New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-25
EVACUATION AND OCCUPATION.
NEW-YORK AS THE BRITISH LEFT TEX
TRACTS FROM OLD RECORDS.


IL is almost as difficult to-day to form an accurate
mental picture of the New-iork which Sir Guy
Carleton, rs the representative OF the brltiSh
Crown formally delivered over to the Continental
authorities as it would have been for one OF the
eye-wtnesses of that event TO have formed an ade
auate conception of the coming city whose millions
of inhabitants will celebrate its hundredth ami
yersary Tomorrow. The town was beautiful 1or
situation and it always called an attractlVe
soot from the day when the companions of Hendrix
Hudson pronounced the well-wooded island "a
nleasant Land to see" At the time of the Revolu-
ton it had grown into city of 1000 houses and
some 20 600 inhabitants, with brisk commerce
which was prophetic of its future Importance
There were few vessels at its wharves, however,
when General Knox rode in at the head of his little
army to occupy it in the name of the free Repnoc
few English merchantmen and few sloopS from
the river and the Sound were seen among the trans
ports and ships of war; but q seven years blockade
and occupation by an invading army had destroyed
everything like business. Perhaps nineteen out OF
every twenty of the ctys inhabitants had lett II
when General Robertson took possession after the
fall of Fort Washington. In many OF the deserted
houses British officers Quartercd. Others were
occupied by the LoyalSts who came thronging
hitber for protection as their Wing neighbors made
life uncomfortable for them at home As these ref
upees became more numerous, shantles ana CABINS
were built for them in vacant lots, and particularly
in the district east of Broadway, where every build
ing had been swept away by one OF the deSolatmg
fires which had destroyed nearly onc-siXth OF the
CITY, population of idle soldiers and idle refugees
fod by the British cOmmissary would naturally care
little for the property of rebels. Churches were
turned into hospitals and prisons, and one into
riding school for cavalry practice Private dwell
ings were defaced and the whole city wore dis
mantled look The sad spectacle made profound
immersion on the mind of Governor Clinton as he
rode in by the side of Washington to possess the city
in the name of the civil authorities. In his first
message delivered to the Legislature in January
following he says
Freedom in this district seems TO derive additional
lustre from the objects which remind us OF the desosl
SO lately prevailing While we recOleet the general
progress OF war which has been marked by cruelty ana
rapine; survey the ruins OF this once flourish
ing city; while we synpathize i'll the calanities which
have reduced 80 many our fellow citizens TO want and
distress aud are auxiousr socOus to repair the wastes
and misfOrtunes we lament how ought our hearts 10
overflow with love and gratitude TO our adorable Creator
through gracious intcrpostOn bounds have been
set and probably forever to such scenes OF horror ana
devastation.
The condition of the church edifces accu-
rately sot forth by of the eminent cergymen of
the day as follows:
.Of the nineteen places of public worship in this city
when the began there were but fit for use when
tho British troops left it, The ruinous situation in which
they left of the Low Dutch Reformed churches the
church. the Anabaptist church and the Friends new
meeting house. was the effect of design and strongly
thousands of pounds sterling TO put them in the repair
they when the war commenced They were all
neat buildings and some of them elegant
TIE FLIGHT OF THE LOYALIsTs.
Seven months had passed since the authenticated
copy of the peace treaty had reached America and
n cessation of hostilites had been proclaimed, and
Governor Clinton naturally complained of the
Gdilatory movements" of the British forces in
withdrawing from the country. But one evacuation
of New-YOrk was going on as fast as possible. Ac-
cording TO the returns of Brook Watson, the Royal
Commissary- General at New-York-nO doubt the
same Brook Watson who afterward became Lord
Mayor of London-nearly 10000 Loyalists were
sent from this city to Nova Scotia, Quebec and Alb
bacoe and this must have kept the transports busy
good part of the summer and autumn. No doubt
these LOYAL subjects acted prudently i'll fleeing from
tho wrath of the patriots whose homes they bad so
long inhabited. Among the distinguished de-
partures were David Matthews, the loyal Mayor of
Ncw-York and Abraham Cuyler, the Mayor of
Albany Meanwhile the rigors of military law be-
gan slowly to relax aud the exiles one by one came
back into the city. 1t is noted that Alexander
Hamilton and Aaron Burr came down from Albany
together in the same sloOp some days before the
evacuation.
As the time for the final departure of the troops
papers q month later the following particulars Of
the evacuation given from the mails carried by
the Iris, which sailed from here OH the first OF De-
ccmber:
Committees had been formed to inquire into the merits
the Inhabitants left there by the ECgSb, many 81
whom Will he ordered away; and those that will
have easy time of IL from their neigbOrs who think II
ne:itonOus to smoke Tory as the LOyaiSts are
called Magnificent fireworks had been prepared 10 be
played on the day the Iris sailed and what with the
number OF people brought there by curiosity 10 the
place evacuated and Others to behold the celebration OF
when the troops there. The many reports OF the
confusion that said TO prevail III America are con-
fined to few places and take the whole country through
ont everything IL In much better order than could posi-
bly, be expected after 50 long and bloody war.
THE TEMPER OF THE vANQUIsmED.
The good order and decOrum was largely due to
the fair and temperate way in which Sir Guy Carle-
ton performed his delicate duties When some exu-
berant Loyalists destroyed the cOlors of an
American vessel in the harbor, Sir Guy and Admiral
Digby united in proclamation denouncing the
deed as having " a mischevOus tendency to prolOng
the animositcs which it is the design of the pro-
yisional articles of peace to assuage and extin-
guish." Some days before the departure of the
troops all the records and other public papers be-
longing TO the city, that is recorded deeds, wills,
ETC., were transferred by Samuel Bayard, Loyaiist
Deputy Secretary, to the American Secretary of
State, John Norm Scott whose deputies received
them Similar papers we're transferred to the clerks
Of the different counties of Long Island and Staten
Island. &iany private papers had been destroyed,