New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-29
BYGONE MANNERS.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WAYS IN NEW
YORK

SOCIAL NETWORK UNDER THE GEORGES.
1T4-1776. Houses Streets and Country Homes
Plate and Manners. BY Esther Singleton: Pro
fusely Illustrated. Octave, PIP XIX, 4OE d. APP
pleton Co.
Miss Singletons latest volume has a very
clearly defined purpose In the first place it
dismisses the idea that the present period of
opulence and extravaganza is out Of proportion
with the growth of the city's population and the
increase in its wealth. 1t also offers to the stu
dent of modern social conditions q compilation
of facts which proves upon how solid founda-
ton the present culture OF New-Yo rk life is
built The work comprises description of the
prosperous class in the city during the period
which extended from the accession of George 1
to the outbreak of the Revolution. and the
author. in order to present as complete and per-
feet picture as possible. has entirely omitted
to refer 10 the lowly side Of life in Manhattan.
Miss Singleton's method has been TO describe
the houses lived in by the wealthy citizens Of
New York, the contents Of their various rooms
their plate. glass and china. their gardens and
domains, the clothes they wore, the music they
sang and played, their amusements and man
ners, and, in fact, any and all details which
might serve to Illustrate social conditions as
they then existed.
For all of this material Miss Singleton has
delved into many corners; she has consulted. be-
sides ordinary sources OF documentary history,
old letters and diaries. and has found her richest
mine Of information in the newspapers Of Colo
NAL days The size OF New-York City remained
insignificant all through the eighteenth century.
We are reminded that in 1712 it contained only
5S16 inhabitants, while in 1113 the number did
not exceed 1926 whites and 2.737 blacks. Citi-
zens and authorities took pride in their city.
however. and took pains to beautify it and to
keep it neat. In 1871 the traveller Anburey
wrote:
The city OF New-York stands on the southern
extremity Of the island, and its situation is
tremely delightful. commanding such variety
Of prospects a the most charming that can
be conceived. The city is mostly built upon the
East River, on account of the harbor. In many
Of the streets are rows OF trees on each side. to
shelter from the amazing heats in summer
Most Of the houses are built with brick very
strong and neat and several stories high; many
Of them have balconies the roof, where com
pany sit In the summer evenings to enjoy the
prospect Of the opposite shores and haTbor; and
the roofs are covered with shingles The streets
are paved and clean, but in general very mar
row; there are two three. indeed. which are
spacious and airy. The length Of the town is
somewhat more than a mile
The constable in this limited environment had
plenty Of work to do. and the humane
punishments were imprisonment. ducking, whip
ping, piorying. branding and hanging In 1876
the Public Whipper was Edward Breuwen In
1751 it was announced that THE Public Whip
per OF the City of New York being lately dead; If
any Person inclines to accept that office with
ZOE year he may apply to the Mayor and be
entered" Houses OF all sizes, on lots of varying
dimensions. dotted the city: these were not num-
bered, but were identified with signs usually
appropriate to the occupation Of the tenant or
owner OF the house. The gardens We're laid out
according to the national or individual tastes of
the owners. In the early years of the century
the formal Dutch garden predominated, but as
the English, French, Italian or Chinese garden
came into vogue. people of wealth eagerly
adopted the styles. The famous grottoes
of Twickenham and other English estates were
initiated here. and among the quaint advertise
ments of the time the following announcement
appears:
Any gentlemen or others DESTROYS of adjoining
their gardens Tops Of their Houses or doors
etc, with Flower Pots, Insence Pots Urns,
Vases, or any other ornament capable of being
made with clay may be supplied by Edward
Annerly near the Fly Market. he having Set up
the Potter's Business by Means of a Family Of
Germans he bought. supposed by their work to
be the most ingenious in that Trade that ever
arrived In America, at his Estate at White
stone, where he has clay capable of making
eight different sorts of Earthenware a large
quantity of various kinds being already made
hitting to be baked, which will be
The will Of Mrs. Alexander, widow of James
Alexander, who died in 1860, gives a good idea
Of the luxurious furniture of New-York at that
period. She bequeathed 1000 to her eldest son
John; to her William my dwelling house,
with the outhouses, ground, stables and ap-
| purtenances: also my largest and best carpet
To her daughter Mary Livingston, she left all
! her wearing apparel whatsoever as linen, wool
len. silk. gold and jewels OF all kinds; and an
! other daughter received 10 damask chairs one
| dozen and four crimson damask window cur
| tains. the looking-glass. the marble table that
now are in the dining room, the square tea
table with the china thereon" Other daugh-
ters received each share of worldly goods that
would not disgrace modern heritage. An in
| teresting fact concerning Mrs. Alexander and
one that accounts, perhaps for her ouantitv of
handsome possessions, is that she kept shop,
which occupation in nowise affected her social
position Women OF energy and enterprise ex-
listed in early Colonial days. and their efforts to
! maintain themselves, long as they vere