HUGH WALLACE.

SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

1770-1771.

N the early part of the last century New York was a favorite resort of the adventurous from all parts of the British Dominions. Many of its most distinguished Merchants were born without the Colony. Among those whom its growing trade drew to this then faroff shore were two brothers of the name of WALLACE, the elder of whom soon became a leading man in the Province, and rose to high places of honor and trust. They were of Irish origin, but from what part of the island is not now known. HUGH WALLACE, the elder brother, was probably originally the agent of some of the great linen factories which had already gained celebrity by the fineness of their textures. His name first appears in an advertisement of goods of this character in the "New York Mercury," of Monday, October 23d, 1753: "Just Imported a large Assortment of Irish Linnens, and to be sold cheap by HUGH WALLACE, at his Store in New-Dutch-Church Street." He did not, however, confine himself to any one branch of business, as his occasional notices show; on the 31st July, 1758, he informs the public that there was "To be sold at Private Sale, by HUGH WALLACE, The Snow La Faveur, lately a French Privateer, with or without her Guns and Warlike Stores as the Purchaser

pleases. If said Vessel is not sold before she will be sold at Publick Vendue at the Merchants' Coffee House on Tuesday, the 8th of August next. Said WALLACE has a large Parcel of Fyall Wines to dispose of which he will sell reasonably." In the same year he applies for commissions for Captains of the Ship Terrible, 10 guns, and the Snow Montresor, also of 10 guns. In January, 1762, (Gaines' "New York Mercury," 18th inst.,) he advertises a cargo of Coals for sale, and again, on the 29th March, of the same year, he announces a curious variety of articles, common enough at that period, but now never found on the shelves of any one merchant : "HUGH WALLACE sells on very reasonable Terms Madeira, Mountain, Sherry, and benecarlo Wines; Rum, Molasses, White and Muscovado Sugar, Oranges and Lemmons, Sallad Oil, Olives, Capers and Anchovies, Gold and Silver Lace, Men's Shoes and Pumps, Boots and Spatterdashes, Silk Handkerchiefs, Scots Carpets, Men's and Women's Gloves, Irish Linnens and sundry European Goods."

Thriving in business, he seems to have resolved to make the new country his permanent residence. The "New York Mercury," of May 12th, 1760, notices, as an item of interesting news, that "Last week MR. HUGH WALLace, of this City, Merchant, was married to Miss Sally Low, daughter of Cornelius Low, of Rariton, in New Jersey, an agreeable Young Lady endow'd with every Qualification requisite to render the Marriage State happy." In those days the family incidents of the high in station were presumed as of right to interest the general public. By this marriage MR. WALLACE connected himself with some of the most distinguished families of the Colony. The Lows were among the earlier English settlers, and had intermarried with the Gouverneurs, and the Cuylers, who were second to none in the aristocracy of the New York Province.

Strengthened by these alliances and his growing wealth and influence, MR. WALLACE now seems to have looked to political preferment. In 1760 he was evidently an agent of the Government, and in October of that year was authorized to impress Vessels to carry troops to Halifax. He does not appear to have filled any minor stations, but to have reached at once the higher honors. On the retirement of Mr. Walton he was called to the King's Council, a body of twelve, which acted as the advisers of the Governor, and held powers somewhat analogous to those of the modern Senate. On the 21st January, 1769, as Gov. Moore informs the Earl of Hillsborough, “MR. WALLACE took the oaths and his seat at the Board." This position he continued to hold until the downfall of the King's power in the Colony. His name last appears upon the minutes of a meeting of the Council held 11 March, 1776, on board the Ship Dutchess of Gordon in the Harbour, in which Governor Tryon had taken refuge.

But while thus occupied with the grave affairs of State, MR. WALLACE was not indifferent to his business or his calling. He was one of the founders of the Chamber of Commerce in 1768, and its first Vice-President. On the retirement of Mr. Cruger, in 1770, he was chosen President of the Institution.

Near this period Alexander Wallace first appears in this country. He had no doubt been led hither by the success of the elder brother, and a business house was formed between them. A notice of this connection appears in Gaines' "New York Gazette & Weekly Mercury," July 24th, 1769: "To be sold a handsome Chariot, the Box made to take off occasionally, with Harness for four Horses. Enquire of MESSIEURS HUGH & ALEXANDER WALLACE." This is curious

as showing the state which the grandees of the Colonial days maintained.

This partnership of the two brothers, whose interests were still more closely allied by the marriage of Alexander with a sister of the wife of HUGH, continued until the close

of the revolutionary war. Their advertisements, as general importers, always include a notice of "large assortments of low priced yard-wide Irish Linen by the Box."

MR. WALLACE upheld the dignity of his station, and his mansion was the resort of the great dignitaries of the Province. It is recorded in Rivington's "Gazette," of June 29th, 1775, that Governor Tryon, who came passenger by the Ship Juliana, Capt. Montgomery, landed that evening at New York, "and was conducted to the house of the HON. HUGH WALLACE by an immense number of the principal people of that city.”

In the struggle between the Colonies and the Crown HUGH WALLACE stood steadfast to his allegiance, and controlled the great influence of his connections in the interest. of the Mother Country. Born in Great Britain and a Councillor of the King in the Colony, no other course could be expected of him. And he maintained his loyalty as firmly in the dark as in the bright hours-nor did he desert his post. On the 4th February, 1776, he was invited to appear before the Committee of Safety and inform them what he knew of the intentions of the British fleet. It had been announced that the Mercury Frigate and two other transports were below. MR. WALLACE replied that he intended to go on board of the Governor's Ship that afternoon, and would give information of "anything of importance to the City."

Early in August, 1776, on the 17th, so runs the account given in the Upcott Coll. : iv. 383, of the conversation of a

gentleman who had made his escape from the City to the British forces on Staten Island, the two brothers, HUGH and ALEXANDER WALLACE, with other persons of mark, "were committed to gaol for having refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Congress." MR. HUGH WALLACE was ordered to Connecticut by the military authorities, but the confinement of Alexander was of short duration.

The fact of his imprisonment is confirmed in a letter of Governor Tryon to Lord George Germaine, dated New York, 24th September, 1776, which gives a melancholy account of the state of the King's Government in the Colony, and reports "MR. HUGH WALLACE and Mr. James Jauncey prisoners with the Rebels."

MR. WALLACE was now to undergo something of the hardships of war. His wife remained in New York under the care of Alexander. A letter written by Mr. Alexander Wallace to a friend and influential patriot, Gouverneur Morris, 28th December, 1776, gives an account of the losses to which he was at this time subjected: "Mrs. Hugh Wallace is pretty well in health, but very unhappy about her husband being kept so long from her, and what adds to her distress is the very heavy loss she has met with about ten days ago in losing all her plate. She sent it to Mr. Richard Yates last summer at Aquacknock, to be kept there as a place of safety; but upon his leaving that place he had the box which contained the plate put on board a brig, commanded by Capt. Roche, bound to this place. About five miles below Hackinsack the brig was seized by a party of your army, and all the goods taken out. The plate cost upwards of £1500, this currency. She thinks the gentlemen belonging to the Convention, when they know it belongs to her, will order it to be sent to her immediately, as it would be very hard indeed to send her husband away to Connecticut