SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said "Ever'thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book." Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library From thft Battery. A DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF IE¥ YOEK: WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES, AND PLACES OF RESORT WITHIN THIRTY MILES IIESIGNED AS A eSudie for ffiftfjcns aitB Strangets, TO ALL PLACES OF ATTRACTION IN THE CITY AND ITS riCINITY. WITH MAPS AND ILLtJSTHATIONS. EDITED BY 0, I. HOLLEY. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY J. DISTURNELL, 102 BROADWAY. 1847. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, By J. DISTURNELL, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Ibe United States for the Southern District of New York. INTRODUCTION. The contents of this work will, it is believed, be found to embrace every thing of general interest to the Citizen and Stranger, seeking information in respect to the great Commercial Emporium of the Western World, — its Situation and Extent — Discovery and Settlement — Population — Streets, Parks, and Public Buildings — Institutions — Places of Amusement, &c. Perhaps no city, on the old or new continent, has exceeded New York in rapid growth, as it regards population, wealth, and commercial importance. Its Institutions and Public Buildings have advanced commensurately with its increase in other respects ; and to describe them alone, fully and adequately, would require almost a separate volume for each. They have, therefore, been but briefly noticed, in any instance, and in many cases only named. Enough, however, is given to form a guide where- by the stranger can direct his steps to further t 4 INTRODUCTION. inquiry and information in reference to specific objects of interest and attraction. Tiie Cities, Towns, Villages, and Places of Resort around the City of New York, are all ar- ranged in alphabetical order, and described in a brief and comprehensive manner — thus embracing in one volume a view of the city and the many objects of attraction to be found within a circuit of Thirty Miles. Neiv York, June, 1847. CONTENTS. Page DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY AND ISLAND OF NEW YORK :— Situation and Extknt, ft discovkry and settlement,"..- 10 Population of the City. 13 Principal Streets and Avenues, 13 Parks and Squares : — The Baitcry.. 16 Bciu-liiig Creen, 1<> The Purk. 17 WHshiriirioii Pqtidre, 1* Tompkins SqiiHre, 18 Union Place, 18 l\l;iflison Jind HamilKm Squnres It* lhi(i«)n Square, or St. John's Park, 1ft Graniercy Park. 19 PRiNriPAL Public Buildings :— Citv HMl. 20 New City Hiill, 21 Rotunila. 2-2 Unll of Kecorils, 23 Halls of .hHtice, 23 Hou'^e of Refnge, 23 Merchants' Exchange, 24 Custdtn Home, 25 New Ynrk Hii-piUM 25 New Alms Hnu>e, 25 Ciiy PenitentiHry. 27 City Luniitic Asylmn, 27 Blonminjidale Asylum for the Insane, 27 Uenf find Punih Afyhini, 28 Invtitiition for the Blind, 28 New York Orphan Asyli"", *8 Cotiimhia College. 29 New York University, 29 Masonic Hull. 29 Hall of the New York Society Library, ^ Clinton Hall, 30 Churches, 30 Tolleges and Universities 31 TnEOLooiCAL Seminaries, 3* 1* 6 CONTENTS. Literary and Scientific rNSTiTUTiONs :— Page Kew York Snc'ufty Libniry, 3** " Hi>toriciil Sucieiy, 3 Lyceum of Natural History, 3 Merc;uilile Library Assoc ialion, 3 Apprentices' liibrary, 3 Aiiieric^in Institute, 3 MechKUics' Institute. 3 New Yurk Luw Institute, 3 " Eihnnloaiciil Society, 3 American Society lor the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 3 New York Alhena-uiu. 3 Clinton Hall Association. 3 New York Literary and Philosophical Society Ituigers' Female Itistitute , 3(j New York S.tcreti Music Society, 3C Institutions ok thk Five Arts : — Nat!on;»i Academy of Design ST American Art Union, 3"i Mkdical Institutions : — College of Physicians Hnd Surgeons, 3f Medical Depariinent of the New York University 3^ New York Hospital, 3t " Eye Infirmary, 3L " Medical Society, 31 Dispensary, 40 " Northern do., 40 " Eastern do., 40 Vaccine, or Kine-Pock, Institution, 40 College t Chester, 93 East New York, 99 Elizalieth|)ort, 93 Elizahethtown, 92 Factoryville 93 NatlPiish 93 Flallands, 93 FlushinK, 93 Fort Hamilton 9J Fort Lee, •■! 94 Fort Washington, 94 Clen Cove, 94 Governor's Island, 9.^ Gowanus, (Jravesend, Greensliurgh 95 Greenwood Cemetery, 95 Hackensack, 9.^> Harlem, O'l llarsimus, 9.^) Hastings, 9.5 Hempstead 90 Hicksville,.... i 9(i Hohokcn, 96 Irving 90 Jamaica, 9*i Jericho 90 .Terusalem, 90 Jersey City, 90 Kingshridge, 97 IjHkeville 97 Lctng Branch 97 Mamaroneck, 97 Manchester, 97 Manhassett, 97 Manhatlauville, 98 Morrisiana, 98 Newark. 98 Xew Brighton, 99 New Brunswick, 99 New Rochelle 100 Newtown, JOO New Utrecht, 100 Nyack 100 Orange, lOO Oyster Bay 100 Palerson, 101 Perth Amboy, 101 Piemiont, 103 Plainlield 102 Port Chester 103 Port Kichmond, 103 Rahway 103 Ravens\vood ]0:i Red Bank 103 Richmond. 103 Rockaway, 104 Rossville, 104 Rye 104 Slirewsbiiry 104 South Amhoy, 104 ^Springfield, 104 Staplelon, • 105 Tappan, 105 Tarrytown. 105 Toiuiikinsville, 106 Wt'ehawken, 106 Westchester, 106 West Farms 100 While Plains 107 Williainsburgh, 107 Yonkers 107 Yorkville. 107 Bays, RivKRS, &c.. Bay of New York, 103 Raritan Ray 109 Newark liny, 109 Jamaica Bay, 109 South Bay. 109 Flushing Bay, &c 109 Hudson River, 109 East River, &c Ill Passaic River, Ill Karitan River. 112 Shrew-sbury River. 112 Hi'DsoN RlVKR Steamboats, 113 Table of Distances 114 DESCRIPTION OP THE CITY AND ISLAND OF NEW YORK. SITUATION AND EXTENT. The City of New York, which is coextensive in territory with the County, stands on an Island of the same name ; in N. LAT. 40 deg. 42 min. 43 sec. ; in e. lon. from the Wash- ington meridian 3 deg. 1 min. 13 sec, and from Greenwicli, Eng., w. LON. 74 deg. 00 miu. 41 sec. Its distance from the city of AVashington, by one continuous line of railroads, is 225 miles, and 214 from Boston, via Stonington. The Island is 13i miles long, north and south, with an average width of IJ miles, the greatest width being, on the line of 14th-street, 2J rniles. On the east it is separated from Long Island by the strait called East River, which connects L. I. Sound with N. Y. Bay ; and on the west, from New Jersey, by the river Hudson. At the southern point of the island, the Hudson and East rivers unite and form the spa- cious Bay of New York, the distance down which, and through the Narrows to the Atlantic Ocean, is 16 miles, with depth of water sufficient for the largest ships. On the north and northeast, the island is separated from the mainland of Westchester county by the Spuyten Duyvel Creek opening into the Hudson, and by Harlem River, which connects with the creek not far from King's Bridge, and opens into East River, forming, with the creek, a continuous but very winding water-way, 8 miles long. East River connects with L. I. Sound through the formidable passage called by the Dutch " Helle-Gat." The southern termination of the island and city is a spacious and beautiful esplanade called " The Bat- 10 DESCRIPTION OF tcry," — once fortified, but long since dismantled, — now planted witli trees, and laid out with public walks. In the Bay, fronting the Battery, at the distance of little more than half a mile, and separated from Long Island by tlie Buttermilk Channel, is Governor's Island ; while towards the Jersey shore, and looking up the Hudson, are Bedlow's and Ellis's Islands. These all were long since ceded to the United States, (reserving the jurisdiction of the state and city for the service of legal process,) and are strongly fortified. In the East River, extending in succession towards Long Island Sound, are Blackwell's Island, with the City Peniten- tiary on the southerly end, a capacious Lunatic Asylum on the north, and a new Alms House in the middle section ; Great Barn Island, between which and the former, Hell- Gate is situated, and Randall's Island, are all attached to the city and county. DISCOVERT AND SETTLEMENT. The Island of New Yokk was discovered in 1G09, by Henry Hudson, who was then sailing in the service of the Dutch East India Company. It was formerly called Man- hattan, from the native inhabitants — a name, says School- craft, descriptive of the singular whirlpool of " Helle-Gat," the most e.\pressivo feature in the neighborhood, and which may be translated, " the people of the whirlpool." The first settlement of white men on this island was made by the Dutch in 161.3, who then laid the foundation of the city, under the name of New Amsterdam, which it retained till its conquest in 16C4, by the English, who changed the name to New York. Being reconquered in 1673, by the Dutch, they gave it the name of New Orange ; but on being again surrendered to the English, by treaty, in 1674, the name of New York was re.'itored, and has been retained ever since. NEW YORK CITY. 11 The municipal authority of New Amsterdam was vested in two Burgomasters, five assistants, called Schepens, and a Schout or SherifE The English changed the city govern- ment to its present form, under a charter granted in 1665, Nicolls being governor of the province. In 1686, under Gov. Dongan, the charter was enlarged ; and again, in 1730, un- der Gov. Montgomerie. Under these charters, the mayor was appointed by the governor, and the aldermen and assist- ants were elective. The charter of 1730, as amended by acts of the state legislature, is still in force. From 1674 to 1783, the city and surrounding country were in possession of the English, under the administration of gov- ernors appointed by the British crown. During that period the city increased slowly in numbers, having, in 1750, only about 10,000 inhabitants. When the British evacuated the city, November 25, 1783, it contained about 24,000 inhabit- ants ; which, in 1790, had increased to 33,131 ; in 1800, to 60,489 ; in 1810, to 96,373 ; in 1820, to 123,706 ; in 1830, to 202,089 ; in 1840, to 312,710 ; and in 1845, to 371,223 ; being at the present time by far the most populous and im- portant city on the continent of America. The city was originally built up without any regular plan, and its streets were for the most part narrow and crooked. As late as 1783, Chambers-street was the limit of the city on the north, and Catharine-street on the east towards Corlear's Hook. But the anticipated growth of the city, soon after the close of the revolutionary war, and especially on the adoption of the present Federal Constitution, led to great public im- provements, which were conducted in a systematic manner, and most efficiently promoted by the extraordinary powers exercised by the corporate authorities for the assessment of private property. Under these powers many of the original defects of the city haje been amended, and all the more re- cent sections have been laid out on a regular and comprehen- sive plan, with wide, straight, commodious streets and ave- nues, and spacious squares ; hills have been levelled, marshes 12 DESCRIPTION OF and other low grounds filled up, and rough places made smooth, until the city now presents, and is to present, as fast as its blocks of houses shall be extended, uniform grades everywhere, of gentle inclinatiou, but sufficient for prompt and thorough drainage, in every needful direction, from the central sections to each river. The city, as already built, covers the island from side to side for the distance of about three miles from the Battery. The style of building has im- proved from time to time, and within the last ten years has reached a high degree of elegance and convenience. The ample and convenient side-walks in the upper and newer parts of the city, are solidly laid with broad flagstones ; and the houses, for the most part built in large and uniform blocks of brick, with steps and lintels of marble, or free-stone, and with ornamented balustrades and balconies of iron, present an aspect of much elegance and comfort ; and these fine ranges are not unfrequently interchanged with still more -costly and superb mansions, built wholly of hewn granite, marble, or free-stone, with fronts occasionally embellished with rich sculptures of the same material. This is now the fashionable quarter, the lower part of the city being comparatively de- serted by its old and wealthy residents, whose former man- sions are converted into boarding-houses, or have given place to shops and warehouses. The following Table shows the increase of population and wealth, during the last twenty years. Years. Population, JSssessed Valuation. 1825 166.086 $101,160,046. 1830 202,589 I25,288,.518. 1835 270,089 218,723,70.'). J840 312,785 252,843,163. 1845 371,102 239,938,317. NEW YOEK CITY. 18 POPULATION OF THE CITY. The city is now divided into 18 wards, and the following Table shows its population, by wards, at different periods. Wards, 1830. 1835. 1840. 1845. Maht. Females. Total. I. 11,331 10,380 10,029 6,549 5.681 12,230 II. 8,203 7,549 6,394 3,947 3.015 6,962 It I. 9.590 10,884 11,581 0,449 5,451 11.900 IV. 12.705 15,439 15,770 12,318 8,082 21,000 V. 17,722 18,495 19,1.59 9 .501 20,362 VI. 13.5*0 16,827 17.198 9!716 9',627 19,343 VII. 1;),873 21.481 29,982 11,917 13,585 25,5C2 VIII. 20.729 28,570 29.073 14,239 16,607 30,846 IX. 22,810 20.618 24,795 14,295 16.612 30,907 X. 16,438 20.926 29,02T 10,010 10,983 2«,9i)3 XI. 14,915 26,845 17,052 11.652 13.339 13,920 27,2.59 xn. 11.808 24,437 (5,879 6,499 13,378 xm. n.ms 17,130 18.517 10.750 11,661 22,411 XIV. 14,288 17.306 20,235 10,065 11,038 21,103 XV.* 13,202 17,755 22,273 8,112 19,723 11.3)0 20.614 19,432 40,337 xvi.t XVII.t 18,619 12,556 14,591 27,147 xvni.5 Total. 202,589 270,089 312,710 180,472 190,751 371,223 PRINOIPAL STREETS AND AVENUES. The principal street is Broadway, which extends northerly from the Battery to Union Square, forming a noble avenue for nearly 2J miles througli the midst of this great emporium, and intersected at right angles by streets leading right and left to each river. It is 80 feet wide, and with its roomy and well-laid side-walks, constitutes the favorite and most fre- quented promenade of the city. On this street are to be seen many of the largest and stateliest edifices. On its west side, fronting and looking down Wall-street, stands the new Trinity * Taken from the 9m Ward, 1832. t Taken from the 12th, or oiit-ward, 1630. t Taken from the 11th Ward, 1837. $ Taken from the J6th Ward, 19HJ. 14 DESCRIPTION OF Church, whicli, in the richness of its Gotliic style of archi- tecture, and the impressive grandeur of its dimensions, may vie with any similar structure in America : it was finished in May, 1840. St. Paul's, on the corner of Vesey-stieet, St. Tiiomas's, on the corner of Houston-street, and Grace Oluuch ou the comer of Tenlh-street, finished in 184G, all belong- ing to the Episcopalians ; the Unitarian Church of the Mes- siah, nearly opposite to Waverley Place, and the fine Gothic Porch and Vestibule of the new church of the same denomi- nation, between Spring and Prince streets ; the City Hall, Astor House, Masonic Hall, the University Medical College, and various other less imposing edifices, embellish the several portions of this great avenue. On this street, too, are situated most of the celebrated hotels, the richer repositories of art, the principal bookstores, the shops of .splendid jewellery, up- holstery and other costly furniture, the fashionable drapers, mercers, tailors, hatters, and milliners ; and, in short, most of the various establishments that supply the elegancies and luxuries of Ufe in the highest style and of the costliest work- manship. The Bowery is about two-thirds the length of Broadway, but is a much wider street. The name is derived from tiie Dutch bouwery, signifying a farm, and the street was origi- nally called Bowery-lane, from its leading through the public farms. It runs nearly parallel with Broadway, on the east, and being chiefly a business street, presents a scene of great activity and animation. It is the great thoroughfare for country wagons and market people from Westchester county, with which it communicates by the Harlem Railroad and Tliird Avenue. Chatham-street, (named from the Earl of Chatham,) connects the Bowery with Broadway and Nassau-street : an immense population pours through it at all times from the eastern part of the city; and Broadway, below its junction with this street, is often so thronged as to render it hazardous, if not impracticable, for foot-passengers to cross it. NEW YORK CITY. 15 East Broadway is a spacious and elegant street on tlie east side of the town, and parallel with it are Henry, Madi- son, and Monroe streets, all handsomely built up with private residences, and in the neifthborhood of East River. The princijjal streets crossing Broadway and terminating at East River, are Grand, Broome, Houston, Fourth, Eighth, Tenth, and Fourteenth streets, the last of which crosses the island from river to river, and may be regarded as the base-line of the whole ground-plan of the new portion of the city. On the west side, Greenwich and Hudson Streets are the most spacious and fashionable ; they run parallel to the Hudson, and are about two miles and a half in length. Washington and West Streets are of the same length, and have a parallel course ; the latter extends along the river, bordering the docks and quays. Between the lower part of Broadway and East River are Nassau, William, Pearl, Water, Front, and South streets, crossed by Fultoii-street, Maiden-Lane, Liberty, Cedar, Pine, Wall, and Broad streets, all of which are occupied with the great commercial establishments of the city. A considerable part of this quarter of the city was destroyed by the great fire of December, 18.35, but it was soon entirely rebuilt in a much superior style. An almost equally extensive section, immedi- ately adjoining the latter on the west, was burnt down in July, 1845, and is already in great part rebuilt in a far more substantial, secure, and expensive manner. Wall-Stkeet contains the Merchants' Exchange, Custom House, and numerous other splendid edifices, of more recent erection, occupied by banking and insurance companies, law- yei-s' offices, the counting-rooms of stock and exchange bro- kers, and the various adjuncts of a great commercial empo- rium and money market. The Avenues (so called) are sixteen in number, and ex- tend from the upper parts of the city to Harlem river ; they are in general 100 feet wide, as laid down on the plan of the city, but they are not all yet opened and graded ; the process 16 DESCRIPTION OF of opening and grading is, however, rapidly going on. They are crossed by streets running from river to river, some of which are of equal width with tlie Avenues. The Third Avenue leads to Harlem bridge, and being macadamized throughout its whole extent, (about 7 miles,) affords a pleasant and much-frequented drive from the city. The Hakleh Railroad is laid upon the Fourth Avenue. The Blooming- dale road, (a continuation of Broadway,) is another favorite route for drives in pleasant weather, leading to the villages of Bloomingdale and Mauhattanville, along the banks of the Hudson. PARKS AND SQUARES. The Battery. — This beautiful esplanade afibrds a fine view of the Harbor and Bay, of tho neighboring islands, and the opposite shores. It embraces an area of about 11 acres, laid out with broad gravel-walks, abundantly shaded and adorned with trees. As a public promenade and parade ground, it doubtless ranks. In beauty of situation, prospect, and general attraction, among the finest in any country. A castle, with massive circular walls, built of red free-stone, on a mole in the water, and designed for a defensive work, is connected with the southwest angle of the Battery by a bridge, but has long been disused for its original purpose, and occu- pied as a place of amusement, occasionally for the holding of great meetings on public occasions, and for the exhibition of fireworks on gala-days. The Bowling Green, near the Battery, and the first pub- lic area established in the city, is a handsome ellipse, 220 feet in its longer diameter, and 140 feet in its shorter, and forms the southern termination of Broadway. It is enclosed by a neat iron fence, is planted with trees, and since the con- struction of the Croton Aqueduct, it has been still further embellished and refreshed by a fountain in the centre, where NEW YORK CITY. 17 a Bf.atue of George III. once stood, but. was, with other more important badges of colonial dependence, removed in the days of the Revolution. The United States Custom House and Public Stores formerly occupied the ground facing the Bowl- ing Greeu on the south : but in 1815, the ground and build- ings were bought by the city authorities, divided into house lots, and sold to private persons, on condition that the pur- chasers should erect thereon houses of uniform front. This was the origin of tlie block of elegant mansions facing the Bowling Green and looking up Broadway. The P^rk is a triangular area of ICff acres, part of the original common land of the city, except a strip on Chambers- street purchased as early as 179.5, to bring the line of this public ground, then called " The Fields," up to the street lino, and thus to accommodate the old Alms House, then about to be built, and yet standing. The whole length of the Park, on the Broadway side, is 99C feet, and its greatest breadth on the front line of the City Hall, is 572 feet. It is laid out with spacious gravel-walks, planted with trees and shrubbery, and enclosed by an iron fence on a heavy base of white marble, and upon the introduction of the Croton, was embellished with a large Fountain, throwing its wafers to au unusual height, and giving animation and refreshment to the scene. The public buildings included within the bounds of the Park, are the City Hall, in the centre ; the Hall of Records, once the Jail, on the east side near Chatham-street ; the New City Hall, formerly the Alms House, on the Cham- bera-street side ; and a few feet east of the latter, on the same line, the Rotunda. Washington Square has an area of 9| acres, being 950 feet long from the east line in front of the University, to McDougal-street on the west, and 447 feet wide, from Fourth- street, on the south, to Waverley Place, on the north. It in- cludes, as more than half of its contents, the old " Potter's Field," the residue having been taken from the grounds of private owners, at a cost of $77,946, which was. paid by • 2» 18 DESCRIPTION OP assessments on surrounding lots. It is IJ miles north from the City Hall, and a few blocks west from Broadway ; is laid out