THE HISTORY OF COFFEE. 33 



Delaneey, Robinson & Co., for the sale of "East India goods, 

 shoes, stockings, and shirts, white and checked, fit for the army, 

 with a variety of other goods." On the loth of January, 1762, 

 the property was conveyed to Samuel Francis, or, as he after- 

 wards signed his name, Samuel Fraunces. He was the Del- 

 monico of that age, having been the proprietor of the " Mason's 

 Arms," near the Bowling Green, the Yauxhall Gardens in 

 Greenwich street, and the great Philadelphia stage-office in 

 Cortlandt street. Fraunces opened the house on Broad street 

 as a tavern, under the sign of " Queen Charlotte." In 1765 

 Fraunces retired, and was followed by John Jones. In 1766 

 Jones withdrew in favor of Bolton & Sigell, who were thus 

 advertised in Holfs New York Journal ; " Bolton & Sigell 

 Take this method to acquaint the Publick that they propose to 

 open, on Monday next, a Coffee-House at the House of Mr. 

 Samuel Francis, near the Exchange, lately kept by Mr. John 

 Jones, and known by the name of the i Queen's Head Tavern,' 

 where Gentlemen may depend upon receiving the best of 

 Usage. As Strangers, they are sensible they can have no 

 Pretensions to the Favour of the Public but what results 

 from their readiness upon all occasions to oblige." The 

 house enjoyed a fair share of business. The societies met 

 there as in the time of Fraunces ; the Chamber of Commerce 

 held its monthly meetings there until it secured a room of its 

 own ; yet the business was not profitable, and in 1770 Mr. 

 Sigell retired from the firm. In the same year Mr. Bolton 

 gave up the business, and Fraunces again took possession. It 

 was during this last term of Fraunces that the " City," or, as it 

 was better known, " Fraunces's Tavern," acquired its celebrity. 

 Large dinner-parties were held there, and among the societies 

 that met in the upper rooms during the winter was the "Social 

 Club." During the summer this Club encamped at Kip's Bay 

 Meetings were held on Saturday evenings, and on the rolls were 

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