(JfacneU Inioetaita ffiihrarg Htltata, 'Sitsa ^ntit FROM THE BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY COLLECTED BY BENNO LOEWY 1854.1919 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY Cornell University Library Z732.N7 K26 Library in colonial New Yoric olin 3 1924 029 531 062 DATE DUE ^^At^y ^04^ ApR~"^Fg98 i'flf''g Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029531062 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK BY AUSTIN BAXTER KEEP, A.M. SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK THE DE VINNE PRESS 1909 Copyright, 1909, by The New Yokk Society Libra rt t\i^U^^fp CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE IX INTRODUCTION THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK, 1698-1776 ... 3 1. The Bray Foundation, or the Library of Trinity Parish, 1698-1776 8 2. The Sharpe Collection, given in 1713 to found a " Publick Library " at New York 43 3. The Millington Bequest, or the Corporation Library, 1730-1776 64, 4. The New York Society Library, founded in 1754 . . 83 5. The Library of King's College, 1757-1776 .... 84 6. Booksellers' Circulating Libraries, 1763-1776 . . .101 7. The Union Library Society of New York, 1771-1776 .112 Summary and Conclusion 118 I. THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY, 1754 123 II. FIRST STEPS, 1754-1772 148 III. FROM THE ROYAL CHARTER, 1772, TO THE REVOLUTION, 1776 179 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Page from Dr. Bray's "Apostolick Charity," 1698 . . 9 Page from Bray catalogue (MS.), 1697 14 Page from catalogue in Trinity Vestry minutes, 1698 . 15 Scarred labels on surviving Bray Book, 1697 .... 25 Page from Trinity Vestry catalogue, 1705-1715 ... 34 Robert EUiston's bookplate, 1725 88 Later EUiston bookplate (undated) 41 First page (MS.) of Rev. John Sharpe's diary, 1704 . . 48 First page (MS.) of Sharpe Proposals, 1713 .... 53 Autograph letter from Mayor and Common Council, 1729 71 Joseph Murray's bookplate 85 Signature of Rev. Dr. Bristowe 87 Dr. Duncombe Bristowe's bookplate 92 British proclamation in newspaper, 1777 96 Bookplate of Society for the Propagation of the Gospel . 100 Common Council on Union Library Society petition, 1774 117 Label on Clarendon history, 1711 119 Earliest press notice of Society Library^ 1754 .... 137 First page (MS.) of Subscription Articles, 1754 . . . 154 First bookplate of Society Library, 1758 168 Contemporary copy (MS.) of Charter, 1773 .... 183 Title-page of earliest surviving catalogue, 1758 .... 197 PREFACE In the spring of 1904! occurred the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the New York Society Library, by far the oldest Library in this State and one of the earliest literary organizations in the country, dating from colonial times with incorporation by royal letters patent under the British Crown. To signalize the event its Board of Trustees decided to issue a commemorative volume, whose preparation was entrusted to me by the Publication Committee, Messrs. George V. N. Baldwin,-' Beverly Chew, L-H.D., and Henry C. Swords. Soon after undertaking the work, I became curious to discover more about even earlier attempts at establishing Libraries in New York, fugitive allusions to which appear in scattered records and books, and significant vestiges of which are to be seen in the Society Library itself. Presently it grew clear that the real origin of the movement was to be looked for across the water, and, thanks to the commendable care with which English insti- tutions in general have preserved their records, the desired con- firmatory documents were found in various libraries and archives abroad. Inasmuch as nothing more than brief outlines had ever been published concerning early Library development in New York, and investigation at once revealing the perpetuation of error and confusion, the writer determined to add an introductory chapter to cover, so far as possible, this neglected ground. Upon completion the monograph, together with the first three chapters of the history of the Society Library, from 1754 to 1776, under title of "The Library in Colonial New York," was approved by Professors William M. Sloane and Herbert L. Osgood as the dissertation required toward my doctorate in 1 On the death of Mr. Baldwin, in February, 1908, his place was taken by- Mr. Frederic de P. Foster. X PREFACE philosophy in the school of Pohtical Science in Columbia Uni- versity, the thesis being by them denominated "a culture-study in American history." The Publication Committee of the So- ciety Library having graciously offered me the use of the neces- sary plates, the following pages are printed as "separates" from the original volume.^ Cordial acknowledgment is therefore made of this generous action, as also of manifold individual attentions received from members of the Committee and from Mr. F. Augustus Schermer- horn, long a Trustee of both the Society Library and Columbia University. I wish further to record in hearty appreciation of courteous assistance and sympathetic interest the following names : Mr. Worthington C. Ford, formerly of the Library of Congress; Director J. Franklin Jameson, LL.D., and Miss Frances G. Davenport of the department of historical research of the Carnegie Institution, Washington ; Professor Herbert L. Osgood, LL.D., Supervisor Frederic W. Erb of the Loan Divi- sion, Secretary Frederick P. Keppel and former Registrar Rudolf Tombo, Jr., Ph.D., of Columbia University; the late Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix, former Rector, the Rev. Wilham T. Man- ning, D.D., Rector, Mr. Hermann H. Cammann, Comptroller, and Chief Clerk W. F. L. Aigeltinger and Mr. Charles L. Foster of the clerical staff of Trinity Parish; the Rev. Dr. Howard Duffield, Pastor, Colonel Charles H. Olmstead, Clerk of the Session, and Treasurer James Henry of the First Presbyterian Church ; the Rev. Shepherd Knapp, formerly of the Brick Pres- byterian Church; Messrs. John S. Bussing, Elder, and Charles S. Phillips, Clerk, of the Collegiate Dutch Church; Librarians Wilberforce Eames of the Lenox Branch of the New York Pub- lic Library, A. J. F. van Laer of the State Library at Albany, Charles K. Bolton of the Boston Athensum, James G. Barnwell of the Library Company of Philadelphia, Richard Bliss of the Redwood Library of Newport, Ellen M. FitzSimons of the Charleston (S. C.) Library Society, Bernard C. Steiner, Ph.D., of the Enoch Pratt Free Library and Lawrence C. Wroth of the Maryland Diocesan Library, Baltimore, Mrs. Florence E. Youngs of the New York Genealogical and Biographical So- ^ History of the New York Society Library. The DeVinne Press, New York, 1908. Charles Scribner's Sons, selling agents. PREFACE xi ciety, William Nelson of the New Jersey Historical Society, Dr. Samuel A. Green of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Albert C. Bates of the Connecticut Historical Society, Mabel L. Webber of the South Carolina Historical Society; the Libra- rians of the British Museum, the Universities of Oxford, Cam- bridge, Aberdeen and Glasgow, Lambeth and Fulham Palaces, Sion College, Dr. Bray's Associates, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; the Rev. Sadler Phillips, Vicar of St. Etheldreda, Fulham Palace Gates, Lon- don ; the Ven. Archdeacon W. J. Armitage, Rector of St. Paul's Church, and Dr. Harry Piers, Director of the Provincial Mu- seum, Halifax, and Canon F. W. Vroom, Librarian of King's College, Windsor, Nova Scotia; Mr. and Mrs. John Austin Stevens, Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer, Mr. Samuel Verplanck Hoffman, President of the New York Historical Society, Mrs. William Henry Shankland, Miss Kate O. Petersen, the Rev. Dr. Edward T. Corwin, the Rev. Dr. Arthur Wentworth Eaton, Mr. Charles Alexander Nelson, formerly Reference Librarian of Columbia University, Mr. PhiHp H. Waddell Smith of Pitts- burgh, Mr. Henry W. Kent of the Metropolitan Museum, Mr. Frederick W. Jenkins and Newel Perry, Ph.D., besides other personal friends. Especial indebtedness is gratefully acknowledged to the late James H. Canfield, LL.D., Librarian of Columbia University, for reading first proofs of the entire text, in addition to kind suggestions at every stage of the work; to State Historian Victor H. Paltsits for contributions and critical comments; to the Rev. Joseph Hooper and to Librarians Frank B. Bigelow of the Society Library, Edward H. Virgin of the General Theo- logical Seminary, and Robert H. Kelby and Assistants William A. Hildebrand and Alexander J. Wohlhagen of the New York Historical Society for continuous resourcefulness and invaluable aid; to Mr. John R. Todd, to whose photographic skill and gratuitous services the admirable character of much of the illus- trative material is due; to Mr. Arthur P. Monger, London photographer, for the personal attention and excellent results that mark his reproductions of ancient manuscripts and title- pages ; to Mr. John B. Pine, Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University, for his sustaining enthusiasm and material xil PREFACE cooperation ; and to my brother, William Dickinson Keep, whose antiquarian interest and fraternal regard have made possible the great number of excerpts and data from sources in the United Kingdom. Nor can I conclude these prefatorial words without recording in deepest appreciation and respect my lasting obligations to the gentlemen of the Faculty for their unfailing consideration and encouragement, as well as for the constant stimulus of their scholarship. Austin Baxtee Keep Hartley Hall, Columbia University April 7, 1909 INTRODUCTION THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 1698-1776 INTRODUCTION THE LIBRABY IN COLONIAJL NEW YORK 1698-1776 IN these days of exploration into all realms of achievement and knowledge, there is no field more proper for research than that of early Library de- velopment in America. So marked have been advances in Library science within recent years, and so increas- ingly bright and so boundless is its prospect, that there is all the greater reason for studying the beginnings and early days of the movement. The subject is inviting and full of promise, none the less that its sources are scattered and difficult of access. But this dauntless age of inquiry demands correct and full information con- cerning the establishment of our oldest Libraries. With reverent curiosity it also seeks intelligence of earlier en- deavors and of short-lived institutions that fell by the wayside, leaving scarce a trace to-day. It is in this spirit that the present study has been made of conditions in Colonial New York. Present-day investigations are commonly expected to abound in revelations, to set forth an array of revolu- tionary statistics, to throw down and grind to powder 4 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK the tablets of engraven belief. Only to a local and not at all damaging extent, however, wUl such expectation be realized in this portion of Library research. Its dis- closures will occasion uneasiness to none of those com- monwealths or communities that cherish landmarks along the Library way. Nothing has been discovered that can possibly ruffle their placid contentment. So far as New York is concerned, Virginia may forever point to its Indian massacre of 1622 as the fell destroyer of the earliest College Library in the new world.^ Massa- chusetts may abide in serene satisfaction over the be- quest of John Harvard's books in 1638 to the institution that bears his name as our oldest university to-day ; while Boston justly glories in having had a "publike Library" in its town house before the year 1675.^ Nor is there the least disposition on the part of New York to challenge either the statement of South Caro- lina's historian, that "there can be little doubt that the first library in America to be supported in any degree at the public expense was that at Charlestown in 1698 ;"* or the equally convincing assertions of Maryland's cham- pion, that the Bray "provincial library," sent thither in 1697, was "probably the first free circulating library in the United States,"* and that Governor Nicholson's suggestion of the same year, that the assembly make provision for its maintenance and increase, was "the first recommendation by any public official, that a part of 'The "CoUedge at Henrico," = Edward McCrady. The History founded m 1630. Horace E. Scud- of South Carolina under the Royal der. "Public Libraries a Hundred Government. New York, 1899. Years Ago," chap, i in Public Libra- P. 508. n«» in the U. 8. Washington, 1876. ♦ Bernard C. Steiner. "Rev. Thomas z'/^u^"?^' rr ^''^y ^""^ ^^ American Libraries." Charles K. Bolton in The Influ- The American Historical Review, ence and History of the Boston New York, 1897. Vol. II, p. 73 Athenwum. Boston, 1907. P. 17. THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 5- the public funds be applied to the support of a free- public library."^ Furthermore, in the chronological procession of insti- tutions of later foundation, existing and prosperous to- day,— the Library Company of Philadelphia, dating from 1731, the Company of the Redwood Library, in- stituted at Newport, R. I., in 1747, and the Charles- Town (Charleston, S. C.) Library Society, established in 1748,— the New York Society Library, founded in 1754, cheerfully takes fourth place, thereby surrender- ing its long-asserted claim to have dated from the year 1700. This act is none the less gracious, — even though the question of precedence has never been seriously agi- tated by sister institutions, — for the present investiga- tion has been conducted in the name of the Society Library, now become sponsor for the truth. First, therefore, it may be well to quote in full the latest and supposably the most nearly authentic accoimt of Library beginnings in New York, that has been printed prior to the preparation of this monograph. It reads interestingly as follows, in a chapter entitled "The City under Governor John Montgomerie, 1728-1732," by the Rev. Daniel Van Pelt in the "Memorial History," published in 1892: In September, 1728, Governor Montgomerie received word that the private library of an English clergyman, the Rev. John Mill- ington, had been bequeathed by him to the Society for the Prop- agation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; and that the society — something like our present church boards of foreign missions, and evidently regarding New- York as included within its range of operations among the heathen — ^had decided to bestow Mr. Millington's gift of books upon the corporation of our city. "^ Ibid., jp. 67. 6 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK There were a little over 1600 of them, a fair number for a pri- vate library, but rather a modest beginning for a municipal one. Naturally the prevailing character was theological or devo- tional, though doubtless the "Wits of Queen Anne's Time" — Pope, Addison, Steele, Swift — found a place among them. These volumes, moreover, were not the first donation of this kind: a smaller collection, also formerly the private hbrary of a clergy- man, was already in the possession of the city. This had been presented in 1700 by the Rev. John Sharp, Lord Bellomont's chaplain in the fort. As this gentleman was still living, the authorities now gave into his charge the library as thus mate- rially increased, quarters were assigned for it in the City Hall, and here access to it was given to the pubHc at large. Mr. Sharp, however, being an aged man, did not long survive his ap- pointment ; and after his death no one was found either able or willing to take his place. Hence the City Library fell into sad neglect, until it was transferred to the keeping of the Society Library, organized in 1754, becoming thus the nucleus of the in- stitution that still exists and flourishes in this city to-day.-' And later in the same work, in a section devoted to the history of the Society Library, appears the following paragraph, authorized by that institution as its under- standing of how the Library movement in New York originated : The History of the New- York Society Library begins in the year 1700. At that time "The Pubhc Library" of New-York was founded during the administration of the Earl of Bellomont (Grahame's "History of the United States," Vol. II, p. 256). The library thus organized appears to have gone on increasing, and to have acquired considerable importance. Several folio volumes — ^now in the possession of the Society Library — ^were presented by friends in London in 1712 ; and in 1729 the Rev. Dr. Millington, rector of Newington, England, bequeathed his '■The Memorial History of the article on early Libraries in New City of New-York. Edited by York, in Ainsworth R. Spofford's James Grant WUson. New York, A Book for All Readers. New 1892. Vol. II, p. 194. Statements York, 1900. Pp. 297-298. in this extract form the basis of the THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 7 library to the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and by this society it was presented to the Pub- lic Library of New- York. The whole collection of books was placed in charge of the corporation of the city, and seems to have suffered from want of proper attention and management until the year 1754, when an association of individuals was formed for thS purpose of carrying on such an institution more efficiently. On the application of these gentlemen [the con- tributor here by mistake gives the names of the Trustees who secured the charter in 1772], the books they had collected were incorporated with the Public Library, and the whole placed under the care of trustees chosen by them. The institution was known at that time as "The City Library," a name by which it was popularly designated up to about the year 1760 [1850].^ Without pausing to correct or even to point out in- consistencies and inaccuracies — not to mention anachron- isms^— in these two extracts, which so well and fully represent aU hitherto published knowledge of the sub- ject, a beginning will at once be made to disclose the actual facts. How errors crept in and how much was forgotten in the passage of the indifferent years, and how, in the absence of any special study, misleading re- ports came to be accepted as fact, wiU all appear in suc- ceeding pages as old traditions and fables are explained, and in their stead is unfolded the true story of the Library in Colonial New York. ' Wentworth S. Butler. "The New- dred Years Ago" by Horace E. York Society Library," in chap, iii, Scudder (see p. 4»i), as also of Mr. "The Libraries of New-York." The Van Pdt's sketch quoted above. Memorial History. Vol. IV, p. 106. What seems to have been a fuller This extract is taken bodily, with and more nearly accurate account, but trifling changes, from an "His- however, in an Wstorical address de- torical Notice" published in the livered by Chairman de Peyster in Society Library Catalogue of 1850, 1872, is not known to have been which also forms the basis of the printed. Chap. IX, infra. article in "Public Libraries a Hun- ^See pp. 43, 69-70. 8 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 1. The Bray Fovmdation, or the library of Trinity Parish, 1698-1776 So far as known, the earliest printed mention of a Li- brary as an institution in New York appears in an ob- scure and now rare little book, published at London in 1698, with one of the inordinately long titles then com- mon, but which may briefly be called "Apostolick Charity."^ It has for a preface "A General View of the English Colonies in America, with respect to Religion ; In order to shew what Provision is wanting for the Propagation of Christianity in those Parts." Here, imder a tabular arrangement into Colonies, Parishes ^ Churches, Ministers, and Ldbraries, conditions in New York are thus itemized : "1 Church in the Fort. 1 Church in the City. 2 Dutch Churches. 1 French Church. 1 Minister in the Fort. 1 Minister in the City. 2 Dutch Ministers. 1 French Minister. 1 Library." Further study reveals that credit for establishing the last-named interest belongs to the learned author himself, the Rev. Thomas Bray, D.D. Born at Marton, Shropshire, in 1656, a graduate of All Souls' College, Oxford, a successful pastor and an able writer. Dr. Bray had been appointed by the Bishop of London in April, 1696, to act as commissary of eccle- siastical affairs in Maryland. This post he was "content to accept," if the bishops would help him provide "Pa- rochial Libraries" for the use of the missionaries he should ' Apostolick Charity, its Nature tions. By Thomas Bray, D.D. Lon- and Excellence Considered. In a Dis- don, 1698. The copy whose title-page course upon Dan. IS. 3. Preached is here reproduced is in the New at St. Pamla, Decemb. 19, 1697, at the York Public Library. An author's Ordination of some Protestant Mis- presentation copy is in the Library sionaries to be sent into the Planta- of the General Theological Seminary. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH in. Colonies. IfeiD-Terk. x.Lmg'IJlanJ A'popilous Colony belmu- jjgwtheOovemneiitof loivfui wherein are com- P«bJ above goo Fami- lui j aim m the Wed- pan s OuKh.Tovini, iriierein are upwaijts of 500 FsmiUes. a,, AlBany, A large City, confimng of 400 Families, bordering up- on thtlndiofiSf and belong- ingto the Go- vernment of Mm York. E'fi New J er fey mil Tenfylvania. ^arijhes 6c Churches I Church ill the Fort. 1 Church in the Qty. 2 Dutch Churches. I French Church. 1 3 Churches. t Cbarch in the Foct br the Garrifon, confifting of 2 Foot-Cooipamest and the Englijh Inhabitants of the Town. I Dutch Church. I French Church. I Smdijh Church. In Eafi-'prfef there are 8 Towns, no Church, In this Province there are alfo feveral Towns. I Church at Philadd- phiay having a conli- derable Number of Church of Fnglmd FroteftanK. Mintfiers I Minifter IniheFort. 1 Minifter in the City. 2 Dutch Miniftcrs. 1 French MiniJhr. Not I Cbuteb of England Minifter, the' much defir'd in ii\iEtielilh Part. ' <; Omth Mi- nifters in the Weft-part. t Dutch Minifter. 1 French Minifter. 1 SweJijh Minifter. I Minifter going over I Minifter. I School- Mafter. Lihrarief 1 Library. A Library b^a. 1 Library. Celmes. Second page (slightly reduced) of preface to " Apostolick Charity," published in 1698, containing first printed mention of a Library in New York. See p. 8. 10 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK send to America, the majority of whom, he said, would be of "the poorer sort of Clergy, who could not suffi- ciently supply themselves with books." ^ The church dignitaries cordially endorsed this proposal, believing that his "Design" would, "in all likelihood, invite some of the more studious and virtuous persons out of the Universities to tindertake the ministry in those parts, and be a means of rendering them useful, when they are there." ^ With even greater earnestness the commissary himself declared, a year and a half later: By Experience, as well as the Reason of the Thing, I 'm con- vinc'd. That 100 I. laid out in a LIBRARY, is what will best induce a Learned and Sober Minister to go into the Service of any part of the Church in the Plantations ; And that the same is a necessary Encouragement, considering that few Men of Fortunes, who are able to purchase Books for themselves, will go into such remote Parts.® Although for political reasons Dr. Bray did not set out for his new field until 1699,* he had been busy choos- ing his men and despatching sundry "book presses" over- sea. The first few consignments went naturally to Maryland and neighboring provinces. But that was only the beginning of his plan. Two years before, he had issued a brochure with a similarly interminable cap- tion, "An Essay towards promoting aU Necessary and Useful Knowledge, both Divine and Human, in all the ^Dr. Bray's proposal in reply to ' ApoHolick Charity, pp. (iv-v). his appointment as commissary. *"He took his Voyage December Here copied from "Memoir of Dr. 16, 1699, and arriv'd in Maryland Bray" in the Beport of Dr. Bray's after an extream tedious and dan- Associates for 1905, pp. 31-32. gerous Passage, the 12th of March ^ From a document in Lambeth following" ; but within the year he Palace Library, signed by Arch- made a "speedy Return," without bishops Tenison and Sharpe and by going far, if at all, beyond the Bishops Compton, Lloyd, Stilling- Maryland border. See Puhlick fleet, Patrick and Moore. "Memoir Spirit Illustrated ... (1st edition), of Dr. Bray," p. 32. pp. 26, 35. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 11 Parts of His Majesty's Dominions, both at Home and Abroad."^ First in this work comes a six-page homily on Know- ledge, "the fairest Ornament of the Soul of Man," which "does more distinguish the Possessors of it than Titles, Riches, or great Places: , . . whilst the Gaudy, but Empty Beau, is no other than the Scorn and Derision of all who Converse with him." Then, fearing lest his plans should seem too limited in scope, he hastens to add: "Though this Design seems more immediately directed to the Service of the Clergy, yet Gentlemen, Physicians and Lawyers will perceive they are not neglected in it." The writer next addresses "Proposals to the Gentry and Clergy of this Kingdom, for Purchasing Lending Li- braries in all the Deanaries of England, and Parochial Libraries for Maryland, Virginia, and other of the For- eign Plantations." His ftilly matured purpose is dis- closed in this quaint and touching conclusion: In short, as meer Zeal for Publick Service hath excited me to leave no Stone unturn'd, to procure Parochial Libraries for the Plantations, in which I thank God I have had hitherto no mean Success ; . . . Instead of Libraries for Marylamd, the bounds of my first Design, I shall not only extend my Endeavours for the Supply of all the English, Colonies in America therewith; but can most willing be a Missionary into every one of those Prov- inces, to fix and settle them therein when they are obtain'd, being so fully perswaded of the great Benefit of these kind of Li- braries, that I should rtot think *em too dear a Purchase, even at the hazard of my Life. A complete system for founding and "preserving" Li- braries is thereupon elaborated. Several pages are filled with titles of suitable books, comprising works in all 1 London, 1697. A copy is in the New York PubUc Library. 12 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK lines of literature, especial emphasis of course being laid on theology. In passing, it might be of interest to know how many collections sent to America owed existence to the following thrifty scheme: "That what Gratis-Books will be obtain'd of the Bookseller, in consideration of so many bought of 'em towards these Lending Libraries; that these be set apart towards making up Parochial Libraries for the Foreign Plantations." The origin of the first New York Library, however, was clearly due to no such bonus arrangement. For upon a manuscript catalogue — about all that remains of this early collection— the price of each volume is carefully annexed, the total cost amounting to exactly £70. This hst is to-day, as it has been for nearly two hundred years, in the possession of "Dr. Bray's Associates," a board of trustees organized by that good man in 1723 to found Clerical Libraries and for the education of negro slaves in the colonies. Under this heading, "A Register of y^ Books Sent towards Laying y* Foundacbn of a Provincial Library in New York,"^ appear 157 titles numbering 220 volumes, grouped into the following comprehensive classification : I The H. Script : w* Commentators, 23 ; II Fathers, 7 ; III Discourses Apologetical, 9 ; IIII Bodies of Divinity both Cate- chetical & Scholastical, I*; V On y« Genl Doctrine of y^ Cov* of Grace, 2, and On the Creed — ^both y^ whole Body of Cre- denda & on particular Articles, 18 ; VI Of Moral Laws & X*° Duties, 28 ; VII Of Repent : & Mortificacbn, 3 ; VIII Of Divine Assistance, Prayer and y^ Sacram*? — those Means of perform- 'The title-page of the MS. from Ampolis in Mary Land. For the which this list is copied reads as use and Benefit of the Clergy and follows: Bibliothecai Provinciales others in the Provinces of New Eng- Americance, Being the Registers of land, New York, Pennsylvania, Books Sent Towards Laying the Carolina, ^ Bermudas. Vol. II. By Foundacbn of Five more provincial Thomas Bray, D.D. Libraries in Imitation of that of THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 13 ing the foregoing Articles, 10 ; IX Sermons, 34 ; X Ministerial Directories, 5 ; XI Controversial, 19 ; XII Historical and Geo- graphical,— i Humanity, vizt Ethicks & Oeconomicks, 6; ii Polity & Law, 0; iii History and its Appendages— Chronology, Geography, Voyages and Travails, 23; iiij Physiology, Anat- omy, Chirurgery & Medicine, 2 ; v Mathematicks & Trade, ; vi Grammars & Lexicons, 6 ; vii Rhetorick, 1 ; viii Logick, 1 ; ix Poetry, 3 — Poets Antiqui, Buchanani Psahni 12°, Miltons paradise Lost ; x Miscellanies, 6.^ More than this could scarcely have been asked by the most ardent booklover of that day— from the point of view of the clergy, that is— in the way of subjects; the only remaining desideratum would be the certainty of substantial and frequent increase, an interest not as thoroughly furthered by the broad- visioned promoter, as will presently appear. Nevertheless, the arrangement just quoted deserves more than passing attention, not alone for being a good specimen of an early classification for an American library, but also for its admirable character even to-day; while the list itself comprises the standard works of the period for a clergyman's library. That the little assortment reached its destination is proved by a fairly exact copy of the catalogue spread in full upon the old manuscript book of minutes of the vestry of Trinity parish, under the following slightly altered inscription: "A Register of the Books sent to- wards laying the foundation of a parochial Library in ' This scheme corresponds, with both. Divine and Humane, a MS. trifling exceptions, chiefly in the work now in the Library of Sion omission of explanatory notes, to College, London. A transcript is in Dr. Bray's elaborate classification the New York Public Library. ia^As BibUothecce AmericancB Quadri- Sion College is a sort of guUd or partitce; or Catalogues of the Libra- corporation of the parochial clergy, ries sent into the Severall Provinces rectors, vicars, lecturers and curates belonging to the Crown of England, of the city of London proper and in order to promote all the parts of immediate suburbs, having been Vsefull and Necessary Knowledge founded about the year 1625. 14 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK H: /f; Or 'O ^ ■ D <. t?.- ^. J 3 c First page (reduced) of catalogue of Bray books brought to New York by the Earl of Bel- lomont. Written in 1697; now in possession of Dr. Bray's Associates, London. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 15 t /. y. , / . \ fir '/> / I t. r-^ ■/. //?. n. cu a. JuUfti^ /-"" Copy (much reduced) of Bray catalogue in Trinity Vestry minutes, written in 1698. 16 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK New York for the Use of the Ministers of Holy Trinity- Church"!^ Though at first sight this discrepancy in phrasing might cause a shock in its suggestion of per- verted funds, fortunately for the honor of the venerable and venerated parish in question, the latter style ex- presses precisely the intention of the founders. This is quite apparent from the set of rules accompanying the books, written as early as 1697 in the following form: DIRECTIONS FFOB. Y^ Use, & P"SEB,VATION OF Y^ LlBEAKY SENT w'^^ HIS Excellency the Eabl of Bellamont to New York in America Ffirst y^ Cheif Design of this Library is for y^ Use of y^ Church of England Ministers belonging to y^ Ffort, & City of New York, & for y^ Chaplains of his Maj^ Ships during their Residence in y* Port. Secondly To y^ End y* any P^'sons concernd may have a freer Ingress, 6" Regress, it is desir'd y^ Books may be fixt in some publick Roome in y^ Ffort, or in y^ Vestry of y^ Church at New York, so as shall be most Convenient for y« Clergy to come at y^ Use of 'em. Thirdly That three Registers of these Books be made, one whereof to Remain w* y^ Ld Bf) of London, a Second w* his Excellency y^ Govern'", & a Third to remain in y^ Library. Ffor ye bett' p'"servation of em it is desird y* y^ Gentlemen of J" Vestry wou'd yearly Inspect y^ Books & p^'sent, as to y^ GovHT, so to ys Ld B|) of London an ace* wheth' they are Safe, or anywise Imbezeld or Lost.^ Richard Coote, first Earl of Bellomont, was commis- sioned by King WiUiam III in June, 1697, as royal gov- ernor of the provinces of New York, Massachusetts and 'Trinity vestry minutes, vol. I, fully written copy are to-day pre- P'/rSP ** **9'- , served in the coUection of manu- The original, marked "DupUcate" scripts left by Dr. Bray to Sion in pencil in a later hand, and a care- College. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 17 New Hampshire. He landed in New York city April 2, 1698, after a tempestuous passage of seven months' dura- tion. The voyage may well be regarded as an omen of his stormy term of office, whose brief three years were filled with bitter quarrels. His efforts to counteract the policy of his notorious predecessor. Colonel Benjamin Fletcher,— who had issued territorial grants with a lavish hand, and who was almost openly in league with piracy, — naturally aroused great hostility and left him scant opportunity to patronize an infant library. Further- more, he soon became involved in a serious personal dif- ference with the Rev. William Vesey, first rector of Trinity parish, so that harmony between them on any matter was wholly impossible. In due time the governor fulfilled this part of his mis- sion, however, for the Trinity vestry minutes bear this record for June 8, 1698 : "M"^ Vesey having informed y^ Board that [he] has reded from his Excel Rich: Earl of Bellomont a parcell of Books of Divinity sent over by y* right Reverend Henry Lord Bishop of London for y^ Use of Trinity Church for which he hath given a receipt to his Excel a list whereof is produced. It is ordered the books remain in the custody of M^ Vesey untill further order and that y^ Clerk do register the Catalogue of the books in the vestry book." ^ In the meantime, what may have been the nucleus of a Library had already been formed in a gift from the re- tiring executive, Colonel Fletcher, who had shown his good will to Trinity by signing its original charter. May 6, 1697, and in the granting of an extensive land lease to the parish. For, at a vestry meeting held March 26, •Trinity vestry minutes, I, 25-26. follow at once, beginning on page The "Catalogue," however, does not 300. 18 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 1698, "M'" David Jamison reports that his Excel y* Gov^ has given a Bible & some other books to this Corporation for y^ use of Trinity Church w* are Suppos'd to be in y« hands of M' Symon Smith. Ordered Capt Wilson & W™ Sharpas do waite upon M' Smith & aske for y* Same."^ From the beginning, the vestrymen of Trinity Chvirch have uniformly been influential citizens, and these early members certainly present no exception. David Jameson held successively the offices of deputy secretary of the province, clerk of the assembly and city recorder; Cap- tain Ebenezer Willson, for years city treasiu-er, had been a common councilman and later occupied the mayoralty from 1707 to 1710; while William Sharpas, confirmed as town clerk in the Dongan charter in 1686, held that im- portant post until his death in 1739. Lastly, the Rev. Simon Smith was chaplain of the forces in the fort from 1696 to 1700, the chapel having been ordered rebmlt by Governor Fletcher in the year 1695.^ The first Trinity Church, which stood on the present site on land formerly a portion of the old Dutch West India Company's garden, had been opened for public worship in March, 1698. That the books were housed in this edifice, doubtless from their receipt, is plain from a letter of Mr. Vesey's to Governor Nicholson of Virginia, 'Trinity vestry minutes, I, 21-22. Govr Fletchers carrying over an- ' Of this event the Rev. John Mil- other for that use %; purpose in ye ler, chaplain, 1692-1696, writes: year 1692." The chapel was de- "The Chappell was first built about stroyed early in 1741 in "the late the year 1630 but growing ruinous fatal fire that laid in ashes the it was pull'd Down Ano 1694 f re- house, chaple, barracks & Secre- built in y= years of X 169S ^ 1696." tary's office in his Majesty's fort in From a note in his own hand on this Town." Speech of Lt.-Gov. the fly-leaf of a great Bible, now George Clarke to the Council, April m the N. Y. Public Library, and of IS, 1741. Journal of the LegUlatioe which he says: "This Bible belonged Gowncil, 1691-174S. Albany, 1861. to the Chappell in the Kings fort at P. 769. New York ^ fell to my Lot upon THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 19 dated June 9, 1702, in which he tells how, at the sugges- tion of "his Reverence D^ Bray," a "happy Society" of the several ministers of the city was "maintained in the Church Library."^ Other Usts, also preserved in the archives of the Bray Associates, show that additions were made from time to time to the original collection. For example, under "A Catalogue of Books Sent Aug* 30*^ 1701 to New York to Improve the Library at New York," appear some twenty titles covering twenty-four volumes of sermons and religious treatises, the cost of each book being en- tered as before. Again, as few as eight volumes, sim- ilarly devotional in character, were accompanied with "A Catalogue of the Books Sent Api 23, 1702 to Augmt the Library at New York," Both these accessions are found copied in the Trinity vestry minutes^ directly following the first "Register." A supplementary reference to the subject appears in the proceedings of June 2, 1701, when "The Vestrey Exam- ined the Churches Library according to the Catalogue Sent from D"" Bray & Signed the same returned with an Acco* of what books were wanting & w* were not in the Catalogue."^ The next consignment, comprising six volumes, is styled in the church records "A Catalogue of Books Sent to the Library Anno 1704." Subsequent donations, how- ever, seem to have come from private sources, full credit for the gifts being expressed. The first of such presents, ^S. p. G. Letter Book (copies). Archives, N. Y. M8S., I, 14-15. no. 112, 1703-1799. The archives of These Hawks papers are kept in the the Society for the Propagation of Church Missions House, 4th ave. and the Gospel in Foreign Parts have 32d st., N. Y. citj. been for years at no. 19 Delahay st., ' Vestry minutes, I, 208 et seq. Westminster, London. A later copy ° Ihid., I, 38. by Dr. Hawks is in the Gen. Conv. 20 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK a collection of twelve doctrinal works, is entered under "A Catalogue of Books given to the Library of New York by Tho? Byerly Esq^ Colector and Receiver Gen- eral of the province of New York of the Value of five pounds Sterling 1704 & brought from London by M' Brett 1705." Immediately after this, acknowledgment is made of some books "At the Same time Sent by the Bishop of London," including prayer books and "22 Serious Exortations to the practice of Religious Duties both publick and private. Sent to be Distributed among the poor by the Minister." Following this doubtless most comforting benefaction comes an entry well calculated to awaken antiquarian at- tention. Thus reads the record: "Jai&y 1712 Given the Right Hon*"!