The New York herald., 1876-01-24
THURLow WEEDS "REMINISCENCES.

NEw YORK, Jan. %, 1876
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
Learning from an interesting article published some
time since in tho HERALD that the venerable Ebert
Herring not only living but in the enjoyment of
good health, called to-day at his residence No 81
East Twenty eighth street. and passed pleasant hour
with that now very aged aud widely known and much
respected citizen. We personal and political
friends than half century ago; but had not
seen him for thirty years my reception a cordial
Our conversation like that of all old men, was OF
the past and of New Workers who had passed away
Although belonging to generation In advance of mine
had numerous mutual friends in the CITY, few very
few, of whom survive He remembered New York in
1890, when the City Hall Park where the old Bride
we'll Stood its western boundary. My knowledge
OF the city only dates back to 1906 whom Lispenard
street looked upon a creek over which Canal street
runs and into the country Then the streets west
Of Broadway, between Warren and Llspenard but
rreguarly built upon, than half OF the lots If
remember rightly being vacant We talked with much
interest Of men known TO both OF whose intelg ice
enterprise, integrity and patriotism mechanics
merchants physicians, lawyers, dvines and statesmen
whose services aud character, rendered city pros
porous and secured for their names the admiration and
gratitude Of their poserty. We gossped about
events'and incidents witnessed by BOTH We were TO-
gether on the Battery to receive President James
Monroe In 1917, and again in 1926 to welcome General
Lafayette He remembered, as do the great fire in
Chatham street. when the steeple OF the sold Brick
Church." upon the site OF which the Tines
building stands, took Are from a brand blown
against II, and when, IL too high TO
be reached by the engines of that day. appeared
upon the roof of the church with bucket of water sus
pended from his shoulders, ascended the lightning rod
and extngushed the Ore amid the huzzas or The ad-
miring multitude The hero OF that incident was q Por
tugueee sailor, who was rewarded by appointment as
keeper OF the Park, where long he lived he
pointed out the man VINO, by act of thoughtful
ness aud courage, saved the ''Od Brick Church u Of
which the late venerable Dr. Spring was then pastor
He witnessed the departure OF the first steamboat
| Tor Albany and IL on tho following day IL
| passed CatskL We both remembered the farms where
Brooklyn aud Williamsburg stand, and before
there nucleus for village, and Jersey City
when there only ferry house tavern there.
| We talked OF Cadwalader d. Golden, Richard
! Riker John Wells, Thomas Adds Emmett, William
! Samson, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Thomas Franklin,
| Tbcodorus Bailey &C., all Of whom he knew in
timatey, while was partially acquainted with them.
Judge Herring one OF the earliest patrons OF
Charles O'Conor, discovering in the young student
evidences OF ability and usefulness which have since
been SO abundantly realized. Aaron Burr appeared
several times as counsel in the Marine Court over
which Mr. Herring presided
Mr.. Herring born in Stratford Conn, and is now
in his ninety ninth year. His father--Abraham Her
rng-removed TO New York in 1850, and was for forty
years moro, enterprising and respected mer-
chant Judge Herring pi obaby the Oldest lawyer in
the United States Among his contemporaries in this
city the venerable Michael Ushoeffsr who was a menl-
Der of the Legislature y years ago Is the old
est survivor Judge Herring was an active and in
fuentlal political friend Of De Witt Clinton He is now
Ia the enjoyment Of good health. His sight, hearing
and memory arc wonderfully preserved ana there Is
every to suppose that under Providence no
will celebrate his centennial anniversary simultane
ousy with that OF his country I. W.