2004.056

Found in collection

Found in Collection

Museum Collection.

Winfield, Charles H.

first edition thus

1895

English

Copy No.: 1

Poor

Display Value: Fair Notes: Library 2004.056.0001 Text of: Hopoghan Hackingh. Hoboken, a pleasure resort for old New York. By Charles H[ardenburgh]. Winfield. [New York: The Caxton Press, 1895.] HOPOGHAN HACKINGH ===== [frontis engraving] WOODLAND SCENE FROM CASTLE POINT ===== Hopoghan Hackingh HOBOKEN, PLEASURE RESORT FOR OLD NEW YORK. BY Charles H. Winfield. Member of the New Jersey Historical Society; Corresponding Member of the New York Historical Society, of the Minisink Valley Historical Society, of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Author of the "History of Hudson County, N, J." "History of the Land Titles of Hudson County, N.J.," "Surprise and Capture of Paulus Hoeck," "Monograph on the Founding of Jersey City," etc., etc. ==== THE CAXTON PRESS NEW YORK ==== Hoboken Illustrations. INDIAN DEED Of Hoboken, July 12, 11530.* [sic - 1630] THE MANSION HOUSE of Colonel Stevens, which was surrounded by grounds laid out with great judgment and taste, in the best modern style, and ornamented with a profusion of shrubbery and trees, and perfumed with showers of roses and other flowers, giving the extensive fields the appearance of a succession of gardens. THE GREEN, near the Ferry. On reaching the shore at Hoboken Ferry, you rise a gentle ascent to a lawn in front of a large and commodious inn. The lawn is shaded with noble elms and other wholesome trees, under which the visitor may generally find a fresh and invigorating sea-breeze, and have choice refreshments brought to his seat. Here, throwing aside all care, people of every grade ill society meet to pass the afternoon when the heat of the city is oppressive. Disturnell (1835). A WOOD SCENE, Hoboken Walk. The scene chosen by the artist is lovely in the extreme. The eye pierces away into the woody winding path on the right; and on the left, a beautiful and well known glimpse of the bay and city will designate the spot as one probably vivid in the recollection. The light is shed down softly through the branches of the forest, and the foliage and trunks of the trees are very happily executed. The whole landscape, with the verdant groves and cool shades, has a rich look. The picture is from a painting by Weir, from a spot in one of the new walks near the Mansion House, painted in about 1834. INCIPIENT FERRIS WHEEL, set up in the Elysian Fields, near the Colonnade. PART OF MAP OF HOBOKEN, showing localities. MAP OF THE SOUTHERLY END OF HOBOKEN, showing location of the old Ferry and the '76 House. ELYSIAN FIELDS AND COLONNADE - 1836. OLD PRINT, showing the '76 House, the Ferry, with its periaguas, and the Creek dividing Jersey City and Hoboken SEASON TICKET, HOBOKEN TURTLE CLUB. SYBIL'S CAVE * These two pages are; a facsimile of the Indian Deed of Hoboken to P. Pauw. It is the first deed recorded in New Netherland. ==== Index to Illustrations. Frontispiece ......... 8 Indian Deed to Hoboken, July 12, 1630 .... 22, 23 The '76 House and Ferry — New York in the Distance .47 Section of Loss' Map, Showing '76 House and Ferry . .51 Season Ticket, Hoboken Turtle Club . . . 54 The Colonnade in Elysian Fields ..... 57 On the Green in Front of the '76 House . . . 61 Colonel Stevens' Mansion on Castle Point .... 65 Incipient Ferris Wheel in Elysian Fields .... 69 Section of Douglass' Map Localities in Hoboken ... 73 Sibyl's Cave ......... 77 ===== Preface. THE following Monograph on Hoboken grew out of a Paper rend before the New York Historical Society, in December, 1894. That Paper forms Part Second of this little volume. Part First of the volume consists of historical facts, necessary to a full knowledge of Hoboken in the past. I do not think that much of its early history remains to be written. The illustrations will add largely to the interest of the subject, and will preserve many local views already past the recollection of the "oldest inhabitant." In a foot-note I have attempted an explanation of the origin of the name. I confess that my views are not in accord with the views of historians who have expressed themselves on the subject, but I submit them to the reader and to his candid judgment. C. H. W. Jersey City, November 1, 1895. ==== PART FIRST. ==== PART FIRST. THE first reference in the annals of New Netherland to the place now called Hoboken is found in the journal of Robert Juet, the Mate of the " Half Moon." Hudson was returning from his trip up the river now bearing his name. On the second day of October, 1609, he reached the upper part of Manhattan Island. There lie was attacked by the Indians. After describing this incident, Juet says: "Within a while after, we got downe two leagues beyond that place, and anchored in a Bay, cleere from all danger of them on the other side of the riner, where we saw a good piece of ground; and hard by it there was a Cliffe, that looked of the colour of white greene, as