602 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



a place of some resort — not only for the acquirement of the French lan- 

 guage, but on account of the hospitality and politeness of its inhabi- 

 tants. Here some of the most distinguished men in the country have 

 received the elements of their education (under the charge of the French 

 clergy.) Among them may be enumerated the Hon. John Jay, (the 

 grandson of a Huguenot), "who made the celebrated treaty of Paris, for 

 the independence of our country, and exerted a powerful influence in 

 extending the limits of the United States to the Mississippi." Also 

 General Philip Schuyler, so conspicuous for his services and successes 

 in the Revolutionary war, and Washington Irving, the world-renowned 

 author. It is a little remarkable, " that three of the nine presidents of 

 the old Congress who conducted the United States through the Revo- 

 lutionary war, were descendents of French Protestant refugees, who had 

 emigrated to America in consequence of the edict of Nantes — Henry 

 Laurens, of South Carolina, John Jay, of New York, and Elias Boudi- 

 net, of New Jersey." 



For two generations the Huguenots of New Rochelle preserved in its 

 purity the French language, thus testifying their attachment to their 

 native land, the sepulchre of their forefathers, and to which, perhaps, 

 they cherished the hope of a return at some future period. 



The first dwelling-houses were erected on each side of the high street^ 

 in the vicinity of the old stone church. At a very early date of the set- 

 tlement, this appears to have been a flourishing place; for Madame 

 Knight, who travelled through the village in 1704, thus describes it : 



" On the 22d of December we set out for New Rochelle, where being come, 

 we had good entertainment, and recruited ourselves verv well. This is a very 

 pretty place, well compact, and good, handsome houses, clean, good, and pass- 

 able roads, and situated on a navagable river, abundance of land, well fenced 

 and cleared all along as we passed, which caused in me a love to the place, which 

 I could have been content to live in it. Here we rid over a bridge made of one 

 entire stone, of such a breadth that a cart might pass with safety, and to spare. 

 It lay over a passage cut through a rock to convey water to a mill not far off. c 

 Here are three fine taverns within call of each other, and very good provision for 

 travellers. "« 



The advantages presented by the proximity of the sound are of great 

 importance to New Rochelle. 



Upon the whole, New Rochelle is a place of considerable wealth and 

 enterprise, and from its fine location it must eventually arrive at some 

 importance. 



a The present street which passes in front of the Episcopal church. The Quion family ap- 

 pear to have been among the first residents and proprietors of the village. 



h This stone must have occupied the site of the present bridge which crosses the Chrystal 

 Lake stream. 



c Madame Knight's travels in 1704. 



