196 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

nity. The church was hung with black, and crowded by a mourning people. The oration by Mr. Johnson was a masterly effort, and produced a great sensation. It was published by vote of both Houses; Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer being then president of the Senate, and Hon. Dirck Ten Broeck, speaker of the House, Mr. Van Vechten says of it: "The exordium was spoken of at the time as a rare specimen of eloquence, and the whole performance was of a very high order. I speak with confidence concerning this, as it was published, and I have had an opportunity of reading it since I have been more competent to judge of its merits than I was when it was delivered." Mr. Van Vechten closes his sketch of Mr. Johnson in these words: “He left an excellent name behind him, and the few who still remember him cherish gratefully the recollections of both his gifts and his graces.”1

1 See Rev. Dr. E. P. Rogers’ Hist Discourse on the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Albany, 1858.