New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-15
DTD hEIE- WORK.

orr city during the hundred years now draw
! ing to a close. The address was prepared Tor
! the New Olk Historical Society, and we made
! brief mention of it when it was read, IN part,
at n recent meeting of that association. We
print it to-day in full. Our readers will find
in il a vast amount of useful and curious
information not accessible III any other publ
cation 1t is tho fruit of patient and acute
research which few can appreciate except
those who have undertaken similar labOrs.
Here every principal feature in the life of
The metropolis is traced to its origin; and we
have Il picture not only of the material city OF
a hundred years ago, the crooked little trading
port extending only from the Battery to
Rcade-st., but of the beginning of all the en-
terprises which have made it rich and famous.
The buildings Of the colonial and revolution
airy period have almost all disappeared. There
remain only Sam Frauncess tavern on Broad
ST.. the Walton house on Pearl-st., the
Hall of Records chow few of those who pass
it every day are aware that it WAS Il Jail dur
ing the British occupation), st. Paufs Chapel,
the Middle Dutch Church, the Methodist Church
in John-st and few others. most of them
already doomed to speedy destruction. When
they shall have been leyelcd with the ground
the obliteraton of the brick and mortar mOnu-
mcnts Of old New-York will be- complete, and
our sole visible mcmentOs of the ancient time
will be in the names of certain streets, and the
graves in the city churchyars S.
Those however who laid the foundations OF
the commerce of NowYOrk erected monu-
ment which we trust will be even crander and
more stable century hence than it is to-day.
How the beaver and the flour-barrel found place
on the coat-of-arms of the city; how the first
ship which displayed the stars and stripes
in the Pacific Ocean sailed from Ncw-York on
Washngton's birthday in 1854, and founded
orr China tea-trade how the transatlantic
packet service was built up and developed
how the banking business of New-lOrk was
begun. and in what II small and primitive
way the great fire and marine insurance
| interests were established-thcse and many
| things which belong to the more recent history
of the century will be found in Mr.. Stcyens's
address, and it is perhaps in this part OF his
! work that he has made the most extensive
contributions to the history of our local affairs
The manners and customs of colonial times
ave often been skctchcd, and Mr. Stevens
! m kes no formal attempt 10 do again what
others have done 50 well before him. In the
/ course of his plain and busncss-llke story
! However we catch pleasant glmpscs OF the
! social life and amuscmentS of our grcat-grand-
| parents Young ladies so far forget the wrongs
of their country that they stroll with the oili-
GERS Of George III. along the "church walk
| in front of Trinity buryng ground, and gal
| liant soldiers complain IN the local Gazette OF
| the men who mako themselves di,agrceablc to
| the fair sex by monopoizing the seats
! in that rustic retreat. There are thcat-
| rical entertainments by the army of occupation,
| and in spite of the stoppage of commerce. the
| grcat fire. and the general depression of the
| war period there must have been great deal
of private hospitality, for New-lork was IA
! nous from an early period for lavish living
and great dinners with dazzling display Of
silver plate There were pleasure gardens
ON the North River AMI Broadway, and there
was much fine company on Summer evenings
at Vauxhal, which stretched along the water
| front from Warren-st. to Chambers. The mer
chants. the shipmastcrs the town gossIps met
at collre-houses to transact business as well
hear the news. and in dull times
there was great complaint that gen
tIemen who ayailed themselves of the
many convcniences of those useful in
| SttutlOnS dlu not always cdll loI cup VI
coffee or a glass of wine for the good Of
the house. Leaders of fashion,-the KEN
| hes. Hoffmans, SctOns, Ludlows, COnsta-
| blcs. Van ilornes.-and men OF mark i'll
uublic life,-the Lvngstons, Jays, M0rrseS,
| Lrwiscs, Yerplancks Duanes-were frequcnters
of the clubs, which even in the last century
were famous for the luxury of their appoint
mcns, the excellence of their cuisine, and the
wit. learning, sociability, and good breeding
which distinguished their reunions.
We hear much of the changes which time
has wrought in NcwYork society; but it may
be doubted if the wel-to-do gentlemen of
| 1876 are more extrayagant than the gallants
of that time-already becoming legendary
which Immediately preceded and followed the
Revolution; and making due allowance for the
increase of population and the multiplication
OF amusements. it may be doubted also whether
the general characteristics Of Our social inter-
course have been materially modified. Ger
tainly there has been no change in the spirit of
our people The same ceaseless activity, the
same quick perception of mercantile chances,
the same far-reaching enterprise which made
New-York the commercial metropolis of the
new world, distinguish its inhabitants to-day
and are likely to keep the city always in the
van of American progress.
|
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.