and pilasters on the sides. The interior is almost wholly of hewn stone. The principal hall is in the centre; and all the departments are well arranged, with ample accommodations for the numerous offices and clerks. The City-Hall. This fine and spacious edifice occupies the centre of the park, facing the south, and presents a beautiful Grecian front, of 216 feet in length, rising from a broad terrace. A flight of wide steps leads up to arched entrances, above which is a balcony on the second story. The two wings have halls in front, devoted to the common council, the superior court, &c., while other courts and offices are accommodated in other parts of the building. On the top is the great fire-bell, which indicates, by the number of strokes, the districts of the city in which fires are burning, for the direction of the firecompanies. A view from the cupola affords one of the finest prospects of the city. Trinity Church, on Broadway, opposite the head of Wall street, occupies the site of the first episcopal church erected in the city, in 1696, except the chapel in the front. It is of sandstone, in the Gothic style, 137 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 67 feet high, with a tower 30 feet square, and a steeple whose top is 283 feet from the ground. In the rear is a vestry, 72 feet long. The church contains an organ, which cost $10,000. In the burial-ground surrounding the church, lie interred many distinguished persons, particularly Alexander Hamilton and Captain James Lawrence. Prisons.-The Halls of Justice is the city prison popularly known as the Tombs," and is situated a little north of the park. It was built, about ten years ago, to obviate the evils of the bridewell, which was constructed on the defective principles of the old system. The building is 200 by 253 feet, of granite, in the Egyptian style, and contains various court-rooms. The cells are solitary, to prevent communication between the prisoners, but provision is made for ventilation and warming the cells, by openings in the wall. Measures are taken for the religious instruc 66 tion and moral improvement of those confined. The Penitentiary, on Blackwell's island, in the East river, is an immense stone structure, on the Auburn plan, with a chapel, keepers' rooms, &c., in the centre, the cells for females in the south wing, and for men in the north. Each wing is more than 200 feet long. BROOKLYN. This city is on Long Island, opposite New York city, with which it is connected by ferries, upon which steamboats ply, every few minutes, day and night. Its beautiful and elevated situation has made it a favorite residence of many persons doing business in New York. It contains a city-hall, thirty churches, several banks and insurance companies, and over seventy thousand inhabitants. The Lyceum is a fine building of granite, with a spacious lecture-room. The City Library of 3,000 volumes, has a fine building and reading-room. The Navy-Yard has extensive grounds enclosed, with an arsenal, stores, shiphouses, docks, the naval lyceum, &c. The naval hospital, at a little distance, is a fine, large building. Greenwood Cemetery is an extensive tract of ground, about three miles below Brooklyn, and situated on the bay. It has an undulated surface, and is laid out in lots, the access to which is by pleasant, winding carriage-roads. The forest-trees are left standing in many places, shading the little lakes, or covering the hills, and, in others, those of various foliage are intermingled by art; while tombs and monuments, usually planned and executed with taste, are already scattered in all parts. Staten Island, with an elevated and varied surface, offers many fine sites for villages and country-houses, and is the resort of many citizens, access being made frequent and convenient by numerous steamboats. The quarantine hospitals are situated on the northeastern side; and a little below is the "seamen's retreat," a noble institution, supported by the "hospital money" paid by sailors. Hoboken and Weehawken, on the shore of New Jersey, opposite the city, are pleasant retreats. HISTORY OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY all efforts to enslave them. These bold IN THE OLDEN TIME.-The American spirits formed the nucleus of the future Revolution, which has produced such armies of the Revolution; and it is to extraordinary results both at home and the moral courage which they displayed, abroad, and which is destined to cause and the indomitable resolution with which still greater changes in the European they braved all danger, that the world world, will elevate the eighteenth cen- is indebted for the illustrious example tury beyond that of any of its predeces- set by the infant colonies to Europe, and sors in the annals of history. The suc- the foundation of a great and glorious cess of the great struggle for liberty, republic. which was by the many supposed hopeless, and which present historians deem almost miraculous, was brought about by the courage and perseverance of a few indomitable spirits, whom no labor could weary or danger appal; and it was by their moral courage, perseverance, and intrepidity, that this great Revolution was begun, continued, and ended. The