^ the Earle of Clarendons y^ History of the Rebellion & Civil Wares in 3 Vol. fol."^ And mterest centers in the announcement because the second volimie of this very set may be seen to-day in the New York So- ciety Library. Natural sentiment attaching to this ven- erable book, a pathetic survivor of New York's first Library, is heightened by an ornate label on its front cover, bearing in gilt letters still bright the clear-cut legend, BELONGING TO Y^^ LIBRARY OF NEW YORK IN AMERICA 1711. Certainly here was offered an agreeable contrast to the dull monotony of theological lore. Though the kindly donor's name is not known, he may reasonably be 1 Edward Earl of Clarendon. The floor of the City Hall, "had pre- History of the Rebellion and Civil sented . . . the Library with the Wars in England. Oxford, 1703. Lord Clarendons firtt part of the This was not the only copy in History of the Civil Warrs of the the early Library, for the Trinity Kingdome of England." Vol. I, p. vestry minutes show that in January, 63. This gift had quite a personal 1709, Lord Cornbury, then removed touch, for Lord Combury — as was from the governorship and confined also Queen Anne — was a grandchild in the debtors' prison, on the top of the author. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 21 presumed to have been either Dr. Bray or the Bishop of London again, for this gilt lettering conforms exactly with that on the books brought by Lord Bellomont in 1698 for Boston, as the nucleus of its parochial library.^ This collection, known as King's Chapel Library, has long been deposited in the Boston Athenaeum. It comprises some 110 volumes, with the royal stamp, SVB AVSPICIIS WILHELMI III, on one cover, and on the other, DE BIBLIOTHECA DE BOSTON. A few of the books, however, are labeled like the old Clarendon his- tory, BELONGING TO Y^ LIBRARY OF BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND, though no date is affixed, that feature evidently having come as an improvement in course of time. Moreover, Dr. Bray had expressly directed: THAT for further Security to preserve them from Loss and Imhezelment, and that they may he known where-ever they are found; in every Book, on the one side of the Cover, shall be Let- ter'd these Words, SUB AUSPICIIS WILLIELMI III. on the other side the Name of the Parish to which these Books do be- long: EX. GR. E. BIBLIOTHECA DE MARY-TOWN: E. BIBLIOTHECA DE JAMES-TOWN, S^c.^ * Receipt of these books was ac- cedes that of the slightly larger knowledged in a. letter to the Lord New York consignment in the MS. Bishop of London under date of brochure, Bibliothecce Provinciales July 35, 1698, as appears from a AmericancB (see p. 12w), bound into copy in the vestry minutes of King's a nameless, leather-covered vol- Chapel, Boston. Its records also ume now in the keeping of the Bray contain a catalogue of the books. Associates. Each volume of the classified much like those for New old collection now in the Boston York, and styled, "A Register of Athenasum also bears on its inside Books Sent with his Excellency the cover this stamp, "Belonging to Earl of BeUomont towards laying King's Chapel Libhahy, Boston." A the foundation of a Library for the rebound folio with this same label use of the Church of England is in the Library of the General Clergy in Boston." The list is given Theological Seminary, New York, in ftJl, to the number of 311 vol- It is "The Book of Common Prayer," umes, by the Rev. Henry W. Foote in published in London in 1739, so the "Proceedings" of the Mass. Hist. that it was of course a later con- Soc. for May, 1881, 1st series, vol. tribution. XVIII. Boston, 1881. Pages 436- ""Proposals for the Incourage- 430. The original "Register" pre- ment and Promoting of Religion 22 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK We may therefore easily imagine how the earlier volumes of New York's first Library were probably stamped. But of that little collection the Clarendon book alone sxxrvives to-day in its sohtary isolation in the Society Library. How and when it came there can only be conjectured, as will be seen.^ It is thus perfectly patent that the first Library in New York was wholly parochial in scope. But from its being intended for the use of the clergy in general, it as- sumed a more public character. And that it was even so styled is evident from one sovu-ce at least. For, at a Trinity vestry meeting, Jime 13, 1707, "the Reverend M' Vesey inform'd this Board Tho: Byerly Esq' had presented the public Library with Books amoimting to Six pounds which are put down in the Catalogue there- of,"^ as related above.* Meanwhile, in 1700, Dr. Bray had widened his Li- brary plan to include among its beneficiaries the laity, for whom were to be provided "Lending Laymen's Libraries." He had previously written, that "in the Chief Town in each Province it would be requisite to have a Library of more Universal Learning, for the Service and Encouragement of those who shall launch out farther in the pursuit of Useful Knowledge, as well and Learning in the Foragn Planta- WILHELMI HI, and DE BIBLIO- tions." P. 124, Part I, of Biblio- THECA DE NEW YORK. Fur- theoa Parochialis. London, 1697. thermore, the title, "Epiphanij Reprinted in "Rev. Thomas Bray. Opera 2 Vol. Colon. 1682,"— entered His Life and Selected Works Relat- under the heading, "Fathers," in the ing to Maryland." Edited by Ber- original "Register" of 1697, as in its nard C. Steiner. Pp. 304-205. Vide copy in the Trinity vestry minutes, vafra, p. S7nl. —identifies this book, the second vol- ' Since this matter was set up in ume of the work, as part of the type, there has come to light in the original consignment brought over Library of the General Theological by Lord BeUomont. Seminary a single folio volume, its ' Trinity vestry minutes, I, 58. respective covers stamped, in similar ' Supra, p. 20. gUt characters, SVB AVSPICIIS THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 23 Natural as Divine."^ Accordingly he now arranged to despatch books "to be Lent or Given at the Discretion of the Minister," the clergy being "the Persons whose Chief Business it is to be Men of Knowledge."^ In one of his "Circular Letters" to the clergy of Maryland in 1701, this enthusiastic man speaks of the Layman's Li- brary as "my darling Contrivance." Among recipients of its benefits are included "y^ Chief Governors," "y^ Best Disposed Magistrates," and "y^ publick Houses." To expedite this measure Dr. Bray proposed the ap- pointment of a special agent in America, with the fol- lowing towns as distributing centers or "chief stations" : Boston; New York, "from whence he may go to Long Island & East Jersey"; Philadelphia; "Annopolis in Mary Land" ; and Williamsburg, Virginia.® The Rev. George Keith, a clergyman of renowned fervor, was chosen to conduct the new enterprise. Both his selection and the character of the matter to be distributed show clearly that the missionary idea was even more pro- nounced than before. Mr. Keith, himself a rabid con- vert from Quakerism, was to be supplied with books and tracts of an exclusively religious tone, — without a gleam of worldhness to lighten their pervading solemnity, — under the following heads: the Scriptures; works "for y^ Instruction of Catechumens" ; others "for y* use of y'' Adults" ; still others "to promote .... a Reformation of Manners"; writings "to prepare y* Adults for y* Worthy Receiving of both y* Sacram*?" ; and, lastly, works aimed "to Recover to y^ Unity of the Church all such as have Gone astray into Heresy and Schism," such wanderers being classified as Quakers, Dissenters and Papists. '^ ApostoUck Charity, y. {v). Americarue Quadripartite^. See p. ''From the preface to Bibliotheew ISn. ' Ibid. M THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK George Keith set sail in April, 1702, and remained in the colonies for a little over two years, as the first mis- sionary sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts on a tour of personal investiga- tion. Concerning the condition of the Anglican church in New York, he thus expresses himself upon arrival: The Church of England under the late Administration of the Lord Bellamont and Captain Nanfan hath been grievously opposed and oppressed; but since the auspicious arrival of the Right Honorable the Lord Combury, has been dehvered from the violence of her enemies, restored to her rights, greatly countenanced and encouraged, and Kves under the just expecta- tion of being more firmly established and enlarged.-^ Lists of books and tracts sent over to America for this work among laymen are preserved to-day with the Bray papers in the Library of Sion CoUege, London. One of them is styled "An Acc^ of the Books Set up in y* Book- press Sent to N. York." It is not dated, but that the books were received appears in a letter from Mr. Keith to Dr. Bray, dated at Philadelphia, February 24, 1704, as follows: "The six boxes you sent are all come safe; that to Boston, that to New York, that to the two Jer- seys, and that to Pennsylvania, are all disposed of al- ready, according to your orders, and are very acceptable to the people."^ The majority of the books were not only deeply religious in character but excessively contro- ^ Collections of the Protestant Rev. John Sharpe's diary: "A Cata- Episcopal Historical Society. New logue of Books given by the Society York, 1851. Page xix. for propagation of the Gospel to His 'Ibid., p. xxiv. Also quoted by Ejccy CoH Hunter which are now the Rev. Joseph Hooper in his given to be distributed." It includes pamphlet "George Keith," in Soldier 16 titles of tracts, numbering in all §■ Servant Series, Hartford, 1894. P. S30 volumes. (Governor Hunter ar- 15. That this work was maintained is rived at New York in June, 1710.) clear from a memorandum in the THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 25 versial as well, comprising many copies of the Rev. Charles Leslie's "Y« Snake in y« Grass"— that reptile heing understood to mean Quakerism— and of Bugg's "Pilgrim's Progress from Quakerism to Christianity." SVB iWSPICIIS DE BIBLIOTHECA VTL NEW YORK Gilt letters (facsimile size) stamped on covers of surviving volume of first consignment of Bray books to New York, 1897. See pp. 21, iinl. Evidently Mr. Keith had been directed also to look into the condition of the several Parochial Libraries, for in a long letter to Dr. Bray from Philadelphia in the spring of 1703 he writes, in part: "I view'd the Library att Boston, as ye ordered me, and find it in good Condi- tion. But at N. York I could not have the Catalogue. 26 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK M^ Vesey the Minister told me the Chaplain of the fort had carried it away w* him to England." There is nothing in the records to indicate who this offending person was. The Rev. Edmond Mott held the chap- laincy for the two years preceding his death in 1704.^ According to the rather confusing table of chaplains in the appendix to the recently published history of Trinity parish,^ his immediate predecessor was the Rev. John Peter Brisac, who in 1701 succeeded the Rev. Simon Smith, incumbent from 1696 to 1700. This last-named individual, it will be recalled, was for a time the unofficial custodian of the first books given by Governor Fletcher in 1698. He is mentioned in the vestry minutes of September 23, 1700, as "suspended,"* so he may as well bear the further odiimi of having absconded with the Library catalogue. It must long since have become apparent that Dr. Bray was a man of unusual creative power. He should be accounted one of the ablest organizers in the colonial period of American history, for his efforts led to the establishment of the celebrated "Venerable" Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, char- tered June 20, 1701, and of the still older Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge— both institutions wielding great influence. To the former New York is especially indebted for its instrumentality in establish- ' Possibly this person's private York. 1898. Vol. I, appendix ix, library was joined with the parish p. 48S. collection, for Governor Cornbury 'Trinity vestry minutes, I, 35. wrote to the Lords of Trade, Oct. Also, Lord Bellomont wrote to the 3, 1706, that Mr. Mott, "late Chap- Lords of Trade, Oct. 17, 1700: "I . lain to Her Majty's forces here, . . . suspended Parson Smith, Chaplain has left some books of which I here- to these Companys, on the 7th of with send a Catalogue." N. Y. Col. last August for affronting my Lord Docs., vol. IV, p. 1182. Bishop of London and for living a "Morgan Dix. A History of the scandalous life." Col. Boc*., IV, 719. Parish of Trinity Church. New THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 27 ing, among similar institutions in America, the first Public Circulating Library (the Corporation Library) and the first College Library (the Library of King's College) in the metropolis, the history of both of which will presently be reviewed. The study of Dr. Bray's life and work is profitable, so interesting and useful was his career, and so abiding have been many fruits of his labors and sacrifices.^ In 1746 there was published an appreciative volume entitled "Publick Spirit Illustrated in the Life and De- signs of the Reverend Thomas Bray, D.D." An appen- dix to its second edition (1808) gives this summary of his chief work: "By the exactest account that has been pro- cured, upwards of Fifty Libraries, it appears, were founded by Dr. Bray in America and other countries abroad, and Sixty-One Parochial Libraries in England and Wales." A schedule is added, according to which four collections had been sent "into the Government of New York," namely: to the city of New York, 211 ; "to Amboy in New Jersey," 30; to Albany, 10;^ and "to ' For sources, see Dr. Bernard C. Bodleian Library, Oxford, was made Steiner's article, "Rev. Thomas Bray the basis of Publick Spirit Illus- and his American Libraries," in The trated m the Life and Designs of American Historical Review. New the Reverend Thomas Bray, DJ). York, 1897. Vol. II, p. 59 et seq.; London, 1746. A copy is in the "Parochial Libraries in the Colonial Gteneral Seminary Library. A copy Period," by Bishop John F. Hurst, of the second edition (1808) is in DJ)., in Papers of the American the New York Public Library. Society of Church History. New ' In the year 1900, one of these ten York, 1890. Vol. II, pp. 37-50; and, books, sent early in the 18th cen- especiaUy, "Rev. Thomas Bray. His tury to "The Church of Albany in Life and Selected Works Relating New York" by Dr. Bray's Associates, to Maryland." Edited by B. C. was "again in the custody of the Steiner. Marylcmd Historical So- parish" of Old St. Peter's. It was ciety Fund Publication, No. ST. a copy of Dr. Bray's own work, Baltimore, 1901. This collection of Qatechetical Lectures. London, 1701. reprints contains also "A Short His- See A History of Saint Peter's torical Account of the Life and De- Church in the City of A Ibany. By the signs of Thomas Bray, D.D., late Rev. Joseph Hooper, A.M. Albany, Vicar of St Botolph's without Aid- 1900. P. 34». But in November, gate," by the Rev. Richard Raw- 1907, diligent search failed to find linson. This sketch, a MS. in the the book. 28 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK Boston in New England," 221; the figures represent- ing the number of books despatched to each place. Nevertheless, beyond the few and insignificant acces- sions already enumerated, the New York collection remained practically dormant. Fully a quarter of a cen- tury after its foundation. Rector Vesey, in response to a printed request from the Bishop of London, thus briefly exposes its undeveloped state: "I have imder my care in my Study a small parochial library, and though I never received any particular rules and orders concerning it, I assiu-e your Lordship all the books are preserved and kept in good condition."^ The good rector was evidently quite unmindful of the "Directions" that accom- panied the consignment in the first instance. Very prop- erly the church continued to be the repository, and its pastor the custodian, of the little collection. Of its care- ful preservation indeed, the Kev. Robert Jenney, chap- lain at the fort and assistant minister at Trinity, writes suggestively to the Bishop of London in November, 1720, when asking aid to estabhsh the Sharpe collection as a Public Library: "... provided it be really a pub- lick hbrary & be not lockt up in y? particular Study of any particular person." It thus appears that some thought at least was paid to the colonial Library, although but slender additions had gained their way to its shelves. The energetic founder himself would seem to have had no system of enlarging the several collections he had brought into being, until 'His reply to the last of 17 orders duly observed?" The orig-- Queries to be answered by every inal of this paper cannot now be- Minister, viz: "Have you a Parochial found among the MSS. in Fulham Library? If you have, are the Palace, London. A copy is pasted Books preserved, and kept in good in Gen. Conv. Arch., N. T. MSS., I, condition? Have you any particular 640, undated, but similar papers rules and orders for the preserving from other parishes in the province- of them? Are those rules and are dated 1723 or 1724. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 29 his formation of the Bray Associates, the income from whose charity fund has, since his decease in 1730, estab- lished and perpetuated hundreds of Theological Li- braries in Great Britain and in her dominions beyond the seas. But the New York Library, with others in what is now the United States, received no further support from home. Nor did they, on the other hand, meet with much en- couragement from the colonists. The Library idea was too advanced for them, especially in New York, where confusion of tongues still prevailed, and where the An- ghcan element was too unpopular to secure aid for a purely sectarian institution. And the predominant char- acter of the Bray collections was so exclusively devo- tional and churchly as not to be generally acceptable. It was thus never possible to establish or confirm this early Library by legislative enactment, as its pious founder earnestly desired, and as was done in other provinces.^ Furthermore, the Knickerbockers were too deeply en- grossed in their private and political concerns for even the well-to-do to be men of leisure. All alike were en- gaged in business, while for recreation they not unnatu- rally preferred out-of-door pastimes to excursions in theology. When Governor Bellomont first set foot on the island of Manhattan, echoes of the distracting Leisler excitement, the reflection in New York of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, had by no means died away in the Uttle city, whose settled portion lay whoUy below Wall street, and whose inhabitants numbered less than five thousand souls. From the following lines in an old history one gains ' See Oolomal Laws of Maryland, 1704, 1706, 1713; of North Carolina, 1699, 1727; of South Carolina, 1700, 1715. 30 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK an interesting picture of the cultm-al conditions of those times,— discrediting the while its concluding assertion, especially in view of the facts to be brought out in the present work. Listen, then, to the learned Britisher, James Grahame, how he writes : A printing-press was established at New York, in the year 1693, by a printer flying from the strange occurrence of Quaker tyranny and persecution in Pennsylvania ; and a library was founded under the government of Lord BeUamont in the year 1700. But the schools in this province were inconsid- erable; and although the wealthier families obtained valuable instructors for their children among the numerous Protestant refugees from France, the great bulk of the people were strangers even to the first rudiments of science and cultivation, tin the era of the American Revolution.^ On this allusion to a Library has been based the hith- erto uncontroverted claim that "The history of the New York Society Library commences in the year 1700," at which "time 'The Public Library' of New York was founded during the administration of the Earl of BeUa- mont.",^ Not a httle of the glamour attaching to this long-vaunted, cherished behef is therefore dispelled in a realization that the collection was originally but a paltry "parceU" of sober tomes for a Parish Library. Know- ledge of the fact, however, will in turn soothe any sting of disappointment at learning that this early Library never had the slightest connection with the Society Li- brary, founded confessedly in 1754. The two institu- tions maintained independent existences for twenty-two years, side by side in the little capital, the one in Trinity ' James Grahame. The History of History, Charter, By-Laws, ^c. the United States. (London, 1827, 1881. P. 5; also, Catalogue of the 1836.) Boston and Philadelphia, Nem York Society Library. 1850. 1845. Vol. II, p. 266. P. vii. See also p. 6, supra. ' The New York Society Library. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 31 Church and the other in the City Hall,^ vintil the mori- bund career of the former and the first epoch in the his- tory of the latter came to a simultaneous end imder the ravages of the Revolution. An even earlier mention of the older Library is found in another historical work, pubhshed almost contem- poraneously with the event chronicled, and bearing the ambitious title, "The British Empire in America, Con- taining the History of the Discovery, Settlement, Prog- ress and present State of all the British Colonies, on the Continent and Islands of America."^ In the chapter on New York it is stated as proof of advancement that "A Library was erected, this Year [1700], in the City of New- York: And the Dutch Inhabitants built Mills to saw Timber; one of which wou'd do more in an Hotir, than 50 Men in 2 Days."^ The very arrangement of these informing particulars points with unconscious emphasis to the relative insig- nificance of a Library in comparison with the general interests of the commimity at that time. There is no evi- dence at hand to show that the Dutch ever had so much as thought of a Church Library in New York;* while the only reference to books that can be found in their pubhc acts appears in an ordinance of 1662 by the di- rector-general and council of New Netherland against " The City Hall then stood in Wall scholars of weU-nlgh as many na- street opposite Broad, scarcely a tionalities, English, French, Ger- stone's throw from Trinity Church, man, Latin, IbUian and Spanish, as on Broadway facing Wall street. well as Dutch. The little collection ^ John Oldmixon. London, 1708. was despatched from Holland in the ' Vol. I, p. 128. same vessel that bore the Rev. Jo- * In the "Rensselaerswyck MSS." hannes Megapolensis to his new field there is recorded a "Catalogue of in the colony of Rensselaerswyck. Books which are sent for the Li- For a list of the books with "re- brary in Rensselaerswyck, to be for- marks," see E. B. O'CaUaghan. His- warded there." This list comprises tory of New Netherland. New York, 17 titles of theological works by 1846. Vol. I, pp. 454^-455. 32 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK conventicles, whereby "diuerse persons" were prohibited from importing or dispersing "seditious & erroneous boecks, writings & letters."^ Yet by 1664 there were schools in nearly all the towns and villages of New Neth- erland, with a Latin or high school of wide repute at New Amsterdam. And certainly the ministers, as also other leading citizens, were the possessors of private collections. Even as elegant a personage as Governor Francis Lovelace is said to have written to King Charles in 1668: "I find some of these people have the breeding of courts, and I cannot conceive how such is acquired."^ Nevertheless, as one careful student of that period has observed, "the spirit of trade, and those depressing in- fluences common to all colonies and young countries, checked if not stifled literary enterprise."^ It is even less probable that other religious bodies in the city had Libraries. The Presbyterians, in point of influence the third denomination, met with too much op- position and discouragement simply in maintaining an establishment in New York to think of conducting a Library. It is therefore not surprising to find in their records no suggestion of such an institution. One sig- nificant entry, however, betokens their proper apprecia- tion of the value of books. The trustees of the church on June 1, 1756, took the following action: Resolved That the Rev^ M' Bostwick may become a subscriber to the New York Society Library. That the Clerk draw an Or- '^ Laws and Ordinances of New 349. It must be said, however, that Netherland, 1638-1874. Edited by no source is given for this quota- E. B. O'Callaghan. Albany, 1868. tion, which does not appear in the P- *28. governor's correspondence printed ^The Rev. Ashbel G. Vermilye, in the N. T. Col. Docs, or in the D.D. "Francis Lovelace and the Doc. Hist, of N. Y. Recapture of New Netherland, » E. B. O'Callaghan. History of 1668-1674." The Memorial History New Netherland. New York, 1848. of New-York. Vol. I, chap, ix, p. Vol. II, p. 647. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 33 der in his Favour on the Treasurer for such sum as the Sub- scription money may amount to And it is to be understood that this Interest in the Library is given to M'" Bostwick as Minister of this Church, & that at his Decease his Heir Executor or Ad- ministrator or Legatee or himself in Case he shall cease to be our Minister in his Life time will assign his Interest in the said Library to such Person as the Majority of the Trustees shall direct and that he will in the mean Time pay the annual Sub- scription money due by the Articles.^ The subsequent history of the old Trinity Parish Li- brary — as it should properly be called— is also of inter- est, culminating in truly dramatic fashion. All its later acquisitions, so far as the vestry proceedings reveal, seem to have been presented by the same individual, "the pious M'^ EUiston," a personage of no little consequence, to judge by the deferential manner in which his name and station, as well as votes of appreciation, are entered in the ancient minutes. Beginning in 1715 these donations, together with sundry offerings of choice plate, were con- tinued intermittently for many years, the last "Addi- tionall Number of Books to the Parochial Library" being recorded in July, 1741. All told, these benefactions nimiber some 116 volumes, covering six pages of the "Catalogue" in the big manu- script folio,^ and thus introduced: "Robert Elhston Gent. ComptroK of his Majesty's Customs in New York in America. His Gift of the Books by the Reverend Authors in the Catalogue ffollowing; To Holy Trinity Church in New York City Its Library." The titles are tabulated under these headings: "The Reverend Authors Named," "Their Respective Tracts Distinguished," and ^ The Rev. David Bostwick died in was transferred in 1766 to Henry November, 1763; his share, accord- Remsen, Jr., who paid the arrears, ing to the Society Library records, ^Trinity vestry minutes, I, 210- 212; 218-220. n „/«?»■ /^ «*«; ^A" '/'^"'"'^'- " ^^^z^^fe; romj'fn. Z/^t ,me.rua. ,WU una.., /A Full page (much reduced) from catalogue in Trinity Vestry minutes. See pp. 20, 3»-35. 0^^ t^^ /- THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 35 "The Number of Volums Lettered." An artistic finish is intended in a valedictory, handsomely written in Latin, expressive of the donor's hope that the gift may prove useful; but the passage is so incomplete, not to say inaccurate, that it will not bear close scrutiny from in- telligent readers. The whole is dated, churchly fashion, at the Feast of the Epiphany, January, 1743. No further allusion to this Library, either in the church records or anywhere else, has come to light in the present investigation, prior to the sad chronicling of its virtually complete destruction in the great fire of Sep- tember 21, 1776, when the charity schools and the rec- tory, as well as the sacred edifice itself, fell prey to the destroyer. The least item in the damage, the loss of the Library, was yet estimated as £200,^ a very considerable sum for those days, even though a pound represented but about $2.50 in New York currency. It would seem that the collection must have received additions other than the catalogue in the minutes records, for not over 425 volumes are there enumerated, and not all of these were lost. A graphic account of this fire is given by Rector Ing- lis, who labored heroically to save the church property from destruction.^ In some way a few of the books escaped annihilation. Besides the old Clarendon history in the Society Library, already mentioned, about twenty Elliston volimies are in existence to-day in the Library of the General Theological Seminary. Most of them are stiU adorned with his beautiful bookplate and the printed label, "His Gift to H. Trinity-Church Library ^ Vestry minutes, I, 398. ords and in Gen. Conv. Arch., IV. Y. ' The Rev. Charles Inglis, D.D., MSS; it is printed in Doc. Hist, of to the Rev. Richard Hind, D.D., N. Y. Vol. Ill (18S0), pp. 637-646. Oct. 31, 1776. Copy in S. P. G. rec- 86 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK in New- York City." In company with them is yet an- other interesting little book,^ its fly-leaf bearing this significant inscription, "John Sharp May 6* 1T14,"— of which more anon. There is real romance in the story of what next befell this fire-spared remnant. In the words of Nathaniel F, Moore, president of Colimibia College, when referring to the transfer of the Library and other effects of King's College to the City Hall in May, 1776: Almost all the apparatus, and a large proportion of the books belonging to the College, were wholly lost to it in consequence of this removal ; and of the books recovered, six or seven hundred volumes were so, only after about thirty years, when they were found, with as many belonging to the N. Y. Society Library, and some belonging to Trinity Church, in a room in St. Paul's Chapel, where, it seemed, no one but the Sexton had been aware of their existence, and neither he nor any body else could tell how they had arrived there.^ In consequence of this statement, the behef very nat- urally came to prevail that the books were in some way whoUy hidden from the view and from the actual know- ledge of all the church ofllcers. In fact it has been solemnly assumed that the doorway to their place of re- pository was carefully walled up for their preservation!' But from press comments at the time the miscellaneous assortment was "discovered," it appears that even then the story— though not the collection— was pronounced ^Warnings of the Eternal Spirit, B. Beach, rector of St. Peter's . . . London, 1712. Another work, Church. The Lawfulness and Expediency of "N. F. Moore. An Historical Set Forms of Prayer, Maintained Sketch of Columbia College. New (Robert Calder. N. p., 1706), bear- York, 1846. P. 62. ing the same autograph and date, 'Morgan Dix, S.T.D. Historical was presented to the Seminary in Becollections of S. PoaiI's Ghavel. 1890, by the late Rev. Dr. Alfred New York, 1867. P. 43. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 37 an invention, "a hoax"!^ Upon investigation, the editor of the Morning Chronicle on December 14, 1802, gave the following explanation of current lively rumors : There are in a room in the east corner of St. Paul's church, about two thousand volumes consisting chiefly of latin and Eng- lish authors. They are the remains of a library presented by different persons to Trinity church, many years since, which were saved from the flames when that edifice was consumed, and were lodged in the hands of bishop Inglis. On his removal to Nova-Scotia (at the evacuation of this city by the British forces) they were conveyed from his house to St. Paul's church, where they have ever since remained. They were not forgotten, as reported, but have been visited frequently by bishop Provoost and others. It would seem that "others" did indeed know of their existence prior to this date, for exactly a year previously Mr. John Pintard, one of the most public-spirited men of his day, had written in his diary :^ "Conversed with Bishop Moore on forming a Theological Library under the auspices of Trinity Church." Enough of a stir, how- ever, was occasioned by the newspaper disclosures for the college authorities to claim the neglected remnant of the King's College Library.* And friends of the So- ciety Library no doubt as promptly recovered such of its property as could be identified, though the minutes of its Trustees do not mention the circumstance at all, in their brief chronicles of the few meetings held at that period. Nearly twelve years passed before any further atten- tion was paid to the old volumes still left in St. Paul's. ^ The Mormng ChromoU, N. Y., in the possession of Mrs. E. B. Ser- Dec. 13, 1802. voss, N. Y. city. ' These valuable MS. records are " At least one volume, however, widely scattered. The sections re- was left behind and Is now in the ferred to in the present volume are Library of the General Theological Seminary. See p. 99nS. 38 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK HIS GIFT TO H. TRINITY-CHURCH LIBRARV IN NEW-YORK CITY* ^i^^UW Robert EUiston bookplate (facsimile size), printed label and private inscription. See pp. 3S, 34, 35-36. THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 89 Finally, at a Trinity vestry meeting on March 14, 1814, a letter was read from the Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, rector of Grace Church, "and others, a Committee in behalf of the New York Protestant Episcopal Library Society, praying a Transfer of the Books composing the Library now in Saint Paul's Chapel."^ Without delay the re- quest was granted, "on condition that the said Society become incorporated according to Law."^ Although in a twelve-page pamphlet, published in 1816 as "Extracts from the Minutes of the Protestant Episcopal Library Society of New- York," ^ the Society is expressly declared to have "since become incorpo- rated," no such record appears, either in the archives of the state or legislative departments at Albany, or upon the registers in the New York county clerk's office. So fragmentary are any allusions that can be found to this little association, a forerunner of the General Theolog- ical Seminary, that it may not be amiss to devote a par- agraph or two to its consideration, justification for their insertion being found in the very circumstances of its origin. According to Mr. Pintard's journal for 1814 : On Wednesday evening, SO*^? March, several Clergymen & Lay- members of the protestant Episcopal Church in this city met in the Episcopal Charity School room to take into consideration the propriety of forming an Association having for its object ^ Trinity vestry minutes, II, 263. calling this Society "Literary^' in- ^ In chronicling this incident in stead of "Library," as the original the lately published, elaborate his- minutes of the vestry, and indeed its tory of Trinity parish, the statement own printed by-laws, show clearly is made that "The Society did be- was its actual name, come incorporated and is now the ' A copy is in the Library of the 'New York Society Library' on Uni- N. Y. Hist. Society. A slightly de- versity Place"— an institution then fective copy is in the Library of the of fully sixty years' standing! General Seminary, bound up as (Vol. II, p. 196.) Though this mis- "No. 34a" in a book of pamphlets, take is later corrected (Vol. IV, "383.74n,P19." p. 533), a small error still lingers in 40 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK the collection of a Theological Library of all the most rare & valuable works in the various departments of sacred literature and science. Bishop Hobart presided — about 25 Gentlemen met. Rules prepared by the Rev^ Doctor Bowen, who interests himself in this laudable pursuit, were reported & adopted, being similar & taken from the Rules for the Government of the N. York Society Library. The Admission Fee was fixed at Ten Dollars & Five Dollars annual dues. The meeting adjourned till Wed? 12 o'clock 13* April for election of Trustees. The balloting resulted in the choice of Bishop Hobart as president ex officio, the trustees elected comprising the Rev. Dr. John Bowden, professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres in Columbia College, the Rev. Dr. Bowen, rector of Grace Chtu*ch, the Rev. Dr. WilUam Harris, rector of St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery and at the same time president of Columbia College, the Rev. Thomas Y. How and the Rev. Benjamin T. Onder- donk, assistant ministers of Trinity parish, the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Jarvis, rector of St. Michael's, WilUam Johnson and William Cutting, Esquires, lawyers of standing, and John Pintard, the prime mover of it all. His diary further records that a smaller gathering had been held on March 24th at Dr. Bowen's house, "to pre- pare Rules & Regulations for estabhshing a Library for the benefit of the Episcopal Clergy in this city ... a Subject I have long had at heart, & on which I have often conversed with Doctor Bowen." Alluding to the old Parish Library, he says : There is a small Library, established before the revolution, be- longing to Trinity Church, which will be granted by the Vestry as the Basis of this institution. This Library consisting of donations may contain about 500. volumes of valuable Theolog- ical works. To the shame of Trinity Church [it] has never been THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY PARISH 41 augmented but possibly been dilapidated. It is at present in a Chamber over the N. East door of St Pauls Church. Later Elliston bookplate with written label (facsimile size). See pp. 85-36. 