1254
 

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

of Dr. Thomas Jones Is a nuisance by standing on part of Barclay
St., the common council denies his petition for compensation tor loss
be sustains on bis bouse and grounds due to widening the street,—
M. C. C. (1784-1831), I: 482,  See, however, Ap 16, 1790.

Mulberry Street ia a hiUy road.—See O 23. The common coun¬
cil approves a aurvey tor digging out and fiUing in thia atreet, and
orders that it be filed, and an ordinance prepared for levelling the
street accordingly.-M.C. £.(1784-1831), I: 482. See Ag23,1786.
'. was agreed to on Oct. 11.—Ibid., I: 493.  See,
 

Such an ordlnant

however, O 23.

Tbe plan   '
 

IS proposed to bankers, is published.
 

The leading feature ia that it is "to dose vrith the lon
 


 

N. Y. Jour., S 10, 1789. Cf D 12.

The president nominates and, with the consent of the senate,
appoints, Alexander HamUton to be secretary of the treasury.—
Gaz. of the U. S., S 12, 1789; Baker, Washington after the Rev., 139.

Gen. Henry Knoi is appointed secretary of war.—Gaz. of tke
U. S.,, S 16, 1789; Baker, Waskingon after the Rev., 139,

"The proprietor of the Speaking Figure informs the public he
baa compleated the Large Bdloon, wbich is upwards ot 100 teet in
circumference, and wiU aacend the 23d inat. from a lot near the race-
ground. Joseph Decker."—N. Y. Packet, S 12, 1789.  See, further,

S.3.

In pursuance of an appropriation made by act of congress on
Aug. 20, Alexander Hamilton, secretary of tbe treasury, issues a
warrant to the president, etc., of the Bank ot New York to pay to
the treasurer of the United States the sum ot §20,000, this being
the araount ot a loan agreed to be raade by thia bank to the secre¬
tary of war. Tbe original warrant is still owned by the bank. It is
endorsed "No. 1."

President and Mrs. Washington and the Custis children risit
Mr. Bowen's exhibition of wax-works, at No 74 Water St. (see
Ag 26).—Gaz. of Ihe U. S., S 19, 1789,

The department of state is raade the depository of the archives
of the United States,—Winsor, VIII:  413.

The common council appoints a coraraittee "to treat with the
proprietor about the purchase ot the Corner House opposite to the
South Eaat Corner of the City Hall."—M. C. C. (1784-1831), I:
485. The committee reported on Sept. 29 that the property could
be obtained for £450, and the board ordered that the committee
conclude the bargain.—Zft/it., I: 488. On Oct. 12, the committee
reported that it had bought the lot "of Mr W™ Leary" (probably
agent tor Catharine Provoost—see D 4) for £450, half to be paid
in cash on deUvery ot the deed, and the other hdt in a city bond at
interest. The board approved.—Ibid., I; 493. This property,
which was at No. 1 Broad St. (now covered by the building ot J, P.
Morgan & Co., bankers), was owned by the city from this time
until 1816 (q. V.).—Liber Deeds, CXIV: 287; CCLXXIV; 214;
and descrip, ot Pl. 67, I;  448.   See, further, O 23.

Congreas passes "An Act for the teraporary establishment ot
the Post-Office." Tbia provides that the regulations "sball be the
same as they last were under the resolutions and ordinances of the
late Congresa," and that the poatmaster-general shall be "subject
to the direction of the President of the United Statea." The act is
to be in force only until the end of the next congressional session,—
Acts of Congress (1789), chap. 16,

The "Air Balloon," announced on Sept, 12 to he exhibited on
this day, does not ascend. It collects "two thirds of the city."
The wind and"thegreat pressure of spectators" prevent Mr. Deck¬
er's giving "that aatisfaction which he wished." He is blamed by
some, " as if he designed it aa a bubble," but ot this the newspaper
account dears him.—N. Y. Packet, S 24, 1789.

Congress passes and the president approves "An Act to estab¬
lish the Judicial Courts of tbe United States." It prorides for a
supreme court, which shall consist of a chief-justice and five asso¬
ciate justices, who shall hold two sessions annually at the seat ot
government, one comraencing the first Monday of February, and
the other the first Monday of August. It divides the United States
into 13 districts, by statea, part ot Massachusetts being joined to the
Maine District; and part of Virginia to the Kentucky District;
and a district court Is prorided for each of these districts, consisting
of one judge who shall hold four seaaions annuaUy, at the times
prescribed In tbe act, and shall have power to hold special courts
at his discretion. The place where each district court is to be hdd
is prescribed, that ot the district of New York being in New York
City,  This was opened Feb. 2, 1790 (q.v.).  The act further pro¬
 

vides tor a dirision of these districts (except those of Maine and Sept.
Kentucky) into three circuits, the eastern circuit comprising the 24
districts ot New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and
New York, The times when the firat aesaion of the circuit court in
the several districts shaU commence are prescribed, that io New
York being 00 April 4, 1790. Tbe sessiona of the circuit court In
the diatrict of New York shall be held alternatdy in New York City
and Albany. The several other prorisions of the act rdate to
various powers, the jurisdiction and operation allowed to these
courts.—Acts of Cong. (1789), chap. 20 (first session of the first
congress).