with broad gravel-walks, and well planted with trees ; and has the costly and elegant mansions of Waverley Place, (so named in honor of Sir Walter Scott as " The Author of Waverley,") fronting it on the north, with the costly Gothic structures of the New York University and one of the Dutch Reformed churches on the east. Tompkins SauARE, several blocks east from the Bowery, extending north and south from Seventh to Tenth-street, and east and west between Avenues A and B, has been laid out and planted but a few years, and still looks somewhat new and raw. It is, however, of very ample dimensions, well planted and arranged, and commands a fine view of the East River and the Long Island shore ; and when the trees shall have become well grown, the turf well set, the adjacent streets well built, and every thing appertaining to it shall have attained more maturity, it will be one of the most beautiful as well as spacious squares in the city. It is already an agreeable promenade much frequented in pleasant weather. It is a favorite parade-ground for military corps, is easy of access, and improvements are fast advancing in its neighbor- hood. Union Place, at the common termination of Broadway, the Bowery, and University Place, (the last name having been given to so much of Wooster-street as extends northerly from the University to Fourteenth-street,) is 1| miles from the City Hall. It is an oval, 877 feet long from Fourteenth- street, on the south, to Seventeenth-street, on the north, by 503 feet wide, from Fourth Avenue, on the east, to Jackson Avenue, on the west ; and it contains about 10 acres. These dimensions were given to Union Place, under an act of the State Legislature, passed in 1832, pursuant to a petition from the owners of the adjacent lands, who were assessed $213,516 to pay for the grounds taken for this fine area, which, at a great additioual expense, was reduced to the requisite tuuibrm NEW YORK CITY. 19 grade, laid out with gravel-walka, planted with trees, and en- closed with a handsome iron fence, on a massy stoue base : some of the most expensive and elegant ranges of private dwellings in the city, front upon its respective sides. Madison and Hamilton Squares, and some other public areas, though laid down on the plan of the city, are not yet arranged and opened. Hudson Square, or St. John's Park, in the middle section of the westerly side of the city, is not public ground, and is open only to privileged persons. It is part of an extensive parcel of land owned by the Trinity Church Corporation, which, in 1803, for the health and embellishment of that quarter of the city, reserved the two blocks of ground between Varick-street, on the east, and Hudson-street, on the west ; Beach-street, on the south, and Laight-street, on the north, for a park ; and, in 1827, stipulated with the owners of the adjacent lots, that it should remain forever open for their benefit and recreation, reserving to the church the right to sell the ground thus set apart, only on receiving the consent of the owners of two-thirds of the surrounding lots. Since 1827, the adjacent proprietors have, at a cost of $26,000, had this park enclosed with a handsome iron fence, laid out with gravel-walks, and planted with trees, flowering plants, and other shrubbery, so abundantly, that in summer its thick shades and pleasant odors render it one of the most agreea- ble and refreshing places in the city. It is surrounded by elegant blocks of private houses, and on the east, is fronted by St. John's church with its lofty spire. A beautiful foun- tain now adorns this park. Grameroy Park is also a private or privileged square, the use of which belongs to the owners or occupants of the 60 lots adjacent. It is exactly 2 miles from the City Hall, and is between 3d and 4tli Avenues on the east and west, and between 20th and 21st streets, south and north. It has not yet been much improved, but is to be accommodated with walks, and embellished with trees and flowering Bhruba The 20 DESCRIPTION OF land included in tills square, and tlie carriage-ways on the east and west sides of it, was gratuitously conveyed, In 1831, by Samuel B. Ruggles, to 5 trustees, with power to enclose it as a park, with an iron fence, and to keep it forever open for the uses mentioned ; and the city autliorities have ex- empted it from taxation. A new avenue, 75 feet wide, lead- ing from the middle of the south side of this square to 14th street, was estahlished, in 1832, with the name of Irving Place, in honor of our distinguished countryman, Washington Irving. PRINCIPAL PUBLIC BUILDIWaS. The public buildings are numerous, and some of them are worthy of remark for their dimensions, magnificence, and cost, as well as for their style, embellishment, and architec- tural effect. The City Hall, in the centre of the Park, was com- menced in 1803, and completed in 1819, at a total cost of $538,734. Its whole length is 916 feet, by 84 feet wide in the middle section, and lOG feet in the wings. The front and ends are of white marble, and the back of red free-stone. It has 2 principal stories and an attic, placed on an elevated basement, with a portico, fronting the middle section, adorned with marble columns of the Ionic order opposite to the en- trance to the first floor, and of the Corinthian allore, with pilasters in corresponding styles on the walls of the respective stories. From the centre of the roof rises a cupola, embel- lished with columns in the Composite style placed in pairs at the angles, and containing a large clock of superior workman- ship and much cost, the dome of the cupola being surmounted by a colossal figure of Justice. In the cupola, also, is an apartment prepared as a look-out, commanding a view of the whole city, and in it a watchman is stationed every night to give the alarm of fire, if necessary. Behind the principal cupola, on the rear of the roof has been erected another and NEW YORK CITY. 21 smaller one, in which hangs a bell weighing nearly 7000 lbs., called " the City Hall Bell," and used solely as an alarm bell, the number of strokes indicating the corresponding number of the district in which the fire breaks out. The " Executive Chamber," or " Governor's Room," on the second floor in the City Hall, is a large and noble apartment, designed especially for the public uses of the governor of the state when in the city, but also used as a public reception- room, in paying civic honors to distinguished men, and on various other occasions. Its walls are adorned with many portraits of men eminent for their public services and charac- ter : some of these paintings are conspicuous for their merit as works of art. The Common Council Chamber is also a spacious and beautiful apartment. The various public purposes for which this Hall is occupied may be seen in the following statement. Basement. 1. City Inspector's Otfice. 2. Clerk of Board of Education. 18. Mechanics' Institute. First Floor. 4. Law Institute. 5. Mayor's Office. 6. Clerk of Board of Assistants. 8. Clerk of Board of Aldermen. 9. Keeper's Room. 17. First Judtre's Office. 19. Clerk of Supreme Cotirt. 20. Clerk of City and County. 21. Sheriffs Office. First Floor, {continued.) 22. Assistant Vice Chancellor 23. Chamber of Judges of Superior Court. 24. Court of Chancery. Second Floor. 11. Governor's Room. 13. Common Council Chamber. 14. Superior Court. 15. Superior Court Clerk's Office. 25. Court of Common Pleas. 26. Circuit Court. 27. Chamber of Board of Asst's. 28. Register in Chancery. The New Citv Hall, standing in the rear of the City Hall, on the Chambers-street side of the Park, is a plain brick edifice, 260 feet long by 49 feet wide, with .3 stories and a basement. It was built in 1796 for an Alms House, and long occupied as such ; but many years ago refitted, and, under its present name, appropriated to the occupancy of the follow- ing tribunals, public offices, and institutions. It has an en- trance at the west end, and several others in the principal front, which is on the Park side. 22 DESCRIPTION OF Office of Cnrporatinii Attorney. Do. Cmlon Aqiit'duct Board. Do. Water (-.'onmiissioners. East End, side cntravcc. V. S. District Court Ilooin, 2d floor. Clerk nl' Do., 1st floor. U. S. District Attorney, 1st. floor. U. S. Marsliiil. Do. U. S. District Jtiiipe's Room. Keeper's Rooms, Sd floor. American Institute, 1st floor. Marine Court Room, 2d floor. Basement. Office of Chiof of Police. Do. Receiver of Taxes. Do. District Attorney. Middle Entrance, 1st floor. Office of Com. of Alms House. The Rotunda. This edifice stands near the east end of the New City Hall, and at the northeast angle of the Park, on Chambers-street. It is of brick, and was built, in 1818, by subscription, started by the friends of Vanderlyn, the painter, aud on a plan furnished by that eminent artist, for the special purpose of exhibiting large panoramic views, sev- eral of wiiich, on his then recent return from Europe, he had brought with him, and among them one of the Palace ai^d Gardens of Versailles, painted by himself. Besides the circu- lar, or Panoramic room, the building contains other apart- ments, one of which was occupied for some time by Mr. Van- derlyn as a studio, in which might then also be seen his beau- tiful Ariadne, and his Marius amid the ruins of Carthage, a still nobler production, for which he obtained the 3d medal at one of the annual exhibitions in Paris. The Rotunda is now occupied by the New York Gallery of Fine Arts. The Hall of Records stands a little east of the City Hall, oa the Chatham-street tide of the Park. It was once the City jail, but was many years since remodelled, converted into a handsome edifice, in the Grecian Doric style, with a colon- nade at each end, and fitted up for the occupancy of public offices, of which the following are now kept there. First Floor. Office of the Register of Deeds, 2 rooms. Do Surrogate, No. 3. Second Floor. Office of Collector of Assessments, No. 7. Do. Street Commissioner. No. 4. Do. City Comptrolier. No. 5. Do. Col lector of City Rents, Do. NEW YORK CITY. 23 The Halls of Justice, built of a light gray granite, in the Egj'ptian style, is a rernarlcable structure. It fronts on Cen- tre-street, and occupies an entire blocli of ground, 953 feet long, by 200 feet wide. Its massive Theban columns with their gigantic palm-leaved capitals, its deep cornices orna- mented wilii winged globes encircled by serpents, and its other mystic symbols copied from the architecture of ancient Egypt, give a strange and impressive expression to the build- ing. The criminal courts of the city and the City Prison are kept within its walls, and these uses, harmonizing with the solemn aspect of the architecture, have procured for this edi- fice the common appellation of " the Tombs." It was com- pleted in 1836. The City Prison, though included within the walls of this structure, is isolated from the other portions, and, rising the whole height of the building, is 142 feet long, by 45 feet wide, containing 148 cells for the different classes of convicts, the males and females being kept wholly sepa- rate. Rooms are also provided here for the temporary detention of persons arrested at night, and others, to await the action of the proper authorities to dispose of them. The other occu- pants of this building may be seen from the following slate- The House of Refuge for Juvenile DELiNauENTS, is sit- uated on the East River, about 3 miles from the City Hall. It is a plain building, being formerly occupied as a hospital, when it was attached to the Alms House department at Believue. This humane institution, which usually contains about 300 inmates, was established in 1825 ; since then about 4000' children have been taken under its charge, many of wliom have been reclaimed and become useful citizens. mcnt. Court of Genera! Sessions. Clerk of Do. (Jninri .Tury Room. Police Office. Coroner's Office. Principal Floor. Principal Floor continued. High Constal)lo's Office. Keeper's Room. Basement. Room of Keeper of City Prison. Police Station of 6th Ward. 24 DESCRIPTION OF The New Merchants' Exchange, on tlie site of the pre- vious one, which was destroyed by the great fire iu Decem- ber, 1835, is the largest on the ground, and most costly edi- fice in the city. It is built of the Quincy granite, a bluish sienite, the whole being of solid masonry, with not a piece of wood exposed throughout the structure. It occupies the whole of a somewhat irregular block, fronting on Wall-street. It is 200 feet long, by 171 feet wide at one end, and 144 feet at the other ; it is 77 feet from the top line of the foun- dation to the upper side of the cornice, and 124 feet from the same line to the apex of the dome. In front is a recessed portico, with 18 grand, fluted columns in the Ionic style, each consisting of a single block of granite 38 feet high, 4J in di- ameter, and weighing 33 tons. They are said to be the largest monoliths in the world, excepting only those_ of St. Isaac's church iu St. Petersburg. The Rotunda, or Hall of Exchange, for the general assembling of merchants and other business men, in the centre of the building, on the first floor, is 100 feet across, and from this floor to the top of the dome the height is 90 feet. The dome is of solid masonry, is 80 feet in diameter, and is adorned by 8 Corinthian columns of fine Italian marble, which form part of its support. These columns are 41 feet in height, and 4| feet in diameter. A more magnificent apartment is rarely to be seen. The en- tire cost of this structure, including the ground, is stated at $1,800,000, though the original estimate was but one-third of that sum. It was erected by a company incorporated in 1823, under the title of " The Merchants' Exchange Com- pany," with a capital of $1,000,000. Besides the great Hall of Exchange, or Rotunda, above described, the building con- tains a great number of apartments occupied as oflices by Insurance Companies, lawyers, brokers, merchants, and for various other purposes, including a large and well supplied Reading-room, where are to be found newspapers from for- eign countf iee, and almoet every section of the United Stoteet NEW YORK CITY. 25 The Custom Hodse is another recent addition, and a very noble one, to the public edifices of the city. It is modelled after the Parthenon, (the Temple of Minerva,) at Athens, and it does not materially differ in its dimensions from that celebrated edifice, which was 217 feet long, 98 feet broad, and 65 high. The external walls, and the roof of the Cus- tom House, are of white marble, and the entire building is finished without wood, so as to be thoroughly fire-proof. It is 900 feet long, by 90 feet wide, and about 80 feet high. It has two fronts, the principal one being on Wall-street, oppo- site the head of Broad-street, and the other fronts on Pine- street, each adorned with a row of finely-wrought marble columns, 32 feet high, of the Doric order. The business hall, occupying the centre of the building, is a rotunda, 80 feet in diameter, surmounted by a dome supported by 16 beautiful Corinthian columns, 30 feet high. The architec- tural decorations of the interior are numerous, appropriate in design, and exquisitely finished. This noble edifice was com- menced in May, 1834, and completed in May, 1841, at a total cost, including the ground, of $1,175,000; for the structure alone, $950,000. The New York Hospital, with its grounds, occupies the greater part of the block on the west side of Broadway, be- tween Duane and Anthony streets. It is a plain but sub- stantial edifice of gray stone, with a middle section and two wings, making the whole front 124 feet ; is 3 stories on a raised basement, and is surmounted by a cupola. It stands about 200 feet back from Broadway, has a handsome terraced court in front, shaded with venerable elms, and a broad paved walk leading through its centre, from the gate at the street line, to the main entrance of the building. Its site is one of the finest in the city. This hospital was founded by private subscription as early as 1769. The first edifice was burnt down in 1775, and a new one recommenced ; but before it could be finished, the war for Independence broke out, and 3 26 DESCRIPTION OF the unfinished apartments were occupied as barracks bj' the British troops til! they evacuated the city, after which the building was resumed and completed in season to be opened for patients, as it now stands, in 1791. The Hospital for Sick and Disabled Seamen, formerly occupied as an asylum for lunatics, adjoins the Hospital on the south side. It is built, like the Hospital, of gray stone, is 90 feet by 40 in the middle section, with wings 60 feet deep each. It was refitted and converted to its present use in 1826, and can accommodate about 80 patients. The New Alms House Buildings just completed, are sit- uated at the centre of Blackwell's Island, and consist of a main building with two wings for the males, a similar raa'n building, with its two wings, for the females ; two one-story buildings used as kitchens, &o., and placed in the rear of each department, and a large building devoted to the pur- poses of a Chapel, warehouse, and public offices. The main building of each department is 50 feet square ; the wings are each 60 feet by 95 feet ; the kitchens are each 40 feet by 70 feet, and the Chapel is 65 feet by 90 feet. The basement floor in the building of each department is one step above the ground, and there are three stories above the basement in the centre main buildings, and two stories above the basement in the wing buildings. The principal story of the main building, is devoted to the use of the ofKces of the department — haviiig a general office, parlor, apartments for the physicians, for the stewards, &c. ; the remainder of this building and the whole of the wings are divided into rooms, 22 feet by 56 feet each, for the paupers. Each of these rooms is arranged with two or more windows at each end, opening upon a verandah at each story, which admits of their being ventilated in the most perfect manner, by having a current of air passed through them lengthwise at pleasure. The number of the poor provided with ample accommo- dations in these buildings, is 1,300, which, upon an emergen- cy, may be increased to 2,600, by adopting the plan pursued NEW VORK CITY. 27 ia such cases in other institutions, of using two-story bed- steads, after tlie manner of berths iu a steamboat. The fa- cilities for ventilation which the apartments possess, would, it is believed, fully admit of such arrangement. The whole cost of the buildings, exclusive of the labor per- formed by the Penitentiary convicts in quarrying the stone, will be about $115,000. The City Penitentiary is situated on the southerly end of Blackwell's Island, in the East River, 4 miles from the City Hail. It is a very extensive establishment. The prin- cipal edifice consists of a middle section 4 stories high, with a square tower rising above the centre of the roof, for a belfry, and with 2 wings, each more than 200 feet long, and 4 ranges of cells high. The middle section is mainly occupied with apartments for the Keeper, and for purposes connected with the affairs of the institution ; and in the prison-yard, which is enclosed by a high and strong wall of stone masonry, are workshops for the convicts. At convenient distances from the chief building, and from each other, are hospitals for sick convicts, an asylum for female lunatics, store-rooms, cook- houses, wash-houses, ice-houses, and otiier appropriate ad- juncts. Tlie prison and its appendages are built in a sub- stantial manner of stone quarried on the island. A little without the prison-wall, and toward the middle of the island, stands the Superintendent's house, with accommodations for a family residence. The establishment is capacious enough ibr the reception of more than 1000 convicts. The City Lunatic Asylum, situated on the north end of Blackwell's Island, is a substantial stone edifice, well adapted for the humane purpose for which it is intended. It now ac- commodates about 400 patients. The Asylum for thk Insane, or Bloomingdale Asylum, is situated at Bloomingdale, 7 miles from the City Hall, about 80 rods back from the margin of the Hudson River, on an elevated site, commanding a varied, extensive, and cheerful prospect. The edifice, which was commenced in May, 1818, 29 DESCRIPTION OF and completed in 1890, is of red free-stone. It is 211 feet by 60, with 3 stories on a basement. Attached to the insti- tution are about 40 acres of land, laid out in pleasure-grounds, gardens, and farm lots, all rendered subservient to the benefit of tht patients, by furnishing them with wholesome exercise, recreation, or moderate labor, and contributing to the supply of food for the establishment. It is under the general snpi-r- vision and control of the Governors of the New York Hos- pital, and its patients are all pay-patients. The Deaf and Dumb Asylum is situated on 50th-street, near 4th Avenue, 34 miles from the City Hall. The princi- pal edifice, built of brick and crusted with stucco, in imitation of marble, is 110 feet long, by 60 feet wide, with 4 stories on a basement. Its style is plain, but neat. It was opened for the occupancy of this interesting and useful institution in 1829. The City Corporation granted an acre of land for the site of the buildings, in addition to which, 9 contiguous acres have been taken on a lease, and laid out in gardens, mead- ows, and walks, for the recreation and exercise of the pupils, and to contribute, in part, to the supply of food for the estab- lishment. The aspect of the whole is exceedingly agreeable. The New York Institutio.n fok the Blind is situated on 9th Avenue, near 33d-street, on a tract of 32 lots, given for the purpose by James Boerman, an opulent merchant of the city. This valuable institution was founded in 1831. In 1839, the State Legislature granted $15,000 to aid in the erection of a suitable edifice ; and various donations were made for the same purpose by private individuals, particularly the munificent one of $12,000 by the late Miles R. Burke. The principal structure is a very imposing one, both in di- mensions and style of architecture, and well arranged. New York Orphan Asylum, at Bloomingdale, about 5 miles from the City Hall, is a handsome building, 120 feet by GO, surrounded by nine acres of ground, extending to the east bank of the Hudson, affording a fine view of the river and opposite shore. NEW YORK CITY. 29 Columbia College, among the oldest edifices in the city, is pleasantly situated on a block of ground 250 feet square, at the foot of Park Place. The edifice was originally erected, not long after the granting of tlie charter, which was in 1750, by funds raised by lottery. It is built of unhewn stone, crusted with stucco, and presents a front of 200 feet, with 3 stories. In 1816, it was extensively refitted and repaired, the grounds enclosed with a wall of substantial masonry surmounted by an iron railing, and these improvements, with the fine court in front, and its venerable trees, impart an air of seclusion and quiet, as striking as it is appropriate, in the midst of a thronged and bustling city. The New York University, standing at the east end of Washington Square, is designed in Gothic style, and has an imposing aspect. It presents a front of 180 feet, with a middle section and 2 wings, with octagon towers at the angles, a]id a superb Gothic window in the centre filled with stained glass, which gives a richly colored light to the Chapel— an apartment much admired for its architectural beauty. It also accommodates the New York Historical Society with a suite of rooms. This noble edifice was finished in 1836. The Masonic Hall, standing on the east side of Broad- way, between Duane and Pearl streets, and extending about 100 feet from the street to the rear, presents a front 50 feet wide, and 70 high, of hewn stone, and designed in Gothic style. The great hall, on the 2d floor, about 90 feet by 45, and 25 feet high, receiving its light chiefly through a large Gothic window in front, filled with stained glass, is a supeib apartment. This edifice was erected in 1826 and 1827, and its spacious hall is occasionally used for holding large public meetings. The Hall of the N. Y. Society Library, 348 Broadway, is a neat building of two stories on a high basement. The sido walls are of brick, and e.xtend about 90 feet to the rear. The front, 50 feet wide, is of red free-stone, with a recess above the basement, and six Ionic columns supporting a pediment. 