42 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK This historic old room^ was long ago converted into a passageway to the gallery, but its dimensions cannot have been much changed, should any one wish to gaze upon the four walls which for so many years guarded portions of New York's early Libraries. The Protestant Episcopal Library Society soon ful- filled its destiny,^ becoming merged into the far better organized Protestant Episcopal Theological Society,' which in its turn gave rise to the General Theological Seminary. That numerous additions of books were re- ceived in the meantime is plain from a manuscript cat- alogue now in the General Seminary, and from a letter of John Pintard's to Bishop Hobart, dated March 14, 1822, in which he says: "The Books in St. Paul's, it is said, am* to 800 vs." ; and of the entire collection, includ- ing 1000 volumes given to the Library during the early years of the Seminary in New Haven, he adds: "Consid- ering the short period of the existence of the Sem^ this number is far from contemptible, especially when their character & ponderosity are considered." * It is therefore indeed fitting that the few survivors of this old Church of England Parish Library, founded in pious zeal for the use of the clergy, should be given a final asylum in the Library of an institution devoted to the training of young men for the Episcopal ministry. '■ That it had a sacredness aside in the General Seminary, show a from the sentimental interest here membership of S3 persons in 1817. ascribed to it, is plain from these » "Hobart planned and organized words of Dr. Dix: "And now I have a clerical association imder the title to mention the great glory of that of 'The Protestant Episcopal Theo- ancient 'Library Room.' In it the logical Society.' From this as from General Theological Seminary was a germ sprang our noble institution born; or there, at least, the first of learning. The General Theological children were nurtured, and thence Seminary." Morgan Dix. History were they sent forth." P. 44, His- of Trinity Parish. II, 236. torieal Recollections of S. Paul's • Quoted by Morgan Dix. History Chapel, New York. of Trinity Parish. Ill, 272. ' The treasurer's records, preserved THE SHARPE COLLECTION 43 S. The Sharpe Collection, given in 1713 to found a "Publick Library" at New York Turning now from the story of the first New York Li- brary,— which never was a Public Library at all,— as from a tale that is told, and retracing our steps almost to the same early date, we hear again the voice of one cry- ing in the unlettered wilderness. The name of this per- sonage, next simmioned from the shadowy past, bears a closer relationship to the still far distant Society Library than founder or patron of the old Parish Library. The Rev. John Sharpe, D.D., is the individual; and his con- nection with New York begins in his appointment by Governor Cornbury, October 20, 1704, as "Chaplain of her Majesty's Forces in the Province of New York."^ This date should dispose of the oft-recurring anachron- ism that Mr. Sharpe was chaplain to Lord Bellomont, for the latter died March 5, 1701, more than three years earlier, and in fact four months before Mr. Sharpe left England. Inasmuch as no sketch of this good man has ever been published, and as his career has a direct bear- ing on our narrative, it is pertinent to give here, in outline at least, the known facts of his pilgrimage. The record of his early years is simply told in a few sentences as preface to his private diary, entitled "A Journal of my Life — Exteriour," in which it is written: "On May 15* 1680 I was born at the Church of Bourty in the Presbytery of the Garrioch in the Kingdom of Scotland My ffather M"" Alexander Sharpe Minister of ^The Sharpe diary, however, gives in the office of the Secretary of the date of actual investiture as State, Albany. A rough draft is in Oct. 19. His commission is recorded "N. Y. Col. MSS.," XL VII, 54, in full in "Commissions," III, 95, State Library. 44 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK Said parish and Anne Douglass his wife my mother." He was evidently a precocious and studious lad, for he was graduated Master of Arts from the University of Aberdeen at the age of eighteen, whereupon he began the study of theology privately in the city of Edinburgh. Most touching is the glimpse of sentiment and filial af- fection revealed in these simple words : "At 20 I left my Fathers house May 18* 1700 and was accompanied by him to Aberdeen where I received his blessing at parting on that spot of ground where his Father blest him when he went to Ireland." His ordination to the ministry at. the hands of the Bishop of London occurred in March, 1701.^ On July 3d he "came on board her Ma^^^s Ship Southampton bound for VirgS; and arrived there Sept- 8, 1701," whence he presently proceeded to Maryland. Thus John Sharpe at twenty-one began laboring in the American mission field as one of Dr. Bray's ap- pointees and under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, just incorporated. So he doubtless became fully imbued with aU Dr. Bray's plans, especially when settled where Parochial Libraries were most thickly planted. In 1702-1703 he was rector of Broad Neck parish, Anne Arundel county, and the next year at Snow Hill parish, Somerset covmty, both in Maryland. In May, 1703, with other clergymen he signed a petition "To his honour the President and Council," asking among other things "That Catalogues of Parochial Librarys be taken & sent to the Council."^ 'These statements are confirmed inal book of subscriptions to tlie by tiie records of the London See at Act of Uniformity, etc., in the same Fulham Palace in Liber SvhscHp- diocese, preserved in the Rawlinson tion., 1699-1709, containing also the MSS. (B. 375), in the Bodleian Li- signature of Mr. Sharpe after the brary, Oxford, viz: "John Sharpe, customary oaths of conformity, etc. Maryland, AprU 26, 1701." His name also appears in the orig- '"Proceedings of the Council, THE SHARPE COLLECTION 45 The diary^ of John Sharpe, now in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, states that its second part was "begun at point Love in Chesapeack bay in the province of Mary Land March 1. 170i," when its author was about to leave that section of the colonies. A partial explanation of his abrupt move comes from a wholly outside source in a letter from a Pennsylvania clergyman to the secretary of the S. P. G., dated March 20, 1704.^ He says in part: ... & because Dear S^ I have Sufficiently Experienced your Goodness, I dare open my whole Concern & fear, & that is this, I met w*^^ one M^ Sharp of Maryland, one who has been sent about 3 years since, he told me that D^ Bray was his Priend, & procured a Support for him from that Honorable Body, but seems it was his 111 fortune to QuarreU w*^ D^ Bray, since w*% time he has never rec? one Penny but the first £50. He has left Maryland, & thinks to settle in this Province or else in Burlington in E. Jersey. It is a Miserable thing if we that are so remote, stand Precarious to one Member's Displeas- ure. I could relate to you the most Surprising Storyes that I have had too sure reason to believe concerning D^ B. of his De- portment towards the Principall Benef^ our Church has in this Country, Cotf Nicholson Gov^ of Virginia. You have undoubt- edly heard Enough already, but you must Expect to hear a great deal More. [In a postscript he adds:] Since this was finished I hear that M^ Sharp will take upon him the Itinerant office in M^ Keith's Room. 1698-1731," Archives of Maryland. Mag. of Hist., vol. XXIII (1899), Baltimore, 1905. P. 160. pp. 104-105; and also in a pamphlet *A contemporary allusion to this by the Rev. Joseph Hooper, "The journal appears in a letter from Church in Connecticut, 1705-1807," Col. Lewis Morris to Secretary privately printed for the Commission Chamberlayne of the S. P. G., dated on Parochial Archives of Conn., Feb. 20, 1711, in which he speaks of June, 1906. "Mr Sharp's narrative, who kept a ' The Rev. Henry Nicols of Ches- Dlary whUe in N York." N. Y. ter, Penna., to the Rev. Mr. Stubs, Col. Docs., V, 318. Extracts from London. S. P. O. Letter Book, vol. the journal have been published I A (copies), (though with errors) in The Penna. 46 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK By May, 1704, the wanderer had arrived in New Jer- sey, and for the next five months was busy helping the Rev. John Talbot in the evangelical work begun by George Keith. A good idea of his enthusiasm and suc- cess is given in these extracts from a letter from Mr. Talbot to Mr. Keith, dated at New York, October 20th. M^ Sharp was very zealous to bring y« Quakers to stand a Tryal, he carried one of y^ Bombs ^ into their Meeting and read a new Challenge w'^l? I sent them to answer what they had printed. . . . M^ Sharp and I have gon y^ rounds several times from Burlington to Amboy to Hopewell to Eliz :Town to Staten Island in our Turns with good Success, God be blessed, in all places. He had gather'd a Church himself at Cheesquaks where he preacht several times, 4" Baptiz'd about 40 ^sons.^ Then, alluding to the chaplaincy, which had been first offered to himself, Mr. Talbot concludes : Now I am alone for my Lord Cornbury has p^'ferr'd him to be Chaplain of her Ma*'?^ Fort and Forces at N. York. I saw his Comission sign'd this day, in y^ Room of M^ Mott who dyed about 3. months agoe. I was loth to part with my good Friend and Companion in Travel, but considering how he had been disappointed at home I would not hinder his p'ferment abroad, hoping that y'^ good providence of God and y* venerable Society will supply his place. Thus the young priest entered upon the last and long- est period of his American ministry. His stipend as chaplain included board and lodging and £130 a year, payable weekly.* He was also directed by the governor > A tract by the Rev. Francis Sharpe received £30 from the S. P. Bugg. G. See Letter Book, vol. II (orig- '8. P. O. Letter Book, vol. II inals), 1704-1706, no. cxxix. (copies), 1704-1706, no. xxiii. For » "Mr Talbot to ye Society," Lon- his services in New Jersey, Mr. don, March 14, 1706. 8. P. O. Letter THE SHARPE COLLECTION 47 to assist Mr. Vesey, who writes to the secretary of the S. P. G., February 26, 1705: "... nor do I now want an Assistant, for M^ Sharp who since [he] had his Conussion to be Chaplain of the Forces, is order'd by my L^ Cornbury to assist me & to preach every Sunday."^ Even a cursory glance through his httle old "Journal" impresses one with the sense of John Sharpe's having been an earnest, conscientious soul, tender and kind, with- out trace of envy or rancor, a true lover of his fellows. Fond of the open air and the water, he "walked a Shoot- ing" and "went a fishing" with wholesome zest. Plainly of a genial temper, tactful and loyal, he continued at in- tervals to visit "my Lord" Cornbury in his durance in the debtors' prison, up to the departure of that discred- ited nobleman, at whose wife's funeral he had delivered an eloquent tribute.^ He also won and held the esteem of his successor, Governor Hunter, and of such public leaders as Col. Lewis Morris, afterward chief justice, and Col. Caleb Heathcote, mayor of the city, as well as the regard of his own more intimate associates, Elias Neau, catechist, and William Huddleston, master of the charity school. On one occasion he acted as security for William Bradford, the printer, on a bond to the vestry of Trinity.* But social diversions and physical recreation could not interfere with his performance of duty, to judge by the monotonous entries, "at Study" and "preach'd." He seems to have been popular with his troops, whom Book, vol. II A (copies), 1704- ford copy is in the Library of the 1706, no. cxlii. Historical Society of Pennsylvania. ^ Ibid., no. Ixxvii. Copies of the reprints are less rare. "This sermon, printed by Brad- '"Journal," March 13, 1711; cor- ford at New York in 1706, was twice roborated in Trinity vestry minutes, reprinted at London, and sold "for I, S8, 81. the Benefit of the Poor." A Brad- 48 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK he accompanied on the expeditions of 1709 and 1711 against the French in northern New York. At times he addressed the Iroquois on religious topics, such ministra- tions being regularly supplemented with "a barrell of beer." For a large part of his term the old chapel in the <^tniA,£i^ ^ MrU^-fy* tMj^fi^ fiSUMn /". ^i^^ First page (reduced) of Sharpe diary. See pp. 43-44. THE SHARPE COLLECTION 49 fort was in a riiinous state; but, on its restoration by Governor Hunter in 1711,^ he held services there reg- ularly. Diu-ing the interval he had made tom-s embrac- ing Long Island and neighboring towns in New York and in a portion of Connecticut, to officiate in communi- ties without church organization, thereby accomplishing, in the words of Elias Neau, "a great deal of good here these six Years." ^ His return from these httle trips, as well as from longer ones, invariably brings out a fervent' "I>eo Gratias" in the journal. On November 2, 1710, the good chaplain seems to have reached the acme of human happiness, to judge from an entry heavily underscored in scarlet: "This day I was married to my dearest ilf* Margarita Dreyer. Deo Gloria in Eternum." According to such evidence as is now available, this young woman was a daughter of Andries Draeyer (or Drauyer), a Dane,* who had commanded at Fort Albany in later days of Dutch rule, and who was an officer of the Dutch fleet in American waters. Another daughter, Anna Dorothea, became the wife of the Rev. Thomas Barclay, D.D., rector of St, Peter's Church at Albany,* whose son Henry, second ^ "The Queens Chappel in the Fort, * Elias Neau to the Rev. John that from the time of Coll Fletcher Chamberlayne, July 5, 1710. B. P. till his [Grov. Hunter's] arrivall O. Letter Book. had been put to the several uses ' His wife was Gerritje Van of Store house. Bear house, and Schaick, whose sister was the wife work house, he took care to have of the Rev. Bernardus Freeman, a decently fitted up and applyed to Reformed Dutch minister at New the use it was built for, and the Utrecht, L. I., and formerly a suc- Soldiers, who before were carried cessful missionary among the Mo- out of the Garrison and during the hawks. He had been appointed by service stood for the most part in Gov. Belloraont until an English the Steeple, where they could but clergyman should be sent over, imperfectly hear, are now very well * Joseph Hooper. A History of accommodated with Seats in the Saint Peter's Church in the City of Chappel, where the service is regu- Albany. Albany, 1900. P. 63; also, larly performed." Col. Morris to R. Bumham Moffat. The Barclays Secy. Chamberlayne, Feb. 30, 1711. of New York. New York, 1904. N. T. Col. Docs., V, 320. P. 51. 50 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK rector of Trinity Church, was to be in 1754 a member of the first board of Trustees of the New York Society- Library. The Sharpe diary, to its abrupt close in 1713, con- tains not a word about its author's literary tastes, let alone his private library or plans for a public institution. Nor is it till near the end of his sojourn in New York that his views on the subject begin to appear in his cor- respondence. In a long letter^ to the secretary of the S. P. G., dated December 4, 1710, he says in part that it would be "highly conducive" to the work of the Society to have "provincial and parochial Librarys erected," "a great many good Collections of Books" having been sent to "the Metropolis of the several provinces of Maryland, Pensylvania, New York and Boston." If these collec- tions were only "under good regulation, there would be considerable Additions made dayly by Charitable Per- sons here." To prevent the "Inconvenience" of the books' becoming scattered, "it wou'd be very Adviseable that there shou'd be Compleat Catalogues of the several parochial Librarys lodged in the hand of some Minister or Member of the Society, according to which the Li- braries might be now and then reviewed and secured upon the death or removal of any of the Missionary's" ; and, in case of additions through "the Benevolence of any here, it might be Notifyed to the Ven^l^ Society." Coming to his personal interest in the matter, the chaplain continues : M^ Talbot and I have talked of building a Superstructure, to which I will sell one part and dedicate the other of my small Library upon my death or removal from this Country. I have »S. P. a. Letter Book (copies), in Gen. Conv. Arch., iV^. T. MSB., I, vol. VI, 1710-1711, no. i. A copy is 230-932. THE SHARPE COLLECTION 51 sent you a Catalogue of such as I wou'd sell to the Society (hav- ing others in my View to fill up the room). As for the price I leave it to be set by the Society's Book-seller, and if you agree to take them I shall give Orders where the Money shall be paid, and before such Order, upon the Intimation of your pleasure, shall deliver them to M^ Talbot or any others you shall appoint, and transmit the receipt of them before I receive the Money. He concludes with a request for "some hundred of the Society's Seal to fiix on the adverse page of the Titile page as is usual." ^ Two years passed, however, without any action or further mention of the purpose in his heart, until March, 1713, when Governor Hunter granted him leave of ab- sence, nominally "to see his aged Parent,"^ but no less particularly to set forth "y^ Posture of Ecclesiastical Affairs in these Provinces"* to the church authorities at home. He bore with him letters of high endorsement from the governor to English dignitaries. In one he is said to have "too much Sence to be Imposed on and too much Probity to Impose upon others,"* and in another characterized as "a very worthy, ingenious, and con- scientious clergyman." ° But a single jarring note ap- pears to have been struck amid the general chords of approval. It sounds as follows from General Francis Nicholson, formerly governor of Virginia, in a commu- * Not one volume of the Sharpe ' Gov. Hunter to the Secretary, collection, however, bears an S. P. March 14, 1713. S. P. G. Letter G. bookplate. Book (copies), vol. VIII A, 1713- ^ His mother is of course meant, 1713, no. xv, p. 133. as the records of the Presbytery * Ibid. of EUon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, " Gov. Hunter to Dean Swift, show that the Rev. Alexander Sharp March 14, 1713. Letters written by died Feb. 30, 1709, his son, accord- Jonathan Swift, D.D. . . . and Sell- ing to his journal, receiving on eral of his Friends. London, 1767. August 29th "ane account of my Vol. I, pp. 381-383. See also "The dear ffathers death ^ Brl" to which Rev. Mr. Sharpe to Dr. Swift," ibid., sad entry he adds in characteristic pp. 330-331. fashion "Requiem Etemam." 52 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK nication to the secretary of the S. P, G., from Boston, December 1, 1713, several months after John Sharpe's return to England: I beg the Society will be pleased not to give intire Credit to any offer or Representation of the Rev^ M"" Jn" Sharpe (late Chaplain to Her Majestys forces in N York Govemm^) for himself or others without Good Authority and Proofs I know- ing him to be a Person of double dealing &9 and am Sorry I am not in London to call him to Ace* as a Deserter for running away from his Duty as Chaplain to the said Forces on the last Designed Expedition to Canada and more heartily Sorry to have this and many other things to lay to the charge of any Person in Sacred Orders.^ More in explanation of such language than of the charge conveyed, it must be said that Francis Nicholson, though a generous contributor to the interests of the church in Virginia and South Carolina, was jealous, passionate and headstrong in temperament, and far from deserving "intire Credit to any offer or Representa- tion" he himself might make. Bitterly chagrined at the failiu-e of his carefrdly planned expedition, he was only too ready to denounce any one connected with it. That his charge was tmjust in this case is plain from the Sharpe diary, whose author left Camp Nicholson in September, 1711, because of illness, proofs of which, in- cluding a physician's "affadavit," were several times sent to the general. It is evident that Chaplain Sharpe not only had kept in mind his Library plan but had been developing it all the whUe, and was to make its annoimcement one of the main objects of his visit to England. For, on the eve of ' 8. p. a. Letter Book, vol. VIII, p. S26. THE SHARPE COLLECTION 58 his departure, he drew up a remarkable paper, dated March 11, 1713, in which he declared it his intention to promote the establishment of "A Publick School," "A hi t/Sru. 9-ptLxxt/ti/iJ»- dtni/u^tU^ Ar^it-^f^i^ a^^tr^ a^J ^ Ifu^ e^.^^J .T^2^ /tc^t^-^*^ >W^«^^ /5v#»r^,, First page (reduced) of Sharpe Proposals. See pp. 53-54. 64 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK Publick Library" and "A Catechising Chappel" in the city of New York. He mournfully explains that "There is hardly any thing which is more wanted in this Coimtrey than learn- ing there being no place I Jaiow of in America where it is either less encouraged or regarded." This sad condi- tion he accoimts for in the following words, which sug- gest an applicability to New York in less remote times. "The City," he says, "is so conveniently Scituated for Trade and the Genius of the people so inclined to mer- chandise, that they generaly seek no other Education for their children than writing and arithmetick. So that letters must be in a manner forced upon them not only Avithout their seeking, but against their consent." ■ After elaborating his theories of founding and gov- erning schools, he proceeds to "The Library," saying: "Another thing which is very much wanted here is a pubUck Library, which would very much advance both learning and piety. Such there are at Charles Town in Carolina, Annapolis in Mary Land, at Philadelphia and Boston. Some books have been formerly sent to New York but as parochial they remain in the hands of the Incumbent." In contradistinction to this last-named— at once recognizable as the Library of Trinity parish— the proposed institution should be "publick and pro- vincial" and "open every day in the week at convenient hours," when "all men may have liberty to read in the Library." As evidence of his advanced ideas, it need only be said that the Society Library, fovmded in 1754, was not made accessible daily until 1791. Eight regulations are suggested, by which, in addition to the above, it appears that the use of the books and the lighting should be free, though each borrower of a vol- THE SHARPE COLLECTION 55 ume must "sign to a receipt or obligation to return it at such a time," for which the librarian was to receive six- pence. Also, the subscription element was to be purely voluntary, a book to "ly on the table where it may be lawful for others to subscribe books or money." A cat- alogue, signed by the governor, the mayor and a clergy- man, must be sent to the Enghsh primate; and like the Bray libraries the proposed institution must be visited once in three years by these same officials, who should "certify the improvements or Embezelments to the Trustees in England to be appoynted by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London." His plan expands, amazing in its scope, as he beholds the Library "a Repository of all such Rarities as the Countrey produces, or are brought hither from other places to be communicated to the Ingenious in Eiu-ope." It might as well comprise also "a small garden of rare and Exotick plants to send yearly some to the curious in England and have others in Exchange."^ And he was desirous to have the Library under the same roof as the ^ There is in this proposition not ments of each country, may at once a little resemblance to the scheme and always be assigned to their true of the celebrated Frenchman, Alex- origin, and always verified without andre Vattemare, for "an interna- doubt or difSculty." Address of M. tional exchange of all that is valu- Vattemare before the two houses of able in science, literature, natural the N. Y. Legislature, Oct. 30, 1847. history and the fine arts — and the This was a mission he had been con- establishment in every nation and ducting for twenty years with fitful state of an institution (under the success. It was in consequence of fostering care of its government), his securing to the city of New to receive these exchanges, forming York, in 1848, for example, a not only a musewm illustrative as "splendid case of valuable medals, well of the powers of nature, as of commemorative of interesting events the state of perfection to which the during the administration of" Pope productions of the human mind and Pius IX, that the present City Li- hand have arrived, or are tending brary was instituted in the City Hall to in every quarter of the globe, by die local authorities in January, but a kind of patent o^ce, where 1849. See Proceedings of the Boards the creations of the industry, the of Aldermen and Assistant Alder- achievement of the intellect, of the men approved by the Mayor. Vol. inventive faculties, and of govern- XVI. New York, 1849. 56 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK school, for it would be "a motive to the Industry and application of the scholars when they see so good provi- sion made for their Studys." O Chaplain, great was thy faith! The innate sincerity and goodness of the man shine out in the concluding passages, in which he avows his long-cherished resolve to bestow "for a foimdation or beginning to this Library ... all my own books, which I now have or may have at the time of my decease or leaving of that countrey, which shall be put up in it how soon it is fitted to receive them"; for, he pathetically acknowledges, "the undertaking looks so formidably great (at first) that something must be done to make it seem possible." Modestly reserving for himself "during hfe or stay in the countrey free access" to the Library of his dreams, "and leave to borrow . . . imder the same restrictions and limitations as others," he reverently en- treats in closing: "So God prosper the work." Appended to the "Proposals" is a catalogue of his precious collection, "intended to be given as a founda- tion of a Pubhck Library at New York," comprising 146 volmnes, of which 105 appear to have been left be- hind by the donor. They are classified much Kke the Bray collections, as follows : I the holy Scriptures, 9; II Criticks and Commentators, 20; III Fathers and Schoolmen, 20 ; IV Discourses, Apologetical, 6 ; V Ecclesiastical History, Chronology, Chorography, 4; VI Body's of Divinity, 18 ; VII Practical Divinity, 24 ; VIII Con- troversial Tracts, 11 ; IX Philology, History, &c, 18; X Devo- tional, 16. These books were left with his friend Elias Neau, until the passage of an act of assembly, which he confidently THE SHARPE COLLECTION 57 predicts "can be easily obtained to secure the said Library for ever."^ The original manuscript is now in the Library of Lambeth Palace.^ A somewhat defective copy, now in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, contains a dedicatory page, dated in London, July 11, 1713, and thus in- scribed: To THE MOST Reverend Fathers in God the Arch Bishops, To the Right Reverend the Bishops, To the Reverend the Clergy. And to all the Learned and pious Patrons and Promoters of Pietj and Learning in the Kingdom of Great Britaine This following Proposal as a means of its Advancement in the Province of New York and other parts of America Is most humbly dedicated and with most profound Respect and Deference to their Godly Wisdom, is intirely Submitted by, Their most faithfuU Servant and ffellow-Labourer in Christ Jesus our Lord and Master John Shakpe Chaplaine to her Majestys Garisons in the province of New York.^ The catalogue attached to this copy is dated May 15, 1715, and enumerates 238 volumes, including those left behind, "given towards laying the Foimdation of a Pub- lick Library at New York in America." This statement of actual gift is borne out by the final paragraph : "Lon- don July 15«' 1715. To the Glory of God and the Ad- vancement of true Religion and Virtue in the Infant Church of America I do freely and heartily give & re- sign at this time all the above mention'd books." The * From his copy of 1715. Bittorioal Society for 1880, though ' The MS. itself bears no labd or a comparison of its text with photo- endorsement. In the Lambeth cata- graphs of the original document logue it is in vol. 841, "Proposals discloses variations in spelling, etc. for erecting a School, Library and ' A copy of this copy is in the Chapel at New York, 1713-13." B. P. G. Letter Book, "Letters Re- The paper was printed in full in ceived," vol. XA (copies), 1714- the Collections of the New York 1715. 58 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK additional volumes were despatched oversea for Elias Neau to put with those already in his hands, the whole collection being thereupon formally presented by Dr. Sharpe, as he had then become, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in trust for a Public Library.^ Nevertheless, despite his sanguine expectation and ef- forts of the Venerable Society, seconded by Elias Neau and Chaplain Jenney,^ and notwithstanding the evident favor of Governors Hunter and Biu-net in turn, no measure to establish the proposed Library by statute seems even to have come before the provincial legislature.* In May, 1723, Governor Burnet wrote to Secretary Humphreys of the S. P. G. that he had received the books from Mr. Neau, but that he feared it would "take some time to bring the Assembly into the Notion of a Publick Library."* So the little collection remained with the governor. In all likelihood it was examined by young Benjamin Franklin when entertained by Burnet in 1724, for in his autobiography FrankUn says: "The then governor of New York, Burnet (son of Bishop Burnet), hearing from the captain that a young man, one of his pas- sengers, had a great many books, desir'd he would bring me to see him. . . . The gov'r. treated me with great civility, show'd me his library, which was a very large one, and we had a good deal of conversation about books and authors."^ It is natural to suppose that their talk ' Basis for these statements is to become Laws, 1685-1770." MS. found in the correspondence be- no. 44, State Library, Albany, tween Elias Neau, Gov. Hunter, * 8. P. O. Letter Book, vol. XVII A Gov. Burnet, et al. and the secy. (copies), 1722-1733, pp. 230-231. of the S. P. G., in the S. P. O. Let- = The Complete Works of Benjor ter Books. min Franklin. Edited by John ' See p. 28. Bigelow. New York, 1887. Vol. I, ' This fact is established by a vain pp. 73-74. search through "Bills which failed THE SHARPE COLLECTION 69 embraced a discussion, not merely of the Sharpe plans, but also of the general "Notion of a Publick Library." Whether or not Franklin, "the father of social li- braries in this country," ^ in listening to the proposals of poor Chaplain Sharpe, then and there received the in- spiration that eventually led him to organize a library in his adopted home, is of course purely a matter for con- jecture. His institution, which he calls "the Philadel- phia public hbrary"^ and "the mother of all the North American subscription libraries,"* was founded in 1731 and formally chartered eleven years later as The Library Company of Philadelphia, and is to-day the largest as well as the oldest Proprietary Library in the United States. There is nothing, however, in Franklin's available writings to confirm or even to suggest any indebtedness to Sharpe. And if such a surmise should ever prove true, ahead of Sharpe appears the primal genius of Bray; while, moreover, Franklin's own birthplace, Bos- ton, possessed a "publike Library" in its town house prior to 1675.* Nor would our great savant's reputa- tion for originality suffer by such an admission. His acuteness of perception, no less than his pubUc spirit, is revealed in his successfully adapting the ineffectual plans of Bray and Sharpe (for institutions publicly sup- ported) to the subscription scheme, in which movement he is regarded as the pioneer of the English-speaking world.® To return to John Sharpe in closing. Unfortunately ^ Free Public Libraries, a pamphlet ° Ibid., I, 169. published by the American Social Sci- * See p. 4»2. ence Association. Boston, 1871. P. 3. ° Ainsworth R. Spofford. A Book 'The Complete Works of Benja- for All Readers. New York, 1900. min Franklin. Edited by John Big- P. 399. elow, N. Y., 1887. Vol. I, p. 167. 60 THE LIBRAHY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK his last years are at the present writing shrouded in ob- scurity. Soon after his return from America, he took his doctor's degree in divinity, January 6, 1714, at his loved alma mater, King's College in the University of Aberdeen, his thesis being "a latine discourse upon some subject in theologie."^ In June of that year he inno- cently fell among thorns in suffering himself to be "forcibly presented" by two of his Aberdeen faculty into the pulpit of Old Machar, where he gave f m-ther offence by using the Anghcan ritual. In the justiciary process that ensued at Edinburgh, he was sentenced to be "un- capable of enjoying any parish Church Stipend or Bene- fice within Scotland for the Space of Seven years,"— in effect a virtual decree of banishment from his native heath.^ The next known of him is that in 1717 he pubhshed a treatise in London, a work of a scholarly and deeply religious character.^ In the meantime he had resigned the chaplaincy at New York, his successor, the Rev. Robert Jenney, receiving a conrniission from King George I, dated September 17, 1717.* Then comes a melancholy allusion to "the late D' Sharpe, once Chap- lain to the Garrison," in a letter written by Secretary Humphreys to Governor Burnet in June, 1722.® ' From the faculty minutes, Christ, explain'd in Two Himdred King's College, Aberdeen, Jan. S, Conchisiont and Corollaries, from 1714. The thesis, a 16-page pam- the Last Words of our Blessed phlet, entitled De Bebits Liturgicis, Lord to his Disciples . . . London, was printed at Aberdeen the same 1717. A copy is in the British year. A copy is in the Library of Museum. Glasgow University. * "Grant Warrants," Colonial Of- ' See Offlcers and Oraduates of flee, London. Vol. XV, p. 114. Vmiversity and King's College, 'A puzzling allusion to Dr. Aberdeen, MVD-MDOCCLX. Ab- Sharpe appears in a letter from erdeen, 1893; also, MS. "Justiciary the Rev. John Milne of Albany to the Decisions, Edinburgh, 1710-1721," S. P. G., dated June 20, 1728. Ite- vol. II. (Copy in Society Library.) ferring to his predecessor. Dr. Bar- " The Charter of the Kingdom of clay, he says: 'The prejudices which THE SHARPE COLLECTION 61 It is sad indeed, not only that the date of death and ihe burial-place of this first proposer of a free Pubhc Library in New York are unknown, but also that the last days of so public-spirited a man should have been spent in poverty and neglect. For it appears from let- ters of Governor Burnet and EMas Neau that he had become so destitute as to have written to the latter, in the spring of 1721, asking piteously for the return of his as yet un-established Library "to get a little Money to subsist on," being "very poor" and "reduced to a state of misery." More important a date to posterity than that of his death, however, is the year 1713, when a Pubhc Library was first proposed in New York; and a higher sentiment than even a- gravestone could evoke lingers ' about the remains of John Sharpe's beloved collection to-day, in their last quiet resting-place in the New York Society Library. How and when these books, now numbering 124 vol- umes under 104 titles,^ actually became a part of the Society Library, cannot confidently be told at the pres- ent writing, notwithstanding long and diligent search, for the records of that institution are absolutely mute on the subject. The following theory as to their history is suggested as tenable, at least until the facts come to light. In the first place they seem never to have formed a part of the Trinity Parish Library, as the catalogue of that collection includes comparatively few of their titles, and those the common ones of the day. It is probable, ihen, that they were joined to the Corporation Library, he and one Sharp his brother-in- place." (Copy in Gen. Conv. Arch., law, who is since gone to the Church N. T. MSS., vol. II, pp. 18-20.) of Rome, have given too just "The Sharpe Collection to-day ground for, are like to be the great- comprises 49 folios, 3 quartos, 13 est obstacles I shall meet with in this octavos, 13 duodecimos and 46 of smaller fold. 62 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK •on its arrival and opening in 1730, Governor Burnet having no doubt left them in trust to his successor, Gov- ernor Montgomerie. In 1754, when the Society Library was founded and was allowed to store its new collection in the City Hall, on condition of caring for the worn-out Corporation Li- brary, permission was given also to box up books held to be "of no Service & scarce ever read." Many of the Sharpe tomes would have answered this description as perfectly then as now, and may well have been the ones meant. So, when such few books as the vandals spared in 1776 were hastily given sanctuary in St. Paul's Chapel, it was an easy matter to carry the boxes to that place of safety. Otherwise it would be hard to explain how the collection should have been preserved compara- tively intact. After slumbering a generation longer, the books at last saw the light again upon the opening of that room. From what will be said later, it is plain that no portion of the Corporation Library shared this captivity. But, as the Sharpe books bore no S. P. G. bookplate and yet were known to have been under the control of the "City Library," as the Society Library was commonly called in its early years, it is probable that they were at once handed over to that institution, on the release and distri- bution of the long-imprisoned collections in 1802. That they were preserved in St. Paul's Chapel seems reason- ably certain from the fact, already mentioned, that a single volume bearing John Sharpe's name has been kept for years with the relics of the Trinity parochial collection. The probability also is that together with them went, naturally enough, the old Clarendon history, doubtless because it also bore no S. P. G. bookplate and THE SHARPE COLLECTION 63 chiefly because of its label, "Belonging to y^ Library of New York in America," which, with the character of the book, would not readily suggest its former connection with the Parish Library. The dominant fact, however, is this: the Sharpe books and this Clarendon history came to the Society Library sometime between 1800 and 1813, for they are envimerated for the first time in the catalogue of the latter year. As for these venerable books themselves, each of the weary-looking volumes displays on fly-leaf or title-page the good chaplain's autograph, written in a variety of ways, as "Johannis Sharpe," "Job: Sharpe," and "John Sharp," together with the year of acquisition in each case. It appears he dropped the final "e" after leaving America; but it is retained in this work for the reason that he so spelled his name dm-ing his residence in New York, and on his Proposals. In some of the books oc- curs also this motto, "Ad quid venisti?" which may con- vey a choice of meanings according to the emphasis in the modern translation, "What have you come to?" Is it a lamentation or a jest, or may it not be simply, to quote the Proposals, "on the title page or cover such inscrip- tion badge or Impression as the Trustees shall appoynt." In response to the natural query why the idea of a Pubhc Library as proposed by Dr. Sharpe did not strike root in New York, it may be replied that in the narrow and jealous view of the average provincial assembly- man^ it was merely an administrative measvire, which would call for annual appropriations from the treasury, ^Governor Hunter wrote to Dean In the universe. And if our trees Swift from New York, March 14, and birds could speak, and our as- 1713, in the same letter in which he semblymen be silent, the finest con- spoke so highly of John Sharpe: versation too." See p. SlnS. "Here is the finest air to live upon 64 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK besides giving a purchase for interference from the ex- ecutive or from the home government at some future time. Furthermore, as in the case of the earlier Parish Library, the proposed institution would be under An- glican control largely, a prospect none too pleasing to the "Dissenters" of the Dutch Church, still in a strong majority. But above all else, there had not as yet been developed the proper intellectual activity to offer sym- pathy and support to the plan. Like Dr. Bray, John Sharpe was far in advance of his times. 