though it were oil her Copper, or Sillier Myne: and I think it to be one of them, by the Trees that grow upon it. For they are all burned, and the other places are greene as grasse." More than twenty years passed before another reference is made to this place. Then the Director and Council of New Netherland in behalf of Michiel Pauw, Lord of Achtienhoven, purchased from the native owners the land spoken of by Juet. The following is a translation of the deed, or acknowledgement of conveyance. It is the first recorded deed in the records of New Netherland: "We, Director and Council of New Netherland, residing on the Island of Manahatas and the Fort Amsterdam, under the authority of their High Mightinesses the Lords States-General of this United Netherlands and the Incorporated West India Company, at their Chambers at Amsterdam, do hereby witness and declare that on this day, the date hereof underwritten, before us in their proper persons appeared and showed themselves, to wit: Arommeauw, Tekwappo, and Saekwomeck, inhabit ante and joint owners of the land called Hobocan Hackingh,* lying over against (opposite) ------ * Whence came the name Hoboken as applied to this place ? With much unanimity writers have adopted the opinion of Mr. O'Callaghan in his History of New Netherland: "Hoboken is so called after a village of the same name, situate on the Scheldt, a few miles south of Antwerp." The statement does not bear on its face any indication of doubt of its correctness. Yet I venture to affirm that if he or any one who adopts his opinion, should he asked for his authority, or to give a reason for his assertion, he would face a difficult task. I admit that the present spelling of the name on the Hudson lends plausibility to the [continued at bottom of next page] ==== 20 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. he aforesaid Island Manahatas, who both for themselves and, rato cavern, for the remaining joint owners of the same land, declared that for and in consideration of a certain quantity of merchandize, which they acknowledged to have received into their own hands, power and possession, before the passing of these presents in a right, true, and free ownership, have sold, transported, ceded, conveyed, and made over, and by these presents they do transport, cede, and convey to and for the behoof of Mr. Michiel Pauw, absent, and for whom we, ex-officio, accept under suit able stipulations, viz.: the aforesaid lands by us named Hobocan Hackingh, extending on the south side, Ahasimus; eastward, the River Mauritius, and on the west side surrounded by a valley (marsh) and morass, through which the boundaries of said laud can be seen with sufficient clearness and be distinguished ; and that, with all the jurisdiction, right, and equity, to them, the grantors, in their quality aforesaid, belonging: Constituting and putting in their place and stead the already mentioned Mr. Pauw, in the real and actual possession thereof, and at the same time giving full and irrevocable power, authority and special command to the said Mr. Pauw peaceably to enjoy, occupy, cultivate, have and hold the aforesaid land tanquam actor it procurator in rem suam acpropriam; and also to do with and dispose of the same as he might do with his own lands to which he has a good and lawful title; without their, the grantors, in their quality aforesaid, saving or reserving any part, right, action, or authority thereto in the least, either of ownership or jurisdiction ; but altogether to the ------ [footnote continued] claim of its origin. This, probably, would be the best, if not the only reason that could be given for its alleged relationship to the village on the Scheldt. 1. Why should the place have been named after such an insignificant village? Why not honor it with the name of some town of more prominence as was done in "Amsterdam" on Manhattan, and "Flushing" on Long Island. It does not appear that any of the men acting for Mr. Pauw in this purchase claimed that village as his birth place or former residence, nor that Pauw was interested in it. Certainly the surroundings and features of the two places were not so alike that I he name of the one naturally suggested a name for the other. Ill fact, there was no resemblance. That was a plain sandy level, this an island — hilly and rolling ; that was reclaimed from the sea and protected from inundation by dykes, this was glacial drift deposited on the outcropping rock, arid in some places nearly one hundred feet above high water. 