influence of these patriotic men, and the successful issue of the struggle begun by their boldness and sustained by their energies, has scattered abroad the seeds of freedom, which have borne fruit, in encouraging a spirit of inquiry throughout the civilized world, which has reformed despotic governments, and regenerated the fairest empires of the Old World. If the successful issue of the Revolution has solved the problem of the possible existence of a free yet powerful government, it is, first, to the devoted individuals who, despising the dangers and disgraces to which they were exposed, set at naught the penalties and disqualifications of conspiracy and treason, and entered into the contest with a full knowledge of all its hazards, and a determination to persist to the death to effect their emancipation-secondly, to those brave men who bore arms in the subsequent struggle-that the great meed of applause is due. To all these, however obscure their names or imperfect their efforts, the nation at large owes a deep and lasting debt of gratitude. Many of those who figured largely in the history of the times, and some even who swayed the councils of the nation after the struggle was successfully begun, were content with encouraging the revolt of others, without committing themselves, and kept within the pale of safety until they could embark without fear upon the perilous sea. But there were others who were not only the principal agitators, but actors themselves in the most daring exploits; and who threw themselves into the breach in the most dangerous conjunctures. Had it not been for these, who took upon themselves the fearful responsibility of directing and participating in overt acts of rebellion, the studied arguments of others who wished to bring on a crisis, but blenched from its dangerous concom- The task of perpetuating the fame of itants would have been unavailing. many of the great leaders of the RevoIn the year 1765 ISAAC SEARS, after-lution has fallen into the hands of able ward better known by the name of KING historians, who have well performed SEARS, a man of great personal intrepidity, forward in dangerous enterprises, and ready at all times to carry out the boldest measures, became the originator and leader of a patriotic band, who associated themselves together under the name of the "SONS OF LIBERTY." Their organization soon pervaded every part of the colonies, and was the germ of the Revolution. By their intrepidity the spirit of the masses was aroused, and by their persevering industry and zeal the people were excited to oppose that duty. To rescue from oblivion and to do justice to the founders of our liberties, whose deeds, active or passive, whose personal or moral courage was instrumental in producing great and universal benefits to mankind, is peculiarly the duty of the present age. Now, when the present race, who first opened their eyes to an emancipated country, to enjoy the blessings purchased by the blood of their fathers, are fast verging to the grave, it is incumbent on all who have the means of elucidating past trans actions, or the power to do justice to the actors in the scenes which have preceded them, to lend their efforts before they are called to their own exit, lest the deeds of their ancestors be forgotten. It has often been remarked by historians as a duty every true patriot owes to the public and posterity, to bring to light whatever can be collected from the perishing materials or former days. There are ancient manuscripts in every part of our country, which are thrown aside as waste-paper in families not aware of its value. This kind of knowledge deals much, to be sure, in dry detail; but facts, upon which historians can afterward enlarge and philosophize, are what are chiefly important. We deem it a matter of such consequence that, if the exertions of individuals be not sufficient for the purpose of collecting and preserving these materials, public authority should lend its aid to accomplish this object, which is, in a peculiar degree, of public concern and interest. In this way are preserved to posterity the undoubted records of our early history. The intent of the first association of the "Sons of Liberty" was to put down the stamp-act; and when this was effected the objects of the society appeared to be accomplished. But the acts of parliament, simultaneous with and subsequent to the repeal, gave to the more sagacious a cause for alarm greater than the obnoxious bill which had been rescinded. The billeting act, or mutiny bill, by establishing a standing army in the colonies at their own charge, was intended to strengthen the arm of the royal authority, to overawe the assembly, and to coerce the people to acquiesce in the impositions of the parliament. History is full of the resistance to the enormous assumptions of the mother country by New England and at the south; but little is said of the attitude of New York in that dangerous crisis. And yet in that colony, where the power of the sovereign was almost omnipotent, notwithstanding the exertions of the most wealthy inhabitants whose large estates were held by grants from the crown and whose subservience to the royal mandates influenced the