New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-12

TIE FIRST OF TIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
COLLECTION

LODGED IN LOFT AND CoFFEE-HoUsE, AND
JUST ESCAPING FIRE-HEw PORTRAITS.
The portrait gallery OF the Chamber Of Commerce
Is destined to grow. and grow rapidly. Since liz
when the Chamber obtained the picture OF the man
through whose kindly offices 1t obtained its charter
TWO years before, friends have been placing in its
hands portraits of prominent New-Yorkers and Of a
fcw great of other lands until the walls Of the
| rooms in Nassau-st thckly lined and the cor.
ners filed with casels holding canvases. All this has
been done without the old Of a fund. The Chamber
has purchased few pictures OF its early presidents
and benofactors: all the rest have been acquired by
gift. Now, however, 1t is to be in the power Of the
Chamber Of Commerce TO add TO its collection as II
secs fit Abel Abbot Low has devised to 1t by viii
soc Geo. with the expressed wish that II be invested
and the income be used in the purchase Of portraits
Mr. Low had been both president and yice-presdent
of the Chamber. Though long retired from active
official relations with the Chamber. he did cease
to plan for it's welfare as long he lived. On the
occasion of his last visit TO its rooms he arranged
with the secretary. George Wilson, TO give TO the
Chamber another portrait, that OF the English
statesman Samuel Morley. whom he greatly ad-
rllred The commission was sent 10 eminent
English artist through Daniel Huntington. OF this
city
At the south end Of the Chamber Of Commerce
gallery hang two full-lengh portraits each side
Of the fireplace. They the Oldest and
for many years the only pictures In the collection
IL is curious that the two men whom the early
merchants OF New-Yorl most admired should
have been such perfect oppostes. Ore. the sturdy
lovast and Colonial Lieutenant-GOvernor. Cad
wallader Golden. who when the people arose against
the Stamp act withdrew TO the fort and took
measures to uphold the authority Of the King; the
other Alexander Hamilton, the prccocious boy
who at eighteen scnced Samuel Soabury's loyal!st
appeals with anonymous pamphlets. the wonder
full man who at thirty-two, as Secretary OF the
Treasury gave credit 70 a bankrupt Nation. brought
the people to a sense of the necessity Of paying
the debts incurred in securing freedom. and gave
them the means OF paying those debts without
running themselves, through the imposition OF
protective tariff
Lieutenant-G Governor Cadwallader Golden was
born In Dunse Scotland in 1855 re came to this
country to practise medicine and settled in Phila-
delpha. In IFS he removed to this city and be-
came surveyor-GeHoral Of Lands, a member Of the
KINGS Council Of the Province. and in l76l Lieu
tcnant-Governor He held this Office almost 10
the time OF his death. which occurred at Flush
ing. l.. l.. in 1910.
Twenty-four merchants Of New-Y0rk on April
; l7Cs organized the Chamber Of Commerce IN
what is now known the old Fraunce's Tavern.
in Broad-st Through the good Offices Of Lieu
tenant-Governor Golden March 70. I770 George
III granted them charter In recognition OF
this favor in l172 the Chamber got Matthew Pratt
to paint the portrait, and for
twenty years it the only one they had
After Alexander Hamilton had proved that the
Constitution which he had with so much difficulty
induced them to give trial was after all good for
something some OF the merchants OF New-York
raised subscription for his portrait and ap-
pointed committee. which sent the following
letter to the Secretary OF the Treasury:
New.Yorx 20 December 1901
Sir;
number OF your f.llov'ctgcns desrols Of expressing
tho sense they entertain OF the Imprint services you
Rave rendered your country have raised by subscription
money dcf1y the expense Of portrait 81 you 70
hc executed by Trmbul and placed in one Of our
public buildings We have therefore TO request mat you
will be condesCerdng to allow Mr. IrumOuH 10 "1n
uTon you the above purpose az such TINE a. WI" ~"
v,ur convenience and viii also be pleased TO permit To
conservatives 10 exhibit part o' political ln
a, nav 10 agreeable 10 yourself
We have the honor 10 be with perfect sentiments q
esteem aud respect, YOUR most humble servants
CUBAN vERPLANCK.
ROGER ALLEN
BRoCKUOIST LIVINGSTON.
J. WADDlNGToN.
CARLIIE POiLARD Committee.
To Ccnl Alexander Hamilton
General Hamilton replied as follows:
Philadelphia January Is 1872
Gentlemen: .
Tho mark Of esteem on the part = fellow citileas 70
WHOM, am attached by tics viii Is announces
in YOUR letter Of the 10Th December, Is eh''u =" NY
eycctiora,c acknOw Judgments. -.
shall chcerully obey their wish 80 far as regards IN"
taking a nv rotrat but ask that they viii permit !"
,r,c,r nconnectod With any incident OF my p'ii'es "
rho sinne roprcscntaton IL their fellow citizen INV '''
viii best accord with my feelings -. >,
With true os:ccm and consideration have the N0"' "
~ ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
c.,,n Vcrpanck &c Committee, ~ A.
c. Tho no~,rolt was painted and the COLLECTION
,s s,,r,ed The Golden picture was first hung IN
tho Merchants Exchange. in Broad-st. "here '
chamber met until l77j. During me ReVo'uu'" -
wos in the possession of the Golden famHy' anu "
ia, was by them restored 10 the Ihahioe'' az"
wos hung on the walls of the room used 10y ''e
Chamber IN the Merchants 'onee HOUSE, a' '
snu,bwest corner of Wall and Water sts. IL was
. ...,, ror,oved 10 the Tontine Coffee House.
=, tho northwest corner. The Academy OF rine
i, ITO COT nossesslon of both pictures In 1917 ana
for many years they formed part or It's exh'oiuo,'
I'm, on Nav l. 1927 the Chamber placed then' !"
,s rooms in the Merchants Exchange. where inc
Custom House now is. and there they rehha'ne'
until December IT, 1885. when the building was ue
s,roved by nre The pictures were saved ana
,,rri.d 20 tho loft OF a storehouse in lower Wall
81 and for eight years their existence was iol,
GOTTEN Then somebody discovered and rec9sh,Trse s
hon, thouph they were somewhat damaged. IL.
liz milton had Il hole knocked In It's chin, pu, "
was retouched so that the defect is not noticsaone
Merchants Bank. and in 1874 were transcrrea TEL, 70
the care Of the New-york Historical society," ,ss
md now with the other portraits they have
1iace in the freproof building where they are likely
\ gallery has to be provided for them .,,.r.a
The portrait of Hamilton is by many con side,rg9
,opicd The Fourth National Bank has the head
painted companion piece to me copy OF ITSELF
n ''i iSe9 when the picture was 100 years old, had
/. W. Wood make a copy Of the head