CHRONOLOGY : THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD : 1783-1812    1S43
 

of the transactions ot congress and other national affairs in Wash¬
ington. For the declaration of war, see June 18.

Announcement is raade frora tbe Manhattan Water Works
that "The supply ot Water wiU be discontinued tor fifteen days,
on account of filing a new Engine which wiU Insure a constant
supply in future—a proper deduction wiU he made on the next
payment."—Com. Adv., Ap 11, 1812.   See Ap 25.

James Bryden advertises tbat he bas leased "tbat large and
elegant Mansion House at Greenwich, about two miles trora the
city on the North River, bdonging to WiUiara Bayard, esq. . . .
The House will be opened about the middle of May."—Columbian,
Ap 12, 1812.

"More like war.—The Governor of New York (says the Al¬
bany Gazette), by an instruction from the President of the United
States, haa ordered out 1600 of the mUltla ot this state, to garrison
our northern and western frontiers. . . ,"—Nationd Intel¬
ligencer, Ap 14, 1812. For current comments on the war, drawn
from editorials and the local news reports appearing in news¬
papera of other cities throughout the country, see the columns of
the Intelligencer from day to day.

The frigates "President" and "Essex" leave thdr anchorage
in the North River and proceed to the Watering Place. As they
pass, they fire seven shot at Castie WiUiama "tor the purpose of
trying her strength," and five balla hit the castie and tbe other two
strike the foundation. The balla do much less injury than was
anticipated. "The walls of Castle WiUiams are nine feet thick,
and we raay conclude from this eiperiment upon them while yet
in a green state, that no apprehension need be entertained of their
being battered down."—W. Y. Eve Post, Ap 15,1812.

A meeting is called tor April 20, at the Tontine Coffee House,
of persons "who have goods or other property in England or her
Colonies, and are desirous to import the aarae," the object being to
draw up and preaent a meraorial to congreas io relation to tbe
erabargo.—JV. Y, Com. Adv., Ap 17, 1812.

Announceraent ia raade that the "Mayor'a Office Is removed to
the South-Weat Corner Room, on the first floor In the New City-
Hall."—Co/umiion, Ap 18, i8i2.

George Clinton, vice-president of the U. S. and first governor
of New York State after the Revolution, dies at Washington.—
N. Y. Spectator, Ap 25, 1812.  See Ap 24 and 25.

The "Theatre Pittoresque et Mechanique," nearly opporite the
hospital, burns down.—Columbian, My 1, l8l2.

The title of the American Patriot, and Public Adveniser is
changed hack to Public Advertiser (see Ag 15, 1811). The paper
was discontinued with the issue ot Feb. 24,1813.—Brigham, A. A. S.
J'roi;. {1917), 483.

"It appearing desirable for tbe MercantUe Interest of this City
to bave a Custora-Houae in a part more convenient for Busineas
than the present, and it being probable that the corporation will be
wiUing to dispose of the Scite of the Old City Hall for that object,
a meeting of the Merchants is invited at the Tontine Coffee House,
thia day at 12 o'clock, lo consider on the most fair mode ot carrying
auch a measure Into operation. . . ."—N. Y. Gaz. 6? Gen. Adv.,
Ap 20, 1812.

A petition to the coramon council, with the name of John
Jacob Astor heading the subscribers, is prepared, requesting that
body to postpone "for a fortnight" the sale of the old cily haU
property. The reason offered is that" a bUl is now before Congress
authorising the purchase of the ground on which the Old City HaU
now stands for the purpose ot erecting thereon a Custom House."—
Original petition in city derk's record-room; Jlf. C. C. (1784-
l83i),VII: 117. For tbe saleot tbe property at auction, see My 13.
Its purchase from private parties after a new building had dis¬
placed old "Federal HaU" was finaUy consummated on D 2, 1816

<'■"■'■

The common council agreea lo a rccoraraendation that 5225 be
granted tbe "French Corarolttee of Charity" tor aid in adminis¬
tering their work. They rdieve about ninety paupers annuaUy.—
Af.C. C. {1784-1831), VII:  113-14.

Anthony L. Bleecker's offer to cede Bleecker St. eitending from
Broadway to Bowery Lane, on condition tbat It be left as a pubUc
street, ia accepted.—Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VH:  108, 117.

