Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-03

despotic man who had been Dongan's
had been King James intention to ap-
point Dongan. He delayed, thought the
matter over for weeks and then he blum
dered.
But before Andres arrived Dongan had
crowned his work as governor by signing
the great charter Of New York an instru-
ment which has been of priceless value
to the municipality. 1t confirmed TO the
city all prior grants. liberties and fran
ch1ses, gave to the city all streets and
highways, all waste, vacant and unap-
propriated land on Manhattan Island and
was so far-reaching in its conception that
it met the needs of centuries of growth.
Although displaced, Dongan was not
forgotten by the king. An offer Of a ma
jor generalshfp was made to him by the
monarch, but Dongan declined it. He.
had no faith in kings.
y.
In 1857 he had purchased manor
house and a great estate of 1000 acres
on Staten Island. He owned. too place
at Hampstead, l.. L.. and considerable
property on Manhattan Island. He loved
horses and he loved to hunt. Out on
Hampstead Plains he raced his horses.
Over the same lands the Bemonts the
Whitneys, the MackayS and other lords
of the manor ride to hounds and race
horses in these twentieth century days.
He was happy and contented until news
came of the flight of King James to
France. Then there developed in New
York spirit such as prevailed in Eng
land and in France. Religious intoer-
ance ran riot. Wild stories were cfrcu-
lated that the fugitive king was coming
to America: that the Catholics meant to
seize the colony, and that Dongan was
the leader of the conspiracy. Andres was
overthrow and a hare-brained fanatic
named Jacob Leisler took upon himself
the. government of New York. For two
years his rule was little short Of anarchy.
There was only semblance of law Men
We're hunted like wild beasts. Dongan
was pursued from place to place. Once
he was hidden for two weeks aboard "a
brigantine in New York bay. There he
was Joined by Andres. In 1851 he arrived
in England.
In vain he endeavored to collect from
the government various moneys due him
or to have his properties restored. Great
ly reduced in circumstances he lived in
London. In 1893 his brother, the Earl
of Limerick, died. and he succeeded to
the title. He never married, and when
he died, in London, December II. Ills.
he was buried i'm st. Pancras churchyard.
1t has been written of Thomas Dom
gan that mo higher eulogy can be pro-
nounced upon him than that II was
he. beyond and above his able predeces-
sors. who by his magnanimous states
manship. moderation of temperament
and unaffected respect for the rights and
liberties of others prepared the way for
all that is most admirable in the Con-
stitution and policy of our great repub-
lie. which arose from out the ruins OF a
neglected and ill-governed colony to be
glorious in peace, liberty and re-
lgious freedom
Strange that New York has no memo
rial to this remarkable man. No statue,
no street. no avenue no circle recalls
him or his work. But what does it mat
ter so long as the eternal hills that front
the sea and first meet the gaze of the
Immigrant straining his eyes for a
glimpse OF the land OF promise he
nearS the gateway of the western world
bear his name, or SO long the DON
gan charter. written in ink which. It
seems. never will fade and on parch-
ment which, it seems. never Will wither.
rests in its metal case among the city's
most valued treasures?
Copyright, 1910. by Richard Spilans.)