Elias Burger is paid £15 tor a bulkhead across Murray SUp,    "
and David Demarest £15 for fiUing in this slip.—M. C. C. (1784-
1831), I:  487-

Payment is made to John McComb for surveying streets.—
M. C. C. (1784-1831), I:  487.

Before the adjournment of the first congress on Sept. 29, 26
the last day of the first session, the two houses appointed a joint
committee to wait on the president and "request that he would
recommend to the people of the United Statea a day ot public
thanksgiring and prayer to be observed by acknowledging, with
grateful hearts, the raany and signal favors of Almighty God, espe¬
cially by affording them an opportunity peacefully to establish a
constitution of government for thdr safety and happiness,"—
Senate Jour. (1789), 154, The proclamation, recommending
Thursday, Nov, 26, for a national thanksgiving, was issued on
Oct. 2 (q.v.).                                                                                                ,

Mrs. John Adaras, writing trora "Richraond HIU (N. Y.)" to 27
her slater Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. John Shaw of Masaachusetts,
says: "The house in which we reaide is situated upon a hill, the
avenue to which ia interspersed with forest trees, under which a
shrubbery rather too luxuriant and wild has taken shelter, owing to
its having been deprived by death, some years since, of its original
proprietor [Abraham Mortier], who kept It in perfect order. In
front of the house, the noble Hudson roils his majestic waves, bear¬
ing upon his bosora innumerable small vessds, which are constantly
forwarding the rich products ot the neighbouring soil to the busy
hand of a more eitensive coraraerce. Beyond the Hudson rises to
our view the fertile country of tbe Jeraeys, covered with a golden
harvest, and pouring forth plenty like tbe cornucopia; of Ceres,
On the right hand, an extensive plain presents us with a view ot
fields covered with verdure, and pastures full of cattle. On the lett,
the city opens upon us. Intercepted only hy dumps of trees, and
some rising ground, which serves to heighten the beauty of the
scene, by appearing to conceal a part. In the back ground, ia a
large flower-garden, enclosed with a hedge and sorae very hand¬
sorae trees. On one side of it, a grove ot pines and oaka fit for con-
tempi a tIon."—I.e/teri of Mrs. Adams (ed. by C. F. Adama, 1848),
343-44.  See alao S 6, 1790.

The Richmond Hill houae "was a wooden building of massive
architecture, with a lofty portico supported by Ionic columns, the
front walls decorated with pilasters of the same order. . . .
There was a fine lawn around it, shaded by large and venerable oaka
and lindens, and skirted on every side by a young but thrifty nat¬
ural wood of an hundred acres or raore." The door opened into " a
spacious ball, with a araall roora on each aide opening to raore spa¬
cious apartments beyond." A aide door on the right led to "a
wide atair-caae with a heavy mahogany railing." Gulian C. Ver¬
planck thus describes an official dinner which was held there during
Vice-President Adams's occupancy, io "a large room on the second
story with wide Venetian windows in front, and a door opening to a
balcony under the portico," and which be, then a raeraber of the
New York assembly, attended: "There, in tbe centre ot the table,
sat Vice Preaident Adams, in full dress, with his bag and aoUtaire,
his hair frizzed out each side ot his face, as you see it in Stuart's
older pictures of him. On his right aat Baron Steuben, our royalist
republican disciplinarian general. On his lett was Mr. Jefferson,
wbo had just returned from France, conspicuous in his red waist¬
coat and breeches, the fashion of VersaiUes. Opposite sat Mrs,
Adams with her cheerful intelligent face. She was placed between
the courtly Count du Moustiers, the French ambassador, in his
red-heded shoes and ear-rings, and the grave, polite, and formally
bowing Mr. Van Birkel, the learned and able envoy ot Holland.
There too was Chancellor Livingston, then still in the prime of
lite." The Count Du Moustiers was responsible tor a striking inci¬
dent of tbe occasion.   He had shown himself conspicuously disin-