3. The Millington Bequest, or the Corporation Library, 1730-1776 Little as the Knickerbocker of the early 18th century may have reUshed the growing influence of the estab- lished church, and reluctant as he certainly was to fur- ther—not to say active in trying to thwart^— the worthy objects attempted in her name, the fact remains that to one of the organizations sanctioned by the Church of England is due the credit for founding the first Public Circulating Library in New York. It came about in this wise. On the 25th of March, 1728, there died in Kensington, England, the Rev. John MiUington, D.D., for the past twenty-three years rector of St. Mary's at Stoke New- ington, a parish in Middlesex, about three miles north of ' Elias Neau, catechist to the tended "'obstacle to stop the De- negroes, complained bitterly of a signes of the Illustrious Society city ordinance of March, 1713, "for [S. P. G.]," and as "a Snare" for Regulating Negro & Indian Slaves his school. Mr. Neau to the Rev. John in the Night Time,"— by which they Chamberlayne (contemporary trans- were forbidden to appear on the lation), Sept. 8, 1713. 8. P. 0- streets an hour after sunset without Letter Book, vol. VIII, p. 173. lighted "Lanthorns,"— as an in- THE CORPORATION LIBRARY 65 London. He had also held the titles and offices of fel- low of Magdalen Hall, Cambridge, chaplain to the Bishop of London, vicar of Kensington and preben- dary of Newington. Always generous to the church and toward his own parish, at his death he left handsome be- quests to religious work. Among his beneficiaries was the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- eign Parts, of which body he had long been a member, as also one of its early officers.^ In its annual abstract of proceedings for 1729, the statement is made that he had bequeathed to the Society £200 "and all his Books, being a very valuable Library, which Books he desires should be sent together to the Plantations in America; and the Society have agreed to send them to New York, as soon as an Act of Assembly shall be passed for their due Preservation." The Society had acted promptly, despatching a letter dated September 23, 1728, to Governor Montgomerie. This notification he took nearly a year to answer, until he could give "a satisfactory account of the proceedings of the General Assembly." After returning thanks, he calls attention to enclosed copies of the action taken by the legislature and by the Common Council of the city to "effectually provide for the reception and preservation of the Books." He requests the exact "dementions" of the gift, lest the authorities should "fall into some mis- take" in preparing accommodations; and closes with a promise "to have the room so contrived, that it may be enlarged in case the Library encreases." ^ ^ For sources see the various S. P. portorium Ecclesiasticmn Parochiale G. "Abstracts" (the N. Y. Hist. Soc. Londinense . . . Compiled by George has a complete set) ; William Robin- Hennessy. London, 1898. son. The History and Antiquities "^ Governor Montgomerie to the Rev. of the Parish of Stoke Newington David Humphreys, D.D., secretary . . . London, 1842; and Novum Be- of the S. P. G., Aug. 39, 1739. 66 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK Meanwhile, June 24, 1729, the assembly had listened to the S. P. G. letter, as read by Speaker Adolph Phil- ipse, designating the collection to be "a Library, from which the Clergy and Gentlemen of this Government^ and Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, might bor- row Books to read, upon giving Security to return them within a hmitted Time." No doubt murmurings of high pleasure passed from one to another at the favoring dis- crimination shown their commvmity, "in prefering it before any of his Majesty's other Plantations on this Continent, to reposite a Library in," an institution that would "not only redound to the Reputation of this Col- ony, but be vastly useful and beneficial to the Inhabit- ants thereof."^ But before passing any resolutions the Common Council must be heard from. With praiseworthy despatch the city fathers con- vened three days later to act in their txu-n. Mayor Lurt- ing was promptly requested to thank the "Honourable House" for its message, and to say they were "truely sensible of the great Advantages which may arise from so Generous and seasonable a present," which they were "zealously disposed to Receive." They agreed "to pro- vide a large Room," and were "inchn'd" to prepare "Shelves, Desks, Seats and Other Accommodations," when the precise extent of the collection should be ascer- tained." After an interval of ten months, on April 22, 1730, the Common Council was informed of the arrival of twenty- 8. P. O. Letter Book (originals), 'Mimites of the Common Council vol. I B, no. 57. of the City of New York, 1671- ^ Journal of the Votes and Pro- 1776. New York, 1906. Vol. III^ eeedmgs of the General Assembly p. 475. The original letter with sig- of the Colony of New-York, 1691- natures is in the 8. P. O. Letter 174s. Printed by Hugh Gaine. Book, vol. I B, no. S7a. See p. 71. New York, 1764. Vol. I, p. 601. THE CORPORATION LIBRARY 67 three cases containing 1642 volumes, "for a Publick Li- brary for this City,"^ brought over in the good ship Alexander, Dennis Downing, master, and "ready to be landed and delivered." A committee of five (including John Roosevelt, an ancestor of President Roosevelt, and John Chambers, later a member of the first board of Trustees of the Society Library) was directed to receive the books and put them in the City HaU. Also, should they "find Occasion," they were "to Open the Said Cases and Cause the Said Books to be wiped and Cleaned and an Inventory thereof to be taken." Lastly they were to "Consider of a proper place for the said Library," and to estimate the cost of its installation. At the next meeting of the Corporation, early in June, the committee announced with almost childish precision : We did Receive the above mentioned twenty three Cases of Books Containing Sixteen hundred and forty two Volumes which Cases we Opened and took the Books out and put them im the Assembly Room of which Alderman Philipse has the Key- And we are of Opinion that the Room Opposite to the Common; Council Room in the City HalP will be a proper place for de- positing the Said Books and that the same be made Convenient ' Common Cowncil Minutes, IV, 10. conunon Prison. TMs Edifice is 'This structure, the second of the erected in a Place where four three City Halls, was erected in Streets meet, and fronts, to the 1700 on the site of the present sub- South-west, one of the most spa- treasury building at the junction of cious Streets in Town. The Eastern Wall and Nassau streets, facing Wing, in the second Story, consists Broad. It is thus described in the of the Assembly Chamber, a Lobby year 1756: "The City Hall is a and a small Room for the Speaker strong Brick Building, two Stories of the House. The West Wing, on in Heighth, in the Shape of an Ob- the same Floor, forms the Coimcil long, winged with one at each End, Room and a Library; and in the at right Angles with the first. The Space between the Ends, the 8u- Floor below is an open Walk, except preme Court is ordinarily held." two Jails and the Jailor's Apart- William Smith. The History of the ments. The Cellar underneath is a Province of New-York. London, Dungeon, and the Garret above a 17S7. P. 194. 68 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK as soon as may be but the manner of doing thereof we hmnbly Refer to the Consideration of this Board.^ Its report being at once approved, the committee was ordered to "Employ Workmen and Purchase Materialls for fitting up a Convenient Room or Chamber," as rec- ommended, "for Containing the said Library with Con- venient Shelves and Desks Nessessary thereunto."^ On July 20th Governor Montgomerie wrote briefly again to Secretary Humphreys of the Society, renewing appreciation and assurances that the Corporation would treat the gift with "great Care."* Two days later the Common Council, after ordering a receipt to the Rev. Mr. Vesey— still rector of Trinity Church, and since 1714 the S. P. G. commissary for New York— for the cases of books, and directing the same committee to have a catalogue made and to have the books cleaned and put into the "Library Room," requested Recorder Harison to "prepare the Draft of a letter of thanks &c, . . . then to be fair drawn, signed by the Mayor,"* and sent abroad. This epistle, of the same date, informed the Society that there had been "furnished and Compleated an handsome large Room for the Reception of them and a much greater Number whenever we shall be so happy to see any Addition made to this their Noble Benefaction"!^ In conclusion they said: "The Approaching session of Assembly Encourages us to hope that we shall be En- abled to take all proper Measures for the Preservation of this Library, and the Keeping it in such Manner as may best Answer the Intention of the Donors, in all which worthy purposes we have already received (and ^ Common Council Minutes, IV, 12. * Com/mon Council Minutes, IV, 17. 'Ibid., 13. 'Ibid., 17-18. '8. P. O. Letter Book (copies), vol. XXIII A, no. 11, p. 77. THE CORPORATION LIBRARY 69 have further Assurances of) his Excellency s Patronage and Encouragement." Nevertheless, Governor Montgomerie seems never to have formally recommended that the assembly should confirm the Library by statute, nor did that body ever carry out its intention, expressed Jvme 27, 1729, "to pass an Act for the due preservation of the Books when here."^ These particulars have been given to show that the legislature took no active part in the estabhshment of the first Public Library in New York city; that in this important event "home rule" was not questioned. And further, inasmuch as the Corporation met aU the con- tingent costs of the new enterprise, — amounting alto- gether to fully £85,^ a very respectable sum for that day, especially in view of the really small size of the col- lection, — it was only natural that the institution should come to be called the Corporation Library — that is to say, controlled by the Corporation of the city, technically termed "The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York." The appointment of a librarian finds no mention in the minutes of the Common Council for some years. In several histories of New York city it is asserted that the Rev. John Sharpe, "still living," was put in charge, but "being an aged man did not long survive his appoint- ment."^ Even were he then hving,— which does not seem probable, from the statement to Governor Burnet already quoted,— he would have been only just fifty years of age. This tradition is perhaps based on the probable union of the old Sharpe collections with the ^Journal of . . . General Assem- 453, 480; V, 8, SS, 299. A pound in hly,'l, 602. New York currency equaled $2.60. ^Common Oowneil Mimutes, IV, ' E. y., see p. 6. 16, 25, 61, 63, 145, 304, 348, 352, 407, 70 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK newly started Public Library, thus at last identifying his name with the object so long his heart's desire. But there can be found no evidence to prove that he had ever returned to America, while there is evidence that points to his having died in London prior to 1723.^ One might think that Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, the historian, not merely as a careful investigator would have discovered the person first named as "Library Keeper," but would have been only too ready to publish his name, which was — Alexander Lamb. This individual, of whom very little is known save that he later served on the city watch, began in Novem- ber, 1734, a term of eight years as "Keeper of the Li- brary," at a salary of £3 ($7.50) per annmn tiU raised to £4 ($10) in 1737.* What his duties were, to merit this not excessive allowance, we do not know; but doubtless, to judge from later regulations, he was re- quired, besides keeping the room and shelves in order, to be present in the "Library Room" for a short time once or twice a week to give out or to receive books. As the very title implies, however, one did not need to be a man of great literary intelligence simply to be a "Keeper." Before Mr. Lamb's appointment, the Rev. Richard Charlton, assistant at Trinity Church, had in June, 1738, been granted by the Common Council "Liberty to make A Key to the Library of this City for his own use, and none Others, he promising to make a Catalogue of the Said Library, and properly to place the Books therein, thereby to Render the same more Easy to be found and more useful!, he also promising not to suffer any Books whatsoever to be taken from thence without the direction ' See p. 60. 304., 305, 348, 407, 453, 480; V, 8, SS, ' Common Council Minutes, IV, 83, 299. if^a yu^ //tf. Jl/ ^^'i/^ ^/a ^fy^^OrrX ^«-^y/rf«' -•" (^ fnay Ari/i^ ^*irl ^ ^n,^r^**J- <«yQ/Wt/*<»»i« AS- ^yft^Af^M-^ _ i?>/3 ^^ ^g^^ i 07» fur-^^L^/r M 0^»ri^t.A?f /i^n-A- WtrjCi 'A/^f ^v ^/tMt /'•^'t^y /ii<»/>/ Common Coimcil Miimtes, VIII, of the 8. P. a., 1701-189S. London, 24-35. 1893. P. 798. 'Classified Digest of the Records "This letter cannot be found among the S. P. G. papers. 82 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK brary and philosophical apparatus belonging to the College, together with a large Subscription Library, belonging to the In- habitants, were, after the King's Troops took possession of the City, plundered, sold, and dispersed by our soldiers, before a discovery was made. As soon as the affair came to D^ Inglis's knowle[d]ge, he applied for redress, a proclaimation was issued for returning the books, but not a tenth part of them, and those the least valuable, and the sets broken, were returned. He hath collected into one place, and sorted those that belonged to the several Libraries, and with the consent of the Mayor of the City, hath taken the Millington Library into his own possession. Their amount is about 80 volumes out of 1000; and the most valuable of these are a few that he had borrowed before the troubles, and had preserved with his own books. He begs to know the Society's determination respecting these books — whether they shall be left in their former state, or remain iu his possession, or be given to Trinity Church, the Library of which was consumed by the Fire in Sept^ 1776. The committee on this communication was "Agreed in opinion that . . . the remains of the Millington Li- brary be left in the custody of D^ Inglis" ; whereupon the Society "Resolved to agree with the Committee." Nothing further can be stated positively concerning the Uttle remnant of the collection. When the success of the American cause became certain, Dr. IngUs set sail for Nova Scotia, of which British province he was not long afterward consecrated first Anglican bishop. His private hbrary, which may still have included these sur- viving volumes, was left to his son John, third bishop of the same diocese. At the latter's death his books were scattered, most of them being taken to England and there sold. Some were given to King's College at Windsor, Nova Scotia, but its librarian has found no books with the name of Dr. Millington inscribed therein. So, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, may THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY 88 we not fancy a book or two of the long-defunct Cor- poration Library back again in England, perchance within sound once more of the old vesper bell, given to his beloved church at Stoke Newington by its pious rector, Dr. John Millington. A. The New York Society Library^ fownded in 17 5 A Inasmuch as succeeding chapters are devoted to set- ing forth the history of the Society Library, it is unnec- essary to give attention to this institution here, further than to indicate its proper place in the chronological se- ries. It is well to state, however, that the Society Li- brary differed radically in its foundation from previous Library movements in New York. It owed existence to no gift of individual, or of associate body, but was the spontaneous outgrowth of a rather general desire for improvement. It was a Subscription Library, pub- lic in the sense that any person was welcome to member- ship at a uniform rate, and its books soon circulated through a fair proportion of the cultivated citizens. From what has gone before, the claim cannot be sub- stantiated that the Society Library, in its stewardship of the old Corporation Library, actually dates from 1730,— thus holding the distinction of being the oldest* Public Library in the country,— or still less truthfully from 1713, when the Sharpe books, now in its posses- sion, were given to found a "Publick" Library. Only by way of analogy, in consequence of its close associa- tion with these older collections, may the Society Li- • The term "oldest" is not used at all in the sense of earliest. 84 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK brary— in the sense in which the Father of Waters, in conjunction with its tributary, the Missouri, is the long- est river in the world— be termed the oldest Public Library in the United States. 5. The Library of King's College, 1767-1776' As elsewhere noted, the founders of the Society Library in 1754 had advanced as a motive for its establishment the hope that a Pubhc Library "may be also advan- tageous to our intended College."^ This not over-con- fident expectation was probably justified, for not untU 1760 was King's College housed in a building of its own. Its little faculty, therefore, as also its scarcely larger body of students, no doubt made glad use of the steadily growing public collection in the City Hall. Naturally, however, the need of a special reference Library was early felt by the College authorities. But there were no funds to warrant expenditure for books, so it was by gift or bequest alone that a beginning must be made. Nor had their patience long to wait. Like the old Corporation Library, its origin was due to a leg- acy. By the will of the Hon. Joseph Miu-ray, one of its Governors, as also a member of the first board of Trus- tees of the Society Library, who died in April, 1757, there was devised to "the Governors of the College of 1 Sketches of this early collection New York, 1904. P. 427 et seq. have appeared in print in the several Material in the present study is histories of Columbia College, the based, however, on original sources, latest being in an article on "The some of which have been unavailable Library" by Librarian James H. hitherto. Canfield, LL.D., in A History of " See pp. 136, 146. Columbia University, 1754-^904. THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 86 the Province of New York, by whatever name they are called," the residue of his estate, including a fine U- brary.^ The books were doubtless handed over with despatch, to judge from a notice inserted in the Mercury for May 16th, calling for the immediate return of any books borrowed from the testator or his "late lady." Local journals eulogized this early benefactor of the College in highest terms. The Gazette of May 2d re- coTmted how, "during the long and extensive Course of his Practice," Mr. Murray had "approved himself a Gentleman of the strictest Integrity, Fidelity, and * Abstract of the will of the Hon. Joseph Murray, Esq. (^Liber 20, p. S33, of "Wills in the New York Sur- rogate's OfSce"), printed in The Collections of ihe New Tork Hi»- torieal Society for the Tear 1896. New York, 1897. Pp. 165-166. 86 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK Honour," and that "by Principle, he was a steady and hearty Friend to the National Constitution, both of Church and State, and frequent in his Attendance on the publick Offices and Ordinances of Religion." The Mercury of the same date said of him : On Thursday last departed this Life, in the 63d Year of his Age, the Honourable Joseph MunaAY, Esq; one of his Maj- esty's Council for the Province of New- York, and the most con- siderable Lawyer here in his Time ; by which Profession he ac- quired a large Fortune, in such a Manner as justly in titled him to the Character of an honest, upright, judicious Man: As a Counsellor, he gave his Opinion and Advice according to the Dictates of his own Reason, without Favour or Affection; it was the Cause and not the Person that directed his Judgment; and neither Threats [n] or Frowns could make him deviate from what he thought right : His Purse was always open to the true Objects of Charity: He was an excellent Husband, a kind Mas- ter, and a true Friend ; a most regular Man in all his Conduct ; and those Lines in the XVth Psahn, might justly be apphed to him. . . . It seems probable that this beginning of the College Library was deposited temporarily in the Trinity char- ity school building, for, according to advertisements in the newspapers. President Johnson gave regular in- struction to his classes "at the Vestry Room in the School-House, near the Enghsh Church."^ As an as- sistant minister of Old Trinity, Dr. Johnson was also entitled to unrestricted use of the Parish Library, so that in a sense all the literary resources of the city— such as they were— had been placed at the disposal of the young College. The next acquisition was hkewise a bequest, in most ' The New York Gazette; or, the Weekly Post-Boy, July 1, 17S4. THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 87 respects a counterpart of the Millington foundation of the Corporation Library. According to printed records of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, for the year ending in February, 1759, it appears that the Rev. Dr. Bristowe, a worthy Member of the Society lately deceased, having by his last Will, bequeathed his Library of near 1500 Volumes to the Society to be sent to the College of New York, of which Dr. Johnson is President, or to such other Place or Places as the Society should direct, the Society hath directed those Books to be sent and placed in this CoUege of New York, in Approbation of the generous Donor's Design. -"^ The Rev. Dxincombe Bristowe, D.D., a graduate of Brasenose College, Oxford, had been, at the time of his death in June, 1758, rector of All Hallows, Staining within Aldgate, London, for thirty years. The recipient of various university honors, he also held a supplemen- tary "college living" at Selborne in Hampshire. Public announcement of this bequest— "together with Sixty Pounds sterling, to be paid after his Widow's decease" —was made at New York in Weyman's Gazette for June 25, 1759. For some time, however, it looked as if a notice of the benefaction was all the College would receive. In a let- ter dated February 16, 1760, the Rev. Henry Barclay, second rector of Trinity Chiu-ch, in behalf of the Gov- ernors thanked the Venerable Society "for their resolu- tion to send us the Library, bequeathed by the late worthy D': Bristow."^ He says further: "The Library Mn Abstract of the Proceedings '8. P. O. Letter Book, vol. II B of the Society. London, 17S9. P. 61. (1759-1782), pt. i, no. 44. 88 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK Room in the College we hope wiU be in readiness to re- ceive the Books by Midsummer." These hopes were no doubt realized, so far as the Murray books were con- cerned, for by May the officers and students "began to Lodge & Diet" in the new building, so long the home of the College on Murray street. The attractiveness of the spot chosen, then lying well without the settled part of town, in fuU view of the Hudson, is attested to by an English visitor, who predicts it "wiU be the most beautifully situated of any college in the world." ^ The promised collection had not arrived at the time of the annual meeting of the Governors in May, 1761. In- stead, President Johnson read to the board a letter "from the Rev^ Doctor Bearcroft in which he desires some directions about the Liberary of Books given to this Corporation by the late Rev^ Doctor Bristow." He was thereupon directed to ask Dr. Bearcroft "to deliver the said Liberary to M^ William Neat of London Mer- chant when he shall chuse to caU for them." And Nathaniel Marston, an influential member, was re- quested to notify Mr. Neat "that as soon as there is a Peace he will call on Doctor Bearcroft for the said Liberary and send it over in the best and most reason- able manner he can and to Insure it when shipt." Owing to a continuance of war and for other reasons, the books had not come by March, 1763 ; though a com- mittee on "the State and Circumstances of the College," comprising "M^ Chief Justice Pratt, M^ Justice Hors- manden, the Rev^ M^ Barclay, Colli De Lancey and the Rev^ M^ Auchmuty or any three of them," then re- ' The Rev. Andrew Bumaby, the Beat and Most Intereitiag Voy- D.D. Travel! through the Middle ages and Travels in All' Parts of the Settlements in North America. Re- World. Edited by John Pinkerton. printed in A General Collection of London, 1812. P. 737. THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 89 ported "a considerable Nvimber of Books in the College Library (the generous Donation of the late Joseph Murray Esq^) and a very large Addition soon expected from England, the Donation of Doctor Bristow." It was thereupon deemed "high time, that a Librarian be appointed with a small Salary, and that he be furnished with such Rules and Directions as may tend to the pres- ervation of the Books committed to his Care, and best answer the purposes for which they were bestowed." Ac- cordingly Robert Harpur, "the Mathematical Teacher," became first incumbent of that office at £10 ($25) a year. He was further ordered to "make a Catelogue of the Books that now are and hereafter may belong to the Library and deliver a Copy thereof to the President of the College and another Copy to the Clerk of this Cor- poration, and also that he be accountable for the said Books." Meanwhile, in November, 1762, the Governors had authorized "James Jay M.D. a gentleman of this City Eminent in his Profession, the Honourable George Clarke Esq' Secretary and Robert Charles Esq' Agent of this Province and Barlow Trecothick & Moses Franks Merch*? of London and each of them by himself our Substitutes, for us and in our behalf to Solicit and receive the Donations and Contributions of all such as shall be Generously disposed to favour the advancement of Learning & Virtue in this extensive & uncultivated part of the World." In the course of the address presented by this commis- sion to the English authorities of church and state, as to the universities, mention of the Library is made in out- lining the progress of the institution, as follows: "Thus far encouraged a neat & convenient Edifice is erected. 90 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK for public Schools & Lodgings, a small Liberary, with a Mathematical Apparatus provided, and a course of Education begun, under the Direction of a President & two Professors." In response to this memorial, substantial sums of money were contributed to the College, and its Library received certain specific gifts, for the minutes record that "Sundry Gentlemen at Oxford gave Books whose names are in them." Indeed, President Nathaniel F. Moore enumerates in his historical sketch "many valuable works given by the Earl of Bute and other individuals, and from the University of Oxford, a copy of every work printed at the University Press." ^ Very hkely the commission was also instructed to hasten the shipment of the Bristowe books, for at the May meeting of 1763 Mr. Marston read a letter from the Messrs. Neat & Co., "acquainting him that they had Shipped nine Boxes of Books the Gift of the late Rev- erend Doctor Bristow to the College which the Gover- nors have received." The arrival of this consignment is chronicled in dignified fashion in the following para- graph from Weyman's Gazette of May 16, 1763: With Pleasure we can inform the Public, from good Authority, that the Governors of King's College, in this City, have received a Donation by the last Vessels from London, of no less than Twelve Hundred Volums, of valuable, well chosen, and useful Boots; being Part of the Library of the late eminent and worthy Divine, Doctor BRISTOWE: The Remainder of his Library, consisting of several Hundred Volums more, is ex- pected every Day. This generous and noble Present, must af- ford a singular Pleasure to every Gentleman of Learning 'For sources of this statement see (Oxford items), and for Sept. 24th Holt's Journal, for July 30, 1773 (London notes). THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 91 amongst us, and to all that have the Improvement and Well- heing of the rising Generation at Heart: And which with the Library of the late Hon. Joseph Murray, Esq; (a Gift also to the College) are immediately to be placed in the College Li- brary, for the Use of the Students, under proper Restrictions and Regulations. With such essential Helps to Learning, may we not flatter ourselves with the Prospect of soon seeing our Youth, hitherto destitute of a Seminary of Learning, vie with our Neighbours in the Knowledge and Improvement of the Liberal Arts and Sciences? The rising Generation will now enjoy a Blessing our Fore-fathers were destitute of, and reap those valuable Advantages which the generous Donors had in View, by bestowing their Libraries on an Infant College, that has been honoured and promoted by the Legislature, several pubKck spirited Gentlemen at home and abroad, and which, every Day, becomes more and more deserving the Countenance, Protection, and Assistance of every Person of Rank and Learn- ing amongst us. It presently appearing, however, that all the books had not been sent, after waiting over a year the board, in October, 1764, directed Mr. Marston "to write to M^ Neate to enquire what is become of the Remainder of the Library left to the College by Doctor Bristow and to desire him to Ship them as soon as possible upon the best and most reasonable Terms he can." No answer having apparently been ehcited as the months wore away, again, in December, 1765, the second President, Dr. Myles Cooper, and the Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, third rector of Trinity Church, were "de- sired to write to Doctor Burton the Society's Secretary to enquire what is become of the Remainder of Doctor Bristow's Liberary given to this Corporation and that he be requested to put them into the Hands of M^ William Neate in order to be sent over as soon as conveniently may be." The resulting letter, at once despatched by 92 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK these gentlemen, and now preserved in the archives of the S. P. G., states that 1000 volumes had been received of "M^ Neat MercW in London," and requests Dr. Bur- ton, if the remaining books "are still in the Custody of the Society," to "be pleased to order them to Mess'* Neat & Pecue March**, who are desired to forward them by the first good Opportunity." !zl)M^tCCr??t6^ CAJrtJ^77l/€iD.D. This communication evoked at least a reply, which in November, 1766, President Cooper writes he "had not the pleasure to receive before the latter end of August, it having been landed at some distant port." With ref- erence to the missing books he says : I likewise am much obliged to you, as is the whole Govermnent of the College, for the notice you take of D^ Auchmuty's Letter and mine, concerning the Library of D^ Bristowe: tho' we are sorry to find so small a prospect of recovering such a consider- THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 93 able number of Books as were left in England when the former part was sent us. But perhaps, Sir, it may be of some Use to us, that you should be informed that y^ principal remainder of the Books was said to be in the possession of D^ Bearcroft's Son, who was then out of London ; which was given as y? Reason why the whole could not be sent us at once. Wherefore [if] it would be in your power, and not attended with too much farther trouble, we should beg of you to make Enquiry of him ; and I am persuaded y? Application would not be ineffectual.^ From still a third letter, similar in purport, it is clear that the long-sought volumes never materialized, for in September, 1767, Dr. Cooper again thanked the secre- tary "for the Trouble you have been at, in a fruitless En- quiry after the Remainder of D? Bristowe's Library."^ Besides these important gifts, the College authorities had enlarged the Library by incidental purchases of books from local dealers, Hugh Gaine, Garrat Noel and William Weyman, the first and last of whom were also printers and newspaper editors. Mr. Noel on one occa- sion prior to 1763 presented "Romain's Ed. of M. Cal- lasio's Hebr. Concordance 4. vol. fol." Another donor named in the Governors' minutes is Bartholomew Cran- neU, a former city marshal and for a long time overseer of the local watch, who in March, 1770, bestowed "sun- dry Books to be added to the College Library." From the occupations of its two chief benefactors, the collection partook largely of a professional character, comprising standard works in law and theology, with the usual proportion of history and the classics, and a sprinkling of science and belles-lettres. Its exact extent there is no means of ascertaining, for no "catelogue" has survived. It may reasonably be estimated at about two "fir. p. G. Letter Book, vol. Ill B, pt. ii, no. 319. "Ibid., no. 320. 94 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK thousand volvunes at least, when the perfidious dispersion took place. The known facts are as follows : In April-May, 1776, in accord with a demand "from a Number of Men who stiled themselves the Committee of Safety"^ the College building was given up to the use of the patriot troops, all academic exercises were suspended, and the books and apparatus removed to the City Hall. There they were probably deposited in the old Library Room, then sheltering the Corporation Library (presumably including the Sharpe Collection), the Society Library and the Union Library Society. A few months later came the cataclysm, when all alike suffered disruption and other indignities. Two eye-witnesses of this vandalism have left on rec- ord what they beheld. John Pintard affirms that the British soldiers were in the habit of carrying off the books in their knapsacks and bartering them for grog. Judge Thomas Jones, though of strongly loyal sym- pathies, thus imsparingly draws aside the curtain on the shameful scene : Upon General Howe's entry into New York in September, 1776, the soldiers broke open the City Hall, and plundered it of the College Library, its Mathematical and Philosophical apparatus and a number of valuable pictures which had been removed there by way of safety when the rebels converted the College into a hospital. ... I saw in a public house upon Long Island nearly 40 books bound and lettered, in which were affixed the arms of Joseph Murray, Esq., under pawn from one dram to three drams each. . . . All this was done with impunity, publicly, and openly. No punishment was ever inflicted upon the plunderers. No attempts were made by the British Commanders to obtain restitution of the stolen goods, nor did they ever discounte- ' From "The Matricula" of King's CoUege. THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 95 nance such unjustifiable proceedings, by issuing orders con- demning such unmihtary conduct, and forbidding it in future.* Though our author here denounces his own side, and in no gentle terms, he is yet in error with regard to his last charge, as will presently appear. Writing as he did in England, upwards of ten years after the perpetration of these outrages, memory may well have played him false, the Attainder Act of 1782 preventing him from verifying recollection or securing correct information. As a matter of fact no fewer than four proclamations were issued by his Majesty's military representatives, their language testifying unmistakably to a high regard for law and order. The first of these was published in Gaine's Gazette and Weekly Mercury for February 3, 1777, as follows : PROCLAMATION. INFORMATION having been made to Maj or-General Robeet- SON, that the Library of King's College, and of the Society Library in the City of New- York, have been pillaged, as well of the Books as of Part of the Philosophical Apparatus. Public Notice is hereby given, that in the Books belonging to the College is placed either the Arms of the College, or of the So- ciety for propagating the Gospel, and in some of them the Arms of Joseph Murray, Esq ; and that in the Books of the City So- ciety Library, is placed the Arms of the said Society, or that the several Books so pillaged are otherwise so marked, that no one can be ignorant to whom they respectively belong. And all Persons in whose Hands any of the said Books or Apparatus now are, by whatever means they came into their Possession, are hereby strictly ordered, within TEN DAYS, to deliver the same to the Printer hereof, for the Use of the respective Pro- ^ Thomas Jones. History of New War. Edited by Edward F. deLan- Tork dmring the Revolutionary cey. New York, 1879. I, 136. 