. 
 
 This case produced very great excitement in the slave-labor States, 
 and was tlie beginning of the preliminary skirmishes l)etween the friends 
 of freedom and of slavery which immediately preceded the civil war 
 kindled in 1801 by the slaveocraey for the perpetuation and nationalizing 
 of the system of hopeless bondage for the African race in the United 
 States. f Some of the most violent of these skirmishes, resulting soiiie- 
 
 * Tlie law provided tliiit the master of a fugitive slave or his ajent mislit jro into any 
 State or Territory, and witli or without Icjral warrant tliere obtained seize sueh fujritiv.- 
 and take liim before any judije or eommissioner, declare that the fugitive " owed lalH>r" 
 to the parly who arrested him. when it was the duty of the judge to use the power of his 
 otlice to take the alleged fugitive hack to bondage. In ii'> nisf n/iniild t/ie tislijii'iiii/ nf 
 xurh alkged fiir/itiri' Ik' luhiiittcil in eridenrf. It further provided that no impediment 
 .should be put in the way of the slave-catcher by any process of law or otherwise, and any 
 citizen might be compelled to imm'st in the eaptiire and rendition of the dure. 
 
 f Threat-s of disunion freely uttered in 1850 to accelerate the pa.s.sage of the Fugitive 
 Slave Law were now heard echoing from Stale to Slate in the South. The Governor of 
 
COKSCIENCE AND .MAMMON. 
 
 513 
 
 times ill bloodshed, occnri'ed in tlic then recently organized Territory of 
 Kansas. 
 
 The decision of Judge Paine was foUowed by the flight of slaves from 
 tiondage, through INew York and Ohio, to Canada. They were secretly 
 aided iu their exodus by the friends of freedom in ^'e\v York City. 
 The process was known as the " I'nderground Railroad," of which New 
 York was the principal .station. The consequence was Southern dealers 
 became suspicious of Xew York 
 merchants, and began to withdraw 
 their trade. The effect was very 
 demoralizing. ^lany merchants 
 engaged in the Southern trade be- 
 came obedient slaves of Mammon 
 and the Southern oligarchy at the 
 .saeritice of self-respect. " I am 
 ashamed to own,"' said one of these 
 merchants to me, '' tlmt when ovir 
 Soutliern customers were in town, 
 I felt compelled to order my clerks 
 not to let the Trlhune be seen in 
 the store, for it would not do to 
 let such customers know that I gave 
 any countenance to that abolition 
 
 , ' ' II .1 , , , ,. .Tl>IIX A. KINO. 
 
 sheet. I'rom the bottom or my 
 heart I despised myself."' 
 
 Little of special importance in the history of New York occurred 
 between the administration of Governor Clark and the kindling of the 
 Civil War in 1861, when the State put forth its giant strength in defence 
 of the life of the imperilled nation. Then the city of New York, so 
 conservative before that crisis, became the foremost city in the republic 
 in su])port of the National Government. 
 
 Jnlui A. Kinsi; * succeeded Mr. Clark as governor in 1857. His 
 
 Virginia declared that if tlie decision of Judge Paine should he suslained all coniily 
 belween the States would be destroyed, and the value of "slave property" he greatly 
 diminished. Governor Howell Cobb, of Georgia, who, as Secretary of the United States 
 Treasury in the Cabinet of President Buchanan, conspired to destroy the republic, 
 declared that it was a sufflcieiit cau.se for making war on the Union. 
 
 * John Alsop King, son of Hon. Rufus King, was born in the city of Xew York 
 January 3d, 1788. He accompanied his father— who was Minister at the court of St. 
 James— to England, and while there attended the famous school at Harrow. .Among Iiis 
 fellow-pupils were his brother Charles, late President of Columbia College, Lord Byron, 
 and Robert Peel. On his return home he studied law and was admitted to the bar. Iu 
 
514 
 
 Tin; KMl'IKK STATE. 
 
 aclniinistnitioii was quiet and uiievuntfiil. lie reeoiiiinonded a judicious 
 revision of tlie excise laws, and submitted to the Legislature a proposed 
 
 eonstitutioiud anicudnient extend- 
 ing the right of suffrage to col- 
 ored \'otei's •without a propcity 
 qualificiition ; also a strenuous 
 resistance on the ])art of the 
 Legislature to the furtliei' exten- 
 sion of slavery in the Territoi'ies. 
 In the autumn of 1S5.S Ed- 
 win 1). .Moi'gan," a ilisfinguished 
 merchant of ^«ew \ oi'k City, 
 was elected hy the Republicans 
 Governor of the State by a ma- 
 jority of aliout seventeen thou- 
 sand. It was during his adminis- 
 tration that the tierce Civil War 
 in the nation was begun. 
 
 Kational alTairs had now begun 
 to attract unusual attention, and there was widespread uneasiness in the 
 pui)lic nn"nd. The shivery <|uestion had been brought conspicuously to 
 the front in the arena of pul)lic discussion by the virtual repeal of the 
 
 tlie War of 1812-1.') he served u-s lieutenant of a troop of Iiorse, and continued in the 
 service unlil tlie close of llie contest, after wliieli he look up his residence at .Jamaica, 
 Long Island, and there passed the remainder of liis life in the business of airrieulture. 
 Si.v times Mr. King represented Queens County in the Assembly, and once in the Senate 
 of liis native State. In 182.J he was Secretary of Legation to Great Britain under his 
 father. He represented his district in Ilie Congress of the L'niled States in 1849-.51, and 
 was verj' active in opjiositiou to the compromise measures of the so-called " Omnibus 
 Bill " of IS.W, especially that of tlie l-'ugitive Slave Hill. He warmly advocated the 
 admission of California as a frec-Iabo. Slate. 3Ir. King was an active member of the 
 ■\Vliig Parly, and in the organization of the Hepublican Party in 18."i4. In 18.')(i he was 
 elected the first Hepublican Governor of Xew York, and w.-is an earnest promoter of the 
 canal .system of the State. Governor Morgan appoinled him a delegate to the notable 
 Peace Congress at Washington early in 1861. He took his seat therein, and this was his 
 last public net. On July 4th, 1807. he was addressing the young men of Jamaica, who 
 bad just raised a new flag, and as he uttered the words, " Life is all before you, but men 
 like me are passing away," he was suddenly smitten \vitli paralysis, and died three days 
 afterward, m the eightieth year of liis age. 
 
 * Edwin Deniiisoii Morgan was born in AVashingtoii. Mass., in February. 1811. With 
 a grocer in Hartford, Conn., lie was first a cUrk (I8','S), and in 18:il a partner in busine.s.<. 
 He removed to Xew York in ls:i(), where he ]iursiicd the .sime business successfully, and 
 accuinulate<l a large fortune. From 1H4!I to 18.")3 he was Slate Senator, and was made 
 chairman of the State Hiiiublicaii Comiiiittee. In 18.")!) lie look his seat as Governor of 
 Xew York, and retained it until 18U3, being one of the most active of the famous " war 
 
THE .lOIIX 15ROWX UAIT). 515 
 
 Missouri Compromise, in 1S54-, and tlie violent stiMifjijle for tiie mastery 
 in Kansas between the defenders and opposers of the slave system. 
 Threats of disunion flew tliick and fast from tlie lips of Southern 
 political leaders, and the ominous mutteringsof a gathering tempest were 
 heard. 
 
 During the summer and early autumn of 1859 an unusual quiet seemed 
 to pervade the political atmosphere. The violent agitation of the slavery 
 question had almost ceased, and it was hoped liy many that permanent 
 public repose was nigh, when sudderdy, in October, news flashed over 
 the laud that " an insurrection has broken out at TIarper's Ferry, where 
 an armed band of Abolitionists have full possession of the (Tovernmcnt 
 Arsenal."" This was the famous " John Brown raid," which kindled a 
 blaze of intense excitement in the slave-labor States, and which was 
 fanned into the fearful conflagration of a four-years' civil war of unpar- 
 alleled extent and dcstructiveness. 
 
 The events of the year 18(50 rank among the most nmmentou.s in the 
 history of our republic. In these events every State in the Union was a 
 participant in feeling and interest. John Brown had been hanged for 
 his foolish but philanthropic attempt to inaugurate a servile insurrection 
 in favor of liberty in Yirginia. The bitterness it engendered was nursed 
 into the most intense implacability. The Republican Party was wrong- 
 full}' charged with having originated and promoted John Brown's 
 attenqit to liberate the slaves ; and in the canvass for the Presidency of 
 the republic in 1800 the zeal displayed by the opposing parties was unex- 
 ampled in warmth and persistence. 
 
 For uuuiy years a conspiracy for destroying the Union and establishing 
 an enquire, the corner-stone of which should be the system of human 
 slavery, had been ripening in secret among leading politicians of the 
 slave-labor States. The}* had clearly ]ierceived that the " peculiar 
 institution" and the domination of the National (iovernment by the 
 Southern oligarchy was foredoomed, by the power of public opinion, to a 
 speedy close. They madly believed that in the crisis at band was their 
 golden opiiortuiuty to carry out their designs. They proceeded to " Are 
 the Southern heart" by declaring that the success of the Ile|)ublican 
 Party in the jiending presidential election would result in the ruin of the 
 
 governors" of that period. Stimulated by liis zeal, liis State Legislature voted men and 
 money lavislily in support of tlie imperilled National Government. In 18G1 he wasereateil 
 major-general of \oluntiers, but resijrned in 1863. At about that time he was ehosen to 
 represent New York in the United States Senate. Governor Morgan was distinguished 
 for his untiring zeal in pliilanthropie work and the promotion of Christian institutions. 
 For these objects his gifts were nuniilicent. lie died on February Htli, 1883. 
 
510 TIIK KMI'lIti: STATE. 
 
 Southern States if acquiesced in, and tliat it would aiTord ample warrant 
 for the secession of the slave-labor States from the Union, and the fr)rma- 
 tion of an independent <rovernment. 
 
 To this end the few conspirators worked. Thoy cast into the Demo- 
 cratic national nominating convention at Charleston in 1800 an apple of 
 discord which (taused a disruption of the party and gave strength to the 
 Kopnblicans, who nonnnateil Abraham Lincoln, an avowed anti-slavery 
 man, for the presidency of the republic. This tlie unwise conspirators, 
 *' deprived of reason,"' believed to be a sure prophecy of their triunij)]! 
 and a golden oppoi-tniuty. They sent out tlieir emissaries to " lire the 
 Southern heart" by inthimmatory harangues ; aiul so well diil they suc- 
 ceed that when it was known that Mr. Lincoln was elected, a larger pro- 
 portion of the people in the slavedabor States, deceived by sophistry, 
 misled by false statements, and benumbed by undefinable dread, were 
 ready to submit passively to the will of these fiery politicians, who got 
 np congenial conventions that passed ordinances of secession, which they 
 never did (for they never dared), to ask the people to consider and act 
 upon. 
 
 South Carolina, in M-hich the serpent of secession was hatched from 
 the egg of Nullitication, was the first to "secede" — on paper — on 
 Decendjer 2i>th, ISOli, and having announced its " sovereignty," pro- 
 ceeded to make war upon the '' foreign" Government of the United 
 States. That (Jovernment, ])aralyzed by fear or something more serious, 
 acted so feebly at lirst against rampant disloyalty in its very presence, 
 and widespread treason, that conventions in State after State passed 
 ordinances of secession, and made Avar upon the National Government in 
 various forms, with impunity. The representatives of European mon- 
 archies at Washington sent home the tidings pleasing to the ears of the 
 enemies of self-government, that the days of the great republic of the 
 West were numbered. " The wish was father to tlie thought." 
 
 It is not the province of this work to give more than passing allusions 
 to the history of the Civil War. Its (du'ef task is to give a compendious 
 narrative of the most important actions of the State of New York during 
 that fearful struggle. 
 
TOKENS OF AX APPKOACITIXG TEMPKST. 517 
 
 CHAPTER XXX \^ 1 1. 
 
 At the beginning of the Civil "War in 1S61 — the great crisis in onr 
 national history— the conunonwealtii of New York was, indeed, the 
 "Empire State" of the republic. Its population then was 3,S>S2,000. 
 Its taxable property was assessed at $1,425,000,000. Its chief city, by 
 the sea, contained a cosmopolitan population of more than 800,000. 
 The foreign commerce within its revenue district, exports and imports, 
 amounted in value to $375,000,000 in 1S60. This population, wealth, 
 and commerce fairly entitled New York to the honor of being the 
 national metropolis. 
 
 New York City then (as now) was an eminently commercial mart. 
 The influence of trade fashioned its general policy in a remarkable 
 degree. 
 
 The best condition for commerce is peace. AVhen the storm-clouds of 
 civil war, though no "bigger than a man's hand," began to appear at 
 the close of ISOO, the business liien of the city were ready to make enor- 
 mous sacrifices of sentiment and pride for the preservation of peace. 
 Hence, as we have observed, the citizens of New York were very con- 
 servative at the beginning of the trouble. They watched the approach- 
 ing tempest as it gathered energy with mingled incredulity and uneasi- 
 ness ; and they anxiously observed the faint-heartedness or indifference 
 of the National Government at that time of peril, with gloomy fore- 
 bodings. Treason was then rampant and defiant at the national capital, 
 and sapjjers and miners were working secretly and openly for the destruc- 
 tion of the great temple of liberty in the West. At that hour of greatest 
 despondency, the trumpet voice of the newly-appointed Secretary of the 
 Treasury (John A. Dix, of New York) rang throughout the nation, say- 
 ing to an officer of the revenue service at New Orleans, "If any one 
 attemjyts to haul doivn the American flag, shoot him- on the spot .'" That 
 utterance was hailed by the loyal people of the land with hope and joy 
 as a sure prophecy of salvation for the republic. 
 
 Tiie Legislature of N"cw York was then eminently loyal. There were 
 thirty-eigiit Repulilicans and nine Democrats in the Senate, and ninety- 
 eight Republicans and thirty-five Democrats in the Assembly. When 
 that I)ody asseml)led on January 2d, I'^fil, the whole country was in a 
 fever of intense e.xcitement. The message of Governor Morgan to the 
 
518 THE EMPIRE STATE, 
 
 Legislature was calm, digiiiried, conservative, and even cold in compari- 
 son witli the fervor of tiie pulilic mind. In conciliatory tones he urged 
 
 r?? 
 
 ik^'^^^ ^^U/i^ ^cunt^ 
 
 ^» 
 
 
 aiay(}f^xJhu^ ^^^^^^2^^- 
 
 ^ii^cy^i^I^^ — i 
 
 ./r\ 
 
 ^^^ Jl^^'^^Yr 
 
 FAC-SIMII.E OK UlxV OUDKli. 
 
 tlie duty of all legislators to act with moderation. Reflecting the senti- 
 ments of capitalists and business men specially, he said : 
 
 " Let New York set an example in this respect ; let her oppose no 
 
PATKIOTIi^.M OF THK NEW YUKK LEUISLATIUE. 519 
 
 barrier [to conciliation], Init let her representatives in Congress ^ive 
 ready support to any just and lionorahlo settlement ; let her staiid in 
 hostility to none, but extend the hand of friendship to all. Live up to 
 the strict letter of the Constitution, and cordially unite with other 
 members of the Confederacy in proclaiming and enforcing a determina- 
 tion that the Constitution shall be lionored and the Union of tlie States 
 be preserved." 
 
 The governor even recommended the repeal of the statute which gave 
 liberty to every slave whose feet should tread the soil of New York, and 
 recommended other States to repeal their '• Personal Liberty acts." 
 There was naturally an earnest desire for peace, for war implied the 
 cancelment of millions of dollars of debt due New York merchants i)y 
 Southern customers. 
 
 The views of the Legislature were not in consonance with those of the 
 governor. That body was more disposed to be defiant and uncompro- 
 nn'sing, especially when news arrived of the overt act of armed rebellion 
 by South Carolinians in Charleston Harbor in tiring upon the tStar of 
 the West when she entered those waters laden with supplies for the 
 imperilled garrison in Fort Sumter. That act called out a patriotic 
 message from President Buchanan, and the Legislature of New York 
 spoke out in tones not to l)e misunderstood (January 11th, ISfil), saying : 
 
 '■'■Resolved, That the Legislature of New York is profoundly impressed 
 with the value of the Union, and determined to jireserve it unimpaired ; 
 that it greets with joy the recent firm, dignified, and i)atri()tic special 
 message of the President of the United States ; and we tender him, 
 througli the chief magistrate of our State, whatever aid in men and 
 money may be required to enable him to enforce the laws and uphold 
 the authority of the Federal Govermnent ; and that, in defence of the 
 Union, which has conferred prosperity and happiness upon tlie American 
 people, renewing the pledge given and redeemed by our fathers, we are 
 ready to devote our fortunes, our lives, and our sacred honor." 
 
 This patriotic proclamation by the representatives of the people of 
 New York was in vivid contrast with the utterances of the disloyal 
 Mayor of New York City (Fernando AVood) a few days before. He was 
 in sympathy with the movements of the secessionists ; and in a message 
 to the CoTumon Council (January 7th, ISGl") he advocated the secession 
 of the city from the State. 
 
 "Why should not New York City," he said, '• instead of supporting 
 by her ccmtributions in revenue two thirds of the expenses of the L nitud 
 States, become, also, equally independent? As a free city, with a 
 nominal duty on imports, her local government could be supported with- 
 
520 TIIIC K.MI'IHK STATE. 
 
 out taxation upon licr people. Tims we could live free from taxes, and 
 Iiave eiieaj) ijoods iiearly duty free. . . . When di.sunion lias liecnnie a 
 fixed and certain fact, wliy may not Kew York disrupt the bands which 
 bind her to a venal and corrupt master — to a people and a party that 
 have plundered her revenues, attempted to ruin lier connuerce, taken 
 away the power of self-government, and destroj'ed the confederacy of 
 which she was the proud empire city. "' 
 
 The Connnon Council, in political accord with the mayor, ordered 
 three thousand copies of this message to be printed in pamphlet form 
 for free distri!)ution among the people. The loyal citizens of New Yoi'k 
 condemned this revolutionary niuvenient with great severity of utterance 
 and patriotic deeds. 
 
 Tlie message of Mayor Wood and tlic bold resolution of the Legisla- 
 ture alarmed a certain class of people, who were ready to make every 
 concession to the insm-geiits consistent with honor and patriotism. A 
 memorial in favor of compromise measures, largely signed l)y merchants, 
 manuracturers, and capitalists, was sent to (Congress on .lanuary 12th, 
 Is61. It suggested the famous "Crittenden Compromise."" ( )n the 
 Istli a lartce meetinn; of merchants was held in the rooms of the Chamber 
 of Commerce, when a memorial of similar import M-as adopted, and was 
 taken to Washington early in February, with forty thousaml names 
 attached. On the 2stli an immense gathering of citizens at the Cooper 
 Union ai)pointed three connuissioners— Jaiues T. llrady, C. K. Garrison, 
 and Ajipleton Oakes Smith — to confer witJi the " delegates" of six 
 " seceded " States in conventions assend)led, in regard to " the best 
 measures calculated to restore the peace and integrity of the Union.'' 
 At al)ont the same time the Legislaturi', on the invitation of A'irginia, 
 appointed five representatives to a i)eace conference, to lie held at ^Vash- 
 ington City, l)ut with instructions not to take part in the proceedings 
 unless a majority of the free-labor States were there represented. 
 
 ^[eanwhile the pro-slavery element in New York had been aroused to 
 active sympathy with the insurgent slaveholders. An association was 
 speedily formed which was styled " The American Society for the Pro- 
 motion of National Union." They denounced the seminal doctrine of 
 the Declaration of Independence, that " all men ai'e created ei^ual," 
 
 * .John J. Crillenden, of Kcnnicky, ofTprrd in the Senate of tlie United Slates, in 
 Deeeniliei-. ii series of resolutions wliieli was called a eompronii.se Intween the people of 
 (he two sections of the eountrv, but which virtually conceded to the slaveholders and 
 their friends nearly everything for which they profes.se(l to be contending. It was before 
 Congress during the whole session, and was finally rejected on the last day (March 3il, 
 1861) by a vole of twenty against nineteen. 
 
A LEAGUE TO DESTROY THE lUCPrBMC. 521 
 
 and said : " Four millions of Immortal beings, incapable of self-care, 
 and indisposed to industry and foresight, are providentially committed 
 to the hands of our Southern friends. This stup(!ndous trust they cannot 
 put from them if they would. Emancipation, were it possible, would 
 be rebellion against Providence, and destruction of tiie colored race in 
 our land." 
 
 How strangely mediaeval appears such a sentence (written liy one of 
 the most distinguished scientists of the world) in the light of history 
 to-day ! This society, which sent its disloyal publications broadcast over 
 the land, was the mother of the mischievous Peace Faction, wiiicli pro- 
 longed and increased the miseries of the Civil War. It was the parent 
 of the brood of misguided men called '' Copperheads" during that fear- 
 ful struggle. 
 
 The exportation of fire-arms from the port of New York to the 
 Southern insurgents was begun with the year 1S61. Late in January 
 the efficient chief of police (John A. Kennedy) caused to be seized a 
 large quantity of arms consigned by an agent of the Governor of Georgia 
 to insurgents in that State and in Alabama, which had been placed on a 
 vessel bound for Savannah. This fact was telegraphed to the Georgia 
 capital. Tiobert Toombs, a private citizen, took the matter in hand and 
 peremptorily demanded of Mayor Wood whether or not the report was 
 true. The mayor answered " Yes," and said he had no power over 
 tlie police, or he would punish them for the act. The Governor of 
 Georgia retaliated l>y ordering tlie seizure of some New York merchant 
 vessels in the port of Savannah. The affair created intense excitement 
 all over the Union. It was soon amicably adjusted. 
 
 Delegates appointed by secession conventions (not of the peo))le) of 
 six States assembled at Montgomery, Ala., on February -Ith, ISfU, and 
 formed a league with the title, " Confederate States of Ajiekica" — a 
 misnomer, for no States, as States, were there represented. A Provisional 
 Constitution was adopted. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was cho.seu 
 " Provisional President," and Alexander IT. Stephens, of Georgia, was 
 made Vice-President. 
 
 Meanwhile the conspirators in Congress had been witiulrawing from 
 that body and organizing rebellion at home. President Buchanan 
 remained a passive spectator of the rising rebellion. The general- in- 
 chief of the national army (Scott) was feeble in mind and body ; and 
 when Mr. Lincoln was inangurated (March 4th, ISfil) the insurgents 
 were organized and prepared for war. They had been materially assisted 
 by treacherous mendjers of the Cabinet of the retiring President, who 
 became leaders of the insurgents. 
 
522 THE EM PI UK STATE. 
 
 South Oaroliiiiaiis liad tlockcd to C'liarlestun and ]iiled fortifications 
 around the harbor. On April 12th, IStil, thu two liundrod threat ^\ins 
 of tiiesc forts opened lire upon Fort Siunter, whicli was oeeiipied liy a 
 national garrison under tlio coninuuid of Major Anderson, a loyal Ken- 
 tuekian. TTis provisions exhausted, he M'as eoni])elled to evacuate (not 
 surrender) tlie fort, carryinij away with liini the garrison Hag. This 
 event occurred on Sunday, tlie llth. Jnst four yeai-s afterward Major 
 Anderson again unfurled that llag over the ruins of the repossessed 
 fort. 
 
 Twenty-four hours after the evacuation of Fort Sumter President 
 Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thousand militia from the several 
 States, to serve for three months in suppressing this armed rebellion. 
 The (juota of New York was seventeen regiments, or thirteen thousand 
 men. There was no longer hesitation in the Empire State. The gov- 
 ernor sent the proclamation to the Legislature, then in session. In a 
 few hours an act was passed conferring large powers on the chief magis- 
 trate, and authorizing the enrolment of thirty thousand men for two 
 years, and an a])]iropi'iation of §.''), 000, ( '0(1. 
 
 The governor issued a j)ro('lamation ordering the troops to rendezvrms 
 at Klmira and New York City. An officer sent to Washington obtained 
 the acceptance of the surplus regiments. The Secretary of War sent 
 marching orders. Contracts for a large amount of supplies were imme- 
 diately made. On April 24th an agent of the State sailed for Europe 
 M-ith a bill of credit for sr)0(),(lO(i, with which to purchase arms ; and 
 very speedily nineteen thousand Enfield rides, which cost $375,000, 
 w'ere landed at New York City. 
 
 The authorized thirty thousand men had been raised within thirty-six 
 days after the President's call for troops ; and early in July they were 
 organized into thirty-eight regiments. An active committee in New 
 York City added ten regiments ; and on July 1st — seventy-seven days 
 after the date of the President's proclamation — New York troops in 
 the field numbered forty-six thousand seven hundred. 
 
 On April 20th an immense war meeting was held in Union Square, 
 in the city of New York. So great was tlie multitude that it was 
 divided into four sections, jiresided over respe<!tively by John \. Dix, 
 JIaniilton Fish, ex-Mayor llavcmeyer, and Moses li. Grinnell." 
 
 * !Mose.s H. Grinnell, an eminent merchant of New York City, was born at New Betl- 
 fonl. Mass.. in JIarili. 1803, and died in New York in November, 187". lie was 
 eduealed at private schools and al an academy belonging to the Society of Friends, nr 
 Quakers. Bred a merchant, he frequently went al)road as supercargo. He removed to 
 New York, and in 1829 he became one of the tirm of Orinnill. Alinturn \- Company, a 
 
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE IN NEW YORK. 
 
 523 
 
 Speeches frauglit with intense fervor were made, and ])atriotic resohi- 
 tions were adopted. That meeting effectually removed the false im- 
 pression that the greed of commerce was stronger than patriotism in 
 New York City. The insurgents, who evidently thought so, M-ere dis- 
 appointed. One of their organs, tlie liiclinmnd Deyiaich, said : " New 
 York will be remembered with special hatred by tlie South for all time." 
 
 At that meeting a Commit- 
 tee of Safety was appointed, 
 composed of the most distin- 
 guished citizens of New York. 
 They met on the same evening, 
 and organized the famous Union 
 Defence Committee.* Its room 
 (30 Pine Street) was open every 
 day, and at the Fifth Avenue 
 Hotel every evening. The 
 committee was charged witli the 
 duty of representing '" the citi- 
 zens in the collection of funds 
 and the transaction of such other 
 business, in aid of the move- 
 ments of the Government, as 
 the public interests may re- 
 quire." Its existence continued 
 about a3'ear, during which time 
 
 it disbursed about $1,000,000, wliicli the corporation of New York ap- 
 propriated for war purposes and placed at its disposal. It assisted in the 
 e([uipmeiit, etc.. of forty-nine regiments, or about forty thousand men. 
 It spent of the city funds for military purposes nearly $759,000, and for 
 the relief of soldiers' families, $230,000. Within ten days after the 
 
 house founded many years before by Joseph Grinnell and Preserved Fish. Mr. Grinnell 
 was one of the chief promoters of the expedition to the Arctic seas in scarcli of Sir .John 
 Franklin, which was led by Dr. E. K. Kane, 1853-03. He was a member of Congres.s, 
 1839-41, and in 1869-71 he was Collector of the Port of New York. 
 
 * The members of the Union Defence Committee were : John A. Dix, Clmirmaii ; 
 Simeon Draper, Vice-Chairman ; "William M. 'EtoxXs, Semtnry ; Theodore Delion. 
 Treasurer ; Moses Taylor, Richard M. Blatchford, Edwards Pierrepont, Alexander T. 
 Stewart. Samuel Sloan, John Jacob Astor, Jr., John J. Cisco, James S. AVadsworlh, 
 Isaac Bell, James Boorman. Charles H. JIar.shall, Rolicrt II. McCurdy, Moses H. Grinnell, 
 Royal Phelps, William E. Dod^c, Green C. Bronson. Hamilton Fish, AVilliam F. Have- 
 meyer, Charles H. Russell, James T. Brady, Rudoli)h A. Whittliaus, Abiel A. Low, 
 Prosper M. Wetmore, A. C. Richards, and the mayor, comptroller, and the presidents of 
 the two boards of the Common Council of the City of New Y'ork. 
 
 MOSES n. (iUINNEI.L. 
 
524 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 President's call for troop?, tlmt coimiiittee liad font to tlie field from the 
 city of New York fully ten thousmul men, M'ell armed and equijjped. 
 
 Among the regiments that went from the city of New York was the 
 famous Seventh, National Guard, commanded by Colonel Marshall 
 Letferts. It was composed chiefly of young men of the best families 
 in the city. Just as it was about to march news came of an attack upon 
 Massachusetts troops in Baltimore by a mob. The regiment was fur- 
 nished with ball cartridges. As it nuirched down Broadway it was 
 greeted at every step by multitudes of the citizens on sidewalks and 
 balconies, and from windows. At the ferry it wsis joined b}' a Massa- 
 chusetts regiment accompanied by General B. F. r>utler. Both regi- 
 ments M'cre speeding across New eTersey by railway at evening twilight. 
 
 Hundreds of families wooed sleep in vain that night. They knew 
 that l)lood h;ul been shed in Baltimore, and that their loved ones were 
 in innuinont ])eril. But patriotism triumphed over personal considera- 
 tions. The enthusiasm of tlie people was marvellous. The women were 
 as patriotic as the men. Five brothers of a New York family enlisted 
 and marched away. Their mother was absent at the time. She wrote 
 to her husbaiul : 
 
 " Though 1 have lo\'tHl my children with a love that only a mother 
 knows, yet when I look upon the state of my country, I cannot withhold 
 them. In the name of their God, and their mother's God, and their 
 country's God, I bid them go. If I had ten sons instead of five I should 
 give them all sooner than have our country rent in fragments."' 
 
 This was the spirit of the loyal women all over the land during the 
 fierce struggle that ensued.* 
 
 • The Society of Friends, or Quakers, were generally loyal. Their principles forbade 
 tliciii to boar arms, but lliey gave ircneroiis aid to the good cause by as.sidiu)us services in 
 hosjiitals, etc. The society felt it a duty to publish a " Testimony" exhorting tlieir 
 brethren to resist " the temptations of the hour," and while anxious to uphold the Gov- 
 ernment, not to " transgress the principles and injunctions of the gospel.'" But many of 
 the younger Friends esiiecially gave little heed to the " Testimony," but bore arms and 
 obeyed the injunctions of a itatriotic Quaker mother in Philadelphia, who wrote to her 
 son in camp : " Let not thy musket hold a silont meeting before the enemy." 
 
 In strong contrast with this was the litter of a naltimore mother to her loyal son, ii 
 clergyman in Boston, who. on the Sunday after the attack on Fort Sumter, iireached a 
 
 patriotic sermon to his tlock. She wrote : 
 
 "Baltimore, .\pril 17, IWil. 
 " Mv Uear Son : Vour remarks liipt Siiblinth were telegraphed lo Baltiinure and published in an 
 extra. Has Oo<I sent you to preach the swonl or to preach Christ f 
 
 "YocR .Mother." 
 The son replied : 
 
 "Boston, April 22, 1801. 
 '* Dear Mother : ' find has sent ' me not only to ^ptvach ' the sword, bnt to use it. When this Gov- 
 crumeut tumbles, look anions the ruins for 
 
 " Voir STAR-SrAN(ii,Ei> Banner Son." 
 
ACTION OF CIVIL AND :\nLITAHY AUTHORITIES. 
 
 525 
 
 After tlie President's proclamation, troops from the slave-labor States 
 pressed eagerly toward the national capital, ol)edient to the shout of 
 Alexander II. Stephens, as he moved northward from ilontgomery to 
 Richmond — "• On to Washington T'' Their oljject was the seizure of 
 the Government, its arcliives and its treasury. At the .same time thou- 
 sands of men from tlie free-hihor States were pressing as eagerly for 
 the same goal, to save those 
 jirecious possessions. Xews of a 
 murderous attack upon a Massa- 
 chusetts regiment in Baltimore 
 byamol) flashed over tiie country 
 accelerated the speed of prepara- 
 tion and march for the salvation 
 of tlie Hepulilic. 
 
 Major-General John E. Wool,* 
 the second in command to the 
 general - in - chief of the army 
 (Scott), was at iiis home in Troy, 
 N. Y. Tliough seventy-six years 
 of age, he was then an active and 
 vigorous soldier. He hastened 
 to confer with Governor Morgan, 
 at Albany. While they were in .joiix ei.i.is wool. 
 
 consultation the governor re- 
 ceived a des])atch from Washington urging him to send troops thitlier 
 as quickly as ])ossible. The general immediately issued orders to the 
 quartermaster at New York to furnish transportation to Washington for 
 all troops that might be sent ; also to tlie commissary to furnish sub- 
 sistence for them for thirty days. 
 
 * John Ellis Wool was born in Xewburgli, N. Y.. in 1788, and (lied in Troy, X. Y., in 
 November. 1869. He became in liis yonth a bookseller in Troy, studied law, and in tlie 
 spring of 1812 entered the army as captain of a company raised in Troy. He served 
 gallantly in the War of 1813-1.5. At the peace he was retained in the army. In 1833 he 
 Wiis sent to Europe to examine some of tlte military systems on the Continent. He 
 became a brigadier-general in 1841. and performed excellent service in Mexico in 1846-48. 
 especially in organizing and disciplining volunteers. For his bravery in the battle of 
 Buena Vista, which he planned, he was brevetted major-general, and received the thanks 
 of Congress and a sword. In 18.56 he quelled Indian disturbances in Oregon. At the 
 breaking out of the Civil War General Wool, in command of the Eastern Department, 
 took measures which saved Washington City from capture by the Confederates. He wjis 
 commissioned major-general in May, 1863. and he commanded the expedition that took 
 possession of Norfolk that month. 
 
yH) IIII-; KMI'IHK STATH. 
 
 The governor went to New York that night ; tlio genenil followed two 
 (liivs afterward, and made his hcadijnarters at the St. Xiehojas Ifotel. 
 There he conferred with the Union Defence Cunnnittee and arranged 
 plans for the salvation of the capital, which was then so isolated by a 
 cordon of enemies that Scott conld not communicate by telegra{)h to a 
 regiment outside the District of Columbia ; neither could any communi- 
 cation reach the President from beyond those limits. Under these cir- 
 cumstances General Wool assumed the gravest rcsponsiI)ilities, and with 
 the assistance of the Union Defence Committee and the co-operation of 
 Connnodores Ereeze and Stringham, succeeded in saving the capital. 
 
 The battle of Bull's Run. in July, gave a new impetus to the demand 
 for troop>, and Governor ]\Iorgan issued a proclnmation for twenty-five 
 thousand three years' men, the money to rai.^cand ecpiip them to be paid 
 by the National Government. The quota of New York was increased 
 from time to time, and on January Ist, 1S(>2, it was one hundred and 
 twenty thousand. Its troops had taken ])art in every engagement east of 
 the Alleghany Mountains and south of Washington. 
 
 A called session of Congress opened on July 4th, for the purpose of 
 providing means for carrying on the war then Just begun. Authority 
 was given for raising five hundred thousand soldiei*s, and appropriating 
 $.500,(10(1,000 to pay the expenses. These acts implied a heavy loan from 
 the people. Could it be obtained i The question was soon answered. At 
 the close of the year the Secretary of the Treasury had borrowed $-170,000,- 
 (•00 of the loyal people, of which sum New York alone had advanced 
 §210,000,000. It was a wonderful exhibition of patriotism and of gen- 
 erous faith in the people. The risk was tremendous, but the jewel to be 
 secured was beyond price. Without this advance arms could not lia%'e 
 been bought, nor ships l)uilt, nor armies moved, and the Keimblic must 
 have perished. Ag.iin New York saved it. Iler sons ap])reciated the 
 peril and the value of the endangered treasure, and flew to the rescue. 
 
 While thousamis of loyal men were hastening to the field, loyal women 
 were devising plans and taking measures for their aid and comfort. On 
 the day when the President's call for troops appeared (April 15th), Miss 
 Ahnena Bates, in Charlcstown, Mass., took steps to found an associ- 
 ation for the ])urpose. On the same day women of Bridgeport, Conn. , 
 organized a society to furnish nurses for the sick and wounded soldiers, 
 and provisions and clothing for them. A few days later women of 
 Lowell, Mass., did the same thing, and on the 19th women of Cleve- 
 land, O., formed an association for the more immediately practical pur- 
 pose of giving assistance to the families of volunteers. 
 
 This spontaneous ontcrop])ing of the tenderest feelings of women 
 
RELIEF FOR SOLDIEltS IX THE FIELD. 
 
 527 
 
 suggested tlie formation, in the city of Xew York, of the powerful 
 society known as the United States Sanitary Conuiiif^sion. Fifty or 
 sixty benevolent women of New York met by appointment on April 
 26th, 1S61, when a Central Relief Association was suggested. They 
 formed a plan, and the women of the city were invited to assendile at the 
 Cooper Union to consider it on the 2!Hli. Many leading gentlemen of 
 tiie city were invited to l)e pres- 
 ent. The response to the call 
 was ample in number, charac- 
 ter, and tinancial resources. 
 David Dudley Field presided. 
 The Vice-President of tiie Uni- 
 ted States (Hannibal ITamlin) 
 addressed the meeting. A be- 
 nevolent organization known 
 as the AYomen''s Central Relief 
 Association was effected, and 
 the venerable Dr. Valentine 
 Mott was chosen its presiilent. 
 The chief actor in this move- 
 ment was the Rev. H. W. 
 Bellows, D.D., pastor of All 
 Souls (Unitarian) Church.'' 
 
 The necessit}' for a mucli 
 broader field of action was soon 
 
 perceived, and early in -Tune the Secretary of War authorized the forma- 
 tion of a " Commission of imjuiry and advice in resj>ect of the sanitary 
 interests of the United States." Eminent civilians and soldiers formed 
 the commission. Dr. Bellows, its real author, was chosen its president. 
 He submitted a plan of operations which was adopted, and the associa- 
 tion assumed the name of the United States Sanitary Commission. t 
 
 BEI.I.dWS. 
 