2. If it was the intention to name this place in honor of the village on the Scheldt, why was not that intention carried out ? It must be presumed that the Director and Council of New Netherland were men of at least fair education. They must have known something of the geography of their own country. The village of Hoboken so near to Antwerp, at that time one of the most flourishing towns in the country, could not have been unknown to them, insignificant though it was. Yet, in this deed for ail important tract of land, where the conveyance was made as much by the name of the land as by boundaries, and therefore accuracy of expression is to be looked for, tbe name is written as no Dutchmen, before or since, ever wrote the name of the village on the Scheldt All contemporaneous writings (and I think for a hundred and fifty years afterward) in this country and in Europe, show that one name was spelled differently from the other. Even the Directors and States-General spelled the word as they had received it from the New Netherland, seemingly without a suspicion that it was the name of their own village. This certainlv seems incredible. It can be accounted for only on the supposition that they regarded the names of the two places as entirely different. 3. The deed was drawn and put into its present shape by the authorities of New Netherland. In the part descriptive of the grantors they are said to be inhabitants and joint owners of the land called Hobocan Hackingh." It was the land, (Hackingh) not a settlement that had the name by which the Indians were supposed to know it and by which they were conveying it It would appear from this expression that this was a well-known name of the place. But when the framers of the deed came to write a description of the land granted, a doubt seems to have entered their minds, if they had correctly named it in the early part of the deed. A fair construction of the phrase inhabitants and joint owners of the land called Hobocan Hackingh" is that the grantors knew the land by that name. Therefore, in the granting part of the deed the phrase was modified by saying " the land was by us named Hobocan Hacking." This I regard as a confession that the writers of the deed were doing the best they [footnote concluded on next page] ==== 25 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. behoof as aforesaid, henceforth, forever, wholly and finally desisting, renouncing, and quit-claiming; promising hereby, moreover, not only to keep, maintain, and fulfill this, their grant, and whatever shall be done by virtue thereof, inviolable and irrevocable forever, but also to keep and maintain the same land against all persons free from any claim, challenge, or incumbrance to be made thereon by any person; as also the cause this sale and grant to be approved of and held valid by the remaining joint owners as they are by right obligated to do; all in good faith without fraud or deceit. In witness whereof these presents are confirmed with our usual signature and with our seal thereto affixed. Done at the aforesaid Island of Manahatas, in Fort Amsterdam, this 12th July, 1630." Subsequently, Pauw secured title to Ahasmus, Aresick and Staten Island. Under the freedoms and exemptions such ownership entitled him to the dignity and authority of a Patroon, or feudal chief of the territory. Latinizing his name and bestowing it upon his colony, it was thenceforth known as Pavonia. This colony was regarded as of vast prospective importance. It controlled the ------ [footnote continued; concluded] could with a name in a language new and difficult to them. But they were not confident that they had understood the word correctly. To them it sounded like Hobocan Hackingh, and, therefore, they hesitatingly said "by us called Hobocan Hackingh." 4. When did Hoboken on the Scheldt become burdened with an Indian suffix ? When and where, before or since, was it so written? The suffix, "Hackingh" is said to mean the land of, or the place of. When it is added to Hobocan (if by that name Hoboken on the Sheldt is meant) what is the meaning of the compound word ? Will it be said " the land of Hoboken? " Is there any sense in that? Sewanhacky is said to mean " the land of the Sewan," or the place where that money was made. So " Hobocan Hackingh " must mean the land of something which had existed on that spot, not on the Scheldt, and by which the place was then known. The Indians had never heard of the Scheldt or its village. If the word "Hobocan" is Dutch, and was intended for "Hoboken," that is easily understood. It is only an instance of different spelling. But why add to it a word which had never belonged to it and which only confutes. If they had said " Antwerp Hackingh," the name would have contained as much sense as the name " Hobocan Hackingh." " Hackingh" is admittedly an Indian word, and if "Hobocan " is Dutch, the two when united form a hybrid, half Dutch and half Indian ; reminding one of the Minotaur of Euripides. "A mingled form prodigious to behold, Half-bull, half-man." 5. Many places in this vicinity had Indian names: as Pembrepogh, Minkakwa, Kewan, Apopcalyk, Gemoenepaen, Araseck, Ahasimus, Sikakes and Awiehaken. It would have been a singular and striking omission, if so prominent and beautiful a body of land as Hoboken had been left nameless. It is true that many of these names are sadly deformed in their transition from one language to the other. But when a name, pronounced in