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calls of ceremony, courtesy and curiosity, though in regard to these he was relieved in a considerable degree by the serviceable interference of Colonel Humphrey, who instinctively understood what parties were best entitled to an audience, and in what manner to send away without offence those whom it was least necessary for the President personally to receive.

in the city. It was by means of this daughter that an attempt to poison the Chief, during that period, was frustrated. As early as 1761, Fraunces kept a tavern, and sold "portable soup, catchup, bottled gooseberries, pickled walnuts, pickled or fryed oysters fit to go to the West Indies, pickled mushrooms, currant jelly, marmalade," &c., at the "sign of the Mason's Arms, near the Green." He afterward opened the Vauxhall Gardens, in Greenwich street, and in 1771 his celebrated City Tavern, in Broad street, where Washington took leave of the officers of the army, on the fourth of December, 1783. There were several clubs in New York previous to the war; one, called "The Moot," and composed principally of lawyers, was organized in 1770, and held its last meeting on the sixth of January, 1775. To this belonged William Livingston, Robert E. Livingston, John Jay, Stephen De Lancey, Gouverneur Morris, James Duane, and about a dozen others, a majority of whom subsequently filled important public places. Another was the Social Club, which "passed Saturday evenings at Sam. Fraunces's, corner of Broad and Dock streets, in winter, and in summer at Kip's Bay, where they built a neat large room for a club house." This club was broken up in December, 1775. The following biographical list of its members, written by the John Moore whose name is at the end of it, is preserved in the library of the New York Historical Society:

"John Jay, — Disaffected — Became Member of Congress, a Resident Minister to Spain, Commissioner to make Peace, Chief Justice, Minister to England, and on his return Governor of New York — a good and amiable man.

"Gouverneur Morris, " Member of Congress, Minister to France, &c.

"Robt. K. Livingston, " Minister to France, Chancellor of New York, &c.

"Egbert Benson, " District Judge, New York, and In tlie Legislature. A good man.

"Morgan Lewis, " Governor of New York, and a General in the war of 1812.

"Gulian Verplanck, " but in Europe until 1783. President of the New York Bank.

"John Livingston and his brother Henry, " but of no political importance.

"James Seagrove, " went to the southward as a merchant.

"Francis Lewis, " but of no political importance.

"John Watts, — Doubtful — during the war Recorder of New York.

"Leonard Lispenard and his brother Anthony, " but remained quiet at New York.

"Rich'd Harrison, — Loyal — but has since been Recorder of New York.

"John Hay, " an officer in the British army. Killed in the West Indies.

"Peter Van Schaack, " a lawyer, remained quiet at Kinderhook.

"Daniel Ludlow, " during the war. Since President of the Manhattan Bank.

"Dr. Samuel Bard, " though in 1775 doubtful, remained in New York. A good man.

"George Ludlow, " remained on Long Island in quiet. A good man.

"William, his brother, " or supposed so — remained on Long Island. Inoffensive man.

"William Imlay, " at first — but doubtful after 1777.

"Edward Gould, " at New York all the war — a merchant.

"John Reade — Pro. and Con. — Would have proved loyal, no doubt, had not his wife's family been otherwise.

"J. Stevens, — Disaffected.

"Henry Kelly, — Loyal — went to England, and did not return.

"Stephen Rapelyen — turned out bad. Died in the New York Hospital.

"John Moore, — Loyal — in public life during all the war, and from the year 1765."