 * Henry Whitney Bellows, D.D., an eloquent clergyman of the Unitarian Clinreh, was 
 born in Boston in June, 18U. He was graduated at Harvard College and at Harvard 
 Divinity School at Cambridge, Mass. He was ordained pastor of the First Unitarian 
 Church (All Souls) in Xew York in 1838, where he labored .successfully forty-four years. 
 He was the principal projector of the Chnstian Inquirer, a Unitarian newsijaper, and its 
 chief contributor. He was the real originator of the United Slates Sanitary Comrais-siou. 
 Dr. Bellows died in .January, 1882. 
 
 t The seal of the Sanitarv Connnlssion bore the device of an angel of mercy descending 
 from the clouds upon a deserted battle-tield, where a .soldier is seen administering aid to 
 a wounded comrade. The first olficers of the commission were : Henry W. J^e''"^*- 
 D.D., President; Professor A. D. Bache, LL.D., Vice- Premie nt ; Elisha Hams, JI.D., 
 
528 
 
 THE EMPIHE ^<TATE. 
 
 Frederick Law Olmsteil was !H)i)niiiti;cl its residt'iit secretary, and became 
 its real manager. 
 
 The object of the commission was to Pupj)U!meiit CJuverninent defi- 
 ciencies. An appeal M'as made to the ])eople for contrii)Utions. The 
 response "was most generous. Supplies and money flowed in from all 
 quarters sufficient to meet every demand. All over the country men, 
 women, and children were seen working singly or collectively for it. 
 Fairs were held in cities and large towns which raised immense sums of 
 money for the treasury of the commission. The city of Poughkccpsie, 
 ■with sixteen thousand iidiahitants, held a fair and contributed to the 
 treasury of the commission one dollar for each man, woman, and child 
 
 of its population— $10,0(10. The treas- 
 urer of the Soldiers' Sanitary Fair in 
 thecityof New YorklJohn II. (iourlie) 
 received from the treasurer of the com- 
 mission a receii)t for $l,00(),iiO(», the 
 net proceeds of the fail'. Tlie com- 
 mission cstal)lished bi'anches. And)u- 
 lan(!cs, army wagons, and steamboats 
 were eniiiloyecl in transporting the sick 
 and wounded soldiers under its charge. 
 It followed the army closely in all 
 campaigns. Before the smoke of con- 
 iiict had been fairly lifted there w,is 
 seen the commission with its tents, its 
 vehicles, and its supplies. 
 The grand work of the United States Sanitary Commission was con- 
 tinually made plain during the war, and especially at its close, M-hen the 
 success of its labors M'as considered. The loyal people of the land, justly 
 confiding in its wisdom, energy, and integrity, had given to it supplies 
 valued at $1."), 000, 000, and money to the amount of §.5,000,000. 
 
 Later in the same year (ls<'>l) another and most etlicient and important 
 iissociation was farmed in the city of New York, the chief object of 
 M-liich was to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the soldiers. It 
 ■was suggested by Vinciiut CoUyer, an artist, and a most earnest worker in 
 the cause of Christian effort of ever^' kind. It had its origin in the 
 Young !Men's Christian Association in New York. At a national con- 
 vention of such associations held in their hall in November to consult 
 
 SEAL OK TirE I'NITED STATES SAM 
 TAISY COMMISSION. 
 
 Correxponding Srrretnri/ ; Gencrnl George W. CuUum, Alexander E. Sliira.s, Robert C. 
 Woofl, M.D., Wolcott Gibb.s, {'ornolius R. Ajrnew, M.D., George T. Strons, Frederick 
 Law Olinsled. Samiul (! IIowi-. M.I> , and .T. S. Xcwbi'irv. M.D.. ('oiiimiiu'ioiu'rs. 
 
UNITED STATES ClIUISTIAN (OM.MISSIOX. 
 
 upon tlie oest efforts to bo made for tlie spiritual good of tlie soldiers, 
 the UxriED States Christian Commission was organized, and Georo'e 
 II. Stuart, of Philadelphia, was chosen its presiding officer.* 
 
 Tiiis coniinission worked upon the same general plan adopted by the 
 Sanitary Commission. Its labors were by no moans confined to spiritual 
 and intellectual ministrations, but were extended to the distribution of a 
 vast amount of food, hospital stores, delicacies, and clothing. It, too, 
 followed the great national armies, and was like a twin angel of mercy 
 with the Sanitary Commission. It co-operated efficiently with the 
 chaplains of the army and navy, 
 and cast about the soldiers and 
 seamen a salutary hedge of Chris- 
 tian influence. The money col- 
 lected for tlie use of the commis- 
 sion was mostly gathered b}' the 
 women of various Christian de- 
 nominations. It was a free-will 
 offering, and amounted, in the 
 aggregate, to about $1,000,000. 
 The entire receipts of the coiri- 
 inission in money and supplies were 
 fully $6,000,(100. 
 
 In this chapter we have an out- 
 line picture of the attitude of the 
 people of the Commonwealth of 
 
 New York dnring that crucial period of its history — namely, the first 
 few months of the kindling and progress of the great Civil War. ^Ve 
 have seen how firmly they received the cruel and sudden shock ; how 
 willingly they sacrificed their personal interests for the general good ; 
 how generously they gave men and money for the salvation of the life of 
 the Republic ; and what a wonderful system of philanthropic and patri- 
 otic effort they inaugurated and sustained in causing tlie loyal people of 
 the land to lay at the feet of the defenders of our common country a 
 free-will offering of !?20,00(>,0()(J ! 
 
 
 VINCENT I Dl.I.VKl;. 
 
 * The officers of tlio Christ iuti Commission were : Geoige H. Stuart, Cliainwiii ; Rev. 
 W. E. Boaiclman, ,S(crctan/ : Joseph Pattcrsou, Treasurer, iiiid George H. Stuart, 
 Bishop E. S. Janes, D.D., Cliailes Uemomb. John P. Croser, ami Jay Cooke, Executice 
 Comneittee. 
 
530 Till-: EMl'lUK SIATE. 
 
 CIlAl'TER XXXVIII. 
 
 There was a remarkable change in the political aspect of New York 
 late in 18G2. The Opposition charged the national administration with 
 a design to destroy tlie institution of slavery. Countenance was given 
 to this opinion because many of the lle])ublican nominees for office at 
 the fall election wei'e known to be advocates of the anti-slavery cause. 
 The Republican nominee for governor, James S. AVadsworth, held the 
 most extreme radical views of his ]>arty on this snliject. 
 
 The Democrats nominated Horatio Seymour for (xovernor. Both 
 parties expressed, in the resolutions of their respective conventions, their 
 firm determination to uphold the Xational Government in its struggle 
 MMth its foes. The citizens of the State were then divided into two great 
 parties, Republican and Democratic. There was a small party of adhe- 
 rents of the I'ell organization of 1860, w'hose views were expressed in 
 the phrase, " The Constitution, the T^nion, and the Enforcement of the 
 Laws." 
 
 At the fall election ex-Governor Seymour and the Democratic candi- 
 dates for State offices were elected by a majoritj^ of nearly eleven thou- 
 sand votes. The Senate remained overwhelmingly Republican, while 
 there was a tie in the Assembly at the beginning of 18(53. 
 
 "While the extraordinary expenses of the State on account of the war 
 were increasing, and the commonwealth was pledged to j)ay its debts in 
 coin, its revenues were diminished over $600,000 by the financial policy 
 of the Xational Government at that time, in exempting its bonds from 
 State taxation, etc. The banks of the State held §12j,ihm),0(M) of these 
 various untaxed bonds. The State debt (canal and funded) in the fall 
 of 1S62 was Jiearly >;31,<i(M»,()00. 
 
 Xotwithstanding this diminution of its revenue, the State of New 
 York continued its gigantic exertions in support of the Xational Govern- 
 ment. It appropriated men and money with a lavish hand. During 
 1S(')2 it sent one huiulred and twenty regiments to the field in response 
 to two calls of the President for troops for nine months and for the war 
 — six liundred thousand in number. Xew Y'ork paid a bounty of fifty 
 dollars each for volunteers, for which purpose $n,(!5(t,00() were required, 
 making the war expenditure of the State sln,U()(i,(i()ii. The subscrip- 
 
BEGINNING OF A NEW K1{A. 531 
 
 tions of towns and eonnties for fhe same purpose were equal \n amount, 
 niaking the contributions of the people of the State $20,000,000. 
 
 At the close of 1S()2 the number of soldiers furnished by the State of 
 New York, including recruits for the regular army and far regiments in 
 other States, was two hundred and nineteen thousand. Of the regiments 
 raised seventy-one had their headquarters in New York City. At the 
 close of the year the citizens of the State had contributed to the support 
 of the Government in taxes, gifts, and loans to the nation $300,000,000 
 and eighty thousand volunteers. 
 
 The beginning of 1S6;> was the opening of a new era in the life of our 
 Hepublic. On that day, by a proclamation of emancipation by ihe Presi- 
 dent of the United States, human slavery was abolished from every part 
 of the Union, and our country became, for the first time, really 
 
 " Tiic 1:111(1 of tlic tree and tlir litnui' of llic hi"av('." 
 
 Up to tluit period the fortunes of war had generally favored the ene- 
 mies of the Republic. From that time until peace was secured by the 
 wisdom, patience, and valor of the loyal people, almost continual 
 triumphs rewarded the exertions of the national troops. 
 
 Horatio Seymour was again inaugurated Governor of New York 
 on January 1st, 18G3. His first message to the Legislature was a 
 vigorous dissent from the entire policy of the national administration. 
 He declared that Congress and the Government had violated the rights 
 of the States. He traced the origin of the war to a disregard of the 
 obligations of the Constitution, disrespect for constituted authority, and 
 local and sectional prejudices. He believed the war might have been 
 averted, but when its Hoodgates were opened the administration was in- 
 adeipuite to comprehend its dimensions or to control its sweep. He 
 charged the Government with extravagance and corrujition in every 
 department, and violations of the Constitution and laws in making 
 arbitrary arrests in disregard of the rights and autiiority of the States, 
 suppressing journals, proclaiming martial law, and '" attempting to 
 emancipate the slaves.'' He declared that the administration had 
 effected a complete revolution in the (iovernnient ; that national bank- 
 ruptcy and ruin were imminent ; and tiiat the (Government, in its per- 
 sistent attempts to subjugate the South, in violation of its solemn pledges 
 at the beginning of the war, had failed in the attainment of its ends. At 
 the same time lie declared that tlu Union must be restored to its integ- 
 rity as it existed before the war ; that the situation as it stood must be 
 accepted ; that the armies in the field must be supported ; that all 
 the reipiircments of the Constitution must promptly be responded to. 
 
'y'i2 TIIK KMl'lKK SIATK. 
 
 and tliat undrr no circunistanccs coiilil :i division of thu I'nion he 
 conceded. 
 
 Tills arnuLrnniont of tlie National (TOVcrnniiMit at tlie liar of ]>iil)iie 
 opinion hy tiie distinguished Governor of the great ooninionwealth of 
 New Yoik liad a ])o\verful influence in cooling the ardor of the loyal 
 people, particularly in his own .State. Tiie patriotic tone of the message 
 gave it greater puissance. The line of partisan demarcation between the 
 two great political p;irties, wiiicli had heeii almost ohlitcrated hy the com- 
 mon effort to oppose tlic revolutionary movements of the secessionists, 
 ■was now conspicuously restored. The Peace Faction made the message 
 ;in instrument for the discouragement of volunteering, and demagogues 
 at tiie North who sympathized with the insurgents made it a jjasis for 
 inllaminatory harangues intended to divide and distract the loyal people, 
 and to excite a counter-demonstration in favor of the schemes of the 
 conspirators. 
 
 Early in June a mass meeting of nicniliurs of tlie Peace Faction as- 
 sembled in New York City and adopted a series of characteristic resolu- 
 tions. They declared their fealty to the Constitution and to the " .sov- 
 ereignty of the States ;'' denied that tlie National CTOvernment had rightful 
 ;power to " coerce a State ;" asserted that the war was unconstitutional 
 and ought to " be put an end to," and protested against the " cowardly, 
 despotic, and inhuman act of banishing C. L. Yallandigliam.'" " Ad- 
 ministration and Democratic conventions were held in September, the 
 foriiuM- recommending a vigorous ])rosoeution of the war, the latter 
 pledging their support to the (lovernment in subduing the rebellion and 
 restoring tiie Union. 
 
 The obstructions which tlie Peace Faction continually cast in tlie way 
 of enlistments compelled tiie President, under the authority of Congress, 
 to order a general conscription or draft to fill up the raidv of the armies. 
 < )rganized resistance to this measure instantly appeared. The leaders of 
 the Peace Faction denounced tiie law and ail acts under it, witli arbitrary 
 
 * In the .spring of 1863 Clement L. Valhiudigliam, an ex-mcmbcr of Congrc&s from 
 Ohio, was especially busy in sowing the seeds of disaffection to the Government among 
 the people of Ohio. General Burnside, in command of the military department in which 
 \';ill;indigli;iin was opcraling. had issued a general order for the suppression of .seditious 
 si)cech and aelinn, and threatened the punisliment due to spies and traitors to such 
 offenders. Vallaniligliam defied the military power and denounced the order, lie was 
 arrested al his own liouse at Dayton, was tried by a courl-marlial, convicted, and sen- 
 tenced 111 cIos(! contincinent in a fortress during the remainder of llie war. This .sentence 
 was commuted to banishment within the Confederate lines. Ilis Southern friends treated 
 him so coldly that he left them in disgust, went to Canada, and tarried awhile with Con- 
 fcderate refugeo-s there. Meanwhile the Democratic State Convention of Ohio nominaled 
 him for irnvcrnor. 
 
1)1! AFT UloTS IX NEW Y01{K CITY. rtT.i 
 
 arrests for treasonable practices,* as despotic and unconstitutional. An 
 obscure lawyer in iS"e\v York named McCiinn, wlio liad been elected 
 judge, so decided. He was sustained by tiiree judges of tlie Supreme 
 Court of Pennsylvania — Lowrie, Woodwartl, and Tliompson. Supported 
 by these decisions, opposition politicians opposed the draft with a hio-Ii 
 hand. Kindred newspapers and pul)lic speai<ers joined in the denun- 
 ciations. The national anniversary (July 4th) was made the special occa- 
 sion for their utterances. 
 
 Distinguished mendjers of the Peace Faction exhorted the people to 
 stand tirmly in opposition to what they called the " usurpations of the 
 Government." One of the most exalted among these opponents of tlie 
 Government, in an address at Tammany Ilall on July 4th, uttered sneers 
 because Vicksburg had not been taken, and taunted the President with 
 having uttered a " midnight cry for help" because of Lee's invasion of 
 Maryland. At that moment Vicksburg and thirty-seven thousand prison- 
 ers of war were in the possession of General Grant, and Lee and his 
 legions, discomfited at (Tettysburg, wore preparing to fly back to Vir- 
 ginia. These two decisive battles of the war had been f ought and won 
 by the National troops, and the safety of the Tlepublic was assured in 
 spite of the Peace Faction. 
 
 On the evening of -Tnly I'd an incendiary hand-bill, calculated to incite 
 to insurrection, was scattered over tlie city, and a morning newspaper 
 advised its readers to provide themselves with a " good latled musket, 
 a few pounds of powder, and a hundred or two of shot" to " defend 
 their homes and [)ersonal liberties from invasion from (Oif/ (jnarter." ft 
 is lielieved that an organized outbreak had been planned and would have 
 been executed, but for the successes of the Nationals at Vicksburg and 
 Gettysburg. The draft began in New York, on July 13th, ISGo, in a 
 building on the corner of Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue. Sud- 
 denly a large crowd, who had cut the telegraph wires leading out of the 
 city, appeared, attacked the building, drove out the men in charge of the 
 
 * .lust after the proelaniution for a coiiscriptiiiii appeared, a publie meeting wa.s held in 
 Albany to cou.sider tlu; arrest of Vallandig-ham. Governor Sc'yiuour was invited to 
 attend. He deelined. but .sent a letter in whieh he expres.sed his views very freely. He 
 denouneed the act as a violation of the most .sacred rights of every American citizen. 
 He pronounced the order which, it was alleged, had bei^n violated by the ijrisoner, invalid. 
 He dei-lared that the governments and the courts of some of the great Westeru Stales had 
 sunk into insignificance before despotic military power. He said that, having given to 
 the Government a generous support, the people woidd now " pause )o see what kind of a 
 government it is for which we are asked to poiu- out our blood and treasure ;" to 
 determine "' whether this war is waged to put down rebellion at the South or to destroy- 
 free institutions at the Xorth." 
 
o:u 'iiii: KMi'iin; state. 
 
 draft, poured kerosene oil over the floor of tlie room, and very soon that 
 and tlic adjoiiiini:: edifice were in flames. Tlie firemen and tlie j)oliee 
 were driven off. So began a violent tunuilt in wliieh thousands of men 
 and women, cliiefly foreigners by birtli anil ilisloyal men from the Sonth- 
 ern States, were engaged for three full days and nights. The; draft was 
 only a pretext. The cry against it soon ceased, and was supplemented 
 by shouts of " Down with the Abolitionists I J)i>wn with the nigger ! 
 Tlurr;di for Jeff Davis !" 
 
 The mob compelled hundreds of citizens driven out uf manufacturing 
 establishments, which they had closed, to join them, and, under the in- 
 fluence of strong drink, arson and plunder became the business of the 
 rioters. The special objects of their wrath were the innocent colored 
 people. They laid in ashes the Colored Orphan Asylum. The terrified 
 inmates, who fled in terror, were pursued and cruelly beaten. Men and 
 M-omen were pounded to death in the streets, and the colored people 
 were hunted as if they were noxious wild beasts. Finally the police, 
 aided by some troops, suppressed tJic insurrection in the city, but not 
 until a thousand persons had lieen slain or wounded, fifty buildings had 
 been destroyed by the mob, a large nnnd)er f)f stores and dwellings not 
 burned had been sacked or plumli-rcd, and pnjperty valued at ,S2,000,0(IO 
 liad been wasted. This riot was evidently an irregular outbreak of a 
 vast conspiracy planned by disloyal men in both sections of the Tnion. 
 
 Governor Seymour, who was at the sea-shore a few miles from ]*sew 
 York, interposed his personal influence to tpiell the disturbance on the 
 second day of the riot. He came up to the scene of tumult, and after 
 issuing a proclamation declaring the town to be in a state of insurrection, 
 he repaired to the City Ilall, and from its steps addressed the angry 
 multitude in soothing words, telling them that he hiid sent his adjutant- 
 general to the National Capital to demand a suspension of the draft mitil 
 a judicial decision concerning it might be oi)tained. His mild exhorta- 
 tion M-as unheeded, of course. Tlie mol) while tnaiting went on plun- 
 dering, burning, and murdering, until the strong arm of physical force 
 — military and police— restrained tliem. 
 
 The governor's " demand " ' was not complied with. The exigency 
 was too vitally important and the danger was too pressing to safely 
 admit of delay. To save the Republic the army must be strengtiiened. 
 The draft was resumed. General Dix asked Governor Seymour for 
 military aid to enforce the measure. It was refused, when tlie Secretary 
 of War ordered many regiments and batteries of artillery to the assist- 
 ance of the commaiuler of the Department of the East. An enrolment 
 of the militia in New York, which was completed in September, sliowed 
 
THE NATIONAL CURRENCY ESTABLISH KI). 535 
 
 tliat there were live luindred and thirty-nine thousand five hundred and 
 tliirty-nine men in the State subject to the draft. 
 
 Early in 18(53 a powerful association was formed in the city of Mew 
 York for the special purpose of givin<^ support, moral and physical, to 
 the National Government in its struggles with its foes, secret and open. 
 It was organized on March /Jdth, 1803, with the title of the "Union 
 League Club," and did iu)l>lc service to the good cause during the re- 
 mainder of the war. This chih was essentially the child of the United 
 States Sanitary Commission. 
 
 The Union League Club asked Governor Seymour to give them au- 
 thority to recruit a regiment of colored troops. He refused, on the 
 ground that he had not the jiower to do so. That authority was iimne- 
 diately given by the Secretary of War, and within a month a full regi- 
 ment was recriiited and placed in camp, for which dnty the Club con- 
 tributed S18,(XlO. The regiment received their colors (presented by the 
 loyal women of the city) in front of the club house. Six months after 
 the riot, when no colored man dared to be seen in tlie streets of New 
 York, this regiment marched down Broadway on its journey to the field, 
 receiving tokens of respect and honor at every step. 
 
 Li February, 1863, Congress passed an act for the estalAislnnent of a 
 national paper currency that should circulate at par in all parts of the 
 I' nion ; also for the creation of national banking institutions. The author 
 of this admirable scheme, which has worked so beneficently for the peo- 
 ple and the nation, is the venerable John Thompson, then as now (1887) 
 an eminent financier in the city of New York. He and Mr. Chase, the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, were intimate personal friends. So early as 
 June, 1861, Mr. Thompson, in a letter to the Secretary, proposed the 
 plan, which Congress substantially adopted. When the law was passed 
 Mr. Thompson showed his " faith by his works." He established in the 
 city of New Y'ork the first l)auk under the law, and called it the " Chase 
 National Bank." 
 
 As the war went on tlie State of New York contimied to make strik- 
 ing displays of its vast military strength and other resources. The year 
 1S64 was a memorable one in its history, (ieneral prosjierity prevailed. 
 The people bore the enormous burdens laid upon them with cheerfulness 
 and alacrity. Careful of the credit and honor of the commonwealth, 
 the Legislature early in the year adopted a joint resolution that no dis- 
 tinction should be nuide between the foreign and domestic creditors of 
 the State in the payment of interest on the State debt, [t was done, and 
 the interest was paid to all alike in gold or its equivalent. At the same 
 session provision was made to secure at the general election the votes of 
 
530 THE EMIMHE STATE. 
 
 tlio soldiers iiiul seiuiuMi wlio iniiclit l)c absent on actual tluty at the time. 
 At the Presidential election in the fall thousands of electors engaired in 
 the naval and military service voted hv proxy. 
 
 President Lincoln was renominated for the Chief ^Magistracy hy the 
 Republicans, (reneral (ieorgeB. McCMellan, wlio liad left the army, was 
 the Democratic opponent, and rciceived the solid vote of the Peace Fac- 
 tion. ]>iit Mr. Lincoln was elected hy an overwhelming majority of the 
 votes of the loyal people. 
 
 The National (iovernment, having information that Confederates i?i 
 Canada, a(;ting as agents of the rebel government, had formed a con- 
 s])ira(;y to interfere with tiie Presidential election and endeavor to inau- 
 gurate a counter-i'evolntion in the Xorthern States, by sending refugees, 
 deserters from the I'nion armies, aliens, and others to vote, |irecautionar\' 
 measures were talcen. (lenei'al Dix, commander of the Department of 
 the East, provided for the arrest and sumniarv punishment of such 
 offenders against the purity and freedom of the ballot and of social ordei-. 
 He was seconded by Governor Seymour. On November 2d the Mayor 
 of New York City ((iuuther) received a telegram from the Secretar}' of 
 State (Seward) warning him that a conspiracy among the Confederate 
 agents in Canada was on foot to burn the principal cities in the Northern 
 States on the day of the Presidential election. ' 
 
 To protect the cit}' of New York at that election about seven thou.saiul 
 troo))s were sent to the vicinity and placed on steamboats which were 
 ancliored in the surrounding waters, ready for prompt action at any ino- 
 7nent. (Jencral P>. 1''. Ibitlei- was sent from Fortress ]\ronroe to take the 
 chief command. 
 
 The Confederates and their Northern friends were foiled liv this 
 prompt aiul energetic action, and peace and good order were maintained 
 at the elections tiiroughont the State. Ihitler loft the command of the 
 troops with General ILiwley on November l.'itli, when all danger seemed 
 to be overpast. P>ut ten days afterward the execution of a part of the con- 
 spiracy was attempted in the city of New York bysetting on tire, at the same 
 hour at night, of a large number of hotels and Barnum's IMnseum. One 
 of the culprits, who was caught and hanged, coufessed that he and several 
 others had been sent by Confederates in Canada to lay the city of New 
 Y'ork in ashes. They intended to start the conflagration on the night of 
 the election, but some of their inflammable material was not then ready." 
 
 At the fall election in ISGi Ileuben E. Fenton* was cliosen Governor 
 
 * Hcubcn E. Funlon wn.s born July 4th, 1819, in Cliantauqua County, N. Y. : a 
 (li'sciMiiliint of one of llic noted early .settlors of Connecticut. lie worked on his father's 
 farm in the warm sea>oii .•mil studied in a lo^ .seliool liou-ie in winter until lie was lifleen 
 
PROSrECTS OI.' I'EACE. 5;57 
 
 of the State of jSIcw York I)y the Eepublicans, by a majority of over 
 eight thousand votes. Diiriiiu; tliat year the eoniii}oii\voaltii iiail put 
 forth its might in a surprising maimer. It sent into the tiehl from 
 its farms and workshops and mercantile life l(;i,(i()4 men. From April, 
 1861, to December, IStU, the State had given to the military service 
 •iSTjTOl men, of which number 
 409,42(5 had entered the army and 
 2S,2T."i the naA-y. To jireserve a 
 record t)f every iii;iii sent from 
 New York to tlie ticld, and for 
 a depository of battle-Hags and 
 other trophies of the war, a 
 l^ureau of ALilitary Statistics was 
 established at the State caiiital, 
 and for its use a fire-proof build- 
 ing was subsequently erected. Out ,/' 
 of the enrolled nulitia of the State j' 
 
 a -N ational (luard was formed, con- '^'^\.^, -V.A ,£- ^^ ^ 
 
 sisting of about forty -six thousand 
 men. 
 
 At the lieginning of 18(55 tliere 
 was a glowing promise of a speedy liKvm-.N e. kunton, 
 
 termination of the war and the 
 
 re-establishment of a I'nion strengthened and jiowerful. Brilliant vic- 
 tories had been won by the great armies led by Generals (irant and 
 Sherman. The latter had inarched triumphantly through Georgia — the 
 " Empire State of the South" — from Atlanta to the sea, and discovered 
 
 years old, when lie received a little academic education. In early life he became exten- 
 sively engaged in the lumber business. At the age of twenty-three he was elected super- 
 visor of his town, and held the office eight years. In 1840 he became a member of Ihe 
 Assembly, and in 1849 he was elected to Congress. He wa.s a Democrat, but he firmly 
 ojiposed the rejieal of Ihe Missouri Compromise, and fought against the Kansas-Netiraska 
 bill, which ellVetcd it. Willi Ihe passage of that aet by the johit aetion of the Dcmoerals 
 and slaveholders. Mr. Fciiton abaudoncd the Democralie Party, and l)eeaiiic an active 
 nieiuber of the K<'publican Parly at its organization in 18.54. He presided at tiie firsl. 
 Reiiublieau State Convention in Ivew York. In 18.56 the Republiean Parly elected him 
 to Congress, wherein he serve<l four terms successively. In \>i(H he was elected Go\eriior 
 of his native Stale. Horatio Seymour was his opponent. An active war governor, he 
 won the affeetion of all soldiers by the warm interest he always manifested in their 
 welfare in or iiul of llicarmy. Ills general policy during his a<lministralion was gener- 
 ally approved by Ihe best men of both parties. He wa.s cng.iged iu Ihe business of bank- 
 ing at the lime of his death, which occurred very suddenly, from heart disease, in hLs 
 private office al his banking house at .lameslown, N. Y., on August 2.5th. 1885. In jierson 
 Governor Fenlou was tall and sleiiiler, and graceful in figure and movements. 
 
538 Tin; KMi'iKi; st.vtk. 
 
 tlio fatal weakness of tlie Confederacy' ; tlie former, at Petersburg, was 
 •Icstroying tlie props of the Confederate capital, Uieliniond, wliieli even 
 tlifii was tottering to its fall. 
 
 In his message to the Legislature Manuary, isG.j) Covernitr Fenton 
 congi-atidated the ])eople of New York liecanse of ahounding prosperity 
 in every jiart of the (■(unnioiiwealtli, and tlie bright outlook of the future 
 for the nation, lie sid)niitted to them the Thirteenth Amendment to 
 the Mation;»l Constitution proposed liy Congres.s for the aijolition of 
 slavery, with an earnest reconnneinliition for its prompt adoption. It 
 was done. 
 
 The congratulations of the governor were justilied hy events. On 
 April 0th the main Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee was 
 surrendered to (reneral (rrant at Ajipomattox Court-House, in Virginia ; 
 and the ne.xt larger Confederate force, under Ceneral Joseph li. John- 
 ston, surrendered to (ieneral Sherman near Haleigh, in North Carolina, 
 on the 14th. These two events caused the speedy ending of the war. 
 
 The telegraph had thrilled the loyal people with the glad tidings of 
 these auspicious events, Mdien it checked the exuberance of that joy by 
 imparting the sad news of the assassination of the President of the 
 United States at a theatre in Washington, on the evening of the 14tli of 
 Aj)ril. lie expired the next morning. The Vice-President (Andrew 
 Johnson) immediately assumed the functions of the exalted ofKce, and 
 the integrity and strength of the Government experienced no shock from 
 the dreadful l)low. 
 
 At the close of the war, in May, lS(i5, the State of New York had 
 furnished for the conflict 47o,-t4."i men, including ](i,(M)U militiamen 
 mustered for a less term of service than three months. Of this number 
 the city of New York gave 116,382 men for terms of one, two, three, 
 and four years' service. The average cost for each man, including 
 bounties, ex])euditnres for the relief of their families, etc., was SL")((.47. 
 
 So rapidly did the great armies di.ssolve and become a part of the civil 
 life of the nation,* that at the begimiing of ISOC oidy seven regiments of 
 infantry and two of cavalry of the New York troops remained in the 
 service of the United States, in addition toother enormous expendi- 
 
 * The (lishaiidiiij; of llic vicloiiims aiinii's of llic rciiuhlic l)(',i;!iii in .Iiinc. ISO."), and llir 
 soldiers rclinucd to llicir homes. It was a most interesliiij; jiiid nire s])e<la<le for the 
 (onlemplalion of the nations. In llic space of one liumlred and tifly days the vasl mulli- 
 Mide of defenders of Ihe Union were transformed into peaceful citizens, and resumed the 
 varied and Ijlcssod avocations of iieace. There bad lu'en enrolled for ilutv 2.fi.'i(i..'ifll men. 
 of whom 1,490,000 \vere in actual service, IJy inid-winterof 1S06, 7.')0,(K)0 men had Ik'cu 
 mustered out of the service. 
 
r.MPOKTANT LEGISLATIVK AC'TIOX. 5.39 
 
 tares for the war, the State of New York disbursed over §35,000,000 to 
 its soldiers in bounties alone from July ITtli, ISCl, ti> Jaiiuarv 1st 
 ISCC). 
 
 The population of the State diminished during the war. There were 
 nearly forty-nine thousand less inhabitants in ISf!.") than in ISOd. Tiiere 
 M-ere eighty thousand less in the city of New York than there were five 
 years before. Tin's (iiminution may be attributed to various causes 
 directly or indirectly comiocted with the war. The total ])opnhition of 
 the State at the close of 1S(),5 was about four millions. 
 
 Little of special historic importance occurred in the State after 
 the close of the war until the meeting of tJie Constitutional Conven- 
 tion, in lS(i7. The Legislature, early in ISdO, passed resolutions, bv 
 a large majority in both branches : (1) That no State in which rebel- 
 lion had existed sliould l)e admitted to share in the national legislation 
 until it should be presented in the attitude of loyalty and harmony in the 
 person of representatives whose loyalty eould not be (piestioned ; 
 (2) that the nation, by its professions and acts from the beginning of 
 the war, and especially by accepting the President's proclamation of 
 emancipation, and an amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery, 
 stands pledged to the world, to humanity, and, above all, to the freed- 
 men, that in all lawful ways the liberty and civil rights of every human 
 being subject to the Government of the United States shall be protected 
 and enforced, regardless of race, color, or condition, against every 
 \\rongfnl o]iposing law, ordinance, custom, or prejudice ; and '' that the 
 spirit which formed and organized and developed to the present strength 
 that [lolicy has not fulfilled its allotted work until every subject of that 
 Government stands not only free, but e<pial before the law." 
 
 The Legislature of lS(i7 adopted the Fourteenth Amendment to the 
 National Constitution proposed by Congress, which guaranteed equal 
 rigiits to every (utizen of whatever hue or social condition ; defined tiie 
 status in regard to public offices of men who had engaged in the i-ebel- 
 lion ; dc(-lared the validity of the national debt, and forI)ade the ]>ay- 
 ment of any part of the Confederate debt by the nation or a State. 
 
 An act was passed for increasing the State tax for the support of 
 common schools, declaring that all the schools of the State, including 
 normal schools, should be " free," and providing for the establishment 
 of additional normal schools in different parts of the State. 
 
 The Legislature also passed an act making eight hours' labor a legal 
 day's work. This did not apply to farm laborers or men hired by the 
 week, month, or year, nor did it prevent the making of cmitracts for any 
 leiiirth of time. 
 
540 THK KMIMKi: ST ATI".. 
 
 In .March (1S<)7) a convuntion to consider a revision of tliu State 
 Constitution was autliorized. Delegates were chosen in April. The 
 (!onvention assembled in the State Capitol on June 4-th. William 
 A. Wheeler, of Franklin County (afterward Vice-President of the United 
 States), wiis appointed President, and Luther Caldwell, of Chemung, 
 Secretary. The numlier of delegates was one hundred and .'^i.xty, of 
 whom ninety-seven were Kepnhlicans and si.xty-three were l)enK)crats. 
 In Sopti'inlier the Convention took a recess. It reassem!)led on Xovem- 
 l)er I2tli, and c-(>ntinued its sessions into ISt'.S, hohling the meetings 
 after .lanuary 1st in the City Hall, at AUnmy. 
 
 Various amendments were discussed. Some were adopted, by the 
 provisions of which the right of suffrage was conferred on all male in- 
 habitants of the age of twenty-one years and upward, without distinction 
 of color ; the payment of the canal and other State debts was secured ; 
 the time of office of Senators was extended to four yeare ; tiie Assembly 
 was increased to one hundred and thirty-nine members ; the Court of 
 Appeals was organized with a chief-justice and six associate justices ; 
 the existing Supreme Court organization was retained, with certain 
 additional provisions for the despatch of business — the judges to be 
 chosen by the people, ami to hold their oflices for fourteen years, or 
 until the}- attain the age of seventy years. Provision was also made for 
 sulimitting to the people in 1873 the (piostion whether such judges 
 should continue to be elected, or whether the jiosition should be filled 
 by appointment. The remaining provisions were substantially the same 
 as the Constitution of 1S4<). 
 
 The amended Constitution was submitted to the ]ieo]>le at the general 
 election in the fall of iSti'J. The portions concerning the judiciary, 
 taxation, and Negro suffrage were voted upon separately. The whole 
 amended Constitution was rejected by the people by a negative majority 
 of ()(),5'21 votes, excepting the judiciary portion. That received an 
 affirmative majority of 670S votes. The amendment-iu favor of Xegro 
 .■rulTrage was rejected by a negative majority of 32,(5(U votes. 
 
 During the autumn of 1SG7 Cornell University, one of the most use- 
 ful of the literary and scientitic institutions in the State of Now York, 
 was opened, under favorable auspices, at Ithaca. It was founded by 
 Ezra Cornell, with the leading object in view of promoting instruction 
 in agricultural science and the mechanic arts, and the literal and prac- 
 tical education of the industrial classes in tlie several pursuits and pro- 
 fessions in life, witlmut excluding other scientific ami classical studies, 
 including military tactics. The State endowed the institution with the 
 proceeds of nine hundred and ninety thousand acres of public lands, its 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITV ENDOWMENTS. 541 
 
 share of the domain given by Congress for sucli a pnrpose. Tlie founder 
 gave S5<iO,0no, and he and others afterward added $', <*"",""" to the 
 endowment funds. The institution is thorougldy et|uipped with build- 
 ings and apparatus, and a library of about forty-si.x thousand volumes. 
 
 At the Xoveniber election, in IStlS, the Democrats elected tlieir can- 
 didate for Governoi- of JSew Yorlv, Jolm T. Hoffman, by a majority 
 of twenty-eight thousand votes, while the Republicans elected a majority 
 of the members of the Legislature. At the same time General Ulysses 
 S. Grant, the Republican candidate, was elected President of the United 
 States by a large majority over Horatio Seymour, the Democratic can- 
 didate, with Schuyler Colfax, Vice-President, ^fr. Seymour received a 
 majority of ten thousand votes in his own State, while a majority of the 
 Congressmen to represent New York were chosen by the "Republicans. 
 
o^ 
 
 Tin; K.Ml'IKK STATK. 
 
 (JllAPTKIi XXXIX. 
 
 TiiK first administration of Governor Hoffman* (1S69-71) was dis- 
 tinijuislied l)v few important events in the liistorv of New York. The 
 
 Uepuhliciin Legishiture by concur- 
 rent resolution (1869) adopted the 
 Fiftcentli Anieiidiiient to tlie Na- 
 tional Constitution ])roposed by Con- 
 gress in the following words : 
 
 " Akticle XV. Section 1. The 
 right of the citizens of the United 
 States to vote sliall not be denied or 
 abridged by the United States or any 
 State on account of race, color, or 
 previous condition of servitude. 
 
 " Section 2. The Congress shall 
 have power to enforce this article by 
 appropriate legislation. '" 
 
 This resolution Avas vehemently 
 opposed l)y the Democratic members 
 of the Legislature, and was carried by a strict party vote of IT to 15 in 
 
 the Senate and 72 to -iT in the Assembly. 
 
