New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-25

cent history are commented upon Ane cbaId''Vi
and administration of General Grant are the
subjects of q considerable part Of the conversation
An interesting account furnished of the circum-
stances which led TO Mr. Fish's appointment to be
Secretary of state.
GRANT, BLAINE. MARCY AND CLAY.
INNER HISTORY OF Mr.. FIsH's GOING INTO GRANTS
CABINKT-HIs EXPERIENCE WHILE riIERE-CiAf
NNrw-YoRK-THE ALABAMA TREATY-GENERh
GRANTS ToUR-CUsmNG. TILDEN, FILLMORE
AND oIHERS-OLD PEIRUs sTuYVEsANT
The home of Hamilton Fish Is at the corner
of Stvenecnth-s and Second fronting Stuyvesant
square 1t is one of the few private dwellings IN middle
New.Ymk surrounded with extensive garden ana
fountains and indicating something OF the NE 'ie o'"
Dutch gentry lived Oh that side OF inc city III ther
fruity boweries IL here that the exSecretay Oh
State, days ago. conversed with representative
of TIKI TRIBUNE public men and measures iamar 10
him during long pnblc career
This Is a quiet but fine young portion OF the city,
Mr. fish ] suppose you romember TO have seen most
Of these houses going up in this section y sad ms
visitor
Yes ii Is almost all the growth OF recent years.
This used 70 be the suburban part OF the town. and
therefore in The days Of my youth the only Demo
cratic district. ! living now on ground Tor when
haze no deed. II las been In the possession OF my
family for $50 years. Originally 1t was GOV
crnor stnyvesants bowery. farm. I acquired 1t
Mr. Fish took down a steel engraving OF VanDykes
wel-kDown portrait OF old Governor Suyvesant, where
he represented in breaspatc and the caller said'
You are within few RODS Mr.. Fish, OF the tombs OF
your predecessors at ST. Marks r.
Yes what is left of them lies there. My father.
Colonel Nicholas Fish, is also buried in St. Marks He
ded In 1882"
Your name Mr.. Fish. is not DutchP'
"No Ny name IS German II originally spelled
In England 'Fysche.' VINO what that man was /
have not the least idea except that he was German,
and the name down In time TO be spelled FISH
lie or his descendant moved England to Cape Cod,
hut remained there only little while. The emigrant
removed to Newtown Long Island. My grandfather
aud my father were both born III Liberty-st.,
at the point where Maden-lane intersects it
down toward Wall Street Ferry. There are
several portraits of my father" said Mr.. Fish,
'but don't think that any of them does justice 10 his
really handsome face. He had general reputation for
manly beauty his day. man before he died,
and remember him very well. He studied law IN this
city, with John Norne At the breaking out of
the Revolutionary War. father and Ale xander Ham
iton and Robert Troup. with others, held debates aS
young men in Columbia College on the state of the Col
onies M Scott raised a regiment or became colonel
of State Militia, early in the Revolution and Nicholas
Fish Vas made brigade-majol lie cume out OF the war
a colonel"
.Were Won named from Alexander Hamilton9"
YES My father had the very highest admiration for
Hamilton; second only TO his reverence for Wash
ington II my impression that this picture
Of Pelrus Stuyvesant painted when Gov
ernor snyvcsant went TO Holland, while Gov
ernor Of Curacao 10 have his leg amputated for the
second time 1t had been of after his assault
on Portuguese fort, but being badly done be went 10
Holland and submitted 10 a second amputatOn. and
think the picture may have been painted then"
MR. FISH IN CONGRESS.
"was IT not IN this district tina, you made your first
run for Congress against John McKeOn!"
'sThs was The district. Prior to thar time there had
been four congressman from New1"rk City, elected at
large. The Wings able TO cary the three lower
districts but always considered this upper fOrOfn
hope was nominated here in a for Congress hay-
ing been a Wing since my manhood they gave he the
nomination sort OfgIft OF martrr'ion MI MckeOn
was my personal friend. had ALWAYS voted for Inn
whenever he ran for the Legislature, Alderman.
Congress though he was d Democrat We found
selves pited against each other. Notwithstanding.
There was o majority OF 900 against the Wuss, II l re-
member wrl which was large in the small OF those
times. / hink received 400 majority"
MONROE AND JOHN TYLER.
care ven old enough 10 remember President Monroe
when he zane New-York City 10 spend the Closing
years Of bis iife =
Yes. You must remember that am just septu-
agenalian. born in l-OS. Nv fnther introduced
President Monroe 10 his wife, Miss GOuyerneur Of New
York"
.'You were not a Tyler man in any respect"
.'Not ut all. But / formed Tyer's acquaintance
through my friendship for HE Roberts wife, who
WAS lady OF this city. and very excellent Mrs
Robert Tyler was the of The White House dur
ing WIdOwhoOd Of the President. MY acquaintance
with her took ne there"
"Wss he not man OF medocrty or below it 2"
lido not think He persuasive, effective
public speaker like most Of the Virginia pubic men OF
that day. He gentleman. 100, in behavior, and
had II very respectable mind
IN GRANTS CABINET.
"Iwa. speaking only to-day. SIR with General Porter
who read General Message nominating hIs first
Cabinet aud he recalled Your mdspoaiiOn indeed your
refusal. to take The place Of Secretary OF state
"Iwas not iu the original Cabinet" said Mr.. Fish
The circumstance You refer 20 took place few days
subsequent. You remember taat wasaburn held that
Office a little while. and then Grant nominated me.
not only declined the place. but both myself and my
wife had fully nado up our minds not to take 1t.
made Grants acquaintance the close OF tie war;
His public services and military abilities brought HIM
universal admiration. and was warmly for the Union
cause Aftcr had met hIm once or twice, l rccoect
being IN Philadelphia, in 1865, taking breakfast at
the Continental Hotel and seeing him at another
table. went over and shook hands with him. and he
said: 'Mr. Fish, wish you would come IN and see me
this evening" " Mt there that nght. ana met IN the
room Bishop NcEyane OF Ohio. an old friend OF mine,
and man Of the highest character and soundes iudg-
ment. Grant talks his best when there but
two or three with him. That night his conversation
was clear and covered many different subjects.
that was struck with him. When We lett the room
that evening and walked down corridor, Bishop
McEiVanc to Iue, That is very remarkable man
Testimony from sdca source. c1iDcdinG with my
own, strengthened the IMPRESSION had. Whhe
m Phila!ep hia spent another hour Two
with Grant. and think theu our friendship BEGAN.
What impressed me at first his molesty and quiet
detoe.ror Military men with his success might b.