3* 30 DESCRIPTION OF The interior, besides the apartments for tlie Library, has sev- eral other rooms, some of wliicli are occupied by paintings and sculptures. Clinton Hall, corner of Nassau and Beekman streets, is a large and substantial edifice, 4 stories high ; it accommodates the Mercantile Library, and is in part occupied as a hotel. OHTJROHES. The whole number of Churches, or places for public wor- ship, in the city, including all designations. Is considerably over 200 ; but new ones are added every year, so that every annual list of them must unavoidably be a little below the actual number. For the year 1846, the number Is stated at 215, distributed, according to their usual designations arranged in alphabetical order, as in the following list. Baptist 23 I Presbyterian (Reformed) 3 Congregational (Calvinistic).... 7 Do. (Assoc. Ref.) 2 Do. (Unitarian) 2 I Do. ( Associate) 3 Protestant Episcopal 41 Roman Catholic 16 Universalist 4 Welsh (Preshyterian) 1 Do. (Methodist) 1 Do. (Baptist) 1 Miscellaneous 12 Total 215 Dutch Reformed 1' Friends (or Uualters) 4 Jewish Synagogues 9 Lutheryn 3 Methodist (Episcopal) 30 Do. (Protestant) 1 Mormon 1 New Jerusalem (or Swedenhor- gian) 2 Presbyterian • 32 A considerable number of the church edifices are costly and imposing structures, and some of them are highly distin- guished for beauty of design and embellishment, and general architectural splendor. Among these, and long enough erect- ed to be generally known, may be mentioned St. Paul's, St. John's, St. Thomas's, St. Peter's, Christ Church, and the Church of the Ascension, all belonging to the Episcopalians ; the French Protestant Episcopal Church tf St Esprit ; the NEW YORK CITY. 31 Dutch Reformed churches on Washington Square and Lafay- ette Place ; St. Patrick's and St. Peter's, of the Roman Cath- olics ; the Unitarian churches of the Messiah, and the Hj- ly Unity, 548 Broadway ; the Presbyterian churches in Duane and Mercer streets, and in 5th Avenue ; the Bapt,5t church in Broome-street, &.C., &c. Far before all, however, ui grandeur of dimensions, elegance of design, richness of ornament, and general magnificence, stands the new Trinity Church of the Episcopalians, upon the site of the old one, on the west side of Broadway, and fronting Wall-street. Grace Church, on Broadway, corner of Tenth-street, is also a new and splendid edifice. The Rev. Dr. Berrian, in his history of Trinity Church, recently published, gives the" following as the cost of this splendid structure, designed by Richard Upjohn, architect. Cost of Church, including furniture, &c $,137,!in4 Organ, (constructed liy W. Erben,) I],ii52 " Clocit, and four bells to complete the chime, 5.844 " Railing, flagging, &c 3,53(1 Total cost of New Trinity Church, $358,020 OOLLEOES AND ■OwrVERSITIES. Columbia College, the oldest literary institution in the city, was chartered under the name of King's College, in 1750, by George II. Its situation has been noticed under the head of Ptiblic Buildings. In 1787, when the indepen- dence of the country had been established, and public affairs settled on a republican basis, the state legislature modified and confirmed the charter, and changed its name to the one by which it has since become so honorably distinguished. The College Faculty consists of a President and 10 Profes- sors ; it is well provided with apparatus ; its libraries contain about 14,000 volumes ; its edifice is arranged for the occu- pancy of the President and Professors with their families, and 32 DESCEIPTIOX OF has also apartments for a chapel, lecture-rooms, &c. Con- nected with the College is a grammar-school, under the rec- torship of one of the Professorci, and with a numerous attend- ance of pupils. The University of the City of New York, the situa* lion of which has been also noticed under the head of Public Buildings, is a young institution, chartered in 1831, but fast growing in importance and favor. The Faculty of Science and Letters consists of a Chancellor and 7 Profesiors, and the institution is well supplied with apparatus and libraries. Connected with the University is a grammar-school, under the superintendence of one of the Professors as Principal. It has also a Medical Department, under a distinct organization, and with distinct courses of lectures, which ranks among the most rising medical schools in the land. THEOLOaiCAL SEMINAEnSS. The General Theological Semlnary op "fHE Episcopal Church is situated on 21st-street at the corner of 9th Ave- nue, near the Hudson River, 9 miles from the City Hall, in a part of the city commonly called Chelsea. It was founded in 1819, and has 2 neat buildings for the accommodation of the Professors and students. The Board of Trustees consists o*" all the Bishops of that denomination in the Union, and one other person from each Diocese. The institution is well en- dowed, and has received extensive patronage from the Church and sect to which it belongs. The U.M0.\ Theological Seminary, founded in 1836, is under the direction of the Presbyterian Church, but is open to all Christian denominations. It stands in University Place, near Washington Square, and has a chapel, library, 4 lecture- rooms, and private rooms for the accommodation of about 40 students, though the number in attendance is much greater, many being at private lodgings in the vicinity. The library NEW YORK CITV. 33 contains about 16,000 volumes, embracing many rare and val- uable works, formerly of the collection belonging to the late Rev. Leauder Van Ess, a learued German clergyman. The general regulation of this institution is vested in a Board of Directors, and the Faculty of Instruction consists of 8 Pro- fessors LITERARY AND SOIENTIFIO INSTITUTIONS. The New York Society Library, the oldest institution of the kind in the city, was founded in 1754. It now occu- pies a new, handsome, and commodious building on Broad- way at the corner of Leonard-street. The library, the largest and most valuable general library iu the state, contains about 40,000 volumes, and is annually extending. In the same building the Society has a lecture-room, and a reading-room in some respects the best in the city. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees, 19 in number, elected yearly by the share-holdei"s. The New YoaK Historical Society, organized in 1804, at present occupies a suite of rooms in the New York City University. It has a library of about 19,000 volumes, par- ticularly rich in relation to American history, and a consider- able collection of coins and medals. The Society has pub- lished several volumes of historical collections, and has for several years ranked among the most active, efficient, and useful associations of the kind iu the country. The Lyceum of Natural History, established in 1818, has done much for the advancement of physical science in this country. It has a valuable library, and extensive col- lections in the several branches of natural history arranged in cabinets, and open to inspection gratuitously. It has pub- lished 3 volumes of Transactions, and is in correspondence with similar societies in Europe, exchanging with them pub- lications and specimens. It occupies the front rooms in the 34 DESCRII'TIOX OF second story of the New York Universily Medical College, (originally called Stnyvesant Institnte,) at 659 Broadway. Ita regular meetings are held every Monday evening. The Mercantile Liurary Association is composed chiefly of merchants' clerks. The number of Its associates, in 1840, was reported at upvi'ards of 5,000, and has since increased. Its library comprises about 22,000 volumes, and in connec- tion with it is an e.xcellent reading-room. Series of lectures, on various subjects, are delivered before the Association every winter, at Clinton Hall, where the library is kept and the Association has its rooms. The Apprentices Library, situated in Crosby-street, con- tains about 12.000 volumes. It was established, in 1820, by the General Society of Mechanics aud Tradesmen, and about 2,000 apprentices enjoy its advantages. The American Institute, for the encouragement of American arts and trade, was formed in 1828 and incorpo- rated in 1829. It possesses a valuable library of about 5,000 volumes, a mnseum of models and drafts of new machines, and other inventions, and an excellent reading-room. Its apartments are in the New City Hall. Under the auspices and direction of this Institute, annual fairs, of great interest and utility, and attended by vast numbers of visiters from all quarters, are held in this city for the exhibition of American inventions and productions, in every branch of human skill and industry. Its influence has been of incalculable value ill promoting its important objects. The Mechanics' Institute, founded in 1830, and incor- porated in 1833, occupies rooms in the basement of the City Hall, where it has a library of near 2,000 volumes, a well supplied reading-room, an interesting collection of models of machinery, a valuable suit of apparatus for illustrating the principles of mechanical philosophy and chemistry. A course of lectures is provided every winter by its Directors, who have also established two separate schools, for males aud fe- males, which have proved very useful. NEW YOEK CITY. 35 T[)e New Youk Law Institute, organized iii 1828, was incorporated in 1830. It is composed wliolly of members of the Bar, and for tlie special benefit and convenience of that profession. It has a well-selected and valuable library of about 3,500 volumes, kept in room No. 4, on the 1st tloor of the Cily Hall. Members of the Bar from other places, when in the city, and the judges of the courts, have access to it gratis. The fees of membership are f^'iO on admission, and $10 annually thereafter. It is a very useful and convenient institution. The Nkw YoiiK Ethnological Society, formed in 1842, has for its objects, inquiries relating to the origin, history, and distinctive traits of the various stocks and tribes of the human race ; their languages, customs, manners, antiquities, primi- tive geography, physical structure, &,c. The plan of the Society is to pro.secute these purposes by means of disquisi- tions and dissertations, scientific or historical, and more or less elaborate and formal, to be read, or otherwise communicated, at its stated meetings, and subsequently published from time to time, as the Transactions of the Society. The American Society foii the Diffusion op Useful KxowLF.DaE is formed on the model of the British association for the same purpose, and with a similar designation, whose labors and influence have been so extensively useful. Thus far, this American society has directed its attention chiefly to the encouragement of elementary works for the advancement of a more accurate, sound, and thorough general education, and especially school-books, with the design of inducing the preparation of such books, even the most rudimental, upon the principles of a more enlightened mental philosophy, and witli a more just adaptation of them to the uses to which they are applied. The New York Athenaeum was established in 1824, for the promotion of science and literature. It has a library of about 2,000 volumes, a rea,ding-room supplied with the most valuable periodicals and newspapers, foreign and domestic ; 36 DESCKIPTION OF and provision is made for a series of lectures by different per- sons, associates and others, every vfinter. Its rooms are at the corner of Broadway and Cliambers-street. The Clinton Hall Association was organized in 1830, for the cultivation and encouragement of literature, science, and the arts. Its rooms are at Clinton Hall, on Beekmau- street, at the corner of Nassau. The New York Literary and Philosophical Society was incorporated in March, 1814, and in May held its inau- gural meeting. Its meetings for the promotion of its objects are monthly, and from the essays and other communications then presented, selections are made, which, with the anni- versary discourses from its Presidents, are published from time to time in its Transactions, and embrace within their scope the various branches of human knowledge. The Rutgers Female Institute, incorporated in 1838, is subject to the visitorial authority of the Regents of the State University, and has more of a collegiate organization than most female schools. The Faculty of instruction and imme- diate government consists of a Principal and seven or eight Professors, with several assistant teachers, male and female ; and the course of studies embraces an ample range of science and literature, besides the accomplishments usually taught in such seminaries. It is situated in Madison-street, near Clin- ton-street. The edifice is spacious, neat, and substantial ; and the site is elevated, pleasant, and salubrious. The New York Sacred Music Society was organized in 1823, for the cultivation of sacred music. The members meet at their Hall, in Chatham-street Chapel, (where they have a library,) every Monday evening. In addition to the above, there are several other institutions of a literary and scientific character. NEW YORK CITY. 37 INSTITUTIONS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE FINE ARTS. The National Academy of Design, established in 1826, has for its specific object the promotion of painting, sculpture, architecture, and engraving, as arts of design. With this view, its exhibitions include only the works of living artists ; and of theirs, such only as have not already been exhibited. In aid of the same object, the plan of the society embraces also direct instruction in these arts, by means of schools for drawing, and lectures for developing the principles of art in a systematic and scientific manner. The Academy has a val- uable collection of models of various kinds, and premiums are annually dispensed to successful competitors among its pupils. Its rooms are in the Hall of the New York Society Library, 348 Broadway, at the corner of Leonard-street. The American Art Union, first organized under the name of Apollo Association, in 1838, was incorporated in 1840, and took its present name in 1844. Its special aim is the ad- vancement of American Art, particularly the two arts of painting and engraving. Every person who pays $5 into its treasury in any one year, is a member for that year. Of the funds thus raised, after paying necessary expenses, a portion is applied to the procurement, every year, of one or more large engravings of choice paintings, and of such engravings, every member is entitled to a copy. The residue of the funds is devoted, through the agency of a " Committee of Manage- ment," to the purchase of paintings executed by artists resi- dent in this country, and by native artists, whether at home or abroad ; and the paintings so purchased are distributed, by lot, at each annual meeting, among the members. Until thus distributed, these paintings are hung up in the gallery of the Union for exhibition, with such others as may be brought for the purpose, or for sale for the benefit of the au- thor. This gallery is constantly open gi'atuitously. The in- stitution is considered very successful and useful. 4 38 DESCRIPTION OF MEDICAL INSTmmONS. The College of Physicians and Surgeons, the oldest medical school in the city, was founded in 1807 by a charter from the state legislature, granted on the recommendation of the Board of Regents of the State University, to whose visi- torial power the College is subject. Its immediate govern- ment is vested iu a Board of Trustees, and its Medical Fac- ulty consists of 7 Professors, who deliver each three full courses of lectures every year. Its graduates, iu order to become candidates for the degree of M. D. at this College, must each have pursued medical studies at least 3 years under a regu- larly licensed physician— must have attended during the 3 years at least two full courses of medical lectures, the last course at this College — must have written a medical disserta- tion, and undergone the stated examination, and have reached the full age of 21 years. This College is situated in Crosby- street, one block east of Broadway, between Broome and Spring streets. The Medical Departme.nt of the University of the City of New YoRKj though, as a branch of the University, it is under the general control of the University Council, yet, as a medical school, has a distinct organization and a separate locality. Its Medical Faculty consists of 6 Professors, be- sides a Demonstrator of Anatomy under the direction of the Anatomical Professor, and a Prosector as an adjunct to the Prof 'ssor of Surgery. Its graduates, in order to obtain the diploma of M. D., must each be 21 years old— must have studied medicine not less than 3 years under some physician of good standing — must have attended, during the 3 years, at least two courses of medical lectures, one of which must have been at this school — and must submit to the Faculty a medical thesis, and undergo the regular examinations of the institution. This Medical College is at 659 Broadway, a handsome edifice originally known as the Stuyvesaut Insti- NEW YORK CITY. 39 tute, but subsequently purchafied for the Medical Department of the New York University. The New York Hospital, situated on the west side of Broadway, between Duane and Anthony streets, arvd the oldest Institution of the kind in the country, was founded by private subscription as early as 1769, and received its first cliarter on the 13th of July, 1776, nine days after the De- claration of American Independence, from Lord Dunmore, wlio was still provincial Governor. The State Legislature, in 1801, confirmed the charter, with some amendments, and at diflerent times made grants of money in aid of its funds, particularly in 1806, when an act passed granting to the Hospital $19,000 a year, to be taken from the proceeds of the auction duty, until 1857. Tin's establishment can receive, for medical or surgical treatment, about 200 patients at a time ; it is well arranged and regulated, and the professional attendanis are of the first character. It has a valuabie library of about 4,000 volumes, a large theatre for surgical operations, and, besides the various other appropriate accom- modations, it has within its enclosure a garden for esculent vegetables, and fruit for the benefit of convalescent patients. The Board of Governors of this Hospital have, also, tlie gen- era] control of the Bloomingdale Lunatic Asylum. The New York Eye Infirmary, at 47 Howard-street, was founded in 1820, and is the oldest institution of its kind in this country. It is under the management of a Board of Directors, and has four surgeons in attendance, wlio are ex officio Directors. More than 25,000 patients have found re- lief at this very useful institution since its establishment. The Medical Society of the City and County of New YonK, organized, as in all the other counties in the State, under a State law, has about 500 members, which number is less than the whole number of physicians and surgeons in the city by about 200. It was originally organized in 1806, and holds its regular meetings on the second Monday of each month. These societies have authority to grant licenses to 40 DESCRIPTION OF practice medicine and surgery, and have Boards of Censors to examine candidates. Tlie New York Dispensary, on the corner of White and Centre streets, was first organized in 1790, and incorporated in 1795, for the relief of such sicic persons as are too indigent to pay for medical assistance. It is sustained by subscriptions and donations of money, medicines, &-c. A subscription of $5 makes a member for one year, with the right to place two persons on the list of patients for that year ; and for every $2.50 more, another patient. The subscription of $50, at one time, makes a member for life, with the right to have two patients continually on the list. The institution is man- aged by a Board of Trustees, who hold stated meetings on the third Monday of every month. Attending and consult- ing physicians, and apothecaries, are annually appointed by the Trustees, and the more conveniently and fully to accom- plish the purposes of the institution, the city is divided into districts, to each of which an attending physician is assigned, whose duty it is to attend upon such patients therein as have the requisite certificate from a member, and are not able to present themselves at the rooms of the Dispensary. At the rooms an apothecary attends daily. A Vaccine Department is also attached to this institution. Many thousand sick per- sons are relieved every year by this very benevolent and use- ful institution. The