CELEBRATIONS (Albany), 4 JULY 1788

second stand, and others into the country for safety. The Federalists
attacked the house of Mr. Hilton, and in the victory, which they soon
gained, did great damage to the building. Many of the parties were
severely wounded in the conflict, and one poor man, a cooper, is sup-
posed to have received a mortal wound from a bayonet. Several reports
are circulating about men killed,4 &c. but are not to be relied on.
"It gives me pleasure that I can add that the dispute is since peace-
ably settled.
"P.S. Since writing the foregoing, I am informed that the wounded
are twelve Feds. and six Anti-feds. and among the Feds. is a Mr. Gra-
ham,5 badly, tho' not dangerous."
1. Reprinted in the New York Journal, 11 July; New York Packet, 11 July; Impartial Gazetteer,
12 July; Independent Journal, 12 July; and in twenty-eight newspapers outside New York by 7
August: Mass. (2), R.I. (1), Conn. (5), N.J. (2), Pa. (7), Md. (2), Va. (6), S.C. (2), Ga. (1).
2. Later accounts (printed below) reveal that this vacant lot was the site of Fort Fred-
erick (also called Fort Albany). Built first by the British as a wood stockade in 1676, the
fort was reconstructed in stone between 1702 and 1738. In 1749 Swedish traveler, Peter
Kalm, described the fort, which was located at the head of State Street on "a high steep
hill," as "a great building of stone, surrounded with high and thick walls." In 1785 the
Common Council authorized the demolition of the fort. The stone was to be used for
public improvements and the clergy of the several churches were permitted to use the
materials of the fort's walls to build their churches. The demolition appears to have been
completed in 1786.
3. A reference to William B. Hilton's tavern that was located on Green Street. In late
May 1788, the supervisors of the City and County of Albany met in this tavern and can-
vassed the votes for the election of state Convention delegates and state legislators. (See
IV, Albany County Election, below.)
4. On 7 July, an Albany gentleman informed a friend in New York City that "It is a
mercy there was none killed" (New York Packet, 15 July, below). Nevertheless, reports of
deaths circulated. On 8 July Henry Izard, who was in Poughkeepsie attending the New
York Convention debates, wrote that "They have been killing and beating each other at
Albany on the fourth of July, Fed's. against Antis" (below). On 16 July the Springfield,
Mass., Hampshire Chronicle informed its readers: "We learn by a gentleman from the State
of New-York, that a fracas lately took place in the city of Albany, between the friends to
the New Government and the antifederalists: The dispute, he says, became so warm be-
tween the parties, that there was one man killed, and a number of others very much
bruised."
5. Theodorus Van Wyck Graham was a member of the Albany Federal Committee.
New York Journal, 14 July 17881
Extract of a letter from Albany, July 6.
"As I suppose you will be anxious to hear some of the particulars
concerning the unhappy disturbances which happened here the
fourth instant, I shall endeavor to give you as exact an account as
possible. -

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