Career of Si

ion with tr

ly esteemed in

renowned for his

al and gal

the amiable qu

tleman, and the

Sir Peter's tomb in Westminste

ortions that are quite picturesque when given a background of tossing waves, "all sails set," and a few jolly tars to sing and fight and heave the rop

gland," he was so closely associated with New York for so many years that no book about the city could be written without doing him some measure of honour. No figure is so fit as Sir Peter's to represent those picturesque Colonial days when the "Sons of Liberty" had not begun to assemble, and this New York of ours was well-nigh as Englis

navy as inevitably as a duck to water. He was scarcely more than an urchin when he became a fighting sailor, and indeed one could expect no less, for both his father and grandfather had been officers

British favour, and contributed heroes to the army or navy from each of their hardy generations. They had no title, but to be The Warren of Warrenstown, Meath, was to be entitled to look down with disdain upon upstart

ce. Is it far-fetched to assume that Oliver found his small brother something of a handful? If Peter was one-quarter as pugnacious and foolhardy at twelve as he was at forty, there is small wonder that a young man burdened with the cares of a large estate and an orphaned family would be not unwilling to get rid of him,-or a

ered then, flesh-and-blood pirates with black flags and the rest of it. And deep-sea storms meant more in those days of sails and comparatively light vessels than we can even imagine today. So swiftly did Peter grow up under this stern yet thrilling

to action. At that time there were signal and violent differences of opinion between England and other countries,-notably Spain and France. Gibraltar was the subject of one of them, it may be recall

youthful adventurer of ours, with the courtly manners, the irrepressible boyish recklessness and the big heart. Our only authentic descriptions of him are of a Peter Warren many year

iculously curled and powdered, and he is, plainly, a very fine figure of a man indeed. Roubilliac's bust of him in Westminster makes him much better looking and not nearly, so stout. Thomas Janvier, who

eption and action, but clear-headed and calm in judgment." And the historian Parkman declares that at forty-two he had "the ardour of y

er existed. England had a host of enemies, some of them of her own household. It was even whispered that the American possessions were not entirely and whole-heartedly loyal! This seemed incredible

He was in command of the frigate Solebay then, and in the old papers we read many mentions of both ship and officer. From almost the first Peter loved the Colonies and the Colonies loved him. In between his cruises and battles he kept coming back like a homing bird, and every time he came he seemed to have won a little more glory with his various ships,-th

freedom of the city," from which one gathers some idea of his standing in public favour! And in anoth

lace it at thirteen years earlier. It is much more probable that Peter got married at

ghter of one of the old Dutch houses (Van Cortlandt) and went into business. Just what his occupation was is not clear, but later he acted as agent for Captain Warren in the disposal of his war prizes. His

nceive that, like other young lovers, they made many a trip out into the country, and that it was their dream to live there one day when they should be rich. Certa

en has just arrived; Captain Warren's ship has "gone upon the careen" (i.e., is being repaired); Captain Warren is sailing next week, and so on, and so on. The New York Gazette for May 31, 1736, sta

de in prize ships in those days, and you may be sure that our enterprising sea-fighter was not behind other men in this or in anything else calling for initiative and daring! At all events the records seem to show that he bought his lands in the Green Villag

ply waiting, it would almost seem, to be eaten alive by the enemy's cruisers; and Captain Peter who had the sound treasure-hunting instinct of your born adventurer, proceeded to gobble them up! In the four months that rolled jovially by between the middle of February an

cted as his agents in practically all of what Janvier disrespectfully styles "his French and Spanish swag"! Governor Clinton had exempted prizes from duty, so it was all clear

y; it is safe to assert that he set the pace after a fashion, and fair Mistress Susanna was a real leader of real Colonial dames! He appears to have been a genuinely and deservedly popular fellow

e hamlet on the green banks of the Hudson the birds sang and the leaves rustled, and the blue water rested tired eyes. Peter at this time owned nearly three hundred acres of ground there an

something enormous, palatial, and indeed was always known as the Mansion or Manse. This is, of course, the basis for the silly theory that Greenwich got its name from the estate. Undoubtedly the Warren place was the largest and most important one out there, and for a time to "go out to visit at Greenwich," meant to go out

Street, sombre and unaltered, a stately

ing the view westward to the Jersey Highlands and southward down the bay to the Staten Island Hills." The fanciful description goes on to picture Captain Warren sitting on this veranda, "smoking a comforting pipe after his mid-day dinner; and taking with it, perhaps, as seafaring gentlemen ver

a later date, and stood there for over a century, with the poplars, for which it was famous, and the box hedges, in which Susanna had take

tay, and the Manse which was and always remained his real and beloved home. In 1744 his seaman's restlessness again won over his domestic

absence old Oceanus seems to lament), being now sufficiently repaired, will sai

ds up with

pread; see the b

rench and inte

f Rear Admiral of the Blue, and a knighthood as well! It may seem a far cry from Greenwich, New York, to Louisbourg, but we cannot pass over the i

urg, and it is with particular pride that his achievement should be remembered in a history of New-York,

mmonly known as "King George's War," and also as the undertaking described by so many contemporaries as "Shirley's Mad S

husetts, finally to organise the expedition. He had Colonial militia to the tune of four thousand men, and he had Colonial boats,-nearly a hundred of them,-and he had the approval of the Crown (conveyed through the Duke of Newcastle); but he wanted leaders. For his land force he chose General Pepperrill, an eminently safe and sane type of soldier; for the sea he, with a real brain throb, thought of Captain Peter Warren. Francis Parkman says: "Warr

ders would be less vague, and give him less freedom, that he set sail for Boston with a haste that was feverish. He had with him three ships,-the Mermaid and Launceston of fort

d told the schooner to send him every British ship she met in her voyage; then he changed his course and beat straight