96 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK prietors, or they will be committed to the Provost,^ and pun- ished as Receivers of stolen Groods. New-York, nth Jmuary, 1777. JAMES ROBERTSON. PROCLAMATION. INFORMATION having been nude to Mqor General P I G O T. that tl>e Library « King's College, and the Sodety Library in ihe City of New-Yoik. have been pillaged. Bs veil or the Books at of Pan of the PhiloJ&phical Apparatiu, of the natoral and anatomical Curiohtio, &c. PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given. That in ihei &mks b^onging to the College, is placed either tlie Arins of the College, or of the Society ftr propagating the GoTpel ; and that in the Fcoks of the City Society Library, is placed the Arms of the faid Society ; or that the fevcral Books fo pillaged, are otherwife fo marked that no one can be ignorant to whom they relpeftively belong. And all Perfons in whofe Hands any of the faid Books or Appa- ratus, &c. now are, by whatever Means they, came into their Pcffeffion, are hereby ftrlClty 'ordered within OneMcnth, to deliver the fame to the Reverend Mr. Houfeal, Minifler of the ancient Lutheran Trinity-Church, living in Little (Juecn-Strcet, at No. to; of this City, for the Ufc of the rcfpedtive Proprietors ; or they will be committed -to the Provoft, and punilbed as'Receivers of ftolcn Goods. NEW-YORK, 26th March, 1777. Rt. PIGOT. Proclamation (facsimile size) by British commander for return of King's College and Society Library books, plun- dered from City Hall. From Hugh Gaine's 27ie New-Torlc Gazette; aitid the Weekly Mercury, March 31, 1777. See pp. 9S-97, 194-195. A similar notice, signed by Major-General Pigot, ap- peared in the same newspaper for March 31st, when the 'The old debtors' prison, used by the present City Hall, it was long the British to incarcerate "rebels." known as the Hall of Records until Standing a little to the south-east of taken down in 1903-1903. THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 97 period in which missing books must be returned was ex- tended to "One Month."^ Their recipient this time was to be "the Reverend Mr. Houseal, Minister of the an- cient Lutheran Trinity-Church, hving in Little Queen- Street, at No. 10, of this City.'"' Just how many volumes were restored in response to these commands, there is no knowing. An earlier re- quest for their return had been inserted in the Gazette and Mercury for several weeks in October and Novem- ber, 1776, by Samuel Clossy, M.D., who held the pro- fessorship in anatomy, as follows: IF any person into whose hands part of the College apparatus or books, which were deposited in the City-Hall in May last, or any of Dr. Clossy's books, which were deposited in the closet near the organ loft in St. Paul's, will bring them to the doctor, at the house where Dr. Bard lately lived, the favour will be very gratefully acknowledged; and whatever trouble or ex- pence such person may have been at in carrying such instru- ments or books, the doctor will very gratefully pay them for. The allusion in this notice to a deposit of books in Old St. Paul's at once suggests the extract already quoted from President Moore on page 36, that "of the books recovered, six or seven hundred volumes were so, only after about thirty years, when they were found, with as many belonging to the N. Y. Society Library, and some ' These proclamations were also he was a Governor of King's Col- printed in German in the same col- lege and of the New York Hospital, umns, entitled "Eine Offentliche An ardent loyalist, he left for Nova Bekanntmachung," and signed "Von Scotia when the British evacuated the Heister," the Hessian commander. city in November, 1783. D. Johann "The Eev. Bem(h)ard Michael Ludewig Schulze. Nachrichten von Houseal, D.V.M., was pastor of den vereimgten Deutschen Evange- Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of Usch-LutherischenCfemeinenmNord- Broadway and Rector street, from America, 1787. Allentown, Pa., 1770 to 1783. A man of imposing 1886; P. 634 et seq. personality, culture and eloquence. 98 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK belonging to Trinity Church, in a room in St. Paul's Chapel, where, it seemed, no one but the Sexton had been aware of their existence, and neither he nor any- body else could tell how they had arrived there." Whether the miscellaneous assortment was actually protected aU those years by a stoned-up doorway,^ there is a reasonable doubt, partially confirmed by a contem- porary statement in print that the books "were not for- gotten, as reported, but have been visited frequently by Bishop Provoost and others."^ So interesting is the an- nouncement that finally focused attention on the long- neglected tomes, that it should be seen in full as it caught the eye of readers of the Morning Chronicle on Decem- ber 13, 1802: COMMUNICATION. — A report prevailed a day or two past of a splendid library having been found in a part of the chancel of St. Paul's church by the workmen employed in preparing a place for the organ. It was supposed to have originally be- longed to Columbia College, and to have been locked up and forgotten ever since the revolution. On investigating the mat- ter, however, it was found to be merely a hoax, invented by some wag to quiz the nati/ves a few. The report had gained so much by travelling that it was said a librarian was discovered with the library, who, on coming out into the city, was quite surprised with the changes that had taken place ! ! * Although this quasi-resurrection was labeled "a hoax" by the witty contributor, and despite editorial explana- tion next day that the "two thousand volumes" in ques- tion were "the remains of a library presented by ' See page 36. editorially next day: "The part of ^The Morning Ohronicle, N. Y., the report concerning a librarian's Dec. 14, 1902. having been discovered with them, ' Apropos of this last witticism, though probable enough, is a ini»- the Morning Chronicle remarked take." THE LIBRARY OF KING'S COLLEGE 99 different persons to Trinity Church, many years since"; nevertheless, that among them were certainly some sur- vivors of the old King's College collection is proven, not merely by President N. F. Moore's later assertion, but according to minutes of the Trustees of Columbia Col- lege. On August 1, 1803, President Benjamin Moore "presented a Letter from Valentine Nutter^ respecting the Books lately found in St Paul's Church ; which, being read, was committed to the Treasurer to consider & report." No further reference to the subject is found in the Trustees' records, the long-missing volumes doubtless being returned with little parade to their former repos- itory, whose name had in the meantime been changed to Columbia College. And to-day the great Library of Columbia University cherishes among its treasures a handful of books known to have formed a portion of the King's College collection. A few of them still bear the elegant "arms" of the Hon. Joseph Murray, Esq., "of the Middle Temple," while others are adorned with the bookplate of the Rev. Dr. Duncombe Bristowe, as also> with the ancient emblem of the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.^ ^ A large landholder in upper tains perfect copies of both S. P. Q. Manhattan, for years a warden of and Bristowe bookplates. Gf. p. 37. St. Michael's parish. Before and On the fly-leaf of a survivor of the during the Revolution there had collection (now in the Columbia Li- been a prominent "bookbinder" of brary), a copy of Thomas Hutchin- that name in the city, "opposite the son's History of the Colony of CoflFee-House" in Broad street. Massachusettt-Bay (Boston, 1764), is ''There is in the Library of the written: "The Gift of The Rev'd Mr General Theological Seminary a Jeremy Ckjndy, of Boston, to the single folio volume, once a part of Library of King's College in New this collection, A Rational Account York. Novr 1766." This gentleman, of the Grounds of Protestant Be- "weU esteemed among his associates" ligion ... By the Rev. Edward (Memorial History of Boston), was Stillingfleet, D.D. London, 1681. pastor of the First Baptist Church, It is in excellent condition and con- 1739-1768. 100 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK To the man of sentiment these antiquated and now unread books are very appealing, not alone as repre- senting the earliest College Library in the province of New York, as also the noble aim of enlightened donors, but as being tangible, eloquent evidence of that old Li- brary, which, in helping to mold the youthful minds of such men as Egbert Benson, Robert R. Livingston, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, has fairly earned the reverential regard of a nation. BOOKSELLERS' CIRCULATING LIBRARIES 101 6. Booksellers' Circulating Libraries, 1763-1776 As is only too well known, New York was lamentably behind its Puritan neighbors in an appreciation of the printed page. William Bradford, who introduced printing to the Knickerbockers in 1693,^ would seem to have been also the first local dealer in books. In this line he had no competitors for over a generation, for, ac- cording to an English visitor in 1719, there was then "but one little Bookseller's Shop" in New York city, whereas the Boston Exchange was "surrounded with Booksellers' Shops, which have a good Trade." In fairness to the former, however, should be quoted his further comment that there was "in the Plantations of Virginia, Maryland, Carohna, Barbadoes, and the Is- lands, none at all."^ These statements are corroborated by Dr. Franklin, who has recorded that about the year 1725 "there was not a good bookseller's shop in any of the colonies to the southward of Boston." He observes wittily that the printers of New York and Philadelphia, in offering for sale "only paper, etc., almanacs, ballads, and a few common school-books," "were indeed stationers."* Following Bradford in succession came John Peter Zenger, James Parker and Hugh Gaine, all noteworthy names in the history of metropolitan printing and jour- nalism. From the character of their calling they nat- * Printing was begun in Cam- of New-England. 3d edition, Lon- bridge, Mass., in 1639, by Stephen don, 1747. Vol. II, p. 235. , Daye. Pennsylvania came second " The Complete Works of Benja- of the colonies, with Bradford's min Franklin. Edited by John Bige- press at Philadelphia in 1685. low. New York, 1887. Vol. I, pp. = Daniel Neal, A.M. The History 167-168. 102 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK urally were booksellers also. So far as has been ascer- tained, however, none of these individuals— nor con- temporary lesser lights in the typographical firmament —appears to have essayed a Circulating Library, al- ready a well-established English institution, one having been in operation in London as early as 1674.* The nearest approach to anything of the kind was, it will be recalled, James Parker's vain though brave attempt in 1745 to manage the Corporation Library with a view to personal profit." The actual inauguration of this branch of commercial activity in New York was re- served for a bookseller who was never a printer at all,— Garrat Noel. The pedigree and early years of this enterprising and useful citizen must be left for future research to tell. He was well in his prime when, in March, 1753, he was registered a freeman of the city under the appellation of "Schoolmaster."^ Not finding this occupation suffi- ciently lucrative, however, in May of the same year he opened a bookstore in Dock, now Pearl, street, near Coenties market, "at the Sign of the Bible," where he advertised for sale, besides "Books, Stationary, &c.," "a fresh Parcel of the right Tooth Powder, and Stough- ton's famous Bitters." He prospered to such an extent that in August, 1763, he felt able to embark in a semi-commercial, semi-liter- ary venture hitherto imtried in New York, and which, strange to say, had not yet been undertaken in Boston.* ' Francis Kirkman, author and ' ' List of "Burghers and Freemen, bookseller (b. 1632), combined with 1675-1866." N. T. Historical 80- his regular business "that of a cir- ciety Collections for 1885. P. 177. culating library, his specialty being ♦ See article by Charles K. Bolton, plays, poetry, and romances." {Diet. "Circulating Libraries in Boston, Natl. Biog.) 176S-186S," in Proceedings of the " See pp. 72-76. Colonial Society of Mass., Feb., BOOKSELLERS' CIRCULATING LIBRARIES 108 The idea may have been suggested to him with force at that particular time by the temporary closing of the Corporation Library on accoimt of repairs to the City Hall— a suspension which must have been shared in some measure by the Society Library. At all events, he took advantage of the situation and issued in the news- papers this announcement, here taken from Weyman's The New-York Gazette for August 29th: To those who delight in Reading, And would spend their Leisure Hours, and Winter Evenings, with Profit and Enter- tainment, This is to give Notice, that this Day is opened by GARRAT NOEL, Bookseller next Door to the Merchants Cof- fee-House, A CIRCULATING LIBRARY ; Consisting of sev- eral Thousand Volumes of choice Books, in History, Divinity, Travels, Voyages, Novels, &c. A Catalogue of the Books, with the Conditions of subscrib- ing, may be seen at said Noel's Store. ^Where are SOLD aU Sorts of Books and Stationary Ware : And Country Stores, and Chapmen, are supplied. Wholesale and Retail, on the very lowest Terms. Said NOEL has likewise to sell, the very best of Durham Flour of Mustard, and a fresh Parcel of very fine Snufi', com- monly called Black Guard. In the same journal for September 12th following, Mr. Noel proclaims a large addition to the Library, justifying his enterprise on the ground that "simdry Gentlemen" had "for a long Time been desirous of see- ing such a Thing established in this City," and that 1908, pp. 196-207. And even a few plan." (South Carolina Gazette, months before Garrat Noel's ven- March S-13, 1763.) For mention of ture, George Wood, bookbinder and other Circulating Libraries in the stationer in Charleston, S. C, ad- colonies, see Charles Evans' monu- vertised his intent "to set on foot A mental and invaluable ^m«r»ca«jBi6- CmcuLATiiTG Libraht" for "Gentle- iiojrrop^ (Chicago, 1903), vol. 4, p. x. men and Ladies that approve this 104 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK many persons had "given their Approbation by sub- scribing to the One now on Foot." The "Conditions for subscribing," he trusts, "will not, for the Present, be tho't unreasonable, as the Books are all new, the Number already very considerable, and wiU be con- stantly increasing, especially by all the new pubhshed Books, Pamphlets, Magazines, and Reviews, &c." The "Conditions" were as follows: 1. Each Subscriber to pay Five Dollars a Year, viz. Two Dollars on subscribing, and One Dollar at the Beginning of each Quarter afterwards. 2. No Subscriber to take above one Book at a Time out of the Library. 3. Any Subscriber losing or spoiling a Book, shall pay the full Price of it, or the Set, taking the Remainder. NOTE, — Books will be delivered out of the Library any Time, except Sundays, and after Store is shut. The institution seems to have maintained itself, though with little or no advertising, for Weyman's Gazette on October 8, 1764, announces it as "now opened for the second Year, with the Addition of sev- eral Hundred Volumes of choice Books." There is sig- nificance, however, in the statement that those "pleased to become Subscribers" might "read a whole Year at the easy Rate of Four Dollars" ! Noel's Library continued to exist untU the fall of 1765, at least. In August of that year the Common Council, it will be remembered, again had a spasmodic reahzation of the latent value of its Public Library, and, on the restoration of the City Hall, appointed Thomas Jackson to take charge of the old Corporation Library in conjimction with his duties as Librarian of the BOOKSELLERS' CIRCULATING LIBRARIES 105 Society Library.^ Mr. Noel was moved by this action to append a note to his regular advertisement in Holt's The New-York Gazette; or the Weekly Post-Boy, for September 5th and 12th, as follows: The Subscribers to NOEL's circulating Library are hereby informed, that there is an Addition made of several new Books, and more expected for their entertainment, and of those who shall think proper to become encouragers of this useful undertaking. Again, on September 19th, in the very issue of this same paper that first proclaimed the anticipated re- nascence of the "New- York Libbaby," ^ there was put forth a more elaborate address, containing the same terms of subscription as the year before, and a state- ment of catalogues "to be had gratis."* Here, after an array of titles of recent importations, comprehending "a vast Variety of all Sorts of Books," the public was informed of the continuance of the Circulating Library, "with a large Addition of choice Books, particularly those that have been lately published." This notice appeared in the next number of Holt's Gazette for the second and last time. Apparently Mr. Noel abandoned his project as profitless, especially in competition with a natural stir over the renovated col- lections in the City Hall, which represented more dis- tinctly a public movement. So he devoted himself thereafter to heralding new or seasonable publications and to other details of his regular business. The foUow- ' See pp. 79-80. of Noel's stock-in-trade in 17SS and ' See p. 80. 1763- See The Journals of Hugh ' No copies of his Circulating Li- Gaine, Printer. Edited by Paid brary catalogues are known to be ex- Leicester Ford. New York, 1903. tant. They were probably printed Vol. I, pp. 94, 110. by Gaine, who published catalogues 106 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK ing week, for example, he advertised a work of current import in that exciting Stamp Act year, "Oppression, a Poem, by an American, with Notes by a North Briton. Occasioned by the Grievances of the Times." Besides books and "stationary," he sold cutlery, patent medi- cines and miscellaneous articles, including at one time "extraordinary good Violins and Flutes, with an As- sortment of New Music,"* and again "a few extraor- dinary good Temple Spectacles, with Brazil Pebble Eyes, set in Steel and Silver, double Joints, in very neat Cases, from Three to Five Pounds per Pair."^ Without saying more of his "general Assortment of Books" than that it comprised standard English works of the day, the subjoined extract from a newspaper in- sertion will prove of interest, as showing the attention he paid to juvenile tastes: And what should not be forgot, A very large Parcel of Mr. Newberry's beautiful gilt Picture Books, for the Entertainment of his old Friends the pretty Masters and Misses of New- York, at Christmas and New- Year; — Amongst them they will find, The History of Giles Gingerbread, Esq ; The History of Goody Two Shoes. Nurse Trueloves Christmas Box and New Years Gift. The Easter, Whitsuntide, and Valentine Gifts. The Fairing or Golden Toy. The Little Lottery Book. Be Merry and Wise. Master Tommy Trapwits Jests. Poems for Children Six Feet high. — Royal Primmer, Royal Battledore, &c. &c. &c.* After the lapse of fully three years, however, the project was revived "upon a very extensive Plan." So promises an advertisement in Mr. Noel's characteristic ' John Holt's The New-York Jour- ' Ibid., July 7, 1768. nal, or General AdmertUer, Dec. 18, '/bid., Dec. 18, 1766. 1766. BOOKSELLERS' CIRCULATING LIBRARIES 107 style in Holt's Journal for September 1, 1768. It was to open on October 1st at the same place, when the "Terms" would be divulged to any "inclined to sub- scribe." The notice closes with a request that those having books "belonging to the former Circulating Li- brary" should "return them forthwith, or it will be ex- pected that they will pay for them, agreeable to the Articles." So far as has been ascertained, this effort was fruit- less and was the last attempt made by Mr. Noel to con- duct a Circulating Library. For nearly a decade longer he continued business "in his usual Way," as a press notice phrased it. In April, 1771, he admitted to part- nership Ebenezer Hazard, the firm, as "Noel and Haz- ard, Booksellers," for some years occupying his old station, "Next Door to the CofPee-House." In the spring of 1776 they were located "At the Post-Office," in Broad street. Throughout his sojourn in New York, Garrat Noel had been very intimately identified with the historic First Presbyterian Church. Its old manuscript records plainly reveal not merely his membership and that of "Experience his Wife," but also his constant services, as a trustee for the years 1757 and 1758, and thereafter as an elder imtil his death. He also held the treasurership from November, 1767, to May, 1773, besides acting as "Stated Clerk of the Session" from the former date un- til January, 1774, when he resigned "by Reason of In- firmity." Not long afterward he removed to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where he died, September 22, 1776, in his seventieth year. His long-time fellow-citizen, Hugh Gaine, not content with saying that he was for "many 108 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK years an eminent bookseller, in the city of New- York," adds in evident sincerity: "He was a kind husband, and tender parent, and justly esteemed and beloved by aU that knew him."^ His love for books wotdd seem to have come by inheritance to his grandson, Anthony Bleecker,— son of Mary Noel and Anthony Lispenard Bleecker, — a recognized man of letters of his day, and who for the last seventeen years of his life was an active member of the board of Trustees of the New York So- ciety Library. But before Garrat Noel left New York, another attempt was made to establish a Circulating Library there. More than five years elapsed, however, between the last-mentioned advertisement of Mr. Noel's enter- prise and the initial announcement of his successor. At length there came to the front a person of the requisite daring, Samuel Loudon, a Scotchman by birth and a ship-chandler for some years after his arrival in the city, about 1760. In the early seventies he became a book- seller, and meeting with success decided to see what more might be accomplished by opening a Circulating Library in connection with his regular business. Ac- cordingly he advertised in Rivingtovfs New-York Ga- zetteer on December 30, 1773, as follows: Samuel Loudon's Circulating Library WILL be opened the first day of January 1774 ; subscrip- tions for reading, are taken in at his house, at 20 shil- lings per annum, half to be paid at subscribing. Occasional ' The New-Tork Gazette; and the ark, in East-New-Jeney. Saturday, Weekly Mercury. Printed at New- Sept. 38, 1776. BOOKSELLERS' CIRCULATING LIBRARIES 109 readers to pay by the week, or volume; the prices for which, with rules for reading, will be particularly affixed to the cata- logue, which is now printing, and will be ready to deliver to the subscribers, and other readers, next month. The design is set on foot at the desire of several very respect- able inhabitants, and shall be conducted with all possible fidehty and diligence, in providing books, both instructive and enter- taining, and written by authors of the most established reputa- tion. It is hoped that all who approve of the undertaking, will do their utmost to encourage it, and without delay, as every body may see that it's existance and perfection, depends on the encouragement it meets with, by enabhng the undertaker to provide, and keep in order, a sufficient number of valuable books. A few weeks later, in Game's Gazette and Mercury for January 24, 1774, the catalogue was announced, "ready to be delivered to the subscribers, gratis." This would "shew a neat collection of books; to which the proprietor wiU be making additions by every oppor- tunity of every new literary production of value." Meanwhile, those persons "willing to countenance the undertaking" were requested "to be speedy with their subscriptions." In the same paper for November 21st following, Mr. Loudon advertises a new catalogue, the collection hav- ing increased to "upwards of a thousand volumes." The proprietor takes pleasure in informing "all such con- noisseurs," as disparaged female intelligence and love of reading, that "the ladies are his best customers, and shew a becoming delicacy of taste in their choice of books." Lest this should arouse feeling, he hastens to add: "Neither are the gentlemen deficient in shewing the ladies a laudable example in this respect." The "prices for reading," payable in advance, were: 110 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK A year 20 shillings. And occasional readers to Half a year 12 shillings. pay one penny for each shilling A quarter 8 shillings. the book they read is valued at. The library open every week day, from morning till night. And, from a "sketch of the rules," non-subscrihers were ... to pay when each book is delivered, to give a note for the value of the book they receive, if required, — one book to be re- turned before another is dehvered, the time allowed to read an octavo volume is one week, a quarto two weeks, and a folio four weeks, — readers in the country to be indulged with two or three volumes at a time, to be sent and returned (at their own risque and charge) — Books to be paid for if lost or abused. — Books are not to be lent by the subscribers. A notice in Holt's Journal for February 23, 1775, reports "the addition of several hundred volumes," quot- ing a few attractive titles and adding, no less alluringly: "Novels, a variety; History, a considerable number; and sundry miscellaneous pieces." The proprietor promises that a "Supplement to the Library Catalogue" will soon appear, and that "every opportunity in his power shall be improved to increase the variety and mmaber of useful Books, that his Library may be rendered more and more a lasting friend of knowledge and entertainment." The regulations continued the same, with these shght improvements, indicative of popularity: "The Library is open from morning to eight at night, and the Readers may have a Book exchanged if they please, every day, by their very humble servant, Samuel Loudon." Mr. Loudon must have been "encouraged" appre- ciably, for in January, 1776, he further extended his activities to include the publication of a weekly news- paper, The New-Tork Packet, and the American Ad- BOOKSELLERS' CIRCULATING LIBRARIES 111 vertiser. In a brief address he thanks the pubHc for as- surances of support, and presents "the comphments of the season to his kind Customers ; wishing, that the year 1776 may be the happy Mra,, in which Peace and Union, on a Constitutional Basis, shall be concluded between Great-Britain and her Colonies." That his Circulating Library had also flourished is in- ferable from a notice in this same first numbpr of his own paper, that it was "increased to upwards of Two Thousand Volumes." He again promised a supple- mentary list of books for subscribers "to annex with the Catalogue^ they have already," and in conclusion thus announces a sort of exchange: "Ready money, or new books exchanged for any old hbrary or parcel of books, particularly for history and well chosen novels, for the use of the Library." This advertisement was renewed regularly until well into March. But the enterprise had not much longer to live. As a commercial venture, pure and simple, it was dependent on its proprietor's attention no less than upon popular "encouragement." In September, 1776, Mr. Loudon, a zealous Whig and patriot, annoimced his re- moval to FishkiU, "where the Provincial Congress now reside," in consequence of the city's invasion "by a powerful Fleet and Army."^ Though he advertised a suspension of the Packet "for several Weeks" only, his departure meant the end of the second and last and ap- parently a successful Bookseller's Circulating Library in Colonial New York.* » No copies of either the catalogue left New York, however, Mr. Lou- or the supplement are known to be don resumed business at "No. S, in existence at the present writing. Water-Street, between the Coffee- ' The New-York Gazette; and the House and Old Slip," where he ad- Weekly Mercury, Sept. 2, 9, 1776. vertised, in his Packet of Nov. 13, " Before the British had actuaUy 1783, "to commence agam," m Janu- 112 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 7, The Union Library Society of New York, 1771-1776 With the single exception of Garrat Noel's brief at- tempts, to establish a Circulating Library as a commer- cial venture, the Society Library seems to have had the local field whoUy to itself for more than seventeen years. At last, however, a rival appeared upon the scene. In December, 1771, there issued from the press of Samuel Inslee and Anthony Car, "at the New Print- ing-Office, on Beekman's-Slip," a twelve-page pamph- let, entitled "Articles of the Union Library Society of New-York."^ The objects of this new suitor for popidar support are thus announced: WHEREAS an advancement in knowledge and literature is a highly laudable pursuit, and attended with many ad- vantages, as well to individuals as society in general ; and as the private purchase of books is attended with an expence too heavy for many persons whose inclinations lead them to improvement ; and we being sensible that the establishment of a public Library will greatly promote the attainment of so valuable an acquisi- tion, have therefore, and by these presents do unite ourselves into a voluntary association, by the name of the Union Libeast Society of New-Yoek, for the purpose of erecting and con- tinuing a Library, for the benefit of ourselves, and aU others who may chuse, upon the conditions prescribed, to become mem- bers thereof : ary, 1784, "at the request of several preference to the public Libraries, respectable citizens," "The Cibcit- they being open only at certain LATINO Llbeary," Containing about hours, his at aU hours of the day, 2000 volumes. The fact of "the and proper attendance given." public Libraries of this city being in ^ The only copy known to be in ex- a great measure lost" made his istence is in the Society Library, enterprise "the more necessary and having been presented by rienry useful at present." Besides, "in Nicoll, a Trustee, in June, 1838. point of convenience it had the THE UNION LIBRARY SOCIETY 113 Following this preamble come twenty regulations, "obligatory upon every member" and regarded "as a magna charta of the constitution," to be repealed "either altogether or in part" only by a three-fourths majority of the Society. In brief they direct all property of the iDStitution to be held "in common, and not in joint ten- ancy," each member having the right to assign or de- vise his share. At the annual meeting, to be held on the first Tuesday in May, a Treasurer and twelve Directors must be chosen, such election to be in charge of a Secre- tary, "some fit person of the company," with the assist- ance of suitable inspectors. Vacancies in the directorate or treasurership were to be filled by the board, which was also to elect a President and Vice-President each year. The Directors were to meet on the second Tuesday of each month "at the place where the library shall be kept, or at some other fit place in the city," seven of their nimiber, always including an officer, constituting a quorum; and they were entrusted with the entire man- agement of affairs, even to removing the Treasurer for incompetency or neglect. As in the case of the Society Library, the annual pay- ment charge was fixed at ten shillings ; but the subscrip- , tion cost of a share or right, it is of interest to note, was the modest svun of twenty shillings, or only a fifth of the price charged throughout those years by the older or- ganization. Penalties for "arrearages" were to be strictly enforced, off^enders being "debarred the privi- ledge of taking any book from the hbrary." Each mem- ber was to have only one vote, however many shares he might own ; and a very radical provision entitled a per- son holding more than one share to take out no more books than any other member. It is difficult to see in 114. THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK this last prohibition any inducement to purchase extra shares. The concluding article is a resolution nominating, "for the immediate putting in execution our useful designs," a list of twelve Directors and a Treasurer, "invested with fuU power and authority to enter immediately upon their respective offices," as follows: Walter Franklin, Jacob Watson, John Murray, Willet Seaman, Garret Rapalje, Benjamin Hugget, White Matlack, Lindley Murray, John Berrien, William Denning, James Mott and Benjamin Underbill, Directors, and Robert Bowne, Treasurer. All of these names represent position and influence in the community, particularly among the mercantile ele- ment. Walter Frankhn, the head of a large importing house, and Robert BoAvne, a prosperous retail merchant, were afterwards original stockholders and directors of the Bank of New York, the former having been also a founder of the Chamber of Commerce in 1768, of which institution John Murray was later to become president. Garret Rapalje and Benjamin Hugget were for a num- ber of years assistant aldermen, serving on important committees, in the days when the Common Coimcil had jurisdiction over all departments of mvmicipal adminis- tration. Lindley Murray, a member of the colonial bar, will ever be best known by the appellation of "the gram- marian." Of the subsequent patriotic and useful career of William Denning, due notice will be taken in chron- icling the history of the Society Library, which institu- tion he served as Trustee for fifteen years, long after the Union Library Society had ceased to exist. The little brochure closes with a clause of agreement and subscription, dated December 3, 1771. Unfortu- THE UNION LIBRARY SOCIETY 115 nately the names of subscribers are not included, and it is not for over a year that their number is published. The first newspaper notice of the Society is found in The New-York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury for De- cember 30th as follows : PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to the Members of the Union Library Society of New YorJc, and to all others who may choose to be concerned therein, That the Library Room win be opened at the House of Captain John Berrien, at Bur- Ung's-Shp, on Tuesday the Seventh of January next, at 3 o'clock in the Afternoon of the same Day; where new Sub- scriptions are taken in, and printed Articles of the Society dis- tributed: The Founders of this Institution flatter themselves with the Prospect of a speedy Advancement of so useful an Undertaking, as they conceive it founded upon Principals of Freedom and general Utility. By Order of the Directors, JOSHUA WATSON, Sec'ry. Further particulars concerning the Society are but fragmentary, though informing. The first annual meeting was called for May 5, 1772, "at 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon, at the City-Hall," and a year later this function took place in "the Library Room" at ten in the morning, but the result of neither election was pub- lished. In the meantime the only obtainable statement regarding the size of the collection and membership had been proclaimed in the several papers of January, 1773, the books numbering "near 1000 volumes" and "contin- ually receiving new additions," while there were 140 shareholders. The public was also informed that the subscription price had been advanced to "the small sum of thirty shillings."^ 'See The New YorTc Jownal; or, 1773, and The New-York Gazette, the Oeneral Advertiser, Jan. 14, Jan. 35, 1773. 116 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK It thus appears that the newer institution, in member- ship at least, had gone far ahead of the Society Library, whose charter, recorded two months before, enumer- ates jfifty-nine names. Also, the next reference to the Society reveals a turn of affairs far from pleasing to friends of the older Library. The situation is best de- scribed in the simple words of the original soiu*ce, leav- ing the rest to the imagination. In the minutes of the Common Council for April 12, 1774, is found this entry: The Petition of the Members of the union Library Society was preferred to this Board and Read, praying that this Board would be favourably pleased to Indulge them with the Eastermost part of the Room in which the books of the New York Societys Library are Contained, and this board having Viewed the Same unanimously agreed that the Same be Granted them, they being at the Expence of a doar, and Making the Partitions required.' By July, the necessary alterations and "doar" having doubtless been made, the Directors published a notice to members that the collection had been "removed to a Room in the Old City HaU, where attendance is given at the usual days and hours." ^ Fortune evidently smil- ing upon the institution, its terms were again advanced to "forty shUUngs original subscription money," though ten shillings continued to be the yearly charge. All the newspaper extracts give the name of Walter Franklin as President and show that Robert Bowne continued to serve as Treasurer. But no lists of Directors or members and no cata- logues are known to have been printed, nor, seemingly, ' Minutes of the Common Council, ' The New York Journal; or, the VIII, 34-25. General Advertiser, July 28, 1774. THE UNION LIBRARY SOCIETY 117 have any stray volumes survived the Revolution, when the Union Library Society, in company with other Li- braries of the city, suffered irretrievable ruin in the Entry (reduced) in Common Council minutes, April 12, 1774, See pp. 81, 116. general dereliction. One vahant but vain attempt, so. far as known, was made to rehabilitate the Society some- years after the war, as evidenced by the following inser- tion in The Daily Advertiser for December 21, 1791 : NOTICE is hereby given to the subscribers of the Union Li- brary, (which was established prior to the late war) that some business of importance, requiring attention, they are re- quested to meet on the evening of the 23d inst. at six o'clock, at Crosbie's Tavern, in Water street, between Peck and Beekman slip, where punctual attendance is desired. JOHN MURRAY, In behalf of the Trustees. The meeting, if held, was not reported in the papers, so that all hope of a restoration or renewal was prob- 118 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK ably abandoned. Thus all that remains to-day to bear witness to a once prosperous Library is the little old discolored prospectus of the Union Library Society, now treasured by its successful rival, the New York Society Library. Summary and Conclusion Briefly reviewing the history of the efforts to establish an institutional Library in Colonial New York, we find that no fewer than six attempts were made toward that end, exclusive of the purely commercial Circulating Li- braries, as follows : 1. The Trinity Parish Library, founded in 1698 by the Bishop of London through the instrumentahty of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bray, and reenforced by small ad- ditions from the same sources and by later private dona- tions. So far as the vestry minutes reveal, on its almost complete destruction by fire in 1776, it could hardly have comprised over 450 volumes, some of which were saved. The only books of this collection known to have survived are now in the Library of the General Theolog- ical Seminary, with the single exception of the old Clarendon history, preserved in the Society Library. 