 The governor 
 
 lid not com- 
 
 * Jolin Thompson Hoffman descended from Martin Hoffman, who came to New York 
 from Hiillniid in 1671. His jrnindfatlicr was Philip Livinsstnn Ilolfman. a irrandson of 
 Philip Livingston, of Livingston Manor. His father, Adrian Kissam Hoffman, after 
 brief service in the navy, took up liis residence at Sing Sing, N. Y., where his only son, 
 John T., was born January 10th, 1828. At the age of eighteen he was graduated witii 
 honors at Union College, N. Y. He studied law with the late General Aaron Ward, and 
 was admilled to the bar on his twentylirst birthday. A year before, he was a member of 
 the Slate Cciilral Committee of a wing of tlie Democratic Party. In 1849 he removed to 
 tlie city of New Yorli and formed a law partnership, soon rising to distinction in his pro- 
 fession. In 18.">4 he became a member of the Tammany Society, and was jirominent in 
 local politics. In 1860 he was elected Recorder of New York — the principal jvidge of 
 crimiii.d jurisdiction ; and in 1865 he was elected mayor of the city over several opposing 
 candidates. In 1868 he was elected Governor of the State of Xew York by the Demo- 
 cratic Party by a jnajority of over twenty -seven thousand votes, and was re-elected in 
 1870 by a majority of thirty-three thousand. In 1873 he retired from public life. Gov- 
 ernor Hoffman's administration was conspicuous for the creation of the Constitutional 
 Conunission of 1872. which was his own de\nce. The Legislature aiilhori/.ed it. and 
 
A REACTIO.NAUV MOVEMENT. 543 
 
 mniiicatc tliis action to the proper authority at Washington until re- 
 fpiested to do so by tlie Assistant-Secretary of Stilte. 
 
 At the general election in I^oveniber the political aspect of the State 
 was entirely changed. At the opening of the sessions of tiie Legislature 
 in ISTO, the Democrats had the ascendancy in both Houses. There 
 were eighteen Democrats and fourteen Repal)licans in the Senate, and 
 seventy-two Democrats and fifty-six Republicans in the Assembly. On 
 the first day of the session the notorious William M. Tweed, soon to be 
 convicted as a plunderer of the public treasury in New York City and 
 to be imprisoned for his crimes, offered in the Senate a series of resolu- 
 tions withdrawing the assent of tlie State to tiio ratification of the 
 Fifteenth Amendment. After reciting in the preamble the proposed 
 Amendment, it was 
 
 " Iiisolord, That the Legislature of the State of New York refuses 
 to ratify the above-recited proposed amendment to the Constitution of 
 the Tnited States, and withdraws altsolutely any expression of consent 
 heretofore given tiiereto, or ratification thereof. 
 
 '• Re-iolval^ That the governor be reipiested to transmit a copy of 
 these resolutions and preamble to the Secretary of State of the United 
 States at Washington, and to every member of the Senate and House of 
 Representatives of the United States, and the governors of the several 
 States." 
 
 Tiie Legislature of 1S72 rescinded these resolutions by an ovcrwliehn- 
 ing majority. 
 
 Dnring the session of 1870, the charters of the cities of Albany and 
 New York were amended. That of the latter ostensibly restored self- 
 government to the people of the city. Thenceforward the Mayor, Com- 
 mon Councilmen, Corporation Council, and the Comptroller were elected 
 by the people. A Department of Public Works was created, which 
 embraced the Street and Aqneduct Departments ; also a Department of 
 Docks. The heads of these departments, as well as of a Department of 
 Public Parks, a Fire, Ilcaltli, and Police Department, were appointed 
 by the mayor under the new charter, an instrument obtained for a sin- 
 ister purpose, as we shall perceive presently. 
 
 Dnring this session an important change was made in the jjublic- 
 
 Governor Hoffman appointed thirty-two citizens, composed of an equal number of Demo- 
 crats and Republicans, to revise liic Slate Constilutiou. The labors of tliat eoniniission 
 were of vital importance, rendering subsequent reforms in the administration of public 
 affairs practicable. It was durin.s his administration that the exposures of the " Tweed 
 Ring" were made. For his veto of the City Charter presented by the Committee of 
 Seventv the governor save satisfactory constitutional reasons. 
 
.".44 TIIK K.Ml'IKE ST.VTK. 
 
 school system in tlie city of Xew York. Tlio Board of twuiity-oiie 
 iSchool C'oiiiiuissioiiers was dissolved and a new Hoanl was created, con- 
 sisting of twelve members appointed l>y tiiu mayor, wiio were to lioid 
 office until 1S71, after which their successors were to be elected l)y tlie 
 people. As usual, the subject of common schools occupied a large s])ace 
 in the governor's annual message. He reported that the receipts of the 
 Common School Fund in ISf!^ amounted to Sl",5"",0flO, of wliicli 
 amount S5,r>0o,O(j{) had been a})plied to tlie payment of teachers" wages 
 during that year. There had l)een expended for the lil)raries, $20,72(1 ; 
 for school apparatus, $2.'U,432 ; for the support of schools for colored 
 children, S'>-iJ<5-"», a'ltl S2,n(X>,000 for school-houses. In 11,731 school 
 districts, !t71,."')no children had been taught by 27,000 teachers. The 
 libraries contained an aggregate of 1, 000,000 vohmies. Tlie National 
 Census for 1870 gave to the State a pii])ulation of 4,.'i74,7ii:', or an in- 
 crease of nearly half a million in ten years. 
 
 Tlie elections in the State of Xew York in the fall of 1S70 residted in 
 the success of the Democratic ticket by a majority of about tliirty thou- 
 sand, (rovernor Ilotfiuan was re-elected. The Democrats secured a 
 little more than one lialf of the representatives of tlie State in Congress. 
 The two liianclies of tlie Legislature were respectively almost equally 
 divided politically, and a tie was produced in the Assembly by the 
 compulsory resignation of a memlier from New York City because of 
 liis misconduct in the Legislative Chamber. 
 
 At midsummer (1871) a serious riot occurred in the city of New 
 York between two Irish religious factions — namely, the " Orangemen" 
 (Protestants) and the " Ribbon Men" (Roman Catholics). As the 
 annual parade of the former was usually an incentive to personal col- 
 lisions, the police autlu>rities had forbidden it, but at the recjuest of 
 Governor Hoffman the order was revoked. The parade took place. A 
 large body of both police and military turned out to protect tlie proces- 
 sion. At one point a mob attacked the marcliing line, and before order 
 was restored several persons were killed. 
 
 Again the ever-oscillating ])olitical poiuhiluiu in the State of New 
 York went to the Repul)lican side in the fall, giving to the Senate 
 twenty-four Republicans of tlie thirty-two members, and to the Assem- 
 bly ninety-seven Republicans and thirty-one Democrats. This result was 
 largely occasioned by the discovery during the summer of immense 
 frauds perpetrated by municipal officers in the city of New York. The 
 conspiratore concerned in these frauds are known in local history a.s " The 
 Tweed Ring,'" or the " Tammany Ring." For several years tlie metrop- 
 olis was virtually ruled by William M. Tweed, a chair-maker by trade. 
 
PLUNDERING OF THE N. Y. CITY THEASIIIY. 545 
 
 and a politician of tlie baser sort by profession. Active, pushing, un- 
 scrupulous, he had worked his way up through petty municipal offices 
 to the position of Supervisor of the County of New York, chairman of 
 that Board, and Deputy Street Commissioner in 1863. The latter office 
 placed him virtually at the head of the public works of the citv, and gave 
 him alnujst unlimited control of the public expenditures. At about the 
 same time he was chosen Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society, wliieh 
 position endowed him with immense political power. This power, by 
 means of his otSces in the municipal government and the patronage at 
 his command, he was able to wield with mighty force, lie took advan- 
 tage of this power to procure for himself election to the State Senate for 
 three consecutive terms — 1807 to 1S71. Corrupt officials and hungry 
 politicians swarmed around him. With three or four shrewd confidants 
 — men who before had enjoyed a fair reputation for honor and honesty 
 — he organized a system for plundering the public treasury unprece- 
 dented in boldness and extent. It comprehended the expenditure for 
 streets, boulevards, parks, armories, public buildings, and improvements 
 of every kind, in which the spoils were divided, ^??'o rata, among tlie 
 conspirators. These spoils consisted of sixty-five to eighty-tivo per cent 
 of the public money paid to contractors and others, who were encouraged 
 to add enormous amounts to their bills, often ten times the amount of 
 an honest charge.* 
 
 To render plundering more secure, Tweed procured from the Legis- 
 lature amendments to the charter just mentioned, l)y which the execu- 
 tive power of the city was vested in the ma^'or and the heads of depart- 
 ments, who were appointed by him. The uuvyor appears to have been 
 one of the " ring"' of conspirators, :uid appointed Tweed to the im])or- 
 tant office of Commissioner of Public Works. Tweed's confederates 
 were placed at the head of other important departments connected with 
 the city finances. The power of auditing accounts was taken from the 
 supervisors and given to a Board of Audit, composed of the Mayor, 
 
 * For example : " On one occasion tlie sum of .^l,r)()0.000 was jrranteil for pretended 
 labor and expense of material, when a fair and liberal allowanee woidd have Ix^en only 
 ^•if>4,0IKl. The sum autliorized by the Leirislatnre to be expended in the erection of a 
 new county court-house in the city was ij!2.')0.000 ; in 1871, when it was yet unfinished, 
 ^8.000,000 had ostensibly been spent upon it. Whenever any contractor or mechanic 
 ventured to remonstrate, he wjis silenced by a threat of losing the city patronage or of 
 non-payment for work already done ; and so conscientious men were often forced to 
 liecomc the confederates of thieves. A .secret record of these fraudulent transactions was 
 kept in the auditor's office under the title of " County Liabilities." The incumbent of 
 that office was a supple instnuiient of the plunderers, and ditl their bidding." — Lomng'i 
 Hiatury i>f Xew York City, vol. ii.. p. 806. 
 
540 TlIK K.MPIIU: STATE. 
 
 Comptroller, Connnissioner of Public Parks, ami Commissioner of 
 I'lihlic, Works,* who were the chief conspirators. 
 
 The scheme for plunderin<jj the city treasury was now complete, and 
 it was nseil with a free hand for the next tifteen montiis. In order to 
 evade joint rcsponsihiHty, tiie I'oard of Audit deiei^ated thiiir ))o\ver to 
 the city auditor, wiio was one of their willinj^ tools. lie signed all the 
 fraudulent i)ills often without examiniiii^ them, and paid over to the 
 chief conspirators their commission of sixty-tive or eighty-Hve per cent 
 on the amount so audited. Within the space of less than four months 
 the sum of !?t^i,;;')12,n()il was paid from the city treasury, of which 
 $5,7U',U(Hl was ostensibly on account of the new court-house.- At 
 least §5,000,000 of the $0,812,000 went iuto the pockets of the chief 
 conspirators and their associates. 
 
 Their " siii found them out." Tiie sheriff of ^^ew York happened 
 to place an honest man in the auditor's otHce, named John Copeland. 
 lie stumbled upon the record of '' County Liabilities. " He made an 
 exact copy of it, and showed it to the sheriff. The latter used it in 
 endeavors to force the " ring" to pay a claim he held against the city. 
 Tiie conspirators refused compliance with his demand, and he threatened 
 to publish the record in the y^eio l^ork Dallij Times. Alarmed, they 
 at once sent the auditor to negotiate with the sheriff, who, they sup- 
 posed, was at a sporting tavern in a remote part of the city. Failing to 
 find him, the auditor was ri'turning, when he was thrown from his car- 
 riage and mortally hurt, lie never regained consciousness. 
 
 For several months the sheriff imsuccessfully pressed his claim. At 
 length he gave the damaging document to the proprietor of the Xeir 
 Yurk Times, and in July, 1S71, the tell-tale items were spread over its 
 pages for the public eye. Amazement and hot indignation produced 
 inten.se excitement in the city. Tweed, believing his fortress to be im- 
 pregnable, sneeringly inquired : 
 
 '■ AVhat are yon going to do about it V 
 
 Day after day the Times dealt ponderous blows at the walls of the 
 fortress of the conspirators, each day adding proofs of the black crimes 
 of the plunderers. Week after week the inimitable cartoons of Nast in 
 Ilarpef''s Weekly struck equally telling blows, for pictures are the liter- 
 ature of the uidearned ; and the most illiterate citizen could read and 
 understand these cartoons. The cons]iirators were soon compelled to 
 yield. 
 
 * A. Oakey Hall, >Iayor ; Riclmrd B. Connolly. Comptroller ; Peter B. Sweeney, 
 Commi.ssioncr of Public Parks, and William M. Tweed, Cominis,sioner of Public Works. 
 
FATE OF THE CHIEF PIANDEUEU. 547 
 
 A uieetinw of citizens was held at the Cooper Union on September 
 4th, at which some of tlio principal men of New York City were 
 active participants. An Executive Committee of Seventy, composed of 
 leading citizens, was appointed, charged with tlie duty of making a 
 thorough investigation, and to take action for relieving the city of the 
 phinderers. The Cominittee sent forth an " Appeal to the people of 
 the State of New York," and then entered upon their duties with vigor. 
 Very soon the conspirators in office fled to Europe or were brought to 
 the bar of justice. The Attorney-General of the State authorized the 
 late Charles O'Conor to act for the commonwealth. He employed 
 able assistants. The late Governor Samuel J. Tilden rendered con- 
 spicuous service in the matter. On the strength of an affidavit of the 
 hitter, Tweed was arrested and held to bail in the sum of $1,000,000. 
 He was tried for and found guilty of forgery and grand larceny in IS";^, 
 and sentenced to a long imprisonment in the penitentiary on Blackwell's 
 Island.* Very soon the city was purged of the plunderers. It was 
 estimated that the " ring" had robbed tlie city of fully S20,000,000.t 
 
 The Committee of Seventy not only broke up the gang of official rob- 
 bers, but procured an amendment to the city charter, by which the legis- 
 lative power was vested in a board of twenty-two aldermen. The mayor 
 retained the authority to appoint the heads of the several departments, 
 but oidy with the advice and consent of the Board of Aldermen. 
 
 The State Legislature was called upon in JS72 to adjudicate the cases 
 of five judges who had been impeached for corrupt official conduct. 
 These were G. G. I'arnard, A. Cardozo, J. A. llcCunn, and (Jeorge 
 M. Curtis, of New York City, and IT. (i. Prindlc, of Chenango County. 
 Thirty-nine articles of impeachment were presented against Barnard, 
 mostly accusing him of receiving bribes and corruptly using his judicial 
 power. He was found guilty, was removed from the bench, and was 
 
 * In tlie summer of 18T5 Tweed's friends procured liis release on bail. He was imme- 
 diately arrested on a civil suit to recover over 10, 000, 000 which he had stolen from the 
 city treasury. Bail to tlie amount of ,«;3,000,000 was required. He could not furnish 
 it. and he was confined in the Ludlow Street .Tail. One evening at twili.irht, being 
 allow^ed to visit his wife in cliarge of the .sheriff, he managed to escape. He Hed to 
 Europe, was arrested in a Spanish port, and brought back to New York in failing health, 
 and lod.ged in jail. In March, 1876, in a civil suit for $6..')37,000 the .iiny returned a 
 verdict for that amount, lie could not pay. He lingered in prison until January 12th, 
 1878. when he died at the age of fifty-five years, 
 
 + The Tweed King were not the only plunderers of (he city at Oiat period. Jlemlwrs 
 of the dominant political party in the city Legislature (larirely for political purpo.ses) 
 gave in lands and moncv, during three years previous to 1873, no less than .s;4,S!>(!,:!88 to 
 one denomination of Cluislians in the city of New York for the support of it-s religious, 
 benevolent, and educalional organizations. 
 
5-18 THI-: KMl'IHK STATE. 
 
 disqualified from ever afterwiuil luddiiig any office in the State of Xew 
 York. Cardozo wi.sely resiijiied, and .so avoided a trial. McCunn was 
 found guilty, and was removed, and died soon afterward. Curtis and 
 Prindle were acquitted. The conduct of tlie four city judges was a part 
 of tiie great official conspiracy to plunder tlie treasury of tlic metropolis.* 
 
 The colored j)opulation, availing tliemsclvcs of tlieir ncwly-ac(piired 
 political rights, followed the example of the white people, and assembled 
 in conventions in various parts of the Union to express their views. 
 The tiret iSlafe convention of colored citizens ever assembled in the 
 United States met at Troy, N. Y., on May 8tli-9th, 1872. They ex- 
 pressed their gratitude to tiic Republican Party as tlieir liberator ; 
 endorsed the administration of President Grant ; pledged themselves to 
 support the Ive])ublican nomination for President ; asked the Ilepubli- 
 can State Convention, then about to assendjle at Elniira, to send a colored 
 delegate at large to the Republican National Convention, then soon to 
 meet at Philadelphia, and demanded the recognition and the enforce- 
 ment of the rights of the colored people. 
 
 The politic-al aspect in the State of New York and of the whole 
 country in li<~'2 was peculiar. A large faction of the Re]uiblican Party, 
 who had iieconic di.ssatisfied with the administration, had formed a sepa- 
 rate organization under the title of Liberal Re]niblicans, and arranged 
 themselves in opposition to the great historic party as reiireseiited by 
 that administration. At a National Convention held at Cincinnati on 
 May 1st, they nominated Horace Greeley, the veteran editor of the 
 y^ew York Tribune, for President of the United States. The Dem- 
 ocratic leaders, perceiving little hope of success for their party, sought 
 and effected a fusion of the Deinocratic and Lilieral Republican parties. 
 Mr. (ireeley accepted the nomination from both parties ; but President 
 Grant, who had been nominated for re-election, was chosen by a pop- 
 ular majority of over seven hundred and sixty-three thousand. Many 
 
 * AVlu'ii TwcL'd wii-s at the lieight of lii.s disreputable career a strange social iilienonienoii 
 a|)peai-c(I. Dazzled by the maguitude of city " improvements" under his direction, and 
 without in(iiiiriiig whence he procured the means for dispensing his private charities on a 
 inunilkent scale, some of the most reputable citizens of Xcw York iniblidy jiroposcd to 
 erect a statue of him as a public benefactor ! And when his daughter was maiiied sixty- 
 two citizens, some of them of high social position, bestowed upon her wedding gifts to 
 the aggregate value of ij;70.1l()0. Only one present was as low as $1(H) in value. Twenty- 
 one persons each gave presents valued at iJSKIDO. Ten persons gave $2000 presents, two, 
 $2r)0(). and live gave presents to the value of i{!.")()00 each. One of the donors of the latter 
 amouiU was a woman. Some of the most munilieent gifts were from persons connected 
 with the " ring," but who were then accounted respectable members of society. See 
 Lossing's Iliston/ of New York City, p. 807. A list of the names of those donors may be 
 found in Stone's IIMm-y nf the City of Xcw York, .Vppendix. 
 
A CIVIL RIGHTS HILL. 
 
 549 
 
 straight-out Democrats, offended hy tlie nomination of Mr. Greeley, their 
 life-long political antagonist, nominated (,'Iiarles O'Conor, of New York, 
 and gave liim over twenty -one thousand votes, though lie declined to 
 be a candidate. In tlie State of New York Grant's majority over 
 Greeley was more than fifty-three thousand, and that of General John 
 Adams Dix,* the Eepiibiican candidate for (iovernor of the State, 
 was over fifty-five thousand. A large 
 majority of the Repu])lican Congress- 
 men were elected, and the State Legis- 
 lature, at the beginning of 1873, was 
 overwhelmingly Republican. A greater 
 portion of the Liberal Republican fac- 
 tion was afterward alisorbed by their 
 ally, tiie Democratic Party, in the 
 State and nation, and disappeared as a 
 distinct organization. 
 
 Li the spring of 1S73 a Civil Rights 
 Bill was passed hy the Legislature, for- 
 bidding the nuuiagers of theatres and 
 other places of amusement denying 
 equal enjoyment of the privileges of 
 tiieir exhibitions to any person on ac- 
 count of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." During 
 the same session a commission appointed to prepare and submit to tiie 
 Legislature such amendments to the State Constitution as they might 
 deem expedient completed their work and reported amendments of nine 
 acts and two new acts. These amendments were referred to the people 
 at the next fall election, when they were all ratified. They made some 
 
 o 
 
 .JOHN A. DIX. 
 
 * .lolm Adams Di.x was born at Boscawcn, N. H., on July 24th, 1798 ; (lied at Xcw 
 York on April 2Tth, 1879. He entered the army in 1812, a bov fes than fifteen years of 
 age ; was promoted to eaptain in 1825. and soon afterward resigned and studied law. He 
 made his residence at Cooperstown, X. Y. , and was chosen Secretary of State in ISIili by 
 the Democratic Party. In 1845 he was elected to the United Stales Senate to till a 
 vacancy. In 1848 he was the unsuccessful Free-Soil candidate for governor. While in 
 the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Commerce. He was succeeded in the 
 Senate by Mr. Seward in 1849. In 1801 he was Secretary of the Treasury for about three 
 months, in the Cabinet of President Buchanan, during which time he issued the famous 
 order : " If any man attempts to haul down the American tlag, shoot him on the spot !" 
 He was made major-general of volunteers in May. 1861 : commanded at Fortress Monroe 
 in 1862, and performed eminent services of various kinds during the war. In 1867-68 
 lie was United States Miin'ster to France ; also was made President of the Union Pacific 
 Railroad. In 1872 he was chosen Governoi- of New York. In 1855 Governor Dix i)ub- 
 lished^l Summei- in Spain and Flunncc containing his reminiscences of travels in Europe. 
 
550 TIIH K.Ml'IKK STATE. 
 
 Tiotal)le alterations in tlic organic law of tlie State. Among other 
 tilings, provision was made for securing equality in the exercise of the 
 elective franchise ; for the punishment of givers and receivers of bribes 
 at elections ; for the payment of a fixed salary of $15(in to the moml)ers 
 of the Lcgisliiture ; for chanicing tlio official term of the srovernor and 
 lieutenant-governor of the State from two to three years, making the salary 
 of the former §10,000 a year, and of tlie latter S^OOO a year ; for re- 
 stricting the Legislature in the management of tlie finances of the State 
 and tlie chartering of banks ; also for the preveiition of official corruption. 
 
 For some years a topographical and trigonometrical survey of the 
 Adirondack region of tlie State had been prosecuted. In 1873 a com- 
 mission appointed to incpiire into the expediency of setting apart a large 
 portion of that mountain and lake district as a State Park reported in 
 favor of doing so. It has been done. The domain surveyed embraces 
 about five tiiousand square miles, and includes all the higher peaks of the 
 group and many lakes. The principal object sought in the preservation 
 of the forests which clothe the hills was their beneficial climatic effects 
 and the furnishing and ])erpetuatiou of a healthful and delightful j)leas- 
 ure ground for the people — a vast and magnificent sanitarium. 
 
 At the State election in the fall of 1873, tiie following questions were 
 submitted to the voters for their decision : 
 
 1. Sliall the chief judge and the associate judges of the Court of 
 Ap]icals and the justices of the Supreme Court be hereafter elected or 
 appointed ? 
 
 2. Shall the judges of the Superior Courts of New York City and 
 Brooklyn, of the Court of Common Pleas of Buffalo, and the several 
 county judges throughout the State be hereafter elected or appointed { 
 
 The nuijority for the election of the higher judges was 204,642 ; for 
 the election of lower judges, 208,985. 
 
 Among the important events in the civil history uf the State during 
 the administration of Governor Dix was the passage of an act which 
 became a law on ^Fay 11th, 1874, for the compulsory education of the 
 children of the commonwealth. It met witli much opposition. The 
 law went into effect on January 1st, 1875. It requires all ]>arents and 
 those who have the care of children between the ages of eight and four- 
 teen to see that they are instructed in spelling, reading, writing, English 
 gramnuir, geography, and arithmetic at least fourteen weeks in each year, 
 either at school or at houu>, unless the physical or mental condition of 
 the child may render such instruction inexpedient or impracticable.* 
 
 * Eiglil of llie fourteen weeks' attendnnce at school must be consecutive. .Vnv ]x;rson 
 neglecting to comply with this requirement is liable to a flue of ^1 for the first oilencc. 
 
LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF ClIILDHEX. 
 
 551 
 
 The political campaign in the State in 1874 was exceedingly interest- 
 ing. A ProJiibitioii Convention assciuhlcd at Auburn late in June, and 
 nominated ex-Governor Myron II. Clark 
 for governor. On the same day in the 
 same city tifty temperance Eepuhlicans 
 from various parts of the State met and 
 pa.sseil resolutions condemnatory of Gov- 
 ernor Dix, because he vetoed a so-called 
 local-option bill for the repression of 
 intemperance.* The Liberal Eepuhli- 
 cans met in convention at Albany in 
 September, but did not make any uomi- 
 nations. The Democratic Convention 
 held at Syracuse in the same month 
 nominated Samuel J. Tilden for Gov- 
 ernor, f The Ilepnblicaii Convention 
 ■was also hold at Syracuse in September, 
 and renominated Governor Dix by ac- 
 clamation. The result of the election in Xovenibcr was a Democratic 
 
 SAMCEI, J. TILUKN. 
 
 and for each succeeding violation, after having been properly notified, tlic offender sliall 
 jiav ^o for every week, not exceeding tliirteen in a year, during which he shall fail to 
 comply with the law. The lines thus collected are to be devoted to school purposes. 
 
 No ])ersou shall euijiloy any child under the age of fourteen years to labor in any busi- 
 ness during school hours, unless the child has been instructed, either at school or at 
 home, for at lea.st fourteen of the lifty-two weeks next preceding the year in which the 
 child shall be employed. The child must also furnish a written certificate of having 
 received such instruction. The penalty for violating this provision is $50 for every 
 offence. 
 
 In every school district the trustees are required, in September and in Fcbniary, to 
 examine into the situation of children employed in all manufacturing e.stabli.shments ; 
 and manufacturers must furnish a corre<'t list of all children between the ages of eight 
 and fourteen employe<l. 
 
 Trustees are reipiired to furnish textbooks where the parents or guardians are unable 
 to do so. If the parent or guardian is luiable to compel the child to attend school, and 
 shall so state in writing, the child shall be dealt with as an habitual truant. 
 
 Boards of instruction and tru.stees in cities, school districts, etc., are authorized and 
 diieeted to make all needful provisions and regulations concerning habitual truants, and 
 children between the ages of eight and fourteen years found wandering about the streets 
 during school hours, having no lawful occupation or Iiusine.ss, and growing up in igno- 
 rance, and to jirovide for their instruction and confinement where neces-sary. 
 
 * Governor Dix expre.s.sed himself as favorable to the principles of the bill. l)ut vetoed 
 it because of its inconsistency and failure to meet the alle.ired exigency. It profi'ssed, he 
 said, to leiive to the jieople th<> largest liberty, while it in reality restricted llien\ to the 
 narrowest. This sul)ject came up aft<'rwanl. and a local option bill finally iK'came a law. 
 
 f Sanuiel .loncs Tilden was an astute polilician. He was born at New Lebanon, 
 
652 Tin; K.MIMKK STATi:. 
 
 victory. ]Mr. Tildeu was clioscii cliief iiiaijistriite of the cDininoiiwcalth 
 \>y a plurality of 50,317 votes. ^\v. Tildeii took his scat as (Tovoriior 
 of the State of New York on Jaiuiarv 1st, 1ST5. 
 
 Columbia County, N. Y., in February, 1814. His pliysical constitution wa-s wcalt from 
 infancy. His fallirr biinj; a i«Msoiial and political friend of Martin Van Burcn and oilier 
 politicians who composed tlie " Albany Kegency," young Tilden was introduced into 
 political circles at ii very early age. He studied law with lienjaniin F. Butler, and 
 lieciuno a sound but not brilliant member of the profession. For a while he indidged in 
 journalism, establishing the Diiili/ yi'im in New York City in 1S44. llesoon returned to 
 Die bar. was elected to the Assendily by the Hemocrats, and was a mendier of llie conven- 
 1 ion that revised tlie State Conslilulion in 1H4G. Jlr. Tilden was nnicli sought after as 
 <-ouns<'l for <-ori)oral ions. lie was a bitter opponent of thi' Republican Parly, and l)lamed 
 President Lincoln for not calling out .WO, 000 troops in ISOl instead of 7.'i,000 to siippress 
 the rel)ellion. He and Governor .Seymour were in accord during the war. In 1ST4 
 Tilden was elected Governor of New York, and in 1876 he was an unsuccessful candidate 
 for the Presidency of the United States. He died at his magnificent seat on the Hudson, 
 near Yonkers, in August, ]S8(). leaving a fortune of fully ^.'i, 000, 000. He was never 
 married. 
 
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. 553 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 TirE year 1875 closed tlie lirst century of the life of the Teat 
 repulilie of the "West. The notes of preparation for a grand Centen- 
 nial celeiiration and an exhibition of tlu! industries of all nations were 
 then lieard tlironghout the land. The city of Pliihulelpliia — tlie hirth- 
 piaco of tlie repuijjic — was tlie chosen theatre of tlie wonderful disphiy 
 to whirh tlie State of !New York made a notable contribution from its 
 immense treasnres of production of every sort.* At that (lentemiial 
 period — the end of 1ST5 — I propose to close this compendious history of 
 the Empire State of the Union. All events before that period have 
 passed into the realm of comjileted and permanent history ; all since 
 then are components of current history with ever-changing phases, ia 
 which living men and women compose the persons of the drama. 
 
 The session of the Legislature began on January (ith, 1875, and 
 adjourned on May 22d. Among the more ]'m])ortant acts passed at 
 that session were a general law for providing uniformity in the organi- 
 zation and administration of savings-banks, f empowering the Super- 
 intendent of the Banking Department to grant charters to such in- 
 stitutions, limiting the amount of deposits in the name of one person 
 to §5000, and prohibiting their loaning money on personal securities 
 and dealing in merchandise, or buying or selling exchange or gold and 
 
 * The exhibition was opened on May 10th, 1876, with imposing ceremonies. Tlie 
 most distinguished guests present were President Grant and the Emi>eror and Em- 
 press of Brazil. After prayers a thousand voices sang a beautiful Centennial Ilymu 
 written by .John G. "Whitticr, the Quaker jioet. The exhibition was kept open six months. 
 The total number of admissions from the ojiening until the closing was O.fllO.iKir), and 
 the total cash receipts for admission was $3,813,72."). The largest attendance for a full 
 month was in October, when 2,663,91 1 persons were admitted. Twenty-si.\ nations were 
 represented among the produels of industry. 
 
 t The first bank for saxings in the State of New York was opened on Saturday even- 
 ing, July 3d, 1819, in a basement room in Chambers Street, New York City. It was the 
 fruit of the suggestion and efficient labors of John Pintard. An a.ssoeialion was organ- 
 ized by the choice of twenty -six directors, with De Witt Clinton at their head. AVilliam 
 Bayard was chosen president. The deposit office was open from six until nine o'clock 
 that evening, when .'j!2sn7 had been received from eighty-two depositors. The smallest 
 amount deposited was $2 ; the largest amount was 1300. That first savings-hank in New 
 York is .still afiourishing in.stltution, located in an elegant banking-house of white marble 
 on Bleecker Street. From 1819 until 1883 the aggregate sum of |162,032,ol3 had been 
 deposited in that bank from 49U,o-ll persons. 
 
554 Tin: K.MPIRE STATE. 
 
 silver ; <ilso acts for tlie piiiiisliiiieiit fur lirihery at election ; for i^eneral 
 business incorporations ; for tlie prevention of cruelty to cliililren ; for 
 rapid transit in the city of New York ; for creatiiij^ a State Board of 
 Audit, and for the suppression of intemperance. 
 
 .During the recess of the Legislature several coniniittees of investiga- 
 tion performed their tasks. One conniiittee investigated the afifairs of 
 th(! (juiirantine, the Board of Ilealth, and the nianngement of emigrants 
 and emigration at Castle (Jarilen, New York ; another sought to ascer- 
 tain the causes of the rapid increase of crime in the city of New York, 
 and another to investigate charges concerning the dehtors' prison in the 
 county of New York. Perhaps the most important committee of in- 
 quiry was appointed on the recommendation of Governor Tilden in a 
 special message for an investigation concerning the management of the 
 canals of the State. In that messnge he showed that for five years, end- 
 ing September 3()th, 1S74, the total receipts for tolls had been $15,058,- 
 301, while the expenses for operating and for ordinary repairs had 
 amounted to $9,202, 434, leaving an apparent surplus of $5,855,1)27. 
 During the same period the disbursements for crtraordinari/ repairs had 
 amounted to $10,960,(144, causing a real deficiency of $5,104,()97. Add- 
 ing to this the payment on the canal debt and other outlays on account 
 of the canals, an aggregate of over $ll,n()i),()0() was obtained as the 
 amount expended by the State in five years for these woiks. The gov- 
 ernor declared that the ex])enses for both ordinary and extraordinaiw re- 
 pairs had been greatly in excess of what was required, and that there had 
 been corrupt and fraudulent contracts for work and materials by which 
 the State Treasury had been systematically ]>lniidered, something after 
 the methods employed by the '' Tweed Ring" in the city of New York. 
 
 The investigation showed among others as flagrant exhibitions of 
 fraud, that the State had paid on ten contracts $l,5»!(i,7('9, while the 
 amount to be paid upon the quality of materials exhibited in the pro- 
 posals, at contract prices, would have been oidy $424,735. The gov- 
 ernor recommended the adoption of measures at once for ascertaining the 
 exact financial condition of the canals. It M'as done, and reforms in 
 their management ensued. 
 
 There are thirteen canals in the State, two of them belonging to cor- 
 porations.* Their total length, with navigable feeders and lakes and 
 
 * These arc the Erie, Cliamiil:iin, Osweiro. C'lienanjo, Cliemuns. Cayiiira and Sciieea, 
 Genesee Valley, Oneida ]>ake, Chenanjro Extension, Crooked Lake Canal and Ithaca 
 Inlet. The Delaware and Hudson and tlio .lunetion canals belong to corporations. The 
 amount of work remnininir to be done on tlie State canals, at the rlose of IHTo, was eon- 
 tracted for at an aggregate of $892,397. 
 
FACULTIES OF TKANSPORTATION. 555 
 
 rivers iirtirieially connected therewith, is 1893 luilcs. The lengtli of the 
 canals proper, witii navii-ahle feeders, is 907 miles. Tiie number of 
 tons of freight trausported over these canals in IST-I: was 5,SU4-,588. 
 The cost of this freight transportatio.a was §4,335,536, and the receipts 
 for tolls and freiglits were s6,SS2,921. The canals (excepting two) arc 
 the actual jiroperty of tlie people of the commonwealth, and had cost 
 them up to 1875, for original construction and subsequent enlargements, 
 fully $101,000,11(10. The aggregate cost of the canals and railroads of 
 the State, with their equipments, at that time, was $735,Sti2,282, which 
 w;i8 equal ti» one third of the gross taxable property of the common- 
 wealth, real and personal. 
 
 The railroads within the State are of far more value as vehicles of 
 transportation for freight and passengers than the canals. The total 
 lengtli of steam railways in 1S75 was 5210 miles, many of them with 
 double tracks. There were seventy-six horse railroads, the aggregate 
 length of which was 400 miles. The number of passengers carried on 
 the steam railways within the State in 1S74 was 34,719,018, and on 
 horse railways, 228,372,112, making the total number of jxisscngers 
 263,091,130. The receipts from freight carried on steam railroads within 
 the State that year amounted to $65,085,604, and from passenger.'^, 
 $25,369,850. The receipts from passengers on horse railways were 
 $12,003,654, making a total for' passengers and freight of $109,342,029. 
 The cost of transportation of freight and passengers on both steam and 
 horse railroads in one year was $7ti,027,413. 
 
 These railways and their enormous business had been created in the 
 space of forty-four years. The first railway put into operation in the 
 State, as we have observed, was completed in 1S31, and connected 
 Albany and Schenectady by rail.''' 
 
 The admirable common-school system of the State, so essential to 
 the moral, intellectual, and social M'elfaro of the peo])le, has been fre- 
 quently alluded to in preceding pages. It has been the object of the 
 special care of the electors and the Legislature, and a topic for sugges- 
 
 * The first 16comotive engine constructed in tlie United States was built by a native 
 of New York, the late Peter Cooper, in 1830, at his Canton Iron Works, near Balti- 
 more. It was made from his o^vn designs, iind was named '" Tom Thumb." It was a 
 very small tractor en.ijine— too small for practical use. On a trial trip it drew a car 
 with several Baltimorians in it from Baltimore to the Relay Ilotise, a distance of nine 
 miles. 
 
 The first actual workina; locomotive built in .Vmerica wa.s made in New York City in 
 1830 from plans drawn by V. L. Miller, of Charleston, S. C, and used on a road be- 
 tween that city and Ilamltur;;'. It was named " Best Friend." The first projector of 
 a land carriage, to be propelled by steam, was Oliver Evans, of Philadelphia. 
 
o5C TlIK K.Ml'lKi: STATE. 
 
 tions ami expressions of solicitude liy the chief magistrates of the com- 
 iiioiiwealtli, for almost half a century. Amj)!e provision has always 
 heen made for the sujiport and efficienc}' of the common schools, and 
 for the wide distribution of their henefits. Every inhabited portion of 
 tiie State has been divided into convenient districts, in each of which a 
 scliool is taught some portions of the year, is open to all, and is within 
 tlie reach of all. We have already o])served (jiage 360) the origin of the 
 conimon-school system in the State, and the metliods used in jirovid- 
 ing funds for its support.* 
 
 In his synoptical report to the Legislature (January Tith, 1887), Hon. 
 A. S. Draper, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, siiys : " Tlie 
 educational work in the State has been a wonderful growth and devel- 
 opment. In IS.")*) we were spending $l,r)O(),(ii»0 annually in the sujiport 
 of our public schools. During the piust year we spent $l4,(»U(l,U(in. "' 
 He then ])ropounded some pertinent questions suggestive of needed im- 
 provement in the methods of public instruction, lie asked : " Is our 
 education as practical as it might be '. Do we reach all the children we 
 ought '. In our ardor over the high schools, which nine tenths of our 
 children never reach, have we not neglected the low schools ? Is there 
 not too much French, and (ierman, and Latin, and Greek, and too little 
 spelling, and writing, and mental arithmetic, and English grammar being 
 taught i Are not our courses of study too complex ? Are we not under- 
 taking to do more than we are doin<r well ? Are we educating the whole 
 man ?" Some wise suggestions follow. 
 
