312 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

itary friends and patrons with such shrewd energy and tact, that it, became extensively resorted to, during the war, by the officers of the British army and the fashionables of the day, as a place of amusement. Lieutenant Anbury, in a letter to a friend in England, dated New York, Oct. 30th, 1781, refers to it thus: “On crossing the East River from New York, you land at Brooklyn, which is a scattered village, consisting of a few houses. At this place is an excellent tavern, where parties are made to go and eat fish; the landlord of which has saved an immense fortune during this war.”1 We shall have frequent occasion to refer to this headquarters of royalists and Tories, which subsequently seems to have been known by the name of “Brooklyn Hall.”

Just off from this old road, on what is now the westerly side of Front street, at its junction with Fulton, was the large stone house owned by John Rapalje, the Tory, which was confiscated after the Revolution, and afterwards sold by the Commissioners to Comfort and Joshua Sands, and by them to Abm. Remsen (ante, 78, 79).

1777, September 26th. The loyalists had the pleasure of welcoming Rivington, the printer, on his return from England, whither he had been obliged to flee to escape the wrath of the Americans. On this occasion Loosely and Elms’ “King’s Head Tavern” was “elegantly illuminated, to testify the joy of the true ‘Sons of Freedom.’”

1778. During this year, or at least from July to November, and probably through the winter, the following regiments were encamped at or near Bedford, the 37th, 42d, 44th, 46th, and 17th light infantry; between Bedford and Bushwick, the 1st battalion light infantry; and at Brooklyn ferry, the New York volunteers.

A correspondent of Rivington’s Gazette, of January 24th, 1778, gives the following account of the manner in which the queen’s birthday was observed, by the New York loyalists, at their favorite resort in Brooklyn: “As the loyalty even of individuals ought, at this time, to be properly encouraged, you will infinitely oblige the

wagons, horses, cows, etc.; two tenements adjoining the house; a flagstaff, with ensigns, pendants; and several hundred transparent and tin lamps, fit for an illuminations.” As will be seen in the following pages, landlord Loosely was profuse of illuminations on every possible occasion.

1 Anbury’s Travels, ii. 540.