2. The Sharpe Collection, given in 1713-1715 by Chaplain John Sharpe for a "Publick Library." Never securing an independent existence, it remained in the hands of private individuals until (probably) joined with the Corporation Library in 1730. In some way, as above conjectured, the majority of its 238 volumes sur- vived the Revolution and are now to be seen in the Society Library. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 119 3. The Corporation Library, New York's first real Public Circxilating Library, originally the private col- lection of the Rev. Dr. John Millington, an English clergyman, who bequeathed it to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, by which Society the books, numbering 1642 volumes, were given to the city of New York. Arriving in 1730, they were kept in the City Hall, undergoing successive fluctuations of usefulness and desuetude, until scattered by the British troops in 1776. Label (reduced) on second volume of Clarendon history (1711), now in Society Library. See pp. 20, 62, 118. 4. The New York Society Library, founded in 1754 and incorporated in 1772 as a Pubhc Subscription Cir- culating Library by a number of well-to-do, enterpris- ing citizens. Receiving immediate and gratifying support, and constantly enlarged by consignments of imported books, it was in a flourishing state when para- lyzed by the approach and ravages of war. Practically exterminated by the atrocious vandalism of the British troops, scarcely a volume of its pre-Revolutionary col- lection is known to have survived save the Sharpe books, which, as part of the Corporation Library, were for- merly in its care. Its Catalogue of 1773, the last issued 120 THE LIBRARY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK before the war, enumerates 1291 volumes, increased by later purchases to 1500 at least. 5. The Library of King's College, from its nature scarcely more public than the Parish Library, was estab- lished in 1757 through a bequest of the private library of Joseph Murray, Esq. It had received sundry gifts of books from the S. P. G. and other sources up to the time of its removal, in 1776, to the City Hall, where it also met with destruction. Its extent is not known at aU, but probably approximated 2000 volumes. 6. The Union Library Society of New York, called into being in 1771, too late to secure a large collection: within the succeeding fateful five years, though its ad- vertisement of "near 1000 volumes" bespeaks its energy and growing importance. Only one printed statement has come down as to the total nvunber of volumes at the time of dispersion, but it is so plainly an exaggeration or a mistake, that it cannot be considered at all seriously as it stands. Justice Jones says that the British soldiers stole from the City Hall, besides the King's College collection, "all the books be- longing to the subscription library, as also of a valuable library which belonged to the Corporation, the whole consisting of not less than 60,000 volumes."^ One of these ciphers must be a typographical error, for 6000 is the more probable figure for the combined assortment. Of these six collections, then, all were prostrated by the war. Of two of them, the Union Library Society and the Corporation Library, not a vestige has survived. Of two others, the Sharpe Collection and the Trinity ^ Thomas Jones. History of New York during the Revolutionary War. Vol. I, p. 136. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 121 Parish Library, the former is by far the better pre- served, but it plainly has never, at any stage of its career, been a working Library, while the latter lives to- day only in a few fragments. The only ones that arose from the ashes of their former selves, the New York So- ciety Library and the King's (Colmnbia) CoUege Li- brary, were forced to make a wholly fresh start in life, the few relics of their early collections not being restored for many years. A handful of the King's College books are preserved in the Library of Colmnbia University to- day, while the Society Library can show but two books, besides the Clarendon history and the Sharpe Collection, that are of undoubted Colonial Library ownership. From this consideration of the Library in Colonial New York, the reader will not turn with any great de- gree of pride in the general cultural attainments of the capital city of the province, let alone evidences of Li- brary science. And yet the facts of the case belie the statement in Grahame's history already quoted,^ that "the great bulk of the people were strangers even to the first rudiments of science and cultivation, tiU the era of the American Revolution." For all through the Eng- lish colonial period one finds traces of increasing cultiva- tion and refinement. As far back as 1668, Col. Francis Lovelace, the second English governor, is said to have written home: "I find some of these people have the breeding of courts, and I cannot conceive how such is acquired."^ Still earlier, in 1643, the "Inventory of the personal property of the Widow Bronck at Emaus" enumerates over fifty books and pamphlets, the collection of "the late Jonas Bronck."^ Moreover, there are in the • Supra p. 30. ' But see p. ' N. Y. Col. Docs., vol. XIV, p. 43. 122 THE LIBRAHY IN COLONIAL NEW YORK New York Public Library to-day several volumes that once formed a part of the personal collection of the Rev. John Miller, chaplain at the fort from 1692 to 1695. Governors Hunter and Burnet were themselves own- ers of libraries and scholarly in their tastes, while Gov- ernor Montgomerie, though not so regarded, left a library of about 1400 volumes.^ Among the colonists, furthermore, there were all along men of literary ap- preciation, with their own private collections: for ex- ample, Col. Lewis Morris, Robert Elliston, James De Lancey, WiUiam Smith, James Alexander, Cadwal- lader Colden, Joseph Murray, David Clarkson and others.^ Such was the type of men who not only per- ceived the permanent value of a Public Library but gave to their ideas enduring embodiment in the form of the New York Society Library, whose history is now to be related. ^See notice in The New-York Oa- return of volumes belonging thereto; zette in May, 1733, advertising its e.g., John Pintard (the elder) asks sale. for the borrowed books of William ' Executors of estates sometimes Searle, deceased, in The Gazette and advertised in the newspapers for the Post-Boy, Nov., 1747. THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY, 1754 IN the spring of 1754, when the New York Society- Library first drew breath, the position held by what is now the United States in world affairs was truly insignificant. Regarded and treated chiefly as ap- pendages to the British crown, restricted in commerce, and with inventive and mechanical instincts kept in leash, the colonies were indeed but scattered "planta- tions," clinging closely to the Atlantic seaboard. Num- bering aU told only about 1,370,000 souls, or less than a third of the present population of New York city alone, the English colonists, furthermore, differed as widely in their institutional life as in their geographical location. Yet in spite of aU this and their primitive means of intercotirse, the idea of nationality was already begin- ning to find expression. Across the water, the reign of old George the Second had still more than six years to run, while America's future "tyrant" was but a lad of fifteen, with traits of temperament aU unguessed. On the decaying French throne lolled Louis the Well Beloved, whose ill-starred successor was yet to see the light this same year; and over a twelvemonth was to pass before the tragic name 124 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY of Marie Antoinette wotild become a household term at the Austrian court,— in their very cradles innocent vic- tims of that unnatural state alliance formed to crush the great Frederick. All Europe was taking a moment's breath before plunging into the Seven Years' War, from which Prussia was to emerge a power. As landmarks in the progress of the arts of peace, it will be recalled that only a year earlier the British Mu- seum had been founded, and that not long afterward Dr. Johnson pubhshed his famous dictionary. In the new world, too, significant signs of cultvu"e were not lacking. Already four colleges. Harvard, WiUiam and Mary, Yale, and Princeton, were in existence ; and within a few months still a fifth was to be chartered in close proximity to the new Library — King's College, known ever since the Revolution as Columbia. The year 1754 is notable in American annals. It marks the outbreak of the fiercest and fortunately the last of the intercolonial struggles, the French and In- dian War, whose chief benefits to the Enghsh provin- cials, besides the prestige of final victory, were their experience in cooperation and their training for that sterner and more momentous conflict, of which few had so much as dreamed. At the celebrated Albany Con- gress, opened in June by Lieutenant-Governor De Lan- cey, Benjamin Franklin submitted his Plan of Union, so clever that it was rejected by both the colonies and the home government for the advantages supposably given the other side. And it was in an early episode of the war that a young Virginia colonel at Fort Necessity was learning lessons in patience and self-reliance, and undergoing a discipline, that in after years were justly to earn for him the title, "Father of his Coimtry." GROWTH OF NEW YORK CITY 125 None of the colonies showed a bolder front or greater foresight in preparing for this contest than New York. Its energetic executive, James De Lancey, as a native of the province was the better able to discern the various needs and perils of the hour. His recommendations found full favor with the Lords of Trade, who approved his view of New York city, as "in all respects the most proper place for a general Magazine of Arms and Military stores."^ As it was the provincial capital throughout the colonial era, there consequently existed a close association between the two governing boards. Often the mayor was appointed to the governor's coun- cil, whose members frequently mingled with assembly- men and common councilmen in the corridors of the City Hall. By this time New York may fairly be said to have at- tained a well-defined organization. Granted a nominal charter by Director Stuyvesant in 1653, the city, ever since the arrival of Governor Ajidros, in 1674, had been ruled imder the English municipal system, with such modifications as changing conditions brought about. A truly distinctive character had gradually come into being from the very composition of the community; in earliest times cosmopolitan tendencies were pronounced, and before the middle of the seventeenth century the city's population was claimed to include well-nigh a score of nationahties. These various elements had fused harmo- niously at length, a circumstance serving to counteract that spirit of provincialism so natural to colonial Uf e. Then, as now, and in fact throughout its history, the chief resource of the city was its commercial acumen. In the words of a contemporary historian. New York ' N. r. Col. Docs., VI, 1016. 126 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY was "the Metropolis and grand Mart of the Province," commanding "by its commodious Situation . . . also all the Trade of the Western Part of Connecticut and that of East Jersey," " 'No season,' " he quotes, " 'prevents our Ships from launching into the Ocean. During the greatest Severity of Winter, an equal, unrestrained. Activity runs through all Ranks, Orders, and Employ- ments.' "^ Trading monopohes and the rich harvests reaped from privateering had laid the foundations of many a local fortune and had brought prosperity to the city. But for all that, New York was a smaller place than either Philadelphia or Boston. Barely 12,000 people could be counted within its gates, then not far apart, for httle land had as yet been reclaimed from the rivers, while the Fields, the present City Hall Park, lay well outside the inhabited portion. In those days, as for over half a century before, and for as many years to foUow, the City Hall stood in Wall street at the head of Broad. Here were discussed all matters relating to the welfare of the commimity. It will therefore be of interest to regard briefly the con- cerns of the city fathers, at a time when no salary but great honor attached to the office of alderman, while to be mayor was accounted an imperishable dignity. For the most trustworthy source of information one should tvu*n to the old minutes of the Common Council, so care- fully kept by the city clerks throughout the hundred years ending with the British occupation in 1776. At a glance, one is impressed with their alertness and attention to civic interests. First in importance at that 'William Smith. The History of 1757. P. 188. The author does not the Province of New-York. London, give the source of his quotation. CIVIC LIFE IN COLONIAL NEW YORK 127 time, naturally enough, would come preparation for suitable defense. Not only were constables paid for "Severall Nights and Days Watchings," but masters of all incoming vessels were notified to report within two hours of arrival the names of strangers carried as pas- sengers, under penalty of forty shillings for each default. A "thousand stand of arms" was ordered from England, each musket to be "fixed with a Bayonet, one Catridge box and a Belt." Again, all freemen were to be taxed for an appropriation of not above ,£3500 for a new barracks in the Fields, to be built by "the most principal! Carpenters," to accommodate 800 men; upon completion it was regularly kept supplied with firewood, candles and straw. As an expedient for raising funds, the Common Council— as had been done in the case of founding King's College— petitioned the assembly for leave to start a lottery, "beeing apprehensive of a Warr with France." To matters of the general weal a similar devotion seems to have been shown. New streets were laid out from time to time, while some of the travel-worn thor- oughfares would be ordered paved or leveled. Fines were exacted of persons refusing to serve in elective positions, a special exception being made in the case of one constable-elect, Caleb Shrieve, "screaned by being a Quaquer." The poorhouse, City Hall and other pubhc buildings were kept in constant repair, and a pest-house and a new jail were in process of erection. One citizen was regularly paid for "taking Care of the City Lamps," another received quarterly instalments for services as "pubhck Whipper," still a third was desig- nated as "Publick Inviter to ffuneralls,"— this last functionary plainly showing title to Dutch origin. 128 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY For over a score of years a fire department had been in operation, the firemen receiving individual appoint- ment from the Common Council. For precaution's sake new wells were sunk in the streets, as had long been the custom, and a special ordinance forbade the storing of turpentine or pitch within the corporate limits. Frequent regulations attest to the watchfulness of the city's guardians over the health of their charge, stringent laws calling for cleanliness in streets and mar- ket places. One ordinance in particular prohibited the selling of oysters between May 15th and the middle of August, thus showing f amiharity with the phenomena of the months without the "r" ! At a time when small- pox was reported as rampant in Philadelphia, the Am- boy boat was ordered held up for inspection, Bedlow's Island being the quarantine station. In the direction of pubhc charities a beginning had long been made. The city's poor and destitute received attention from regularly chosen church wardens and city vestrymen, officials quite distinct from those of Trinity parish. Physicians were simimoned at the Corporation's expense to attend sick debtors or other prisoners in their durance. There was greater opportunity for simple recreation in those days ; people took life more leisurely than in the hurry-worry of the present age. Citizens then had their out-of-door sports close at hand; and their social diver- sions resembled nothing so much as great family gather- ings, for the local gentry were nearly aU related, by marriage at least. Political discussions at taverns and coffee-houses were doubtless as convincing as any held to-day, though possibly more moderate, as the practice of dueling tended to set a guard on men's lips. Smith FORMS OF SOCIAL ENJOYMENT 129 the historian characterizes New York as "one of the most social Places on the Continent," where "the Men collect themselves into weekly Evening Clubs," and "the Ladies, in Winter, are frequently entertained either at Concerts of Musick or Assembhes, and make a very good Appearance."^ For a charming glimpse of the customary round of outings as the seasons changed, behold the following pic- ture from the journal of an Enghsh traveler : ^ Their amusements are . . . balls, and sleighing expeditions in the winter ; and, in the summer, going in parties upon the water, and fishing ; or making excursions into the country. There are several houses, pleasantly situated upon East river, near New York, where it is common to have turtle-feasts: these happen once or twice in a week. Thirty or forty gentlemen and ladies meet and dine together, drink tea in the afternoon, fish and amuse themselves till evening, and then return home in Italian chaises, (the fashionable carriage in this and most parts of America, . . . ) a gentleman and lady in each chaise. In the way there is a bridge, about three miles distant from New York, which you always pass over as you return, called the Kissing- bridge ; where it is a part of the etiquette to salute the lady who has put herself under your protection. All these forms of enjoyment were of course made possible only by the underlying commercial prosperity. Numerous and powerful as were the merchants of New York, however, there was yet another class of society even more instrumental in lending weight and distinc- tion to the advancing community. The commanding influence of the legal fraternity, in shaping a colonial 'William Smith. Mistory of New- Traveh through the Middle Settle- Tork. London, 1757. P. 311. ments in North America. Pp. 738- ' The Rev. Andrew Burnaby, D.D. 739. See p. 88w. 130 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRAKY attitude toward arbitrary policies of the home govern- ment diiring the stirring times then beginning, was as freely admitted by the British ministry as by its agents on this side of the ocean. And the leaders of the New York bar of that day stood second to none in learning, in forensic abihty, or in their patriotic breadth of view. From such a people knowledge was boimd to receive recognition. Amongst enterprising men of affairs there were a nimiber of distinctly scholarly minds, be- sides many others thirsting for literary advantages or plain general information, for themselves and particu- larly for their f amihes. This instinct had been developed in the case of wealthier citizens to the extent of some notable private collections of books, as already men- tioned.^ To the exclusive cultivation of this spirit, however laudable in itself, may be attributed in some degree the prevaihng apathy hitherto shown toward maintaining a Public Library. Yet from a coterie of these very persons came the impetus and guidance that carried to a successful issue the plan of establishing a Subscription Library. Smith's history tells how "the project was started at an evening convention of a few private friends," with the aim of "promoting a spirit of inquiry among the people."^ As hkely as not the httle gathering was held at the home of the Hon. James Alexander, a renowned place of meet- ing to discuss current affairs. The same printed source gives likewise the names of these conspirers for good as follows: Phihp Livingston, Wilham Alexander, Rob- ert R. Livingston, William Livingston, John Morin Scott, "and one other person." This last, with a rea- ' See p. 122. the Late Province of New-York. ' William Smith. The History of New York, 1830. Vol. II, p. 207. THE LIBRARY PROJECT STARTED 131 sonable amount of certainty, may be pronounced to have been the author himself, for William Smith, Jr., was boon companion to several of these men, and he mani- festly writes as one having authority. Their ultimate and liberal aim, our chronicler adds, comprehended "an incorporation by royal charter and the erection of an edifice, at some future day, for a Museimi and an Observatory, as well as a Library."^ Athwart this pleasing picture there darts a reminiscent gleam of poor John Sharpe's unrealized yearnings. Is not that optimist, therefore, vindicated at last in this approaching consiunmation of his cherished designs? And is he not freed forthwith from any charge of fanat- icism, when active men of afi'airs follow his lead, and even dream of foimding also these additional public benefits, unattainable for years to come? But these dreamers, if you will, were not content with seeing visions. They began earnestly to embody their ideas in living form, and they were of just the creative spirit to breathe the breath of life into any undertaking. Ardent, young, — ranging from twenty-five to thirty- eight years of age,— but well disciplined, they were the acknowledged leaders of an association called the Whig Club, a center of opposition to the royalist or govern- ment party. Of good birth themselves, they had ready access to persons of standing in the commimity. The historian records laconically their initial steps : "To en- gage aU parties in the subscription, it was carried first to the heutenant-governor and the council,"^ nearly aU of whom gave prompt signature, the Library records show. At this point it is fitting to learn something about the six young men who had set this abiding work in opera- > Ibid., p. 208. ^ Ibid., pp. 207-208. 132 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY tion. All were destined to lives of eminent usefulness and, in some instances, to enduring fame. Of Philip Livingston, fourth son of the second lord of the manor, it is almost enough to say that he was to be a signer of the Declaration of Independence. A Yale graduate, he tm-ned his attention to business and ac- quired a handsome fortune, which he freely offered to sustain the credit of his country. Throughout his busy life he devoted himself to pubhc interests, serving as an alderman for eight years ; as a member of the assembly, where he was speaker for a time; and as a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, of which latter body he was a member at the time of his death. Moreover, religious matters were close to his heart; throughout his hf e he maintained allegiance to the Re- formed Dutch Church, serving that denomination as deacon and as elder for years. Truly the house founded by the original Robert, the Albany fur trader and pro- moter, gained greatly in pubhc esteem in its third generation. Talents and resources, such as the first lord of the manor had applied to his own purposes, were generously placed at the disposal of their fellow-beings by not a few of his descendants. William Livingston, a younger brother, was also graduated from Yale College, where he took highest honors. He studied law with James Alexander and WUliam Smith in tm-n, at the same time imbibing their poHtical ideas. But he was original and forceful, soon advancing to the front of his chosen calling, though bitterly denounced by opponents as a "Presbyterian lawyer,"— a term implying seditious views toward the government, as well as indicating his denominational afShation, for at this time he was a trustee of that CHIEF MOVERS IN THE ENTERPRISE 133 church. He compelled attention and won renown as the author of numerous brilliant pamphlet articles, pub- Ushed under the titles, "The Independent Reflector" and "The Watch-Tower." Although he took up his residence in New Jersey in 1760, he retained an active interest in the Library, appreciation of which was shown by his continued election as Trustee from its foundation until 1773, or nineteen years. To prove his sincerity in recommending abolition he freed all his own slaves. Representing his adopted province and state in all three Continental Congresses, and in the Constitutional Con- vention of 1787 as weU, he ranks as one of the most eminent patriots and statesmen of New Jersey, of which he was the first governor under independence. Closely identified with the brothers in this enterprise was their cousin, Robert R. Livingston, third of the name in the direct Une. Achieving eminence at the pro- vincial bar, he was appointed a judge in admiralty, and for the last twelve years of his Hfe was an associate justice of the supreme court. As a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, he opposed the compulsory ac- ceptance of the hateful paper; but he showed conser- vatism on the question of American independence. Reputed the wealthiest land owner in New York, he died in 1775, before it was necessary to declare for one side or the other. In chtirch affiliations, Anglican, though a Whig in politics, his services as a vestryman of Trinity parish ceased only with his death. Judge Liv- ingston's trusteeship in the Library covered eighteen years, from the beginning, and was perpetuated in that of his still more distinguished son and namesake. Mention has several times been made of the historian, William Smith, Jr. For years a law partner of Wil- 134! THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY liam Livingston, and associated with his personal friends in local politics, a man of attainments though of strong bias, he also was to find a parting of the ways on the question of independence. While "all his sym- pathies were with the individual rebel, none were with the rebellion that severed the new from old England." Before this occurred he had been a useful member of society as lawyer and jurist, and as a trustee of the Pres- byterian Church. After the Revolution he continued allegiance to the crown in Canada, where an honorable career was in store for him as chief justice. Another "Presbyterian lawyer"— as also a trustee of that church, and a man of great influence, as both writer and speaker— was John Morin Scott. For some years an alderman and later a member of the provincial con- vention and of the Continental Congress, as also of the local committee of safety, he was no less fuU of martial ardor. One of the founders of the famous Sons of Liberty, he acted a gallant part in the battle of Long Island, retiring from the war as brigadier-general. Thereafter he held such positions of honor as state senator, member of Congress, and secretary of state in New York. The last but by no means the least significant name in this httle group is that of WiUiam Alexander, son of the eminent advocate and councilor, James Alexander, and known in American history as the titular Earl of Stirl- ing. Beginning life in mercantile pursuits, he was made an army contractor by General Shirley and later became his private secretary. At an early age he was appointed to the governor's council of New York and subsequently of New Jersey, where, like his brother-in-law, William Livingston, he dwelt in considerable state. Well in- EARLIEST PRESS NOTICE 135 formed on literary and scientific subjects, a member of the board of governors of King's College, he was also a man of action; for he played a distinguished role in the Revolution, participating conspicuously in notable en- gagements, for which services he was rewarded with the thanks of Congress on several occasions and with a major-general's commission. Held in high esteem by Washington, whom he was said greatly to resemble in personal appearance, he was characterized at the time of his death, just before the war closed, as "possessed of great bravery, perseverance and extraordinary military talent."^ By birth and marriage Lord Stirling was related to leading houses of the province. It is a family tradition that his cvdtivated mother. Mistress Polly Spratt Alexander, in her strong public spirit and desire for improvement, had suggested the Library idea to her son and his friends."* This was early in March, 1754. Within little more than one month they eif ected an organization, chose a board of Trustees, and, still more to the point, raised by private subscription a sum sufficiently ample to sustain the enterprise. Its first press notice appeared in The Neia-York Mercury tor AprU 8th, as follows : A Subscription is now on Foot, and carried on with great Spirit, in order to raise Money for erecting and maintaining a publick Library in this City ; and we hear that not less than 70 Gentle- men have already subscribed Five Potmds Principal, and Ten Shillings per Annvmi, for that Purpose. We make no doubt but a Scheme of this Nature, so well calculated for promoting Lit- ' Elias Boudinot, President of the 132. MS. Archives, Dept. of State, Continental Congress, to General Washington. Washington, Philadelphia, Jan. 29, ' Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer. 1783. "Letters to Washington," xcii. The Ooede Vrouw of Mana^hor-ta. New York, 1898. P. 382. 136 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY erature, will meet with due Encouragement from all who wish the Happiness of the rising Generation.^ A considerable number of citizens having become interested, there had been drawn up on April 2d the "Articles of the Subscription Roll of the New York Library," under which the institution was to prosper for more than eighteen years, or until a charter was secured, in November, 1772. Its objects are an- nounced briefly and without ostentation in these simple phrases, — the first now held in light esteem, though then reserved for dignified occasions,— "^^^erea« a Publick Library would be very useful, as well as ornamental to this City & may be also advantageous to our intended College." The sentence concludes with business-like directness: "We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, in order to promote the Design of erecting one in this City, do promise to pay Five Pounds New York Cur- rency, each on the first Day of May next ensuing the Date hereof." They further agreed to a yearly assessment of ten shillings and to an annual election of twelve Trustees, to be chosen from subscribers or their assigns at the Ex- change in Broad street, between eleven o'clock and noon on the last Tuesday in April. The Trustees were em- powered to appropriate funds toward the purchase of books, and to select a repository for them; to appoint a "Library Keeper" at a "propper SaUary"; to regulate the terms of loans; and "to do every Thing they shall judge necessary to erect, preserve, ornament & improve the said Library," under clearly outlined directions. "This same notice was printed un- prising in view of its character, even der New York news in the Philadel- though there was less affinity be- phia papers of April 11th, but not tween those two towns, in Boston papers at all, which is sur- REGULATIONS OF THE NEW LIBRARY 137 Then follow fourteen "Regulations" for the govern- ment of the institution and the guidance of its Trustees. The main features comprise the "Right to take out one Book at a Time," with the stipulation, foreign to mod- N E ir-r RK, jiprin. .,-A Subfciiption is now on Foot, and carried on with great Spirit, in Older to raifs Money for erefting and miintaining a publick Li- brary in this City ; and we heiat that not lefs th'aa 70 Gentlemen have already fubfcribed Five Pounds Principal, andTilu Shillings per Annum, for that Purpore. We make no Doubt but a Scheme of this Nature, fa. welt caleuiitted for promoting Literature, will meet with due Encourajemeat from all who wilh the Happinifs cf the Rifing Generation. Laft Tuefday Morning,^. ijO, in Counterfeit British Half-pence, watfeizedinaHonfein tbitCity, by George Harriibn-, Efq; Sur- veyor and Searcher of iiis Majeiiy's Cuftoms. ^Suek AJfiiuic/ as tint, in jnaUi^ two tmfidtrabk Stixura miliia a FoTnigbt'i Time, mil, v>c trufl, he an tffeSual Slef tnoardt prnentJiig tie Imftrta- tion tf Counterfeit Ccfpcr Halfpence into this FrovhiC, fo prtjudieial U the Country in general, and the fair Trader in fartieular ; and mil, undoubtedly, ri^Btto Icfi Honour on one fo aeehui for the Good vf the Common fytal, iban Di/btnuir an the Ptrfia or Ferfont viho may at Timei import than, contrary iothe expreft IVoras of the Ati of Jljfiahly of ibu Province, latetf made and provided in teat ^Behalf, ^ Cvfiote-Houfe, HewTerk, bnuard Bntrta. Sloop Herring, A. Cvzzeos from Jamaica. OutnardS' Sloop Little David. J. Philipfon for Newfoundland. Siuop Elizabeth, C. Mitlcr fsr Virginia. Bi*g Fanny, Edward Kendrit^k tor Nevii. Sloop Ann, ' B. Kichards fbr Barbados. Biig William, J. Koome for Liihon. Snow Meropotamia, A. Rutgers lorNew-CalUc. Snow Chirming Sally, T. Wnile for Port Dover. Cleared. Stoop Ma- (ItT Ma^n, J. Crew, Sloop Uniiy^ Hczekiah Sawyer, and Sloop Balcbelor, D, Cox to Nova-Scotia. Sloop Weymoutii, J. Cooklia to Bofton. Biig Elizabeth, Jofiss Smith to V. Idandi. SioopKiog. ftan, John Ebbccs to Mont/eiat, Schoonct Hampton, J. Cramer to Ani-gua. Sicop Dolpbin, .'Xhoroas Rom'cy «> Jsmancs. Brig Ca- mus, A. Brown to Ma&ita. Sleop Bumpef^ A. Hantie to Ciaf-^ gow. First press notice of the Society Library. The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 11, 1754 (facsimile size). See pp. 1S5-136. ern ways, requiring a deposit "in Cash, at least one third more than the value of it" ; that the length of the loan "be proportioned as nearly as possible to the Bulk of the Volumn," together with certain penalties for delin- quents ; and that the majority of members might, at any annual meeting, amend the instrument. The Trustees 138 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY were to be elected by ballot, should serve "Gratis," and might appoint a Treasurer, "at a proper Allowance for his Trouble," who, however, could not be one of their number; and they were to be held responsible for the financial status of their charge. Individual shares or "rights" might be bequeathed, inherited or alienated, "as of any other Chattel"; but, no matter how many rights he might possess, each sub- scriber was to have only one vote. It is interesting to observe how the term "right"— meaning a share— has been carefully retained to the present day as one of the distinguishing marks of the Society Library. It is also of interest to note, retrospectively, that the liberal intent of the donors of the Corporation Library was here per- petuated in part, by the provision that all privileges, in- cluding the loan of books, should be extended to any resident of the province at large. On the eve of the first election for Trustees this notice, here copied from The New-York Gazette: or, the Weekly Post-Boy, for April 29th, was inserted in the current newspapers : THE GENTLEMEN, who are Subscribers to the PUB- LICK-LIBRARY, which is to be erected in this City, are hereby Notified, that To-morrow, being the last Tuesday in April, is the Day appointed by the Subscription Articles for their Meeting ; in order to elect Twelve TRUSTEES, who are to have the immediate Care and Management of the said Library, for the Year ensuing. They are therefore desired to convene for that Purpose, To-morrow morning at Eleven o'Clock, at the EXCHANGE Coffee-Room in Broad-Street. As it will be the first public Transaction of the Subscribers, in Advancement of this excellent and useful Design, it is hoped, that Gentlemen will not fail to give a very general Attendance. FIRST ELECTION OF TRUSTEES 139 Not a whisper of the proceedings at this first ballot- ing for Trustees has reached our ears. It is perhaps too much to expect to find no politics in the affair, consider- ing the temper of the six originators ; and especially in view of the fact that in the same year King's College was nearly strangled at birth by sectarian dissensions, with their underlying political motives. That there was pohtics in this election is made very plain from a long article, number XXV of "The Watch-Tower" series, in the Mercury for May 12, 1755, signed "B."