CHRONOLOGY : THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD : 1783-1812    1253
 

the Area of the Battery,"  The board resolves to "run a wharf or

■   Bulkhead" accordingly, and a coraraittee is appointed to procure

I    someone "to raake the said Wharf on Contract," and report an

estimate.—M. C. C. (1784-1831), 474-75.    See, further, Ag 12.

Jas. Nicholson, one ot the assistant aldermen, holds "a Sum of

Money arising from the Sale of Stone brought from the Battery

to the City Hall." The common coundl resolves that, after paying

him (presumably for making the sale), the balance be appropriated

" to the painting k corapleating such parts of the City Hall as may

be necessary for it's preservation;" a coraraittee is appointed "to

direct the Business,"-M. C. C. (1784-1831), I:  475, 477-

The privileged dasaes in France are abolished by the National
Assembly.—Anderson, Constitutions & other Select Docs. Illus. of
Hist, of France (1789-1907), 11-14-

The legislature presents to Washington an address ot congratu¬
lation upon his election to the presidency. His recent indisposition
was the cause of its not being presented sooner. The address, which
ia dated "Albany July 15," is signed by Pierre Van Cortiandt,
preaident of the senate, and Gulian Verplanck, apeaker of the as¬
sembly. Washington replied expressing appreciation.—Gaz. of
iheU.S.,Ag&, 1789.

"Tbe proprietor of the speaking figure informs the public that
he has compleated a small Balloon, he Is making to ascend with,
which will be exhibited on Friday 7"" inst. to ascend at 6 o'dock
in the afternoon from tbe fort, for the benefit of the large Balloon.—
Joseph Decker,"-itf, Y. Packet, Ag 6, 1789. See, further, Ag 11.
By act ot congress, the war department ot the United States
is organized, having charge, under the preaident, ot matters rdating
to the land and navy forces and Indian affairs. Geo. Knox was later
(seeS 12) appointed tbe first secretary of war.—Senate Jour. (1789),
90; Winsor, VII: 357.
I         The |mblic and private constitutions of the "Tammany So¬

ciety or Columbian Order" are agreed upon. A photostat of this
original constitution, made from the document in Tararaany
Hall and hearing the signatures of raerabers from tbis date to April
3, 1916, is in the MSS. Div,, N. Y. P. L. Tbe first name which
appears is that of WiUiara Mooney, Grand Sachem. The public
conatitutlon was pubKshed by Thos. Greenleaf In 1789.

The N, Y. Directory tor 1789 contains the following notice ot the
society; "Thia being a national society consists of Araericans
born, who fill aU offices and adopted Americans, who are digiblc
to the honorary posts of warrior and hunter. It is founded on the
true prinriples of patriotism, and has for its motives charity and
brotherly love. Its officers consist ot one grand sachem, twelve
sachems, one treasurer, one secretary, one door-keeper—it is
divided into thirteen tribes, which severally represent a state;
each tribe is governed by a sachem, the honorary posts In which
are one warrior and one hunter." New constitutions were adopted

"The Proprietor of the Speaking Figure, informs the public,
who were disappointed In seeing the ascent of the small baUoon;
which descended in Haerlem River, 9 railes frora place ot ascent,
He has constructed another ot 30 teet in circuraference, for the
benefit of the large balloon; it will ascend on the 15*'' inat. from a
lot near the Race-ground, belonging to Mr. Seaman, bounded by
Eagle, Suffolk and Cellar atreeta near Alderman Ivers's.—Joseph
Decker."—AT. Y. Packet, Ag 11; N. Y. Jour., Ag 13, 1789. The
large balloon was later scheduled to ascend on Sept. 24, but, as the
newspaper report states, it went up "in tumo."—Ibid., S 24, 1789_.

The committee appointed to consider "erecting a Whart or
Bulkhead at the Battery to recdve the Earth to be taken from the
Fort" reports to the common councU several plans with estimates
of expense. The board decides "that a Wharf or Bulkhead be
errected on a Line from the Corner of Kennedy's Wharf to the
North W* Bastion of the Battery," and that the committee "take
Order for the immediate erection of the said Wharf in the most eco¬
nomical k best raanner," reporting frora time to time to tbe board.
—M. C. C. (17S4-1831), I:  476-77,  See, further, Ag 19,

A yacht race takes place "without the Hook," The pilot-boat
"York," commanded by M. Danids, "fairly beat the Virginia-
built schooner Union, Capt. S, Merry, bdonglng to Curracoa."
The breeze was light. They ran 14 leagues in five hours. "Up¬
wards of 30 saU of vessels were at the match—and it is supposed
near 2000 1. thus exchanged their owners."—N. Y. Jour., Ag 20,
1789. The race was run for a purse of '^fty halt-joes," besides
"other small bets."—Ibid., Ag 13, 17S9,
 

Waahington recelvea and answers an address from "The Bishops,   Aug.
the Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the    19
States of New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ddaware, Mary¬
land, Virginia, and South Carolina, in Convention at Philadelphia,
7th August, 17$^."—Gaz. of Ike U. S., Ag 22, 1789.

