(:>^c Muy

C^e Mas^ingtnn ^^air,

PRESENTED TO THE

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

BENJAMIN R. WINTHROP, ESQ.

OF NEW YORK,

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Cl^e '©tosi^ingtoH C^air,

FKESENTED TO TIIE

NEW YOM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BENJAMIN ROBERT WINTHROP,

1857.

NEW YORK:
CHARLES B. RICHARDSON,
264 Canal Stkeet.

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It is of oak, solid and durable, neatly carved, and finished in a
style of simple beauty. The high back is ornamented with scroll
work, in wliich are appropriately wrought the initials G. W.
A bust of Wa.shington, in a wreath of laurel, forms the center
ornament of the upper part of the chair. The front of the seat
bears the escutcheon and arms of the United States, while the arms
of the City and State of New York are carved in relief on medal
lions. The legend is inscribed on a silver plate, inserted in the back of
the chair.

FEAXELIX SQUARE.
" The name of the Square at the conjunction of Pearl and Cherry Streets,
heretofore known as .SY. George's Sijv.are. has, by order of the Corporation, been
changed to that of Feaxku^ Squaee, in honor of our great Benjamin Franklin."
— Xev York Xational Advocate, ilareh 31, ISIY.

The above extract will probably set at rest a mooted question as to the
derivation of the new name given to the " Square."

Jrom a ffiin llaper.
THE FIRST PRESIDEmAL RESIDENCE - OCCUPIED BY GEORGE
WASHINGTON -FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK.
The opening of the Bowery to Franklin Square will cause the demolishment
of most of the " oldest remaining houses in the city." The vicinity of Franklin
Square at the close of the last century was the aristocratic portion of our city.
The " Walton House," which faces it on the east side, is now one hundred years
old, and still, in spite of the luxury of the present time, retains a degree of mag
nificence that forms no unfavorable contrast with our beat palatial mansions.
Chief Justice Jay lived at the head of Cherry Street, and many of the most dis
tinguished members of the first Congress had residences in the vicinity. At this
moment (May 29th, 1856) the workmen are taking down " the first Presidential
mansion," so familiar, in comparatively modern times, as the music store of
Firth & Hall, and for many years as the Franklin Bank. This building was
erected for Walter Franklin, a rich merchant and Quaker; on its gable-end
were originally the foUowing significant letters and figures :
W. F.
1770.
DeWitt Clinton, John S. Norton, Samuel Osgood, and Genet, the French
Minister to this country, who created so much mischief in his day, and other
prominent citizens, were connected, by blood or marriage, with the Franklin
family. When the Government of the Uruted States was organized, the national
capital was ITew York City. Washington, who was sworn into office in this
city, on the 30th of April, 1789, selected this house for his public residence,
and was much complained of for " going so far out of the city." At this time
he attended religious service in St. George's Chapel, in Beekman Street, where
he was a communicant. In later days the Franklin mansion has been dedicated
to the circulation of music, and the buildings in the neighborhood, under the
" logic of events," have degenerated into stores and boarding-houses. Quite
recently, the magnificent pile of iron, known as Harper's book establishment,
has shed a splendor on the west side of Franklin Square ; and as soon as the
Bowery, the widest and finest laid-oif street in the city, reaches this classic
locality, we see no reason why Franklin Square should not again assume its
primal grandeur, different in kind, but grandeur still.

%l^ Qf d^lingiott i|(iir.

EXTBAOT FROM THE PROOEEDINaS OF THE NEW YOEK HISTORICAL
SOCIETY.

DEDICATION OF THE LIBRARY,
NOVEMBER 3, 1857,
Hon. LUTHEE BEADISH, Presiding.

The President stated that he had received a letter refer
ring to a subject connected with the Library, .which he
would call upon its author, Mr. Benjamin R. "Wintheop,
to read. Mr. Winthrop then read the letter.
Mr. Ekastus C. Benedict thereupon submitted the fol
lowing resolution, which was adopted unanimously :
Resolved, That "The Washington Chair," presented to
the Society by Mr. Benjamin E. Winthrop, be accepted, and
that the thanks of the Society be tendered to Mr. Winthrop.
(Extract from the Minutes.)
ANDEEW WAENEE,
Recording Secretary.

New York, November 3, 1857.
My Dear Sir:
We do not need any visible object to Iceep alive in our
memories the virtues and the deeds of that immortal patriot whose
name is forever hallowed in the mind of every grateful American.
We may, however, add grace and dignity to our action as a
literary body, devoted to the interests of history, by connecting
with our proceedings any fact or incident which brings the illus
trious name of Washington appropriately upon our records.
I hope to be able to satisfy you, sir, that the chair which I am
desirous of presenting to the Society, to be used as the seat of its
presiding officer, may not unfitly be designated " The Washington
Chair." The volumes of history which fill our shelves, the manuscripts
which adorn our collections, have told us in language of affecting
interest of the beautiful simplicity which marked the daily life and
habits of our first President, when called by the voice of his coun
try, from the shades of Mount Vernon, to fill a station second in dig
nity and honor to none upon earth. It may not be unprofitable
for us in these days and times, so greatly changed, to carry back for
a moment our thoughts over a period in the past, covering nearly
the whole allotted space of human life.
The home in which Washington received his fellow-citizens, and
where he dispensed the courtesies of his high position, was a modest
yet spacious mansion, situated in a section of our city in that day
principally occupied by the residences of its most respected and
opulent citizens.