^ After explaining the intent of the founders as "well judging that an Acquaintance with Books would tend to unshackle the Minds of their fellow Subjects," the out- burst proceeds with increasing bitterness : No sooner were the Subscriptions compleat, and a Day ap- pointed for the Election of Trustees, than a dirty Scheme was concerted, for excluding as many English Presbyterians as possible, from the Trusteeship; concerted, not by Trinity Church in this City, but by some of her unworthy Members: Which Distinction is here carefuUy taken, to prevent those con- tracted Bigots from misrepresenting the Sentiments of an Author, who for the Reasons abovementioned, holds that, and all other Protestant Churches, in the highest Veneration. This Scheme a certain Gentleman in this Province undertook to execute ; and by his Emissaries dispersed among the Subscribers a Number of Copies of such a List of Trustees, as best suited his known Humour and Inclination, and advised many of them carefully to avoid electing any Presbyterians to the Trustee- ship. Strongly prepossessed in favour of his own judicious Choice, the good Man doubtless expected it would be submitted to by many of the Subscribers with a most obsequious Defer- ence. How well his Expectations were answered, the Event of 'Probably the Rev. Aaron Burr, dated with William Livingston in D.D., president of the coUege at the preparation of these articles. Princeton, for he was closely asso- 140 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY that Election will best determine. Thus much however is cer- tain, that in Spite of his utmost EiForts, the Subscribers were so obstinatly impartial, as to chuse Persons who, from their Acquaintance with Literature, they imagined were able to make a proper Collection of Books. Nevertheless, we can only conjecture whether the elections were close, whether there reaUy was active rivalry for the honor, or whether some of the nominees may not have accepted their new responsibihties reluc- tantly, questioning the outcome. The gathering itself, composed of representative citizens, met in the new Exchange at the foot of Broad street, and was probably as large as often assembled for any purpose. The result bears witness to the intelligence and wisdom of the voters. Of the twelve gentlemen chosen to the first board of Trustees of the Society Library, three were founders, Robert R. Livingston, WiUiam Livingston and WiUiam Alexander. Upon the remaining nine members attention will next be directed, to learn what manner of men they were, these guardians over the earhest days of the institution we behold to-day, time- honored but virile and full of promise. In response to our invocation the muse of history will now summon them one at a time, for a brief and reverent review. First among these twelve apostles of cultm-e rises the august figure of his Honor James De Lancey, Esquire, lieutenant-governor of the province of New York throughout this decade, and for thirty years chief justice of the supreme court. Scarcely past the prime of life, handsome, brilliant, imperious yet urbane, he lived and moved in a style commensurate with his dignities and great wealth. The very nmabling of his gilded coach over the rough city streets, no less than the gracious but THE FIRST BOARD OF TRUSTEES 141 stately inclination of his flowing peruke, proclaimed the majesty of the law and the power of the crown whose servant he was. In political astuteness without a peer, Eespected and admired for his qmck penetration and unfailing good judgment, and popular for his affable manners, James De Lancey wielded an influence over the men of his day exceeded by no other individual in New York prior to the Revolution. Next comes the Hon. Joseph Murray, a man of sober mien, for years the foremost constitutional lawyer of the province, his Majesty's attorney-general, a member of the council and the chief exponent of the royaUst view. Serving Trinity parish as vestryman and warden for many years, he was also often retained by the Common Council in its htigations, usually declining compensa- tion. In 1728 his disinterestedness was recognized in bestowing upon him the freedom of the city. Devoted to the welfare of King's College, of which he was one of the first governors, he bequeathed to it a handsome legacy and his private collection of valuable books, which formed the nucleus of the College Library. Although somewhat advanced in life, he was still the acknowledged leader of the colonial bar. Close upon his heels treads the Hon. John Chambers, often pitted against him in council deliberations, as an uncompromising foe of government by prerogative, demanding for provincials the freeholder rights of Enghshmen. With Mr. Murray, in return for gratui- tous legal services, he had been complimented with the freedom of the city by the Common Covmcil, of which body he was afterward a member. He was also concerned with Trinity Chtu-ch affairs, a vestryman for years and succeeding Mr. Murray as warden. An associate justice 142 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY of the supreme court, he had been identified with that great advocate, Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia, ia securing the acquittal of the printer Zenger, nearly twenty years before, whereby freedom of the press was established in New York. As though seeking to soften the ardor of their dis- cussions with words of peace, there now advances from the shadows the benign and somberly clad form of the Rev. Henry Barclay, D.D., second rector of Trinity Church. For years a devoted laborer among the Mo- hawks, he had been induced some time before to take up the mantle of the Rev. William Vesey. He was to find amongst the elect as bitter feuds as prevailed in his own heathen field, but these he set out resolutely to bring to reconcihation. Displaying unusual adaptabihty, he won from the cultivated and well-to-do the same high regard so openly accorded him by the poor Indian. Our study now centers in the grave and dignified per- sonality of the Hon. James Alexander, long a member of the councU, sometime attorney-general and advocate- general, and venerated as an oracle by his associates at the bar. In addition to his legal learning, he had marked capacity for scientific research, becoming with Dr. Franklin and others a f oimder of the American Philo- sophical Society. One writer says that he was "equally distinguished for his humanity, generosity, great abilities and honourable stations." One of the leading actors in the dramatic Zenger episode, for his boldness in criti- cising the bench he suffered temporary disbarment and loss of concihar honors. Restoration followed soon, how- ever, the grand jury and Conmion Council drawing up elaborate testimonials to his character and ability. On the passage of the Montgomerie charter in 1731, he had VARIED INTERESTS REPRESENTED 14.3 been given the freedom of the city, together with James De Lancey and William Smith. For years he was the mouthpiece of the popular party, though not gifted as a speaker, directing public sentiment through the columns of John Peter Zenger's Weekly Journal. In the Hon. John Watts the Library had a powerful supporter, for he was a leader in the province, socially and pohtically. A merchant prince of business life above reproach, he was ever active and far-sighted in promoting the welfare of his f eUow-citizens. He was foremost in the erection of the Exchange in 1752, to which he later "with others" presented a large clock; and he was deeply interested in the establishment of the New York Hos- pital, of which society he was the first president, from 1770 tiU a successor was chosen in 1784. As speaker of the assembly and while a member of the council, Mr. Watts allied himself closely with the policies of his intimate friend and brother-in-law, James De Lancey; and afterward, as attorney-general under Governor Monkton, he showed his partisanship so strongly, that he is said to have been designated as the next royal gov- ernor, had the war terminated otherwise. Yet he was withal a most intrepid denouncer of injustice, and was the only one among them all who faced the Earl of Lou- doun to oppose the quartering of troops in the city in 1756. A Trustee of the Society Library for twenty years, his attention to its interests ceased only with his removal, in 1775, to England, where he died an exile, bereft of his great estates. A wholly different element of New York's social structure now demands representation— a class the most fundamental of all, the mercantile. In the person of the Hon. Wilham Walton there appears more of the mod- 14.4 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY ern self-made man than is generally to be seen in the grandees of that day. The most prominent member of a noted family, he both inherited and acquired great wealth. Through certain trade preferences conceded by the Spaniards of Florida and the West Indies, and by dexterous privateering during the French war, the Waltons literally coined money. A man of strong pub- lic spirit he, as weU as John Watts, refused all compen- sation while representing the city in the assembly. Established in the most elegant private dwelling in the colonies, and a member of the governor's coimcil, Cap- tain Walton maintained so lavish an hospitahty, that stories of his entertainments, replete with gold and silver service, were adduced in ParHament as proofs positive that the colonists were not impoverished by so-called repressive acts. The lot next falls upon Benjamin Nicoll, Esq., a man in middle hfe. Carefully fitted for Yale by his step- father, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, first president of King's College, he subsequently entered the legal pro- fession in New York, where he had become at his un- timely demise, in 1760, "a Lawyer of great note, . . . than whom no man was ever more lamented throughout this province."^ So wrote his afflicted parent to the Aj-chbishop of Canterbury, but without exaggeration, to judge from his record as a devoted Trustee of the Li- brary up to the time of his death, as also a vestryman of Trinity Church and a governor of King's College, of the movement to establish which institution he is said to have been, with Dr. Johnson, "the life and soul." His public career comprised several years' service as an assembly- man of conservative leanings, and an appointment, at ^N. T. Col Docs.. VII, 441. THE FIRST TRUSTEES WELL CHOSEN 14.6 the very time our story opens, to act with Joseph Mur- ray, William Smith, Cadwallader Golden and William Livingston on an important commission to settle the boundary question with Massachusetts. Years after- ward the final adjustment of this matter accorded with the findings of the New York commissioners. Last of all we are introduced to one of the youngest and cleverest of the little company, William Peartree Smith, a second cousin of the historian, and of a family long identified with New York. His grandfather, Wil- liam "Port Royal" Smith, an alderman for many years, was son-in-law to Col. William Peartree, mayor of the city from 1703 to 1706. During his residence in New York he was for some years a trustee of the Presby- terian Chxu-ch. A classmate and life-long intimate of William Livingston, he also took up his residence in New Jersey, where he had earlier been instrumental in the foimding of the college at Princeton. At one time secretary of the province of New Jersey, he acted in 1774 as chairman of its general committee of corre- spondence, and was sent the next year as delegate to the Continental Congress. Geniunely interested in litera- ture, as also an ardent patriot, he was widely known as a writer of both prose and verse in his country's cause ; for a time he had been associated with William Living- ston in editing the "Independent Reflector." After the Revolution he held various positions of honor in his adopted state. From this review of the individuals composing the first board of Trustees of the New York Society Li- brary, there is no question as to the sagacity of the sub- ^ scribers in their choice. These twelve gentlemen ' represented as a whole the best that the province 146 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY aiforded in position, cultivation, attainments, native ability and character. Their very difference in age was a good omen, as well as the variety in their lines of ac- tivity. It is of interest further to note that, as regards poHtical affihation, six of them were of one party and half a dozen of the other: Messrs. De Lancey, Murray, Barclay, Watts, Walton and Nicoll properly belonged to the aristocratic or government party, while Messrs. Chambers and Smith, the Alexanders and the Living- stons were as naturally aligned with the popular side. In the next chapter we shall see how they attacked the problems with which the new enterprise fairly bristled. Before continuing the narrative, however, more than passing mention is due the allusion in the Articles to "om* intended College." It is a matter of no ordinary moment that the Society Library and King's College were founded in the same year. That two such imder- takings, representing ideas so advanced, could originate at the very same time, reveals an abundance of cultivation and public spirit, despite "the low state of science and the narrow views and jealousies of sectarian zeal," which Smith the historian knowingly says proved obstacles to the early advance of the College. The close bond between these twin-sister institutions of culture may further be seen in the frequent identity of their officers, from that day to this. Of the first Library board, for instance, no fewer than eight- James De Lancey, John Chambers and Henry Barclay, each ex officio, and Joseph Murray, William Walton, John Watts, Benjamin Nicoll and William Livingston —were named among the first governors of the College, showing also that men of ability are usually' to be found BOND BETWEEN LIBRARY AND COLLEGE 147 in more than one good work. And this hereditary con- cord between the two institutions has never been more marked than to-day, in their reciprocal privileges of con- sultation, so cordially subsisting between the Society Library and the Library of Colimibia University. II FIRST STEPS, 17S4-1772 rHE New-York Mercury for Monday, May 6, 1754, in aimouncing the names of the Trustees elected "to superintend the Affairs of ova LI- BRAHY, for the present Year," adds: "The above gentlemen are desired to meet To-morrow, at the House of Edward Willet, in the Broad-Way, precisely at 11 o'clock." While we as well as the new officers await this inter- esting event, it should be stated that from now on our chief source of information as to the proceedings of successive boards of Trustees is found in the complete series of their books of minutes, happily preserved to the Library through aU its century-and-a-half of existence. The first two volumes, ending respectively in 1772 and 1832, are leather-covered, dingy old foHos, the writing varying in style, and in conformity with the canons of orthography, imder different scribes, but as legible to- day as when penned. The entries at first are variously headed, "At a Meet- ing of the Trustees of the New- York Library," "At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Library," or simply "At a Meeting of the Trustees," until October, 1759, after EXPLANATION OF "SOCIETY LIBRARY" 149 which date the stereotyped form begins, "At a Meeting of the Trustees of the 'New York Society Library," end- ing with place and hour of assembling. Then after the word "Present" are listed the members in attendance. Seven constituting a quorum, it often chanced that no meeting could be held, but abortive attempts were scrupulously entered, even when scarcely two or three were gathered together. Although for its early years the institution was not styled "Society Library" in the minutes, it yet is plain that this name was soon decided upon, from an an- nouncement in the Mercury of October 21, 1754, ad- dressed to "the Proprietors of the New- York Society Library," as also from subsequent newspaper notices. The origin of this unique title is often a subject of inquiry. Some have maintained, in view of the high social standing of its originators, as of its general mem- bership always, that the institution was so called because it was meant to be, as it has ever been, the Library of New York Society! But this opinion cannot be enter- tained seriously, for the term "society" had not then, nor until comparatively recent times, the limited or derived sense of caste. Besides, such a narrow view is incon- sistent with the liberal aim of the founders, and tends to bring undeserved reproach upon the institution. The question is susceptible of explanation as f oUows : in the beginning there was formed a voluntary associa- tion of persons, a company, a society. This term, "the Society," has been used officially in the minutes and in miscellaneous documents and notices to designate the organization always, the expression, "the Library,"— now in common parlance, and therefore used throughout the present work,— having a colloquial and less formal ]60 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY tone. This Society, then, distinctively a New York enterprise, was instituted to found and perpetuate a Library; hence— the New York Society Library. As such it corresponds exactly in purpose to the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Redwood Library^ at Newport, and the Charleston (S. C.) Library Society, all thriving to-day,^ and to the Social Libraries so com- mon in New England just before and in the half-cen- tury following the Revolution. The generic or class name of all these institutions is Proprietary Libraries; yet they have always been Public Libraries in the orig- inal meaning of the term, — that is, available or open to the public, like public houses or conveyances, — in contra- distinction to private or parochial or special collections. It is only since about 1850 that the word "public" has come to mean "free," as applied to libraries. For fully one hundred years the Society Library was popularly called the "City Library," long after the Mercantile Library Association and the Apprentices' Library were established in 1820, and even after the '■ Since 1835 known ofSdally as The umes of a later colonial association. Redwood Library and Athenaeum. the Hartford Library Company, ' Among similar institutions, long formed in 1774 (see The Connecticut since passed into oblivion, may be Courant, Feb. 22, March 1, 15, 22, Apl. mentioned the Book Company of 26), are now preserved in the Hart- Durham, Conn., established in 1733; ford Public Library. Of those or- the PhUogrammatican Library of ganized soon after the Revolution, Lebanon, Conn., instituted in 1738 me Library Company of Baltimore, (see "Booklovers of 1738— One of incorporated in 1797, was merged the First Libraries in America," by into the Maryland Historical Society Mrs. Martha W. Hooker, in Tfee Com- in 1854; while the Boston Library nectieut Magazine, X (1906), 715 Society, dating from 1792, has suc- et teq.) ; the Elizabeth-Town (N. J.) cessfully maintained an independent Library Company, founded in 1755 existence. Wider in scope than any (see The New-Tork Oazette; or, of these, the Boston Athenaeum, the Weekly Post-Boy, March 3, which has lately celebrated its cen- 1760) ; and the equally obscure Al- tennial anniversary (1907), presents bany Society Library, whose book- a different type of proprietary estab- plate bears date of 1759 (see illus- lishment, as will presently appear tration in American Book-Plates, by (see Chapter VII). Charles D. Allen, p. 84). Some vol- INITIAL ACT OF FIRST BOARD 151 insignificant beginning of the present City Library in the City Hall, a collection chiefly of records for con- sultation only, imder supervision by the board of alder- men.^ With the gradual development of the modem free Public Library system, however, the old appellation has fallen into disuse, and would not now be recognized as meaning by far the oldest Library in the city— the New York Society Library. Ten Trustees are recorded as forming the first meet- ing of its newly elected board, held on May 7th, the only absentees being James Alexander and Robert R. Liv- ingston. They met at the City Arms,^ on the corner of Broadway and Stone (Thames) street, the principal tavern in town, then but lately opened in the former residence of Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey. That dignitary was no doubt called to the chair, though the minutes are mute on the subject; in fact it is not until 1791 that there is mention of a chairman at all. The chronicle of proceedings is pitifully meager in the early years, simply giving a bare outline of the few measures approved, the record of attendance and, not invariably, the results of annual elections. ' After the destruction of the old memorative of interesting events" in Corporation Library in 1776, the city the reign of Pope Pius IX, "recently harbored no collection of its own un- received from him through the til an ordinance of January, 1849, agency of Mons. A[lexandre] Vatte- set aside a room "for the accommo- mare." (See p. 55n.) Occupying dation of a Library, to contain the various rooms, the City Library has books now belonging to the Common been in its present apartments since Council, and which may hereafter January, 1898, Librarian PhiUp Baer belong to them." As early as De- having held office since January, cember, 1816, there had been a tenta- 1895. tive but ineffectual suggestion of ' Called also the Province Arms "the expediency of establishing a Tavern, the New York Arms and. Library for the use of the Common after the Revolution, the New York Council." Final action by the alder- State Arms. In 1793 the Tontme men was occasioned by a gift to the Association bought the old stone city of a "splendid case of valuable structure and erected on its site the medals [now in the keeping of the famous City Hotel, demoUshed in New York Historical Society], com- turn about 1850. 162 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY The initial act of this first board was very sensibly a resolution empowering John Watts, William P. Smith and William Alexander, Trustees, and John Livingston —evidently for the shareholders in general, as he was not then a Trustee— to "receive the Subscription Money, from the several Subscribers, in order to be laid out in Books for the Library," a service they "agreed to per- form Gratis." Mr. Smith was made "Clerk," also a "gratis" office, and ordered to "prepare a proper Book at the public Expense, for entring the Minutes." They voted to meet "in the Pubhc Library-Room" thrice yearly, on the first Tuesday afternoon in April, May and September, at three o'clock. A fine of three shill- ings was to be levied for excuseless absence, "to be paid into the Hands of the Cashier," but no further mention is made of the penalty or of any enforcement. As few steps were taken at the opening session, in aU likelihood their deliberations at the tavern were weighty and prolonged. At any rate, there was unfinished busi- ness when they adjourned, to meet nine days hence at the same place, each Trustee pledged to bring a "catalogue" of suitable books. On reconvening, some of them, "vizt Mess''? Barclay, W" Livingston, RoW R. Livingston, W° Alexander & W™ P. Smith, produced a List of Books." "But," the minutes record with much sim- phcity, "as M^ Murray imagined, there would not be sufficient time, at this Meeting, to Consider, examine, & coUect a proper Catalogue from the Same," the im- portant matter was again postponed. Nor until the end of the month was a full report rendered of their choice for the first consignment, when, "having now spent some time in examining the several Lists of Books before produced, the Trustees agreed upon the following FIRST LIST OF BOOKS APPROVED 153 Catalogue selected from the s^ Lists, to be sent for by the first Opportunity." This combined list, as spread upon the records, in- cludes some 250 titles of leading works of the day in literature and science. It is interesting in itself, and is of especial value as showing the taste of the Trustees and their aim to secure the best and a variety. It is pleasing also to observe how impressed they were with the need of frugality, some works being endorsed "2** hand if good." Naturally there are the usual selections from the ancient classics, from Elizabethan writers, and from essayists of the age of Anne. Historical works aboxmd, interspersed among memoirs, diplomatic cor- respondence, party pamphlets, and philosophical and scientific brochures. Legal minds prestmiably yearned for "State Tryals complete at large" or "Debates in Parliam*"; while the mercantile element was to find relaxation preferably in books of travel, diverting and yet not remote from accustomed interests. For the clergy there were provided standard com- mentaries, as also devotional and theological disserta- tions without number, though not of the extreme heaviness of earlier collections in New York. The remainder consisted of treatises in mathematics and in the field of the natural sciences, together with an assort- ment from the realms of music, oratory and logic. Truly these were earnest-minded men, aware and proud of their responsibility. We may readily fancy how sug- gestions had poured in upon them from interested sub- scribers, and no less from members of their families. One is impressed with the utter absence of hght reading in the final decision; for, after approving the list, Mr. Watts was to "transmit by the first Opportunity," to one JriU/ffCLS a ffu6{icA Idnarni ujinili ^ otmi M^ia,ea wtU at^ Ormirrwfial IS wJ CUaj ^■mcut'h oilso ai vati/aqanU fS'owf vnGmSi Cetfeqej %^ ti/^ctf* Jmrnu Din-S lurtu/ii/c'SUhtriSetlj vn (ttJtr to i"(miirlf (M^leiKfn ^uettimq rm i/n tfui uCUi'do pymniiS- tSpnu Ju/e 3cw)m J/uuypfk (wrremcu, ta.dk en tk /W '3aij ci^Wicuji nMc^MMiiwij] rfi^'iiptb (meS(; euntJm Jful&9\aS ^tuiitui, itLdi, on cwm fmlQau (^ 1^e&>c '^tusldi, ft' k dlimm hi OS fnmontx, (jf[/ii , or Ou/i CUSKpU, amualluj out- c^tfo vumkA cj" JuhwJbi/n hintta, n iiiwi iMmm /in wfucli 9wtpasBj u>* aarm to tncU-iamiivnttu on ifu fait-'7uuica4i/n Rpn/, im uwru^. VtivrimMM^a ifit ^oiCfwnolj oiiifu! &c^ouvigr In teroob otfsefy vn tkii GtUj tek f\s %SMtS ^ tfewn ^%>B^ ■<; iv^ld %^atfeij Oi tfi! fyiajoribj tf^Ctwrrij owe Cwr»6u vmfimui/ni id cUipo3di^ttifjcui fnmtUji/n pfMf\aimqSuchfii)i!hjCuihju l^O^'fciA WTome/t pcmi 7v»v fo Tvmtj a/m vn^wmnalc^ vifouse Of /loom iodaptsi^ruwmaij % of\V)u^a.Mia!tuSKl!)tp»lj ouni tiltlou} ktm a. piapiwi3a6iiufuta.'ihiahhf5 tSktoulrMltioiAouh a %mi, cUpOii^Ci im (kih, oJ^ (ecat'Oni i^uiri earing in American Book-Plates candelabra, and an open book bears (Charles Dexter Allen. New York, across its face the motto, Noice tevp- , p. 2SS: "This plate is armorial swm. Signed, E. Gallaudet. 8c. II- in form, but presents no real arms. lustrated in 'Ex Libris Journal,' Vol, The central frame, of Chippendale III, p. 141." design, contains four quarterings, ^A Catalogue of the Books be- Which represent the arts of Astron- longing to the New-Tork Society omy, Navigation, Geography, Mathe- Library. New-York: Printed and matics, and Literature; Religion also Sold by H. Gaine, at the Bible and is represented. Mercury and Minerva Crown, in Hanover-Square. 168 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY York, a special vote of thanks being at once accorded him by the dehghted Trustees. Though its title-page bears no date, a list of new subscribers at the back, penned by either Mr. Vanderspiegel or the Librarian, was begun "13 Sept^ 1758." The total number of vol- s.-yv;..i-.v ■p«tUui4tt!^' First bookplate of the Society Library, engraved by Gallaudet in 1758 (facsimile size). See pp. 166-167. LIBRARY OPEN TWICE WEEKLY 169 umes here listed is 859, showing that the collection was slowly growing. Of the membership no definite state- ment can be made, for the roll as printed is identical with that inscribed in the minutes in 1754, evidently copied from the first pubMshed hst without additions or correc- tions, inasmuch as Joseph Murray, for one, had died the year before. Preceding the catalogue proper comes an "Advertise- ment," containing "The Conditions for the Loan of Books"; the hours as last stated, from two to four on Wednesdays ; and the date of the annual election at the Exchange, "when Gentlemen should come prepar'd to pay their Yearly Subscription, which is ten Shillings." A special "N. B." announces that "Books marked thus * in the following Catalogue, are an additional Impor- tation per the Charles, Captain Jacklyn."^ The titles, arranged in alphabetical order only by the initial letter, are further divided into groups according to fold, first the folios, from A to Z, and so on. Doubtless in response to a growing demand, it was voted in February, 1759, "that the Library be opened Twice a Week"; but no corresponding consideration was shown the Librarian in a resolve that, "unless the Keeper will Attend that Service for the Same Salary heretofore paid, M^ John Vanderspiegel have Leaue to appoint another that will." Without a murmur, so far as the records tell, Mr. Hildreth continued at his post under double hours, notice of his "Attendance every Mon- day and Thursday, from half an Hour after Eleven, to one o'clock," appearing in the local papers for May. ' There are 55 such asterisks ; while for the Fraight of a Case of Printed a page of accounts in the minutes Books from London to New York m shows this confirmatory item: "Rec'd the Ship Charles (and Nme pence of John V. D. Spiegel Two pounds for Entry). Edmd Jacklyne. 170 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY From time to time, as fvmds accumulated, additional works were ordered from abroad, the lists being com- piled from "catalogues" of suggested books required of each Trustee. One such list met with a fate happily withheld from any actual consignments amid the for- tunes of war; for in May, 1761, the Treasurer was asked to "Send to M'^ Ward, Or to Such Other Person as He Shall think fit, in London, for the Books men- tioned in the Catalogue, formerly Sent John Ward, and taken by the Enemy." In consequence of these accessions, of the same gen- eral character as the original collection, a third printed catalogue was necessitated and duly appeared in August, 1761. A single specimen of this pubhcation of 200 copies is also in the possession of the Society Li- brary; it too is from the press of Hugh Gaine,^ and similar in all respects to the last, being likewise xmdated. According to its "Advertisement," the Library hours are continued as before. The list of subscribers is again identical with those in former catalogues, a strange recurrence ; it must have been repeated simply to put on record the names of the original shareholders, though one would expect a fxill Ust of up-to-date members in full standing. The total number of volumes, their titles arranged alphabetically and with more care this time, is 1018, a gain of 159 in three years. One title in partic- ular is of interest, in connection with the story of that survivor of the Trinity Parish Library, now in the So- ciety Library,— a set of "Clarendon's History of the Rebelhon." A very noticeable omission in this last catalogue is the '^A I Catalogue | of the | Books \ be- Gaine, at the Bible and Crown, in longing to the \ New-Tork Society Ha-|nover-Square. Library. \ New- York: | Printed byH. BOARD MEETS AT FRAUNCES' TAVERN 171 schedule of terms for non-subscribers. In May of that year the board had directed the Librarian "not to Suffer any Person not a Subscriber to have any Book Out of the Library for the Future," because many books "hired" by them had been "greatly injured and Abused." At the same time, a committee was charged to "See whether Any and what Books are lost Or Miss- ing," and to "Advertise Such Books as Shall be found Missing." Lastly, the Treasvu-er was authorized to em- ploy a collector, the first mention of such an assistant, at the modest remuneration of "Ninepence in the Pound." His accounts show that this work was regu- larly performed by Librarian Hildreth. Trustee meetings continued to be held in itinerant fashion at one and another of the public houses. It is gratifying to one's curiosity to find that the board pa- tronized ovu* celebrated Fraunces' Tavern, forever re- nowned as the scene of Washington's "Farewell" to his officers. On March 9, 1764, the Trustees assembled "at the House of M^ Samuel Francis,"^ as it is politely ex- pressed in the minutes. The list of books, then "added and sent for," may be quoted in full to show their char- acter, as well as the constant attention paid to enlarging the collection. They are thus entered in the records : Swift's Works latest & best Edition with Cutts; Lady Mary Worthly Montague's Letters or Travels ; Elements of Criticism by Lord Keams ; Broughton's History of All Religions ; All the Volumes of Warburton's divine Legation of Moses, succeeding the fourth Volume if any ; Commons Debates, 1667-1694 ; Mon- ' According to newspaper adver- 1907 the historic structure was re- tisements, "Samuel Frances" was at stored by the Society of the Sons that time innkeeper "at the Sign of of the Revolution, and to-day old the Queen's Head, near the Ex- Fraunces' Tavern looks as it did change" on Broad street, corner of when "Black Sam," its West Indian Queen (Pearl). Within the year proprietor, flourished. 172 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY taign's Essays; St Evremont; Dodly's Collection of Poems; Reflections on the Rise and fall of Ancient Republicks adapted to the present state of G Britain by E. Worthly Montague Esq^; The Present State of Europe by John Campbell Esq^; The Duke of Sully's Memoirs; Kempfer's History of Japan; Levy's Roman History in English, the best Edition; An Ac- count of the European Settlements in America &9 ; The Works of Daniel Defoe; Clarendon's History of His own Life; The Adventurer; The Connoisure; Humes Political Discoveries; Voyages from Asia to America for Compleating the Discoveries of the North West Coast of America translated from the High Dutch of S. MuUer by Thomas Jeffery's with the Maps; All Sheridan's Works; Fuller's Gymnastic Exercises; Montesqui's Persian Letters. — All Lettered on the Backs. Although at this time, it will be recalled, the old Corporation Library was taking a repose of two years in storage,^ pending extensive repairs to the City Hall, there is nothing in the Library minutes to prove that its collection was at all disturbed. The Librarian continued to draw his salary regularly, while Trustee meetings and annual elections were held as usual, at taverns or at the Exchange. That the institution was contributing its share toward these same improvements is inferable from this item in the accounts: "To Cash p^ Andrew Gautier for Work Done at the Library Room . . . 15?," dated March 26, 1764. Again, just a year later. Treasurer Vanderspiegel records: "To Cash p^ Clean- ing the Library Room & Carting Books from my House to the Library Room ... 10? 9^" At first sight this last entry might seem to imply that the Society Li- brary's books had also been temporarily removed; but the smaUness of the item, coupled with the fact that a new consignment of 130 volumes had just arrived from London, makes that theory the less tenable. ' See p. 79. MISSING BOOKS ADVERTISED 173 At all events, by the middle of September, 1765, Thomas Jackson, "Master of the Academy in the Ex- change," had begim his duties as Librarian of both Libraries in the City Hall. By the Common Council he was paid £4 a year "for his Trouble," and he received from the Trustees of the Society Library the further sum of £6 per annum. The two collections were to be open to the pubHc as before, on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 : 30 to one o'clock. Inasmuch as the advertise- ment in the Gazette for September 19, 1765, states no terms for loans, it is probable that the Trustees had made no change since their by-law of June, 1755, repeated in the Catalogues of 1758 and 1761. The rates charged by the Corporation Library have already been quoted.^ This same Gazette notice reports that the Society Library then had "a large well chosen collection of the most useful modern books, with a considerable late addi- tion, of which a catalogue will be speedily published, that the subscribers may stitch in with their former catalogues." Sad to relate, the surviving copies of those earUer pubHcations contain not this supplement, printed in the fall of 1766 by Hugh Gaine. . It may, however, have become parted from their company, for their pres- ent condition might properly be termed ttwstitched! The interesting statement then follows that "A share in this Library is now worth 10 1. 10 s.," which quotation indicates increased market valuation. Fiu-ther on ap- pears this hst of books, advertised as "missing" : Ludlow's memoirs, fol. Wood's institutes of common law, fol. Hogarth's analysis, 4ito, Cowley's works, vol. 1st. Shakespear, vol. M. Rolt of the late war, vol. 4th. Clogher's journal. Life of Richlieu, 2 vols. De la Sale's voyages. Henepin's trav- ' See p. 79. 174 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY els. Life of Sir Matthew Hale, 12mo. Life of the duke of Marlborough. Thompson's travels. Voyage to Peru. Chris- tian hero. Conclusion of bishop Burnet's history. Adventurer, vol. 4th. Select trials at the Old Bailey, vol. 3d. Rowe's works, vol. 2d. Contrary to custom, but perhaps out of deference to the engagements of Mayor Hicks, one of their number, the Trustees met on December 17, 1766, "in the Library- Room at the City Hall." After ordering Treasm-er Vanderspiegel to pay all salary arrears to Messrs. Ben- jamin HUdreth and Thomas Jackson, it was voted that the Librarian thenceforth be paid quarterly. There- upon, that officer was requested "to observe punctually" a certain "standing Rule" of the Library as to the limita- tion of its privileges to delinquents. Next they acknow- ledged from Messrs. Robert Barclay and Daniel Mil- dred, "in Name of the Society of Friends at London . . . Eight Volumes of the principal Writings for that People." And lastly Messrs. Vanderspiegel, W. Living- ston and Rutherford were deputed to prepare "a List of the new Books now proposed to be sent for, and to recommend to their Correspondent at London to send the Books as mentioned in the Order of the List as far as the Money in the Hands of the Treasiu-er will pay for." This measure had been announced in the Mercury of December 15th as the chief object of assembling, and "all the Proprietors" were \irged "in the mean Time to send a Catalogue of such Books as they think proper for that Purpose to Mr. Jackson, the Librarian, to be then submitted to the Judgement of the Trustees." For many years no mention was made of domestic purchases of books. But in February, 1770, an order was given to James Rivington, printer, publisher of BOOKS OBTAINED THROUGH RIVINGTON 175 Eivington's New-York Gazetteer, and a bookseller as well, at his "open and uninfluenced Press, fronting Hanover-Square"; and a committee was asked to "Make a fair List of such books as are Agreed on to be purchas^ & in case they cannot be purchased here Cheeper or as Cheep as they Can be sent for, that then M^ Variderspiegel do send for them,"— the minute being self-explanatory as to why local dealers had not been patronized hitherto. Thenceforth, until the Revolution simomarily closed aU accounts, Mr. Riv- ington, together with "some Bookseller in London," played no minor part in supplying needs of the institu- tion. Over a year after this incident, a list of books, "lately received" through Rivington's agency, appeared in Gaine's Gazette and Mercury of April 15, 1771, as follows : Handmaid to Arts, Anderson on Commerce, Hook's Roman History, Fitzosborne's Letters, Smith's moral Sentiments, Fer- guson on civil Society, Dalrymple on Feudal Property, Annual Register, Delaney's Revelation examined with Candour, Gerard on Taste, Felton on the Classics, Reid on the Mind, Ferguson's Astronomy, Ferguson's Lectures, Burk on the Sublime, Bio- graphical Dictionary, Vatel's Law of Nations. During the brief space of time remaining before the outbreak of war, the Trustees continued to assemble for deliberation and refreshment at Widow Brock's wayside inn, which stood "near the old City Hall in Wall- street," the newspapers tell. But little business appears to have been transacted, beyond looking out for missing books, contracting for new ones, and regulating the duration of loans. In February, 1770, it was enacted that a folio might be "detained" six weeks; a quarto, four; an octavo, three; and a duodecimo, two weeks. 