New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-21
sive Of bis grstifcstion with the nasner in which
the subject had been treated.
The audience were dismissed NTH benedic-
ton by the Rev. Or. DE WITT.
THE DINNER.
TIE roasrs AND THE sPEIoHLs.


7o'cloek, the members of the Society and their
friends assembled a, the As.or House where An e1-
cellen, dinner had been provided by Messrs. Cole
man e. S,etson. About go persons participated,
filing peariy all the available room Of the large
dping-hsll.
The bill Of fare presented infinite variety Of sub
stantias and deicscies both in and out OF season,
and the tables were laid and ornamented with the
good taste which characteriEes this house.
The Hon. LUTHER BRADIsH, President of the
Society, took the Chair. At his right were the
Hon. George Bancroft, the Rev. DR.. De Witt,
Washington Irving, the Hon. Robert c. Win
throp, F. Bsche, Archer Clifford, T. W. Ward,
and on his left the Rev. DR.. Matthews, Judge Duer,
J. G. Kohl the German traveller DIR. Francis, and
other il vited guests The first yice-Presdent, j.. De
Peyster, presided az the center table, the second,
Jas. W. Gerard, at the left, and the third j. DE r
Ogden, at the right. Dodworths Band was in ef''n-
dance, and furnished appropriate music durins 10
entertainment.
The sharp appetites Of a chill November day in
the neiehborhood of Thanksgiving having been fully
satisfied the cloth was removed, and the president
rose to announce the toasts, speaking as follows;
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF The NEW oRE His
ropIcIL SOCIETY: This, it, Hrst semi centennial IA
niversary, is Of great interest In looking Dack
through the half century TO the origin OF the Society
10 the early difficulties il had 10 encounter TO Its pro-
eress through them TO its present condition Of high
prosperity, We find much reason for encouragement
and for coDgrstulation. Ia looking forward from this
advanced position OF present achievement TO the fu'
ture the horizon OF our scene OF LABOR becomes en-
larged before Us. We sdm0Dished that past sue
GEES should serve only 10 stimulate our future efforts
and that the practical motto of this Society should be
10 consider nothing done whie anything remain 70
be dene. tGreat applause. With these few prellm-
mary remarks ask you to prepare for the first regu
lar toast:
Historical Society reh 10 the memories Of ne rss ana ~ "
the Society sbouhdipg in its means more active In W
operations, and more extended In its usefulness
Drank with enthusiastic applause.
The PREsIDEs1 said: On an occasion like the
present il is emnenty proper that we should not be
unmndful Of those to whose enlightened wisdom,
whose public spirit, and whose personal efforts We
are indebted for the origin, progress. and present
prosperity of this Society. Among these are the
nsmes Of De Witt Clinton, Egbert Benson, X Lg-
ineston Saml Miller, Saml. X Mitchell, David Ho-
sack Jas X. Pintaid, Jay, Kent, Stuyvessnt Gala
tin, Samuel Jones, z. Hone, James y. King. Robert
LenBox and others among whom should not for
get the late Jonathan NJ. gnght-names which
not onE adorn this Society, but stand high on The
annals Of our country AK you to unite with me in
honorDg tlWse names and to prepare for the second
regular toast:
The memory Of the founders aud beneeto Of the Society
Drank standing in silence. Dirge By the Band.l
DIR. FR.scrs replied. He said
/ wish Mr.. President you had called upon some
one more competent than myself. You will at once
perceive that labor under considerable embarrass-
me Mt owing TO little difficulty Of speech caused by
cold caught few evenings ago and not proper
ly attended TO- Besides, Sir do not see how II Is pos
sble TO gather confidence enough for this evening,
surrounded az am with go much loneliness at this
end Of the room and so much talent throughout
the entire hall Cheers / am, Sir, within an at
mosphere of intellect. You have TO day had a blaze
Of it. You have seen the force of it. You have wit
esed its incaI taton, ard you know how wonderful
ly magnificent its influence has been. How, then
farthiDg rushight display any light on this oc
casionl Your toast s one of most c0pious extent
You have demanded Of me that | should say some
thing know relative TO the commencement of this
Society. hardly know in what manner TO take 1t
up-"1be Founders and BeDefactors OF the New
York Historical Society" Were TO descant upon
but {, w of them j. would take all night. However,
with great difference to the society here this even
ing, will make few passing remarks upon some
individuals. No man who lives in NSw- fork-no
man who has resided in this City within the last
twenty forty or fifty years, who has heard OF the
Historical SOcety-can for one moment doubt that
John Pintard was its founder. Cheers. John Pin
tard a native of the City of New.i ork. lie was
educated at Princeton with James Madison. He had
some knowledge Of the Law with a talent for mer-
camille transactions. Thee proved disastrous to
III.
hser fer sevelal years. He was rigid Washingto-
man in his politics. He then again resumed the bust
ness Of merchandise in New. Orleans. lie again be-
came subject TO disasters, and came to the City OF
New York in 1903. and then contemplated the His
torical Society John Pintard was a man of most
extensive historical and geographical and, above ALL
dddctic information. l hardly speak within the
charge OF exaggsration when ! affirm that he knew
nearly all of DIR. JohBsons writings by heart. You
could hardly approach John Pintsrd without having
something of DR.. johnson foic ed down you. lCheers
In 1909 John Pintard called together some of his
New York friends, at the head of whom he placed
Rufus KDg-a few weeks after, Samuel Meen and
Henry Bltecker. This was the commencement of
the Historical Society. Seven persons attending a
meeting threequarters of hour after the time ap
pointed was then regarded as constituting good
meeting. The venerable gentleman then went on 10
give graphic account Of the early formation Of the
historical libraries contending that one book pub
lished now was worth dozen of the early pubca-
tions of the Society. He spoke warmly Of the i'm
poItance of selecting more suitable site for the
Society g building and recommended that means be
taken to large appropriation from the State
Government for that purpose. He concluded amid
general applause.
The PREsiDEsr gave the third regular toast:
The President Of the United States
Music-Hail Columbia.
Fourth regular toast:
The Governor Of The State OF New.York-
In offering the fifth regular toast, the president
said; In asking your attention to the next regular
toast, take the occasion TO state a single historical
fact relative to the City of New.York, and to the
truth OF history. II is fact not generally known
as il should be. You doubtless many of you
aware that the history of the Municipal Government
Of this City, down 10 the year 1884, comprising nearly
200 years, embracing important changes In the gov
eminent OF the City, the State and the nation exists
only in single manuscript copy, and that act safe
from destruction by fire other accident Let it be
destroyed, and her centuries OF the municipal history
Of this City become extinct. That copy should be
multiplied to give reasonable assurance OF its
safety. This measure, behalf OF the City OF New
York and the truth of history, will trust, receive