Stokes, I. N. Phelps The iconography of Manhattan Island 1498-1909 (v. 6)

(New York :  Robert H. Dodd,  1915-1928.)

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THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

) Sts. fronting the Battery, where he established a "Menage" for
: wild animals and birds, the beginnings of this collection bdng trans-
- ferred from the museum. After increasing the collection of animals
and birds, he held the first public exhibition of them on Sept. 29,
1794 (?■"■)- Three years later (see O 30, 1797), the grand jury
condemned the "Menage" as a nuisance, and ordered Its removal
to another location. Although comparatlvdy insignificant, this
menagerie was the first zoological garden In the United States.

After Baker's death, his wife conducted his museum until iSoo
(q.v,, S 15), when It was sold to W. J. Waldron. In 1810 (q.v,,
Mr 2i), It became the property of John Scudder, and was known
as Scudder's American Museum (see L. M. R. K., IH: 986).
On Dec. 27, 1841 (q.v.), it passed to P. T. Barnum, and became
part of Barnum's Museum ot Wonders (ibid., Ill: 982). It was
destroyed by fire on July 13, 1865 (}.u.). The N. Y. Hist. Soc has
a number ot broadsides describing the contents of the original
museum. With the possible exception of a few coins, however,
these exhibits no longer exist,—From facts contained In a leCter Co
the author by Edwin P. Kilroe, a thorough student of Che history
of the Tammany Society; and from items found in the Chronology.
For a description of Mr. Kilroe's Tammany collection of nearly
60,000 Items dealing with the society's history, see N. Y, Times,
Ag 8, 1926;  The Political News, Oct., 1926.

The invitation to the mayor, recorder, and common council
to dine with Pres. Washington on this day (see Vol. V, p. 127Z) is
among the Varick papers in the Tomllnson Coll., N, Y. P. L,

1791

Later researches prove that the country-place "Sans Souci,"
which is called the Beekman farm In the item of this date, was the
Baker farm, later called the "P, E. Public School Tract," which
was much farther north. See Original Grants and Subdivisions
above Wall St. in this volume.

Sometime beCween Chis date, when che commissioners of the
Government House made their report (see Vol. IV, p. 1278), and
the end of the year, Gov. George Clinton moved into the newly
completed building. He remained there, apparentiy, until he was
succeeded by Gov. John Jay In 1795 (q.v,, infra, Jl 1).—City
Directories, 1791-1794.

Sebastian Bauman, not Samud Bauman (as stated In the Item
of this date—see p. 1280, Vol. V), was the postmaster who published
the notice at this time of the removal of the post-office to Broad¬
way.—SeeO 5, 1789;  D 4, 1797.

The Liber of Ancient Conveyances In the register's office, men¬
tioned In the text under this date, is a recent compilation, a thin
folio, containing typewritten transcriptions of unrecorded deeds of
lands ceded to the city for streets, parks, etc., from the original
documents filed In the corporation counsd's office. Among the
grantors are Trinity Church, conveying parts of the King's Farm;
Aaron Burr who deeded lands in Greenwich Village; Stephen B.
Ruggles, and others. These transcripts were obtained by Judge
Jas. P. Davenport, of the register's office, and were assembled by
him in the above-named volume in 1917,

1792

The so-called "Apthorp Apartments," which occupy the block
on the west side ot Broadway between 78th and 79th Sts., stand
on the part ot the old Apthorp farm conveyed by Apthorp to fiis
daughter and her husband Vandenheuvd. The John C. Vanden-
heuvel mansion stood at the north-west corner of the block.—See
Randd's Map of Che Farms (1S20), and historical description ot
the mansion In theL. M. R. K., Ill: 952. Built in 1792, it became
Burnham's Hotel about 1833, and Is so shown on Colton's Map of
1836. A view ot ic was published in ValenCine's Manual for 1857,
p. 336. It was torn down in 1905.

The famous old Apthorp mansion which was erected In 1764
(see May 21, 1764, In Vol. IV, p. 742), is shown on Randd's Map of
the Farms (1820) in the block bounded by Ninth and Tenth
Aves., 90th and 91st Sts. It was owned at that time by Wm.
Jauncey. The outiine of its history is correctly given in the
L. M. R, K., Ill; 948, In 1877, when both the Vandenheuvd and
the Apthorp mansions were still standing, Mrs, Lamb described
the Apthorp mansion as at the 91st St, location in what was then
known as Elm Park: "Its recessed portico, Corinthian columns,
corresponding pilasters, and high arched doorway at the middle of
the house opening into a hall wide enough for a cotillion party.
 

even now, with Its weight of years and    1792
interesting associations."-Mrs. Lamb, H/j/. of the City ofN. Y.,   —
H: 75. This house was demolished In 1891.—See Record and Guide,
SLIX:  752, 834; L:  320.