 The State is divided into sixty counties. Tiie tir.st eight counties 
 were established in Kis;] — Duchess, Kings, Queens, Orange, Iiiclimond, 
 Sulfolk, Ulster, and Westchester. The last one organized was AVyom- 
 ing, in 1841. For an account of the organization of each county, with 
 a delineation of the seals and the population, etc., see pages 97 and 
 DS, and Ajjpendix. 
 
 The building of a new State House was authorized in 18G8, and work 
 
 * There were in the Slate of New York at the close of 1875, 11,787 .school-houses ; 
 11,289 school districts, exclusive of cities ; 19,157 teachers employed for the legal school 
 term, and 29,977 during every portion of the J'ear. There were 1,0.58,846 children attend- 
 ing public schools, and 185,098 of school age in private schools. There were 6207 i>er- 
 .sons attending normal schools. In the school district libraries there were 812,655 
 volumes. In the Slate were 1,579. .504 persons between the ages of live and twenty- 
 one years. The School Fund proiter aniotuited on .January 1st, 1875, to $3,0.54,772, 
 and the revenue from it, SjSKS.si;!. Tlie total receipts on account of common .schools 
 that year were $12, 510, 302. and the total e.xpcndiluns were $11,305,377. The amount 
 paid for teachers' wages w;us $7,843,231. Tlie estimated value of the school-houses and 
 sites was $36,393,190. 
 
FIXAXCKS .VXD POPn.ATIOX. 557 
 
 upon it was Ijegun soon afterward. The limestone and granite for the 
 foundation were procured from the Luke Champlain, Adirondaclv, and 
 ]\loiiawk Valley regions of tlie State. Tiie corner-stone was laid, with 
 imposing ceremonies, on June 2itli, 1S71. Already $2,000,000 had been 
 expended on the foundation (wiiich rose seven feet above the ground), 
 besides $050,000 paid for the land on which it was erected. It is l)nilt 
 of drilled granite, four stories in height, two hundred and ninety feet 
 wide, and tliree hundred and ninety feet long. Wiien completed it will 
 lie one of tlio most costly buildings ever constructed in the United States 
 —probably nearly $20,000,000. 
 
 The nominal funded debts of the State on September 3('th, 1875, 
 were $2S,32S,l)S0, less the amount of sinking funds pledged for 
 their redemption, which was $13,581,382, reducing the actual debt of 
 the State to $11, 747, 30-1. The aggregate amount of the bonded debts 
 of counties, cities, towns, and villages was very large, but was in rapid 
 ])rocess of extinction. These debts were largely incurred by giving aid 
 to railroads ; for public buildings ; for war and bounty expenses ; for 
 roads and bridges, and for water-works and lire apparatus. 
 
 Let us here go forward live years from our intended resting-point, 
 and take a general view of tlie Empire State in 1880, as revealed by the 
 Tenth Census. 
 
 In size the State of New York is only nineteenth in rank. Its area 
 is a thousand sijuare miles less than that of North Carolina, and seven 
 thousand less than Michigan. Although its territory includes less than 
 one sixty-third of the whole country, its inhabitants then formed more 
 than one tenth of the population. Its twenty-live cities contained be- 
 tween one lifth and one fourth of the entire urban po])ulation of the 
 United States.* 
 
 One half of the inhabitants of the State lived in cities. The number 
 engaged in agriculture was less than in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, or in 
 
 * Xew York had drawn freely from and given liberally to the other State.s. In 1880 
 there were within its borders natives of Connecticut enonjch Hi make a city as large a.s 
 Bridgeport ; of Maine, to repopulate liath ; of Massachusetts, to repeople Lynn or Law- 
 rence ; of Pennsylvania, nearly sulbcieni to twice repopulate its Stat'; ca|)ital : of New 
 .Jersey, to till Patersou, and more natives of Vermont than in Burlington, Hulland, and 
 St. Albans together. Xew York had given to California people enough to populate two 
 cities as large iW Sacramento ; to Connecticut, almost enough to stock Hartford with 
 men and women ; to Kimsas. enough to make the tlin^c cities of Atchison, Topeka, and 
 Leavenworth ; to Ohio, more than enough to make Columbus or Toledo ; to Wiscon-sin, 
 in number eipial to three fourths of the population of Milwaukee ; to Iowa, enough to 
 fill her foin- largest cities ; to Pennsylvania. lOO.ODO ; to Illinois, 120,000. and to Michi- 
 gan twice the population of Detroit. Nearly one tifth of the American-born popidaliou 
 of Micliiiran were natives of New York. 
 
558 TIIK i;.MPll{l-: STATE. 
 
 Oliio. Ill acreage of iiiipruvcd land in farms, it was bcliiiid Iowa. Illi- 
 nois, and Ohio ; yet it is second only to Illinois as a farinini; State, 
 taking as the basis of comparison the total valne of all farm products 
 during the year before the census. Illinois, with i!(!,(}00,(>00 acres and 
 -l;'.t!,()00 farmers, produced value of $-204,0(i(),ooo. ^'ew York, with less 
 than 18,000,000 acres and 377,000 farmers, produced $178,000,000. 
 The as-erago annual yield of the Illinois farmers was a little less tlian $>< 
 an acre ; of the Xew York farmers, a little more than Sl(t an acre. 
 
 New York raised more barley than any other State excepting Cali- 
 fornia ; more oats than any other State excepting Illinois and Iowa, and 
 more rye than any other State excepting Illinois and Pennsylvania. 
 liaising more l>uckwheat than any other State, it jiroduced more than 
 one third of the entire buckwheat crop of the country. 
 
 The hay croj:* of JS'ew York sur})assed that of any other State. It was 
 more than one seventh of the entire crop of the country. It also pro- 
 duced one fifth of all the so-called '" Iri.sh" ])otatoes grown in the United 
 States, and more than twice as many bushels as Pennsylvania, the second 
 potato-producing State in rank. It ]iroduced more than four fifths of 
 the total hop crop of the country, and more than ten times that of the 
 State next in rank. 
 
 New York is a great fruit-growing State. Its orchards yielded in the 
 census year in value one sixth of the total fruit production of the 
 Vnited States, and almost twice that of its most successful rival, Penn- 
 sylvania. It is also pre-eminently a Jairy State. In the j'ear before the 
 census it produced more than one .'seventh of all the l)utter of the 
 United States, and nearly one third of all the cheese. 
 
 New York is the foremost mamifacturing State in the Union. It is 
 first in the number of establishments ; second in the amount of capital 
 invested ; first in the number of liands cm]il()yed ; first in the amount 
 of wages 2)aid, and first in the value of manufactured products. It con- 
 tained more than one sixth of all the mills, manufactories, and work- 
 shops of the United States that produced $500 in 1S79. These estab- 
 lishments represented between one sixth and one fifth of all the capital 
 invested in .the mechanical and mamifacturing establishments of the 
 United States. Those industries gave employment to between one sixth 
 and one fifth of all the hands at work in American mills and shops. The 
 New York manufacturers paid more than one fifth of the total wages 
 given to workingmon and women of this class. Tiie total value of the 
 manufactured products in the State was more than one fifth of the total 
 for the Union. 
 
 Let us take a brief glance at the products of some of the vast and 
 
PRODUCTS OF IXDISTRY. 559 
 
 varied industries of the State in comparison witli the same products in 
 tlie M-hole T'nion, in 1879. New York produced nearly one sixth in 
 value of all the agricultural implements made in the country ; nearly 
 one third of all the baking products ; more than one half of the cheese, 
 and nearly one half of the butter ; between one third and one half of the 
 men's clothing, and nearly two thirds of the women's clothing produced in 
 manufactories ; more than one fifth of the foundry and machine-shop 
 ]iroducts ; between one fifth and one quarter of the furniture ; more 
 than one third of the hosiery and knit goods ; nearly a (juaitur of the 
 jewelry : more than one third of the beer and ale ; more than one half 
 of the millinery and lace goods ; two tiiirds of the ]iianos ; between one 
 third and one half of the paints ; more than half the perfmnery and cos- 
 metics ; nearly one third of the books and periodicals ; one ijuarter of 
 the soap and candles ; nearly one half of the refined sugar and molasses ; 
 more than one sixth of the smoking and chewing tobacco and snuff, and 
 between one third and one half of the cigars and cigarettes. 
 
 New York then (ISTU) led the country in shi|)building, bc)th in the 
 nundjer of establishments devoted to the construction and repair of 
 steam and sailing vessels and boats of all kinds, and in the annual value 
 of all the products. While iietween one fifth and one fourth in vahie of 
 all American vessels were built in the State, nearly one third of them 
 were owned by !New Yorkers. 
 
 Of all the steam craft owned in the United States, nearly one quarter 
 belonged to Xew York, while the tonnage of these vessels was more 
 than a quarter of the tonnage of the whole country, and their value 
 nearly one third of the total value. New York had between one sixth 
 and one fifth of the sailing-vessels of America ; more than one fourth in 
 tonnage and more than one fourth in value. Of the canal-boats of the 
 country, New York owned about five eighths in value. In rank it is 
 first in maritime commerce."' 
 
 Let us turn from a consideration of the pre-eminence of New York in 
 agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, to that of its raidv in intelli- 
 gence and accumulated wealth. 
 
 While New York had one; tenth of the population of the republic, its 
 expenditures for popular education were more than one eighth of that 
 of the whole Union. So general were the blessings of education dif- 
 fused throughout the commonwealth, that only 4.2 per cent of the adult 
 people were unable to read and 5.5 per cent unable to write. In 1875 
 the State spent nearly $290,000 in its nine normal schools for t he edu- 
 
 * I am largely indebted to a writer in the New York Sun, in 1883, for the analysis and 
 comparisons of tlie slalistieal faets lure given. 
 
5(J0 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 cation of teachers for tlie public schools, unci $18,000 for the aid of 
 teachers" institutes. In the State were then nearly 25u academies or 
 academic departments in I'nion sehools, 'j7 colleges and universities, 
 7 scientific schools, 13 schools of theology, -t law schools, and 14 
 ine<lical sehools. 
 
 A trustworthy measure of the intelligence of a large community is 
 the activity of its printing-presses, especially those which distribute in- 
 telligence through news[)ai)ers and periodicals. Xew York produced 
 nearly one third in value of the books publisheil in the United States. 
 It also issued one eighth of all the periodicals published in the country ; 
 also nearly one eighth of the newspapers issued. Of the aggregate cir- 
 culation of the daily newspapers in the Union, I^ew York furnished be- 
 tween one fourth and one third. Of the aggregate circulation of the 
 weeklies and all other periodicals in the United States, it also furnished 
 between one fourth and one third. 
 
 The assessed valuation of real estate and personal property in tlie State 
 of Xew York in the census year was equal in amount to one seventh of 
 the valuation of the entire real and personal propeity of the whole 
 Republic. It was also almost exactly the same in amount as that of the 
 si.K Now England States— S2,(ir)l,9-tO,OOn. One third of the registered 
 bonds of the United States were held in New York — S21(i, iiO-l-,:^.")!!. 
 But its enormous share of the wealth of the country cainiot be computed 
 from facts found in the census reports. Its financial interests are every- 
 where — in railways, in mines, in farms and factories in every State and 
 Territory'. 
 
 In nearly all the foregoing comparisons the figures of New York's part 
 in the various forms of industry are merely the tigures of its investments 
 within its own borders. Great as is New York's ratio to the United 
 States in poj)ulation, it is greater still in almost every branch of human 
 industry, and in the prosperity resulting therefrom. 
 
 New York is truly great in its magnificent and varied charities, public 
 and private, and its provision for the promotion of morality and religion. 
 Its institutions for special education — for the nmte and the blind — its 
 numerous reformatories, asylums, hosjiitals, and charitable foundations 
 of every kind, as well as })enal institutions, are of the liighest order in 
 equipment ami management. The State abounds in literary and scien- 
 tific societies ; in large publie and private libraries ; in works and schools 
 of art, and ample appliances for the intellectual and social advancement 
 of every citizen of the commonwealth, of MJiatever race, color, or 
 condition. 
 
 There were in the State, in 1875, 6320 church organizations, 6243 
 
THE HUDSON niVKK AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 561 
 
 cliureli edifices, 6115 clerjjjyinen, 1,177,537 cliurcli-inembers, with an 
 adherent population of 3,93-l,690. The aggregate vahie of church 
 property of every kind in the State was nearly $11S, (10(1,000. 
 
 The Hudson River, the grand and beautiful " Kiver of the Moun- 
 tains," as we have observed in the first chapter of this work, is clustered 
 with the most interesting legendary and historic associations from the 
 Wilderness to the Sea, a distance of three hundred miles or more. Its 
 upper waters witnessed the fierce strifes for mastery between contending 
 tribes of barbarians before the advent of Europeans, and the struggles 
 
 VAN RENSSELAKK MANOR HOUSE. 
 
 (From a drawing; made in 18(56.) 
 
 for dominion of tlie French and English in later times. Then followed 
 the victories of peace— the gradual blossoming of a large portion of that 
 region into a paradise of beauty under the hand of skilled industry. 
 
 Tlie tide-water region of the Hudson for fully sixty miles from the 
 ocean has been for more than two centuries a theatre of most renuirkable 
 social and historic events. The principal of these have been briefly 
 noted in preceding pages. 
 
 Among the social events on tlic borders of the great river, the creation 
 of " patroons" and manorial estates and privileges at the earlier period 
 
5C2 
 
 THi: K.MPIHK STATK. 
 
 of the liistory of the commonwealth appear the most conspicuoiis. Of 
 these the manors of llen.ssehierwyck, of Livingston, of N'^an Cortlandt, 
 and of Fhilipse are most prominent. 
 
 The Van Kenssehier ^fanor and patrooiishi)i was, as we liave ohserved, 
 tlie first created, and snrvi\'p<l all the otiu-rs, its titles and privile<;es expir- 
 ing with General Stejilien van llensselacr in ls.".'.t. Tlu^ tyrant was made 
 to Killian van Rensselaer, of Ainsterdain, under a charter of privileges 
 
 '^J> ■ 
 
 .iOlIN AM) MAHV I.lVIXdSTOX. 
 
 and exemptions passed in IfiSO. Van Rensselaer had co-partners at 
 first. In 1085 the A^an Rensselaer family became sole owners of the 
 vast estate. The Manor House, modified several years ago, stands upon 
 the site of the original Van Rensselaer dwelling, in the northern sulnirhs 
 of the city of Albany. 
 
 The Livingston iliuior was created by a preliminary act of Governor 
 Dongan in l(i8o. Kobrit Livingston, thetirstof tlie iianie in America,* 
 
 * See page 108. The common ancestors of the Livingstons in America were .John 
 T.iviiiirsfon anil liis wife .Mary. He was a greiit-great-grandson of Lord Livingstone, 
 Karl of Linlilliiiow 8collan<l. He was e.xiled, and went to Uolterdam, in Holland, where 
 Robert learned the Dutch lanjriia,!.'e, afterward eniisrrated to America, settled at Albany, 
 as we have observed, and became the first Lord of the JIanor of Livingston. 
 
 The above delineations of the heads of .John and Mary Livingston I made many years 
 ago from the original portraits then in the possession of Colonel Henry A. Livingston, of 
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
 
THE MANORS OX THE IIL'DSOX. 
 
 563 
 
 married the wealthy widow of Rev. Nicholas van Rensselaer— Alida, 
 daughter of Colonel Peter Schuyler, of Albany— in 1G78. lie bought 
 of the Indians sixty thousand acres of land on the eiist side of tiie 
 Hudson River, opposite the Kaatsbergs (Catskill Mountains). At the 
 time of the creation of the manor, in 1715, it had increased by subse- 
 quent purchases to about one hundred and tifty thousand acres. The 
 
 LIVrNGSTON LOWER MANOR HOUSE. 
 
 patent given by Dongan was confirmed by royal authority, with the title 
 of " ilanor of Livingston," and in 171<) the proprietor exercised 
 manorial privileges.* He paid an annual tribute to the crown of three 
 dollars and fifty cents. The nunior was afterward divided into the 
 Upper and Lower Manor. The latter was called Clermont. It was the 
 home of Robert R. Livingston, the eminent chancellor. The manor 
 bouse is not far from Tivoli, on the Hudson, f 
 
 * The privileges of tlie patrooiis have ah-cady been detiiied. Kobert LiviiiirslDii, by 
 virtue of these privileges, took his seat in the Provincial Legislature in ITUi. lie hail 
 already built a substantial manor house of stone on a grassy point upon the bank of the 
 Hudson, at the mouth of Roeleffe Jansen Kill, now Ancram Creek. 
 
 f The above picture is that of Clermont, or the Lower Manor House, built by Chan- 
 cellor Livingston, a little below tlu^ old Manor House. After the British burnt Kingston 
 In the fall of 1777, they proceeded to Livingston's manor and burnt both of the houses, the 
 chancellor's mother then oerupying the older one. They were both soon rebuilt. The 
 chancellor erected a more spacious and elegant dwelling, and, as before, called the place 
 
;")(;4 
 
 TIIK K.MI'IKK STATE. 
 
 Steplicn van Cortlandt,* one of the governor's council at New York, 
 pnnrliased large tracts of land in Westchester County, and in 1(197 
 eighty-three thousand acres were by royal autliority erected into " the 
 lordship and manor of Conrtlandt. " The manor and its privileges were 
 lield liv the tenure of ])aying an annual tribute to the crown of five 
 
 
 
 
 
 "_<^ — 
 
 VAX lOUTI.AXDT MANOR IIOI'SE. 
 
 dollars. The Van (Jortlandt ]\Janor House was erected at the beginning 
 of the last century by John van Cortlandt, son of the first " lord of the 
 manor." It stands on the right side of the Croton Kiver, near where 
 that stream enters the Hudson. 
 
 Late in the seventeenth century Frederick r]iiii|iset l^ought of the 
 
 Clermont. The house Is 3'et standing, and is preserved in its original .style bj- its present 
 owners, the Clarkson family, relatives of the l.iviiigsloiis. It has a river front of one 
 hundred and four feet, with very extensive and beautiful jrrounds around it. 
 
 * Stephen van Cortlandt Avas a sou of Orloff Stevens van Cortlandt. who emigrated to 
 New Amsterdam in Van Twiller's time. Orloff came from South Ilolland, and was soon 
 engaged in public employment, holding alternately several civil offices, lie was a burgo- 
 master .several years, and being " diligent in business." became wealthy. His wife was 11 
 sister of Govert Loockermans. His daughter Maria married .leremiali van Rensselaer, 
 tlic second Lord of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck. At the time of ]iis death, about 1088, 
 his son Stephen was a iirospeious mercliant. The family name was Stevens, van 
 (from) Courtl.indt. descendants of the Dukes of Courllnndl or Courland. in l{u,s.sia. Tlie 
 lirst Lord of the .Manor married Crerlru<le Schuyler, and died in the year 17(10. 
 
 t Tlie Philipse (Phillips) family descended from the Viscounts Felyps, f)f Bohemia. 
 The first emigrant to New Netherland, Frederick Philipse, spelled his name Vrederyck 
 
THE PHILIPSE MANOR. 
 
 oIJa 
 
 Indians large tracts of land on both sides of the Pocan-te-co Creek, in 
 Westchester County, fronting on the Hudson Tliver, ,ind comprising 
 about three hundred and ninety square miles of territory. In ItiDJi the 
 domain was, by royal authority, erected into the " Lordship and Manor 
 of Philipsebnrg," with all its privileges, subject to an annual tribute to 
 the crosvn of a little less than five dollars. The manor house was 
 
 PniLirSE LOWER MANOR HOUSE. 
 
 strongly built of stone in IfiSO, at the mouth of the Po-cnn-te-co at 
 Tarrytown, with port-holes for cannons in the high cellar walls, and was 
 called Philipse Castle. There the family lived until the lower manor house, 
 yet standing, was built at Yonkers in 174.5. Its interior exhibits some 
 fine specimens of architecture executed nearly a century and a half ago. 
 
 Felypsen. The initials of his name— V. F.— may he seen on the wind-vane of the Sleepy 
 Hollow Church, near Tarrvtown. He arrived at New Amsterdam in 1658, purohased a 
 large estate there and on the shores of the Hudson, and became one of tlw fouiuUrs of 
 the city of New York. 
 
 The'last " Lord of the Manor" wsts Frederick Philipse, who Wius at one tune a mem- 
 ber of the Colonial Assembly and colonel of militia. .V the breaking out of the oUl war 
 for independence, he took the position of a firm supporter of the Crown. He hually felt 
 compelled to abandon his home and take refuge with the British army m New \ork, 
 whence he emiiarked for Emrlan.l. His estates were contiscated. The Bnt.sh Govern- 
 ment .-ave him about .$H<)(MK)0 as a comix-nsation for his losses. Colonel Plnlhps was an 
 extremely large man. On account of his bulk, his wife seldom rode in the Siuue earruigo 
 with him. 
 
r)06 
 
 THE EMl'im: S'l'.VTE. 
 
 Tlio city of Xew York, wliicli liad l)eon scatlied hy flaiiic! ;inil had lain 
 ])roiic under the lieel of JJritish military power for more than seven 
 years, at once began its marvellous inarch toward greatness after peace 
 was restored. It very soon hecame the chief commercial mart of the 
 nation. It was the jiolitical capital of the State for several years,* and 
 the iirst seat of the National Government. At the close of the war it 
 was, in poinilation, only an imusually large village ; at the beginning of 
 this century it embraced over sixty thousand inhabitants. 
 
 New York City has doubled its original territorial area within a few 
 years, and has now (1SS7) fully a million ami a half of inhabitants. It 
 
 COVl'.UN'MKNT IIOfSE. 
 
 lias become a mighty magnet, attracting everything, heucc its marvellous 
 growth by accretion. Possessors of wealth, of genius, and of enterprise 
 have come to it from all parts of the republic to enjoy its manifold advan- 
 tages of education for their children, the cultivation of aesthetic tastes, 
 the blessings of scientific instruction, the facilities of commercial life, the 
 chances of winning fortunes, and tlio ])leasures of almost boundless social 
 privileges aiid enjoyments. 
 
 ]>efore and around New York City sprcails out a mngnificcnt harl)or, 
 spacious enough to float the navies of the M'ofld. ( hic of the most 
 
 * On the south-east side of the Bowling Green a spacious and elegant mansion was 
 l)uilt in 1790, for the purpose of a residence for the President of the United States. It 
 wa.s then siipjiosed New York City would be the jiermanent seat of the National Crovern- 
 inent. When that Govennnenl was transferred to Philadelphia, this mansion was devoted 
 to the use of the governors of the State of New York, while the city was the seat of the 
 State Government. In it Governors George Clinton and .lohn .Jay resided, and it was 
 known as the Government House. It was built of refl briek. with Ionic columns forming 
 a i)ortieo in front. The building stood on slightly elevated groiuid. 
 
THE METROPOLITAN CITY. 
 
 567 
 
 wonderful results of inoderii engineering skill — a suspension bridge — 
 unites the city in loving embrace to Brooklyn, its siiperl) off8j)ring, of 
 eight hundred thousand inhabitants. Near the portals of the city 
 seaward stands the stupendous statue of Libeett Enlightening the 
 World, wrought by Bartholdi, of Paris, and presented l)y the ]>cople of 
 France. She bears aloft a mighty torch blazing with electric liglit, 
 
 LIBERTY ESLIGHTEXING THE WORLD. 
 
 which spreads illumination over the broad bay, the great city, and its 
 suburlian municipalities. 
 
 " New York City is now the metropolis of the republic. By tlie close 
 of this century it will probably be, in population, wealtli, cultivation, and 
 every element of a state of high civilization, the second city in the world. 
 To the eye of the optimist the time appears not far distant when it will 
 be the cosraetropolis. "* 
 
 * Lossing's nhtory of New York City, p. 866. 
 
568 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 Let us here take a 1)rief retrospect of tlie life nf the Empire State. 
 
 Tlie Dutcli, who lirst settled in the territory of New Yoriv and 
 founded the city hy tlio sea, gave special attention to the nurture of 
 religion and learning. As we have ol)served on page St, a clergynian 
 and a schooi-teaclier came from Holland to Manhattan together. It was 
 ordered in the charter of the Dutch AVest India Company that the 
 minister and schoolmaster should walk iiand in hand in the high employ- 
 ment of educating the head and heart. 
 
 There were mend)ers of the Dntch Reformed Church among the early 
 traders at Manhattan, and a congregation was formed liy Ucv. Jonas 
 Michaelas in l<i2S. Tiu; function.s of hoth minister and schoohnaster 
 were performed l)y iiim until he was sncceeded hy Dominie liogardns, 
 in 1(533, when .V<iam Roelandscn hecanie the schoohna.ster. The Dutch 
 had l)(!en accustomed to the l)lessings of free schools in their fatherland, 
 and they at once established one at Manhattan, which has survived until 
 now, and is a very flourishing parochial school of the Collegiate (Dutch 
 Reformed) Church of New York City.* 
 
 * Thi.s sclidcil is tlu; oldest (■(hiciitii)n:il iiislitulidii in llie United States. It was fonmlod 
 in lliHS. and has been in contimial operation, cxeeiitinir from 177(i to 17s:{ (when the 
 British troops oeeiipied Xew Yorlv). until now. It was supported by the Colonial Govern- 
 mcMl for Ihirly years. The eoii([uest of Xew Netherlanil liy the Eujrlish in l(it)4 di<l not 
 malerially alTeel the Duleh C'luireh and its .school. The latter then came under the e.v- 
 chisive control of the church. Tlie pcttj' tyrant Lord Cornbury gave them a little 
 temporary trouble. Until 1748, when it was one hundred and fifteen years old, the school 
 had no permanent habitation. In that year a small house was built for it in Garden 
 Street, now Exchan.ijc^ Place. A new and more spacious house was erected on this site 
 in 177!i. Up to that time no one presumed to leach any but the Dutch Ian:rua.ire in this 
 school. From the beiriniiini; until ISOS it was under the exclusive control of the minis- 
 ters and deacons of the Church. The tirst feminine^ teacher Wits employed in 1792. It 
 was not initil 1S04 that Enirlish irranuuar was taii.irht in this .school. Four years later 
 the dea<-ons ^ave up the control of the school to the rule of a board of trustees. For 
 .several years it was conducted on the Lancastrian plan. 
 
 This school has had, during its two hundred and tifty-six years of existence, only sev- 
 enteen head teachers. .James Forresti'r was the principal from 1810 until 1842. when 
 Henry Webb Punshee was appointed to take his i>lace. and yet (1887) occupies that exalted 
 station, havini; tilled it for forty-three years consecutively. The present location of the 
 school is in a buildinir known as De Witt Chainl, at IfiO West Twenty-ninth Street. 
 That building; \v,is completed and the school tirst occupied it in 1861. 
 
RKHGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 560 
 
 The doctrine and discipline of tlic Reformed Churcli was tlic " State 
 religion" of New IS'etlierland until the province Wiis seized In' the 
 English in KiO-t, when the Churcli of England heeanie dominant, 
 throngli official influence, and so remained until the Revolution in 
 1775. Previous to the latter period the jjrincipal denominations in 
 the colony, in numhers, as we have ohserved, were the Episcopalians 
 (Church of England and ^Moravians), DuN-h and English Presbyterians, 
 Independents or Congregationalists, and Lutheratis. The latter were 
 among the earlier settlers at iVianliattan, but had no minister ; and when 
 they were numerous enough to support a nunister, Stnyvesant would not 
 allow them to have one. They had full lilierty under English rule, and 
 built their tirst house for worship in New York in lti71. There were 
 large accessions to their number from the emigration of the German 
 Palatines, to the State in 171ii."" 
 
 Although the Episcopalians in the province were as one to fifteen in 
 numbers compared with other denominations, attempts were made from 
 time to time to transplant into the ])rovince of Xew York the eccleRias- 
 tical establishment of the Anglican Church. To this end some of the 
 colonial governors bent their energies, and often produced violent tem- 
 porary excitements and permanent nneasiness. But the steady and 
 lietermined opposition of the great body of the " dissenters," as the 
 other sects were collectively but erroneously called, jjrevented such a 
 calamity. As the quarrel before the breaking out of the old war for 
 independence waxed hotter and hotter, the subject assumed a political 
 aspect, and one of the most significant slogans of the patriots of the early 
 period of the Revolution was : 
 
 " A Cluircli without r. bishop, 
 A Stall: without a king." 
 
 The political condition of New York before the old war for indepen- 
 dence was that of a dependent of the British crown, governed by the laws 
 
 * Early in tlie ci.iihtfentli ocntiu-y many of the inhabitants of the Lower Palatinate, 
 lyin,!,' on both sides of tlie Hliine, in Germany, wereilriven from their liomes by the jiei^e- 
 cution of Louis XIV. of France. England received many of these Protestant fugitives. 
 In the spring of 1T0«, on llie petition of .Josluia Koels<-rthal (evangelical minister of a 
 body of Lutherans), for himself and thirty-nine others to be transported to America, an 
 order was issued by Queen Anne in eoinicil for such transportation, and their naturaliza- 
 tion before leaving England. The Queen pro\'ided for them at Iter own expense. This 
 tirst company of Palatines landed on Governor's Island, in the harbor of New York, and 
 afterwsu-d scltli'd near the site of Newburgh, on the ll.idson, in the spring of 170!). In 
 1710 a larger emigration of Palatines to America occurred, under the guidance of Roliert 
 Iltniter, Governor of New York, as we have observed on page 137. 
 
570 TlIK KMPIRE STATE. 
 
 of Piirliamcnt, and compelled to sulTer taxation and oppressive commer- 
 cial roiTiilations without the privilege of representation in the imperial 
 legislature. The governor and his eleven conneilmeu were appointed by 
 the monarch, l)Ut their salaries were paid l)y the colonists out of the 
 revenue created by customs rec^eipts. The freeholders elected a General 
 Assembly of representatives, but the great mass of the " commonalty" 
 had really no political ])rivileges or powei-s. The relative position of the 
 Council in legislation was that of the British House of Lords. They 
 also had some judicial power, and were a sort of Privy Council, with 
 the governor at tliuir head during sessions. Tiiey assumed much dignity. 
 Each was entitled " Tiiu Honorable," and the Council .sent messages to 
 the Assembly l>y one of their own members, when the " lower Iiouse" 
 would rise to receive him. 
 
 The General Assembly consisted of twenty -seven memljers (in 17(50), 
 rejiresenting the several counties, two boroughs, and the three manors of 
 liensselaerwyck, Livingston, and Cortlandt. Tliey met in the As.sendjly 
 Chamber in the city of New York. Thirteen constituted a <]uornm for 
 business. After they liad taken the i)rescribed oath they were called 
 before the governor, who recommended their choice of speaker, who 
 was, of course, elected. They presented him to the governor in the 
 Council Chamber, when the latter approved their choice. Then the 
 speaker addi'essed the governor, and un behalf of the Assembly prayed 
 " th;it their words and actions migiit have favorable construction ; that the 
 mend)ers might have free access to him, and that they and their servants 
 be privileged with freedom from arrests." After promising these things 
 the governor read his sj^eech to lioth Houses, and gave it to the speaker 
 for the use of the Assembly. Then the latter proceeded to business. 
 
 The Asseml)ly made the British House of Commons the model for 
 their proceedings, and seldom varied from it. All liills were sent to the 
 governor, who submitted them to his Council. When they were signed 
 by him they were published by being read to the people in front of the 
 City Hall, or State Iiouse, in the presence of the governor and both 
 Houses. The continuance of the Assembly was mdimited until early in 
 the administration of (lovernor Clinton, when it was restricted to seven 
 years.* 
 
 ♦ The pay of the members of tlie Assembly varied with the locality reprcsentc<l. It 
 ■was as follows : City anil couiily of New York, aiul the eounties of Westchester, Kings, 
 Queeus, Hiehmoiul, Ulster, Duchess, aiiil Orauge, .«> shillings a ilay ; city and county 
 of Albany, ten shillings ; Suffolk County, 7iin^ shillings ; the borough of Westchester, 
 the town of Schenectady, and the Manors of Rensselaerwyek, Livingston, and Cortland, 
 ten shillings a day. 
 
THE COURTS. TRADE AXD SETTLERS. 571 
 
 The laws were adniiuistered by justice.^, Sessions and Common Pleas 
 courts ; a Supreme Court ; a Court of Admiralty, which had jurisdiction 
 in all niiiritime affairs ; a Pruroi^'ative Court, tlie business of which 
 related to wills, administrators, etc., the emoluments of which were 
 penjuisites of the governor, who acted ordinarily l)y a delegate ; tlie 
 Court of the (Governor and Council, which wiis a sort of court of ajipeals, 
 and the Court of Chancery, which was absolutely under the control of 
 the governor. This court was an exceedingly obnoxious tribunal. All 
 the courts were modelled after those of the same grade in England. 
 
 The trade and manufactures of Xew York before the Revolution 
 suffered, in common with that of other colonies, from unwise navin-ation 
 laws and opjiressive restrictions inflicted by Great Britain ; vet the verv 
 favorable geographical and topographical position of its fine seaport and 
 commercial mart gave the province great advantages over other colonies 
 for the prosecution of foreign trade. Its people grew rich and pros- 
 perous in spite of governmental obstructions. 
 
 The population of the province at near the close of the colonial period 
 was not as large as many imagined it to be. Scarcely one third part of 
 its tillable land was under cultivation. Its vast agricultural and mineral 
 resources were almost entirely unsuspected. Connecticut, the area of 
 which was one tenth that of New York, had forty thousand more inliali- 
 itants than its immediate neighbor on the west in 1T(WI. There had 
 been many discouragements to settlements in Xew "^'ork, the chief of 
 which were the fre<|nont and fearful incursions of the French and Indians, 
 and the making of it a sort of penal colony by the British Govermuent, 
 which sent swarms of its criminals hither.* 
 
 All things were cliangod by the results of the war for independence. 
 New York became a component part of a vigorous young nation. The 
 fetters which had so long bound its industries and its commerce had been 
 removed. It was an independent though not a sovereign state. It had 
 a Constitution which guaranteed to its citizens political and religious 
 freedom. Like a giant rising from refreshing slumbers, it went forth 
 on its bounding career the very moment the clarion of peace w;i.s sounded. 
 There was then assured safety for life and property within its bolder. 
 
 * " It is too well known," wrotp William Livingston in 1753. " tliat, in pursuance of 
 divers a('ts of Parliament, great numbers of felons, who have forfeited Iheir li\es to the 
 public for the most atrocious crimes, are annually transported from home to tlie.se planta- 
 tions. Very s\irprising, oiu' would think, tlial these burjriars. pickixickets, and cut-purses, 
 and a herd of the most lla.nilious banditti upon earth, should be sent as airreeable com- 
 panions to us I" Allusion has been made to the character of the l>eople of llie province 
 at that time in ("hai)tcr XL 
 
57:4 THE K.MIMKK STATE. 
 
 and a tide of emigration flowed steadily in. Tlie wilderness speedily 
 Lej^aii to " blossom as the rose."" 
 
 Aide statesmen and jurists have l)een abundant in New York from 
 the time of its political organization. Among the most consjiicuous 
 names appear those of John day, Robert II. Livingston, CTOuvorneur 
 Morris, Alexander Hamilton, De Witt Clinton, Chancellor Kent, 
 Ainbriisc Spencer, Samuel Jones, ^raitiii Van Huren, Silas Wright, 
 ^Villiam II. Seward, and Thomas J. Oakley. 
 
 Literature has had its representatives at every period in the history of 
 the Empire State. John de Laet, one of the most active of the director.^ 
 of the Dutch West India Company, and a resident of Xew Netherland 
 for a while, gave to Europe a JliHtorij of the West Indies (which 
 included New Netherland) in IC-iO. In KiTn Daniel Denton wrote the 
 Jirst (it is supposed) Dencr'iptlon of New York, with the Country of the 
 Indian-s, in the English language ; and in 1697 Daniel Leeds issued a 
 pamphlet at New York against the Quakers of Philadelphia. 
 
 One of the most learned men of the province during the first half of 
 the eighteenth century was Dr. Cadwallader Colden, author of a history 
 of the Iroijuois Confederacy and many scientific essays. William Smith 
 M'rote a history of the [ rovince down to his time, which was |mblished 
 in IT-iT. ^Irs. Ann Eliza lileeckisr, daughter of Brant Sdiuylcr, wrote 
 poetry anil stories for tiie jiress, and Dr. ^lyles Cooper, President of 
 King"s College, and Dr. Auchmnty, on one side, and William Livingston 
 on the other, were vigoi'ons and prolific jiolitical and theological con- 
 troversialists with the pen in the last colonial deciide. There were also, 
 during the stormy discus.sions before the kindling of the old war for 
 independence, younger l)ut equally able writers, such as Alexander 
 Hamilton, John .lay, and Gouverneur ^lorris ; while James liivington 
 was an able journalist. 
 
 The "Poet of the Revolution" was Philip Freueau, a native of New 
 York City. Lindley Murray, a resident of New York since 1753, 
 published his Enfjlinh Grammar and Emjlish Header for the edification 
 of millions, before the close of the century. At that jieriod William 
 Dunlap, painter, playwright, theatre manager, and historian, began his 
 career, lie wrote a History of New York, a History of tlw American 
 Thetttre, and a History (f the Arts of Desiyn in Anwrlea. 
 
 Great intellectual activity was manifested in Xew York early in the 
 present century. The most conspicuous of the many writers at that time 
 were Washington Irving,* his brother, Peter, and James K. Paulding, 
 
 * WasliinRton Irvini; was born in Xew York City, April 3<i, 1783 : died at Sunny- 
 .side, liis seal on the Hudson, November 23(1, 1859. His father was a Scotcli emigrant. 
 
IJTEUARY MEN. 
 