Northern Dispensary was established in 1827, a single institution (the New York Dispensary) having been found inadequate to the increasing wants of the rapidly grow- ing city. The new Dispensary is organized much like the former, and has its rooms at the corner of Christopher-street and Waverley Place. The Eastern Dispensary, organized on the same princi- ples as the two others, was established in 1834, to meet the still increasing necessities of the city in this department of benevolent action. Its rooms are at 275 Division-street. The Vaccine, or Kine-Pock Institution, is connected NEW YORK CITY. 41 with the City Dispensary, and under the regulation of its managers. Soon after the great discovery of Jenner, eomo of the most distinguished pliysicians in the city introduced the practice of vaccine inoculation here, and, with the co- operation of other philanthropic citizens, they induced, in 1802, the Trustees of the Dispensary to take the manage- ment of this matter, and since that time gratuitous vaccina- tion has been performed by the Dispensary physicians. Many thousands have been shielded from that terrible disease, tlie smallpox, and the city protected, to its incalculable benefit, from its ravages. The prejudices of ignorance, in some cases, doubtless, stimulated by a sordid self-interest, made considerable resistance to the use of the vaccine matter, and they still manifest themselves, on a small scale, and to a limited extent, occasionally ; but they are, for the most part, ovprcome by the force of experience ; and the chief point of difficulty, or complaint now, is negligence, rather than hostilty. The College of Pharmacy, chartered in 1831, and com- posed chiefly of druggists and apothecaries, has for its object the preparation of medicines on scientific principles and in the most accurate manner. The object is one of momentous im- portance, and the more fully to secure that object, and extend its usefulness, courses of lectures are annually delivered, by professors attached to the institution, on pharmacy, materia medica, and chemistry. The Society of Surgeon Dentists, formed for promoting a thorough scientific knowledge of the diseases which affect the teeth, and the proper modes of treating them, as well as preparing and fitting artificial teeth, is another useful institu- tion, the objects of which are aided by annual lectures under its auspices. The Lunatic Asylum, at Bloomingdale, is under the gen- eral control of the Board of Governors of the New York Hospital ; but the management of its interior and local con- cerns is committed to a Warden and Matron, while the care and treatment of the insane patients are intrusted to a Su- 4» 42 DESCKIPTION OF perintendent, who is a physician, resident at the institution, and has the assistance of nurses and other attendants. Pa- tients are received only on the certificate of two magis- trates, sustained by the testimony of not less than two wit- nesses, that the persons in question should not be left at large. No free patients are admitted, and the charge for board varies, according to circumstances, from $2 to $10 per week: 2U0 can be accommodated at a time. The situation is very pleas- ant, on a fine elevation, about 80 rods from the margin of the Hudson, with extensive grounds judiciously arranged, commanding a wide and varied prospect, and producing cheerful impressions. Tlie institution has a high reputation. The Board of Health is composed of the Mayor, Alder- men, and Assistant Aldermen, any seven of whom, the Mayor being one, form a quorum. They have power to or- der the removal of all nuisances injurious to health, to provide medicines and assistance for the sick poor, and to do what- ever the ]ireservation of the public health may require. The Marine Hospital, established nnder an act of the State Legislature, in 1820, is at the Quarantine Ground, on Stalen Island. Though not within the limits of the city, it is attached to the city as a seaport, and is under the control and management of a Board called Health Commissioners, who are residents of the city, and are separately styled Health Officer, Resident Fiiysician, and Health Commissioner, all appointed annually by the Governor and Senate of the State. They have the disposal and management of the sick coming by sea, vessels arriving being visited by the Health Officer, for the purpose of inspecting their bills of health and examin- ing their condition. The Sea.men's Retreat, a hospital for the reception of sick and disabled seamen, is situated at Stapleton, on Staten Island, near the Quarantine Ground. It was founded by a law of the state in 1830, levying a tax on each master of a vessel of $1.50 for each foreign voyage, and ,$1, for every mariner, and 25 cents for each voyage coastwise ; which en- KEW YORK CITY. 43 titles each individual to the benefits of the hospital, while sick or disabled. This institution was opened for the reception of patients October 1, 1831, since which time have been admit- ted above 10,000 patients. The institution is managed by a Boord of Trustees, five of whom are appointed by the Gov- ernor and Senate, six are Trustees by virtue of their offices, and five more are elected by them, forming a board of six- teen. The amount collected is about ^97,000 annually ; in addition to which, the Retreat has had a loan of $45,000 from the funds of the Marine Hospital, arising from alien passengers. The hospital is a valuable building — is of three stories, 208 feet by 52, having wings of 34 feet in depth, and two stories in height. This hospital cost $100,000 and will accommodate 200 patients. Attached to this Retreat are 37 acres of land, which cost the state about $10,000. BENEVOLENT, HELISIOUS, AND MORAL SOCIETIES. The institutions coming under this head are so numerous in this city, as to forbid a detailed account of their operations. Their leading objects are indicated with sufliicient accuracy by their titles, and the following list, arranged in alphabetical order, embraces all, it is believed, that are now in operation. Am. Anti-Slavery Soc, organized in 1843, has its office at 143 Nassau-street. Am, Bible Soc, organized in 1816. House at 115 Nassau- street, where the printing, binding, and other business of the Society is transacted, and its Bibles are deposited. A7n,. Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, es- tabli.slied in 1810, has its office at 150 Nassau-street, second story. Am, and Foreign Bible Soc, formed by the Baptists in 1836. Office at 350 Broome-street. 44 DESCRIPTION or Am. and Foreign Anti-Slavery Soc. Office at 22 Spruce- Btreet. Am. Home Missionary Soc, formed in 1826. Office at ISO Nassau -street, second story. Am. Protestant Soc. Office at 150 Nassau-street, 9d story. Am,. Sabbath Tract Soc. Office at 9 Spruce-street. Am. Seamen's Friend Soc. Office at 82 Wall-street. Am. Shipwreck Soc. Office in the west end of New City Hall. Am. Soc. for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews. Office at 23 Na.'isau-street. Am. Sunday School Union. Office at 147 Nassau-street. Am. Temperance Union. Office at 149 Nassau-street. Am. Tract Soc. Office at 150 Nassau-street British Protective Emigrant Soc. Office at 93 Green- wich-street. Central Am. Education Soc. Office at 2 Brick Church Chapel, NaB.sau-street. City Bible Soc, (Baptist.) Office at 350 Broome-street. Domestic Mission Soc, (Baptist.) Office at 12 Maiden Lane. Female Moral Re form Soc. Office at 36 Park Row. Foreign Evangelical Soc. Office at 1 Dey-slreet. French Benevolent Soc. Office at 22 Old Slip. Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Office at 86 Pine-street. German Franklin Benevolent Soc Room at 532 Pearl- street. German Soc. of City N. Y. Agent at 95 Greenwich- street. Hebrew Benevolent Soc Secretary at 89 Water-street. Hibernian Universal Benevolent Soc. Room at 42 Prince- street. Home Mission Soc, (Baptist.) Office at 350 Broome-street. House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents. Institution, 23d-street, near East River. Irish Emigrant Soc. Agency at 6 Ann-street. NEW YORK CITY. 45 Italian Benevolent Soc. Treasurer at 79 Greenwich-street. Leake and Watts Orphan Asylum. Between 4th and 5th Avenues, near lOOth-street. Lying-in Hospital. Marion-street, No. 85, for destitute females. Magdalen Female Benevolent Asylum. Situated between 88th and 89th streets, west of Harlem Railroad. Marine Soe. Treasurer at 62 South-street. Mariners' Female Industrial Soc. Clothing store at 325 Pearl-street. Merchants' Vigilant Assoc. To detect and prevent frauds and abuses in trade. Treasurer at 157 Pearl-street. Mechanics' and Tradesmen's Soc. School at 32 Crosby- street. Methodist Missionary Soc. Otfice at 200 Mulberry-street. Methodist Bible Soc. Methodist Tract Soc. Methodist Book Concern. No. 200 Mulberry-street. N. Y. Prison Association. Recently organized for the meli- oration of the condition of convicts and others in prison, and to aid in procuring lawful employment for them after their discharge ; and to contribute to the improvement of prison discipline. Its objects are truly benevolent, and it is doing much good. 15 Centre-street. New England Soc. Treasurer, 89 Wall-street. N. Y. Typographical Soc. Treasurer, 296 Front-street. N. Y. Bible Soc. 115 Nassau-street, and 82 Wall-street. N. Y. Bible and Common Prayer Book Soc, at 20 John- street. N. Y. City Sunday School Soc. (Methodist.) 200 Mul- berry-street. A'. Y. City Tract Soc. 150 Nassau-street. JV. y. Marine Bible Soc. 82 Wall-street. N. Y. State Colonization Soc. Office in Brick Church Chapel. iV^ Y. Sunday School Union. Office, 152 Nassau-street. 46 DESCRIPTION OF N. Y. Orphan Asylum. Bloomingdale, near 80th-stieet, five miles from the City Hall. Established in 1807. Old Ladies' Retreat. In 20th-street, near 2d Avenue. Presbyterian Board of Education. Office at 23 Centre- street. Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. Office at 23 Centre-street. Presbyterian Board Domestic Missions. Office at 23 Centre-street. Protestant Half-Orphan Asylum. 6th Avenue, between 10th and lUh streets. Protestant Episcopal City Miss. Sac. Treasurer at 66 Wall-street. Proi. Epis. Diocesan Miss. Com. Treasurer at 55 Water- street. Prot. Epis. Dom. Soc. to Promote Rel. and Learning. Treasurer 51 South-street. Prot. Epis. Gen. Miss. Dom. Com. 281 Broadway. Prot. Epis. Gen. Miss. For. Com. 281 Broadway. Prot. Epis. Gen. Sun. Sch. Union. 20 John-street. Prot. Epis. Tract. Soc. 20 Jolm-street. Rom. Cath. Orphan Asylum. Prince-street, corner of Mott-street. Incorporated 1817. Ro)n. Cath. Half-Orphan Asylum. In llth-street, near 7th Avenue. Sailors' Snug Harbor. Originally in the city, but now on Staten Island. Founded by funds devised for the pui-pose by Captain Robert B. Randall, who died in 1801, for the maintenance of aged and infirm seamen. A spacious edifice, with a farm of 160 acres. Sun. School Union, (Methodist.) Office, 200 Mulberry- street. St. Andrew's Soc, Treasurer, 51 Exchange Place. St. David's Soc. of N. Y. and Brooklyn. Treasurer, 31 Wall-street. St. George's Ben. Soc. Treasurer, 126 Maiden Lane. NEW YORK CITY. 47 St. Nicholas's Soc. Treasurer, 11 Pine-street. United Irish Repeal Ass. Treasurer, 15 Duane-street. Welsh Ben. Soc. City N. Y. Office at 93 Greenwich- street. COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS. Chamber of Commerce. This institution was organized as long ago as 1768, for promoting the general commercial and navigating interests of the city. It was incorporated in 1770, and liad its charter renewed and modified in 1784. Its meet- ings are held the first Tuesday in each month, at its room in the Merchants' Exchange. At these meetings all matters appertaining to trade and navigation, whether foreign or do- mestic, and to the business concerns of the city, both local and general, are legitimate subjects of discussion. N. Y. Board of Trade. This institution is similar in its general organization and objects to the Chamber of Com- merce. N. y. Commercial Exchange Association. The title of this association indicates its objects. Its meetings are daily and public, in the Rotunda of the Merchants' Exchange. N. Y. Stock and Exchange Board. This board, with ob- jects indicated sufficiently by its title, holds daily meetings also in the Merchants' Exchange. Mariners' and Merchants' Association. The specific object of this institution is to keep a register of all unemployed shipmastere and other officers, and seamen. Office in Wall- street. 43 DESCRIPTION OF PtTBLIO SCHOOLS. Public School Society. — In 1805 an association was in- corporated under the title of the Public School Society of New York, for the purpose of better organizing the common or district schools, and more effectually providing for the suc- cessful accomplishment of their great object, a sound and sufficient elementary education of tlie children of the city. The general functions of this Society are exercised by 66 Trustees, chosen by the whole body of members. The Trus- tees are organized as a Board, with a President, Vice Presi- dent, Treasurer, and Secretary ; and they are also divided into sections, corresponding in number with the sections into which the city is divided, that number being 18, in each of which is a school organized by the Society, and under its superintendence ; the immediate care and supervision of wliich school are committed to a section of the Trustees. Each of these schools has two departments ; one for tlie more advanced pupils, and a primary department for the younger ones, with separate rooms, and male and female teachers for the boys and girls respectively. Besides these 18 Public Schools, the Society lias also under its authority and care, 50 other Public Primary Schools, visited and superintended, like the former, by the same standing sections of the Trustees. Both of the above sets of schools are for white children ; and in addition thereto, there are two schools of the first description, and three of the latter, for colored children, all under the au- thority and charge of this Public School Society. Besides the officers and sections of the Trustees already mentioned, they have eight standing committees composed of their own members, viz., 1. Executive Committee ; 2. on Finance ; 3. on Primary Schools ; 4. on Supplies ; 5. on Property ; C. on Li- braries ; 7. on the Appointment and Salaries of Teachers ; 8. on Books. The revenue of the Common School Fund of the State is distributed according to the number of children between five and sixteen years of age, reported to the Super- NEW YORK CITV. 49 intendent General aa attending the legally organized schools. Of these moneys, this Society receives its share according to the ratio mentioned ; and it malces report annually to the State Superintendent. Board of Education. — Besides the foregoing Society, the city has another Board, of recent organization, called the Board of Education of the City and County of New York, which has jurisdiction over a diiFerent set of common schools, designated Ward Sc/ioolSt and is itself placed on the same general footing as the common school functionaries in the towns and counties of the State at large, being amenable to the County Superintendent and to the Superintendent Gen- eral of the State. This Board is composed of the Common School Commissioners of all the wards in the city, two being the number for each of the eighteen wards, one of whom is elected every year by the people at the school election in .Tune. This Board is organized by the appointment of a Pres- ident and Clerk, made by the members at their first regular meeting after each annual election mentioned above. The Board, when thus formed, is divided by the President into Visiting Committees, whose duty it is to visit such of the ward schools as are assigned to them, and to keep written minutes of the condition and management of each school, for the purpose of informing the Board. The President is also required, on or before the first meeting of the Board after his own appointment, to appoint the standing committees, which are eleven iu immber, on the following subjects ; — 1. on Fi- nance ; 2. oil Accounts to be Audited ; 3. on School Reports and the Apportionment of School Fund Moneys ; 4. on Ap- plications for New Schools ; 5. on Conferences with Trustees of Schools ; 6. on Applications to Common Council and Su- pervisors ; 7. on Buildings and Repairs ; 8. on Reports from Ward Inspectors, Trustees, and Teachers ; 9. on Printing ; 10. on School Books ; 11. on Annual Report. Of these ward schools there are sixteen, with two departments in each, and separate rooms, and male and female teachers for the boys 5 50 DESCRIPTION OF and girls respectively ; and three Primarj' Ward Schools, be- sides one Ward School for colored children. The whole number of children attending all the public common schools in the city is nearly 00,000. In addition to the foregoing schools, there are several others at the villages on the upper part of the island, but under the jurisdiction of some one of the school authorities, though not included in the particular arrangements for supervision above described. These are the Harlem School, on ISOth-street, between 2d and .3d Avenues ; the Yorkville Public School, on &6th-street, between 4th and 5th Avenues ; the Manhat- tanville Free School, on 130th-street, near llth Avenue ; and the Hamilton Free School, at Fort Washington. Several well-conducted and valuable schools are also con- nected with some of the benevolent associations of the city. Of this kind is the large school of the Mechanics' Society, kept at 32 Crosby-street; the New York Orphan Asylum School, and the Leake and Watts Orphan House School, both in Bloomingdale ; the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum School, at the corner of Prince and Mott streets ; and the Koman Catholic Half-Orphan School, in llth-street, near 7t.h Avenue ; the Protestant Half-Orphan School, in (ith Av- enue, between 10th and llth streets ; and the School of the Association for the Benefit of Colored Orphans, in 0th Ave- nue, between 43A and 44th streets. There has also recently been chartered by the State Legis- lature, (1847, subject to a vote of approval by the people ol the city.) and an appropriation made for organizing, a Free Acadeimj, where the higher branches of education will be taught, by competent teachers, free of all charge to the stu- dents, who will be selected, according to merit, from the publiic schools of the city already organized. NEW YORK CITV. 51 PLACES OF AMUSEMENT. There are in the city five Theatres, besides many other places of Amusement of different kinds. The Park Theatre, the oldest in the city, fronts on Park Row, facing the Park and tlie Astor Honse. It was origin- ally built in 1798, and was altered and improved in 1806 ; the interior was burnt accidentally in 1820, but reconstructed, in 1821, with increased elegance, and more appropriate and tasteful decorations ; it will seat about 9,400 persons. The Bowery Theatre, first erected in 1826, was burnt down in May, 1828, but forthwith rebuilt and opened in August of the same year. It has been twice burnt and re- built since that time. The present edifice is a handsome specimen of the Doric style, and the interior is fitted up with taste and elegance. Its dimensions are about the same as those of the Park Theatre. The Chatham Theatre and Circus is on Chatham-street, near the corner of Rosevelt-street, and combines the attrac- tions of dramatic and equestrian entertainments. It has a spacious pit and three tiers of bo.\es, and can seat comforta- bly over 1,000 persons. It is handsomely fitted up and deco- rated, and is much frequented. The Olympic Theatre, on Broadway, a little north of Ca- nal-street, was constructed in 1837. It met with little suc- cess till 1839, when it was taken by the present lessee, under whose skilful management it has become a popular place of entertainment. The Broadway Theatre, now rapidly progressing on the site at the corner of Broadway and Anthony-street, is to be the most magnificent of the kind in the New World. The cost of the building, we understand, is estimaled at $55,000. The facade on Broadway will be of brick, 75 feet in width, and stuccoed in imitation of marble. It will be three stories — 73 feet — in height, with a very rich and bold cornice, and a rus- ticated basement. It will be 175 feet deep and 25 feet in m 52 DESCRIPTION OF the rear, with a front of 25 feet on Antliony-street. The stage will be 45 feet in width at llie prosceniiiin, and 80 feet deep. There are to be three tiers of boxes, the first tier liav- ing sofas with spring seats. The parquette is to be filled up with cushioned seats, and will comfortably hold 460 persons. The whole house will seat 4,000. The proscenium is mod- elled on a novel plan, admirably calculated for conveying sound. Tlie shape of the auditorium is a great improvement on the old-fashioned horse-shoe plan, and well calculated to afford a clear view of the stage from all parts of the house. The height of the dome, from the centre of the pit, will be 58 feet. The decorations of the interior are elegantly de- signed grotesques, to be gilt on a very light ground. The tiers of boxes are supported on slender fluted shafts with gilded Corinthian capitals. The house will be lighted by small chandeliers suspended from each box, and from gas nanufactured in the establishment. An Opera House has been fitted up in Chambers-street, adjoining the Arcade Baths, and is called Palmo's New York Opera House, or more commonly and briefly, Palmo's. A new Opera House is now (1847) erecting in Astor Place, between Broadway and the Bowery, which will, no doubt, be a fashionable place of resort. The Bowery Amphitheatre, or Circus, is in the Bower)', near the Theatre, and its equestrian performances are much frequented. Castle Garden, at the southwest angle of the Battery, is also a place of much attraction. This Castle was built by the United States Government for one of the defences of the city, but having been subsequently judged useless for that purpose, was ceded to the city corporation in 1823, and has ever since been leased and occupied as a place of public en- tertainment and recreation, and for the display of splendid fireworks on public occasions. It is sometimes used for great meetings of the people, and 10,000 persons can be received within its walls. NEW YOKK CITY. 53 Nihlo's Garden, on Broadwaj', at the corner of Prince- Btreet. The buiidinjrs attached to this favorite place of amusement were destroyed by fire, September 19, 1846. Vauxhall Garden^ in the Bowery, between Great Jones and Eighth streets, is also arranged for dramatic performan- ces, concerts, the display of fireworks, and other entertain- ments. It is the oldest pfftce of the kind in the city, and imder its present managers, is much frequented, especially in the warm season. There are, also, many other public gardens distributed about the city, pleasantly arranged with shaded walks, alcoves, and seats, where tlie ices and other refreshments supplied at such places can always be had in good order. The American Museum, at the corner of Broadway and Ann-street, is a favojite and much-frcqueiited resort, of long standing, botli for amusement and instruction. It was found- ed by the late .lohu Scudder, in 1810, and now contains an immense collection of curiosities, natural and artificial, brouglit together with great pains and cost. The collections of shells, insects, and minerals, are very full and valuable ; as, also, is that of the implements of war, domestic utensils, idols, and other things appertaining to various savage tribes, especially those of the South Sea islands, and serving to illustrate their habits, customs, and general condition. The collections of antique coins, armor, rare engravings, sculptures, paintings, ^c, are extensive and interesting. There is also a series of very striking cosmoramic views, including the most celebrated cities, scenes, and natural phenomena, executed, many of them, by accomplished artists. The various specimens of this museum now amount, it is said, to more than half a million in number, and are arranged in six splendid halls, each 100 feet in length. A saloon with seats for 1,000 persons has been annexed to this establishment, for dramatic entertain- ments every evening except Sundays. 