THE WASHINGTON CHAIE. 7
Cherry Street, at its junction with Pearl, at the close of the last
century, was a location scarcely to be surpassed for beauty and
salubrity on the island of Manhattan. On a commanding emi
nence, in full view of the East River, with the green hills and forests
of Long Island in the distance, stood the house in which dwelt the
first President of the United States.
The generation of which we form a part has long been familiar
with this scene, but the inevitable laws of human progress have left
their mark on every side. The spot where once each passer-by
found objects of interest on which to dwell, now wears an aspect
new and strange, wholly unfamiliar to his sight.
The final change came but a few months past, when, in the prog
ress of that pitiless march of improvement which spares in its
path no monument of memory however hallowed, the mansion of
Washington was swept away forever.
Let me detain you for a moment while I glance at the history of
this honored edifice. It was originally the property of a well
known and highly respected citizen, Walter Franklin, and was
erected in the year 1770. In his family it remained for a number
of years, and the memory of its owner became associated in after
times with that of the patriot sage who had rendered immortal a
name common to both, and in whose honor the authorities of the
city, by a somewhat singular license in nomenclature, subsequently
dignified an open triangular spot of ground with the name of Frmik-
lin Square. In the course of time this mansion ceased to be a
private residence, and, after suffering many mutations of fortune and
repute, it eventually fulfilled the destiny of " down-town " property
and became a victim to the absorbing purposes of trade. It has
finally, after the fashion of our time, given place to newer struc
tures, and passed away from our sight.
Those who follow at all the erratic movements of our " Street
Commissioner," and keep themselves cognizant of the wonders
wrought by his wand of power, are doubtless aware of the imme
diate cause which led to the removal of the edifice of which I have

8 THE WASHINGTON OHAIE.
spoken. It had become necessary, in the judgment of our rulers, to
find a new avenue of communication between the upper and lower
sections of the city, in order that the increasing demands of busi
ness might have additional means of accommodation.
The Bowery must, therefore, break down its barriers of brick
walls and form a connection with Pearl Street. Probably a fourth,
at least, of the entire population are still in ignorance of this import
ant amendment of our city map, but it is, nevertheless, an accom
plished fact. A broad avenue sweeps from the east in the direction
of the south, careless of street lines and utterly regardless whose
house it has demolished or whose lot cut in twain.
Let me recall to your mind whence it was that we derived the
name become so familiar to us as the Bowery. This spacious ave
nue formerly extended from the open country, by the eastern ap
proach, to a point long known as Chatham Row. It was originally
a private road running between the settled portion of the city
and the country residence of Governor Peter Stuyvesant, the first
of that ancient family known on this continent, whose name and
fame have descended to these later generations, and still command
the respect and regard due to unsullied integrity and unaffected
virtue. The suburban estate of the Governor, beautifully situated on the
banks of the East River, was endeared to him by the solace which a
quiet retreat afforded from the cares of office, and, in the language
of affectionate interest, he called it his " Bouerie." Subsequently
the private road became a street of the city, and, at last, has accom
plished its winding way from the rural spot where dwelt, in modest
luxury, the last Dutch Governor, the representative of a foreign Po
tentate, to the place which received, in dignified simplicity, the first
President of a free people.
It was my fortune to pass accidentally by the premises which
had known the footprints of Washington, while the workmen were
taking the time-worn timbers, piece by piece, to form other struc
tures. To rescue some of these materials was to me a labor of love.

THE WASHINGTON OHAIE. 9
and from a portion of them this chair has been constructed. It
bears the initials of him whose name deepens the interest of every
relic associated with his memory ; a plate inserted in the oaken
frame of the chair tells its story ; and if the Society will do me the
honor to accept and use the gift, I shall be grateful and happy.
With ti'ue respect, I am
Your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN R. WINTHROP.
Hon. Luther Bradish,
President Neim York Historical Society.

10 THE WASHINGTON CHA.IE,

gtfa fork, 'gahzmht 4, 1851.
Benjamin R. Winthrop, Esq.
Dear Sir, — I take great pleasure in transmitting to you an ex
tract from the minutes of the New York Historical Society, em
bracing a record of the proceedings on the presentation of " The
Washington Chair." No such formal proceedings can fully express
the gratification felt by every member of the Society in the posses
sion of so rich a gift and so truly appropriate to the use for which
your liberality has designed it.
Nothing can be more grateful to the feelings of those who are
interested in the objects of the Historical Society than the constant
presence of such memorials of those who have made our history
honored in all lands and among all nations ; and if there is one spot
in which the memories that cluster about the career of Washington
should be most sacredly and reverently cherished, it is here in New
York — the scene of some of his greatest trials and triumphs.
I remain, with sentiments of great respect,
Yours, very truly,
ANDREW WARNER,
Corresponding Secrelar-y.

YALE UNIVERSITY

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