Old New York; or, reminiscences of the past sixty years. Being an enlarged and revised edition of the anniversary discourse delivered before the New York Historical Society, etc

Front matter

k le U a OLD NEW YORK: OR, REMINISCENCES OP THE PAST SIXTY YEARS BY JOHN W. FRANCIS, M.D., LL.D. WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. BY HENRY T. TUCKERMAN. X I ' W TOR K W. J. WIDDLETON, PUBLISHER. M DOCO Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S65, By W. J. WIDDLETON. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. 100 COPIES PMNTED FOR &UESCEIBEES. No. ALVORD, PRINTER. JOHN W. FRANCIS, M. D., LL. D. A. BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY. BY HENRY T. TUCKERMAN. ILLUSTRATIONS. I. Portrait op Dr. John W. Francis. Proof before letter. Engraved by Charles Burt, from an original pastel drawing by Julius Gollman, in the possession of Henry Theodore Tuckerman. Frontispiece. II. Portrait op John W. Francis, Jr. Engraved by W. G-. Jackman, after an original painting by A. H. "Wenzler.

Face p. xcii. III. View op Dr. Francis's Residence, No. 1 Bond Street, New York. Engraved by J. H. Richardson, after an original drawing by J. 0. B. Iniian. Face p. Ixxiv. BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY. John Wakefield Francis was born the year of-Wash ington's inauguration as first President of the Republic, and died the year that witnessed the outbreak of the Slaveholders' Rebellion. Few American citizens, uncon nected officially with public affairs, were more identified, through sympathy and intelligence, with the development of the country, during the important period indicated, than Dr. Francis. In some respects he stood alone, and represented a social interest and a phase of American character of which few types remain. We are unwilling, therefore, that the mere statement of technical honors and professional services should be tho sole record of so useful, honorable, and genial a life ; while those -who had occasion to know personally his be nevolent activity, were admitted to his confidence, or had frequent experience of his affectionate ministry in suffer ing, and candid zeal in the offices of friendship, will wel come a sincere tribute to his memory, however inadequate.

The external programme of his life, and the recorded data of his professional career, aro briefly these: — He was born on the 17th of November, 1789, in the city of New York, whither his father had emigrated from Nu remburg, in Germany, six years previous. His mother was a Philadelphia lady, of Swiss origin. Of his school days we have a glimpse in his Recollections of Irving, wherewith he entertained the New York Historical Society VI BIOGEAPHICAL ESSAY. at the meeting held to do honor to that endeared author's memory : " I was a boy at the srme school with young Irving in 1797, now some fifty-two years ago. The institution was a male seminary, situated on John street, next to the Methodist meeting-house, and in the vicinity of the renowned John street Theatre. I remember well the ele mentary books scattered about, so characteristic of a common English school at that period : the Columbian Orator of Bingham, and Hamilton Moore's Monitor ; the Schoolmaster's Assistant of Dilworth, and the Arithmetic of Pike, with here and there a copy of Dytch's English Dictionary.