The storms were severe, as may be gathered by this account of their efforts to get into Canseau, written by one of the men: "A very F

ch zest as he took rare food and rich wine, and in his swift, full and exciting life there had never been place or time for patience! When the siege actually commenced, the poor Captain nearly went wild with the inaction. He wanted to attack, to move, to do something. Pepperrill's calm judgment and slow tactics drove him distracted, and they were forever at odds in spite of a secret respect for ea

eaking point. But one or two things happened in the time which, to my mind, make our Captain seem a very human person. There was, for instance, his amazing kindness, as unfailing to his captives as to his own men. When the great French man-of-war Vigilant came to the aid of the beleaguered fortress, Warren joyously captured the monster,

perrill most earnestly to attack. But the more phlegmatic officer could not see it in that way. Warren then argued with increasing heat that by this time the French reinforcements must be near, and could easily steal up under cover of the fog which was thick there every

urious note: "I am sorry to find a kind of jealousy which I thought you would never conceive of me. And give me leave to tell

overnor Shirley expressing regret that Captain Warren could not take command of the w

fiery associate was simply obliged to cool off. He was of too genuinely fine fibre to bear a grudge or to make a hard situ

s so wild with delight that he could not contain himself. He scribbled a note to Pepperrill which sounds like the note of a rattle-pated coll

e troops, amid much cheering; and dispensing casks of rum in which to drink his health and King George's! He was made the English Governor of the fort

urg one fine day bearing Susanna herself, who had come in per

September 25th, and published in the

mmended by the Lords Justices to the King of Governor of this Place, and is made Rear Admiral of the Blue: He hoisted

ust give him his title,-Admiral Sir Peter Warren, no less! After he came home from Louisbourg, the city of New York was so well

rg,-that, at least, among other things. Sir Peter went to join the English commander, Anson, off Cape Finisterre,-(the "End of the Earth") and acquitted himself there so gallantly and effectively that again his country rang with praise of him,-his country which then lay on two sid

d in the publick Papers.... You may be surpriz'd, Sir, when I assert, that out of the formidable English Squadron, but seven Ships were engag'd properly speaking. Concerning the Gallantry of three of them, which were the Headmos

er fire, as terrible a one as ever I saw, ran up within Pistol-shot and then returned it, and continued a brisk fire till the enemy struck." Then, he continues,

er days when her magnificent husband was away at the wars. Between an advertisement of "Window Crown-Glass just over from Engl

Sir Peter Warren, are desired to carry their accoun

is first na?ve and childish pleasure in his immense fortune was an old story, and the King couldn't provide a battle for him every moment. The real events of his life were war cruises, but in between he began to take a hand in the politics of New York. He was high

nton felt he was making a little headway Warren was called to London to enter Parliament as the member for Westminster. This gave him more prestige than ever, and the Governor moved heaven and earth to discredit him in the eyes of the Lords of Trade in London. But just then heaven and earth were personified by the Briti

ands because of their loyalty to the Crown, but in Sir P

to return no more, and I am sure every tree in Gree

st man in England," he was a truly magnificent figure in a magnificent day. Lady Warren, who was still a beauty and a wit, was a great favourite at Court, and writ

Skinner,-and New York, still affectionately inclined toward the Admiral's daughters, named streets after the husbands of all three! Our present Christopher Street used to be Skinner Road; Fitzroy Road ran northward, near our Eighth Avenue from Fourteenth Street far uptown; Abingdon R

he horses supplied by a certain man, "since he is a relation of my wife's!" I have not told of his narrow escape from the Indians on one dramatic occasion; nor of his trip to the West Indies as an envoy of peace; nor of his services in Barbadoes which caused the people thereof to present him with a gorgeous silver monteith, or punch-bowl; nor of the mighty dinner party he gave at which the Rev. Mr. Moody said the historic grace: "Good Lord, we have so much to be thankful for that time would be infinitely too short to do it in. We must, therefore, leave it for eternity. Amen." I have said nothing of Sir

l trouble or defeat, must make a picture flat and characterless, insipid in its light, bright colours, insignificant in its deeper values. But it is not so. Peter Warren, the spoiled child of fortune, was someth

sues. The blue and gold which he wore so magnificently can never to us be the mere trappings of rank: they carry on them the shadows of battle smoke, and the rust of enviable wounds. Let us take his memory then gladly, and w

tinction of phrase which one would expect. Perhaps the simple ending of

t the A

red, and whose gr

ften exp

emove him from a

rnity of

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th year o