176 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY further retention entailing a "forfitt" of four, three, and two pence and "one penney" a day, respectively. Within these years several changes took place in the incumbency of the Librarian's office. Thomas Jackson, appointed to the two-fold charge of the Society Library and the old Corporation Library in September, 1765, was a man of cultivation and abihty. In 1762 he had conducted on Wall street a private classical schools'^ which, in consequence of success, he was encouraged to remove, in May, 1765, to more pretentious quarters in the Exchange, "the best house in town for a publick school,"^ "at the Rent of Sixty Pounds."* Here he entered into a brief partnership with Peter Wilson, "a young gentleman, who with the greatest approbation, finished a regular course of education in the University of Aberdeen, and also assisted for two years, to great satisfaction, in teaching."^ This is an early allusion to one of the leading educators of his time, afterward to serve for many years as a Trustee of the Society Library. The pair advertised an "Academy" of instruc- tion in "all branches of useful education," for "gentle- men and ladies of eight years old and upwards." Several months later, coincidentally with his new Li- brary duties, this active man started another enterprise, heralded in the Mercury of September 30th as follows: AN evening school, for the greater convenience of young peo- ■Lm. pie, wiU be opened this evening Sept. 30, in Mr. Jackson's academy, at the Exchange; where will be taught, reading, writing, cyphering, book-keeping, navigation, geography and« ' History of the School of the Col- ' The New-York Gazette; or the legiate Reformed Dutch Church. Weekly Post-Boy, May 3, 1765. New York, 1883. P. 63. ' Mirmtes of the Common Cowndl, vol. VI, p. 409. LIBRARIAN THOMAS JACKSON 177 algebra. Punctual attendance wiU be given, and proper pains taken for the benefit of the scholars. While residing in New York, Mr. Jackson was a devoted member of the Enghsh Presbyterian Church, which he served as elder and as clerk of the session. With others, including William Smith, Garrat Noel and Peter Van Brugh Livingston, elders, and WiUiam Smith, Jr., and John Morin Scott, trustees, he formu- lated a petition to the city fathers in 1766 for "the Angular Piece of Groimd,"^ on which the "Old Brick" Church was so long to stand. The time and occasion of his leaving New York are thus recorded in the ancient "Session Book," under date of August 26, 1768: "M' Thomas Jackson a worthy Member of this Session, hav- ing applyed himself to the Ministry & removed out of the City, is no longer considered a Member of this Judi- cature." So far as his Library work was concerned, he seems to have employed a deputy at the last, as the Treasurer's records show that the usual £6 for the year ending May 1, 1768, was paid to one Alexander Miller, "for M^ Tho? Jackson." During the next six years the post of Librarian was held by James Wilmot. Throughout these years the subscribers had met regu- larly on the last Tuesday in April,^— as has been the practice ever since,— though at varying times of day, the hour for the first decade and more being eleven in the forenoon. No further contests appear to have arisen, and, as has been said, the old board was usually reelected. ^Mimites of the Common Council, usual hour, at the Exchange, when vol. VII, pp. 6-6, 8-12. "some matters of importance - ' On one occasion, in 1771, a notice probably the discussion of a charter was Issued in Gaine's Gazette and -were to be "proposed. A week Mercury of April ISth, calling the later, however, members were prop- annual meetin/ for the leth, at the erly advised of the "Mistake. 178 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY The last act of moment to chronicle for this first period in the history of the Society Library is the appoint- ment, in February, 1771, of Samuel Jones, elected a Trustee the preceding April, as Treasurer to succeed John Vanderspiegel, deceased.^ In passing, it wiU be observed that the clause in the original Articles, forbid- ding a Trustee to hold the office of Treasurer, had been systematically ignored from the beginning. It had doubtless been found far easier in the management to have that officer a member of the board; while any apprehensions that framers of the Articles may have entertained regarding proper disposal of the funds had evidently not been shared by members at large, when once the machinery of administration had been set in motion. ' The Gazette of Feb. 4, 1771, con- and elect a Treasurer, in the Room tained a summons to "Subscribers of Mr. Vanderspiegle, deceased." and Trustees of the Society Library" Goldsbrow Banyar was elected to the to meet "at the House of Mrs. board, which tiiereupon chose Mr. Brock" on the 13th, "at six o'clock Jones, Treasurer, in the Evening to choose a Trustee Ill FROM THE ROYAL CHARTER, 1772, TO THE REVOLUTION, 1776 THERE is no question that the founders of the Society Library looked forward with confidence to a time, not remote, when they should secure their undertaking on the strong and enduring basis of incorporation. Such had been the original aim, as recorded by one of their little company, William Smith, Jr., that "it would be very proper for the Company to have a Charter for its Security and Encouragement"^; yet more than eighteen years were to elapse before attaining that object. It is not easy, iu the lack of evi- dence, to offer a convincing explanation of this apparent and protracted indifference. It may be that the strenuous injection of politics into the enterprise at the start, let alone the evident worsting of his own party, may have so disaffected Lieutenant- Governor De Lancey that he lost interest in the Library and could not be induced to sanction its incorporation. Then, too, the international life-and-death struggle for mastery on the American continent was absorbing the attention and energies of provincial authorities to the exclusion of aught else, during the first half of this very period. '^ History of the Province of New York. London, 1757. P. 195. 179 180 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY Nevertheless, some gleam of hope must have shone out, possibly from De Lancey himself, for in October, 1759, Benjamin Nicoll, William Smith, Jr., and William Alexander were deputed to prepare "the Draft of a Charter for Incorporating the Society agreeable to the Articles & Lay it before the Trustees with aU Conveniant Speed." But this shght glimmer was extinguished not many months later by the sudden death of the lieuten- ant-governor. Dr. Cadwallader Colden, who presently succeeded as acting executive, must have entertained a prejudice against the Library. He certainly never evinced enough interest even to become a member, an astonishing fact when his cultivated and scholarly tastes are taken into account. Always at odds with his predecessor, he was ever only too conscious of the antipathy also existing between himself and "those Presbyterian lawyers," as he termed Livingston, Smith and Scott. Consequently there was slim chance to consummate their purpose throughout his term of office. No encouragement, furthermore, seems to have been offered by successive royal governors, Monckton, Moore and Dunmore, dur- ing their brief tenure. Early in the incimabency of Governor Tryon, how- ever, a renewed and successful attempt was finally made, in an order of December 4, 1771, "that M^ Jones prepare a Draft of a Charter for incorporating the mem- bers of the Library and lay it before the Trustees at their next meeting." Besides the anticipation of executive favor, there was yet another motive impelling to a speedy accomphshment of the long-deferred project. Oft-times competition will stimulate to activity even more cogently than sympathetic interest alone. Possibly such STEPS TOWARD INCORPORATION 181 was true in this case, for, on the very day before the meeting just chronicled, there had been issued the pro- spectus of the Union Library Society of New York.^ For more than seventeen years the Society Library had been the only establishment of its kind in the community, cordially sanctioned by the city government as well as by the general public; but now a rival suddenly springs up to contest its influence, if not its very existence. From the standing of the sponsors of the new insti- tution, and in view of the very reasonable charges ad- vertised, the older organization had clearly a serious situation to face. Although the minutes record no mention of this event, or of any apprehensions on its score, the Trustees were ftdly alive to its import. Too much careful planning and hard work had been ex- pended in behalf of their trust to lose ground now, when so near attainment of the long-distant goal. Spurred to action. Incorporation became their slogan. At the January meeting in 1772, Samuel Jones ac- cordingly produced the desired draft of a charter, which was read and agreed upon by the board after some slight emendation. A petition, "praying for a Grant of the Charter," was then dravpn up and signed; and Mr. Jones was requested to present it to the governor, after secur- ing the signatures of four absent members. The first volimae of the old records thereupon concludes with proclaiming the election, on the last Tuesday in April, 1772, of "the same Trustees as the last Year." A gap of thirteen months stretches between the first two books of minutes, in which interval the charter had passed the provincial seals, with the signature of Governor William Tryon on November 9, 1772. 1 See Introduction, pp. 112-118, 120. 182 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY Well might the second voliime of proceediBgs open with a floiirish, amid sounding of trumpets and haut- boys ! Here indeed, if nowhere else in the formal record of events, a note of self -congratulation would assuredly be appropriate. But the laconic equipoise of the entries is unfailing. Not a trace of enthusiasm, or even of satis- faction, is discernible in the simple statement that, "at the Tavern kept by Sarah Brock ... on Thiu-sday the seventh Day of January 1773," in the presence of a bare quorima, "the Charter for the said Library was pro- duced and read." Immediately following comes a draft of the precious document in full, covering some fifteen pages of the old folio; in the absence of the original instrument, addi- tional interest attaches to this contemporary copy, elegantly written throughout. Columbia University fitly cherishes to-day the actual charter granted to King's College in 1754 by Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey, as the representative of King George II. No less may the Society of the New York Hospital rejoice in possessing under glass its deed of incorporation, bestowed by the Earl of Dunmore with the sanction of King George III in 1771. Still greater cause for com- placency have the corporations of the Reformed Dutch Church and Old Trinity in having preserved similarly authoritative evidences of legal establishment, signed by Governor Pletcher in the days of King William III in 1696 and 1697, respectively. But the Society Library- like the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, chartered in March, 1770, imder Lieutenant- Governor Colden — has suffered irreparable loss in this particular respect. There is no knowledge of the actual destruction of the missing parchment, but the great CONTEMPORARY COPY OF CHARTER 183 t t,.U ili * 184 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY hope that it may sometime be restored grows ever less with the years. ^ Like other royal charters, this docmnent is unpara- graphed, from the salutation of the king, in aU his titled majesty, to the signature of Governor Tryon at the end. With stately pomp there comes first the customary greeting from "George the Third, by the Grace of Gk)d, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth." The preamble recites the names of that year's Trustees, classifying them as EsquireSj Merchants^ Gentlemen, and Physician. It also includes extracts from their petition, which in tm-n reads hke a recapitulation of the old Articles of 1754. StUl quoting the petition, the instmment continues : By which Means the said Library was become very considerable, but would increase much faster, and might be made of greater publick Utility if a Corporation should be formed for that Pur- pose. . . . Now we taking into our Royal Consideration the beneficial Tendency of such an Institution within our said City, are graciously pleased to grant the said humble Request of our said loving Subjects. Know ye theeefoue, That we of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge and mere Motion, have willed, given, granted, ordained, constituted and appointed, and by these Presents, Do will, give, grant, ordain, constitute and ap- point. That the said . . . [naming the twelve Trustees and then other members, to include seventeen Esquires, one Doctor of Divinity, twenty Merchants, three Gentlemen, two Distillers, one Printer, one Apothecary, one Surgeon, and one Widow, — fifty- nine in all] : Being such of the Subscribers to the said Library, 'There is no record of the time of course bears no signatures. The when the charter disappeared. It is Executive Council minutes (MS.) said to have been in the Library's record receipt of a' petition for in- possession as late at 1850. The origi- corporation under date of Sept. 8, nal draft of the document, contain- 1772; but the original paper is miss- ing 16 pp. foUo, is in vol. 6 (1772- ing. See Calendar of Council 1775) of "Oripnal Drafts of Land Minutes, 1668-178S. Albany, 1903. Patents," State Library, Albany. It P. 567. CORPORATE RIGHTS 186 or their Assigns, as have not only paid the said Sum of Five Pownds, but also the said Ten SMllmgs yearly, ever since ; and such other Persons as shall be hereafter admitted Members of the Corporation hereby erected, be, and for ever hereafter shall be by Virtue of these Presents, One Body Corporate and Politic in Deed, Fact and Name, by the Name, Stile, and Title of The Trustees of the NEW-YORK Society Libeaky. Next are conferred unreservedly all the rights inci- dent to a corporation, including perpetual succession, capacity to sue and to be sued, the holding of property, possession of a seal, and the liberty to erect a Library building and other structures. There should continue to be, it goes on to state, twelve Trustees to conduct the affairs of the institution; and that, as hitherto, on the last Tuesday in April, "yearly and every Year for ever thereafter," the members should meet at the Exchange in Broad street, "or at some other convenient Place in our said City of New York," to elect Trustees. Then come provisions for filling vacancies in the board, for calling meetings, for determining a quorum, for passing, amending or repeahng by-laws, — not to be repugnant to the statutes of New York or to the laws of England,— and for appointing a Treasurer, a Secretary and a Librarian. Members were to be privileged to sell, assign or devise their rights, such assigns to become members in full standing, but only when owning whole shares; and the Trustees might elect as members of the corporation whom they should think proper. After regulating the annual dues (ten shillings), the penalties for arrears, forfeitures, etc., it is stated in conclusion that the charter should be "deemed, adjudged and con- strued in all Cases, most favourably and for the best Benefit and Advantage of our said Corporation." 186 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY There is afforded here for the first time an opportu- nity to compare the membership with that at the outset. The fifty-nine names mentioned in the charter show a faUing-off of exactly fifty per cent, from the original subscription list. But it must be borne in mind that numerous "rights" had been bequeathed, or otherwise "aUenated," during these eighteen years; while not a few members held several shares. Thus it cannot be told just how many paying shares there were. Un- doubtedly, however, there had not been anything like the substantial accessions hoped for, if increase there had been. How agitated and proud these sturdy workers must have been to behold realized at last their cherished hopes of many years! Content to labor and to wait for the success now attained, they must have felt the happiness of the moment well worth aU the weary planning and the time and money spent. It is good to find at least a few of the prime movers of the undertaking still on the board of Trustees, namely, WiUiam Smith the historian, Robert R. Livingston and WUliam Livingston, together with John Watts, who had served, with the exception of but a single year, from the beginning to the now fast- approaching poHtical convulsion. In the first flush of their triumph and increased im- portance, however, they were not unmindful of favors received. Their initial act as a corporation was to con- fer honorary membership upon Governor Tryon, Attorney- General John Tabor Kempe, and William Banyar, nephew of Goldsbrow Banyar, deputy-secre- tary of the province, through whose united instrumen- tality the charter had been gratuitously granted and passed. Each of the three was to receive a certificate of CATALOGUE OF 1773 187 admission, it was voted, with the naive quahfication, "as soon as one shall be procured." After a careful revision of the by-laws,— the schedule of loans and penalties being identical with the last state- ment, but the hours of attendance increased to three days, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from twelve to two, "Holy-Days excepted,"— the Trustees, clothed in their new powers, proceeded to appoint, or really to confirm, Samuel Jones as Treasurer and James Wihnot as "Keeper of the said Library." A departure was made in appointing Dr. Samuel Bard, Secretary, an office formerly identified, as "Clerk," with the treasiu-er- ship. It was then voted to have the "Terms of Admis- sion" pubhshed for three weeks "in the News Paper printed by Hugh Gaine," who should also have the con- tract for printing the charter, by-laws and a fresh catalogue. Finally the Treasurer was ordered to "lay before this Board at the next Meeting a Device for a Seal." In compliance with the first of these directions, a notice that the Trustees had "obtained a Charter of In- corporation," and would "now admit new Members upon Payment of Five Pounds each, for the Use of the Li- brary," appeared in The New-York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury for three weeks, beginning on January 11th. It also announced the speedy issuance of a new catalogue, which was promptly forthcoming. This Catalogue of 1773, a copy of which the Library is so fortunate as to own, though a larger afi'air than the earlier issues, is yet but a modest paper-covered pam- phlet of thirty-six pages.' Eight pages are devoted to a »Tfe« Charter, and Bye-Laws, of to the said Library New York, the New-York Society Library; with 1773. Gaine's receipt shows that he a Catalogue of the Books belonging was paid £10 8s for 500 copies. 188 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY closely printed copy of the charter, and three succeeding pages comprehend revised "Laws, Ordinances, and Regulations." The catalogue proper contains a total of 1291 volixmes, the last accounting before their shameful dispersion. To revert to the charter, — some little amusement may have been excited at the last-named incorporator, "Anne Waddel, Widow," as though that title were her calling in life! John WaddeU, her husband, had been one of the original subscribers to the Library movement, and it is interesting to see how she was here perpetuating his as well as her own regard for the institution. It is also noteworthy that a woman's name should have been allowed to stand on such a very legal document, showing that there was no law to forbid, nor, fully as requisite, any social convention either.^ As in this instance, so throughout its history, the Society Library has ever wel- comed women to enrolment as shareholders, with unre- stricted access to the shelves. It would be needless to make this trite statement, were it not for the fact that such an attitude is quite in contrast to that evinced by the Boston Athenaeum, for example, where no women were allowed to consult books prior to 1829, nor for some years thereafter, save in one or two exceptional cases. As late as 1856, Librarian Folsom of that institution reported it "as undesirable, that a modest young woman should have anything to do with the corrupter portions of the polite literature. A considerable portion of a general library should be to her a sealed book." He further asserts that the proposed ^ Anne (Kirten) Waddell, born in Interests (after his decease in 1763) 1716, was a lady of uncommon abil- with great profit, until her own ity and force of character, conduct- death in 1773. ing her husband's large shipping RIVALRY OF UNION LIBRARY SOCIETY 189 concession to admit women to the shelves "would occa- sion frequent embarrassment to modest men."^ Before continuing the narrative, a further word is pertinent in regard to the Union Library Society. As we have seen,^ this institution throve and bade fair to become no slight menace to the prosperity of the Society Library. No sooner had the latter's incorporation been announced in the newspapers, than the Directors of the yoimger institution promptly published a notice, em- phasizing their moderate terms, stating their collection to contain "near 1000 volxmaes," and claiming a member- ship of 140 persons,— rather more than double the num- ber of shareholders emunerated a few months before in the charter of the Society Library. Furthermore, the action of the Common Council in April, 1774, allowing the Union Library Society to deposit its books in the same room that held their own collection, must have been unspeakably irritating to the pride of the Trustees, so lately exalted by the investiture of chartered rights. It was indeed but a shabby return by the city fathers for the care of the old Corporation Library during so many years, for there is no mention in the municipal records that the city paid for a Librarian after Thomas Jackson retired in 1768. Truly the haz- ards of war would then have seemed to the Trustees hardly more insupportable than so forced and distasteful a companionship. Less than thirty days after this imgracious act of the Common Council, and fully sixteen months since a recorded session of the board, there was held what proved to be the last meeting of the Trustees for many a 1 Report, March 39, 1856. MS. in InfMence and History oftU Boston Boston PubUc Library; also, The Athenwum. Boston, 1907. P. 41. " See Introduction, pp. 113-118. 190 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY day. Eleven members constituted this gathering, at the Exchange, May 9, 1774. Various matters came up for consideration, both retrospectively and, as they doubtless supposed, for the unbroken future. In the first place, acting on previous instructions, "the Treasurer and Secretary laid before the Trustees a Device for a Seal of which they approved," and ordered "to have it imme- diately cast in Steel." Several cheering items next gladden the eye: the treasury shows a balance of £116:7:9%; and five new members had lately been enrolled, including the Rev. Dr. Inglis, fourth rector of Trinity Chxirch, the Rev. John H. Livingston, of the Dutch Reformed commu- nion, and John Jones, M.D.,— the last-named just chosen a Trustee, and the second destined to serve fully a quarter-century later. Also it was recorded that "M' Sam? Verplank purchased the Share of M^ RoW Crom- line and paid up the arrears," — the first mention of such a transfer in the minutes. Encouragement from these evidences of prosperity appears in the single entry: "Ordered, That M^ Kettletass purchase one dozen Win- sor Chairs, and two step Laders for the use of the Library." Quite a notable departure from custom was made in a vote to hold the annual meetings for the future at the City Hall instead of at the Exchange. Another by-law, then adopted, fixed Trustee meetings "for the Dispatch of Business ... at the Library Room upon the first Tuesday in y^ months of Aprill, July, October, and January at twelve o'Clock at noon." After agreeing "to the purchase of Books of wh^ a Catalogue" was exhibited, and voting that all volumes "wanting to com- plete old sets be replaced," it was finally "Order'd, That BOOKS READ IN COLONIAL PERIOD 191 Doct. John Jones, M^ Kettletass, M? Treasurer, Peter Vansehaack, or any three of them, be a Cominitty to do the above Business." Having ascertained the character of the original col- lection, and knowing who were the early members of the Society Library, the natm-al wish follows, as the night the day, to learn something of the actual handling of the books; who read what! Happily this desire it is possible to gratify to a slight extent, for there remains a dis- colored rough draft of a manuscript catalogue in folio, without date or cover, not untidily fastened by a once blue ribbon. Following some twenty of the titles in a fragmentary fashion are jotted down the names of occasional borrowers throughout the colonial period, as follows : Addison's Works 4 Vols. (4*1? Vol. wanting), John Provoost; Bacon's Works, 3 Vols. ( l^t Vol. want. ) , Basnages History of the Jews, Ab™ Depeyster, Oct? 29, 1T67 ; Columelle on Husbandry and Trees, Ja? Depeyster by Peter Dubois, June 15, 1766 ; Chubb's posthumous Works, 2 Vols., Peter V B Livingston, April 9*^ 1770; Cicero's Orations by Guthrie, 3 Vols., Cornelius Van Home, 7* Sept^ 1769; Albers Lives of the Poets, 6 Vols. (V^ Vol. wanting), Edw^ Nicoll, May 12, 1766; Cato's Letters, 4 Vols. (V\ Vol. wanting), Phil. Livingston, 14 March, 1768; Franklin on Electricity, Augustus V Cortlandt, August 10, 1766; Grandison, 7 Vols., Nathanl Marston, March 13, 1769; Kiel's Astronomy, W^ Laight, 24 Sept' 1772 ; Kiesler's Trav- els, 4 Vols, (l^t Vol. wanting), W? Imlay, March 7, 1753 [1773.?] ; Maintenon's Letters, 2 Vols., Stephen D'Lancey, Sept? 22, 1766; Montague's Letters, 4 Vols., y^ 1** & 24 WP Smith Sen? Ap 28^^^ 1768 ; Philosophical Transactions, 10 Vols., Ab™ Brinckerhoff ; ancient History, 10 Vols. (1^* Vol. want?), RoM G. Livingston, Dec? 19, 1765 ; System of Geography, 2 Vols., . Henry Remsen ; Sheridans Lectures on Elocution, Jn? Living- 193 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY ston, Dec^ 6, 1768; Warburton's Shakespear, 8 Vols, (y^ gd ^ 6*^ Vols, wants), 6* Vol., L. Cortwrlght, October 6*^ 1768; Whiston's Theory of the Earth, Alex^ Cummings, Dec^ 28* 1757 ; Waller's Poems, John Dies, Aprl 5, 1762. In accordance with the new by-law, notice of the annual meeting and election of 1775 — "to be held at Twelve o'Clock at Noon, in the Library Room"— was duly inserted by Secretary Bard in the Gazette for April 24th. But from a minute of later date it appears that "no meeting of the proprietors for the choice of Trustees was held from the last Tuesday in April 1774," until December 20, 1788. Consequently we must assume that the board last elected continued in office, "untQ other fit Persons" were "chosen in their Places," — to quote the language of the charter. During these fourteen years no meetings appear to have been held; and one would think the business of the corporation wholly suspended in 1774, were it not for the above mentioned newspaper notice and certain memoranda by Treasurer Jones in the old minute books. Furthermore, there has survived a receipt for £5, signed by George Murray, for "half a Year's Attend- ance as Librarian from July the 6* to Jan^^ 6th 1776." From the Treasurer's meager accounts it appears that Mr. Murray had succeeded James Wihnot on May 1, 1774, at an advance of £4 a year, for attending "three times a Week." Of these two persons, little can now be told. James Wibnot's name appears among the 3000 signatures of "Principal Male Inhabitants"^ in 1774, while George Murray, a Quaker, kept a select school on Crown (Liberty) street, opposite the Friends' Meeting ' See p. 166m. APPROACHING DISRUPTION 193 House.^ He reopened this institution in April, 1783,^ but died a few months later "at an advanced age." 8 For aught now known to the contrary, therefore, Greorge Murray was the last Librarian before the Revolution; while there is nothing to prove that the work of the Library did not continue as usual until September, 1776, save the natural belief, as expressed in the manuscript "Matricula" of King's College for that year, that "The Turbulence & Confusion which prevail in every part of the Country effectually suppress every hterary Piirsuit." Still, a positive indication of Library activity appears in a notice in the Mercury, August 7, 1775, calling for the return, "without Delay," of some thirty-odd books "belonging to the New- York Society Library." No httle pathos may be read into the detailed and careful deliberations at the last meeting outlined above, in view of the fact that more than fourteen long years of stress and anxiety were to run their course before another gathering would be' held, at which, indeed, only four of this group would respond to roll-call. The Society Library, with kindred institutions of culture and of peace, was early to undergo suspension and well- nigh complete disruption at the bhghting touch of war. In the record of this last assembling of its Trustees before the storm, however, no note of apprehension was sounded, matters relative to the welfare of the associa- tion alone finding attention. It is altogether fitting that the curtain shotdd go down with aU the actors in ^New York City during the Amer- ' The 'New-York Gazette; and the icon Revolution, New York, 1861. Weekly Mercury, Apl. 28, 1783. p. 21, ' Rivington's Royal Gazette, Sept. 10, 1783. 194 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY their proper places, conscientiously playing their ap- pointed parts. What poor beleaguered New York suffered in the throes of revolution it happily does not f aU within the bounds of this narrative to recount. Possessing from its situation one of the chief strategic points in the colonies, it was indeed a vantage-ground to be fought for desper- ately. Within the city, f eeUng had long been running high between malcontents and upholders of prerogative, and had voiced itself in repeated outbreaks between the ardent Liberty Boys and his Majesty's troops. The British occupation of seven years had good effect in stopping these bickerings perforce, but it was none the less notorious for lawless practices of the soldiery. A spirited account of such depredations as pertain to this study has already been quoted in connection with the history of King's College Library.^ Likewise, in the same section of the present work, are given details of efforts on the part of British command- ers to accompKsh a return of at least a portion of the plundered collections.^ In commenting on these out- rages, Judge Jones condescendingly observes: "To do justice even to rebels, let it be here mentioned that though they were in full possession of New York nearly seven months, and had in it at times above 40,000 men, neither of these libraries were ever meddled with (the telescope which General Washington took excepted) " !* In a similar spirit of fairness, therefore, it must be ad- mitted that the invaders were not alone in the destruc- tion of books, though for sheer wantonness and cupidity ^ See pp. 94-95. War. Vol. II, p. 137. This tele- ' See pp. 9S-97. scope now adorns the mantel of • Thomas Jones. History of New the beautiful Trustees' Room in the York during the Revolutionary Library of Columbia University. BOOKS USED IN CARTRIDGE-MAKING 195 they stand unrivaled. It is said that in one instance a whole edition of the Rev. Gilbert Tennent's sermon, "Defensive War," printed by Franklin, "was utiUzed by revolted colonists for the manufacture of musket cartridges to aid in driving King George's Hessian mercenaries off the soil, and to establish American lib- erty in place of foreign tyranny." ^ However this may have been, the one melancholy indisputable fact remains that aU the Libraries of the city were either burned or looted, their precious contents ruthlessly scattered to the four winds. Not least among them, the Society Library, the fruit of more than twenty years of planning, of labor and of sacrifice, was in a twinkling stricken seemingly with utter annihilation. In the eighteen years ending with 1776, only ten new names appear on the board of Trustees. Two were merchants of high repute: Walter Rutherford,— styled "Gentleman" in the charter,— a Scotchman by birth, a founder and for some years president of St. Andrew's Society, an incorporator and later a governor of the New York Hospital, a brother-in-law of the Earl of Sterling, was a man of unblemished integrity; as was also his associate, Samuel Verplanck, a scion of one of the oldest Dutch families, a member of the first class graduated by King's College in 1758, a Wall Street im- porter and banker of scholarly tastes, one of the twenty- f oxir founders of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the "General Committee of One Hundred" in 1775, a delegate to the provincial convention of New York, and a subscriber to the celebrated Declaration of Asso- ciation and Union against the pretensions of Great ' The Memorial History of the City of New-York, vol. IV, p. 115. 196 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY Britain; though, from dread of consequences, it is stated, inactive in support of the Revolution. Three of them have lent distinction to the noble heal- ing art: John and Samuel Bard, father and son, PhUa- delphians by birth, though of mingled French and English ancestry. Gifted ahke with engaging man- ners, tmusual abUity and capacity for hard work, they numbered among their intimate friends Frankhn and other noted persons in America and Exirope. They were instrumental in securing a charter of incorporation for a pubhc hospital, and in raising funds privately for its support. Dr. Samuel Bard was chief agent in founding the first medical school in New York, soon aimexed to the college. On its staff for forty years, he also served as a trustee and dean of its medical faculty, and was likewise a vestryman of Trinity parish. While the city was the seat of the Federal Government, he acted as Washington's family physician, a circiunstance tending to aUay distrust aroused by his moderate coin-se during the war. His services to the Library cover an extended term as Trustee and Secretary. The name of John Jones long stood at the head of the surgical profession in this country. A professor in King's CoUege, he was a pioneer in introducing plain and simple measures in place of prevailing methods. Removing to Philadelphia and achieving renown, he became the medical attendant and as weU the friend of Dr. Franklin. Half of the number were members of the legal brotherhood. Whitehead Hicks, fellow-student with William Livingston and William Smith, Jr., under the latter's father, became an alderman and held the mayor- alty for the long term of nearly ten years. He resigned LEGAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 197 for a judgeship in the supreme court, but, owing to his Whig principles, never took his seat. Besides the Li- brary, he served the Presbyterian Church as a trustee for CAT B (Tt) K S BELONGIHC TO THE New-York Society Library. }fl^^. N E W-r O R K: SoW by 11?. ffiaiiie, at the tSiH Printed and Sold hy^. ffiaiw. at the IBiWe antt Crotun, Earliest catalogue of the Society Library, or of any Library in New York, known to be in existence (facsimile size). See pp. 167-188. 198 THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY some years. Jovial in disposition, he was popular with his associates at the bar and with the public. Of oppos- ing views was John Tabor Kempe, attorney-general of the province, and long a vestryman and warden of Old Trinity. Removing to England when the war closed, he passed his remaining years in poverty and neglect, his services unheeded by an indifferent sovereign. Samuel Jones, Treasurer for many years, was also a man of Tory sympathies, but he took no part in the war; and, upon the consummation of peace, threw in his lot with the new nation, becoming one of the foremost metropolitan lawyers and jurists, eminent and useful in public life. He sat for years in the state legislature, both as assemblyman and as senator, at the same time holding such offices as city recorder and state comp- troller, aiding materially the while in the first revision of the statutes. Chancellor Kent pays tribute to his lucidity and accurate learning, while Dr. David Hosack says: "Common consent has assigned him . . . the appellation of father of the New York bar." Peter Van Schaack, LL.D., a leading member of another well-known Knickerbocker family, and for years a vestryman of Trinity parish, was banished to England early in the war for his loyahst leanings. On his return, in 1785, he met with a cordial reception from his former brethren of the bar. He conducted a law school, where many young men were trained for the profession, and he also pubhshed several substantial works on legal topics. Most illustrious of them all, however, and destined to a fame of more than national proportions, shines forth the name of Robert R. Livingston, Jr., or Chancellor Livingston, as he was subsequently called. His career CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON 199 is too well known to be dwelt upon here. Carefully brought up by his father, graduated from King's Col- lege, a law partner of John Jay, he came to hold in turn the honorable offices of city recorder, assemblyman, and delegate to Congress before the war. Though a member of the congressional committee which drew up the De- claration of Independence, a summons to the provincial assembly alone prevented his signing that immortal document. No less interested in his church, he was a warden of Trinity parish in its trying season just after the Revolu- tion. The first chancellor of the state of New York, from 1777 to 1801, he was for two years national Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and chairman of the state conven- tion that ratified the Federal Constitution. It was his proud distinction to administer the oath of office to General Washington as first President of the United States. His name is also linked with that of Robert Fulton in the latter's successful application of steam to navigation. But his chief claim to a nation's gratitude hes in his negotiation, in 1803, while minister to France, of the famous Louisiana Ptirchase, an event whose cen- tennial anniversary was but lately commemorated in the great St. Louis Exposition by all the world.