assembly, and all those who subsisted by the royal bounty, there was found a chosen few who remained constant to the last; and who, when all seemed lost, kept alive the spirit of resistance, until from a feeble and hopeless minority they were enabled to triumph over the power of the colonial government and prostrate the royal authority for ever. The association of the "Sons of Liberty" was organized in 1765, soon after the passage of the stamp-act, and extended throughout the colonies, from Massachusetts to South Carolina. It appears that New York was the central post from which communications were despatched to and from the east, and to the south as far as Maryland; which province was the channel of communication to and from its neighbors of Virginia and the Carolinas. As the post offices were under the control of the government, and the riders not at all times reliable, the committee of New York (and probably the other provinces adopted the same course), upon extraordinary occasions, despatched intelligence by special messengers; and if need were, a part of their members visited in person the neighboring associations to insure the perfect organization of the patriotic league. The New York association had a correspondent in London, to whom au account was given of their proceedings, and from whom intelligence was from time to time transmitted of their proceedings and the supposed designs of the ministry, which in its turn was disseminated among the people by the association at home. A record of the names of the most active of their leaders would be a desirable document, but as this would be difficult to be obtained without great labor, and, perhaps, by a single individual impossible, a list of the committees in the different provinces, so far as they can be ascertained, from the remaining papers of the committer of New York, might be the means of initiating inquiry in other quarters tow ard producing the desired result. Those from Maryland will appear from the following extract from the pro ceedings of the "Sons of Liberty," March 1, 1766. "The Sons of Liberty of Baltimore county, and Anne Arundel county, met at the courthouse of the city of Annapolis, the first day of March, 1766. "On motion of a Son of Liberty to appoint a moderator and secretary, the Rev. Andrew Londrum was chosen moderator, and William Paca, secretary. Brush, Cornelius Conklin, and Nathaniel Williams, Huntington, Long Island. George Townsend, Barack Sneething, Benjamin Townsend, George Weeks, Michael Weeks, and Rowland Chambers, Oyster Bay, Long Island. The first organization of the Sons of Liberty was dissolved at the repeal of the stamp-act; and while the hope was strong that similar associations would no longer be necessary, the committee received a letter from their faithful correspondent in London, of the following import:- LONDON, 28th July, 1766. "Joseph Nicholson, of Kent county, presented an address from that county, signed William Ringgold, William Stephenson, Thomas Ringgold, jr., Joseph M'Hard, Gideon M'Cauley, Daniel Fox, Benjamin Binning, William Bordley, Gentlemen: I flattered myself to have Jarvis James, William Stukely, Joseph heard from you by the last ships, but Nicholson, jr., James Porter, Thomas am informed your society is dissolved, Ringgold, James Anderson, Thomas which I am glad to hear, as the cause Smyth, William Murray, Joseph Nicholson, George Garnet, S. Boardley, jr., Peroy. Frisby, Henry Vandike, and John Bolton." William Paca, Samuel Chase, and Thomas B. Hands, were the Anne Arundel county committee. John Hall, Robert Alexander, Corbin Lee, James Heath, John Moale, and William Lux, were the Baltimore county committee. Thomas Chase, D. Chamier, Robert Adair, Patrick Allison, and W. Smith, were the Baltimore town committee. Pennsylvania.-William Bradford and Isaac Howell were the correspondents at Philadelphia. New Jersey.-Daniel Hendrickson, minister, Peter Imlay, jr., Jos. Holmes, jr., Peter Covenhoven, jr., and Elisha Lawrence, jr., were the committee of Upper Freehold-Richard Smith, of Burlington, and Henry Bickers of New Brunswick. of your complaint is removed. But I think it necessary to assure you that the continual account we had of the Sons of Liberty, through all North America, had its proper weight and effect. As our gracious sovereign rules over none but free men, and in which he glories, it therefore can not offend him that his numerous and faithful subjects in America claim the appellation of Sons of Liberty. Permit me, therefore, to recommend ten or twenty of the principal of you, to form yourselves into a club, to meet once a week, under the name of Liberty Club; and for ever, on the 18th of March, or first day of May, give notice to the whole body to commemorate your deliverance, spending such day in festivity and joy. I beg pardon for taking the liberty to advise You; but I am firmly of opinion it will have such effect as you wish. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most humble servant, NICHOLAS RAY. P. S.-The commercial acts and free ports which we lately sent to all the colonies I believe will give you pleas ure. To the Sons of Liberty, New York. To this letter the committee returned the following reply: |