New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-08
PUBLIC MEETINGS.

NETWORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
PAPER On "REMINISCENCES or NEw-YORK AND
CHRISTOPHER COLES. BY DR.. FRANCIS.
Last eV ening the New-York Historical Society held
their regular monthly meeting in the University.
There very large attendance A portrait of
De Witt Clinton, boquea,hed to the Society By
Samuel Rowland, was presented by Mr De PETs-
TER, the Firt Yce.President The thanks of the So.
cie'y were rendered TO the family Of Mr Rowland.
DR. ALLEN, OF Northampton presented to the So
ciety On Indian Stone Kettle for which ae thanks OF
the Society returned.
The Select Committee on the Sem. Centennial An
nversary, 2Otb inst reported that George Bancroft
hso asreed to deliver the address.
Dr. JSo. W. FRANCIS then read paper on Rem
nhcences OF New-fOrk and Christie pier Coles
DIR. +. WIS warmly received. He frst took view Of
the several qualities and utilities of the mental fa1c-
ton Of memory and insisted the necessity Of due
Observance OF Organic laws to derive the full benefits
OF memory; and then compared the frugal aud
horney aspect Of the New York Of 30 900 inhabitants
With tue magnifcence and intense activity ia trade
literature, aid science Of New York, with an almost
oppressive population Of 900 He said the more
peculiar object Of the present address had reference
10 iLcivduals-to whom the great prosperity of this
City wss mainly due, but who had been too mach
neglected by public gratitude. DE-. Francis then re-
lated several incidents IN the lives Of individuals of
following are selected: DR.. i. was personally
acquainted with Fulton, and the frank and
chiyalri bearing Of the great mechanic formed
one Of The chief attractions Of his society.
His triumpbs attained at a time when
al American printed book sold best with the imprint,
John Jones, Printer, Picadilly London" De Witt
Clinton was always student; be identified himself
with the Of education. and the relixatOns Of
biz lei-ure chiefly consisted in the pursuit OF natural
science He wrote TO Jefferson regarding his great
public works, and Jefferson replied they were too
early by q century When the works we're completed,
Clinton wrote to Jefferson that the prsctlcability
could longer be questoned and the latter replied
that his opinion only shO wed he lived hundred years
too soon. DR. F. was at school in New. York with
Wa, hDgion Irving; the pedagogue undertook to
teach everything; but his chief pride consisted IN
making all his boys Ciceros But his selections were
badly made; for Washington Irving, whose bun1 of
combaiiveDess DO phreDoloast has ever yet discov-
ered was set TO declare, oratorcsiy that his Voice
" wa stl for war A few Knickerbocker. who re-
member thirty years ago may bring before them the
figure of Christopher COLES. He was by birth
an Irisbman, who fell in youth, under the
care Of Pocock, Bishop of Ossory. By him be
was educated in languages mathematics. and phys-
cal science. On the death of hs patron he found his
was to America and was very useful 10 the parrots
in The Revolution, by his knowledge Of the laws Of
prjecfles The first idea of canals originated with
bin. In l774 he proposed reservoir between Pearl
and White. SITS His pecuniary returns were small for
his studies for the public veal. He WAS among the
frst who pracced itinerant instruction in Newly FORK
In this way he taught surveying, and iectured on
electricity and navigation. In 1879, he published
Book Of 10 ads in New York-the first ever published
in this State He never complained of his prvations
in his peregrina,ions did lady little after, who
wrote book complaining of her sufetings in trayers-
ing the wilderness between New York and Hartford.
He first supported himself in New York by making
band.boxes. The Constitution Of the United States
beipg established ana duty fixed on imported spr-
its be found profitable employment for bis hydro
static acquree in ascertainng the specific grav.
ity of spirits. He also drew profits from display of
bis telescope and microscope, and the size OF the
head of cabbage he brought home from mar
ket was disgnostic of the receipts of the
pre- vous "a hours. He retiring. modest, religious
ard tolerant. Jarvis the painter pronounced him a
geDius aud painted his portrait. In the celebration
of 1885, when the waters of the Erie joined 10
those Of the Atlantic his efiigies were borne with
honor. Every knew him; his enthusiasm and
restessness were public property and he was part
of our mestic Institutions. The impulse he gave
must have had beneficial influence on the communi-
ty. His constant friend was John Quintard Tne
old Tontne gave him more news than he had tine to
digest, aud bis literary tastes were met by the fe v
establishments Of that kind in bis time. Dr. Francis
was listened TO with attention and frequent applause
and received the thanks Of the Society.