the native gutterals, had been filtered through a Dutchman's ear, and licked into shape by a Dutchman's tongue, very close resemblance to the original was not in all cases to be found or expected. In many instances its recognition was beyond the skill of the philologist. Hopoghan was the name which had been given to the place by the natives. They knew it by that name and were conveying it by that name. It is easily seen how " Hobocan " was made out of " Hopoghan." The only way the Dutchmen could get at the name was by the sound. The natives pronounced it and the strangers wrote it phonetically. Add to the word " Hopoghan " the suffix " Hackingh," and the conclusion is irresistible that the compound is exactly the word which the Dutchman wrote " Hobocan Hackingh." " Hopoghan " is said to mean tobacco pipe, made from the soap stone found at Castle Point. It is also frequently used in a symbolic sense to express crookedness, and may have been here so used in reference to the shore of the river. The notion of writers that the name comes from the village on the Scheldt is wholly erroneous. It is Indian and nothing else: " Hopoghan Hackingh" the land of the tobacco pipe, or symbolically, the.land of crookedness. ==== 26 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. shore opposite Manhattan Island, and dominated the native commerce from the south and west. The Dutch West India Company from the beginning had designed to make New Amsterdam the emporium of their trade, and to that end required that all fruits and wares "that arise on the North River and lands lying thereabouts " should be first brought there. Whatever antagonized that design was regarded with disfavor by the company. It was not long, therefore, before the Patroon of Pavonia found himself in a heated controversy with the other directors. This threatened the prosperity of the company. But peace was restored in 1634 or 1635 (for the transfer is without date), by the Patroon's release to the company of his interest in Pavonia for 26,000 florins. The company having secured this important tract, and desiring to make known to all subsequent settlers that private ownership should not thereafter attach to land in Pavonia opposite New Amsterdam, gave general notice that it reserved unto itself "the land of Achassemes, Arasick and Hobokina." The first white occupant of Hoboken was Hendrick, son of Cornelis Van Vorst, the Patroon's Commissary. How or when he first obtained possession is not known. It was probably through his father's influence, and it could not have been earlier than the latter part of the year 1636. Nor is it known by what tenure he was in possession. But on March 12th, 1639, lie received from Director Kieft a lease of the place for twenty years from January 1st, 1640. In this lease, the place is said to have "been until now occupied by him." The meaning of this is that he was not only the first, but up to this time the only occupant of the place. He agreed to give as rent " every year the fourth part of the crop with which God may bless the land, either in sheaves upon the field or as may be deemed most advantageous, and twelve capons every year." At the expiration of the lease, the land was to be surrendered unsown. He also agreed to erect on the bouwery a barn and all other necessary buildings at his own expense, the company delivering to him 4,000 bricks to build a chimney. It is not probable that Van Vorst made any of these contemplated improvements, for, in the summer of 1639, he returned to Holland and there died. On February 15th, 1640, Director-General Kieft, in the name of the company, leased the place to Aert Teunissen Van Putten for twelve years from January 1st, 1641. The Director agreed to erect a small house on the place, and Van Putten agreed to yield as rent "the fourth sheaf with which God Almighty shall favor the field." There is no doubt that the house which the company built under this agree- ==== 27 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. ment was the first building in Hoboken. Van Vorst was unmarried and probably lived at his father's, in Ahasimus. Van Putten, without delay, began to improve his leasehold. He cleared the land, fenced the fields and erected a brew-house. Thus he became the first brewer in the State, and Hoboken the place where beer was naturalized to Jerseymen. He stocked his farm with twenty-eight head of large cattle, besides various small stock, such as swine, goats, sheep, etc. He also set out many fruit trees. On the breaking out of the war in 1643, Van Putten was away from home on a trading expedition, and was killed near Sandy Hook. His live stock was destroyed, his dwelling house, barns and stacks of grain were burnt. The only one of all his improvements remaining was the brewery. It was not long after Van Putten's death that Sybout Claesen, a carpenter in New Amsterdam, married his widow, and then in her name claimed a right to the possession of Hoboken. In his petition he set forth