5* 54 DESCEIPTION OF HOTELS AND PUBLIC HOUSES. No city is more amply supplied with Hotels and other Houses, for the accommodiition of travellers and permanent boarders, than New York. The most noted are situated on Broadway, and they are usually thronged with persons from all parts of the Union, and from foreign countries. The AsTOR House, built of granite, is a very extensive and imposing edifice ; being five stories high, and calculated to accommodate 400 guests. It is situated on Broadway, occu- pying the whole of the front of the block between Barclay and Vesey streets. The other Hotels of note are included in the following enumeration : American Hotel, Broadway, corner of Barclay-street. Atlantic Hotel, 5 Broadway, near the Battery. Battery Hotel, 8 Battery Place. Carlton House, Broadway, corner of Leonard-street. City Hotel, Broadway, between Cedar and Thames sts. Clinton Hotel, Beekman, corner of Nassau-street. Croton Hotel, (Temperance,) 142 Broadway. Delmonico's Hotel, 25 Broadway. Dunning's Hotel, Cortlandt, corner of Washington-st.cet. Franklin House, Broadway, corner of Dey-street. Globe Hotel, 66 Broadway. Howard's Hotel, Broadway, corner of Maiden-Lane. Judson's Hotel, 61 Broadway. LovEJov's Hotel, Park Row, corner of Beekman-street. Mansion House, (Bunker's,) 39 Broadway. Merchants' Hotel, Cortlandt, near Greenwich-street. National Hotel, 5 Cortlandt-street. New York Hotel, 721 Broadway. Northern Hotel, Cortlandt, corner of West-street. Pacific Hotel, 169 Greenwich-street. Pearl-Street House, 88 Pearl-street. Rathbun's Hotel, 165 Broadway. NEW YORK CITY. 55 United States Hotel, Fulton, between Pearl and Water- streets. Western Hotel, 9 Cortlaudt-street, near Broadway. Tammany Hall, Nassau, corner of Frankfort-street, and several other Public Houses, are kept on the European Plan, of letting out rooms by the day or week, and the occupant getting his meals when and where he chooses. There are numerous private Hoarding Houses, in different parts of the city, alTording all the quiet and comfort that can be desired, varying in their charges according to their situa- tion and style of living. There are also upwards of one hundred Kestaurants, or Eating Houses in the city, the greater portion of which are In the lower parts, in the more immediate vicinity of the com- mercial and mercantile establishments. They are much re- sorted to by residents during business hours, and by strangers, to whom they are very convenient. Tlieir bills of fare and cookery are generally good, in some instances of the fir-st quality, and their charges reasonable. These are all exclu- sive of the Oyster Houses and Cellars, which are numerous in all quarters of the city. OMNIBUSES, HACKNEY COACHES, AND CABS. These conveyances throng the principal streets, especially Broadway and the Bowery. The Omnibi'ses, with their routes named in bold letters on each side, just under the roof, run between the lower and upper parts of the city, at all times of the day, Sundays ex- cepted, from early morning till bedtime, taking up and settiug down passengers at all intermediate points ; and the charge for any distance is GJ cents. These carriages are owned and run by private persons, who take out licenses, and though their fare is not fixed by law, the competition is so great as to keep the price down to the rate mentioned. 56 EESCRIPTION OF The Hacks and Cabs have their /are, as well as their sev- eral stands and other matters, regulated by law. The rates for given distances and times are printed in detail, on cards, one of which must be alwaj-s affixed to the inside of the car- riage for the inspection of passengers ; and no pay for con- veyance can be lawfully demanded, or received, if such card be not so affixed. The legal charge for carrying one or more persons any distance not exceeding one mile, is 25 cents each ; for moio than one mile and not exceeding two miles, 50 cents for one person, and 25 cents for each additional person ; the New Alms House, Bellevue, 50 cents, and re- turning, 50 cents ; but for two persons, 75 cents for the two, each way, and each additional person, 25 cents eacli way. For taking one or more persons to Harlem, staying there three hours, and returning, the whole charge is ^4. For taking one or more persons to Kingsbridge, staying all day, and re- turning, the whole charge is $5. For the use of Hack, or Cab, by the hour, for one or more persons, with the privilege of going from place to place and stopping as often as required, the charge for the first hour is ^l, for the second hour, 75 cents ; for the third hour, 50 cents ; and 50 cents for every additional hour. For children between two and fourteen years old, in each of the foregoing cases, half-price only is allowed ; and for all under two years, no charge wliatever. For the detention of a carriage, except as above provided, an extra charge is allowed of 75 cents for the first hour, and at that rate for any part of it ; and 37^ cents for each additional hour, with that rate for any part thereof. Each person has the right to have one trunk, valise, bag, or other parcel of luggage carried with hira free of charge ; but for every par- cel more than one, 6 cents is allowed. No driver, or owner, who demands more than the fixed rates, shall have any pay at all; and, besides, if he violates the law in this or any other particular, ho is liable to a,' penalty of $10, ou com- plaint at the Mayor's office, in the City Hall, or at the office of the Chief of Police, in the New City Hall. NEW YORK CITY. 57 HACKNEY OOAOH STANDS. The Stands for Hackney Coaches and Cabs, as fixed by law, are as follows: 1. By the Bowling Grceu, at the lower end of Broadway. 2. In front of Trinity churchyard, in Broadway. 3. On the Broadway side of the Park. 4. In Hanover Square, near Pearl-street. 5. In Hudson-street, at St. John's Park. 6. In Hudson-street, near Duane-strect. 7. In Chatham Square. 8. In Canal-street, near Broadway. 9. In the immediate vicinity of the several steamboat docks. CARTMEN AND PUBLIC POHTERS. Cartmen are allowed by law 31^ cents for all ordinary loads, for any distance less than half a mile ; one-third more for every additional half-mile, and not exceeding two miles. Public Porters, for carting a load in a hand-cart, for any distance not exceeding half a mile, eighteen cents ; for any distance over half a mile, and not exceeding a mile, 31 cents ; and in that proportion for any greater distance. MARKETS. The larger and more important Markets established by law are the following : Catherine Market, in Catherine Slip, between Cherry and South streets. Centre Market, in Centre-street, between Grand and Broome streets. Clinton Market, on Washington-street, between Spring and Canal streets. Essex Market, on Grand-street, at the corner of Essex- street 58 DESCRIPTION OF Franlclin Market, in Old Slip, from South to Front-streets. Fulton Market, on South-street, between Fulton-street and Beekman Slip. Gouverneur Market, on Gouverneur-street, corner of Wa- ter-street. Greenwich Market, on Weehawken-strect, corner of West- street. Jefferson Market, on 6th Avenue, corner of Greenwich Avenue. Manhattan Market, on Houston-street, corner of Ist-street. Monroe Market, on Corlaer-street, between Monroe and Grand streets. Tompkins Market, on 3d Avenue, between 6th and 7th streets. Union Market, on 2d-street, corner of Houston-street Washington Market, on Washington-street, between Ful- ton and Vesey streets. Besides these Markets, there are very many licensed stalls distributed about the city, for the sale of meals, &c., to say nothing of the multitude of green-grocers' shops. FERRIES The regular Ferries, established by law, on the respective sides of the city, and leased by the city corporation to com- panies or to individuals, are numerous and convenient. On the East River there are four Ferries to Brooklyn, three to Williamsburgh, and one to Astoria, on Hallet's Point, near Hell-Gate, and commonly called Hell-Gate Ferry. Of these, the starting points and distances are as follow : Yardi. Fulton Ferry, foot of Fulton-street, N. Y., to Fulton-street, Brookljn, 731 Catherine Ferry, foot of Catherine-street, N. Y., to Main-street, Brooklyn, 700 NEW YORK CITY. 59 Yardl. JVavy Yard Ferry, font of Walnut-street. N. Y., to Jackson-street, Brooklyn G35 South Ferry, foot of Whitehall-street, N. Y., to Atlantic-street, Brooklyn, , 1,475 Hamilton Ferry, font of Whitehall-street, JV. Y., to Hamilton Avenue, Brooklyn, l.GOO Grand-strtct Ferry, foot of Grand-street, N. Y., to Williamsburg, 897 Houston-street Ferry, foot of Houston-street, N. Y., to Willifiins- hurg, SOO Peck Slip Ferry, foot of Peck Slip, N. Y., to Williamsburg, 2,8011 Hell'Outc Firry, foot of SSlh-strect, N. Y., to Astoria, 550 Oil tlio Hudson River, to Jersey City, Hoboken, and other poiiils on the Jersey shore, the Ferries are as follow ; Jersey City Ferry, foot nf Cortlandt-street. N. Y., to Jersey City, l,79tj Hohoken Ferry, foot of Barclay-street, N. Y., to Hoboken, 2,746 Canal-street Ferry, foot of Canal-slreet, N. Y., to Hoboken, abtnit 2,000 Ckrist.ojiher-slreet Ferry, foot of Christopher-street, N. Y.. to Ho- boken, • 1,960 Fort Lee Ferry, foot of Canal-street, N. Y., to Bull's Ferry, six miles, and to Fort Lee, 10 miles. Staten Island Quarantine Ferry starts from' the foot of Whitehall-street, N. Y., and runs 5J miles to the Quarantine Station, and to the Sailors' Retreat, both on the easterly side of Staten Island. From the city crossing the Bay there is a Ferry, which starts from the foot of Battery Place, at the western snffle of the Battery, near the termination of Wasliington-ctreet, aiid runs to New Brighton, Sailors' Snug Harbor, Casdeton, and Port Richmond, all on the northerly side of Staten Island. 60 DESCEIPTIOJSr OF TRADE AND COMMERCE. The Trade and Navigation of tlie city of New York are immense. The average number of arrivals, American and foreign, amomit to about 2.000 annually, independently of coasters from diflcrent parts _of the Union. A great number of Steamboats also arrive and depart daily, cari-ying passen- gers and merchandise. The wliarves are crowded with vessels, sometimes exceeding one thousand in number, from all countries, and of almost every size and rig, giving constant employment to a great number of marinera. The number of wharves or piers for the use of the shipping, on the Easi River, is 62 ; on the Hudson, 56. The numerous packet ships, and most of the foreign vessels, lie in the East River. The number of passengers who arrived in this city from foreign ports, during the year 1843, was 46,302 ; in 1844, it wn.s 61,002; in 1845, it was 82,960; and in 1846, it was 115,230; making the whole number, for the'four years, 305,494. The whole number of foreign vessels which arrived in 1843, was 1,832 ; in 1844, it was 2,203 ; in 1845, it was 2,044 ; and in 1846, it was 2,289. OROTON AQUEDUCT. This Aqdeduct, for supplying the city of New York with pure and wholesome water, is one of the most admirable works of the kind to be found in any country. Excluding the Grand Reservoir, five miles long and having an area of about 400 acres, occupying the bed and valley of the Croton River, the length of the Aqueduct, from the Dam which forms that Reservoir, to the Distributing Reservoir, on Murray Hill, in New York, is 404 miles. The Dam is placed in the Crotou NEW YORK CITY. 61 River, about six miles from its confluence with the Hudson ; and it elevates the water in the Reservoir 40 feet to tlie level of the Aqueduct Head, or 166 feet above the top line of mean- tide in the Hudson. Passing from the Dam do%vn the Croton valley about six miles, the Aqueduct turns into the valley of the Hudson and runs southerly through Westchester county, 32.88 miles, to the verge of the Harlem River valley. Throughout this distance the Aqueduct is a continuous conduit of stone and brick masonry. The width of the Harlem valley, at the height of the conduit level, is about 1,450 feet, or a little more than one fourth of a mile ; and the Aqueduct crosses it in cast-iron pipes of three feet bore, on a level 114 feet above the ordinary high-water surface of the river. On reaching the southern verge of this valley, on the Island of New York, the pipes give place again to the conduit of ma- sonry, which thus coutiiiues for two miles and a fraction over, to the verge of the high ground overlooking the Manhattan valley. At that point the conduit level is 102 feet higher than the bottom of the valley, which, at the height of the level, is a fraction over three-fourths of a mile wide. The conduit passes this valley in cast-iron pipes, of the bore already stated, following the valley-curve ; and on ascending to the southern verge- of the curves, the pipes again givo place to the conduit Y)f masonry, which, crossing the Asylum ridge in Blooraingdale, and the Clendenning valley, runs a little more than two miles, to the great Receiving Reservoir, on York Hill, five miles and a little over from the City Hall. The Receiving Reservoir includes an area of 35 acres, being 1,826 feet long by 836 feet wide, measuring from the external angles of the enclosing embankment, and it is divid- ed by a cross-wall into two parts of unequal capacities. From this Reservoir the Aqueduct, with a conduit of cast-iron pipes of the size before mentioned, continues a fraction over two miles to the Distributing Reservoir at Murray Hill. It is 420 feet square, as measured on the cornice of the outer wall ; it contains an area of a little more than four acres, divided 6 62 DESCRIPTION OF into two equal parts by a partition wall ; its enclosing walls have an average height of 44J feet above the adjacent streets, and it is three miles from the City Hall. From this Reservoir the water is drawn in large cast-iron pipes called the Great Mains, which lead through the central parts of the city, and from which the distribution of the water for use, is made by pipes of various dimensions, diminishing in size as the ramifications extend. The aggregate length of the Great Mains is about font miles ; and if they be included in the linear measurement, together with the Croton Reservoir above the Dam, the entire distance falls but little short of 50 miles. Of the excavation required for grading the line and con- structing the Aqueduct, the larger moiety was of rock, and amounted to somewhat more tlian 400,000 cubic yards. The shape of the country for much of tlie way presents a succession of transverse ridges and ravines, to be cut, tuiiaelled, or embanked, and swelling the cost of the work. The whole number of tunnels is 16, varying in length from 160 feet to 1,263 feet each, and making a total of 6,841 feet, with roofs varying from 25 feet to 75 feet in vertical depth. In Westchester county 25 streams are crossed, with beds from 12 feet to 70 feet below the grade line of the Aqueduct, to say nothing of many small brooks, Efnd all requiring, for the safety of the work, culverts of masonry. The whole number of culverts is 114, varying iu span, from 1 J feet to 25 feet each, and making an aggregate length of 7,959 liuear feet. The grandest structure is the Bridge over the Harlem River and valley. The width of the river itself is 620 feet, and that of the valley a little more than a quarter of a mile, which is the length of the Bridge. The arches over the river are eight in number, with a span of 80 feet each, spring- ing from stone piers 20 feet wide at the spring-liue, which is GO feet above the surface of the river at high-water mark ; and the arches being semicircles, the spring is half the span. NEW YORK CITY. 63 making the whole height 100 feet from the river surface to the soffit, or under side of the centre of these arches. On the north side of these large arches are six others, and on the south side one, of 50 feet span each, resting on piers seven feet wide, which, witli the abutment at each end, complete the supports of the Bridge. The parapet walls and the whole superstructure are of stone ; the whole width at the top of the parapets being 21 feet, and the height at the same line being 114 feet above the water. These dimensions give the external aspect of this magnificent work, which is estimated to cost $900,000. The Receiving Reservoir, at York Hill, is formed with vast earth embankments perfectly puddled, protected exter- nally by massy walls of stone masonry, and designed to contain 90 feet depth of water, measuring 150,000,000 of gallons. The DisTBiBDTiNG Reservoir, at Murray Hill, is formed with double and hollow walls of heavy masonry. Their least height is 39 feet, and their greatest, 49 feet, strengthened at the corners with pilasters, or buttresses, projecting from the wall-face four feet, and being 40 feet wide, while at the points, equidistant from the corners, these buttresses are 60 feet wide, projecting from the wall-face six feet. In both cases, they rise several feet above the top of the walls, which is guarded all round with an iron railing running along the cor- nice. In the central pilastere are doors leading to the pipe- chambers in the walls where the cocks are regulated. The inside of these walls is strengthened with a sloping and heavy puddled embankment, faced with rubble masonry and coped with cut stone. The bottom of the Reservoir is a dense hard- pan, covered with puddle two feet thick, and then floored one foot thick with hydraulic concrete. This Reservoir is calculated to hold 30 feet depth of water, with its surface 115 feet above mean-tide, and measuring 20,000,000 of gallons. The first contracts for construction, were made in April, 64 DESCKIPTION OF 1837, and the work commenced in the next month. The whole work was so far completed, that the water was let in from the Croton Dam, June 22d, 1842, and was admitted into the Distributing Reservoir on the 4th of July following. The event of its completion, so far as to afford an abundant and constant supply of water, was celebrated with great pomp and parade on the 14th day of October, 1842. The total cost of this noble and useful work will amount to about $13,000,000. But the supply of pure and wholesome water to the inhab- itants of New York, for all culinary and household uses, does not, by any means, constitute the whole value of this great work. The supply of pure water, in larger abundance, to piihlic bathing-houses and hospitals— its aid in cleaning streets — its utility as a permanent and ready protection against fires, and its consequent influence in reducing the expense of insuronoe and enhancing the value of property — all conducive to the liealth, comfort, safety, and economy of life — are im- portant blessings resulting from this work, and they are cer- tain to multiply with the growth of the city. Nor are these all its advantages. Even the means thus afforded for the mere embellishment of the city with fountains in the public squares, should not be overlooked ; for whatever adds to its attractions as a place of residence, is an obvious and substan- tial benefit to all classes, and especially to the holders of real estate. Of this mode of embellishment several specimens have already been furnished, and the Fountains in the Bowl- ing Green, the Park, Union Place, and St. John's Park, are celebrated for the height of their jets, and for picturesque beauty of design and general efiect. Extract from the Mayor's Message, May 11, 1847. " This noble work, the Croton Aqueduct, the enduring monument of the enterprise of our city, of which all are so justly proud, and whose value is each day more and mora forcibly illustrated and properly appreciated, fulfils all the ex- NEW YORK CITY. 65 pectations which were formed of it at its conception, and is rapidly approaching completion. " The work at the High Bridge is nearly finished, and it is to be hoped that the duties of the Water Commission, ap- pointed by the State, will then cease, and the expense thereby Incurred be saved to the city. The amount paid for salaries to tlie officers connected with the Commission, amounted, last year, to the sum of $12,931.79. " I take great pleasure in referring to the administration of the affairs of the Croton Aqueduct Department, under the supervision and direction of its present able and competent head. Its manifold and responsible duties have received prompt attention, and its affairs are in a most prosperous con- dition. The revenue is constantly increasing, and we may reasonably indulge in the expectation that the day is not far distant, when the receipts will be adequate to discharge the interest on the debt incurred for the construction of this nobie work, and thereby relieve the citizens from the burden of taxation now imposed for that purpose. The receipts of the Department for the year ending April 30, 1847, have been $194,561.34, being an increase over the preceding year of ,$30,028.81, and the expenditures for all purposes, including the purchase and laying down of over four miles of water-pipe, were $.54,403.04, being a decrease from the preceding year of $4,030.63. There are now laid down in the city 170 miles of water-pipe, with the structures appertaining thereto. The number of permits issued to wa- ter-takers is over 15,000, and the Department is, in all its aspects, in a prosperous and flourisliing condition." 