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Never, in all its history, was the proud and opulent city of New Yorkdays of Seventeen-Hundred- and-Ninety-One It had put out of sight every trace of British rule and occupancy, all its homes had been restored and re-furnished, and its sacred places re-consecrated and adorned Like a young giant ready to run a race, it stood on tiptoe, eager for adventure and discovery-- sending ships to the ends of the world, and round the world, onwith applause and rewards that wonderful spirit of scientific invention, which was the Epic of the youthful nation The skies of Italy were not bluer than the skies above it; the sunshine of Arcadia not brighter or enial It was a city of beautiful, and even splendid, hoth and breadth of its streets were shaded by trees, in whose green shadoelt and walked soracious days of Seventeen-Hundred-and-Ninety-One were also the early days of the French Revolution, and fugitives froenerals, sufficient for a new Iliad, loitered about the pleasant places of Broadway and Wall Street, Broad Street, and Maiden Lane They were received with courtesy, and even with hospitality, although America at that date almost universally sympathized with the French Republicans, whom they believed to be the pioneers of political freedoe, the Legislators in their Council Cha men on the wharves and streets, the loveliest women in their homes, and walks, and drives, alike wore the red cockade The Marseillaise was sung with The Star Spangled Banner; and the notorious Carnole could be heard every hour of the day--on stated days, officially, at the Belvedere Club Love for France, hatred for England, was the spirit of the age; it effected the trend of commerce, it dominated politics, it was the keynote of conversation wherever ated

Yet thealways carries with it a note of dissent, and it was just at this day that dissenting opinion began to non, and of Paris, the brutality hich the royal faious ties and duties, had enerally declared that "men had better be without liberty, than without God," and a proe had ventured to say publicly that "Revolution was a dangerous chief justice"

In these days of wonderful hopes and fears there was, in Maiden Lane, a very handsoton, for Peter Van Clyffe had built it early in the century as a bridal present to his daughter when shecolonial judges The great linden trees which shaded the garden had been planted by Van Clyffe; so also had the high hedges of cut boxwood, and the wonderful sweet briar, which covered the porch and fra the open rooms in sus the old Dutcheneration, he was retime renewed