that the brew-house (which was still standing in 1649) was built with her own means, and of right belonged to her. Director Kieft ignored this claim and leased the island to Dierck Claessen. This lessee afterwards abandoned the place, so that at the end of the year 1649 it lay unoccupied. When the war of 1655 broke out the Indians, driven from New Amsterdam, crossed to Hoboken, where, " in the twinkling of an eye" a house was in flames, and all Pavonia was soon on fire. Again the desolation of this part of the country was complete. It was abandoned by every settler. At what time Nicholas Verleth (Varlet) became interested in the place is not known, but in March, 1656, he sold the frame of a house at Hoboken to Michael Jansen, and requested the aid of the government in getting it across the river. But owing to the unsettled state of affairs, and to the fact that the Indians claimed the frame, the request was refused. On October 14th, 1656, Varleth married Anna, the sister of Gov. Stuyvesant and widow of Samuel Bayard. From that time his career was conspicuous. On Feb. 5, 1663, he received from Governor Stuyvesant a grant of 138 morgens of land, whiqh represented Hoboken. This was confirmed to him by Governor Carteret, May 12, 1668, by the following bounds: " Beginning at the Mouth of the Creek that Parts Hobocken from Wiehaken (being the Place of Beginning also of Wiehaken Patent), and from thence running up said Creek as it runs to a stake at ==== 28 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. the Foot of the Hill (which stake stands North fifty-two Degrees and a Half West Eighteen Chains and sixty-three Links from the Mouth of said Creek. Then from the said stake Westerly along the foot of the Hill One Hundred and thirteen Chains and a half on a straight line to a stake by a Creek which Parts Hobocken from the Meadows lying North of Horsimus (from which stake the said Creek runs about twelve Chains on a course South Sixty-six Degrees and a Half East). Then down said Creek as it runs to Hudson's River, then up along Hudson's River as it runs to the Place of Beginning." Varleth died seized in 1675. From his heirs, Samuel Bayard, his step-son, derived title. William Bayard, one of the latter's descendants, was the owner and in possession of the place when the Revolutionary War broke out. He was a man of wealth and refined taste. He had taken much pride in improving the Island. In 1760 there was on it a garden of five acres filled with a choice collection of English fruit, such as peaches, pears, plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots; a large dwelling house, and another adjoining under the same roof used as a farm-house, with convenient cellars and an "extraordinary kitchen; "out houses, a new smoke house, fowl house, a large stable, with stalls for ten horses on a side, over which was a granary and hay loft, which would hold twenty loads of hay. Upon the farm were thirty milch cows and thirty young cattle, twenty fat hogs, six fat cattle and a pair of oxen. Besides an old orchard capable of producing eighty barrels of cider a year, there were about one thousand young trees, all grafted with the best fruit. In April, 1771, Mr. Bayard, then residing at Castle Point, was desirous of renting the place, and his description of it shows that its attractiveness had not depreciated: "The pleasant situated and convenient House, Out-Houses, Stables, Farm and Grounds at Hoebuck, lately established into a Ferry, opposite the City of New York, on the west side of the Jersey Shore, and kept by Cornelius Hearing. The place has every convenience suitable for the purpose of a Ferry, and the entertainment of travellers in the best manner, such as one of the best of wharfes, with three pair of stairs, for every wind that blows; ground for pasture, mowing ground that will in a good season produce at least forty loads of clover hay. A garden spot scarcely to be equalled, and filled with the greatest plenty of the best of fruits; the liberty of cutting as much salt hay as is wanted for all the custom of the place; and a ==== 29 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. better fishing place for catching shad, etc., there is not on the North River, with plenty of oysters in the creek and before the door." In the midst of these elegant comforts Mr. Bayard spent his summers, and entertained with splendid hospitality.* On his estate the patriarchal institution of slavery was well established, and lent a glamour to the dignity of its wealthy owner.