 573 
 
 tlieir brotlier-iu-law. Tliey woro joined hy Jatnes Feiiimore Cooper 
 a little later. Irving began authorship in 18(12 as a writer for his 
 brother's journal, 27ie 2fornin(/ 
 Chronicle. PIi& work of rare hu- 
 mor, Knickerhorktr' s Jlistury of 
 JSfew Yorli, appeared in ISos. 
 Paulding had lately joined liiui 
 and his brother in writiti<y the Sal- 
 'iiiaguiuli papers. His Sketch 
 Book charmed readers in both 
 liemispheres. Later in life he 
 became an eminent biographer and 
 historian. Cooper began his lit- 
 erary career as a novelist al)ont 
 ls2ii, and produced over thirty 
 volumes of fiction distinctly Am- 
 erican in character. 
 
 Contemporary with Irving and 
 Cooper* were De AVitt Cljnton, 
 William L. Stone, Gulian C. Yer- 
 planck, Fitz-Greene Ilalleck, Joseph Rodman Drake, and Henry II. 
 Schoolcraft, all (excepting Ilalleckj natives of ^ew Yoi*k. Stone, the 
 
 WASIIINOTON ntVlXfi. 
 
 and his mother an Englishwoman. At tlie ajre of nineteen lie wrote a series of papers 
 ior T/ie M'tridiig Chroiiidf, over the signature of " .lonatlian Oklslyle." whieh allraeteil 
 much attention. His KitirKvi-hoi-kir's Hintui-y <if INcw York, a most humorous earieature 
 of the Duteh djMiasly on Maulxatlau Ishmd, set everybody laugliiug, and luueh u-ritatcd 
 some of the descendants of the first Duteh .settlers at New Amsterdam. Irving was tnen 
 only twenty-si.x years of age. He edited the Analectic Magazine during the War of 
 1813-15. Failing health induced him to go to Euroiio, where he resided seventccu 
 years, and gained a great literary re|nitation. . He was Secretary of the American Lega- 
 tion in Loudon from 1829 to 18:il. and received the fifty-guinea gold medal jirovided by 
 George IV. for eminence in histoiieal composition. In May, ls:i-.>, Mr. Irving returned 
 to Xew York, and kept Inisy with his jien. He was appointed Minister to Spain in 184'-', 
 -where he remained four years. On his return he revised all his works for publication. 
 His last and greatest work was a Life of Vi'iinhinyVm in five octavo volumes. The hon- 
 oraiy degree of LL.D. was conferred upon hiiu liy Harvard College, Oxford (Eng.) 
 L'niversity, and Columbia College. 
 
 * James Feuimore Cooper was born at Burlington, N. J., Septemlwr ISth, 1789 ; died 
 at Cooperstown, N. Y., September 14th, 1851. He was a sou of Judge William Cooler, 
 one of the first settlers in Central New York. For six years he was in the Unileil States 
 Navy, and in 1811 he married a sister of the late Bishop De Lancey. His life ^y!ls 
 chiefly devoted to literature. His first novel was Precaution, published in 1821, which 
 was rather coldly received. Then followed his i<py. The Pinnecrx, and the Leather- 
 utoi-kiny Tali:- iu (puck succession, which gave him great fame as an .Vmerieau novelist. 
 
574 
 
 TllK K.MIMlil-: !-.TATK. 
 
 ciiiinciit jdiiriKilist, wrote lives of l>rant, Tied Jacket, and Sir Wiiliain 
 
 .loliiis^oii, tlie lattcir tiiiislied liy his son. Vcrplaiick was an acfoinplished 
 
 essayist ami one of the hest-known men in the social circles of Xew 
 
 York for tifty years. Drake was a i,''entle ])oet, of whom Ilalleck at his 
 
 death wrote : 
 
 " None knew tlicc but lo love; thee ; 
 None niiiniMl llicc liiit to pniisc. " 
 
 Schoulerat't l)ecan 
 
 liigh aiitliiirity coneeniing the Indians. Tlie name 
 of Samuel Woodworth, author 
 of ■•The Ohl Oaken Ihicket" 
 and '' The House I Live In," 
 deserves special mention in this 
 connection. 
 
 One of the most painstaking 
 and trustworthy of the historians 
 of New York was John R. Brod- 
 head,* who died in 1873. By 
 direction of the Legislatin-e of 
 Xew York, as its agent, he search- 
 ed the historical archives of Hol- 
 land, England, and France for 
 documents relating to the colonial 
 period of this State, and hronght 
 home copies of more than live 
 thousand valuahle papers, which 
 the State ])nhlished in eleveu 
 quarto volumes. He had pulilislied two volumes of an elal)orate history 
 of New York State, which he was preparing, when death ended his 
 earthly career. Among the names of historians of portions of the State, 
 those of AV. ^Y. Campbell, Jeptha K. Simms, Ttohert Bolton, Jr., Dr. 
 Fraidvlin B. Hough, Henry B. Dawson, and Martha J. Lamb appear 
 
 Mr. Cooper went to Europe in 1826, and remained tlierc until 1833. He wrote a History 
 
 of the United States Xor-i/. IJtes of America n Naval Officers, in two volinnes ; also wrote a 
 comedy, whieh was performed in New York in 1850. 
 
 * .John Honieyn Brodhcad, son of Rev. .Jacob IJrodhcad. wa.s born in J^hilaihlpbia 
 •January 2d. 1S14 : died in Xew York City. May 6th, 1873. He was irradviated at 
 Kutgers College in 1831 ; admitted to the bar in 183") ; was attached to the American 
 Tyc^ation at the Ilaaue in 1S39, and procured for tlie Slate of New York copies of impor- 
 tant documents, mentioned in the te.xt. Mr. Brodhend was Secretary to the Aniericau 
 Legation at London from 1846 till 1849. On his return he began the preparation of an 
 exhaustive history of the State of New York, but did not live to complete it. The first 
 volume was jiublished in 18.53 and the second iii 1871, wliich brings the history down to 
 the close of the seventeenth centurv. 
 
 J.VMKS FKSIMOUK COOI'iat. 
 
ARTS AXU ARTISTS. 575 
 
 most conspicuous. The latest and most trustworthy writer on tlie 
 Iroquois Confederacy was Louis Morgan, who died in ISSl. ' 
 
 In the reahn of poetry New Yoriv is most prominently represented 
 by William Cullen Bryant. Though a native of another State, he was 
 a resident of this commonwealth from his young manhood, fxeorfe 
 P. Morris, also a resident from the period of his young manhood, nuiks 
 among its best song-writers. 
 
 Among scientific writers, Drs. Samuel L. Mitchell, David llo.sack, 
 John W. Francis, John Torrey, Professor James Kcnwick, and Dr. 
 John W. Draper (all but tlic; latter natives of Xew York) appear most 
 conspicuous. 
 
 In no State in the Union are the fine arts more widely cultivated 
 and fostered than in the commonwealth of New York. Besides tlie vast 
 treasures of art found in Xew York City,* other cities and villages and 
 private homes in various parts of the State exhibit rare and costly works 
 of painters, sculptors, and engravers, while in every direction great taste 
 in architecture is displayed. 
 
 Some of the more eminent resident artists of Xew York have not been 
 natives of the State. Colonel J. Trumbull was born in Connecticut ; 
 John Wesley Jarvis and Thomas Cole came from England ; Professor 
 S. F. B. Morse (made more famous than any others by his scientific 
 achievements in electro-magnetic telegraphy) was a native of Massa- 
 chusetts, and A. B. Duraiul, the uiost eminent American engraver on 
 steel,t was born in New Jersey. But Henry Inman and Cliarles L. 
 
 * The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the city of New Yorl£, under the direction of 
 General L. P. di Cesnola. has already become the most attractive and importitnl deposi- 
 tory of rare works of art on this continent. Within the space of three mouths, in th(! 
 spring of 1887, it was enriched by paintings from the studios of the most famous artist.s 
 in the world, presented to the institution by generous cilizens of the metropolis. The 
 aggregate value of these gifts amounled to almost $1,()()0,(K)(). Other valuable pittures 
 have since been given. 
 
 t New York City was the bivlhplaee of Alexander .Vnderson. the pioneer engraver 
 on wood in America, who was born in April, 177"). His father was a Scotchman, and 
 the publisher of a small Whig newspaper in New York entitled Tlie Coiistitiitioiuil 
 Oazette. He fled to Connecticut with his types and his family when the ]?rilish took 
 New York in 1776. Yoimg Anderson graduated at the Jledical School of Columl)ia Col- 
 lege, and was a practising physician for a while ; but, preferring art. he devoted himself 
 to engraving first on type-metal and copper. Ilis first knowledge of the use of wood for 
 engraving pictures upon was derived from a copy of Bewick's BiriU. He had then com- 
 pleted, on type-metal, aboiu one half of the illustrations of the lyooking-gltin-t for the 
 Mind, when he abandoned the metal and made the rest on wood. He practised that 
 branch of art all the rest of his life. His last engraving was left half finishwl. when hi' 
 was in the ninety-fifth year of his age. I have two of his first wood -engravings ; also the 
 half-finished one. his last. They were executed seventy-five years apart. He died in 
 Jersey City, N. J., in January, 1870. 
 
576 THE EMPIRE STATE. 
 
 Elliott, tlie toromost portrait painters of tlieir day, Roliert AV. Weir and 
 Daiiiol lluiitiiigton, eiiiiiiuiit ])i)rtrait, lii.storiual, und tjinri- painters, and 
 Thomas Crawford, tlie «eiil|)t<)r, were ail bora in the State of New 
 York. Professor Morse was the chief founder of the National Academy 
 of the Arts of Desiyn at New York, and ]V[r. Huntington is now (18ST) its 
 president. General Thomas S. Cummings, who for a generiition or more 
 was the leading painter of portraits in miniature in New York City, 
 and was for forty years the treasurer of the Academy, is now. in the 
 eiglity-fonrtli year of his age, the sole survivor of the founders of that 
 institution. 
 
 THE EN1>. 
 
 I 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 COUNTIES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 On pages 97, 98 are given brief accounts of the organization of the ten 
 counties in New York which were first established, with delineations of 
 their respective seals.* Below may be found similar accounts of the 
 remaining llfty counties with the population of each in 1875 and 1880. 
 
 Allegany Countti- was formed from Genesee County, April 11th, 
 1806. A portion of Steuben County was annexed, March Uth, 1808. 
 Portions of it were given to Genesee in 1811, to Wyoming and Living- 
 ston in 1846, and again to Livingston in 1856. Population in 1875 was 
 41,721 ; in 1880 it was 41,810. 
 
 Bkoome County was formed from Tioga, March 2Sth, ISuO, and was 
 so named in honor of Lieutenant-Governor John Broome, wiio gave it a 
 silver seal. Oswego and Berkshire were annexed to Tioga County, 
 March 21st, 1822. Population in 1875 was 47,913 ; in 188(t it was 
 49,483. 
 
 Caitaraugds County was formed from Genesee County, March 11th, 
 1808. Population in 1875 was 48,477 ; in 1880 it was 55,806. 
 
 Catuga County was formed from Onondaga County, March 8th, 
 1799. It is a long, narrow county. Its name is derived from one of the 
 Six Nations. Population in 1875 was 61,213 ; in 1880 it was 65,081. 
 
 Chautauqua County was formed from Genesee, March 8tli, 1808. It 
 lies upon the shore of Lake Erie in the southwest corner of the State. 
 Population in 1875 was 64,869 ; in 1880 it was 65,342. 
 
 * In the accounts on pages 97, 98 the population of each of tlie ten counties is not 
 given. The subjoined table will supply an omission : 
 
 « 
 
 Counties. 
 
 Population. 
 
 Counties. 
 
 Population. 
 
 1875. 
 
 1880. 
 
 1875. 1 1880. 
 
 
 147,530 
 76.056 
 
 .509,21(1 
 
 1.04i;,0s7 
 
 80,252 
 
 1.54,890 
 
 79.184 
 
 599.495 
 
 l,20(i.299 
 
 88,220 
 
 
 84,131 90,574 
 
 
 Riclinioml. . . 
 
 Suflolk 
 
 35,241 38,991 
 
 Kings 
 
 52,088 53,888 
 
 
 Ulster 
 
 V/estchester 
 
 88,271 85.888 
 
 Orange 
 
 100,680 , 108,988 
 
578 
 
 Al'l'KNUlX. 
 
 COtTXTT SKALS. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 579 
 
 
 COUNTY SEALS. 
 
580 APPENDIX. 
 
 CiiKMUNG CoDNTY was fomicd from Tioga County, March 29tli, 1836. 
 Tlie name is dcrivcfl from the Indian title of the principal stream trav- 
 ersing it, and signities, it is said, " Big horn in the water." Popuhition 
 in 1875 was 41,879 ; in 1880 it was 43,065. 
 
 CiiKNANfio County was formed from Herkimer and Tioga counties, 
 !March 15th, 171)S. Sangerfield (Oneida County) was taken from it in 
 1804, and Madison County in 1800. It is an interior county. Popuhi- 
 tion in 1875 was 39,1)37 ;.in ISSO it was 39,891. 
 
 Clinton County was formed from Washington, March 7th, 17SS, and 
 was so named in honor of Governor George CUnton. In 1799 Essex 
 County was taken from it, St. Lawrence County was pi-ovisionally annexed 
 to it in 1801, and taken off in 1802, and Frankhn County was taken 
 from it in 1808. It lies upon Lake Champlain, and is the northeast 
 county of the State. Population in 1875 was 49,761 ; in 1880 it was 50,897. 
 
 Columbia County was formed from Alhany, April 4th, 1786. It lies 
 on tiie east bank of the Hudson River, between Ducliess and llensselaer 
 counties, and extends east to the Massachusetts lino. Population in 
 1875 was 47,756 ; in 1880 it was 47,928. 
 
 CoKTLAND County was formed from Onondaga, April Sth, 1808. It 
 was named in honor of Pierre Van Cortlandt, the first Lieutenant- 
 Governor of the State, who was an extensive owner of land in tiiat region. 
 It lies near the centre of the State. Population in 1875 was 24,5iK) ; in 
 1880 it was 25,825. 
 
 Dklawake County was formed from Ulster and Ot.sego counties, 
 ^March loth, 1797. It lies upon the headwaters of the Delaware Kiver. 
 Population in 1875 was 42,149 ; in 1880 it was 42,721. 
 
 DuciiKss County. See page 98 and note, page 577. 
 
 Erie County was formed from Niagara Coimty, April 2d, 1821. It 
 lies upon Lake Erie and Niagara River on the west line of the State. 
 Popuhition in 1875 was 199,570 ; in 1880 it was 219,884. 
 
 EssKX County was formed from Clinton County, March 1st, 1799. In 
 the erection of Franklin County in 1808 a corner was taken from Essex. 
 It is upon Lake Cliamplain. Population in 1875 was 34,474 ; in 1880 it 
 was 34,515. 
 
 Franklin County was formed from Clinton County, March 11th, 1806. 
 It was named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. On Marcii22d, 1822, 
 a small portion of it was annexed to Essex County. Population in 1875 
 was 31,581 ; in 1880 it was 32,390. 
 
 Fulton County was formed from Montgomery County, April ISth, 
 1838, and was so named in honor of Robert Fulton. It lies north of the 
 ^lohawk River. Poi)ulation in 1875 w:us 30,188; in 1880 it w;is 30,985. 
 
APPENDIX. 581 
 
 Genesee County was formed from Ontario, Marcli SOtli, 1S02. It 
 originally coiiiprised all that part of the State lying west of the Genesee 
 Elver, and a line extending due south from tlie junction of the Crenesee 
 and Canaseraga Creek to the southern line of the State. In ISdO Alle- 
 gany was taken from it ; Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Niagara in 1808 ; 
 parts of Livingston and Monroe in 1821 ; Orleans in 182-t, and Wyoming 
 in 1S41. Population in 1875 was 32,551 ; in 1880 it was 32,806." 
 
 Gkeene County was formed from Albany and Ulster counties, March 
 25th. 1800, and named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, of the 
 Revolution. It lies upon the west bank of the Hudson Iliver. Popu- 
 lation in 1875 was 32,554 ; in 1880 it was 32,695. 
 
 Hamilton County was formed from Montgomery County, February 
 12th, 1816. It -was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton. The terri- 
 tory was included in Herkimer County in 17in, but was reannexed to 
 Montgomery in ]\Iarch, 1797. It occupies the central portion of the 
 great northern wilderness. Its organization can only he complete when 
 it has a population sufficient to entitle it to a Member of Assendily. 
 Population in 1875 was 3,482 ; in ISSO it was 3,923. 
 
 Hekkisier County was formed from Montgomery, February 16th, 
 1791. " The name," says Dr. Hough, " was originally spelled Erg- 
 hemar. " It was named in honor of General Herkimer, fatally wounded 
 at Oriskany, who signed his name Ilerkheimer. Ojiondaga County was 
 taken from Herkimer in 1794 ; Oneida and part of Chenango in 1798 ; 
 parts of Mo!itgomery County were annexed to it, April 7th, 1817; and 
 parts of Richfield and Plainfield, of Otsego County, were annexed in 
 forming the town of Wlnfield in 1816. Population in 1875 was 41,692 ; 
 in 1880 it was 42,669. 
 
 Jefferson County was formed from Oneida, March 28th, 1805, and 
 named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, then President of the United 
 States. Population in 1875 was 65,362 ; in 1880 it was 66,103. 
 
 Kings County. See page 98 and note on page 577. 
 
 Lewis C(WNty was formed from Oneida, March 28th, 1805, and named 
 in honor of Morgan Lewis, the Governor of the State. Slight changes 
 liave been made in its boundary. It lies mostly within the Black River 
 Valley. Population in 1875 was 29,236 ; in 1880 it was 31,416. 
 
 LiviNGSioN County was formed from Genesee and Ontario, February 
 23d, 1821. In 1846 a portion of Allegany was annexed, and in 1856 
 another portion. Population in 1875 was 38,564 ; in 1880 it was 39,562. 
 
 Madison County was formed from Chenango, March 21st, 1806, and 
 named in honor of James Madison, afterward President of the United 
 States. Population in 1875 was 42,490 ; in 1880 it was 44,112. 
 
58a 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 COrNTY SEALS. 
 
APPKXDIX. 
 
 583 
 
 <'<>rKTV SEALS. 
 
584 .vri'KMUX. 
 
 ^[oMjoK CnrNTV was formed from Ontario and Genesee counties, 
 February 2;3d, 1S21, and named in lionor of James ^lonroe, tlien Presi- 
 dent of the United States. Population in 1S75 was 134,534 ; in IsSO it 
 was 144,!M)3. 
 
 MoXTuoMKKY County was formed from Albany County, Jfarcli 12th, 
 1772, under the name of Tryon County, so called in lionor of the Iloyal 
 Governor, "William Tryon. Its name was chanj^ed on April 2d, 1784, in 
 honor of General llichard Montgomery. Ontario was taken from it in 
 17Si) ; Herkimer, Oswego, and Tioga in 1791 ; Hamilton in ISKi, and 
 Fulton in 1838. Population in 1875 was 35,200 ; in 1880 it was 38,315. 
 
 Xkw Youk Colxty. See page 97 and note on ))age 577. 
 
 Niagara County was formed from (Tcnesee, March 11th, 180S. Erie 
 was taken from it April 2d, 1821. It lies in the angle formed by the 
 junction of the iSiagara River and Lake Ontario. I'opnhition in 1S75 
 wa.s 51,lt04 ; in ISSd it was 54,17.'!. 
 
 Oneida County was formed from Herkimer, March 15th, 1798. In 
 1805 Lewis and Jefferson counties were taken from it, also a part of 
 Oswego County in ISIG. In ISHl portions of it were annexed to Clinton 
 County, and some to Madison County in 1836. In 1804 a part of 
 Chenango County was annexed. Its name is derived from one of the 
 Six Nations. Population in 1875 was 113,907 ; in 1880 it was 115,475. 
 
 Onondaga County was formed from Herkimer, March 5th, 1794, and 
 included the " Military Tract." Caj'uga was taken from it, ^larcli 8tli, 
 1799, Cortland, April 8th, 1808, and a part of Oswego, March 1st, 1816. 
 Its name was derived from one of the Six Nations. Pojjulation in 1875 
 was 113,223 ; in 1880 it was 117,893. 
 
 Ontario County was formed from Montgomery ('ounty, January 
 27th, 1789. Its name was derived from the great lake which originally 
 formed its northern border. Steuben County was taken from it in 1796, 
 Genesee in 1802 ; ]iarts of Montgomery and Livingston in l>i21, and 
 Yates and a part of Wayne in 1823. A strip from Montgomery County, 
 west of Seneca Lake, was annexed February 16th, 1791, and a small 
 tract from Steuben, Februar}' 25th, 1814. Population in l'^75 was 47,- 
 730 ; in 1880 it was 49,541. 
 
 Orange County. See page 98 and note on page 577. 
 
 Ori.kans County was formed from (ienesee, November 11th, 1824. 
 On April 5th, 1825, a portion of Genesee was annexed. Population in 
 1875 was 29,977 ; in 1880 it was 30,128. 
 
 Oswego County (an Indian name) Wiis formed from Oneida and Onon- 
 daga, March 1st, 1816. It lies at the southeast extremity of Lake On- 
 tario. Population in 1875 wiis 78,615 ; in 1880 it was 77,911. 
 
AIM'KNDIX. -,85 
 
 Otsego Coi:nty was forineil from Montgomery, Feliruary Ifitli, 1791. 
 It is also an Indian name. A i)art of Schoharie was taken from it in 
 1795, and a part of Delaware in 17'.»7. ro])uhition in 1875 was 4;».S15 ; 
 in 1880 it was 51,397. 
 
 Putnam County, so called in honor of General Israel Putnam, was 
 formed from Duchess County, June 12th, 1812. It lies upon the Hud- 
 son River, between tlie connties of Duchess and Westchester, and ex- 
 tends to the State of Connecticut. Population in 187.") was 15 Sll ■ in 
 1880 it was 15,181. 
 
 QuEioNs County. See page 98 and note on page 577. 
 
 Eensselakij County was formed from Albany, February 7th, 1791, 
 and named from the Yan Pensselaer family. It included nearly all of 
 the Yan Rensselaer Manor east of the Hudson River. Population in 
 1875 was 105,053 ; in 1880 it was 115,32S. 
 
 Richmond County. See page 98 and note on page 577. 
 
 Rockland County was formed from Orange County, February 2Stli, 
 1798, and derives its name from its extensive mountain area. Popula- 
 tion in 1875 was 26,951 ; in 1880 it was 27,r>90. 
 
 St. Lawrence County was formed from Clinton County and parts of 
 Montgomery and Herkimer counties, March 3d, 1802. Its northwest- 
 ern boundary is the St. Lawrence River, from which it derives its 
 name. It is the largest connty in the State, its area being 2880 square 
 miles. Population in 1875 was 8-1,121: ; in 1880 it was 85,997. 
 
 Saratoga County was formed from Albany, February 7th, 1791. It 
 lies in the angle formed by the junction of the Mohawk and Hudson 
 rivers. It is an Indian name for a place. Pojndation in 1875 was 
 55,233 ; in 1880 it was 55,15G. 
 
 Schenectady County was formed from Albany, March 7tli, 1809. 
 Population in 1875 was 22,892 ; in 1880 it was 23,538. 
 
 Schoharie County was formed from Albany and Otsego, April (Uli, 
 1795. The name is said to be the Indian term for " drift-wood." A 
 small part of Greene County was anne.xed to it in 1836. Population in 
 1875 \vas 32,419 ; in 1880 it was 32,910. 
 
 Schuyler County was formed from Steuben, Chemung, and Tomp- 
 kins counties, April 17tli, 1854. It was named in honor of General 
 Philip Schuyler. Population in 1875 was 1 8, 928 ; in 1880 it was 18,842. 
 
 Seneca County was formed from Cayuga, March 29th, 1804. A part 
 of Tompkins County was taken from it in 1817, and a part of Wayne 
 in 1823. It derives its name from one of the Six Nations. Population 
 in 1875 was 27,299 ; in 1880 it was 29,278. 
 
 Steuben County was formed from Ontario, March 18th, 1796, and 
 
68G • APPENDIX. 
 
 named in lionor of Baron Yon Steuben. Parts were afterward annexed 
 to Allegany County in 18(>8 ; to Livingston County in lS'2-2, and to 
 Schuyler County in 1854. Pojiulatidii in 1875 was 73,723 ; in 1880 it 
 was 77,58{i. 
 
 Suffolk County. See page 98 and note on page 577- 
 
 Sullivan County was formed from Ulster, March 27th, 1809, and 
 named in honor of General John Sullivan, of tlie Continental Army. 
 Population in 1875 was 34,935 ; in 1S8U it was 32,491. 
 
 Tioga County was formed from Montgomery County, February 16tli, 
 1791. Tn 179s a part of Chenango was taken from it ; Broome in 1800 ; 
 a jiart of Tompkins in 1822, and Chemung in 183G. Population in 
 1875 was 31,744 ; in 1880 it was 32,673. 
 
 Tompkins County was formed from Cayuga and Seneca, April 17th, 
 1822. A part of Schuyler County was taken from it in 1854. It was 
 named in honor of Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, then Vice-President 
 of the United States. Population in 1875 was 32,915 ; iu 1880 it was 
 34,445. 
 
 Ulster County. See page 98 and note, page 577. 
 
 Warren County was formed from Washington County, March 12th, 
 1813, and was named in honor of General Jo.'^eph Warren, of tlie Revo- 
 lution. It lies on Lake George. Population in 1S75 wiis 23,295 ; in 
 1880 it was 25,179. 
 
 AVASiiix(ir(^N County was formed from Albany County, with the name 
 of " Charlotte County" (in honor of l^rincess Charlotte, eldest daugh- 
 ter of George III.), March 12th, 1772. On April 2d, 1784, the name 
 was clianged to Washington. Clinton County was taken from it in 
 17S8 ; the eastern portion was ceded to A^ermont in 1790 ; a portion was 
 annexed to Albany County in 1791, and Warren was taken from it in 
 1813. Population in 1875 was 48,167 ; in 1880 it was 47,871. 
 
 Wayne County was formed from Ontario and Seneca counties, April 
 11th, 1823. It lies upon Lake Ontario, and was named in honor of 
 General Anthony Wayne, of the Revolution. Population in 1875 was 
 49,882 ; in 1880 it was 54,700. 
 
 Westchkstkk Cou.nty. See page 98 and note on page 577. 
 
 Wyoming County was formed from Genesee County, May 14th, 1841. 
 A portion of Allegany County was annexed in 1846. Population in 
 1875 was 30,595 ; in 1880 it was 30,91)7. 
 
 Yates County was formed from Ontario County, February 5th, 1823, 
 and named in honor of Joseph C Yates, then Governor of the State. A 
 portion of Steuben County was annexed in 1824. Population in 1875 
 was 19,686 ; in 1880 it was 21,OS7. 
 
APPENDIX. • 587 
 
 II. 
 GOVERNORS OF XEW YORK. 
 
 COLONIAL. 
 
 Cornelius Jacobsen May 1024 
 
 William Verhulst IG'io 
 
 Peter Miniiit May 4. 1626 
 
 Walter (or Wouter) Van Twiller April. 1033 
 
 William Kieft Mar. 28. 1638 
 
 Peter Stuy vesant May 11. 1647 
 
 Richard Nicolls Sept. 8. 1664 
 
 Francis Los'clace .Aug. 17. 1668 
 
 Cornelis Evertse, Jr., and a Council t>f War Vug. (n. s. ) 12. 1673 
 
 Anthony Colve Sept. 19. 1673 
 
 Edmund Andres Nov. (n. s.) 10. 1674 
 
 Anthony Brockholls, Commander-in-Chief Nov. 16. 1677 
 
 Sir Edmund Andros Aug. 7. 1678 
 
 Anthony Brockholls, Commander-in-Chief Jan. (n. s. ) 13. 1682 
 
 Thomas Dongan Aug. 27. 1683 
 
 Sir Edmund Andros Aug. 11. 1688 
 
 Francis Nicholson, Lieutenant-Governor Oct. 9. 1688 
 
 Jacob Leisler Tune 3. 1689 
 
 Henry Sloughter Mar. 19. 1691 
 
 Richard Ingoldsby, Conunander-in-Chief July 26. 1691 
 
 Benjamin Fletcher Aug. 30. 1692 
 
 Earl of Bellomont April 13. 1695 
 
 John Nanfan, Lieutenant-Governor May 17. 1699 
 
 Earl of Bellomont Tuly 24. 1700 
 
 Eldest Councillor present, Pres. of the Council. .Mar. 5. 1701 
 
 John Nanfan, Lieutenant-Governor May 19. 1701 
 
 Lord Cornbury May 3. 1702 
 
 Lord Lovelace Dec. 18. 1708 
 
 Peter Schuyler, President May 6. 1709 
 
 Richard Ingoldsby, Lieutenant-Governor -May 9. 1709 
 
 Peter Schuyler, President May 25. 1709 
 
 Richard Ingoldsby, Lieutenant-Governor June I. 17<>9 
 
 Genirdus Beekman, President April Id. 1710 
 
 Robert Hunter !""« !■*• l^^*^ 
 
588 APPENDIX. 
 
 Peter Sdiiijler, President July 21. 1719 
 
 "William Pniniet Sept. 17. 1720 
 
 John Montgomery April 15. 1728 
 
 Kip Van Dam, President July 1. 1731 
 
 AVilliiim Cosby Aug. 1. 1732 
 
 George Clai'ke, President Mar. 10. 173fi 
 
 George Clarke, Lieutenant-Governor. Oct. 30. 1730 
 
 George Clinton Sei)t. 2. 1 743 
 
 Sir Danvers Osborn Oct. 10. 17r)3 
 
 James De Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor Oct. 12. 1753 
 
 Sir diaries Hardy Sept. 3. 1 755 
 
 James l)e Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor June 3. 1757 
 
 Cad wallader Colden, President Aug. 4. 1760 
 
 Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor Aug. 8. 1761 
 
 Robert Jlonckton Oct. 26. 1 761 
 
 Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor Nov. 18. 1761 
 
 Kobert jMonckton June 14. 1762 
 
 Cadwallader (jolderi, Lieutenant-Governor June 28. 1763 
 
 Sir Ilenry Moore Nov. 13. 1765 
 
 Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor Sept. 12. 1769 
 
 P^arl of Dnnmore Oct. 19. 1770 
 
 William Tryon July 9. 1771 
 
 Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor April 7. 1774 
 
 William Tryon June 28. 1775 
 
 James Robertson, Military Governor Mar. 23. 1780 
 
 Andrew Elliott, Lieutenant-Governor April 17. 1783 
 
 The last two named are not recognized by the State of New '^'oik. 
 They served during the occupation of New York City by the Britisii from 
 1776 to 1783. 
 
 PRESII>ENTS OF TFIE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 
 
 Peter Yan Rrugh Livingston . .May 23. 1775 
 
 Nathaniel Woodhull, President />w tempore Aug. 28. 1775 
 
 Abraham Yates, Jr., President ^^/-o tewtj^ore Nov. '2. 1775 
 
 Nathaniel Woodhull Dec. 6. 1775 
 
 JoliM Ilaring, President pro tempore Dec. 16. 1775 
 
 Aliraliam Yates, Jr., President j>7"0 ^ew/^o/**? Aug. 10. 1776 
 
 Abraham Yates, Jr Aug. 28. 1776 
 
 Peter R. Livingston Sept. 26. 1776 
 
 Abraham Ten Eroeck Mar. 6. 1777 
 
APPENDIX. 589 
 
 Leonard Gansevoort, President pro tempore April Is. 1777 
 
 Pierre Van Cortlandt, President of Council of 
 
 Safety "May 14. 1777 
 
 GOVERNORS OF THE .STATE. 
 
 George Clinton Jnly 30. 1777- "- ' 
 
 John Jay July 1. 1 795 " ' 
 
 George Clinton isul ^ 
 
 Morgan Lewis 1804 - 1 
 
 Daniel D. Tompkins 1807 
 
 John Taylor, Lieuteuiint-Governor and Acting 
 
 Governor Mar. 1817 
 
 De Witt Clinton July 1. lsl7 
 
 Joseph C. Yates Jan 1. 1S23 -. 
 
 De Witt Clinton 1825 - 2 'a 
 
 Nathaniel Pitcher, Lieutenant-Governor and Act- 
 ing Governor I'eh. II. 1828 -~ 
 
 Martin Van Buren I'^SO 
 
 Enos T. Throop, Lrentemmt^Govemor and Acting l^'% 
 
 Governor "Mar. VI. 1820 • ' " 
 
 Enos T. Throop -^an. 1. is:31 
 
 William L. Marcy '" l'^-'--'^ 
 
 William n. Seward " 1^=^'^ 
 
 William C. Bouek " 1^-13 
 
 Silas Wright " 1^-^^ 
 
 T 1 X- " 1S47 
 
 John 1 oung ^'^ ' 
 
 Hamilton Fish " 1^^'' 
 
 Washington Hunt , " l^^J 
 
 Horatio Seymour " •^^^" 
 
 Myron H. Clark " l-^^^5 
 
 John A. King " '^^'^_[ 
 
 Edwin D. Morgan " ^^'''* 
 
 Horatio Seymour 
 
 Keuhen E. Fenton '^ *'^ 
 
 " ISd't 
 
 John T. Hoffman ^ ..• 
 John Adams Dix ... ^ 
 
 Samuel J. Tilden ^^'"^ 
 
MORE ELAP.ORATE HISTORIES. 
 
 The reader of this compendious History of the State of New Ynrk 
 who may desire more iiiimite knowledge of tlie commonwealtli may 
 profitably consult the following works : 
 
 Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New York, obtained 
 abroad by I'rodhead. 
 
 Documentary History of New York, edited ]>y E. 1>. O'Callaghaii, 
 M.I). 
 
 Brodhead's History of New York to K.ftl. 
 
 Macauley's History of New York. 
 
 Yates and Moulton's History of New York (colonial). 
 
 SmitlTs History of New York (colonial). 
 
 Dunlap's History of New York. 
 
 Roberts's History of New York. 
 
 Barbor's Historical Collection of New York. 
 
 O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland. 
 
 Jones's History of New York During the Revolutionary War. 
 
 Proceedings of the New York Historical Society. 
 
 "Watson's Annals and Occurrences of New York City and State. 
 
 Colden's History of tiie Five Nations. 
 
 Schoolcraft's Notes on the Iroquois. 
 
 Morgan's History of the Iroquois Confederacy. 
 
 Ruttenber's Indian Tril)es of the Hudson River. 
 
 The Jesuit Relations. 
 
 Stone's Biographies of Sir William Johnson, Brant, and Red Jacket. 
 
 Stone's History of Burgoyne's Cam]>aign. 
 
 Lossing's Life and Times of Philip Schuyler. 
 *^ Campbell's Border Wars of New York. 
 
 "^ Sinnns's History of Schoharie County and Border Wars of New York. 
 v/Turner's History of Pioneer Settlements in New York. 
 
 O'Ueilley's History of Rochester. 
 
 Munro's Description of the Genesee Country. 
 
 Watson's History of Essex County and of the Champlain Valley. 
 
 Palmer's History of Lake Champlain. 
 
 Onderdonk's Revolutionar}' Incidents on Long Island. 
 
 Thompson's History of Long Island. 
 
MORE ELABORATE HISTORIES. 691 
 
 Prime's History of Long Island. 
 
 Stiles's History of the City of Brooklyn. 
 
 Histories of Xew York City by Miss M. L. Booth, D. T. Valentine, 
 W. L. Stone, Mrs. M. J. Lamb, and B. J. Lossing. 
 
 Francis's Old New York. 
 V' Munsell's Annals of Alban}'. 
 \^ Marshall's Niagara Frontier. 
 V Public Documents Relating to the New York Canals. 
 
 Reports of the Regents of the University and of the State Superintend- 
 ent of Public Instruction. 
 \_ Hammond's Political History of New York. 
 
 Dunshee's History of the Collegiate (Dutch Reformed) Church School. 
 
 Ketchum's History of Buffalo. 
 
 Hunt's Letters About tlie Hudson. 
 
 Lossing's Hudson from the ^Vilderness to the Sea. 
 
 Bonney's Legacy of Historical Gleanings. 
 
 Numerous Town and County Histories. 
 
INDEX 
 
 A. 
 
 Abercrombie, James, Inefficiency of, 108 ; 
 attacks Ticonderoga, 174. 
 
 Abrabam, Heijihts of, scaled, 182. 
 
 Abraham, Plains of, 180 ; battle on the, 
 183. 
 
 Acadians or French Neutrals, 163. 
 
 AoUind, .Major, %voiinded, 278. 
 
 Acland. Lady Harriet (note), 278. 
 
 Adaina, John, President of the United 
 States, 303. 
 
 Aix-la-Cliapelle, Treaty at, 157. 
 
 Albany City incorporated; municipal offi- 
 cers of, 103 ; name changed, 89 ; indepen- 
 dent government at, 107; Colonial con- 
 ventions at. 107, 162 ; Provincial Assem- 
 bly at, 108 ; stale of society at, 1.50, l.il; 
 canal celebration at, 464 ; cUarter of, 
 amended, 543. 
 
 Albany County, Territory of, 98 ; extent of, 
 343. 
 
 Albany Regency, Tlie, 4.52. 
 
 Alexander, James, counsel for Zenger, 144. 
 
 Alexandria Bay, Moonlight battle in, 416. 
 
 Algerine Corsairs, 458. 
 
 Algonquin Indians slain at Iloboken and 
 Manhattan Island, 48. 
 
 Allen, Etiian, a bold popular leader, 190, 
 316 ; at Ticonderoga, 218 ; a prisoner, 229; 
 and Beverly Robinson, 317. 
 
 Allen, lehabod, killed at Cherry Valley, 
 291. 
 
 Allen, Ira. active in Vermont, 317 ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 318, 319. 
 
 Allen and Warner before the Provincial 
 Congress of New York, 223. 
 
 Allerton, Isaac, at New Amsterdam, 49. 
 
 Allied armies besiege Yorktown, 333. 
 
 America, Position of affairs in. 173. 
 
 American Association, Tbe, 211, 312. 
 
 American naval force in 1813, 419. 
 
 American Navy, Exploits of the, 397. 398. 
 
 American Society for the Promotion of 
 National Union, .530, 521. 
 
 American System, The, 473. 
 