6* 66 DESCKIPTION OF MONUMENTS. There are many Tombs and splendid Monuments erected in the different Cemeteries of the city to the memory of the illustrious dead : among the most conspicuous are the follow- ing:— In the Cemetery surrounding Trinity Church,* there is a Monument erected to the Memory of Alexander Hamilton ; within the church there is also a Bust and Tablet. The fol- lowing are the inscriptions : — ALEXANDER HAMILTON The Corporation of Trinity Church has erected Ibis MON0MENT,. In testimony of their respect for The Patriot of Incorruptible Integrity, The Soldier of approved Valor, The Statesman of Consummate Wisdom, Whose Talents and Virtues will be admired by grateful Posterity, Long after this marble shall have mouldered into dust. He died July 12th, 1804, Aged 47 years. * The Cemetery attached to Trinity Chnrch, lying lietween Broad-, way, Rector-street, and Trinity Place, is one of the oldest in the city, and by actual records, faithfully kept, it has received within its bosom more than one hundred and sixty thousand bodies, or nearly half as many as the present population of the city. This ground was gratui- tously ceded to the vestry by the corporation of the city, in 1709, on condition that the ground should always be neatly fenced in, and burials granted in it to the citizens forever, for the small fee of three shillings and sixpence for grown persons, and one shilling and six- pence for all under twelve years of age. Burials, both in this churchyard and others in the lower part of the city, are now prohibited by a law of the Corporation, under a penalty of two hundred and fifty dollars. NEW YORK CITY. 67 TABLET AND BUST OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Erected by the Society of Cincinnati, in Trinity Church, with the following inscription THIS TABKET*' Does not profess to perpetuate the memory of a man To whom the age has produced no superior, Nor to' emblazon worth • Emmently conspicuous in every feature of his country's Greatness, Nor to anticipate posterity in their judgment Of the loss which she has sustained by his premature death : But to attest. In the simplicity of grief. The veneration and anguish which fill the hearts of the Members of the New York State Society of Cincinnati, On every recollection of their Illustrious Brother, MAJOB-GENERAI, ALEXANDER HAMILTON. Obiit, 1804. jEtatis, 47. MONUMENT TO LAWRENCE AND LUDLOW. The new Monument to the Memory of the gallant Law» RENCE and Ludlow, stands in Trinity churchyard, near Broadway. The design is by Upjohn, the sculpture by Fraser. It is built of the same material as the church, and bears the following inscription : — In Memory of CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE, Of the United States Navy, Who fell on the 1st of June, 1813, in the 39d year of his age, In the action between the frigates Chesapeake and Shannon. 68 DESCRIPTION OF The Heroic Commander of the frigate Chesapeake Whose remains are here deposited, Expressed With his dying breath His devotion to his country. Neither the fury of battle, the anguish of a mortal wound, Nor the horrors of approaching death. Could subdue his gallant spirit. His dying words were, " don't give up the ship." The inscription on the southern side of the monumeut is as follows : — In Memory of LIEUTENANT AUGUSTUS O. LUDLOW, Of the United States Navy ; Born in Newburgh, 1792 ; died in Halifax, 1813. Scarcely was he twenty-one years of age. When, like the blooming Euryalus, He accompanied his beloved Commander to battle. Never could it have been more truly said: *' His amor unus erat, pnrilerque in bella mebant." • He emulated the patriotic valor of his friend on the Bloody deck of the Chesapeake, And when required, like him, yielded with Courage and resignation, His spirit to Him who gave it. MONUMENT TO BISHOP HOBART. Bishop Hobart's monument is a splendid specimen of the sculptor's art, being executed by Mr. Ball Hughes. It con- sists of a tablet of white Italian marble, adorned with a basso- relievo with a full-length effigy of the Bishop, supported by a female figure, emblematic of religion, pointing to a cross. It bears the following inscription : — NEW YORK CITY. 69 Beneath this Chancel rest the Mortal Remains of JOHN HENRY IIOBART, Rector of Trinity Church, in this city, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York Born in Philadelphia, Sept. 14, 1775. Died in Auburn, New York, Sept. 12, 1830 Tlie Vestry, in behalf of the associated congregations of Trinity Church, Have caused this Monument to be erected In memory of the public services, private virtues, and Christian graces of their beloved and lamented rASTQR ; In testimony of their respect for the Wisdom, energy, and piety of their revered DIOCESAN ; In honor of the faithful and valiant " Soldier of Christ," Who, on all occasions, stood forth the able and Intrepid Champion of the Church of God. MONUMENT TO MAJ. GE.'J. MONTGOMERY, In front of St. Paul's Church, Broadway. This Monument is erected, By order of Congress, 25th Jan., 1 77G, To transmit to posterity a grateful remembrance Of the patriotism, conduct, enterprise. And perseverance of MAJOR-GE.NERAL RICHARD MONTGOMERY ; Who, after a series of successes Amidst the most discouraging difficulties. Fell in the attack on Quebec, Dec. 31st, 1775, Aged 37 years. 70 DESCRIPTION OF The State of New York caused the remains of MAJOR-GENERAL RICHARD MONTGOMERY To be conveyed from Quebec And deposited beneath this Monument, The 8th day of July, 1818. emmet's monument. The Monument erected to the Memory of Emmet, stands in St. Paul's churchyard, near Broadway, bearing the follow- ing inscription : — In Memory of THOMAS ADDIS EMMET. It H' ^ ^ lit 4t The name and example of such a man. Alike illustrious by his genius, his virtues, and his fate ; Consecrated to their affections By his perils, His sacrifices, and the deeper calamities of his kindred. In a just and holy cause ; His sympathizing countrymen erected this Monument and Cenotaph. Born at Cork, 24th April, 1764, He died in New York, 14th November, 1827. cooke's monument. The Monument erected to the 7.!emory of Cooke, the tragedian, is a plain tombstone, in the rear of St. Paul's Church, with the following inscription : — Erected To the Memory of GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE, By Edmund Kean, 1821. NEW YORK CITY. 71 stuyvesant's monument. The oldest monument of note in the city is that erected to the Memory of Peter Stuyvesant. It is situated on the east side of St. Mark's Church, in Stuyvesant-street, and beara the following inscription : — In this Vault lies buried PETER STUYVESANT, Late Captain-General and Governor-in-chief of Amsterdam, in New Netherland, (Now called New York,) And the Dutch West India Islands. Died in August, A. D. 1682, Aged 80 years. THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. Under a charter granted by the Legislature of the Stats, an association is about to erect, in Hamilton Square, a mag- nificent Monument to the Memory of Washington. The location selected embraces a plot of ground of nearly 20 acres, and at an elevation of some seventy feet above tide-water. The monument, designs of which are now in progress, will probably be 400 feet in height, and will, of course, when completed, be the most commanding object in the approach to the city from any direction. A highly respectable Board of Trustees have the matter in charge, and the work will doubtless progress very rapidly. The foundation will probably be commenced in September, 1847. Contributions are re- ceived at the office, No. 86 Merchants' Exchange. 72 DESCRIPTION OF POLICE DEPAHTMENT. By a recent law of the State " For the Establishment and Regulation of the Police of the City of New York," the Watch Department, together with sundry other city offices, are abolished. In lieu thereof, there is established a Day and Night Police, not to exceed eight hundred men, includ- ing Captains, Assistant Captains, and Policemen, possessing all the powers of the former City Marshals. The Captains of Police, within their respective districts, also perform the dutie.? of the former Street Inspectors, Health Wardens, Fire Wardens, and Dock Masters. The Captains, Assistant Captains, and Policemen, in ac- cordance with prescribed rules and regulations, watch and guard the respective districts, day and night, and protect the Polls at Elections, &c., all of whom are required to carry a suitable emblem, or device, by which they may, when neces- sary, make themselves known. All information respecting offences committed, or of sus- picious persons or places, must be communicated to the pre- siding Justice, and made a matter of private record in the Police offices, that the services of the whole department may be secured in the detection of offiinders and the recovery of property, and for the more effectual prevention of crime THE CHIEF OF POLICE, Appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Com- mon Council, possesses all the powers of a Special Justice of the Police Court, and subordinate to the Mayor, is Chief Executive of the Police Department. He also performs, aid- ed by the Captains of Police and Policemen, the duties of the former otEces of Inspector of Hacks, Omnibuses, Cabs, and Public Porters, Inspector of Stages, Inspector of Carts, and Keepers of Lands and Places ; all of which oiEces are abol- ished. NEW YORK CITY. 73 POLICE DISTRICTS. The city is divided into tliree Districts, as follows : 1st District comprises tlie First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Wards. 2d District comprises the Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Eighteenth Wards. 3d District comprises the Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh, Thir- teenth, Fourteenth, and Seventeenth Wards. In each District there is a Police Court and Office. Office of Chief of Police, Basement of New City Hall, west end. First District {lower) Police Court, Halls of Justice, Centre-street. Second District Police Court, Jefferson Market. Third District Police Court, Essex Market. STATION HOUSES. 1st Ward, Franklin Market, up stairs. 2d Ward, 60 Gold-street 3d Ward, 38 Robinson-street. 4th Ward, 27 James-street. 5th Ward, 48 Leonard-street. 6th Ward, Halls of Justice, Centre-street. 7th Ward, corner of Pike and South streets, up stairs. 8th Ward, corner of Prince and Wooster streets. 9th Ward, Jefferson Market. 10th Ward, Essex Market. 11th Ward, Union Market. 12th Ward, House of Detention, Harlem. 13th Ward, comer of Attorney and Delancy etreets. 14th Ward, Centre Market. 15th Ward, 220 Mercer-street. 16th Ward, Twentieth-street, between 7th &. 8th Avenues. 17th Ward, corner of Third-street and Bowery. 18th Ward, 29th-etreet, between 4th and 5th Avenues. 7 74 DESCKIPTIOM OF FIEB DEPARTMENT, Consists of a well-organized and efficient Ijody of men, numbering, in 1847, one thousand eight hundred and twenty- five firemen. FIRE APPARATUS. There are twenty-nine Engines in this city, including two at Harlem, one at Yorkville, one at Manhattanville, and one at Harsenville. There are thirty-eight Hose Companies, and eight Hook and Ladder Companies, including one at Harlem and one at Yorkville ; all of which are in possession of the necessary 'apparatus for service. There is also a Hydrant Company in each Fire District, whose duty it is to take charge of the Hydrants in case of fire. The city is divided into three Fire Districts, as follows : AN ORDINANCE FOR DIVIDING THE CITY OF NEW YORK INTO THREE FIRE DISTRICTS. First District. The first Fire District shall embrace all that part of the city lying north of a line from the foot of North Moore-street to the Halls of .Tustice, and west of a line running from the Halls of Justice through Lafayette and Irving Places. Second District. The second Fire District shall embrace all that part of the city lying east of the First District, and north of a line run- ning from the Halls of Justice to the foot of Rosevelt-street. Third District. The third Fire District shall embrace all that part of the city lying south of the first and second Districts. NEW YORK CITY. 75 No Fire Company shall remove their apparatus out of the District in which the same is located, in case of fire or alarms of fire, under the penalty of being subject to expulsion, or suspension from tlie Fire Department, unless they shall be permitted so to do by the Chief or one of the Assistant En- gineers, who are hereby authorized to give the necessary signal, which is hereby declared to be the constant ringing of the alarm bell in the district in which the fire is raging, when the whole department shall proceed to the scene of confla- gration. For the purpose of guiding the Firemen more correctly to the Fire, the districts shall be subdivided, and the district bells will be rung as follows : 1st District, 1st Section, one stroke. " 2d " two " 2d " 1st " three " " 2d « four " 3d " 1st " five " " 2d " six " PXJBLIO BATHS. Arcade, (Palme's,) 39 Chambers-street Belloni's, 31 Merchants' Exchange. Braman's, 4 Cortlandt-street. Carroll's, (Medicated Vapor,) 184 Fulton-street. Chatman's, 2 Franklin Square. Durrell'-s, 600 Broadway. 0,000 North River Insurance Company, 192 Greenwich-sl.,. 350,000 Trust Fire Insurance Company, 60 Wall-street, 150 000 United States Insurance Company. 69 Wall-street, 250.000 Williamsburg Insurance Company, 74 Wall-street, 105,000 Total Capital, (chartered Fire Insurance Companies,)... $5,095,000 7» 78 DESCRPTION OF FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN BROOKLYN. NAME. LOCATION. CAPITAL. Brooklyn Insurance Company, 43 FuUon-street $102,000 Long Island Insurance Company,. . Fnlton, corner Front-st.,. • . • 200,000 Kings County Mutual Ins. Conip'y, Fulton-street, Assets. MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.MPANIES. NAME. LOCATION. CAPITAL. Atlantic Mutual, 14 & 16 Mer. Exchange,.. Assets. General Mutual .W Wall-street, " Mercantile Mutual, 63 Wall-street, " Mutual Safety, 56 Wall-street, " Mutual Security 72 Wall-street, " Pelican Mutual, 65 Wall-street, " Bon Mutual, 2 & 4 Mer. Exchange " Union Mutual, 69 Wall-street " MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY. New York, 50 Wall-street, $500,000 LIFE INSURANCE AND TRUST COMPANIES. NAME. LOCATION. CAPITAL. Parmer's Loan and Trust Company, 50 Wall-street, $2,000,000 Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, — II Wall-street, Assets. Mutual Life Insurance Company, 56 Wall-street, " Nautilus Mutual Life Insurance Company. . .."ifl Wall-street, " New York Life Insurance and Trust Comp'y, 52 Wall-street, 1,000,000 Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company 2,000,000 FOREIGN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES. NAME. Albion Life, of London National Loan Fund, of London, United Kingdom, of London LOCATION. CAPITAL. 27 Wall-Street $5,000,000 74 Wall-street 2,500,000 .27 Wall-street 5,000,000 NEW YOEK CITY. 79 NEW YOEK POST-OFFIOB. ROBERT H. MORRIS, Postmaster. MARCENA. MONSON, JR., Deputy. The Post-office is situated in Nassau-street, extending from Liberty to Cedar. Entrance from Cedar and Nassau streets. Mails received and delivered on Liberty-street. Office hours, from 8 A. M. to 7 P. M. On Sunday, from 9 to 10 A. M., and from 124 to IJ P. M. RATES or POSTAGE. LETTERS. Pingle Letters, 300 miles or under, 5 cents. Over 300 miles, 10 cents. Double " " 10 " " 20 " Treble " " 15 " " .30 " Quadruple " " 30 " " 40 " Drops Letters for delivery only 2 cents. Advertised Letters to be charfied with the cost of advertising the same, 4 cents each in addition to the regular postage. PRINTED MATTER NewspapeiB, of the size of 1900 square inches or less, sent beyond 30 miles from the place of printing, and not more than 100 miles, 1 cent each ; over 100 miles, 1^ cents each. Within the State where published, any distance, 1 cent. Newspapers of greater size than 1900 square inches, and all pamphlets, magazines, and periodicals, 2^ cents for each copy of not more than one ounce weight, and one cent addi- tional for each additional ounce, or fractional excess of not less than half an ounce, for any distance in the United States. Any manuscript communication whatever, connected with a newspaper, pamphlet, &c., beyond the direction, makes the same liable to letter postage. All printed or lithographed circulars and handbills, or ad- vertisements, or quarto post or single cap paper, or paper not larger than single cap folded, directed, and unsealed, 3 cents each, and must be prepaid, for aiiy distance in the Union. 80 DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE. The New York Custom House is bounded by Wall, Piiie, and Nassau streets. It is open daily, from 10 A. M. to 3 P. M., Sundays excepted. The following is a list of the principal officers thereof: Cornelius W. Lawrence. CoUecUrr. Samuel G. Ogden, .Jr., Auditor. Moses F. Odell, .4ss, Collector. .Tiihn W. Hunter, jjss. Henry A. Cargill, Dep. " Michael Hoffman, Kaval Officer George Davis, '* *' John Cockle, Deputy " Park Godwin, " " Leonard Lee, " " James T. Talman, " " Francis E. Spinner, Jlvditor. Henry T. Kiersted, Cashier. Elijah F. Purdy, Surveyor. Wm. D. Robinson, Jltis. " Daniel D. Briggs, Dep. " V. S. ASSISTANT TREASUKEH'S OFFICE. CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW YORK. ENTRANCE IN PINE-STREET. Hon. WILLIAM C. BOUCK, Assistant Trkasuekh. UNITED STATES COURT. ROOMS, NEW CITY HALL. Southern District of New York, comprising the following counties : — Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. OFFICERS OF THE COURT. Samuel Nelson, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, avd Judge of the Circuit Court. Samuel R. Belts, Judge of the District Court. Alexander Gardiner, Clerk of the Circuit Court. James W. Metcalf, Clerk of the District Court. Benjamin F. Butler, U. S. District Attorney. Ely Moore, V. S. Marshal. NEW YORK CITY. 81 NEW YORK STATE COURTS. The New York State Courts, and Courts for the city and county of New York, are holden in the City Hall and New City Hall, both situated in the Park. At the present time, the above Courts are about being newly organized under the new State Constitution, which went into operation in part on January 1st, 1847. LINES OF PACKETS, SAILING FROM NEW YORK TO FOREIGN PORTS. Clowes and Southampton, (England,) and Bremen, (Ger» many.) — Ocean Steam Navigation Company, (4 steamships ;) sail from New York June 1, August 1, October 1 ; sail from Southampton July 1, September 1, November 1. Passage to Southampton, or to Bremen, 1st class, $130 " " " " 2d class, 60 " From Bremen and Southampton to New York, Ist class, $150 " " " " " 2d class, 60 London, (12 ships,) sailing from New York, and Ports- mouth, (England,) on the 1st, 1 0th, and 20th, and from Lon- don on the 7th, 17th, and 27th of every month. Outward passage, $100. Liverpool, (24 ships,) sailing from New York and Liver- pool on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st, and 26th of every month. Passage to Liverpool, $100. Liverpool to New York, £25. Havre — Union Line, (12 ships,) sailing from New York on the 1st, 8th, 16th, and 24th, and from Havre on the 1st, 8th, 16th and 24th of every month. Hamburg, sail from New York every fifteen days. Marseilles, sail from New York once a month. Havana, sail from New York twice a month. Vera Cruz, sail from New York once a month. 82 DESCRIPTION OF PACKET LUTES Sailing Coastwise from New York to different Ports in the United States. Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown, D. C— sail weekly. Apalaehicola, Fa. (two lines) — sail twice a month. Baltimore, (four lines) — sail weekly. Boston, (four lines) — sail tri-weekly. Charleston, S. C. (three lines) — sail weekly. Fredrieksburg, Va. — sail weekly. Hartford, Conn. — sail from East River side. Key West and St. Marks — sail every two weeks. Mobile, (three lines) — sail three times a month. New Haven, Conn. — sail from East River side. New Orleans, (five lines) — sail every five days. Norfolk, Va., (two lines) — sail weekly. Pensacola, Fa. — sail from Burling Slip. Petersburg, Va., (two lines) — sail weekly. ' Philadelphia, (two lines) — sail from East River side. Portland, Me. — sail weekly. Portsmouth, N. H. — sail weekly. Providence, R. I. — sail from Pier 17, East River. Richmond, Va., (three lines) — sail weekly. Salem, Mass., (two lines) — sail weekly. Savannah, Geo., (three lines) — sail weekly. Wilmington, N. C, (two lines) — sail weekly. NEW YORK CITY. 83 STEAMBOAT LINES, With their Places of Arrival and Departure. Albany — People's Line, (evening) — Pier 14, between Lib- erty and Cortlandt streets. Albany — Independent Line, (evening) — Pier 24, between Barclay and Robinson streets. Albany and Troy, (morning and evening) — foot of Bar- clay and foot of Cortlandt streets. Amboy, N. X— Pier 2, North River, near the Battery. Astoria and Flushing — Fulton Slip, East River. Bridgeport, Conn. — foot of Market Slip, East River. Catskill — Albany Basin, Pier 13, foot of Cedar-street. Charleston, S. C. — Peck Slip, East River. Cold Spring and Wfsi Point— fool of Warren-street. Dobb's Ferry — Pier 27, foot of Chambers-street. Elizabethport, N. J. — Pier 1, North River, foot of Battery Place. Fall River, (Steamboat and Railroad Line to Boston) — Pier No. 3, North River. Flushing — Fulton Slip, East River. Fort Lee, N. J. — foot of Hoboken-street, North River. Glen Cose— Fulton Market Slip, East River. Grassy Point — foot of Chambers-street. Hartford, Conn. — Peck Slip, East River. Haverstraw — foot of Vesey-street. Hudson — foot of Cedar-street. Newark, N. J. — foot of Barclay-street. New Brighton — foot of Battery Place. New Brunswick, N. J. — Pier 23, between Barclay and Robinson streets. Newburgh — Pier 26, between Murray and Warren streets. New Hamburgh and Marlborough — foot of Robinson-st. New Haven, Conn., (morning and evening) — Peck Slip, East River. New Rochelle — Fulton Market Slip, Eeist River. 