THE HUGUENOTS.

17

Bishop Provoost's father was a descendant of William Provoost, of a Huguenot family, who made his escape from France at the time of the cruel massacre of St. Bartholomew,* and came to New York (then called New Amsterdam) in 1634. At the time of the birth of our hero, the famous city in which he first saw the light was nothing like what it is in our day. It was then only a hundred and twenty-eight years since the Dutch had landed upon Manhattan Island, and established a town, which they called New Amsterdam. The population

* As we endeavor always to keep our younger readers in mind, we will here explain that the Huguenots were French Protestants-a sect which had its birth during the reign of Francis the First. In doctrine and dsicipline there was little to distinguish them from the disciples of John Calvin. Notwithstanding the opposition of the Romish Church, the new sect spread and multiplied, until at length Francis, and Henry II., who succeeded him on the throne, deprived the Huguenots of many of their privileges as citizens.

The winding up of a long series of persecutions was the terrible massacre of St. Bartholomew's day, August 24, 1572. Charles IX. had invited many of the principal Protestants to Paris to attend a royal wedding, a solemn oath being given of their safety. At daybreak, on the festival of St. Bartholomew, the barbarous massacre began; the city of Paris was ravaged, and ten thousand persons were put to death. The same cruel proceedings extended throughout the kingdom-the Pope and the authorities of the Romish Church sanctioning what was done. It was in consequence of the persecutions of Rome, that the Provoosts, and hundreds of other Huguenot families, sought refuge in America.

of New York at the time of Samuel Provoost's birth was about twelve thousand. But this was a wonderful improvement, since the honest Dutch had built their little fort and tradinghouse on what is now known as the Bowling Green. The march of civilization at first was gradual. "Around this fort a progeny of little Dutch-built houses, with tiled roofs and weather-cocks, soon sprang up, nestling themselves under its wall for protection, as a brood of half-fledged chickens nestle under the wings of the mother hen. The whole was surrounded by an inclosure of strong palisadoes, to guard against any sudden irruption of the savages. Outside of these extended the corn-fields and cabbage-gardens of the community, with here and there an attempt at a tobacco plantation; all covering those tracts of country at present called Broadway, Wall-street, William-street, and Pearl street."*

With the exception of occasional difficulties with the Indians, the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam went on very quietly, until they had some misunderstanding with their English neighbors. King Charles declared that the

* Knickerbacker's New York, chap. viii. I hope that all of my readers will make the acquaintance of this charming book of Washington Irving's.

ENGLISH AND DUTCH WAR.

19

lands occupied by the Dutch, within the territory of New York, belonged to him, and he accordingly gave them to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany. James (for this was the duke's name) appeared before the little fort at New Amsterdam with three ships, in 1664, and obliged the people to surrender. The name of the place was then changed to New York. In 1673 the town was retaken by the Dutch, but the next year, when peace was concluded between England and Holland, it was restored to the English. The first pavements were laid there in 1676, and so the city went on improving, until the strip of land which was bought of the Indians for twentyfour dollars, was covered by the largest city of the New World.

The little boy, whose birth we have mentioned at the opening of the chapter, was a subject of the King of England, and will continue so for some years to come. He was only a year old when George Clinton came over as governor of the colony, who was warmly welcomed by the people.

In 1744, England and France were involved in strife, and George the Second being then "Don the English throne, the contest is known in history as King George's War. During its

continuance Saratoga was destroyed, and various parts of the colony of New York suffered much. Some Indian braves came to Albany, and concealing themselves in the neighborhood, they lay in wait for prisoners; and one, more daring than the rest, ventured within the city itself, and carried off people by night. But Samuel Provoost was too young as yet to take much interest in these exciting scenes.

In 1755, when the English and French began hostilities again, he was thirteen years of age, and of course the sound of drum and fife, and the gay uniform of soldiers, parading through the streets, excited him somewhat, and no doubt he joined with all loyal subjects of the king in hoping for victory for his country's arms.

Braddock's defeat at Fort Du Quesne was rather a damper upon them all, and when, about two years later, Montcalm captured Fort William Henry, on the banks of Lake George, the English had little cause for self-gratulation left.

*Horicon was the Indian name for this beautiful sheet of water. The French missionaries called it St. Sacrement, because they thought its waters too pure for any purpose but the ordinance of Holy Baptism. See a beautiful ballad by the Rev. A. C. Coxe, D.D., entitled "St. Sacrement, a legend of Lake George."

CHAPTER SECOND.

No mean progress made in study-Enters King's College-Its first president, and the influence he exerted for the ChurchSamuel Provoost's early religious training-The Dutch Reformed Church-Something more about King's CollegeLaying the corner-stone-The first commencement-Young Provoost graduates-Influences which led him to the Episcopal Church-Political affairs-The fortunes of war changing again-Mr. Provoost goes to England, and becomes a fellowcommoner at Cambridge-Various explanations given-Resisting temptations-Dr. Jebb.

HATEVER interest Samuel Provoost may have felt in the contest between England and France, he was kept steadily at school; and although his thoughts must have often wandered

when tidings of success or defeat were brought, he made no mean progress with his books. Having completed his preparatory course, he entered as one of the early students of King's (now Columbia) College, then occupying a frame building in Trinity Church-yard.'

The charter for this institution was granted in 1754, and Dr. Samuel Johnson,* an Episco

*See Life of Bishop Seabury, p. 16.