expected, the influence of Christianity | remain long in peace. men. The reader must be referred for information on the history of this state in all its different periods and epochs, to the following authors among many others: Colden, Smith, Clinton, Campbell, Yates, Moulton, &c. Barber's volume is well adapted to the common reader, abounding in local descriptions and anecdotes, illustrated with many engravings. We have here merely room to allude to the chief events in the early history of the colony. In 1646, a battle was fought at a place called Strickland's plain; and the savages were defeated with great slaughter. The colonies of New Haven and Connecticut were at this time disputing with the Dutch; but, in 1650, a treaty was made at Hartford, by which the Dutch gave up their claim to the territory belonging to those colonies, except the part which they then occupied. Five years after this the Swedes, who had settled on the west side of the Delaware river, were attacked and subdued by the Dutch governor, Stuyvesant, with a fleet of seven ships. But ere long, the Dutch were met again by their old enemies the English. In 1664, in consequence of the grant which Charles II. had given to his brother, the duke of Henry Hudson, an Englishman in the York and Albany, and which secured to service of the Dutch East India compa-him all the lands owned by the Dutch, ny, discovered the Hudson river in 1609, and ascended it about one hundred and sixty miles. It was in consequence of this discovery, that the Dutch laid claim to the territory on both sides of the river, and called it New Netherlands. The position now known as Albany, was, in 1613, named by the few Dutch who discovered it and built a fort there, Fort Orange; and in the next year, sev-possession, and called it New York, in eral trading-houses were erected upon Manhattan island (now New York), to which they gave the name of New Amsterdam. The English were not well pleased by what they considered the intrusions of the Dutch. They claimed that this part of the territory properly belonged to Virginia; and, in the same year, Captain Argal came with a fleet of three ships, and demanded the surrender of the fort. They submitted without resistance, because their numbers were very few. But a new governor arrived from Holland, and the Dutch would allow the authority of the English no longer, and they retained possession until 1664. They built Fort Good Hope on the Connecticut, at Hartford, and another on the Delaware, and then claimed a right to all the extensive regions between these two rivers. But the Indians did not let the Dutch a squadron appeared in the harbor of New York, which was commanded by Colonel Nichols. A surrender was immediately demanded by the English, who promised to secure the rights of life and property to the inhabitants. The governor wished to make resistance, but the inhabitants prevailed upon him to submit. The English thus took honor of the duke of York; and not long after Fort Orange was also taken, and named Albany. Nichols now became governor; and his administration was mild and successful. We have not room to notice the successive governors of the colony, nor the various events which distinguished the successive periods, through the contests between England and other powers, which had more or less influence on this side of the Atlantic. We can only refer, in their places, to some leading events in the French and the Revolutionary wars, and in that with England of 1812. by the Dutch until they had first established themselves at this place, one hundred and fifty miles and more from the sea. This was the scene of many important councils and treaties with the Indians, especially the Five Nations; and in the grounds of the old capitol were interred numerous savage memorials of peace and amity. During the French wars, Albany was often the grand point of rendezvous for the troops required of New England and New York, in military expeditions against Canada. Burgoyne's expedition, in 1777, had the capture of this city as its first object, after gaining possession of Ticonderoga, and it was saved only by the battles of Saratoga. Albany has been the capital of this state ever since its formation; and here is the point at which concentrate the principal canals and railroads of New York-the uniting link in the chains connecting the commerce of the lakes with that of the great northern ports, Boston and New York. Albany is well situated to make a striking appearance to a person approaching by the river, or viewing it from the opposite, elevated shores of Greenbush. A crowded mass of houses seems to cover the entire declivity, which rises suddenly from the level of the shore to the summit, which is crowned by the statehouse with its dome. The broadest and perhaps the principal street (State street), well built, with many large edifices, hotels, stores, and private residences, leads from the base of the hill to the gates of the statehouse, starting from the chief avenue of business, Market street, which extends, with several parallel streets, far up and down the city, north and south. The canal-basin occupies the front of the town for about one half its length, being shut in from the river by the pier, which commences at the north, and terminates opposite the foot of State street. Here are seen mingling the boats of Lake Champlain, Erie, and the Ohio canal, with the steamboats sent from New York to tow them to the mouth of the river, where many of them exchange the abundant products of the interior for the various stores brought from our own and foreign coasts. The railroads come in with their share of valuable freights; and Albany presents, on every hand, abundant and gratifying proofs of the sagacity of those enlightened councils, which opened the grand channels of commerce, for the wide and lasting benefit of the state and the country. The Albany Female Institute.-This seminary was founded by private subscription, and has been a flourishing and useful institution, conferring a high and solid education on thousands of the youths of this city and other places near and distant. The plan, in some important respects, was new: it being the design to afford, at the cheapest possible rate, a superior education on females of all ranks in society; and so successful has it proved, that several other institutions have been formed in imitation of it, which have in like manner been highly useful, particularly the Rutgers Institute in the city of New York. The Albany Female Seminary.-This is another institution occupying a commanding situation on the top of Capitol hill, near the statehouse and several other public buildings. It is founded on a plan which does great credit to the state of New York, which has so honorably distinguished itself by its liberal provision for the diffusion of education. The central Normal School is also established in Albany, and is doing important good by preparing teachers for the common schools. The City-Hall was built in 1832, of white marble from Sing-Sing, quarried and hewn by the prisoners, with a basement, and a façade with six Ionic columns and a dome covered with gilding, the only specimen of the kind in the United States. The circular hall or rotunda contains a statue of Hamilton, copied from one by Greenough, which was destroyed in the New York exchange by the great fire. There are also portraits of Clinton and Walter Scott in relief, surrounded by emblems. The State-Hall.-This edifice stands near the city-hall, and is one hundred and thirty-eight by eighty-eight feet, |
