A Chapter Third LTHOUGH a French congregation had been established in the early days of the colony, it had ceased to exist before the year 1678; or that in which the Rev. Peter Daillé, the first minister of whom we have any record, began to hold French services. It is not probable that the first congregation had any distinct edifice, as Mr. Daillé was obliged to make use of the old church in the fort; he holding his services between those of the Dutch in the forenoon, and the English in the afternoon. In the year 1687 the Rev. Pierre Peiret arrived amongst a band of refugees, with the intention of ministering to their spiritual interests. As their number was constantly increasing, it was deemed fitting, and even necessary that they should have a church for themselves. Mr. Peiret consequently proceeded to erect a small building on Marketfield Street. It was a very humble beginning, certainly, as its entire length was only forty-eight feet nine inches, by a front width of twenty-seven feet seven inches. A passage taken off from the width rendered the greater part of the building only twenty-five feet wide. Upon Leisler's usurpation of the administration, the Huguenots divided into two parties; one of these being headed by Mr. Peiret, the other by Mr. Daillé. The former party opposed Leisler's administration; but the latter favored it to such a degree as to endanger his adherents in their efforts to have him released from prison, and saved from death by execution. Party feeling ran so high that the French congregation never again became thoroughly united. After Leisler's death, Mr. Daillé removed to Boston; and it is probable that his representation of the state of affairs in the New York congregation helped in a great measure to cause the misunderstanding between Mr. Gabriel Bernon and the French congregation in that city. The colony by this time, counted some two hundred families; and, although all of them had not located in New York city, sufficient had done so to cause the population to be about one-fourth French. Before Governor Dongan's withdrawal from the administration, the refugees had petitioned him for the right of free trade in the colonies; and he, having forwarded the petition to the king, had received a favorable answer. In 1689 the administration had devolved upon Richard Coole, Earl Bellemont; who, upon assuming control of the colony, sided with the Leislerites or people's party; thus rendering himself very unpopular with Mr. Peiret and the majority of the French congregation. This unpopularity was increased by the belief that he had misrepresented some matters, thereby injuring their interests with the Board of Trade. So bitter was their feeling, that he found it necessary to take some means of conciliating them, to regain their support; which he recognized as very necessary for the success of his administration, the French having become important factors in the colony, by the rapid increase of their numbers. Being on intimate terms of friendship with Gabriel Bernon, the founder of the Huguenot colony in New Oxford, Massachusetts, Bellemont thought to gain the support of Mr. Peiret's party through his influence. Inviting him, therefore, to New York for the ostensible purpose of consulting with him about matters relating to the Crown, he laid before Bernon the opposition he experienced from the French congrega tion; causing it to appear like rebellion against the king. Misled by his representations, and acting in good faith, Bernon endeavored to become a mediator between the two parties; and for this purpose met Mr. Peiret and the principal members of the disaffected congregation. Expressing his deep regret for the feeling existing between the several nationalities and the administration, he urged the French congregation to cultivate a more kindly feeling. To his exhortations they replied that they would prefer to go to Mississippi than to live under Bellemont's authority. Bernon, now fully convinced of their disaffection, returned to Boston chagrined at his want of success in his pacific endeavors. Before leaving New York, however, he essayed one more attempt to remedy matters. Penning a letter full of regret at their conduct and expressive of his hopes for their amendment, he left it with his host to be given to Mr. Peiret after his own departure. The minister, as well as the congregation, conscious that they had given no just cause for offence in the beginning, and that the fault lay rather on the part of the governor, waited upon the latter in a body, and, laying before him the subject of their grievance, protested their innocence. Bellemont, like a shrewd