 Amliersi, Jeffrey, at Louisburg, 173 ; bi- 
 ography of (note), 178 ; commander-in- 
 cliief on Lake Champlain, 179 ; receives 
 the surrender of Montreal, 184. 
 
 Amphibious warfare, 418, 419. 
 
 Amsterdam Charter of the Dutch West 
 India Co., Members of the (note), 23 ; 
 action of the, 63. 
 
 Amsterdam merchants of trade at Jlan- 
 hattan (note), 14. 
 
 Anderson, Dr. Alexander, first engraver on 
 wood in America ; biography of (note), 
 575. 
 
 Anderson, Robert, Major, at Fort Sumter, 
 523. 
 
 Annapolis, Convention at, in 1786, 336. 
 
 Andre. Major John, coniplots with Arnold, 
 
 311 ; arrested as a spy, 312 ; executed; 
 honored by his King, 315 ; captors of, 
 
 312 ; captors of, rewarded, 315. 
 Andros, Edmond, biography of (note), 91 ; 
 
 Governor of New York ; imprisons citi- 
 zens, 92 ; at Albany ; sends gunpowder 
 to Rhode Island, 93 ; knighted, 94 ; long 
 rule of, 96 ; Viceroy of English-Amer- 
 ican Colonies, 103 ; arn'sted in Boston 
 and sent to England, 105. 
 
 Anne, Queen, crowned, 129. 
 
 Anthony, .'\llard, a sehepeii, 63. 
 
 Ami. Masonic movements, 471, 472 ; party 
 dissolved, 476. 
 
 Anti-Masonry, Origin of, 471, 472. 
 
 Anti-Rentism, 499, 500. 
 
 Argus and Pelican, Battle between the. 
 418. 
 
 Armies, Disbandment of ; the Union, 538. 
 
594 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Armstnmg, .lolin, fSates's aidi^dc-cami) <m 
 Bemis's llei^rlits, 270 ; author of the New. 
 burgh Letters, 328 ; Secretary of War ; 
 biojf raphy of (note), 412 ; Hampton and 
 Wilkinson and. 413, 414. 
 
 Arnold, Benedict, with Allen at Ticonde- 
 roga, 218 ; naval ()|ierations of; captures 
 St. Johns, 222 ; joins Montgomery in an 
 attack on Quebec; in command there, 2I!0; 
 naval career on liake ChampUiin, 251; 
 relieves Fort Schuyh'r. 273; in battle on 
 Bemis's Heights, 275. 280 ; wounded, 280 ; 
 military governor of Philadelphia ; mar- 
 riage of ; convicted of crookedness ; plots 
 treason, 311, 312 ; fl\emo{]w Vulture. 314; 
 receives his stipulated reward, 315 ; at- 
 tempt to abduct, 315 ; a plunderer in 
 Viminia ; rewards offered for, 321. 
 
 Arnold apd Morgan on Bemis's Heights, 
 281. 
 
 Arnold, Mrs., at her husband's headquar- 
 ters, 313 ; distress of, 314. 
 
 Articles of Confederation, 319. 
 
 Asia, a British vessel, fires on New York 
 City. 232. 
 
 Assembly, Popular, at New Amsterdam, 
 Members of the, 74. 
 
 Assemhly, The first General English, at 
 New York. fG ; laws passed by ; Sjieaker 
 of, UO. 
 
 Assembly, .\nti-LeisIerinn, 123. 
 
 Assembly, Leislerian, 125 ; revokes fraud- 
 ulent land grants ; victory over Absidu- 
 tisin, 150. 
 
 Assembly, The New York Provincial, pre- 
 l)ares for war, lfi4. 
 
 Atotar-ho, first President of the Iroquois 
 Confi-deracy. 8. 
 
 Attwooil, William. Chief-.Iustice, 129. 
 
 Auchmuty, Hev. Dr. ,572. 
 
 Autosee, Battle of, 400. 
 
 B. 
 
 Bainbridge, William. Commodore, 398. 
 
 Ballston destroyed, 308. 
 
 Baltimore, Attack on National troops in, 
 
 525. 
 Bank charter. A, in politics, 399, 400. 
 Bariiburnprs. a political faction, 501. 
 B;irneveldt, John Van Olden, Death of 
 
 (note), 10. 
 
 Barney, Joshua, Flotilla of, destroyed, 435. 
 
 Barre, Count de la, and (iovernor Dongan, 
 100. 
 
 Barre, Col. Isaac. Hetort of, in Parliament 
 (note), 185. 
 
 Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty Knligliten- 
 tng the World, 567. 
 
 Bauman, Lt. -Colonel, Death of, 21)9. 
 
 Baxter, (ieorge. commissioner at Hartford. 
 58 ; biography of (note) ; prepares an in- 
 dictment against Uovernor Stiiyvesant, 
 05. 
 
 Bayard, Nicholas, Secretary oi' the province 
 of New York, 89 ; imprisoned, 92 ; op- 
 poses Leisler, 107 ; imprisoned, 109 ; re- 
 ceives grants of land, 125; a disturber 
 of the public peace; convicted of high 
 treason and rei>rieved, 130. 
 
 Beaver Dams, Affair at. 412. 
 
 Beeckman, Dr. (ierardus. Interview of, 
 with Stuyvesant, 00; imprisoned, 92; 
 convicted of treason and pardoned, 110, 
 111; biography of (note), 110. 
 
 Beeckman, William, ascfiepeii, 02, 89 ; Vice- 
 Director of New Anislel ; biography of 
 (note), 72. 
 
 Bellomont. Earl of. Governor of New York, 
 120. 121; administration of, 123. 124; 
 favors the Leisler family. 124 ; death iiid 
 character of, 1'25. 
 
 Bellomont and Livingston, 122. 
 
 Bellows, Uev. H. W., and the Sanitary 
 Commission ; biography of (note), 527. 
 
 Bemis's Heights, Battles on, 374-276. 
 
 Bennett, James Gordon, 483. 
 
 Bennington. Battle of, 209. 
 
 Benson, Egbert, first Attorney-General, 
 200 ; in New York Legislature ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 337, 338. 
 
 Berkeley, John, Proprietor of New Jersey, 
 86. 
 
 Beverswyck, 45. 
 
 Biddle, Captain James, 439. 
 
 Billop House, Peace Conference at the, 
 244. 
 
 Binckes, Jacob, Proclamation of, 89. 
 
 Binnenhof, The, Hall of Hepresentatives 
 16. 
 
 Bisshopp, Lt. -Colonel, Death of, 413. 
 
 Black Kock. Affair at, 4l:i. 
 
 Bladensburg, Battle of, 430. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 595 
 
 Blakely, Cai)ta'm .lohiisoii, Loss of, 43S. 
 
 Bleecker, Aim Eliza, poet, 573. 
 
 Blork, Aiirien, Diilcli navitrator ; builds a 
 8lii[) at .Manhattiiu ; discoveries of, 15. 
 
 Bloiumaert, Samuel, a patroon. ;i'2. 
 
 Bloodshed, Tlie last, iu tlje Revolution, 320. 
 
 Boerstler, Colonel, at the Beaver Dams, 
 412. 
 
 Bogardus, Kev. Everardus, first settled pas- 
 tor in New Netlierland, 34, 35, 5GS ; re- 
 bukes the Governor, 52 ; death of, 53. 
 
 Bolintjbroke, Lord, plans expedition 
 against Quebec, 131! ; biography of (note), 
 136. 
 
 Bolton, Robert, hi.'^torian, 574. 
 
 Boom at TIconderoira and Mount Indepen- 
 dence. 265 ; at West Point, 253. 
 
 Borgne, Lake, American flotilla on, 441. 
 
 Boscawen, Admiral, 173. 
 
 Bc^ston massacre. The, 202. 
 
 Bo.stou Port Bill, Effect of the, 206. 
 
 Boston, Siege and surrender ot, 234. 
 
 Bost(m tea-party, The, 205 ; effects of the, 
 206. 
 
 Bostonians. Sympathy tor the, 207. 
 
 Bouck, Wm. t'.. (jovernor ; biography of 
 (note), 497. 
 
 Boundary line between Xew York and 
 Connecticut ; The Oblonji, 142. 
 
 Boyd, Jolin Parker, at Chrysler's Field; 
 biography of (note), 416. 
 
 Braddock, Edward, meets Colonial govern- 
 ors ; death of, 163. 
 
 Bradford, William, and the Nein York 
 Gazette, 143. 
 
 Bradley, Attorney-Ueneral of New i'ork, 
 145, 152-154. 
 
 Bradstreet, John, provisions the garrison 
 at Oswego, 16S ; biography of (note), 
 174 : captures Fort Frontenac, 175 (note), 
 176. 
 
 Bradstreet, Simon, English commissioner at 
 Hartford in 1650, 58. 
 
 Brandt (or Brant), Joseph, organizes scalp- 
 ing parties ; desolates Springfield and the 
 Schoharie Valley, 2i)0 ; Sir John Johnson 
 and the Butlers, allies of, 201 ; (note) 
 humanity of, 201, 292. 
 
 Branilywine Creek, Battle at, 286. 
 
 Brant, John, at Queenstovvn battle, 395 ; 
 at the Beaver Dams, 413. 
 
 Brasher, Abraham, 110. 
 
 Breyman, Colonel, commands riHemen, 
 275; mortally wounded, 2S1. 
 
 Brewster, Elder Wm,, leads the ■' Pil- 
 grims," 24. 
 
 British expedition up the Hudson, 297. 
 
 British plan for dividing the Colonies, 238. 
 
 British posts in South Carolina captured, 
 324. 
 
 British troops, Depredations of, in Soutli- 
 East Virginia ; join Clinton at New York, 
 297 ; occupy only Charleston and Savan- 
 nah in the South, 325 ; evacuate Savan. 
 nail, 326 ; evacuate New Y"ork, 331. 
 
 Brock, (jeneral Sir Isaac, on Queenstown 
 Heights, 394 ; death of, 395. 
 
 Brockliolls, .Anthony, Acting Governor, 94. 
 
 Brodhead, John Romeyn, historian, 574 ; 
 biography of (note), 574. 
 
 Brooklyn, Settlers at (note), 26. 
 
 Brown, Jacob, charijed with the defence of 
 the Northern portion of New York ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 390 ; invades Canada, 
 422. 
 
 Brown, Colonel John, in the rear of Bur- 
 goyne's army, 275 ; killed in battle at 
 Stone Arabia ; biography of (note), 307. 
 
 Brown, John, Raid of, at Harper's Ferry, 
 515. 
 
 Brugh, Johannes Van, .Mderman, 85 ; bur- 
 gomaster, 89. 
 
 Brunei, Isamberl, and the Charaplain Canal, 
 349. 
 
 Bryant, Wm. C, Notice of, 482, 575. 
 
 Buchanan, James, President of the United 
 States, 511. 
 
 " Bucktails " and " Clintouians," 453. 
 
 Biiel, Jesse, Notice of ; biography of (note), 
 447. 
 
 Buffalo, Destruction of, 417; in 1813; 
 growth of, 469. 
 
 Bull Run, Battle of ; effect of battle of, 
 526. 
 
 Bunker Hill, Battle of, 220. 
 
 Burgoyne, General Sir John, in Canada, 
 340 ; biography ot (note), 263 ; embarks 
 on Lake Champlaiu, 364 ; feasts the Ind- 
 ians; arrives at Crown Point; proclama- 
 tion of, 265 and note, 266 ; takes ForU 
 Ticonderoga and Independence, 266, 
 267 ; pushes on to the Hudson River, 268 ; 
 
■)0C 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 figlits tbe Aiiierirans near the IIudBou, 
 274-381 ; encamps on Sarutogn Heights, 
 374 ; awaits tidings from Clinton ; pre- ■ 
 pares for battle, 277 ; capitulation and 
 surrender of, 281. 
 
 Burgoyne'a invasion of New Vorl», 2():i- 
 284 ; troops of, .sent to Virginia, 282. 
 
 Burnet, Ciovcrnor William. Cliaraiter of; 
 l)ioj;raiiliy of (note), Kil) ; administra- 
 tion of, 139-141. 
 
 Burning vessels at Forts Clinton and Mont- 
 gomery, 284. 
 
 Burns's Coffee-IIouse (note), 198. 
 
 Burr, Aaron, Adroit management of, 364 ; 
 biography of (note) ; Vice-President of 
 the I'niied States, 304 ; President of the 
 Slate Constitutional Ccmvention, 370; 
 Democratic Candidate for (Jovernor, 373 ; 
 quarrel and duel with Hamilton. 373, 
 374; mysterious expedition of ; tried for 
 treason and acquitted ; political death 
 of, 375. 
 
 Burrites, The, 379. 
 
 Burton, Mary, and the Xegro Plot, 153, 154. 
 
 Bute, Earl of. Prime Minister, 192 ; ruinous 
 policy of, 193. 
 
 Butler, Colonel .John, in the Wyoming 
 Valley, 292-294. 
 
 Butler, Walter, at Cherry Valley, 291. 
 
 Butler, Colonel Zebulon, commands in the 
 Wyoming Valley, 293. 
 
 C. 
 
 Campaign of 1755, l(i3 ; of 1756, 107 ; of 
 1758, 173 ; of 1759, 178, 179. 
 
 Campbell, Samuel, Family of, made cap- 
 tive at Cherry Valley, 292. 
 
 Campbell, Lt. -Colonel, attacks Fort Mont- 
 gomery, 283. 
 
 Campbell, William W., historian, 574. 
 
 Canada, Invasion of, undertaken in 1690, 
 115; unsuccessful attempt to conquer, 
 in 1711, 134, 135 ; surrendered to the 
 English, 184 ; alliance with, or conquest 
 of, 222 ; preparations to invade, in 1775, 
 327,228; end of invasion in 1770, 240; 
 Revolutionary movements in, 489. 
 
 Canajoharie settlement desolated, 306. 
 
 Canal companies organized, 348. 
 
 Canals in the State, 469, 554. 
 
 Cape Breton surrendered lo the English, 
 
 150. 
 Carleton, Major, leads a marauding parly 
 
 to Lakes Champlain and George, 308. 
 Carleton, Sir Ouy, succeeds Sir Henry 
 
 Clinton in command, 323. 
 Caroline, Destruction of the, 490. 
 Carroll, Charles, commissioner in Canada. 
 
 239. 
 Carteret, Oeorge, Proprietor of New Jersey, 
 
 86. 
 Castine, Baron de (note). 100. 
 Centennial celebration and eikhibition, 553. 
 Cesnola, L. P. di (note), 575. 
 Chamber of Commerce (note), 369. 
 Champlain, Samuel, in Northern New 
 
 York : biography of (note), 9 ; in war 
 
 with Northern Indians, 9, 10 ; in war 
 
 with the Iroquois, 18. 
 Champlain Canal (note), 403. 
 Chancery, New Court of. established, 129. 
 Chandler, General, at Stony Creek. 410. 
 Charles II., Death of, 101. 
 Charter of Liberties and Privileges, 97. 
 Charter of Privileges and Exemptions, 31. 
 Charter of Special Privileges granted, 31. 
 Chase, Samuel, on a Committee in Canada, 
 
 239. 
 Chauncey, Isaac, Commander-in-chief on 
 
 Lake Ontario, 392, 401 ; biography of 
 
 (note), 401 ; blockades the British S(|uad- 
 
 ron at Kingston, 431. 
 Chauncey and Yeo on Lake Ontario, 415. 
 Cherry Valley, Massacre at, 291, 292. 
 Chrsapciika and Shannon, Battle between 
 
 the, 417, 418. 
 Chief-Justiceof New York (Pratt) appointed 
 
 by the crown, 189. 
 Children, cruelty to, Law for tbe preven- 
 tion of, 554. 
 Chippewa, Battle of, 424. 
 Christian Commission, The, 528, 529. 
 Christianity of an Indian chief proven 
 
 (note), 124. 
 Christiansen, Captain, 14 ; voyages of, to 
 
 Manhattan Island and .Albany. 15. 
 Christina, Fori, 41. 
 Christina, t^ueen, 41. 
 Chryslers Field, Battle at, 410. 
 Churches in New York in 1750, 188. 
 Cincinnati, Society of the, 329, 330. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 597 
 
 City Hall, First, in New Amsterdam (iiotf), 
 63. 
 
 Civil Rights Bill, 549. 
 
 Clark, Myroii H., Governor, .510 ; biograpliy 
 of (note), 510,511; and Virginia authori- 
 ties, 512. 
 
 Clarke, Sir George. Lieutenant-Governor ; 
 biography of (note), 152. 
 
 Clay, Henry, and the " American System," 
 
 m. 
 
 Clinton, De Witt, Appeal of, 234 ; first ap- 
 pearance of, in political life, 3iJ6 ; duel 
 of, with Swartwout, 372 ; biography of 
 (note), 885; and the Erie Canal, 386; 
 candidate for the Presidency of the 
 United States, 400 ; character of, 445 ; 
 triumph of, 452 ; elected Governor. 453 ; 
 removed from office of Canal Commis- 
 sioner, 460 ; weds the Lakes to the Sea ; 
 death of, 473. 
 
 Clinton, George, first Governor of the 
 State, 262 ; and the Highland Forts, 283 ; 
 leads troops to Ticonderoga, 305 ; leads 
 troops to the Mohawk Vallev, 307; re- 
 elected Governor, 353 ; Vice-President 
 of the United States, 381 ; biography of 
 (note), 398. 
 
 Clinton, James, and the Highland Pons, 
 283 ; biography of (note), 384. 
 
 Clinton, Sir George, Governor ; biography 
 of (note), 154 ; arrives at New York, 155 ; 
 and the Assemljly, 1.58, 159 ; administra- 
 tion of, 1.58. 
 
 Clinton, Sir Henry, at Sandy Hook, 234 ; 
 march of, upon Foris Clinton and Mont- 
 gomery ; attacks them, 283 ; evacuates 
 Philadelphia; in battle at Monmouth 
 Court-House, 295 ; biography of (note), 
 297 ; sails for Charleston ; captures that 
 city, 308; deceived l)y misleading letters, 
 322. 
 
 Clinton's courier hung as a spy, 285. 
 
 Coalition, .i political, 346. 
 
 Cochran, Admiral, 433. 
 
 Cocklnirn, Admiral, Marauding expeditions 
 of, 418, 419. 
 
 Coerten, Myudert, arrested, 110. 
 
 Coffee, General John, in the Cre.k War, 
 400. 
 
 Colbert, French Minister. 91. 
 
 Cclden, Cadwallader, remarks on the Five 
 
 Nations (note), 8 ; a member of the Gov- 
 ernor's Council, 139 ; and the Society 
 Library, 187; Acting- Governor, 189; 
 hung in effigy, and property destroyed by 
 a mob, 196 ; notice of, .572. 
 
 Cole, Thomas, artist, 575. 
 
 College of Nineteen. The. 23, 31, 32, .52 ; 
 changes the government of New Nether- 
 land, .53 ; gives a burgher government 
 to New Amsterdam, 62. 
 
 Collegians in New York (note), 188. 
 
 Collegiate (Dutch Reformed) Church 
 School, and two prominent principals of 
 the (note), 568. 
 
 CoUes, Christopher, on the canal system ; 
 biography of (note). 347. 
 
 Collier. Sir George, commands a tiotilla in 
 the Hudson River, 279. 
 
 Collyer, Vincent, and the Christian Com- 
 mission, 529. 
 
 Colonial Congress at Albany, 107, 115. 
 
 Colonial Convention at .\lbany, 161. 
 
 Colonial Governors, Conference of, at An- 
 napolis, 163. 
 
 Colored Orphan Asylum, New York, de- 
 stroyed by a mob, 534. 
 
 Colve, Captain Anthony, Governor of New 
 Y'ork ; sketch of (note), 89 ; vigilance 
 of, 90. 
 
 Commissioners of Congress sent to Canada, 
 239. 
 
 Commissioners of Indian Affairs (note), 
 140. 
 
 Committee of One Hundred (note), 217. 
 
 Committee of Safety, 523. 
 
 Committees of Correspondence, 210. 
 
 Committees of Fifty-one and Vigilance, 
 Feud between the. 208, 209. 
 
 Common School Fund, Appropriations for 
 a, 376 ; and tlie Roman Catholic Scho<il>', 
 490, 497 ; condition of the, 360, 361, and 
 note ; notice of the, .5.55, 556. 
 
 Common Schools, Appropriations for, 376. 
 
 "Common Sense " and it.s effect, 236, 237. 
 
 Comptroller, Office of, created, 363. 
 
 Compulsory Education, 5.50 ; and note on, 
 551. 
 
 Confederate agents conspire to burn New 
 York City, 536 
 
 "Confederatit States of America "-aleague 
 of politicians and a misnomer, 521. 
 
598 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 CoiifediTation, ArlicU'B of. Weakness o( 
 the, 327. 
 
 Confiscation and Atiainder Acts, 2G1 ; ]«t. 
 sons atTecti'ii by the (note), 202. 
 
 Congress, called, Session of. 520. 
 
 Conjiress, The First Continental ; mem- 
 bers of, from New York, 310. 
 
 Connecticut. Depredations on thecoa.sts of ; 
 towns in, burned. 21)8. 
 
 Connecticut Valley, Contentions for occu- 
 pation of the. ;i.5. 
 
 Consolers of the sick. Dulles of the, 32. 
 
 Constitution of the State of New York 
 formed, 257 ; adopted, 25H ; jmblished 
 (note), 2.58 ; first revision of the, 370 ; 
 fjovernment organized under the, 4.59, 
 4(!0 ; third revision of the, 003, 504; 
 amendments to, ratified, 540, 550. 
 
 CuiixtUiiti'iii m\d Giwrriere, Battle between 
 the, 397. 
 
 Continental Army, Disbanduient of the, 
 328 ; last survivors of the, 329 and note ; 
 quotas for, furnished by States (note), 329. 
 
 <'ontinental Congress, The first meelinjT of 
 the. 210; resolutions of defiance; work 
 of the, 211 ; effect of proceeilings fif tli<", 
 213 : powers of tlie, 219 ; disarms Tories, 
 233; Hight of the, to Lancaster. 287. 
 
 Continental paper money, Counterfeit. 31'j. 
 
 Convention of the State of New York ; as- 
 sembles at Kingston, 2.)(i ; forms and 
 adopts a constitution, 2.58 ; members of 
 the new (note). 250. 
 
 Conway. General, Sketch of (note), 287. 
 
 "Conway's Cabal," 287. 
 
 Cook, Lemuel, Biography of (note), 329. 
 
 Cooper, James Fenimore, 5J3 ; biography 
 of (note). 573. 
 
 Cooper, My Is, D.D., President of King's 
 College, 213, .572. 
 
 Coo])er, Peter, builder of the first Ameri- 
 can locomotive engine (note), ,5,55. 
 
 Coote. Kichard. Lord Bellomont, Governor ; 
 biography of (note), 130. 
 
 Cornbury, Lord, (iovernor. Character and 
 career of, 1'29-132. 
 
 Cornell ITniversity. 540. 
 
 Cornwall County, Location of, 98. 
 
 Cornwallis. Karl, in battle of Long Island, 
 244; in command In South Carolina; 
 invades North Carolina, 309 ; chases 
 
 Greene; at Guilford Court-llouse ; 
 marches to the 8ea-co»st. 324 ; in com- 
 mand in Virginia, 321, 324 ; at Yorktown, 
 331 ; surrender of, 332 ; effect of the sur- 
 render of. 333. 
 
 Corrupt judges, 547. 
 
 Cortlandt, OlofF Stevens Wn, In the Coun- 
 cil of Nine. CI ; burgomaater. 85. 
 
 Cosby, Governor, Cliaracter of, 143 ; ron- 
 Hict of, with Van Dam and others, 
 143. 
 
 Council of Appointment, Com|)Osition of 
 the, 259 ; actions of the, 459 ; powers of 
 the, 505. 
 
 Council of Eight, 49, .50 ; send a memorial 
 to the States General concerning the 
 conductor Kielt, .50, 51. 
 
 Council of Nine, 01. 
 
 Council of Plymouth send a colony to Cape 
 Cod Bay, 24. 
 
 Council of Revision. Composition of the, 
 259 ; (note), 454. 
 
 Council of Safety, Members of the, 260. 
 
 Cousseau, Jacques, Alderman, 85. 
 
 Covington, General, at Chrysler's Field. 
 410. 
 
 Cow Bay, Arms of Holland at, (iiilled 
 down, 42. 
 
 Couwenhoven, Peter Wolfertsen ^'an. a 
 Hchepcii. 03. 
 
 Craney Island, Cr)iiHict at. 418. 
 
 Crawford, 'i'homas, sculptor. 576. 
 
 Credit system. Collapse of the, 481. 485; 
 effects of the, 486. 
 
 Creek Indians, War against the, 406, 407. 
 
 Creek Nation, Uuin of the, 407. 
 
 Crittenden Compromise, The, 520. 
 
 Croghan. Major George, at Sandusky, 404. 
 
 Croton Aqueduct. The. 486. 
 
 Crown Point, Expedition ngaiusl. 164; 
 j fort built at. 179 ; capture of. 219 ; 
 I possessed by the British. 2.52. 
 
 Cruger. John, Biography of (note), 369. 
 
 Cumberland County claimed by Vermont, 
 316. 
 
 C'ummings, Tlinnias S. , artist, 576. 
 I Cunningham, William, British Provost 
 Marshal (note), 250. 
 
 Curler or Corlear, Arendi Van, commissary 
 at Uensselaervvyck, rescues Jesuit mis- 
 sionary, 40 ; biography of (not"), 49. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 6'J9 
 
 Curler, Jacob Vun, fomuiHiids Fort (iiiod 
 Hope, 85. 
 
 I). 
 
 D'Anville, Due, Expedition of, VS. 
 
 D' Aubrey, Colonel, commands French and 
 Indians, 179. 
 
 Davis, Jefl'erson, President of tiie "Con- 
 federate States of America," Ml 
 
 Dawson, Henry B. , historian, 574. 
 
 Day, Benjamin H., publisher of the first 
 " penny paper," 483. 
 
 Deane, James, Indian interpreter, 281). 
 
 Dearborn, Henry, commander of the North- 
 ern Department ; biotjraphy of (note), 
 393 ; resolve.s to invade Canada, 408 ; 
 resignation of, 413. 
 
 Debt, Imprisonment for, abolished, 47.S. 
 
 De Bougainville, Errand of, 183. 
 
 Decatur, Commodore Stephen, 398; com- 
 mander of the President, 439 ; hiimblea 
 the Barbary Powers ; biography of (note), 
 458. 
 
 Declaration of Independence, 237 ; read to 
 the army at New York ; approved by 
 the Provincial Congress, 238. 
 
 De Cirist, Paul K. Van, a schepen, 62. 
 
 De Heister, leader of German troops, 341. 
 
 Delavall, Thomas, Councilman, 84. 
 
 De Laet. historian (note), 63, 593. 
 
 De Lancey, James, Chief-Justice, 143 ; 
 presides at the (rial of Zenger, 145; and 
 Governor Clinton, 158 ; biography of 
 (note), 158; Acting-Governor, 159 ; death 
 of, 186 ; to Lords of Trade, 180 : and 
 Society Library, 187. 
 
 De Lancey, Oliver, in the Assembly ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 313. 
 
 Delaware River, Settlers on the, 26 ; Wash- 
 ington crossing the, 354. 
 
 Dellius, Dominie, obtains hvnd by fraud, 
 120. 
 
 De Milt, Anthony, xckout, 89; imprisoned, 
 92. 
 
 Democratic Party overthrown, 4!) : schism 
 in the, 373 ; disruption of the, 516. 
 
 Democratic Society song of " God Save the 
 Guillotine," sung at meeting of (note), 
 357. 
 
 De Nonville, Dongan and, 102 ; invades the 
 Iroquois country, 103, 103. 
 
 De Peyster, Abraham, Associate-Justice ; 
 
 biography of (cote), 129 ; and the Society 
 Library, 187. 
 
 De Peyster. Johannes, Alderman, 85 ; notice 
 of (note), 85 ; burgomaster, 89, 92. 
 
 Dermer, Captain, at Manhattan, 33. 
 
 De liuyven, Secretary, receiver of revenues, 
 , 90. 
 
 De Sille, Nicasius, Vice-Director-Oeneral, 
 67. 
 
 Detroit, Surrender of, 181, 185. 
 
 De Vries, David Pietersen, plants a colony 
 on Delaware Bay, 33 ; leaves the colony, 
 50 : prophetic words of, 51. 
 
 De Witt, a Dutch navigator, 14. 
 
 De Witt, Simeon, and the Erie Canal, 383, 
 384 ; surveyor-general, 460. 
 
 Dieskau, Baron de, defeated and wounded 
 at Lake George, 166. 
 
 Dincklagen, Lubberlus Van. causes the re- 
 call of Van Twiller, 38 ; Provisional Gov- 
 ernor, 51 ; joins in a memorial to the 
 States-General, 02. 
 
 Dix, John Adams, and School District 
 j Libraries, 4S7; famous Order of, 517, 518 : 
 Governor ; biography of (note), 549. 
 
 Donck, Adriaen Van der, one of the Coun- 
 cil of Nine ; imprisoned by Stuyvesant, 
 61 ; presents the memorial of the Council 
 of Nine to the Slates-General. 03. 
 
 Dongan, Thomas. Governor, 96 ; biography 
 of (note), 96 ; foreign relations of, 99, 
 100 ; refuses to obey the King, 101 ; is 
 dismissed, 103. 
 
 Downie, Commodore, at Plattsburgh, 428. 
 
 Draft, The, 533. 
 
 Draft Riots in New York, 533, 534. 
 
 Drake, .loseph Rodman, 573. 
 
 Draper, A. S., Superintendent of Public 
 Instruction, 556. 
 
 Draper, John W., 572. 
 
 Drummond, Lt. -General, witli Wellington's 
 veterans in (,'anada; commands the British 
 forces in Canada, 434. 
 
 Duane, James, District Judge. 346 ; first 
 Mayor of New York City after the Rev- 
 olution, 350. 
 
 Duchess County, Territory of ; name of 
 (note), 89. 
 
 Dudley. Guilford D., 401. 
 
 Dudley, Joseph. Chief Justice of New York 
 (note), 116. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 lliike of York, Charaoter of, 93. 
 
 Duke's County, Uocation of, 98. 
 
 Duke's laws. The (note), 85. 
 
 Dunlap, Hev. Mr., at Cherry Valley, 291. 
 
 Dunla]>, \\in.. artist and historian, 57"2. 
 
 Dunmore, Lord, (iovernor, '30;{. 
 
 Duciuesue, Fort, 163. 
 
 Durand, A. B., artist, 575. 
 
 Dutch, The, on Manhattan, surrounded by 
 Indians, IS ; liberality of the, 40 ; Chris- 
 tian cliarity of the, 40 ; embassy of the, 
 to New Plymouth, and its results, 'u ; 
 embus.sy of. to Maryland, ('>8, (i9 : retake 
 New York. 88, 89. 
 
 Dutch AVe.st India Co., The, chartered ; 
 features of the charter : powers of the, 
 
 22 : favored by the States-tieneral, 22, 
 
 23 ; organization of the, 23 ; send colo- 
 nists to New Netherland, 25, 27 ; success 
 of the, 30 ; offer an asylum to the op- 
 pressed in New Netherland, 71. 
 
 E. 
 
 East and West Jersey, 94. 
 
 Eelkens defies Van Twiller. 34. 
 
 Election Riots in New i'ork City, 483-485. 
 
 Elliott, Charles, artist, 575. 
 
 Elliott, Captain Jesse D.. captures vessels 
 near Buffalo, 402. 
 
 Embariroea and Orders in Council, 378- 
 381. 
 
 Enipire State, the. Retrospect of the life 
 of, 508-576 ; reliwious denominations in 
 568, 569 ; political condition of, 509. 570 ; 
 courts of ; trade, manufactures and ])opu- 
 lation of, 571 ; statesmen, jurist.s, literary 
 men, and arts and artists in, 572-57 J. 
 
 Emuckfau, Battle of, 406. 
 
 England, Monarchy restored in : a royal 
 state trick, 71 ; Revolution in. and iis 
 
 ' effect in America, 105. 
 
 English-American Colonists. Character and 
 condition of. 185. 
 
 English, The, in America, 101. 
 
 English, The, in .\nierica. encroach on 
 Dutch domain, 43. 
 
 Enterprine and Boxer, Battle between, 418. 
 
 Episcopacy in the Colonies, 185-189. 
 
 " E(|ual Rights" Party, Action of the : dis- 
 solution of the, 482. 
 
 I Erie Canal, (ienesis of the, 382, 384 ; begin- 
 I ning of the construction of the, 384, 385 ; 
 preliminary measures adopted ; meeting 
 in favor of the (note), 4.50; ridiculed and 
 opposed, 451 ; first boat on the, 453 ; in- 
 fluence of the ; prophecy concerning the 
 (note), 468 ; celebration of the opening of 
 I the, 403-468. 
 
 i Erie. Fort, Capture of, by Americans. 422, 
 ' 4'23 ; siege of, and sortie from, 426. 
 Egopus (Kingston), Settlement at, 26; 
 
 trouble with the Indians at, 68. 
 Estaing, Count de. commands a French 
 
 naval force on the American coasts, 295. 
 Europe, Condition of, in 1814, 430. 
 Eiitaw Spring, Battle at, 3"35. 
 Evertsen, Admiral Cornells, 88; proclama 
 
 tion of, 89. 
 Expedition against Canada, 115, 415-417. 
 
 Falmouth (now Portland), burned, 352. 
 Fashions in New York changed. 476. 
 Faulkner, Major, at Craney Island, 418. 
 Federal Celebration at New York. 351 ; 
 
 consequences of the, 352. 
 Federal Party, Chief leaders of the, in New 
 
 York, 346 ; overthrow of the, 379 ; second 
 
 overthrow of the, 386. 
 Federnlint, The, 388. 
 Federalists and Anti-Federalists, 337. 
 Fenton, R. E. , (Jnvernor ; biography of 
 
 (note). 536 ; and the Tliirteenth Amend- 
 ment of the National Constitution, 538. 
 Field, Cyrus \V., erects a monument at 
 
 Tappan, 315. 
 Field, David Dudley, and the Women's 
 
 Relief Association, 527. 
 " Fields, The." (ireat meeting in, addressed 
 
 by young Hamilton, 208. 
 Fillmore, Millard, Vice-President of the 
 
 United States, .507. 
 Financial scheme, .\. denounced (note), 
 
 201. 
 Fish, Hamilton, tJovernor. Biography of 
 
 (note), 507. 
 Fitzroy, Lord, Reception of ; marries Oov. 
 
 ernor Cosby's daughter (note), 144. 
 Five Nations, (frant of land by the, to the 
 
 English, 12S. 
 
IXDKX. 
 
 COl 
 
 Flelcber. Benjamin, GoveriiDr, 117 ; in con- 
 flict with the Assembly; at Hartford, 118. 
 
 Forbes, General Joseph, Tardy movements 
 of, 176. 
 
 Forman, Joshua, ami the Erie Canal, 383, 
 474. 
 
 Forsythe, Major Benjamin, at Ogdens- 
 biirg, 401, 408. 
 
 Fort Amsterdam built, 29 ; treaty with Ind- 
 ians at, .52 ; taken by British troops and 
 named Fort James, 78. 
 
 Fort Casimer built, .59 ; captured and 
 named Fort Triuity. 60. 
 
 Fort Christina, 41. 
 
 Fort Clinton captured by the British, 283, 
 284. 
 
 Fort Duquesne. Capture of, 177. 
 
 Fort Edward, built by (leneral Lyman, 
 163. 
 
 Fort Good Hope, 26. 
 
 Fort James, Name of, changed to William 
 Henry, 89. 
 
 Fort Lee, 243 ; commanded by General 
 (ireene. 248 ; abandoned, 250. 
 
 Fort Montgomery captured by the British, 
 283, 284. 
 
 Fort Xassau on the Delaware, 26. 
 
 Fort Necessity, Surrenderor, 162. 
 
 Fort Niagara captured by the English. 179, 
 
 ' 180. 
 
 Fort Orange built, 26, 46 ; surrendered and 
 named Albany. 78. 
 
 Fort Plain, 290 ; settlement desolated, 306. 
 
 Fort Schuyler besieged by St. Leger, 269 ; 
 garrison of, 270 ; relieved (note), 273. 
 
 Fort Washington captured by the British, 
 249. 
 
 Fort William Henry, 166 ; winter expedi- 
 tion against (note), 171 : massacre at, 
 171, 172. 
 
 Forts Mifflin and Mercer captured by the 
 British. 289. 
 
 Forty Fort, Surrender of, 294. 
 
 France, Treaty'of .\lliance with, 294. 
 
 Francis, Dr. J. W., Notice of, .57.5. 
 
 Franklin, Dr. B., commissioner in Canada, 
 239. 
 
 Fraser, General, commands grenadiers ; 
 fatally wounded ; death and burial of 
 (note). 280. 
 
 Fraunce, Samuel (note), 331. 
 
 Free Colonists, Commercial privilegrs ex- 
 tended to, 14. 
 
 Free School District Libraries established, 
 487. 
 
 Free School Society, 376 ; members of the 
 (note), 376. 
 
 Free Schools established by law, 50.5, .506 ; 
 law for, repealed. .507, .508. 
 
 Free-will Offerings of the loyal people 
 during the Civil War, 529. 
 
 Fremont, John Charles, candidate for the 
 Presidency of the T'nited Stales, 511. 
 
 French, Activity of the, in seeking power ; 
 settlements of the, 160 ; aggressive move- 
 ments of the, 161. 
 
 French emigrants. Effect of, on New York 
 society, 358. 
 
 French forces at Newport, 309. 
 
 Frencli and Indian War, The, 162-184. 
 
 French Neutrals — Acadians, 103. 
 
 French Kevolution, Intiuence of, in Amer- 
 ica, 3.53. 
 
 French vessel driven froiu Manhattan Har- 
 bor, 26. 
 
 Frenchtown, Massacre at, 404. 
 
 Freneau, Philip, ' Poet of the Revoluiinn," 
 592. 
 