84 DESCRIPTION OF Norwalk, Conn. — Catherine Slip, East River. New London and Norwich, Conn., (Steamboat and Rail- road Line to Boston) — Pier 1, North River, near the Battery. Middletown Point, N. J. — foot of Robinsou-street. Nyack — foot of Robinson-street. Peekskill — foot of Chambers-street. Philadelphia, (Camden and Amboy Steamboat and Rail- road Line, — Pier 2, North River. Piennont, (Erie Railroad Line) — foot of Duane-street. Port CAcsicr— Catherins Market Slip. Port Richmond — foot of Battery Place. Poughkeepsie — foot of Barclay-street. Providence, R. I. — from Pier 1 and 3, North River. Rhinebeck — foot of Robinson-street. Rondout — foot of Murray-street. Saugerties — foot of Murray-street. Sing Sing — foot of Chambers-street. Shrewsbury, N. J. — Fulton Market Slip, East River. Staten Island — foot of Whitehall-street, and foot of Bat- tery Place. Stoningion, (Steamboat and Railroad Line to Providence and Boston) — Pier 1, North River. Tarrytown — foot of Chambers-street. Troy, (Morning) — foot of Barclay-street. Troy and Albany, (evening) — foot of Cortlandt-street. Westchester, Manhasset, ^c. — Fulton Market Slip, East River. West Point and Cold Spring — foot of Warren-street. Yonkers — foot of Chambers-street. N. B. The morning and afternoon passage boats running to Albany and Troy, usually land at Caldwell's, West Point, Newburgh, Hampton, Milton, Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, Kingston, Rhinebeck, Redhook, Bristol, Catskill, Hudson, Coxsackie, Kinderhook Landing, New Baltimore, and Coey- mans. NEW YORK CITY. 85 RAILROAD DEPOTS, Connected with Railroads diverging from the City of New York. Camden and Amboy, (Steamboat Wharf, Pier 2, North River) — South Amboy, N. J. Elizahethtown. and Somerville, (Steamboat Wharf, Pier 1, North River) — Elizabethport, N. J. Harlem — Centre-street, near City Hall.. Long Island, (South Ferry, foot of Whitehall-street) — At- lantic-street, Brooklyn. New Jersey, (Jersey City Ferry, foot of Cortlandt-street) — Jersey City. New York and Erie, (Steamboat Wharf, foot of Duane- street) — Pierrnont, Rockland Co. Paterson, (Jersey City Ferry, foot of Cortlandt-street) — Jersey City. OMNIBUS LINES. The following Omnibus or Stage Lines run constantly, every day, except Sunday. Astoria and Yorkville line, (11 Stages) — run from Chat- ham-street and the Bowery (hourly) to Yorkville and Hell- Oate Ferry, opj>osite Astoria, si.\ miles. Bloomingdale and Manhattanville Line, (5 stages) — run from Tryon Row to Bloomingdale and Manhattanville, 7 miles. Chelsea Line, (26 stages) — run from Ninth Avenue, corner of 23d-street, to Bowling Green, 3 miles. Empire Line, (20 stages) — run from Sixth Avenue, corner of 14th-6treet, to foot of Whitehall-street, 3 miles. Fulton Ferry Line, (13 stages)— run from Seventh Ave- nue, corner of 21st-street, through Broadway to Fulton Ferry, 3^ miles. 8 86 DESCRIPTION OF Greenwich Line, (8 stages) — run from Hudson, corner of Charles-street, to foot of Whitehall-street, 2i miles. Harlem Line, (9 stages) — run from Tryon Row to Harlem Bridge, every half-hour, 7^ miles. Knickerbocker Line, (36 stages) — run from Eighth Ave- nue, corner of 23d-street, to foot of Whitehall-street. Con- nects at Eighth Avenue v?ith stages for Bloomingdale. Madison Line, (18 stages) — run from Fourth Avenue, cor- ner of 23d-street, to South Ferry. Merchants' Line, (14 stages) — run from Second Avenue, corner of 9th-street, through Houston, Bowery, and Broad- way, to foot of Whitehall-street. Murphy and Go's Line, (19 stages) — run from Third Avenue, corner of 28th-street, through Bowery and Broad- way to foot of Whitehall-street. Murphy and Go's Line, (11 stages) — run from Tompkins Square, through Bowery and Broadway, to foot of Whitehall- street. Union Line, (24 stages) — run from Avenue C, corner of lOth-street, through Grand, Bowery, and Broadway, to foot of Whitehall-street, 3 miles. Union Line, (22 stages,) — run from Avenue C, corner of lOth-street, through Lewis, East Broadway, Chatham, and Broadway, to foot of Whitehall-street, 3 miles. Waverley Line, (19 stages) — run from Sixth Avenue, cor- ner of 23d-street, through Waverley Place and Broadway to foot of Whitehall-street, or South Ferry, 2^ miles. Total, 260 Omnibuses ; giving employment to as many drivers, and about 1500 horses. Usual fare, 6i cents. Registered Number of Public Vehicles in the City of New York, 1847. Hackney Coaches, » 272 Cabs, four-wheeled, 114 " two-wheeled, 59 Omnibuses, 260 Total, " 705 NEW YORK CITY. 87 CENSUS OF THE OITY AWD OOtJNTT OF NEW YORK, According to the State Census of 1845. Total Population. 371,223 Number of male persons. 180,472 " Ffmale persons, 190,751 " Persons suhjeci to militia duty, 35,031 " Persons entitleJ to vote, 63,927 " Aliens, not naturalized, 60,946 " Persons who are paupers, 1.957 " Colored persons not taxed, 12,658 " " who are taxed, 255 " " entitled to vote, 91 " Married females under 45 years, 57,804 " Unmarried females between 16 and 45, 45,674 " " Under 16 years, 62,019 " Marriages during the year, 2,556 " Births,, males, 6,728 « »' females, 6,506 " Deaths, males, 3,471 " " females, 2,822 " Persons born in State of New York, 194,916 " New England States 16,079 " " other States of the Union, 25,572 ** *' Mexico or South America, 508 ** " Great Britain or its possessions, - ■■ • 96.581 " " France. 3,710 " " Germany, 24,416 " *' other parts of Europe, 3,277 " Children between 5 and 16 years, 70,003 " *' attending common schools, 39.262 " " " private schools, 17,324 " '* " academies, &c., l,2o3 " " " colleges, &c., 246 *' Deaf and dumb persons, 254 *' Blind persons, 80 " Idiots, 47 " Lunatics, 539 GENERAL STATISTICS. Number of Colleges, 4 *' Academies, 3 " Female Seminaries, 17 88 DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK CITY. Number of other incorporated institutions of learning, 8 " Normal schools, 1 " Common schools, 78 " Private and select schools, 208 " Inns and taverns, 1,388 Wholesale stores, 1,981 " Retail stores, 4,209 " Groceries, 1,964 " Farmers and agriculturists, 275 ** Merchants, 8,411 " Manufacturers, 1,742 '* Mechanics, 31,9!).'i " Attorneys, 1,016 " Clergymen 282 " Physicians and surgeons, 875 COMPARATIVE POPULATION Of the Principal Cities in the Commercial World. 1. London, 2,.W0,281 13. Philadelphia, (1840,). . 222,423 (proper,) 125,008 , 14. Amsterdam, 207,000 miles by steamboat. This is a new settlement, situated on the East bank of the Hudson, one mile south of Tarrytown. A short distance below is the favorite country seat of Washington Irving, surrounded by several other beau- tiful residences. Jamaica — 12 miles by stage or railroad. This is a quiet and lovely place of residence, surrounded by a rich section of country. The village contains about IGOO inhabitants, 200 dwellings, six churches, and several well-kept hotels. Union Hall Academy, at this place, is an old and flourishing institution. Jericho — 28 miles by railroad and stage. This is a pleas- ant village situated 2 miles north of the line of the Long Is- land Railroad. It is celebrated as once being the residence of the late Elias Hicks, the leader of a large Quaker sect, who are known as " Hicksites." Jerusalem — 28 miles by railroad and stage. This is a Quaker settlement, six miles south from the village of Hemp- stead, where are some 25 or 30 dwellings. Jersey City — 1 mile via Jersey City Ferry. This place is advantageously situated on the west side of the Hudson NEW YORK CITY. 97 River, opposite the city of New York, with which it is con- nected by a steam ferry. It was first incorporated as a city in 1840, and is governed by a mayor and board of aldermen. It now contains about 4000 inhabitants, and is rapidly in- creasing in wealth and numbers, being closely allied to the prosperity of the city of New York. Here commence the New Jersey and Paterson railroads ; also, the Morris Canal. KiNGSBRiDGE — 13 milcs by stage. This is an ancient set- tlement, where a bridge crosses Spuyten Duyvel Creek, or Harlem River, on the great stage road leading from New York to Albany. During the Revolutionary War, this was an important place in a military point of view, in the vicinity of which transpired many important events. Lakeville — 19 miles by stage. This place is pleasantly situated on Success Pond, in the town of Flushing, Long Is- land, and contains some 20 or 25 dwellings. Long Branch — 30 miles by steamboat. This is a well- known and fashionable sea-bathing place, by many consider- ed superior to every other resort of the kind in the vicinity of New York or Philadelphia. Here are to be found several well-kept public houses, with a fine sea-view, enlivened by almost countless vessels passing to and from the Harbor of New York. The fishing banks in the vicinity afford ample sport to the angler, while the sportsman can find an abun- dance of wild water-fowl. Mamaeoneck — 24 miles by railroad and stage. The vil- lage of Mamaroneck is situated on a bay, about one mile from Long Island Sound. Manchester — 18 miles via Paterson Railroad. The vil- lage of Manchester is situated on the Passaic River, directly opposite Patei-son, with which it is connected by two bridges. Manhassett — 20 miles by steamboat or stage. This is a delightful settlement near the head of Cow Bay, where are located a number of fine country residences, occupied by a wealthy class of inhabitants. 9 98 THE ENVIRONS OF Manhattanville — 8 miles by stage, starting from the Bowery. Tliis place lies on the west side of the Island of New York, where is a convenient landing for vessels. About half a mile south of Manhattanville is situated, ou elevated ground, the New York Lunatic Asylum. MiDDLETOWN-, N. J. — 26 miles by steamboat and stage. The village of Middletown is centrally situated, in the town of the same name, about six miles from Middletown Point. Middletown Point— 24 miles by steamboat. This is a' thriving place situated on Middletown Creek, about 3 miles from Raritan Bay. Large quantities of produce of different kinds are annually sent from this place to the city of New York. MoREisTowN — 28 miles by railroad. This village is situa- ted on an elevated plain, and for health, beauty, and pleas- antness, it is not surpassed by any inland village in the State of New Jersey. It is the seat of justice for Morris County, and contains about 2500 inhabitants. The Morris and Es- sex Railroad extends from this place to Newark, a distance of 90 miles. MoRRisiANA — 9 miles by railroad. This is a scattered set- tlement on the south bounds of Westchester county, at the junction of the Harlem and East rivers, where are two free bridges, in addition to the railroad bridge, communicating with the city and county of New York. Newark — 9 miles by railroad, and 18 by steamboat. This is a flourishing city, situated on the west bank of the Passaic River, a few miles above its entrance into Newark Bay. It contained, in 1840, a population of 17,290, and is rapidly in- creasing, both in uumbera and wealth. The river is naviga- ble to this place for vessels of 100 or 200 tons burden, and the Morris Canal passes through the city in its circuitous route through New Jersey to Easton, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware river. No place in the vicinity of New York af- fords a more desirable residence than Newark ; but its chief prosperity is owing to its thriving manufactories of different NEW YORK CITY. 99 kinds, the products of which find a ready market In the city of New York, and sonthem and foreign ports. The annual exports are supposed to amount to eiglit or ten millions of dollars. The communication with the city of New York by means of a Steamboat and the New Jersey Railroad, is both cheap and speedy, affording great facilities to its enterprising inhab- itants. The Morris and Essex Railroad also commences at Newark, and extends 22 miles to the pleasant village of Morristown, passing through several delightful places. New BniGnTON — 6 miles by steamboat, starting from the foot of Battery Place. This is a fashionable place, most de- lightfully situated on the north end of Stateu Island, com- manding a fine view of the Bay of New York. Here are located a number of beautiful summer resideoces, two hotels, and a seminary for young ladies. New Bku.nswick — 30 miles by railroad, and 36 by steam- boat. This is a flourishing city containing 6000 or 7000 in- habitants, about 800 dwellings, 10 churches, 2 banks, 10 hotels and taverns. Here are located Rutgers' College and a grammar school connected with it ; 2 academies, besides several other schools, male and female. New Brunswick is a pleasant place of residence, and possesses advantages which will raise it to gradual increase and importance, having com- munication with both New York and Philadelphia by rail- road, canal, and river navigation. The Delaware and Raritan Canal commences at New Brunswick, and running through Trenton, communicates with the Delaware River at Bordentown. It is 43 miles long, 75 feet wide, and 7 feet deeps admitting sloops of from 80 to 100 tons burden. The Raritan River is navigable for vessels of 200 tons, to the wharves of the lower part of the city. Here terminates the New Jersey Railroad, and com- mences the New Brunswick and Trenton Railroad, forming Ine principal links in the great line of travel through New Jersey, between New York and Philadelphia. 100 THE ENVIRONS OF New Rochelle — 20 miles by railroad and stage, or by steamboat. This place is pleasantly situated in Westchester county, on the north side of Long Island Sound. It is it fashionable summer resort for those fond of fishing, shooting, and bathing. The hotels and boarding-houses for the accom- modation of visiters are well kept, being usually, during warm weather, crowded with families of wealth and taste, who here find a quiet retreat. Newtown, L. I. — 8 miles by stage. This village is situa- ted on the turnpike road leading from VVilliamsburgh to Flush- ing, 6 miles distant from the former place. It contains about 500 inhabitants, and is surrounded by a highly cultivated section of country, furnishing large quantities of vegetables and fruit for the New York market. New Utrecht, L. I. — 9 miles by stage. This settlement lies on the west end of Long Island, near the Atlantic Ocean. It is surrounded by a fine section of country, where are loca- ted many delightful country residences and good substantial farm-houses. Nyack — 97 miles by steamboat. This village is pleasantly situated on the west side of the Hudson River, or Tappan Bay, here about 3 miles wide. It is a thriving village, con- taining about 1000 inhabitants, several churches and public houses. A steamboat runs daily to and from the city of New York. Orange, N. ,T. — 13 miles by railroad. This is a straggling village 3 or 4 miles west of Newark. It may be said to con- tain about 1000 inhabitants, 200 dwellings, together with several churches and public houses. The Mineral Spring, near the centre of the settlement, is much resorted to by in- valids and seekers of pleasure. Oyster Bay, L. I. — 30 miles by railroad and stage, or by steamboat. This place is delightfully situated on Oyster Bay Harbor, 3 miles from Long Island Sound, and is a place of considerable resort during warm weather. The village con- tains about 500 inhabitants, 70 dwelling-houses, 2 churches, NF,W YORK CITY. 101 and 3 public houses. The fish, oysters, and clams, which are here taken in abundance, are highly esteemed by the epicure. Here, too, may he enjoyed, upon tiie pebbled shore, the luxury of salt-water bathing ; and from the heights over- looking the village and harbor, the painter or amateur may find employment and pleasure in surveying the richness and variiHy of the surrounding scenery. Paterson, N. J. — 17 miles by railroad. The village of Paterson is the seat of justice for the county of Passaic, and is one of the most noted places in New .Tersey. No place in the State exceeds it in natural and artificial advantages ; it possesses an inexhaustible water-jwwer, and an industrious and enterprising population, and is within one hour's ride, by railroad, of the city of New York. In 1840 it contained 7.'ii)5 inhabitants, and about 1000 dwellings, 9 churches, 104 stores, 4 fulling-mills, 1 woollen factory, 19 cotton factories, 2 dying and printing establishments, and 2 paper mills, be- sides rnauy other kinds of manufacturing establishments, mostly using water-power obtained from the Passaic River. The Falls, near the village, and the manufactories are annually visited by great numbers who are fond of the works of nature and art. The whole descent of the Passaic, at this spot, is from 60 to 70 feet. In the first portion of its de- scent, the river rushes over a steep slope of deeply rifted rock, and then makes a clear pitch of some 30 or 40 feet into a narrow, wedge-shaped, and transverse chasm, with a high wall of perpendicular rock fronting the Falls, and right athwart the course of the strenm, compelling the boiling wa- ters to pass out of the chasm nearly at right angles with their previous direction, into the broad and black pool immediately below, which is walled in, for many rods on each side of the gorge, by perpendicular cliffs of naked rock 80 or 90 feet high, greatly augmenting the grandeur of the scene. Pkrth Ambov — 24 miles by steamboat. This is an old city, having been first settled and laid out into lots in 1683 ; its present charter is dated December 21, 1784. The city ia 102 THE ENVIRONS OF now governed by a mayor, recorder, three aldermen, and six common councilmen. It contains at present about 1400 in- habitants, having increased but slowly in population, although it possesses a safe and commodious harbor, and is a port of entry. The Raritan River here empties its waters into a bay of the same name, which communicates with the Atlantic Ocean through the Lower Bay of New York. The waters in this vicinity are celebrated for the fine quality of the oys- ters, which are taken in great abundance, giving employment to a great number of persons. From its easy access by wa- ter to and from the city of New York, and its agreeable sit- uation in the vicinity of the ocean, affording sea-water bath- ing, Perth Amboy may be ranked as an agreeable and healthy place of resort during the summer months. PiERMONT — 24 miles by steamboat, starting from tlie foot of Duane-street. This place, formerly known as Tappan Landing, is advantageously situated on the west shore of the Hudson River. It has become a place of importance as the ierviinus of the Now York and Erie Railroad, which great work, when completed, will terminate at Dunkirk, on the shore of Lake Erie, 446 miles distant. It is now completed to Otisville, in Orange county, a distance of 62 miles, and is in progress of construction its entire length. At Piermcnt there has been constructed a substantial pier, more than a mile in length, extending from the shore to the channel of the river, which is here called " Tappan Bay." A steamboat plies daily, summer and winter, between this place and the city of New York, connecting with the cars running on the railroad. The Palisades here terminate on the north by an abrupt hill. This hill, and the pier already mentioned, being the two most distinguishing features in the vicinity, they have, very appropriately been combined to form the name of Pier- mont. Plainfield, N. J. — 26 miles by steamboat and railroad. This is a thriving village situated on the line of the Elizabeth- NEW YORK CITY. 103 town and Somerville Railroad. The surrounding section of country is rich, well cultivated, and healthy. Port Chester — 30 miles by steamboat. This village is pleasantly situated on the west side of Byram River, which here forms the boundary line between New York and Con- necticut. It now contains about 1000 inliabitants, and 120 dwelling-houses. A steamboat runs daily to and from the city of New York, through Long Island Sound and the East River. Port Richmond — 9 miles by steamboat, starting from the foot of Battery Place. This village is situated on the north shore of Staten Island ; it contains about 400 inhabitants and GO dwellings. Here is a convenient steamboat landing, where steamboats almost hourly stop to laud and receive passengers. In the vicinity there is a valuable granite quarry, wliicli is worked by an inco))porated company. Rahway, N. J. — 19 miles by railroad. This village lies upon both sides of the Rahway River, .5 miles above its en- trance into Staten Island Sound. It contains altogether about 2000 inhabitants ; the dwellings being in four detached parts, contiguous to the river, which affords navigation below for small vessels, and hydraulic power above the centre of the town. Here are located several extensive manufacturing establishments. Ravenswood, L. I. — 5 miles by steamboat. This is a de- lightful settlement situated on the East River, opposite Black- well's Island. The steamboat running to Astoria and Flush- ing stops here daily to land and receive passengers. Red Bank, N. J. — 26 miles by steamboat. This place is situated on Neversink River, where is a convenient steamboat landing, from whence a steamboat mns daily to and from the city of New York. The village and surrounding country is fertile and pleasant, inhabited by an agreeable and respecta- ble class of farmers, who afford reasonable board and enter- tainment to visiters during warm weather Richmond — 1,3 miles by steamboat and stage. This is the 104 THE ENVIRONS OF county seat for Richmond county, situated near the centre of Staten Island. RocKAWAY, L. I. — 20 miles by railroad and stage. This is one of the most fashionable watering-places on the Ameri- can continent, being unsurpassed in every requisite to make it a favorite summer resort for the invalid or seekers of pleas- ure, in pursuit of invigorating air and sea-bathing. Here is erected a splendid hotel called the Marine Pavilion, situated near the beach, facing the ocean ; it is 230 feet in front, 3 stories high, with two wings and two magnificent piazzas. From the front is an unrivalled view of the Atlantic Ocean, and the numerous shipping passing Sandy Hook, to and from the Harbor of New York ; and the rear affords a fine pros- pect of Jamaica Bay and the adjacent country. Other public houses, affording good accommodations for visiters, and several beautiful country residences, are situated in this vicinity, near the beach. The conveyance to Rocka- way, from the city of New York, is easy and delightful, by railroad and stages. RoBsvii.LE— 18 miles by steamboat and stage. This place is pleasautly situated on the west side of Staten Island, facing Staten Island Sound. RvE — 28 miles by railroad and stage. This village is situ- ated in VVestche.ster county, near Long Island Sound. SiiREWSBtfRY, N. ,). — 28 miles by steamboat. This village is pleasantly