[dagger] During the War of the Revolution, in the absence of its owner, Hoboken, with its fine buildings, extensive orchards and beautiful gardens, was a sore temptation to the marauders of both sides. On July 28th, 1778, a party of Light Horse of the Patriots visited Hoebuck and carried off a great number of cattle. On July 25th, 1779, General Pattison warned Lieut-Col. Van Buskirk that large parties of his regiment frequently went to Hoebuck, and there made great depredations on the house of Mr. William Bayard, as well as on his garden and other lands. On Saturday, August 20th, 1780, the "rebels" burnt Colonel William Bayard's new house and barn at Castile, on the north end of Hoebuck, and destroyed all the forage and timber to be found there to a very large amount. So far as now appears, this act of incendiarism left on Hoboken only a small brick house built by Mr. Bayard in 1772. It stood on the hill near the ferry. Afterwards it was enlarged by the addition of a frame building, and became the rear part of the tavern known as the '76 House." After the City of New York had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and the patriot army had been driven back toward the Delaware, Mr. Bayard, who at first was active in the cause of the Colonies, withdrew his assistance, and, on May 1, 1777, joined the Army of the King. For this act his property in New Jersey was confiscated to the State, and advertised by the Commissioner of Forfeited Estates to ------ * In 1773, Mr. Quincy, of Massachusetts, in journeying from the South dined with Col. William Bayard at his seat on the North River. In 1775, the delegates from the same State to the Continental Congress were his guests at Castle Point. "New York, June 14, 1771. [dagger] Run away from William Bayard's farm, Hoobock, opposite the City of New York, a mulatto servant man, named Charles, about 40 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, much pock broken, his head nearly gray, wears a cap sometimes; speaks good English, rather thin, understands all kinds of family business, is a good coachman and gardner, and tends well on a gentleman; has carried a number of clothes with him, so that he cannot well be described as to what he wears; passes, it is said, for a gentleman, and has a forged pass with him. All masters of vessels are forbid to carry him off; and all taverns and other houses from entertaining him. Whoever will secure the said fellow in the nearest gaol where he is taken up, and give the earliest intelligence to his master, shall have ten dollars reward, and all reasonable charges paid by — William Bayard." ==== 30 MONOGRAPH OF HOBOKEN. be sold.* It was purchased by Colonel John Stevens, of New York, March 16, 1784, for £18,360. This, however, included much land, beside the Island of Hoboken. Twenty years before this sale the Paulus Hook Ferry had been erected in con- ------ * When the fact became known that this property was to be forced upon the market, the Baron Steuben set his heart upon its acquisition. To this end lie endeavored to secure the influence of Governor Livingston. The following correspondence on the subject will be found interesting. The original is in The New York Historical Society. Steuben to Livingston. "October, 1783. "Sir: — I take the liberty of offering through your Excellency a request to the honorable, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, which if your Excellency should not think improper, I hope will meet your support. " There is a house and farm at Hoebuck which was the property of a Mr. Bayard, but at present I am informed belongs to the State. If this house and farm is to be sold I should be happy in having the right of pre-emption. " As I have not yet a home in the United States, nor have seen a place which pleases me more than the one above mentioned, I shall be much indebted to your Excellency's goodness should the Honorable Assembly think fit to grant me my request." Livingston to Steuben. " Trenton, 7th Nov., 1783. " Sir :— I was not honored with your Letter of the 20th of October till three days ago, since which I have been so particularly occupied in business as not to have had it in my power to send you a line in answer. " Respecting this State's giving you the pre-emption of the house & farm at Hoebuck, late the property of Mr. Bayard, but since confiscated & vested in the State, give me leave to assure you, Sir, that I scarcely know a Gentleman on the whole Continent whom our Assembly would take a greater pleasure in obliging than Baron Steuben; but Commissioners being appointed by act of Legislation in every County to sell in the respective Counties the forfeited lands at public auction to the highest bidder, the Assembly cannot, without a new Law repealing the powers vested in the Commissioners for that particular County, respecting that particular farm, give any directions to the contrary; and your own Good Sense will dictate to you the difficulty of obtaining such repeal in favor of any Individual, from the Precedent that would thereby be established for the claims of other applicants who might, though without foundation, conceive themselves equally meritorious, & consequently equally entitled to the like indulgence by legislative interposition. You know, Sir, the nature of our democratical Governments. You know the jealousy of Republicans. Your only way, therefore, if you still retain your fancy for purchasin... [truncated due to length]