 Friendsor Quakers, Attitude of, during the 
 Civil War (note), ,524. 
 
 Frontenac, Count Louis, Governor of 
 Canada ; conduct toward the Five Na- 
 tions ; builds a fort. 91; invades New 
 York, 114 : performs an Indian war- 
 dance, 110 ; invades the Iroquois country, 
 118. 119; death of. 119. 
 
 Fry, Colonel Joshua, commands Virginia 
 troops, 162, 
 
 Fulton. Robert, and navigation by steam : 
 biography of (note), 377. 
 
 Gabry, Timothy. Alderman, 85. 
 
 Gage, Thomas, fortifies Boston Neck, 215. 
 
 Gaines, General E. I'., succeeds General 
 Ripley, 425. 
 
 (ialphin Fort, Capture of, 325. 
 
 Gardiner. Lyon, settles on Gardiner's Isl- 
 and, 42. 
 
 OMpe, Burning of the (note), 304. 
 
 Gates, General Horatio, supersedes General 
 
G02 
 
 INDKX. 
 
 Schuyler ; on Beiiiis's Heights, 274 ; con- 
 duct of, 376 ; juiilousy of, displayed, 
 277 ; receives thanks uiid a gold medal 
 from Conirress. 282. 
 
 GeiiiTiil Conijr>-ss. A, rocommeiuied, 207 ; 
 dnlegfttes to, from New York, appointed, 
 209. 
 
 Cienet, Edmund C, Minister of the French 
 Republic, '^'t',i ; arrival of, 3.)4 ; tits out 
 privateers, 354, 35j : reception of, at 
 Philadelphia ; banqu-.^t in honor of (note), 
 3.55 ; conduct of, 35G ; reception of, at 
 New York ; recalled ; remains in America 
 and marries, 357. 
 
 George III., Kirstarbitrary act of, toward the 
 Colonies, 189; ascends tlje throne. 192. 
 
 Germain, Lady Ketty, Hemark of. 373. 
 
 (Terman mercenaries in Canada, 240. 
 
 Gerry, Klbridire, Vice-President of the 
 United Stutes. 398. 
 
 Gheel, Maximilian Van, a. ac?iepen, 62. 
 
 Glover, General, on Bemis's Heights, 380. 
 
 Godyn, Samuel, a patroon, 33. 
 
 Golden Hill, New Y'ork Cily, Skirmish on, 
 20(1. 
 
 Gorham and Phelps, purchase land in New 
 Y^ork State, 335. 
 
 Gouverneur, Abraham, Leisler's secretary, 
 imprisoned, 110; pardoned. 111. 
 
 Graham, James, first Recorder of New York 
 (note), 100. 
 
 Granger. Francis, Anti-Masonic candidate 
 for (Jovernor, 470. 
 
 Gram, British General, in battle of Long 
 Island, 244. 
 
 (irant, Mrs., of Laggan's description of 
 social life at Albany (note), 151. 
 
 Grasse, Count de, in the Wist Indies, 321 ; 
 before Y'orktown with a French fleet, 
 322. 
 
 Great Britain and Holland, War between, 
 80 ; declares war against France in 1756, 
 167 ; causes of war between, and the 
 United States, 387 ; United States de- 
 clares war against, 387, 388 ; opposition 
 to the war with, 388. 
 
 Greeley, Horace, candidate for the Presi- 
 dency of the United States, 548. 
 
 Green Mountain Boys. 191 ; at Ticondero- 
 ga, 318 ; at Crown Point, 219 ; employ- 
 ment of, in the army, 223. 
 
 Greene, (leneral Nathaniel, in command on 
 Long Island ; sick, 343 ; in South Caro- 
 lina, 323 ; famous retreat of, 324 ; fights 
 Cornwallis at (iuilford Court-House ; de- 
 feated near Camden ; march of. toward 
 Ninety-Six, 324 ; siege of Ninety-Six, by ; 
 on the High Hills of Santee : battle of, 
 at Eutaw S|>rings ; rewards given to, 32.5. 
 
 Griunell, Moses H., at a war-meeting ; 
 biography of (note), 522. 
 
 Grotius condemned to imprisonment, 20. 
 
 Guilford Court-House, Battle at, 324. 
 
 Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden killed at 
 Lutzen, 41. 
 
 II. 
 
 Hague, Resideuceof Coiinis of Holland at 
 the, 10. 
 
 Hale, Nathan, Fate of (note), 246. 
 
 Halleck, Fitz-Greeue, 573, 574. 
 
 Hamilton, Andrew, defends Zenger, 145 ; 
 address of, to the jury, 146 ; triumph of, 
 and honors to. 146, 147. 
 
 Hamilton, .\lexander, speaks at "TbeOreat 
 Meeting" ill The Fields, 208 ; at Arnidd's 
 headciuarters, 31:! ; in the National Con- 
 vention, 336 ; biography of {note). 337 ; 
 the chief writer of T/ii' J'\(ltratiKl,3'SH; 
 in the State Convention at Pouglikeep- 
 sie, in 1788. 341 ; Secretary of the 
 United States Treasury, 340; helps in 
 tlie establishment of the Board of Re- 
 gents in New York, 362 ; death of, 375 ; 
 allusion to, 572. 
 
 lliimilton and Burr. 373, 375 ; duel be- 
 tween, 374, 375. 
 
 Hampton, General Wade, in Northern New 
 Y'or . ; character of, 413, 415. 
 
 Hard-Cider Campaign, The, 494. 
 
 Hardy, Commodore Cl.arles, Character of, 
 419. 
 
 Hardy, Sir Charles, Governor of New 
 Y'ork, 100 ; leaves the province, 186. 
 
 Harlem, Village of, founded, 69. 
 
 Harlem Plains, Battle on, 247. 
 
 Harper, .lames, Mayor of New York, 485. 
 
 Harper's Ferry. .lohn Brown's raid at. 515. 
 
 Harrison, Richard, United States Attorney 
 for New York, 346. 
 
 Harrison, General Wm. Henry, marches 
 for the recovery of Michigan, 403, 404 ; 
 
ixnfix. 
 
 r.o:j 
 
 builds Fort Meiws, 404 ; wins a battle 
 at the Tliames, and recovers Michigan, 
 40G ; becomes Presideiit of the United 
 States, 494. 
 
 Hartford. Conferenre at, between tlie Dutch 
 and English, in IfioO ; and the result, 58, 
 59. 
 
 Hartford Convention, The, in 1814, 44:5, 
 444. 
 
 Hathorn, Colonel, commands troops at 
 Minisink, 301, 302. 
 
 Hatteni, Arendt Van, burgomaster, 62. 
 
 Haviland, Colonel, at Montreal, 184. 
 
 Hawley, Jesse, and the Erie Canal, 383. 
 
 Hawley, Jesse. Superintendent of Public 
 Instruction, 446 : removal of, 454. 
 
 Heath, General William, in command in 
 the Highlands, 348. 
 
 Heathcote, Caleb, Biojrraphv of (note), 132, 
 133. 
 
 Hell-Gate, 23. 
 
 Hendrick, King, at Lake Georfie ; and 
 William Johnson, 165 ; death of, 106. 
 
 Hendricksen. Captain, before the States- 
 General, 16, 18 ; exploring voyage of, 
 18. 
 
 Herkimer, Nicholas, commands Tryon 
 County militia, 270 : defeated at Oris- 
 kany ; biography of. 271 ; death of, 272. 
 
 Heyn, Admiral, Exploit and death of, 30. 
 
 Hi-a-watha, Death of daughter of, 4 ; ser- 
 vices and departure of, 4, 5. 
 
 Hickey, one of Washington's Life Guard. 
 Crime and execution of, £36. 
 
 Hohkirks Hill, Battle of. 324. 
 
 Hoboken, Massacre of Indians at, 48. 
 
 HotTman, John T., Governor, 541 ; hioy- 
 raphy of (note), 542. 
 
 " Holder of the Heavens," Legend of, 3. 4. 
 
 Holland, Prosperity of, anticipated ; social 
 condition of, 19-21. 
 
 HoUaudare, Peter, 52. 
 
 Holmes, Captain, puts a house on the site 
 of Hartford. 38. 
 
 Holt's Journal, Devices on, 211, 212. 
 
 Hone, Philip, Mayor of New York ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 464. 
 
 Hongers, Hans, 14. 
 
 Hopkins, Commodore Esek, Exploits of, 
 252. 
 
 JIiir.iKt and Peacock, Battle between, 417. 
 
 Horseshoe Hend, liatlle of, -107. 
 
 Ilotham, Commodore, on the Hudson Kiver, 
 283. 
 
 Hough, Franklin B., historian, 574. 
 
 Howe, Lord, on Lake George, 173, 174 ; 
 death of, 174 ; biography of (note). 175. 
 
 Howe, Admiral Richard, before New Vork 
 with a fleet ; a peace conimiBSioner. 242. 
 
 Howe, General William, goes to Halifax 
 from Boston, 235 ; before New York with 
 troops ; joined by Sir Henry Clinton, 
 24i ; in battle on Long Island, 244 ; at 
 White Plains, 248 ; captures Fort Wa.sh- 
 ington, 249 ; in battle of Brandywine 
 Creek, 286 ; lakes Philadelphia, 287 ; 
 succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton, 295. 
 
 Howe and Washington confront each 
 other in New Jersey, 286. 
 
 Hubbardton, Battle of, 267. 
 
 Hudson, Henry. Biography of (note) ; seeks 
 a northeast passage to India, 10, H : 
 discovers New York Bay, 1 1 ; voyages 
 on the river that bears his name, 12 ; de 
 tained in England, 13 ; perishes in Polar 
 waters, 14. 
 
 Hudson Highlands, Obstructions of the 
 river in the. 253. 
 
 Hudson River, Names of the (note), 13; 
 Krst trading vessels in the, 14 ; associa- 
 tions of the, 561 ; manors on the, 561 - 
 565. 
 
 Hughes, .-Vrchbishop, and the Comnioa 
 School Fund. 497 ; biography of (note), 
 496. 
 
 Hughson, John, a victim of the " Negro 
 Plot" affair, 153. 
 
 Huguenots in New York. 148. 
 
 Hull, Captain Isaac, 397. 
 
 Hull, (ieneral William, in Michigan ; sur- 
 renders Detroit, 389. 
 
 Hunkers, a pidiiical faction. 501. 
 
 Hunt, Washington, Governor; biography 
 of (note); administration of, 508. 
 
 Hunter, Uobert. Governor; character of, 
 137, 138 ; brings Palatines to New York. 
 137 ; administration of. 137, 138. 
 
 " Hunters' Lodges" suppressed, 491. 
 
 Huntington, Daniel, President of the Na- 
 tional Academy of the Art.s of Design, 
 576. 
 
 Hutcbings, William, one of the last two 
 
til 14 
 
 I.NDKX. 
 
 survivors of lli« Continental Army (noti'l, 
 
 839. 
 Hiitdiinson, Anne, Slietrli of (noti). 49. 
 Hyile. Sir Eclwiini (Lord Cornbury), Oov- 
 
 ernor of New York, 129. 
 
 I. 
 
 Independence, Yeiirninjis of the people for ; 
 Piiine's plea for, SUti : resolutions for, 
 adopted ; Declaration of, adopted, 237, 
 
 2:i8. 
 
 Indian Ali'air.s, Hoard of ComniisHioners of, 
 
 93, 227. 
 Indian Fort (note), 17 ; Clianiplain's attack 
 
 on the, 17, \S. 
 Indian tribes iu New York. 3. 
 Indian war, A fii'rci', kindled by Kieft, 49. 
 Ingoldsliy, Richard, demands jKjssession of 
 
 the fort at New York, lOi), 1 10 ; notice 
 
 of, 117 ; Actinij-Governor of New York. 
 
 134 ; biography of (note), 186. 
 Inman, Henry, artist. 575. 
 Investigating Committee, concerning the 
 
 Krie Canal, Work of the, 0.54. 
 Iroquois Confederacy, Origin of the, 3-5 ; 
 
 Indian nameof the, ; polity of the. (i-9 ; 
 
 totemic system of the, 7 ; customs of tlie. 
 
 8, 9 ; final disappearance of the, 334. 
 Irvinir, Peter, Heference to, 572. 
 Irving, \^'ashington, Biography of (nole), 
 
 572. 
 Izard, General Georjre, on the Niagara 
 
 frontier : biojrrajihy of (note), 420. 
 
 Jackson, .Andrew, at war with the Creek 
 Indiana, 40() : at Pensacola, Mobile, and 
 New Orleans, 441; gains a victory at 
 New Orleans; honors awarded to, 442 ; 
 President of the United States, 474. 
 
 James II. King of England, and the New 
 York "Charter of Liberties," 101 : at- 
 tempts of, to make the Roman Catholic 
 the Slate religion ; and French Jesuit 
 niifsions in New Y'ork, 103, 104 ; Hies 
 to France, 104. 
 
 James, Major, Country residence of, deso. 
 lated, 190. 
 
 Jarvis, J. Wesley, artist, 575. 
 
 Jay, John, and the State Constitution, 257, 
 258 ; biography of (note), 257 ; first Cliief- 
 Justice of tlie State, 2G0 ; one of the 
 writers of The Federitlist. 338 ; Chief- 
 Justice of the I'nited States Supreme 
 Court, 341) ; (iovernor of New York, 3f>3 ; 
 a political writer, 572. 
 
 Jay, William. Notice ol; biojrraphy of 
 (note), 451. 
 
 Jay's treaty c<msidered, 358, 359 ; burned 
 by tlie populace; treatment of, at Charles- 
 ton, 359. 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas, writes the neclaration 
 of Independence, 227 ; liis suspicions of 
 the Federalists, 253, 254 ; his opinion 
 of Hamilton ; leader of the Republican 
 Party, 354 : Vice-President of the United 
 States, 3U3 ; President of the United 
 States, 3()G. 
 
 Jersey, The, a prison ship (note), 119. 
 
 Jesuit missions in America, 90; active in 
 New York, 140; influence of the, lOtl. 
 
 Jogues, Father, Notice of, 46. 
 
 Johnson, Guy, Indian agent, 234 ; holds 
 Indian councils, 225, 22l>. 
 
 ■Johnson, Sir John, at Johnson Hall, 227 ; 
 gives his parole; biograi)hy of (note), 
 231 ; breaks his parole, 240 ; flight of, to 
 Canada ; coniinissioned a brigadier-gen- 
 eral, 241; leads Canadians and Indians, 
 264, 303 ; desolates his home neighbor- 
 hood, 305 ; desolates Stone .\rabia, 308. 
 
 Jolinstm, Lady, conveyed to Albany, 241. 
 
 Jolinson, William, at a conference at Al- 
 bany, 157 ; Indian commi.-isioner in com- 
 mand of provincial troops, 104, 165 ; 
 and King Ilendrick (note), 165 ; in bat- 
 tle at Lake (ieorge ; builds Fort \Vill- 
 iam Henry, IfiO ; knighted, 166, 167; 
 captures Fort Niagara, 179 ;at Montreal, 
 184 ; biography of (note), 234. 
 
 Johnson, William, and the rebellion in 
 Canada ; biography of, 490. 
 
 .lolinson, William Samuel, first President 
 of King's t'ollege ; biography of (note), 
 188. 
 
 Johnson and Lyman contrasted, 167. 
 
 John.soii's Royal Green, 270 ; defeated and 
 dispersed, 271. 
 
 Johnston, Colonel, Uritish commander at 
 Stony Point, 300. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 (iori 
 
 Jones, Captain Jacob, wins a naval victory, 
 
 397. 
 Jones, John Paul, wins a naval victory, ,305. 
 Jones, Samuel, Chief-Justice ; biography 
 
 of (note), 474. 
 Joris, Captain Adriaens, commands the 
 
 Neie Netherlaiid, 25; constructs a fort 
 
 on the site of Albany, 2G. 
 Journalism, Revolution in, 482, 483. 
 JumonviUe, French commander, slain, l(i3. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kalb, Baron de, in South Carolina, 309. 
 
 Keaue, lieueral, defeated below New Or- 
 leans, 441. 
 
 Kent, James, and Colonel IJurr, .'!73 ; Chan- 
 cellor, portrait of ; bio<;raphy of, 448. 
 
 Kentuckians, War-cry of the, 404. 
 
 Kidd, William, commandsa privateer, 121 ; 
 becomes a pirate and is hanged ; treasure 
 of, 13a. 
 
 Kieft, (iovsrnor William, succeeds Van 
 Twiller ; De Vries's opinion of, 39 ; ener- 
 getic rule of ; builds a hitrlierg and church, 
 40 ; snubbed by the people ; calls heads 
 of families to a consultation, 43-46 : 
 makes war on the Indians ; sends sol- 
 diers airainst fugitive Indians at Hobo- 
 ken, 48; asks the Commonalty to appoint a 
 committee of conference, 49 ; recalled ; 
 threatened, 51 ; de])arture and death of, 
 53. 
 
 King George, Equestrian statue of, 1!)!). 
 
 King George's War, 155. 
 
 King, John A., Governor, Biography of 
 (note), 513 ; recommends the extension 
 of the right of suflFrage to colored men, 
 514. 
 
 King Philip's War, 93. 
 
 King William's War, 114. 
 
 King, Itufus, United States Senator ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 341. 
 
 King's (now Columbia) College, founded 
 and chartered, 187, 188. 
 
 Kings and Queens counties, Territory of, 98. 
 
 King's Mountain, Battle on, 309. 
 
 Kingston (note), 26'3 ; burned by the Brit- 
 ish, 280. 
 
 Kip, Jacob. Secretary of New Amsterdam, 
 03 ; alderman ; imprisoned, 02. 
 
 Klock's Field, Battle at. 308. 
 
 Knowlton, Colonel. Death of. 247. 
 
 Knypliausen. General, leader of German 
 troop*. 244 ; in command of Germans at 
 the capture of Fort \Va.shington. 249. 
 
 Konick, Frederick de. commander of Stuy- 
 vesant's Hag-ship in the Delaware. 67. 
 
 Kregier, Martin, burgomaster, 62. 
 
 L. 
 
 La Colle Mills, Buttle at. 421. 
 
 Lafayette, Marquis de, joins the Americaa 
 army, 380 ; appointed to ro!niniB.sion an 
 expedition against Canada : loyalty to 
 Washington ; deceived by Gates. 288, 
 289 ; in Virginia. 321 ; in New York, 
 the nation's guest, 401. 
 ' LakeCham])lain, British force on, in 1776, 
 j 252; military affairs near, 414. 
 I Lake Erie, Naval battle on. 405. 406. 
 j Lamb, John, an active Soi: of Liberty, 205 ; 
 1 addresses the people. 201! ; biography of 
 (note), 200 ; removes cannons from the 
 fort at New York, 232 ; home of, attack- 
 ed by a mob, 352. 
 
 Lamb. Martha J., hi-storian. 574. 
 
 Lancastrian and Pestalozzian systems of 
 educati<m. 488. 489. 
 
 Lansing, John. Chancellor, 371. 
 
 Lee, Charles, sent by Wasliington to New 
 York, 234 ; disobedience and treason of, 
 253. 
 
 Lee, Gideon, Mayor of New York ; wound- 
 ed by rioters. 484. 
 
 Lee, Colonel Henry, in South Carolina, 
 324. 
 
 Lee, Richard Henry, offers resolutions for 
 independence. 237. 
 
 Leggett, William. Notice of; biography 
 of (note), 482. 
 
 Legislative reforms, 471. 
 
 L'Hommedieu, Ezra, and popular educa- 
 tion ; biography of, 302. 
 
 Leisler, Jacob, helps the FIuguenotB, 105 ; 
 chosen chief ruler, tem|K>rarily, 106 ; 
 organizes a provisional government, 107 ; 
 tenders the fort and his power to the 
 royal governor; arrested, 110; con- 
 demned to death. Ill ; executed. 112. 
 
 Leisler and Milborne, Property of, confis- 
 
000 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 cated, nud nftprwnrd restored, 112 ; re- 
 mains of, lie in state at the City Hall, 
 and buried in a cemetery, 124. 
 
 Leislerians or Democrats iii political con- 
 trol, 129. 
 
 Lemon slaves' case. Tlie, 513. 
 
 Levi, Geuernl de, alteiiipts to recover C^ue- 
 bec, 183. 184. 
 
 Lewis. Mnrgan, (ioveriior: l)iojjraj)liy <»f 
 (note), ;{T4. 
 
 Libt^rty Pole erected, 199. 
 
 Liberal Republican Party, 548. 
 
 Life Guard of Washington tampered with ; 
 ori<;in of the (note). 285. 
 
 Lincoln. Abniluini. President of the I'nited 
 States, 511 ; calls lor troops, 522; n;- 
 elected President, ~)',Hi ; assassination of, 
 
 5;i8. 
 
 Lincoln, General Benjamin, joins Oeneral 
 Oates, 275 ; attack of, on Savannah, ;i05 ; 
 surrenders Charleston, 308. 
 
 Liquor Bill, Prohibitory, vetoed, 510. 
 
 Literature Fund established, 301. 
 
 Jjivinijstou, Gilbert, in Constitutional Con- 
 vention at Poughkeepsie, 341. 
 
 Livin<;;ston, .John and .Mary, 562. 
 
 Livin;;ston, Philip, and tlw Society Library, 
 187 ; President of the Provincial Con- 
 gress ; biography of (note), 221. 
 
 Livingston, Robert, Secretary of the Board 
 of Commissioners of Indian Affairs, 93 ; 
 controls the Provincial Convention ; ac- 
 cused of uttering treasonable words, and 
 goes to New Kngland. 108. 109 ; engages 
 in a privateering sclieme : a friend of 
 KiJd, 121, 122 ; changes his political 
 position, 122. 
 
 1/ivingston, Robert R., first Chancellor of 
 the State of New York, 204: adminis- 
 ters the oath of office to Washington ; 
 biography of (note). 345 ; Minister at tlie 
 Frencli Court, 371 ; becomes a Republican, 
 304 ; assists Fulton in his steam naviga- 
 tion scheme, 377 ; and the Manor House, 
 503. 
 
 Livingston, Walter, first Speaker of the 
 New York Assembly, 202. 
 
 Livingston. William, a political and theo- 
 logical writer, 189, 213 ; prophetic ap- 
 ])eal of, 201 : on immigrants into New 
 York (note), 571, 572. 
 
 Livingstons in America, .\nce8tors of the, 
 562. 
 
 Livingston's Manor desolated, 286 ; account 
 of the, 562. 
 
 Loco-foco Party, Origin of the name of the, 
 481. 
 
 TiOng Island, English settlements on, 42 ; 
 revolt on, 73 ; prt-paraiions for battle on, 
 243 ; landing of Britisli troops on ; liattle 
 on, 244 ; expedition against Tories on, 
 315. 
 
 Loudoun, Lord, succeeds Shirley in com- 
 mand of troops ; biography of (note) ; 
 sends Abercrombie to Ameriai, 107 ; on 
 expedition against Louisburg, 170 ; bad 
 conduct of, 109, 170. 
 
 Louisburg, Expedition against, 1.55, 150 ; 
 capture of, 173. 
 
 Lovelace, Francis, Governor : biogra])hy of 
 (note), 87 ; character of, H8. 
 
 Lovelace, Lord John, Governor, calls a new 
 Assembly, 133. 
 
 TiOyalists, Flight of, from New York ; con- 
 fiscation of property of tlie ; return of the, 
 330. 
 
 Lundy's Lane, Battle of, 425. 
 
 Luyck. -Egidius, burgomaster, 80 : im- 
 prisoned, 92. 
 
 Lyman, General Phineas ; biography of 
 (note), 104 : lieutenant of General Wm. 
 •lohnson ; builds Fort Edward, 105 ; 
 gains the victory at Lake George, 106. 
 
 -M. 
 
 McArthur, Duncan, Raid of, 433. 
 
 McCna, .Inne. Tragedy of, '207. 
 
 McDonnell, Lieutenant-Colonel, attacks 
 Og.lensburg, 408. 
 
 Macdonough, Thomas, on LakeCliamplain, 
 414, 415 ; commands in a naval battle on 
 Lake Champlain ; biography of (note), 
 429. 
 
 McDougall, Alexander, issues an offensive 
 hand-bill ; imprisoned, and regarded as 
 a martyr, 202. 
 
 McDougall, Sir Duncan, (.ieneral Paken- 
 ham's aide. 442. 
 
 McEvers, James, stamp-distriljutor, re- 
 signs, 180. 
 
 McHenry, Fort, Bombardment of, 437. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 r,07 
 
 Mackinaw, Attempt to tako Fort, 4;!^. 
 McKenzie, Win. 1-yon, and tlie insurrec- 
 tion in Canada, 480, 490. 
 McLeod, Trial and acquittal of, 491. 
 McLane, Secretary Ijouis, writes Jackson's 
 
 nullitication proclamation (note), 480. 
 Macomb, Alexander, an extensive land- 
 owner in Xortliern New York, 335. 
 Macomb, General, in command at Platts- 
 
 burgb, 427-431 ; biography of (note), 
 
 430. 
 Macomb and Macdonougli, recipients of 
 
 lionors, 431. 
 McNeil, Major, in battle of Chippewa. 424. 
 Madison, .lames, one of the writers of The 
 
 Federalist, 338 ; elected president of the 
 
 United States, 381 ; re-elected, 398. 
 Maiden burned, 400. 
 Manning, Captain Joliu, surrenders New 
 
 York to the Dutch ; punished (note), 89. 
 Manhattan Island, 1, 13 ; purchase of , from 
 
 the Indians, 2". 
 Manhattan, Village of ; an Indian murdered 
 
 near, 29 ; flight of settlers to. 30. 
 Manhattan Water-works and Bank, 365. 
 Ma|) of New Netlierland, 30, 37. 
 Marauding expedition on the shores of 
 
 Connecticut, 264. 
 Marcy, \Vm. L. , captures a British flag, 
 
 401 ; Comptroller of the State, 460 ; 
 
 Governor ; biography of (note), 479. 
 Marin, M., a French officer, 156, 170. 
 Marion. Francis, the " Swamp Fox," 309. 
 Mary, Queen, Death of, 129. 
 Maryland, Dutch Embassy sent to, 68 ; 
 
 invasion of, 468. 
 Massachusetts, Fir.*t emission of l>ills of 
 
 credit of, 116 ; claims of, to New York 
 
 territory adjusted ; (note), 335. 
 Mas?asoit and his family (note), 93. 
 Matthews, Mayor, of New York, and a plot 
 
 against Washington, 236. 
 May, Captain Jacobseil, and the Walloons, 
 
 25. 
 Mayflower, The, lands emigrants at Cape 
 
 Cod, 24. 
 Medal, A descriptive French, 116. 
 Megopolensis, Dominie, with Stuyvesant, 
 
 against the Swedes, 67. 
 Meigs, Colonel K. J,, Exploit of, in Long 
 
 Island, 816. 
 
 Meigs, Fort, relieved, 404. 
 
 Melyn, Corntlis, Notice of (note), 51, 62. 
 
 Meunonites settle near Snaanendael ; 
 plundered and ruined, 72. 
 
 Mercer, Colonel, In command at Oswego, 
 168 ; surrenders, 169. 
 
 Metropolitan Museum of Art (note), .575. 
 
 Michigan recovered, 403, 406. 
 
 Mifflin and Mercer, Forts, captured, 287. 
 
 Militia of New York. Arrangement of the, 
 389. 
 
 Milbornc, Jacoli, sent to Albany, 107, 108 ; 
 addresses the people ; leaves Albany, 
 108 ; condemned to death and executed, 
 111, 112. 
 
 Miller, Colonel James, Exploit of, at 
 Lundy's Lane, 425. 
 
 MInisink, Raid upon the settlement of, 301. 
 
 MInuit, Peter, Directorof New Netherland ; 
 purchases Manhattan Island, 27 ; (iov- 
 ernor of New Sweden ; defies Kieft, 41 : 
 death of, 52. 
 
 Minute Mi-n, Organization of, 207. 
 
 Mitchell, Samuel L., Speech of, at the 
 canal celebration ; biography of (note), 
 466 ; notice of, 575. 
 
 Moncktoii, Robert, Governor, 192. 
 
 Monmouth. Battle of, 295. 
 
 Monongaliela, Battle of, 163. 
 
 Montcalm, Marquis de, French commander, 
 captures Oswego, 168; biography of 
 (note) ; dances with the Indians. 170 ; 
 captures Fort William Henry, 171 ; in 
 command at Quebec, 181. 182 : death of, 
 183. 
 
 Montgomery, John, (iovernor. Character of; 
 administration of, 141 ; death of. 142. 
 
 Montgomery, Richard, at Albany, 227; 
 biography of (note), 228 ; advances upon 
 St. Johns, 228, 229 ; captures it and 
 Montreal, 229 ; attacks Quebec ; death of, 
 230. 
 
 Montmorenci, Falls of. Battle near, 181. 
 
 Montreal, Indians gathered at, 170 ; cap- 
 tured, 229. 
 
 Moody, Sir J. Henry, patentee of Graves- 
 end (note), 49. 
 
 Moody, Lady Deborah, Sketch of (note), 49. 
 
 Mooers, General Benjamin, commands 
 militia ; biography of (note), 427 ; in 
 battle of Plattsburgh, 430. 
 
<i08 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Moore, Sir Henry, Governor; administra- 
 tion of, 193 ; death of, 201. 
 
 Morgan. General Daniel, defeats Tarleton 
 Hi the Cowpens ; rewarded; joined by 
 G reen c, 323 ; i n battle on Bemis's Heights, 
 275. 
 
 Morgan. Edwin 1)., Governor ; bionjraphy 
 of (note), 'A4; conservative position of, 
 .llf^, ■i\9; eneriiPlic action of. in upliolding 
 the National Government. M5, .52(1. 
 
 Morgan, Louis, historian, 57.5. 
 
 Morgan, William, and tlie Masonic frater- 
 nity, 471, 472. 
 
 Morris, (ieorge P., 575. 
 
 Morris, Gouverneur. Remarks of, conceru- 
 inir Zenker's trial (note). 147 ; Ijiography 
 of(noti-), 382; a piliticul writer, 572. 
 
 Morris, Lewis, Chief .Instice. 143. 
 
 Moravian Towns, Battle near the, 400. 
 
 Morse, Siirauel F. B., artist and scientist, 
 500, 575. 
 
 Mott, Samuel, to Governor Trumbull, 228. 
 
 Mott, Valentine, and Women's Relief Com- 
 mittee, 529. 
 
 Mount Defiance, taken possession of by the 
 British, 2()(>. 
 
 Mount Independence, (iairison of; sur- 
 render of. 205. 
 
 Munro, Colonel, surremlers Fort William 
 Henry, 171. 
 
 Murray, General, 181 ; in possession of 
 Quebec, l'r3, 184. 
 
 Murray, Lindley, author of English (i ram- 
 mar and Reader, 572. 
 
 Mutiny Act extended to New York ; op- 
 posed by the Assembly, 200 ; and the 
 people, 201. 
 
 N. 
 
 Nancy, a tea-ship, returns to Eng1aDd,206. 
 
 Nanfan, John, Lieutenant-Governor ; dis- 
 solves the Assembly, 12S. 
 
 Nas.sau, Fort, below the site of Albany, 
 built, 15; abandoned, 18. 
 
 National affairs. Critical state of, 514-510. 
 
 National Capital threatened, 525 ; isolated, 
 520. 
 
 National Convention at Philadelphia frames 
 a new Constitution, 330, 337. 
 
 National Constitution framed. 336, 337 ; 
 adopted by New York, 341 ; XVih 
 
 Amendment of the, adopted, .542, and 
 withdrawn, 543. 
 
 National currency. A, established, ,535. 
 
 National Government, The, warned of dan- 
 ger. 430 : weakly administered, .521. 
 
 Native American Party, The, 485. 
 
 Naval movements on Lake Champlain, 
 251. 
 
 Naval events on the ocean, 417, 418, and 
 438, 439. 
 
 Navigation, Steam, on the Hudson River, 
 377. 
 
 Navy, First Continental. 233, 253. 
 
 New Amstel founded and perished, 72. 
 
 New Amsterdam, .59 ; organized as a city ; 
 municipal oIKcers of, 02 ; emigrants from 
 New England at, (i3, 04 ; popular assem- 
 bly at, ()4 ; city .seal of, sent to, 00 ; 
 menaced with destruction by Indians, 07, 
 08 ; social aspects of, 09, 70 ; described, 
 79 ; social condition of the people of, 
 80-82. 
 
 Neutrality. Proclamation of. 354. 
 
 New England coasts, Events on the, 433. 
 
 New Hampshire Committee of Safety, 
 Action of the, 228. 
 
 New Hampshire Grants, The, 190, 191 ; 
 events im the, 310. 
 
 New Haven Colony, The, .58. 
 
 Needham, Robert, councilman, 84. 
 
 Negro Plot in 1712, 138; in 1741, 152, 
 154. 
 
 Newburgh Letters or Addresses, The, 327 ; 
 action of Washington on the, 328. 
 
 New Gottenburg, Fort. .52. 
 
 New Jersey, Latin name of, 78 ; given to 
 Berkeley and Carteret. 80 ; Washington's 
 tlight across, 253. 
 
 New Netherland, Province of, created, 28 ; 
 government of, under Dut<-h rule, 79. 
 
 New Plymouth, Relations between, and 
 Manhattan, 50, 57 ; Dutch mission to, 
 57. 
 
 New Sweden, 41. 
 
 Newspapers in New York, 211. 
 
 New York City, Government of, 85 ; name 
 of, changed to New Orange, 89 ; city 
 and county of, 97 ; political divisions of 
 (note), 99 ; state of society at, 151 ; im- 
 portant social events in, 186 : British 
 invasion of ; great fire in 1776, 247 ; 
 
INDEX. 
 
 );o<) 
 
 evacuation of, by the British troops, 
 
 331 ; Washiugton with civil officers en- 
 ters ; civil govermuent rei-stablislied in. 
 331 ; the foundationa of its greatness laid, 
 
 332 ; residence of the National Govern- 
 ment at ; inauguration of President 
 Washington at, 34-1 ; condition of, one 
 hundred years ago, 350,351 ; at the begin- 
 ning of the nineteenth century, 367, 308 ; 
 benevolent institutions in, 309; churches 
 in, 370 ; patriotic popular movements 
 at, 434 ; grand canal celebration at, 4G3 
 468 ; Mayor first elected by the people ; 
 conservatism of the merchants of the. 
 520; charter of, amended, 543; plun- 
 dered by the " Tweed Ring," 545-547 ; 
 other plunderers (note), 547 ; attractive 
 features of, 566, 567 ; harbor of, 567. 
 
 New York Province ; area, topography, 
 and canals of, 1 ; farms, population, 
 manufactories, birthplace of, 2 ; Indian 
 tribes in, 3 ; first political organization 
 of the ; conduct of divine worship in the, 
 84 ; laws imposed upon the people of 
 the, 85 ; divided into counties, 87, 88 ; 
 consolidated with New England, 103 ; 
 violence of party spirit in ; social con- 
 dition of, 148, 149 ; state of political so- 
 ciety in, 204 ; delegate of, in the Con- 
 tinental Congress, 210, 215; Provincial 
 Congress of, 215, 216 ; members of the 
 Provincial Congress of (note), 216 : pa- 
 triotic elforts of the, 217, 218 ; condi- 
 tion of, 221 ; important events in, 256. 
 
 New Yiirk State, First Constitution of, 
 adopted ; features of the, 250, 260 ; choice 
 of State officers of, 262 ; session of Legis- 
 lature of ; claims tothe soil of, 333; seals 
 of (note), 333, 334 ; reserves the right to 
 collect import duties, 335 ; advocates 
 more power for Congress in the matter of 
 revenue, 336 ; Legislature of first, sanc- 
 tions a movement toward the formation 
 of a National Constitution (note), 336; 
 Constitutional Convention of, 338, 339 ; 
 members of the, 339 ; ratifies the Na- 
 tional Constitution ; first member of the 
 National Congress from, 341 ; political 
 divisions of, 342 ; early settlements in 
 the interior of, 342, 343 ; emigrants from 
 New England to, 342 ; political parties in, 
 
 343 ; ]X)wer of the Governor of ; num- 
 ber of voters in, 346 ; inland navigation 
 of, 347 ; recuperation of, 349 ; ruling 
 families in, 371 ; defences of, 380; meas- 
 ures for defence of, provided, 448 ; popu- 
 lation, resources and influence of, 458; 
 new era in history of, 402 ; condition 
 of, 517 ; Legislative action of, 517-519; 
 prompt response of, tothe President's call 
 for troops. 522; patriotism, generosity 
 and faith of, .520 ; contributions of men 
 and money for the Civil War, in 1S64, 
 by, 537, 538 ; decrease of, in population 
 during the war ; patriotic resolutions of 
 the Legislature of ; adopts the XlVth 
 Amendment to the National Constitution; 
 a free school system for, 539 ; revised 
 Constitution of. rejected, 540 ; |x>Iitical 
 divisions of, .556 ; new State House of ; 
 funded debts of ; population of (note), 
 557 ; industrial products of, .558, 559 ; 
 rank of, in intelligence and wealth, 559, 
 500 ; church organizations in, .500. 
 
 New York on the New Hampshire Grants. 
 Relation of. 189-191. 
 
 Niagara, Fort, Artillery duel at, 402. 
 
 Niagara frontier in Canada seized by the 
 Americans, 410 ; desolation of the Niag- 
 ara frontier, 417. 
 
 Nicola. Colonel, proposes a kingship for 
 Washington, 327. 
 
 NicoUs, Matthias, Secretary of the province 
 of New York ; provincial council of. 84 ; 
 Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, 84. 
 
 Xicolls, Richard, commands an expedition 
 against New Netherland ; surrender of 
 the province to, 75-78; Governor of; 
 biography of (note), 87. 
 
 Nicholson, Francis, Lieutenant-Governor, 
 deserts his post, 107. 
 
 Nine, Council of, The, 56 ; papers of, seized 
 bv Stuyvesant ; sends a memorial and 
 remonstrance to the States-General ; asks 
 for a burgher government, 61, 02. 
 
