"The family of Dr. Davidson were residents of Plattsburgh at this time; and Mrs. Davidson, in a work of hers called 'Selections,' has given an interesting sketch of events that occurred in her own family during the scene of those eventful days. officer and sincere friend were honora- | southern extremity, is now the most bly interred, this stone has been erected populous, as well as the most important, by his affectionate sister-in-law, Mary on the western continent, and vies, in Downie.' commercial rank, with many of the principal ones of the old world. It now occupies the whole of Manhattan island, being conterminous with the county of New York. Its limits, therefore, extend to the narrow channel between the Hudson and East rivers, called Harlem river; a distance of 14 miles, with a breadth varying up to two miles, and an area of 213 square miles. The southern portion, forming about one sixth of the whole, is occupied by the main body of the population, amounting, in 1840, to 312,710, and in 1850 to 515,547. The number of buildings, in 1850, in the compact part of the city, was 37,730; the valuation of real estate, $227,000,000, and of personal estate, $93,000,000. "After some months, the vessels were taken to the head of the lake, at Whitehall. Circumstances of travelling just at that time gave me an opportunity, in the impressible season of childhood, to see from the tall masts the British and American flags floating lazily in the breeze, the conquered 'lion' looking just as fierce and terrible as if he had not been a captive among Americans. We were invited on board, and saw the mutilated ships of war. They were making preparations to sink them in the lake, which was afterward done, for preservation, and the soldiers were rolling cannon-balls into their holds, as weights. "Commodore M'Donough was present-a man of middle stature; but there was nothing in his looks or manner which indicated aught of the exciting scenes through which he had passed. It is said of him that, after the enemy's fleet hove in sight, the men of his ship were assembled on the quarter-deck, when he kneeled down, and, in humble and fervent prayer, commended himself, his men, and the cause in which they were engaged, to the 'God of battles,' and arose from that posture with a calmness and serenity on his brow which showed that he had received comfort and assurance from above. "The dead of both armies were taken to the small islands near the scene of action, and there buried. Those waters now look as blue and as beautiful as if never disturbed with war; and those islands are as green and verdant as if never broken with new-made graves." NEW YORK CITY.-The site of this city, which was first occupied by Europeans in 1614, or 1615, and then only by the erection of a blockhouse near its The harbor is very capacious, with good anchorage for the largest ships, almost wholly free from shoals, and with currents strong enough to keep it usually free from ice in the winter, even when more southern ports are obstructed. Governor's and Bedlow's islands are strongly fortified; and the entrance to the lower bay is defended by Fort Hamilton, on Long island, Fort Lafayette, on a rock in the water, and batteries on Staten island, opposite. The Hudson river opens a natural navigable channel of 150 miles to Albany, and with the various canals and railroads heretofore mentioned; while the East river communicates with Long Island sound, which pours much trade into this city. Lines of the most capacious and splendid steamboats lead daily, and almost hourly, in all directions; and new channels of communication are now in preparation, which will still further facilitate and extend the great commercial relations of New York. The streets in the lower and oldest part of the city are generally narrow and crooked; but in the upper portion, to which many of the inhabitants have changed their residences within a few years, they are straight, broad, well built, and more agreeable. The number of churches is 245. Of these there are-baptist, 31; congrega tional, 9; Dutch reformed, 17; friends, 4; Jewish, 11; Lutheran, 5; methodist episcopal, 31; methodist protestant, 2; presbyterian, 35; associate presbyterian, 4; associate reformed prosbyterian, 2; reformed presbyterian, 4; protestant episcopal, 47; Roman catholic, 21; unitarian, 2; universalist, 4; Welsh, 3; miscellaneous, 16. There are about forty banks, exclusive of eleven for savings. There are asylums for lunatics, at Bloomingdale; colored, indigent, and aged, at 42d street; deaf and dumb, 50th street; blind, 9th avenue; orphans, 117th street, and 71st street, 6th avenue, Prince street, 11th street, and colored orphans, 12th street; lying-in women, Marion street; old ladies, 20th street. Schools.-Ward schools, 19; primary, 3; schools of the Public School Society, 18, and primary, 59. Both the ward and the public schools are free to children of all classes, and wholly gratuitous, even to the books used by the children. The latter were commenced about thirty years ago, through the exertions of a few benevolent individuals, at a time when public education was neglected; and, under the charge of a very faithful and intelligent board of trustees, and superintended by Mr. Seton, a devoted friend of the poor and ignorant, they rose to a high eminence, under the liberal patronage of the state. The eighteen schoolhouses of this society, above-mentioned, are fine brick buildings, usually about eighty by forty feet, and two or three stories high, able to contain from five to twelve hundred children each. The monitorial system is practised. The ward schools have since been established, in which that system is not used. The trustees and other officers are chosen annually by the people, and their schools are multiplying. and dining-rooms, with apartments for recitation, the family of the superintend ent, and the eight instructors, the kitchen, &c. The system of instruction resembles that practised in the other deaf and dumb asylums in the United States, being founded on the principles of the Abbé De l'Epée and the Abbé Sicard, introduced into this country by Mr. Gallaudet, at the expense of the American asylum at Hartford, about the year 1815. The Institution for the Education of the Blind, is erected on land presented by James Boorman, Esq., at the expense of the state, aided by a gift of fifteen thousand dollars from Mr. Burke, and other donations. The building faces the Hudson river, at a short distance from the bank, and contains lodgings for a large number of pupils, most of whom are supported by the state. They are taught the common branches of learning, with vocal and instrumental music, and several useful handicrafts best adapted to their abilities, chiefly the manufacture of baskets, rugs, bandboxes, and carpets. The Croton Aqueduct.