A New Yorker writes to Judge Thos. Jones: "We have the devil Mar,
to pay! Col, [Wm.] Ducr has failed for they say three millions of 29
dollars, and has taken in almost every person in the city, from the
richest merchants to even the poorest women, and che llCtle shop¬
keepers, women, and butchers. He is now in the new jail and they
even talk of breaking it open to take him out and tear him piece¬
meal, and to hang every indorsee of his notes if everything is not
shortly settied. How it will end, God only knows; it has put a stop
Co general business and money is so exceedingly scarce that his
Runners go about with his printed notes indorsed and signed, but
no sum inserted, and if Chey could find a lender, they give four per
cent, a month and put it In the note. Walter Livingston and Com¬
pany have stopped payment, and mapy more musC, as nobody will
lend a shilling." On April 3, he wrote again: "The confusion still
Increases in New York, and I expect to hear daily that they have
broke open the jail and taken out Duer and Walter Livingston and
hanged them; the most prudent of those who have failed have ran
off, and I think we shall have much such riots as there was in Lon¬
don 1780 (the Lord Gordon riots]. Pierre de PeysCer, when Duer
failed, went to him with a brace of pistols, and, after getting him
alone and locking the door, told him he might as well lose his life
as his money; and pulling out a pair of pistols told him to take his
choice, for that one of them should never go out of the room alive
if he did not get his money. The gallant Colond thought it most
prudent to pay the 1,500 dollars and get rid of the Tory. You may
form some idea of the generality of this business when I edl you
John Johnstone told me he did not think Duer would geC a single
lawyer in New York who would dare Co underCake his ci
 

a judge Chat would n
 

a jury
 

mend them
. Cash is so
o have any
e safe, and
 

: would find a
to bring In any of his ti

scarce, I have been offered five per cent, a month, and tc
sort of publick securities lodged In my hands to make n:
as for confidence there is no such thing, not a grocer cai
for a hogshead of sugar or a puncheon ot rum." Edward F. de Lan¬
cey says that Chis was "the first of the great 'panics' which New
York has periodically seen since 1783."—Jones,Hijl. ofN. Y. during
Ihe Rev. War, U: 588-90.

1793"

The first balloon ascension in America, made by J. P. Blanchard Jan,
at Philaddphia, is described, both in prdimlnary notices and news 9
reports, with an illustration ot the balloon, in The Federal Gaz. and
Phila. Daily Adv., from Dec. 26, 1792, to Jan. 10, 1793; also in a
published account by Blanchard, a thin octavo volume entided
Journal of my Forty-Fifth Ascension, being the First Performed in
America, on the ^ih of January, 1793. Philadelphia: Charles Cist,
1793, This has a frontispiece showing Blanchard in his balloon
waving the American flag. The volume and the event are described
at length In theiV. Y. San, Aug, 18, 1907. When Blanchard was
ready to step Into the "boat" attached to his balloon, which stood
ready In the prison-yard. President Washington personally handed
him an autograph letter-passport, Blanchard dedicated the book to
Washington with a tuQ-page inscription. His 46th ascent, four years
later (see Mr 4, 1797, In Vol. V), was arranged to take place in New
York,

John Broome, president of the Chamber ot Commerce, writes to May
Cadwallader Colden: "At a meeting ot Che Chamber of Commerce, 8
hdd lasC Evening, ic was mov'd & unanimously resolved. Chat the
thanks of that Corporation be given to you, for your particular
care of the Portrait ot Your venerable Ancestor the late Lieutenant
Governor Colden, during Che late War; Sc for your readiness in
restoring it, upon my application to you tor that purpose In their
name." Colden answered on May 9.—From originals among Colden
Papers In N. Y. H. S. The Colden porCraiC still hangs in Che Cham¬
ber of Commerce.—Cal.of Portraits in the Chamber of Com. (1924),

^7,76-

1794

It is stated under this date in the Chronology (Vol. V, p. 1303)   —
chat the Gracie country-house was built in or about this year. It is
so stated, likewise, in the L. M, R, K., Ill: 949, and in the item of
March 14, 1776 (Vol. IV, p. 920), citing Dr. MitchlU's guide-book.
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