situated between Shrewsbury and Neversiuk rivers, surrounded by a rich and healthy section of country. South Amroy, N. J. — 26 miles by steamboat, starting from Pier No. 2, North River. Here is a convenient steamboat landing and a safe harbor for vessels, being at the head of Raritan Bay, where commences the Camden and Amboy Railroad, running to Camden, opposite to Philadelphia. Springfield, N. J. — 18 miles by railroad. This village is situated on the Rahway River, near the line of the Morris and Essex Railroad. It contains about 1000 inhabitants, and 200 dwellings, many of which are neatly constructed. NEW YORK CITY. 105 Stapleton — 7 miles by steamboat, starting from the foot of Wliitehall-street. This place is delightfully situated on Staten Island, near the Quarantine Ground. Here is located the Sailors' Retreat, a noble stone edifice, erected by the State of New York, for the accommodation and maintenance of sick and disabled seamen. Tappan — 27 miles by steamboat and stage. This is an an- cient village, situated three miles west of the Hudson River. It was once the head-quarters of the American army, and is celebrated as the place where Major Andre was hung, Octo- ber 2d, 1780. The village and scenery in the vicinity now present a quiet and retired appearance, but little in accordance with the stirring events of the days of the Revolution. The liouse is still standing here in which Washington resided ; also, the building in which Major Andre was confined during his trial as a spy. Tarrytown — 27 miles by steamboat. This village is de- lightfully situated on the east bank of the Hudson, overlook- ing its wide expanse called " Tappan Bay." The ground here rises with a steep ascent from the margin of the river, affording an extensive and delightful view up and down its stream. Tarrytown now contains about 1000 inhabitants, independent of Beekmantown, which adjoins it on tiie north, and contains about 500 inhabitants, and the Irving Institute, a fiourishiug institution of learning. It was in this injmediate vicinity that Major Andre was captured during tlie Revolu- tionary War, while watering his horse, he being on his re- turn from West Point. His captors were Van Wart, Paul- ding, and Williams, who rendered their names conspicuous by their firmness in retaining him as a prisoner, when tempted by a large reward if they would consent to let him pass into the British camp, on the island of New York. Nothing now designates the place where he was taken and examined, al- though the inhabitants of the village easily direct strangers to the spot. Adjoining the north part of the village of Tarrytown 106 THE ENVIRONS OF commences the famous Sleepy Hollow, in which Washing- tou Irving laid the scene of his entertaining legend bearing the above name. ToMPKiNsviLLE— 6 mllcs by steamboat, starting from the foot of Whitehall-street. This village is pleasantly situated on Staten Island, facing the Bay of New York and Quar- antine Ground. On the north, near the water, are situated three spacious hospitals attached to the Lazaretto. The building and grounds, wliich are enclosed, are finely situated on rising ground, and show to great advantage as you ap- proach from the city of New York. During warm weather a great number of vessels, from different quarters of the globe, may here be seen riding at anchor at the Quarantine Ground, in front of the village. This is a place of great resort during pleasant weather ; commodious steamboats run almost hourly to and from the city of New York, affording a healthy and delightful excursion. The Pavilion, a public house on the brow of the hill, in the rear of the village, is usually thronged with visiters during warm weather, who here resort to enjoy the Invigorating sea-air, and behold the panoramic view which is here presented, embracing the lovely waters of the Bay of New York, dotted with almost innumerable vessels of every description. Weeiiawke.x, N. J. — i miles via Hoboken Ferry. This is a romantic spot, where, from the eminence on the bank of the Hudson River, known as " Weehawken Hill," may at all times bfi seen as fine and varied a view as can well be im- agined. A short distance above the hill, near the water's edge, is the spot where General Alexander Hamilton fell in a duel with Colonel Aaron Burr, July 12, 1804. Westchester — 14 miles by steamboat or stage. The vil- lage of Westchester is situated at the head of navigation, on Westchester creek, about 2 miles from Long Island Sound. From the landing a steamboat runs daily to and from the city of New York. West I'ar.iis — 13 miles by railroad and stage. This vi'.- NEW YORK CITY. 107 lage is situated at the head of navigation on the Bronx River 3 miles from Long Island Sound. It is a thriving place where are located several extensive manufactories. White Plains — 26 miles by railroad. This is a pleasant village, situated about one mile east of the Bronx River, on a fine plain ; it is the seat of justice for tlie county of West- chester. It contains about 800 inhabitants, 120 dwelling- houses, a courthouse and jail, 4 churches, an academy, and a female boarding-school. WiLLiAMSBURGH, L. I. — 1 mile by ferry. This is an im- portant place, being situated on the East River, directly op- posite the city of New York, with which it is connected by three steam ferries. It contained, in 1845, 11,3.18 inhabit- ants, and is rapidly increasing in wealth and population. Here are located several extensive manufncturing establish- ments, and a large number of elegant dwellings have recently been erected, owned and occupied by persons doing business in the city of New York, who here find a desirable and quiet residence. A turnpike road extends from Williamsburgh to the village of Jamaica, and one to Flushing, communicating with other roads in the interior of Long Island. YoNKERs — 17 miles by steamboat. This village is delight- fully situated on the east bank of the Hudson River, where is a convenient steamboat landing. It contains about 600 in- habitants, and many neat dwellings. This place is a favor- ite resort for the citizens of New York, during warm weather, being within a convenient distance, both by land and water conveyance. YoRKvii,LE — 5 miles by railroad or omnibus. This place is situated on the Third Avenue, and on the line of the Har- lem Railroad. The Tunnel in this vicinity, constructed by the Harlem Railroad Company, and through which the cars pass with their accustomed velocity, is a work of nnich in- terest. It extends under an eminence called Prospect Hill, and is cut through a solid rock 844 feet in length, being 24 feet wide and 21 feet high in the centre. 108 THE ENVIRONS OF BAYS, EIVEES, &c. In addition to the Atlantic Ocean on the south, and Long Island Sound on the east, the city of New York is surrounded by a great number of navigable bays, harbors, rivers, and in- lets ; atibrding an easy water communication to the surround-' ing country- The Lower Bay of New York, centrally 14 miles south of the city, is the largest and most important bay in the vi- cinity ; on the north, it communicates with the Bay of New York through " the Narrows ;" on the west, with the Rari- tan Bay, and on the east, with the Atlantic Ocean tlirough Gedney's and the Old Channel ; the former affording 24 feet water over the bar, and the latter 91 feet at the lowest tides. The city of New York, and commerce at large, has been greatly benefited by the surveys under Captain Gedney, of the U. S. Navy, which resulted in discovering the above channel of 24 feet water, which is now known as the Gedney Channel. Armed vessels and merchantmen of the largest class, can now, at all times, be safely piloted into the Lower Bay, and thence to the wharves of the city. The Bay of New York, centrally 4 miles south of the city, has long been celebrated for its beauties ; surrounded as it is by cultivated and picluresque scenery. It is perfectly safe for shipping, being protected by the surrounding high lands ; it receives the Hudson River on the north, and com- municates with Long Island Sound through an arm of the sea called East RiVor. It contains Governor's, Bedlow's, and Ellis's islands, and Robbins's Reef ; on the latter is now erect- ing a new light-house. The Quarantine Ground is on the south, opposite Staten Island, where is usually to be seen, in warm weather, a great number of vessels lying at anchor, mostly from foreign ports, in pursuance of sanatary regulations, for preventing the diseases of foreign parts from infecting the commercial emporium. NEW YORK CITY. 109 Raritan Bav, 20 miles south of New York, communicates with the lower Bay, and affords a safe ancliorage. On the west, at the mouth of the Raritan River, lie Perth Amboy and South Amboy, on either side of the stream, wiiich com- municates with Newark Bay, and the Bay of New York, through Staten Island Sound. Newark Bay is a large body of water, 7 miles west of New York ; on the north it receives the Passaic and Hack- ensack rivers, and communicates with the Bay of New York through " the Kills." Jamaica Bay, and Hempsteao Bay, on the southeast of the city, are both large bodies of water, admitting vessels of a small draft, and abounding with water-fowl, iish, clams, and oysters. South Bay, which commences at the New Inlet, 95 miles east of the city of New York, is a large and navigable body of water, extending from Hempstead Bay, in an easterly di- rection, a distance of about 70 miles, being in width from 2 to 5 miles. Its waters abound with almost every variety of shell and scale fish, which can never be exhausted. Wild fowl of many kinds, are also found here in countless num- bers, affording a pleasant recreation to the sportsman, and a source of profitable employment to many hundreds of indi- viduals. Flushing Bay, Little Neck Bay, Cow Bay. Hkmpstead Harbor, and Oyster Bay Harbor, on the east of the city, on Long Island Sound, are all important bodies of water, af- fording good water communication between a number of villages and landings, and the city of New York. The Harbors, also, on Long Island Sound, on the north- west, to the Connecticut State-line, afford a number of good landings ; the waters abounding with water-fowl and fish of different descriptions. The Hudson ifivER, sometimes called North River, which empties into the Bay of New York, and thence passes out through " the. Narrows," to the broad Atlantic Ocean, is the 10 110 THE ENVIROMS OF just prido of the inhabitants of the city and slate of New York. This noble river was first discovered by Henry Hud- son in 1609, while in the employ of the Dutch East India Company. It is doubtful if any visions of futurity presented to his mind the present importance and celebrity of this beau- tiful river, bearing his own name, and which is thus enthu- siastically spoken of by Washington Irving : — " I thank God I was born on the banks of the Hudson ! — I think it an invaluable advantage to be born and brought up in the neighborhood of some grand and noble object in nature ; a river, a lake, or a mountain. We make a friendship with it. We in a manner ally ourselves to it for life. It remains an object of our pride and affections, a rallying point, to call us home again after all our wanderings. ' The things which we have learned in our childhood,' says an old writer, ' grow up with our souls, and unite themselves to it.' So it is with the scenes among which we have passed our early days ; they influence the whole course of our thoughts and feelhigs ; and I fancy I can trace much of what is good and pleasant in my own heterogeneous compound, to my early companion- ship with this glorious river. In the warmth of my youthful enthusiasm, I used to clothe it with moral attributes, and al- most to give it a soul. I admired its frank, bold, honest character ; its noble sincerity and perfect truth. Here was no specious, smiling surface, covering the dangerous sand-bar or perfidious rock ; but a stream deep as it was broad, and bear- ing with honorable faith the bark that trusted to its waves. I gloried in its simple, quiet, majestic, epic flow ; ever straight- forward. Once, indeed, it turns aside for a moment, forced from its course by opposing mountains, but it struggles bravely through them, and immediately resumes its straight-forward march. Behold, thought I, an emblem of a good man's course through life ; ever simple, open, and direct ; — or if, overpowered by adverse circumstances, he Seviate into error, it is but momentary ; he soon recovers his onward and honor- able career, and continues it to the end of his pilgrimage." NEW YORK CITY. Ill The Hudson River is navigable for ships to the city of Hud- son, 130 miles from its mouth ; to Troy, 150 miles, for steam- boats of a large class ; and to the village of Waterford, at the confluence of the Mohawk, about 160 miles from its mouth, for vessels of 70 or 80 tons ; v/here navigation en- tirely ceases. East River, so called, is an arm of the sea, or a continua- tion of Long Island Sound, dividing the island of New York and a part of Westchester county from Long Island ; it com- municates with the Hudson River and Bay of New York, all of whose surplus watere &ow into the Atlantic Ocean, through the " Narrows." It may be considered 15 miles in length, and is navigable for vessels of a large class. The celebrated pass called " Hell-Gate," is situated on this stream, opposite Great Barn Island, 7 miles from the city of New York. Harlem River, as it is commonly called, extends from the East River to the Hudson River, or Spuyten Duyvel Creek, the name singularly given to the western termination of this channel ; it divides the county of New York from Westchester county. Although navigable fer small craft, it has several bridges built across it with draws, to admit vessels through. The Harlem Bridge, the Railroad Bridge, McComb's Bridge, King's Bridge, and the Croton Aqueduct Bridge, all cross this stream, which is 8 or 10 miles in length. The Bronx and Saw Mill rivers rise in Westchester coun- ty, and are inconsiderable streams ; affording, however, some good mill-sites ; the one empties into the Hudson River at Yonkers, the other, into the East River, or Long Island Sound, opposite Flushing Bay. The Hackensack River rises in Rockland county, N. Y", and runs through Bergen county, N. J., nearly parallel with the Hudson River, about 4 miles to the west. It is navigable for sloops, about 18 miles from its mouth, where it empties in- to Newark Bay. The Passaic Rivek rises in Morris county, N. J., and runs in a circuitous course to its mouth, where it empties into 112 ENVIRONS OF NEW YORK CITY. Newark Bay. It is navigable for sloops to Acquackanonck, a di.stance of about 12 miles. The Great and Little Falls of the Passaic are both worthy of a visit. The Great Falls at Patersou may be considered tlie greatest natural curiosity in tbe vicinity of thirl y miles of the city of New York. Rahway Rivkr rises in Essex county, N. J., and empties into Staten Island Sound 4 miles below the village of Rah- way, to which place it is navigable for sloops. The Raritan River empties into Raritan Bay, at the city of Perth Amboy, 14 miles below the city of New Brunswick, to which it is navigable for sloops and steamboats. Shrewsbury River rises in Monmouth county, N. J., and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Old Shrewsbury Inlet, near Sandy Hook ; it is navigable to Red Bank, a distance of about 6 miles. THE END. likgrtsR,,,).^!^ m> r\ ' ■» iS^tlmi ftfiA'rt , .x.,,To^>.^ -^ifwr*'' f , ri-.ninifin'j K I N G- St, 'fjC 0 C i'' A > ^ iMl4/lf/l'tt>Ult iiUUf ^. ( aii.t Mi«>^ BOATS ON HUDSON RIVER. 113 PASSAGE BOATS RUNNING ON HUDSON RIVER, PROM NEW YORK TO ALBANY AND TROY, 150 Miles DAY LINE. Steamboat Troy, 724 tons, Capt. A. Gorhnm. " Niagara, 730 tons, Capt. H. L. Kellogg. NIGHT THROUGH-LINE. Steamboat Empire, 927 tons, Capt. R. B. Macy. Columbia, 400 tons, Capl. Wm. W. Tupper. FROM NEW YORK TO ALBANY, 145 Miles. PEOrLE*S LINE. Leaving J^ew York and Slbany at 6 o'clock, P- M. Steamboat Hendrik Hudson, 1170 tons, Capt. R. G. Cruttenden. " Isaac Newton, 1250 tons, Capt. Wm. H. Peck. Leaving JVew York and Albany at 5 o'clock, P. M. Landing at tht principal places on the River. Steamboat North America, Capt. R. H. Fnry " SocTH America, Capt. T. N. HuUe. INDEPENDENT LINES. Steamboat Auda. (day boat) Capt. George O. Tupper. Mktamora, " " T. S. KniL^hi. Roger Williams, " De Groat. " Rip Van Winkle, (night boat) *' George !l. Riggs. " New Jersey, " " A. Hitchcock. From New York to Hudson, Ufi miles. St'mboat Fairfield, Capt. J. Beebe.— Hudson, Capl. Wm. H. Melien. From New York to Catskill, UO miles. Steamboat Utica, Capt. Geo. Pentield. From New York to Saugerties, 100 milee. Steamboat Robert L. Stevens, Capt. R. L. Maybe. From New York to Rondout, 90 miles. Steamboat Emerald, Capt. J. Samuels. — Telegraph, Capl. Asa Eaton. — Norwich, Capt. . From New York to Poughkeepsie, 74 miles. Steamboat Santa Claus, Capt. Benj. Overbagh. From New York to Newburgh, 60 miles. Steamboat Highlander, Capt. Armstrong. — Thomas Powell, Capt. S. John-son. — Caledonia, Capt. VVardrop. From New York to Dobb's Ferry, Sino Sino, &c. Sleaiiiboat Zephyr. Capt. E. B- Wells. From New York to Nyack and Tarrytown. Steamboat .Vrrow, Cupt. .1. P. Pinith. 114 STEAMBOAT AND STAGE ROUTES. TABLE OF DISTANCES BETWEEN NEW YORK AND ALBANY. Distances between New-York and Albanv, on the east sidt* ol Hudsitn river, by mail rotiic NAMES. New- York, King's Bridge, • Yonker's, Dobb's Ferry, -•• • Tarry town, Sing-Sing, Croton Kiver, PeekskiU. ?hillii)sburch, • *• Fishkill, PoUGHKEEFSlE, • Hyde P irk, Khiiiebeck, Redhook, Lower,* Rpdliook, Upper.- Clermnnt, Blue Store, Hudson, Stuyvesant Falls, Kinderhook, Schodack Centre, Greenbush, Albany, 1 E S o g "H. b. <: 0 0 154 13 13 141 4 17 137 6 22 132 C as liC 6 34 120 '2 36 118 10 46 108 9 6S 99 10 66 89 13 78 70 6 84 70 10 94 60 e 100 54 3 103 51 6 108 46 2 110 44 11 121 33 8 129 26 6 134 20 10 144 10 9 153 1 1 154 0 Saufierties, utase. M-ilden, do Oatskill; do ALheiis, do Coxs^aekie, do t\. Baltimore, do (,'oeyn)ans, do Albany, do Distances between and ALBANv.onthe Hudson river, via. Nkw-York, Piermont, by s. 6.- Ramapo. by r. r. Monrtie Works, do Turners' Depnt,do Newburgh, stage, Marlliorough, do- Milton do New Paltz, do Esopus, do Rondout, do KiNQSTOKj do Glasco, do New- York west side of Piermont. 0 167 24 2^ 143 20 44 123 8 62 lis 6 67 110 17 74 93 8 ai 86 4 86 81 4 90 77 9 99 68 8 107 60 2 109 68 9 113 49 3 121 46 3 124 43 9 133 34 6 139 28 8 147 20 6 163 14 n 165 12 12 167 0 Distances of places son river, from New-York. Vew-Y'ork, Hull's Feiry, N. J Manhattanville," Fori Lee, N J.* • • Spuylon Duyvel c. Yonkers, Hastmps, Ilobb's Ferry, ■- • Piermont, Tarrytown, ins-Sing, Vcrplank s Pgint,- (^aldwe. I's LaJidins West Point }••'• Coid Spring, • • CfJrnwall,- •• NeivhuTgk, • •*- Neu;- Hamburgh Milton, Pou«hkeepsie) • Hyde Park,-'* Pelham, Ithinebeck, • ■•• Redhook, Lower, Kfidhook, Uji}>er, Saugerties, Brtstol, or Maiden Cntskill, ••• Hudson, (^ox-ackie,-' Kinderkook Land. New-Baltimore, •• C^oeymans, • Castleton, Overslaugh, Albany, Troy, on the Hud- Alba>y and 0 0 145 e 6 139 2 8 137 10 135 3 13 132 4 17 123 3 20 126 2 22 123 2 24 121 3 27 113 6 33 112 7 40 106 4 44 101 8 52 93 2 61 91 3 67 88 4 61 84 6 67 78 3 70 76 4 7. 71 6 80 66 4 84 61 6 90 65 7 97 48 3 100 45 1 101 44 1 102 43 9 111 34 6 110 29 8 12 21 3 1J7 13 4 131 14 a 133 12 4 137 8 6 142 3 3 145 0 6 ISl 6 Note.— Places in Italic, are the usual Steamboat Landings TO TRAVELLERS AND EMIGRANTS. J. DISTURNELL, DEALER IN MAPS, GUIDE BOOKS, STATISTICAL WORKS, &e. &e. No. 102 Broadway, BETWEEN PINE AND WALL STREETS, NEW YORK, Keeps a full assortment of the above articles, together with a collection of Engravings, illustrative of American Scene- ry — all of which will be sold on reasonable terms, at whole- sale or retail. Citizens and Strangers are invited to call and examine his assortment of Mai's, Guide Books, &c., before leaving the city on excursions of pleasure, or travels for health or business, as they can be furnished with publications relating to every section of the United States, Canada, Texas, Mex- ico, Guatemala, the West Indies, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa — embracing every part of the world. Schools and Libraries supplied with Maps and Sta- tistical Works. N. B.— The PICTURESQUE TOURIST, being a Guide through the Northern and Eastern States, and Canada, together with other publications of J. D.'s, useful to travellers, can be obtained at most of the Bookstores in the United States and Canada. New York, Jan, 1847. STATISTICAL & GEOGRAPHICAL WORKS. No« 102 Broadway^ New Tork^ HAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED, 1. — A New Township Map ok thb State of New York showing the boundaries of Counties and Townships; the locHtion of Cities and Villages, &c. By J. Calvin Smith. Engraved on steel. Price, (pocket form,) ^75 Do., on rollers 1 50 2. — Gazetteer of the State of New York : comprising its Topog- raphy. Geology, Minernlogical Resources, Civil Divisions, Ca- nals, Railroads, and Public Institutions, together with General Statistics. Accom[)jvnied by a new Township Map of the State. Price $2 00 3. — ^Thk New York St.^te Guide : containing an Alphabetical List of Counties, 'J'owns, Cities, Villages, Post-olfices, &c., with the Census of 1840. Price, with St;ite Map, f 1 00 4. — The New York Politicai- Manual : containing the Official Election Returns for 1840-'44, and the Census of 1840 ; together with other useful information. Price $0 t25 5. — ^The New York State Reoistek vor 1845. Edited by O. L. Holiey. Price $1 50 6. — ^The Northern Traveller: containing the Hudson River Guide, and Tour to the Springs, Lake George, and Canada, pass- ing through Lake Champlain. Price $0 50 7. — The Western Traveller: embracing the Canal and Railroad Routes, from Alliiiny and Troy to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Also, the Steamboat Route from Buffalo to Detroit and Chicago. Price $0 50 8. — The Picturesque Tourist: being a Guide through the North- ern and Eastern States, and Canada. Edited by O. L. Holiey With Maps and Illustrations. Price $150 9. — Panorama of the Hudson River ; drawn from nature, and en- graved by Wm. Wade. Price, colored, $2 00 10. — Railroad and Steamboat Book; being n Guide between Wash- ington, New York, Boston, &c. Price $0 35 11. — A New Guide through the Middle, Northern, and Eastern States, with Map $0 50 15. — New York City Guide ; containing a Description of the City of New York and Environs $0 50 1