about noon
We were not altogether children and blacks who were out on the Bowery Road that day , -- many tradesmen were among us , the leathern aprons making a goodly parade on the occasion . I saw one or two persons wearing swords , hovering round , in the lanes and in the woods , -- proof that even gentlemen had some desire to see so great a person as the Patroon of Albany pass . I shall not stop to say much of the _ transit _ of the _ Patroon _ . He came by about noon , as was expected , and in his coach-and-four , with two out-riders , coach-man , & c. in liveries , as is usual in the families of the gentry , and with a team of heavy , black , Dutch-looking horses , that I remember Caesar pronounced to be of the true Flemish breed . The Patroon himself was a sightly , well-dressed gentleman , wearing a scarlet coat , flowing wig , and cocked hat ; and I observed that the handle of his sword was of solid silver . But my father wore a sword with a solid silver handle , too , a present from my grandfather when the former first entered the army . -LSB- 6 -RSB- He bowed to the salutations he received in passing , and I thought all the spectators were pleased with the noble sight of seeing such an equipage pass into the town .