politician, recognizing his mistaken way of gaining his end, strove to pacify them. Disowning his share in the transaction, he left Bernon to bear the brunt of their displeasure as having misinterpreted the sentiments of the governor towards them. But notwithstanding his fair face in the matter, Bellemont was greatly displeased with the Huguenots; and he took the petty way of revenging himself by suppressing the annual stipend granted by the government for the support of the minister. The bitterness between all parties only terminated at the death of Bellemont in 1701. Gabriel Bernon's letter to the Consistory of the French Church in New York, 1699. NEW YORK 25m Mars, 1699. Messieurs, Premier, partir, de cette Ville, Je me trouve obligé comme etant tous fréres Refugiez, de vous dire, qve Monseigneur Le comte de Bellemont ma fait venir ici pour discouvrir, avec son Excellence, de certaines, affaires qui Regarde le service du Roy. Apres qvoy son Excellence moi aussy entretenu de la bonne volonté qvel a pour vous; qvel voit avec douleur L'animosité contré les Englais les francais et hollandois. Que son Excellence se fait du plaisir de Ramenir avec clemence ceux qui s'eloigne du D'voir, D'eu a sa majesté et a L'etat, &c. Que son Excellence na favorisé aucun parti: qvel n'a d'acception que pour Les bons sujets du Roy Guilleaume puis que son Excellence na pour But Principal que le plus service de Dieu la gloire du Roy, et la prosperité des Peuples; son Excellence nous exhorte comme de bons sujets de nous aymer afin qu'etant unis D'amitié nous soyons fidelle a son Majesté pour leqvel nous D'vons prier Dieu de benir ses entreprises et Luy donner une vie Longve et heureuse. Amen. nous Pour moi J'ai comme vous pour La Religion, A Bandonné Les Biens et notre patrie, ainsy qve plusieurs de nos freres Refugiez en divers endroits du monde, nous D'vons, chaq'un de nous, nous soumettre sous Le govvernement ou Rencontrons. C'est pour nous un grand Bonheur et un grand honneur de nous povvoir dire et Reclamer bons sujets de notre sovveirain le Roy Guillaume, qve puis que Dieu nous Commande de nous assujettir au puissance Royale, qu'on ne peut avoir trop de veneration pour un sy grand, sy bon et sy I'Lustre prince, n'y trop de Respect pour ses govverneurs qvi nous Le Represente: On peut qvelqve Lois Bien avec Respect se familliariser avec Les puissance; mais; on ne peut Jamais sans Crime, Pasquinir ou felonir L'Autorité Royale ceux qui agissent par felonie et Pasqvinerie qve Les Loys d'Engleterre Condamne, meprise L'Etat &c. (sic). J'ay vue avec Douleur quelqu'un s'eloigner du D'voir que nous D'vons a son Excellence Monsigneur Le Comte de Bellemont. Ne croyez pas que je sois assey temeraire pour meriger en Senseur, ny pour vous Rien Prescrire. Mais J'ai Creu en frere pouvoir vous dire mon veritable sentiments cette Diversité de goust, s'accorder; vaus etes pour Mischipipi? Je suis pour Road 'Island. Je vous offre mes services La et par tout ailleurs. Je feray tousjours gloire de vous assurer, Qve Je suis avec Respect, Messieurs, Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur et frere Refugié, Messieurs D'L'Eglise francoise, de la novelle York.1 GABRIEL BErnon. Answer of the Consistory of the French Church in New York to Gabriel Bernon, 1699. YORK, Le 22 May, 1699. Monsieur, Ve Létre que vous avez ecrite a M: Jamain nous oblige a rompre Le silence sur un sujet que nous avions résolu de laisser dans l'oublir c'est une mechanté Libelle que Mr. Gabriel Bernon (sic) laissa icy en partant entre les mains de son hote, avec ordre de la rendre aprés son départ a mess!! de l'Eglise françoise da ce lieu, nous le regardames comme la production d'un esprit malade et privé de jugem1 plustot digne de pitié que d'indignation et nous creumes qu'au lieu de le relévér il valoit mieux l'ensevelir sous le voile de Charité, mais comme il a lui meme publié sa honte en distribuant des Copies de cet ecrit nous avons lieu de croire qu'il avait eté pousse a le faire par un autre motif que celui de l'indiscretion qui lui est si naturelle et que nous povvons prendre l'accusation qu'il fait contre nous comme une calomnie dont il a voulu salir ce troupeau de refugiez vous trouvéréz dont bon s'il vous plait que nous dision qvelqve chose pour (sic) notre Justification et que nous vous addression ces Lignes tant pour vous affermir dans le sentiment que vous temoignez avoir de son procedé, qve pour détromper ceux qui en ont en de mauvaise impressions contre nous, vous priant de les faire voir a mess du consistoire de votre Eglise et a tous ceux qui peuvent etre prévenus. 1 The Huguenots in France and America, vol. ii., p. 118. |