New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
LITTLE OLD NETWORK.
Some Odd Phases of Her March to
Greatness.
XIV.

Fronting the Hudson, with nothing 10 Cd
struct the view, stood in 17T6 Richmond Hill.
the residence of Washington from the time Of his
return from Boston after the expulsion Of the
British troops until he retreated from the city
and fixed his quarters at the house OF Robert
Murray. on Murray Hill. From the latter place
he issued his instructions to Nathan Hale re-
gardlng the information to be obtained by him
when he penetrated the British lines on Long
Island. Richmond Hill had been built by Major
Martier an English officer. in l7G6, on what Is
now Charltcn-st.. a few feet from Varick AT
that time meadows stretched up toward the
little hamlet Of Greenwich Village, and on the
left the view Of the little city IN the distance
was half hidden by clumps of trees and rising
hills There was broad entrance to the house.
under porch of imposing height supported by
high columns with balconies fronting the rooms
Of the second story. The premises were entered
by a spacious gateway. thanked by ornamental
columns at what is now the termination of
Macdougal-st. Within the gate and to the north
was q beautiful sheet of water known as Burr's
pond"
The glory OF Richmond Hill lasted for many
years after Washington occupied it. 1t was the
home Of President Adams during the first
year Of the Constitutional government and men
and women eminent in the Old World were
guests within its walls during its occupancy by
Aaron Burr whose daughter. Theodosia, dis
pensed a charming hospitality" After her dis
appearance and his own fall from prominence
prior to 1905 Richmond Hills glory departed.
and from a first class theatre II passed through
the gradations of circus and menagerie. and was
finally abandoned. It is the site Of private
residence.
The idea Of independence was fast gaining
ground among the people in l716. and argu-
ments poised on the lips of many. and through
fea rle
iected after the appearance Of Thomas Paine's
Common Sense" published in Philadelphia
Through it the whole nation was electrified with
the spirit of independence and liberty. and the
link binding the colonies TO the mother country
was severed. So cogent was the reasoning OF
Paine that his conclusions were accepted and on
June : 177G Richard Henry Lee introduced In
Congress the resolution absolving the colonies
from all allegiance to the British Crown and
severing their political connection with #.
New-Yori's delegates to the Congress had been
uninstructed how TO proceed when this question
arose and fearing traitors doom. they drew
back shrinkingly from the perilous step" The
rest IS history.
Thomas Paine died in 1909. in the house now
numbered 50 Bleecker-st BIeecker-st. at the
period mentioned was road leading from
Ninetta Brook to Greenwich Village, and the
house Of Nine Bonneville in which Paine lived
and died stood near what is Grove-st.
September q, 1776 A great fire commenced
in a small wooden house on the wharf near the
Whitehall Slip. 1t was then occupied by a num-
Der of men and women Of a bad character. The
fire began late at night There being but a very
few inhabitants in the city. in a short time II
ragged tremendously. II burned all the houses on
the east side Of whitehall Slip and the west side
Of Broad-Et. to Beaver-st provdential and
happy circumstance occurred at this time: the
Wind was then couthwesterly. About . o'clock
that morning the wind veered to the southeast
This carried the flames of the fire to the north
westward. and burned both sides OF Beaver-st
u the east side Of Broadway. then crossed
Broadway to Beaver Lane. and burning all the
houses on both sides OF Broadway with some
few houses in Newest to Rector-st.. and to John
Harrison. Esq.'s. three story brick house, which
house stopped the fire on the east side Of Broad
way: from thence 1t continued. burning all the
houses IN Lumber-st. and those In the rear of
the houses on the west side OF Broadway to St
PauTs Church. then continued burning the
houses on both sides OF Partitlon-st and ell the
houses In the rear Cagain) of the west side of
Broadway to the North River. The fire did not
stop until Il got into Mortkile-st.. now Barclay
st The college yard and the vacant ground in
the rear OF the same put end to this awful
and tremendous fire.
TRINITY Church being burned was occasioned
by the flakes OF fire that fell the south side
OF the roof The southerly wind famed those
fakes of fire In short time to AN anna sing blaze
and Il soon became out OF human power TO ex-
tinguish the same, the roof OF this noble edince
being so steep that 10 person could go on it.
st PauIs Church was in the like periious
situation. The roof being nat with a balustrade
on the caves, number Of the citizens went on
the same and extinguished the flakes of fire AZ
they fell on the roof. Thus happily was this
beautiful church saved from the destruction OF