Upon learning of tbe death of Vice-Pres. George CUnton, the
common council iraraediatdy adopts resolutions of sorrow and
appointa a comraittee "to devise and report a Plan toe such pubUc
deraonstration of regret and sorrow as in thdr opinion this late
 

of facts, in the forra
re at tbe session in
e dso Jl 6, 1811, and
 

national bereeaveraent requires."—Af. C. C. {1784-1831), VIl!
121. The arrangeraents were agreed to on May 11.—Ibid; VII;
138-39.  The ceremonies took place on May 19 (q.v.).

General orders issued from headquarters in New York City
direct the officers of the militia to "wear crape on tbe left arm tor
the term ot thirty days" as a testimony of respect to the late
George Clinton.—Pu6. Papers of Daniel D. Tompkins, I;  321-22.

A newspaper editorid reads: "We have received several cora-
munications, complaining bitterly ot the want ot water; stating
tbat the Charter ot the Manhattan Company ought to be dissolved,
in conaequence of the continued violation of the contract for several
years paat; and inviting aU aggrieved citizena to meet on Monday
Evening neit at 8 o'dock at Kent's Hotel in Broad-street. The
object of the Meeting is to prepare a statement
of a Petition, lo be laid before the Lcgislati
May."—Com. Adv., Ap 14 and 25,
My 5, 1811.

The common council perraits the raanagers ot the "State Lot- ;
tery" to use a roora in the old city haU on WaU St. until the build¬
ing is sold.—Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VH: 122. This was the laat
recorded uae to which tbe building was put; aa the city offices had
already been removed to the new city hall.—See Ag 12, S 2, el seq.
1811, and summary under My 26, 1803.  It was sold on May 13

The office of "Register ot Deeds" (see Mr 13) opens in the
dty hall.—Donegan, Office of tke Reglstec Tkree Years' Repon,
1918-20, 46. The fact that tbe office is ahown on PI. 7;, Vol. I,
Indicates that the designations were added to tbe plan at a con¬
siderably later period than its drawing in 1803.

"A Stockholder" writes to one of the papera: "It ia high time
tbat there was some stepa taken to compel the Manhattan Corapany
to supply this city with good and wholesome water. Agreeably to
their charter the Recorder is duly to see that the company does
supply the inhabitants with water.—Tbe water works are farmed
out to a contractor. For five weeks we have received no water, and
the coUectors caU and insult the inhabitanta for not giving them
the money for water which they do not receive. It is abominable
indeed for the dty to be thus trifled with and abused by the com¬
pany."—Com. Adv; My 5, 1812.  See Ap 25 and O 28.

The new city hall ia dedicated, and the common coundl passes
the foUowing resolution: "Reaolved and It is hereby declared that
the BuUding fronting the Park lately erected tor that purpose by
tbe Corporation shaU be the City Hdl ot the City of New York and
that this Resolution shaU be deemed to take effect frora the 4'h
InsV—Af.C. C. {1784-1831), VH: 131. The original draft of the
resolution is io metal file No. 39, city clerk's tecord-room. For
iteras regarding the building of the new city ball, sec Mr 14, 1800,
and My 26, 1803 with cross-references there given.

The common council orders that the superfluous furniture ot
the old dty hdl he sold at auction, under the direction ot the finance
committee.—Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VH:  132.

The common coundl, in response to a petition ot April 27,
appropriates S200 to Charles Gobert to enable bira to complete
modds ot machines which he conceives will be usdul for blowing up
ships in the harbour.-Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VII:  140.

"Instead of that alacrity with which every raan in the United
States was to turn out, as a volunteer, to fight Great Britain, aa
triuraphantiy foretold by the adrainiatration prints, we bear ot
nothing but lamentations and dissatisfaction from every railitia
man who has been so fortunate aa to draw a prize, as It is called, by
which he becomes liable to be caUed on any moment to join the de¬
tachment ot thirteen thousand raen that make up the quota of this
State."—ffiii. Affl^. (1864), 147, citing AT. Y. Eve Past, My 12,
1812.

Tbe "new and commodious building erected by the Society of
Tamroany, al the corner of Nassau and Frankfort-streets, oppoaite
thePark"(seeMy 13, 1811, and Ja 6, 1812}, ia taken possession of
"io a formal and appropriate manner, by the Society, which cde¬
brated thek 23d annual festlvd in the apadous hall provided tor
that purpose in the building. The building committee ... de¬
livered the keys to the grand sachem, and the Insignia and banners
ot tbe order were deposited in their new premises, denominated the
Great Wigwara No. 1. The society formed at the old wigwam and
raaiched in grand parade round and througb the park to thdr new
quarters.   .   .   ."—CofamSian, My 15, 1812.   See Jl 14.

Tbe old city haU building Is sold (see Ap I and 20) at auction