The Washington times., 1901-07-07
OLD NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS.
How an Editor Escaped a Drubbing
From Ethnn Allen.

From Ethan Allen.
I have before me as 1 write a number
of the New York Weekly Journal for
Monday, january %. 1734. 1t has written
on its margin the name of John Henry
Lydius. Albany, n. Y" to whom, as a
subscriber, this particular copy was sent
This Lydius by the way, was the one af-
ter whom Fort Lydius was named after
Sir William Johnson's victory over Baron
Dieskau in 1755-its name was changed
just before the Revolution to Fort Ed
ward, by which it is still known. This
paper was edited and published by John
Peter Zenger, a veteran editor OF that
day, and his place of business was at the
corner of Wall and Pearl Streets, New
York. Among it's various items is a let
ter from Boston, dated December %, 1913,
Indicating that it took at least a month
and three days for letter TO reach New
York from Boston
But that which gives chief interest to
this number of the New York Weekly
Journal" is the comparison which it en-
ables US to Institute between the COM
merce of the port of New York at that
time and our own day. For example
the Collector of the Port of New York
being Archibald Kennedy. and the sur
veyor and naval officer (Which offices. or
functions, were at that period combined),
James Alexander-the record in this jour
mai for the week ending January IS 1874,
is as follows:
CUSTOM HOUSE. NEW YORK
INWARD ENTRIES.
OUTWARD ENTRIES.
Sloop Swallow, Jacob Bufferie (master),
for North Carolina.
CLEARED FOR DEPARTURE.
Brig Hope, John Bedford (master). to
Jamaica. Sloop James and Henry. Thorn
as Thache (master), to Madeira. Ship
Anne, Jacob Savly (master), TO Barcelona.
Now, by way of comparison, Frederick
Cooke. present department survey of the
port, has found Cor me the record for
January 20. this year. 1t is as follows:
Outward entries, foreign and domestic,
102
Clearance. foreign and domestic 129.
And on April 2s. this year, we have Of
outward and inward entries the immense
number of 3O7, an increase of 231.
Again, while on the subject of old news
papers. I have another one, viz, 'Riving-
toms New York Gazette and Universal
Advertiser" the editor and publisher of
which was the celebrated James Riving-
ton. the MacchiavelH of the newspaper
press OF that day. before and during the
American Revolution. and who IS thought
to have been employed as a spy by Wash
ington while seemingly eSpouSlnS the
British cause.
In this paper he tells IN amusing story
of an interview he had had a week be-
fore with Ethan Allen, the hero of Ii
who had paid him a visit for
the purpose of administering-as Allen
termed it-a good licking" RiVington, in
his editorial thus writes:
/ was sitting alone, after a good dinner,
with a hottie of Madeira before = when
/ heard an unusual noise in the street
UIanover) and hurrah from the boys. L
was in the second story, and, stepping to
the window, saw a tall figure in tarnished |
regimentals, with an enormous long
sword, followed by a crowd of boys who |
occasionally cheered him wZh hurrahs. of |
which he seemed insenSibie. He came up !
to my house and stopped. 1 could see no |
more. My heart told me IL was Ethan |
Allen. | shut my window and retired be- |
hind my table and my bottle. l was GER
tain the hour of reckoning had come. |
There was no retreat. Mr.. Staples, my |
clerk, came in. paler than ever, and, |
clasping his hands. said:
Master, he has comel He entered the |
store and asked if James Rivington lived |
here. / answered, Yes. sir is he at |
h0me?' i Will go and see. SIR said; and /
now master what IS 70 De done! Ihere
he is in the store, and the boys are peep
ing at him from the street
/ had made up my mind looked at the
took a glass.
1
Madeira cannot mOllify him, he must be
harder than adamant.
There was a fearful moment of sus-
Dense. / heard him on the stairs. his long
sword clanking at every step. In he
stalked.
is your name James Rivington?''
1T is. sir; and no man could be more |
happy TO see Colonel Ethan Allen"
''Slri l have come
Not another word my dear sir, until
YOU have taken a seat and glass of old
Madeirai'
But. sir. I don't think it proper
Not another word, colonel; taste this
wine: l have had it in cask ten years;
I'D wine, you know, unless il is originally
ound. never improves by age"
He took the glass, swallowed the wine
macked his lips. and shook his head ap-
,rovingly.
Sir. / come"
Not another word until you have TAX
n another glass: and then. my dear cOl0-
lel, we will talk of the old affairs; and 1
AVE some queer events to detail.
In short We finished two bottle of Ma
ieira. and parted as good friends as IL
We had never cause to be otherwiSe.-Nil- !
lam l.. Stone, in New Yerk Evening Post.