 Ninety-Six. Fort, Siege of, 325. 
 
 Non- importation League, 197. 
 
 Normal College at New York (note), 497. 
 
 Normal School at Albany, 488. 
 
 North, Lord, Retirement of, 323. 
 
 North Point, Battle of ; death of General 
 Boss at, 437. 
 
•no 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Nonliern New York, Events in, 420, 421. 
 Nullification movement suppressed, 480. 
 Nuptials lit' tlie lakes and the sea, 4G0. 
 
 O. 
 Oblong, Tlie. 142. 
 O'Couor, Charles, and the " Tweed Ring," 
 
 547. 
 Ogden, Uobert, litO. 
 0(jr(leiial)ur{;. Attacks upon, 101, 408. 
 Ohio country, Conflictinjj claim.s to the, 
 
 ir,i. 
 
 Onondaga country protected, 128 ; expe- 
 dition against the, 301. 
 
 Onrust (Ht'stli'SH), first ship built on Man- 
 hattan Island, 15. 
 
 Ontario, Lake, Vessels on. ^90, ;i!)l. 
 
 Orangeburg, British forces at, and retreat 
 from, 32."). 
 
 Orange County, Territory of, 08. 
 
 Ordinance for special privileges, 1,3. 
 
 Osborne. Sir Panvers, Governor, l.W. 
 
 Oswego. Capture of, by the British, 421. 
 
 Otis, James, opposes Writs of Assistance, 
 li)4. 
 
 Oxenstierna, Count of, sends a Swedish 
 colony to the Delaware, 41. 
 
 P. 
 
 Paine, Thomas, writes "Common Sense," 
 
 23(i. 
 Paine, Judge, decision of, in the Lemon 
 
 case. Effects of the, 512. 513. 
 Pakenham. (ieneral, commands the British 
 
 at New Orleans, 441 ; death of, 442. 
 Palatines sent to New York, 137. 
 Paoli Tavern, Massacre near, 28(). 
 Papineau, Joseph, and the insurrection in 
 
 Canada, 489. 
 Paris, Treaty of, 185. 
 Parliament, Arbitrary acts of tlie, 201. 
 Partisan and personal warfare, 372. 
 Paterson, General, on Bemis'.i Heights, 
 
 280. 
 Patricians and Tribunes, 204. 
 Patroon estates. Features of the, 31. 
 Patroons, New charter for. granted, 44. 
 Paulding, James K., Notice of, 572. 
 Pauw, Michael, a patroon, 32. 
 Peace commissioners. Foolish acts of, 242, 
 
 24C. 
 
 Peace commissioners apjiointed by Parlia- 
 ment, 205. 
 
 Peace faction, The, 420, 443 ; movements 
 of the, and Vallandigliam, 532. 533. 
 
 Peace with Great Britain, 442 : rejoicing 
 for the return of, 449 ; treaties of, 
 signed, 323. 
 
 Pelgrave, Paul (note). 11. 
 
 Pemaquid, Indian runner from, to Fronte- 
 nac, 116. 
 
 Penn, William, receives a grant of terri- 
 tory, 94, 95. 
 
 Pensacnla, British driven from. 441. 
 
 People's Party, 400. 
 
 Pepperell, William, captures Louisburg; 
 biography of (note). 150. 
 
 Perry, Oliver Hazard, on Lake Erie, 405, 
 400 ; biography of (note). 405 ; in an at- 
 tack on Fort George, 410; wins a naval 
 victory, 405, 400. 
 
 Petition to the King, 214. 
 
 Phelps and Qorliam purchase lands, 335, 
 343. 
 
 Philadelphia menaced, 435 ; National Con- 
 vention at, in 1787, 330, 337. 
 
 Philipse, Adolph, 143. 
 
 Philipse, Frederick, last " Lord of the 
 Manor," 50 ; and Society Library. 187. 
 
 Philipse, Family and Manor of, 564, 505. 
 
 Phillips, General William, Burgoyn'e's 
 lieutenant, 375; with Arnold in Virginia, 
 321. 
 
 Phipps, Sir William, naval commander, 
 115 ; before Quebec, 110 ; also note. 
 
 Pierce, Franklin, President of the United 
 States, 509. 
 
 Pike, Zebulon M., attacks York ; biog- 
 ' raphy of (note). 409 : death of, 410. 
 
 Pilgrims, The, found New Plymouth, 
 24. 
 
 Piquet, Father, 150. 
 
 Piracy during Fletcher's administration, 
 120. 
 
 Pitt, William, Prime Minister, 172 ; eni'r- 
 getic and wise action of, 173 ; superseded 
 by the Earl of Bute, 192; statue of, 
 erected at New York, 199. 
 
 Plattsburgh, Naval battle near, 429; battle 
 on land at ; Americans victorious at ; 
 British retreat from. 430 ; " The .siege of 
 Plattsburgh," a song (note), 431. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Gil 
 
 Plocklioy, Peter, leader of llu^Mennonites, 
 
 72. 
 Plowden, Sir Edmund, Absurd claim of. 
 
 Point Levi, EnglisU batteries at, 181. 
 Political division of the State, 5oG. 
 Political parties and sclienies, 379. 
 Political and theological discussions, 213. 
 Pontiac's conspiracy, 185, 18ti (note). 
 Poor, General Enoch, in battle on Bemis's 
 
 Heights, 278. 
 Pope, The, and James II., 103, 10(>. 
 Popular education. Apathy of the people 
 
 concerning (note), 4!).5. 
 Porter, Captain David, Famous cruise of, 
 
 418. 
 Porter, General Peter B., at Black Rock, 
 
 413 ; at Chippewa, 432. 
 Pouglikeepsie, Flight of Legislature to, 
 
 from Kingston, 286. 
 Prence, Thomas, at Hartford, 16")0. .58. 
 Press, Freedom of the, vindicated, 147. 
 Prevo.st. Sir George, in Canada, 408 ; at 
 
 Sacketi's Harbor, 411, 412; invades New 
 
 York ; advances upon Platlsburgh ; bi- 
 ography of (note), 428 ; hasty retreat from 
 
 Plattsburgb, 4.30, 431. 
 Prideaux, (ieneral, besieges Fort Niagara ; 
 
 deatli of, 179. 
 Prince of Wales, Alleged birth of, 103. 
 Prinrexx, The, wrecked, 53. 
 Princeton. Battle at, 253. 
 Piintz. .lohn, Governor of New Sweden 
 
 instructions to, 52 ; friendly relations of, 
 
 with Stuyvesant, 59 ; succeeded by John 
 
 Bisingh, G(). 
 Prisons and prison-ships, 249. 
 Privateers, American, 439. 440. 
 Privateering association, 120. 
 Privy Council, The British (note), 169. 
 Proctor and Tecumtha at Forts Meigs and 
 
 Stephenson, 404. 
 Provincial Congress, Migration of the, 250. 
 Public Instruction, State Superintendent 
 
 of, created, 510. 
 Public property, Seizure of, by patriots, 
 
 21.5. 
 Public School Society and ward schools in 
 
 New York City consolidated, 510. 
 Public-school system in New York City, 
 
 544. 
 
 Putnam, Israel, Rescue of (note). 172 ; in 
 command on Long Island, 244 ; com- 
 mands the Highland forts, 383. 
 
 Quaker Hill, Battle of, 296. 
 
 Quakers at New Amsterdam. 71. 
 
 Queen Anne's War, 132. 
 
 Queen Esther, 294. 
 
 Queenstown, Battle of, 393-396. 
 
 Quebec, Surrender of, refused (note), 110 ; 
 
 expedition against, 180; siege of, 181- 
 
 183, 230. 
 
 R. 
 
 Railways in the State, and their work, 
 555. 
 
 Randall, S. S., and school district libraries, 
 487-495 ; Deputy Superintendent of Com- 
 mon Schools, 509. 
 
 Randolph, Peyton, President of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, 210. 
 
 Rangers of Putnam and Rogers (note), 
 172. 
 
 Raritan Indians attacked by the Dutch, 
 43. 
 
 Rawden, General, defeats Greene at Hob 
 kirk's Hill ; abandons Camden, 3'24. 
 
 Rebellion, Beginning of the, 517. 
 
 Red Jacket, First public appearance of, 
 334; commands the Indians; biography 
 of (note), 422. 
 
 Regents, Board of, 362. 
 
 Reid, Captain S. C, and the General Arm- 
 strong, 440. 
 
 Rensselaer, Killian Van, a jiatroon, 32 ; 
 power of, 45. 
 
 Rensselaerwyck, Colonie of, 33, 44, 46. 
 
 Renwick, James, Notice of, 575. 
 
 Representative Assembly at New Amster- 
 dam ; defies Governor Stuyvesant ; names 
 of members of the (note). 65. 
 
 Representative Council, A 6rst, in New 
 Netherland, 40. 47 ; name of the. 47. 
 
 Republican Party, Formation of the, 511 ; 
 character of the, 512. 
 
 Republicanism appears in New Nether- 
 land, 04. 
 
 Retreat of the .Vmericnn army from Long 
 Island, 245; to Harlem Heights, 247. 
 
Gl;2 
 
 INDKX. 
 
 Revolution in England, Etfect of, in 
 
 America, 105. 
 Rhode Island, D'Estainnat : military events 
 
 on, 29G ; evacuated by the British, 300. 
 Riall, (leneral, cominand.-i the British at 
 
 Chippewa, 4)ii, 421 : retreats to tjueens- 
 
 town, 424. 
 Rice, Victor M., first Superintendent of 
 
 Public Instruction, fllO. 
 Richmond County, Territory of, 98. 
 Riedesel, General, commands German mer- 
 cenaries, 240, 204 ; on Bemis's Heights, 
 
 276. 
 Riedesel, Baroness de, Slietch of (note), 204, 
 Riker, Richard, Duel of; biography of 
 
 (note), o?2. 
 Riot between religious factions, 544. 
 Ripley, General, on the Niagara frontier, 
 
 422-425 ; superseded by General Gaines, 
 
 425. 
 Risingh, John, Governor of New Sweden, 
 
 00. 
 River Indians imposed upon by Kiift and 
 
 traders, 42. 
 Rivington, James, abuses the "Sons of 
 
 Lilierty ;" printing-house of, destroyed ; 
 
 biography of (note). 233 ; notice of, 572. 
 Robinson, Beverly, Correspondence of, with 
 
 Ethan Allen, 317, 318; biography of 
 
 (note), 318. 
 Robinson, Kev. John, and emigration to 
 
 America, 21. 
 Rochambeau, Count di^ Arrival of, with 
 
 French troops, I'O'J ; biography of (note), 
 
 320; leiid.s French troops to the Hudson 
 
 River, 321. 
 Rochester, Growth of, 409 ; Pagan rites at, 
 
 in 1813 (note), 470. 
 Rodgcrs, Commodore John, at Sandj' 
 
 Hook ; biography of (note), 397 ; long 
 
 cruise of, 418. 
 Roelandsen, Adam, first schoolmaster at 
 
 New Amsterdam, 34, 508. 
 Rogers, .Major Robert, Biography of (nolr), 
 
 84. 
 Roman Catholic iiriests, Hanging of, au- 
 thorized by law, 126. 
 Ross, General, commands British troops in 
 
 Maryland, 435 ; death of, 437. 
 Royal cimimissioners with Colonel Nicolls 
 
 at New Amsterdam, 75. 
 
 Ruggles, Timothy, in Stamp Act Congress, 
 
 190. 
 Hyswyk, Treaty at, 123. 
 
 S. 
 
 Sackett's Harbor, Hostilities at, 391, 411. 
 
 Safety Fund System, 474. 
 
 St. Clair, General, in command at Ticon- 
 deroga, 2(i5 ; abandons Fort Ticonderoga 
 and escapes, 20(1. 
 
 St. Johns, Capture of, 229. 
 
 St. Leger invades the Mohawk Valley ; 
 operations there, 204-270, 273 ; notice of 
 (note), 273. 
 
 St. Regis, First trophy of the war (1812- 
 1815), taken at, 401. 
 
 Sandlord, Nathan, Chancellor, 459. 
 
 Sanitary fairs and the results, 528. 
 
 Saratoga, Destruction of, 156. 
 
 Savage. John, Cliief-Justice, 459. 
 
 Savings-banks established, 553. 
 
 Schenectady, fjestruclion of, 114. 
 
 Schmidt, Claas, murdered, 43. 
 
 Sdioharie Valley, Fcirts in the, 290 ; deso- 
 lation of the, 300. 
 
 School System, the Common, Improve- 
 ments in, suggested, 471. 
 
 Schoolcraft, Henry P., authority on Iridian 
 life, 573. 
 
 Schuyler, Captain John, menaces Montreal, 
 115. 
 
 Schuyler, Mayor Peter, opposes Milborne, 
 108 ; influence of, over the Indians, 134 ; 
 goes to England with Indian sachems; 
 biography of (note), 135 ; and the germ 
 of tlie Society Library, 187. 
 
 Schuyler, Philip, Life and property of, 
 destroyed at old Saratoga, 1,57. 
 
 Scliuyler, Philip, at Oswego ; leader of the 
 Opposition in the Assembly, 213. 214 ; 
 Commanding General of the Northern 
 Department, 222 ; looks after the Tories 
 in the Mohawk Valley ; expedition of, 
 to Jolmstown ; disarms the Tories. 231 ; 
 authorized to invade Canada, 223 ; oper- 
 ations of, in the Mohawk Valley, 224; 
 at Fort Edward ; proclamation of, 207, 
 208 ; obstructs the march of Burgoync, 
 207 ; indignant because of injustice at a 
 council of war, 273 ; property of, de- 
 
IXDEX. 
 
 613 
 
 8troyed by the British array (note) ; en- 
 tertains Burgoyne at Albany, 281 ; letter 
 of, to (iovernor Clinton, 317 ; first New 
 York member of the National Senate, 
 341 ; father of the canal system of New 
 York, 347 ; journal of, in 1802, 349. 
 
 Scott, John, a disturber of the peace in 
 Long Island, 73. 
 
 Scott, Jolin Morin, member of a Council 
 of Safety, 260; the first Secretary of 
 State, 362. 
 
 Scott, Winfield, on Queenstown Heights, 
 393 ; at the capture of Fort tieorge, 410 ; 
 in command at the battle of Cliippewa, 
 424 ; at battle of Lundy's Lane, 424, 
 425. 
 
 Seal, The fireat, of the province of New 
 Y'ork (note), 109 ; seals of the State 
 (note), 141. 
 
 Sears, Isaac, a leading " Son of Liberty ;" 
 biography of, 208 : arrest of, 216 ; de- 
 stroys Rivington's priniing-house, 283. 
 
 Seneca Nation, The, desolated by Sulli- 
 van, 304. 
 
 Seventh Regiment, National Guard, quells 
 riots, 483 ; goes to the field, 528. 
 
 Seward, William H., in the State Senate, 
 476 ; Governor ; biography of (note), 
 492 ; first encounter of, witli the slave 
 power, 493. 
 
 Seymour, Horatio, Governor ; biography of 
 (note), 509 ; vetoes a prohibitory liquor 
 bill, 510 ; and the Draft Riots, 534. 
 
 Sharp, Jacob, gives books for a public 
 library, 187. 
 
 Sharpe, Governor, of Maryland, conmiauds 
 Colonial forces, 103. 
 
 Sheafife, General, succeeds Brock in com- 
 mand, 395. 
 
 Shirley, General William ; biography of 
 (note), 1.53 ; contemplates conquests, 157; 
 jneets Braddock in conference, 163 ; 
 commands an expedition against Forts 
 Niagara and Frontenac, which was aban- 
 doned; succeeds Braddock in command, 
 167. 
 
 Shute, Swen, commands Swedish soldiers 
 at Fort Casinier, 00. 
 
 Simms, Jeptha R., historian, 574. 
 
 Six Nations, the, Conference of, with Shir- 
 ley, 157 ; council with the (1778), 289 ; 
 
 boundary of the territory of the, defined ; 
 cession and sales of the lands of, 334. 
 
 Skene, I'liilip, Biography of, 207. 
 
 Skenesborough, Flight of Americans to, 
 from Ticonderoga, 260. 
 
 Slave trade, The, 138. 
 
 Slavery in New York, Abolition of, recom- 
 mended, 363, 451 ; final abolition of, in 
 the United States, 531. 
 
 Slechtenhorst, Brandt Van, commissary at 
 Rens.selaerwyck, defies the authority of 
 Stuyvesant ; sketch of (note), 60. 
 
 Sloughter, Governor Henry, 109 ; signs 
 the death-warrant of Leisler and Mil- 
 borne, 112. 
 
 Smith, William, on Lord Cornbury (note), 
 133 ; letter of, to Colonel Schuyler (note), 
 209 ; historian of New York, 572. 
 
 Smith, William, counsel for Zenger, 144. 
 
 Smith, William S., Marshal, 340. 
 
 Smytlie, General, Absurd conduct of, 403. 
 
 Social phenomenon, A strange, 548. 
 
 Society Library, Founding of the ; names 
 of the founders of the, 187. 
 
 Sous of Liberty, The, work for Zenger, 
 145 ; members of the association of the 
 (note), 195 ; activity of the, 217. 
 
 South Carolina, Partisan leaders in, 309 ; 
 rebellious position of, 510. 
 
 Soutlnvick, Solomon, 399; biography of 
 (note), 447. 
 
 Spiegel, Laurens Van der, mhepeii, 89. 
 
 Spencer, Ambrose, Biography of (note), 
 432. 
 
 Spencer, John C, Superintendent of Com- 
 mon Schools ; biography of, 494 
 
 Stamp Act proposed and opposed, 194-198 ; 
 effects of the, 197 ; repeal of the, 198. 
 
 Stamp .\ct Congress at New York, 196. 
 
 "Star Spangled Banner, The." Origin of 
 the song of (note), 437. 
 
 Stark, John, reconnoitres Ticonderoga, 
 175. 
 
 State Constitutional Convention, T>istin- 
 guished members of the, 455. 
 
 State Government put into operation, 260- 
 262 ; plan of, arranged by a committee 
 (note), 260. 
 
 State Constitution, Revision of the, 455- 
 457. 
 
 State Lotteries, 459. 
 
6U 
 
 IXDKX. 
 
 State Park, A, 550. 
 
 Stateii Isliunl, Colonies on, 42 ; claiuieil by 
 Lady Carteret, 95. 
 
 Slate.s General of Holland, 15. 
 
 Statesmen and jurists, 575. 
 
 Steamship, Tlie first, that crossed the At- 
 lantic Ocean ; of war, the first (note), 
 378. 
 
 Steenwyck, Cornells, Maynr and wise coun- 
 cillor ; biography of (note), 88, 89 ; im- 
 prisoned, 92. 
 
 Stepluns, Alexander 11., and the Southern 
 Confederacy, .531. 
 
 Stephenson, Fort, Defence of, 404. 
 
 Steuben, Baron von, in Virginia ; biography 
 of (note), 320, 321. 
 
 Stewart, Captain Charles, and the Constitu- 
 tion fri<;ate ; biography of (note), -!38. 
 
 Stewart, Colonel, Hriti.sh commander, re- 
 treats from Orani;eburg and fights at 
 Eutaw Springs ; retreats to Charleston, 
 335. 
 
 Stirling, Lord, Charter given to, 42. 
 
 Stirling, General Lord, in battle on Long 
 Island, 244; made prisoner; biography 
 of (note), 245. 
 
 Stone Arabia desolated, 308. 
 
 Stone, William L. , reporter in the State 
 Constitutional Convention in 1821, 4.55 ; 
 historian of the canal celebration ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 403 ; historian and jour- 
 nalist, 574. 
 
 Stony Creek. Battle of, 410, 411. 
 
 Stony Point, Capture of, by Wayne, 299, 
 300. 
 
 Stony and Verplanck's Points captured by 
 the British, 297, 298. 
 
 Strieker, General, in battle of North Point, 
 437. 
 
 Stuart Kings, The, chartered slave-trading 
 companies (note), 138. 
 
 Stuyvesant, Peter, Biographical sketch of 
 (note), 53 ; character of ; Director-(ien- 
 eral of New Netherland ; reception of, 
 at Manhattan, 54 ; policy of, defined ; 
 energetic administration of public affairs 
 by, .55 ; calls a popular convention ; 
 friendly relations with neighbors de- 
 sired by, 50 ; attempts a settlement of 
 disputes with New England, at Hart- 
 ford, .58; demolishes Fort Nassau on 
 
 the Delaware ; builds Fort C.tsimer ; im- 
 proves the capital of New Netherland ; 
 name's the capital New Amsterdam. 59 ; 
 has trouble with Van Slechtenhorst and 
 the Council of Nine, CO, 61 ; threatens 
 to abolish The Council of Nine, 02 ; sum- 
 moned before the States-General, 63 ; 
 withstands theljepresentative Assembly, 
 05 ; interview of, with Beeckman ; 
 ordered to retake Fo:t Casiraer, 00 ; con- 
 quers New Sweden, 07 : op])osed to re- 
 ligious toleration ; persecutes Quakers, 
 71 ; alarmed by Captain Scott's state- 
 ments ; orders an election of delegates 
 to a Provincial Assembly, 74; stubborn 
 resistance to the demands of English in- 
 vaders, 75-78 ; receives a letter from the 
 Engli.sh commander ; urged to surrender ; 
 tears up the letter in a passion ; the peo- 
 ple demand it, 70 ; its fragments gath- 
 ered up, 77 ; yields to the jjressure of 
 friends ; surrenders the city and proviuce, 
 78 ; death and sepulture of, 83. 
 
 Stuyvesant and the Dutch West India 
 Company, 83. 
 
 Suffolk County, Territory of, 98. 
 
 Sullivan, General John, succeeds General 
 Thomas in Canada, 240 ; iu battle on 
 Long Island and made prisoner, 243 ; 
 biography of (note), 302; expedition of, 
 in Central New York, 303, 304. 
 
 Sumter, Fort, attacked and evacuated, .521. 
 
 Sumter, Thomas, the "South Carolina 
 Game Cock," 309. 
 
 Sun, The, the first one-cent newspaper pub- 
 lished, 483. 
 
 Surrender of Burgoyne, Effect of the, 282. 
 
 Sutherland, Jacob, Assistant Justice, 459. 
 
 Swaanendael, Colony of ; extinction of, 33. 
 
 Swartwout, General, in battle at Chrysler's 
 Field, 410. 
 
 Swartwout. .lohu. Duel of, with De Witt 
 Clinton, 372. 
 
 Swift, Joseph G., at Chrysler's Field, 416. 
 
 T. 
 
 Talcott, S. A., first Attorney-Qeneral, 460. 
 Talladega, Battle of, 400. 
 Tallashatchee, Battle of, 400. 
 Tallmadge, Benjamin, on Long Island, 315. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 615 
 
 Tallmadge, James, in State Constitutional 
 Convention, 1S46. 503. 
 
 Tallmadge, Nathaniel P., United States 
 Senator, 479. 
 
 Tammany Society, Aims and character of 
 the ; history of the (note), 360. 
 
 Ta-reng-a-wa-gon, Holder of the Heavens, 
 3. 
 
 Tariff System, 473. 
 
 Tawasentha Creek, Treaty at, with Indians, 
 19. 
 
 Taxation and Representation, 5(3, 193, 194. 
 
 Taylor, President Zachary, Death of, 507. 
 
 Tea Act introduced into Parliament, 202. 
 
 Tea, Importation of, opposed, 204-20G ; ac- 
 tion concerninj;, at Xeiv Tork, 205, 20G ; 
 destroyed at New York and Boston, 206. 
 
 Tecumtha, Death of, 400. 
 
 Tenbroeck, Abraham, in the Assembly, 
 314 ; in battle on Bemis's Heights, 278. 
 
 Ternay, Admiral, at Newport, 309. 
 
 Texas, Annexation of, 501 ; intention con- 
 cerning, 503. 
 
 Thames, Battle at the, 406. 
 
 Thomas, General John, in command in 
 Canada ; death of, 240. 
 
 Thompson, John, and the National cur- 
 rency, 535. 
 
 Throop, Enos T. , Governor; biography of 
 (note), 478. 
 
 Ticonderoga, Attack upon, and repulse, 
 174 ; capture of, 218 ; evacuated, 266. 
 
 Tieiihoven. Cornells Van, schout ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 62. 
 
 Tiijer, Block's ship, burned. 15. 
 
 Tilden, Samuel J., and the " Tweed Rinjr," 
 547 ; Governor, 551, 5.52 ; biography of, 
 551 ; institutes investigations concerning 
 the canal, 554. 
 
 Tinicum Island, capital of New Sweden, 
 52. 
 
 Tompkins, Daniel D., Biography of (note), 
 280 ; character of, 445 ; declines the 
 office of Secretary of War ; Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the United States, 449. 
 
 Tompkins, Goveroor, and Rufus King 
 (note), 234. 
 
 Toombs, Robert, and Mayor Wood, 521. 
 
 Topping, Tliomas, councilman, 84. 
 
 Torrey, John, 575. 
 
 Toryism, Prevalence of, in New York, 233. 
 
 TownsUend, General, 181 ; assumes coin- 
 luand of the army, IS^J. 
 
 Towson, N., at battle of Chippewa, 422, 
 424. 
 
 Trau.sportation facilities of the State, 555. 
 
 Treaty of Alliance, Celebration of the an- 
 niversary of the, 364. 
 
 Treaty at Westminster, 1674, 90. 
 
 Trenton, Battle at. 254. 
 
 Trinity Church, Organization of ; vestry, 
 men of (note), 119. 
 
 Troops, British, at New York, Conflicts 
 with the, 200. 
 
 Trunil>ull, Governor Jonathan, sends troops 
 to Lake Chaniplain. 223. 
 
 Trumbull, John, artist, 575. 
 
 Tryon, Governor William, attempts con- 
 ciliation, 191 ; notice of, 203 ; reception 
 of, at New York, 220 ; on board the Asia ; 
 his council (note), 232 ; corresponds with 
 leading Tories, 233 ; on board the Durhcmi 
 of Gordon. 235 ; leads marauding expe- 
 ditions, 264 ; allusion to, in " .McKlngal " 
 (note), 298. 
 
 Tryon County, Extent of, 342. 
 
 Tuscaroras the sixth nation of the IriKiuois 
 League, 10 ; join the Iroiiuois. 137. 
 
 Tusten, Colonel, at Minisink, 301. 
 
 "Tweed Ring," The, at lacked by the press 
 its overthrow, 546, 547. 
 
 Tweenhuysen, L. . 14. 
 
 Twelve, Committee of, 47, 48. 
 
 Twiller, Walter Van, Director of New 
 Netherland ; description of, 33, 34 ; 
 scolded 'from the pulpit, 34 ; absurd con- 
 duct of. 34 ; recalled, 38 ; no memorial 
 of; biography of (note), 39. 
 
 ! U. 
 
 Ulster County, Territory of, 98. 
 Underbill, John, assists the Dutch, .50. 
 Union, Conspiracy to destroy the, 515, 516. 
 ' Union Defence Committee formed ; meni- 
 , bers of the (note), 523 : doings of the, 
 523, 524. 
 " Union Mechanics," Action of the, 260. 
 ' Union League Club ; raises a regiment, 
 535. 
 Union of the Colonies propcsed, 161 ; re- 
 sult of (note), 102. 
 
■616 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Uuitfd Colonies of New England, 93. 
 
 United Provinces, The, 19. 
 
 United States Uank, Removal of Govern- 
 ment deposits frnm the, 480, 481. 
 
 United States Sanitary Commission formed. 
 527, 528. 
 
 Urv, John, a victim of the Nejjro Plot de- 
 lusion, 153, 154. 
 
 Usselincx suggests a Dutcli West India 
 Company, 23 ; proposes a Swedish settle- 
 ment on the Delaware River, 40. 
 
 Valley Forge, American army at, 287, 
 438. 
 
 Van Buren, Martin; biography of (note), 
 445 ; Governor of New York ; Secretary 
 of the United States, 474 ; appointed 
 Minister to England ; rejected by the 
 Senate ; President of the United States, 
 480 : the Free S lil Party aijd, 507. 
 
 Van Cortlandt, Mayor, Joy of, manifested, 
 103. 
 
 Van Cortlandt Manor, 504. 
 
 Cortlandt, OrlolT Stevens van ; l)iography of 
 (note), 504. 
 
 Van Cortlandt, Pierre, first Lieutenant- 
 Governor of tlie State. 262 ; re-elected 
 Lieutenant-Governor, 353. 
 
 Van Dam, Rip, Acting-Governor of the jirov- 
 ince, 142 ; conflict of, with Governor 
 Cosby, 143 ; suspended from thc^ Council 
 Board, 151. 
 
 Van Dyck kills an Indian woman, and is 
 slain, 07, 68. 
 
 Van Krieckenbeeck, Daniel, at Fort Or- 
 ange, 29 ; make.'! war on tlie Mohawk^s 
 and is killed, 30. 
 
 Van Xess, William P., Burr's second in his 
 duel with Hamilton ; attacks the Living- 
 ston family, 373. 
 
 Van Rensselaer Manor, 32, 33, 502. 
 
 Van Rensselaer, Rol)ert, leads militia in 
 the Mohawk Valley, 307, 308. 
 
 Van Rensselaer, Stephen, Lieutenant-! iov- 
 ernor, 303; in command of the militia, 
 389 ; on the Niagara frontier, 393 ; biog- 
 raphy of (note), 395 ; at the canal cele- 
 bration, 463. 
 
 Van Rensselaer, Stephen, Jr., 500. 
 
 Van Iluyven, Stuyvesant's secretary (note), 
 78. 
 
 Van Schaick, Colonel, jmrsues Sir John 
 Johnson, 305. 
 
 Varick, Richard, at a meeting of Federal- 
 ists ; biography of (note). 358. 
 
 Vaudreuil, (iovernor of Canada, and the 
 Indians, 170 ; at Montreal ; surrenders 
 the city and the province, 184. 
 
 Vaughan, General, commands troops at the 
 capture of the Highlands' forts, 283 ; at 
 the burning of Kingston, 286. 
 
 Verazzano, John, Claim of, to the discov- 
 ery of New York Bay (note), 11. 
 
 Vermilye. Johannes, arrested, 110. 
 
 Vermont, 191 ; leaders in, cocjuetting with 
 the British authorities in Canada, 308, 
 317, 318; an independent State, 310; 
 authorities of New York alarmed con- 
 cerning, 317 ; becomes a State of the 
 Union, 319. 
 
 Ver Planck, Gelyn, schepen, 89. 
 
 Verplanck. (iulian ('., 513, 574. 
 
 Verplanck'.s Point, Headquarters at, 327. 
 
 Vestrymen of Trinity Church (note), 119. 
 
 Vigilance Committee of New York City, 
 203 ; of the State of New York, 260 ; 
 operations of the, 201. 
 
 "\'incent. General, commands British forces, 
 410. 
 
 " Virginia dynasty," The, 449. 
 
 Vidttire, The, and Andre and .Arnold, 311. 
 
 W. 
 
 Walker, Admiral Sir Ilovenden. commands 
 
 an expedition against Quebec ami fails, 
 
 130. 
 Wallace, Hugh, receives Governor Tryon, 
 
 221. 
 Walloons, History of the (note) ; settle in 
 
 New Netherland, 25. 
 Walters, Robert, Associate-Justice, 129. 
 Wampum, Uses of (note), 19. 
 War, Preparations for, by the Americans, 
 
 207. 
 War-meeting, A great, in Nexv York City, 
 
 522. 
 Warner, Seth, before Congress, 222. 
 Warrington, Captain, Cruises of, 438, 439. 
 Washington, George, Mission of, IGl, 162 ; 
 
INDEX. 
 
 617 
 
 Major, builds Fort Necessity ; figlits 
 French troops, and surrenders, 163, 163; 
 Colonel, in comiuand of Virginia forces, 
 169 ; General, reception of, at New York, 
 230 ; a plot to destroy, 235, 236 ; response 
 to appeal of, 243 ; retreat of, across New 
 Jersey, 250 ; crosses and recrosses the 
 Delaware River; captures the British 
 forces at Trenton, 254 ; gains a victory 
 at Princelon ; in winter quarters at Mor- 
 ristown, 355 ; Howe and, confront each 
 other in New Jersey, 386 ; discovers 
 Arnold's treason, 314 ; headquarters of, 
 at Newburgh, 326, 337 ; final parting 
 with liis officers, 331 ; resigns his com- 
 mission ; retires to Mount Vernon, 333 ; 
 presides over the Constitutional Conven- 
 tion, 330; letter of, to General Schuvler, 
 343 ; elected first President of the United 
 States, 344 ; inaugurated, 345 ; interest 
 of, in the canal system, 347 ; death of, ;!(i6. 
 
 Washington (the National Capital), menaced 
 in 1814 ; attacked, and public and pri- 
 vate property at, destroyed, 430. 
 
 Waterbury, General, captured on Lake 
 Champlain, 253. 
 
 Watson, Elkanah, promotes canal projects, 
 347, 348 ; biography of (note) ; explora- 
 tions and labors of, 348, 349. 
 
 Wayne, General Anthony, attacked near 
 the Paoli Tavern, 286 ; takes Stony Point ; 
 biograpliy of (note). 299. 
 
 Webb, General, Conduct of, at Fort Ed- 
 ward, 171. 
 
 Webb, James Watson, revolutionizes jour- 
 nalism ; bioirraphy of (note), 483 ; de- 
 fends his ca.stle, 484. 
 
 Weed, Tliurlow, journalist ; biography of 
 (note), 475. 
 
 Wellington's veterans sent to Canada, 420, 
 441. 
 
 Wells, William, councilman, S4. 
 
 Wells, Mr., killed at Cherry Valley, 201. 
 
 Wentworth, Benning, Governor, grants 
 lands, 189, 190. 
 
 Westchester County, Territory of, 97 ; a 
 British force invades, 248. 
 
 Weston, William, and the New York 
 canals, 349. 
 
 West India Company, Prompt action of 
 the, to save New Netherlaud, 51. 
 
 West Point Militarv Academv founded, 
 375. 
 
 Whig Party, history of its name, 477, 478. 
 
 Whiskey Insurrection, 35s. 
 
 White. lluc;h, in Central New York, 342. 
 
 White Plains, Battle at, 248. 
 
 Whitemaish, American army at, 287. 
 
 Wilkinson, General James, in command of 
 the Army of the North : biography of 
 (note), 414 ; on the St. Lawrence, 415- 
 417 ; leaves the army, 421. 
 
 Willett, Marinus, Sortie of, at Fori Schuy- 
 ler, 371 ; mission of, to General Schuyler ; 
 biography of, 273 ; in expedition against 
 the Indians, 301. 
 
 Willett, Thomas, commissioner at Hart- 
 ford in 10.50. .58 ; first Mayor of New 
 York, 85. 
 
 William of Orange invades England ; be- 
 comes joint monarch with hi.s wile, Mary, 
 104 : death of, 129. 
 
 WiUiiim, the first English trading vessel 
 on the Hudson River ; driven off by the 
 Dutch, 34, 35. 
 
 Williams, Colonel Ephraim, killed near 
 Lake George, 100. 
 
 Williams, Major, a British officer made 
 ])risoner (m Bemia's Heights, 278. 
 
 Williams, Thomas, arrested, 110. 
 
 Wiltwyck founded, 72; desolated by Ind- 
 ians, 73. 
 
 Winchester, General James, at French- 
 town, 403. 
 
 Winder, (ieneral W. II., at Stony Creek 
 Battle, 410; commands troops in the Dis- 
 trict of CoUunbia ; biograpliy of (note), 
 438 ; commands at the Battle of Bladens- 
 burg, 430. 
 
 Winslow, General, leads provincial troops 
 toward Canada, 115. 
 
 Wolfe, General James, Amherst's lieu- 
 tenant, 173 ; commands expedition 
 against Quebec, 180 ; on the St. Law. 
 rence River (note) ; incidents of the 
 death of, 183. 
 
 Women, Patriotism of the, 534. 
 
 Wood, Fernando, Mayor of New York, 
 recommends the secession of New York 
 
 . City, 519, 5-20. 
 
 Woodhull, Colonel Nathaniel, in the As- 
 semblv, 214. 
 
618 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Woodwortli, John, Associate-Justice. 459. 
 
 Woodwortli, Samuel, Poem of, 434 ; notice 
 of, 574. 
 
 Wool, General John E., Energetic action 
 of, 525, 520. 
 
 Woolsey, Mclanctlion, on Lake Chain- 
 plain, :!90. 
 
 Woo-ster, General David, encamped at 
 Iliirlctn. 220 ; succeeds Arnold in com- 
 mand at tjuebec ; biojrrupliv of (note), 
 230. 
 
 Wright, Silas, Comptroller of the State ; 
 biography of (note), 475 ; Governor, and 
 the school fund, SCO. 
 
 Writs of Assistiince, OppositiAi to, 194. 
 
 Wyoming Valley, Invasion of, 203, 294. 
 
 Y. 
 
 Yates, J. Van Ness, Secretary of State, 459. 
 Yates, Joseph C, Governor of New York ; 
 biography of (note), 459. 
 
 Yates, Judge Robert, Patriotism of, 343. 
 
 Yellow fever in New York, 352. 
 
 Yeo, Sir James Lucas, on Lake Ontario ; 
 biography of (note), 411. 
 
 York, Duke of, receives a gift of nil New 
 Netlierland from his brother. King 
 Charles; Lord High Admiral; sends a 
 force to seize the domain, 74. 
 
 York (Toronto), Expedition against, 409, 
 410. 
 
 Young, John. Governor of New York. 505 ; 
 an advocate of popular education, 506. 
 
 Young, Samuel, Secretary of State ; re- 
 fuses to comply with an act of the Legis- 
 lature, 498. 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zenger, John Peter, issues the i\>ir I'orA- 
 Wetk/i/ Journal, a tribune of the people ; 
 attacks official autkorities ; trial of, for 
 libel, 144, 147 ; acquitted, 147. 
 
 ^v-vjs 
 
 LOb^O