The common council passes an ordinance "to regulate the ring¬
ing or toUing of the Bells ot the Several Churches in this City tor
Funerals."—M.C. C. (1784-1831), I:  478.

Elias Burger, Jr., enters into an agreement with the city to
build a wharf or bulkhead "from the Corner ot Kennedy's Wharf
into the northwest Bastion of the Battery" (see Ag 12). It ia to be
12 feet wide at the bottom and 8 feet 6 inches at the top; the front
"battering" and the rear perpendicular; the surface of the wharf
to be "two tect above the level of the lower Corner of Kennedy's
Wharf and filled in with stone to the top;" with "tourOak stand¬
ards of four by six Inches thick let in flush with the tront into every
length ot Logs of thirty feet and fastened witb a twelve Inch ragged
Iron spike into each Log;" also "one Brace of Ten Inches diameter
dovetailed in the front and Rear Logs in every course at the dis¬
tance of nine teet," and "after the third course there shall be
anchor pieces of Ten Inches diameter and thirty feet long dove-
taUed and bolted into the front and Rear pieces ot the whart at
every Eighteen teet distance," etc, Tbe whole wharf is to " be built
of pitch pine under water and of other pine wood above water,"
and is to be finished by Oct, 15. The cost is to be £378.—From the
original agreement, signed by Burger, In dty derk's record-room.
See also M. C. C. (1784-1831). I: 478. Burger was paid tor the
work by instalments: Sept. 9, £i03; Oct. 12, £100; Oct. 30, £ioo;
Jan. 29, 1790, £78.—Ibid. I: 4S3, 492, 501, 520. See, further. My
^9i 1790-                                                                                              „

The coraraon councU approves a survey ot Charabers St. (see
Jl 29), and orders that it be filed.—.¥. C. C, (1784-1831), I: 478.

WUUam Maclay records in his journal a graphic description of   22
Washington's  attitude  toward  the  senate  during  a  discussion
of Indian affairs; the interruption caused by the noiae of carriages,
etc  He is led lo think, by the debate, that the president "wishes
to tread on the necks of the Senate."—Jour. ofWm.Maclay, 128-31.

Mary Washington, the mother of the president, dies at her   25
horae in Fredericksburg, Vs.—Gaz. of the U. S., S 9, 1789,

Araong many notable wai-worka of contemporary aubjeets, 26,
exhibited by "Mr. Bowen" at "No, 74 Water St., opposite the
Crane-Wharf," Is one of "The President of the United States,
sitting under a Canopy, in his Military Dress.—Over the Head of
his Excdlency a Fame is suspended (alao m Wai) crowning him
with a Wreathof Laurds."—AT. r. your., Ag27,1789. Sec,fuctber,
S 14-

At its meetings on this and subsequent days, the subject of
regulating and paving streets was uppermost in the transactions
ot the coramon council.—M. C. C. (1784-1831), I: 479-80, 481-
82, etc.

A debate occurs io the house of representatives regarding the   27
location of the permanent seat of government.—Annds of Congress
(Wash., 1834), I:  786-848.  See also Jl 16, 1790.

WUliam Maclay describes a solemn and formal dinner which he
attended at the president's house, After Mra. Washington withdrew
with the ladies, "I eipected the men would now begin," writes Mr.
Maday, " but the same stiffness reraained. The President told of a
New England clergyraan who had lost a hat and wig in paasing a
river caUed the Brunks {Bronx). He smiled, and everybody else
laughed. He now and then said a sentence or two on some com¬
mon subject, and what he said was not amiss,—Tbe President kept
a fork in hia hand, when the cloth was taken away, I thought for
the purpose of picking nuts. He ate no nuts, however, hut played
with the fork, striking on the edge of the table witb it."—Jour, of
Wm. Maclay, 137-38.

The "elder Dr. Bard" describes features of New York which   Sept.
make it "one ot the healthiest cities of tbe continent." Thia state-     I
ment is confirmed by "the compleiion, health and vigor ot its in¬
habitants."—Daily Adv., S I, 1789.

The president has appointed Andrew EUIcot to perform certain     3
duties in the office of "Geographer to the United States," formerly
executed by the late Mr, Hutchins.—N. Y. Jour., S 3, 17, 1789.

The first public levee hdd by the president since the death of hia     8
mother (see Ag 25) occurs.   Several who attend wear "Araerican
raourning."—Gfls. of the U, S., S 12, 1789.

The court of general sessions having adjudged that the house     9