-The city of New York is abundantly supplied with pure and wholesome water, by a work of greater length than any other in the country, and at a greater expense. The supply is derived from the Croton river, in Westchester county, at a point about forty miles from the city. That stream is dammed, and is capable of affording a much greater quantity than can be needed in a long course of years. The aqueduct passes most of the way under ground, through a pipe of masonwork, constructed in the most skilful manner, but crosses several streams, the broadest of which is Harlem river. The bridge thrown across is one of the most important constructions on the line. It is 1,450 feet long, with fifteen arches— eight of them eighty feet span, and seven of fifty feet span, 114 feet above tidewater at the top. The Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.-This institution is situated near 33d street and 4th avenue. The receiving reservoir is at 86th The building is 110 by 60 feet, and con- street, about five and a half miles from tains about two hundred pupils, from all the city-hall. It covers thirty-five acres, parts of the state, many of whom are and contains one hundred and fifty millsupported and instructed at the public ions of gallons. There the water is reexpense. The building affords sleeping | ceived, and allowed to stand long enough to deposite the particles of sand and clay it has brought down, and then it is drawr off into the second or distributing reservoir. This reservoir is situated at 42d street, on the height of ground about three miles from the city-hall. It is an immense structure of hewn stone, resembling a modern fortress of the first class, covering four acres, and capable of containing twenty millions of gallons. From this iron pipes lead off, gradually branching in different directions, with stops, hydrants, &c. Many houses are now supplied with this excellent water, not merely for culinary purposes and drinking, but also for bathing, &c. There is also reserved a supply for the extinguishment of fires, of inestimable value to the city, which has heretofore suffered most severely for the want of it. Several of the public squares are adorned with beautiful fountains, some of which throw the water nearly a hundred feet perpendicularly, not, as at Versailles, after being raised by machinery, but by the force of the natural head. Public Squares.-The Battery, named from the use made of it in early times, is a fine public walk on the southern extremity of the island, shaded with trees, and commanding a delightful view upon the bay. Being exposed to the sea-breezes, and in full view of the numerous boats and vessels of all descriptions, continually passing, the Battery is a favorite resort in warm weather. Castle-Garden is a place of amusement, formed in an old fort, connected with the Battery by a short bridge, near which floating-baths are moored in the bathing season. The Bowling-Green, just north of the Battery, is a small circular green, surrounded with an iron railing, shaded with lofty trees, and ornamented with a beautiful fountain, where a stream of Croton water is thrown about ninety feet into the air, and falls upon a beautiful structure of marble, and thence into a basin. The Washington, 1 Broadway, was the headquarters of Lord Howe, in the Revolution, and, after the close of the war, was occupied by General Washington. The Atlantic, and several other hotels, stand opposite or near this favorite square. The Park.-This is the most central and important of the public squares, at the junction of two grand avenues of the city, Broadway and Chatham street, containing the city-hall, the new cityhall, and the hall of records, and is surrounded by many other important edifices, such as the Astor house, Tammany hall, Stewart's store, museum, &c. It contains, also, a public fountain, within a basin about one hundred feet in diameter, which has a variety of jets, that are occasionally changed. When the water is thrown in a single stream, it ascends to the height of seventy feet, presenting a majestic appearance. St. John's Park, in the western part of the city, is private, being accessible only to the inhabitants of the surrounding houses. It is closely planted with trees, and has St. John's church fronting it on the east. Washington Square, between 4th and 6th streets, just west of Broadway, lies in front of the university, and one of the reformed Dutch churches. Union Place, at the northern termination of Broadway, is in an elliptical form, enclosed with a fine iron fence, having a public fountain in the centre, with ornamental jets, and is a delightful place of resort to the inhabitants. Further up the city are other public squares, as Madison square, Hamilton square, and others, not yet regulated. On the east are Tompkins square and Bellevue, the latter the seat of the almshouse. Wall Street, the central pot of te banks, insurance offices, &c,, contarthe exchange and the customhorse. The exchange is of Quincy granite, three st› ries high, and a basement, covering block between four streets, and is 197 feet 7 inches on Wall street, 144 on one side, and 170 on the other, with a large dome above, 100 feet high. The customhouse, at the corner of Nassau street, is of white marble from Sing-Sing, and in the form of a Grecian temple, with a colonnade at each epi. |
