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MELANCHOLY EFFECTS OF THE EMBARGO.

this part of the town when I arrived. Every thing was in motion; all was life, bustle, and activity. The people were scampering in all directions to trade with each other, and to ship off their purchases for the European, Asian, African, and West Indian markets. Every thought, word, look, and action of the multitude seemed to be absorbed by commerce; the welkin rang with its busy hum, and all were eager in the pursuit of its riches.

But on my return to New York the following April, what a contrast was presented to my view! and how shall I describe the melancholy dejection that was painted upon the countenances of the people, who seemed to have taken leave of all their former gaiety and cheerfulness? The coffeehouse slip, the wharfs and quays along Southstreet, presented no longer the bustle and activity that had prevailed there five months before. The port, indeed, was full of shipping; but they were dismantled and laid up. Their decks were cleared, their hatches fastened down, and scarcely a sailor was to be found on board. Not a box, bale, cask, barrel, or package, was to be seen upon the wharfs. Many of the counting-houses were shut up, or advertised to be let; and the few solitary merchants, clerks, porters, and labourers, that were to be seen, were walking about with their hands in their pockets. Instead of sixty or a hundred carts that used to stand in the street for hire,

MELANCHOLY effects of THE EMBARGO. 65

scarcely a dozen appeared, and they were unemployed; a few coasting sloops, and schooners, which were clearing out for some of the ports in the United States, were all that remained of that immense business which was carried on a few months before. The coffee-house was almost empty; or, if there happened to be a few people in it, it was merely to pass away the time which bung heavy on their hands, or to inquire anxiously after news from Europe, and from Washington: or perhaps to purchase a few bills, that were selling at ten or twelve per cent. above par. In fact, every thing presented a melancholy appearance. The streets near the water-side were almost deserted, the grass had begun to grow upon the wharfs, and the minds of the people were tortured by the vague and idle rumours that were set afloat upon the arrival of every letter from England or from the seat of government. In short, the scene was so gloomy and forlorn, that had it been the month of September instead of April, I should verily have thought that a malignant fever was raging in the place; so desolating were the effects of the embargo, which in the short space of five months had deprived the first commercial city in the States of all its life, bustle, and activity; caused above one hundred and twenty bankrupt+ cies; and completely annihilated its foreign commerce!

VOL. II.

Places of Worship-Public Buildings-State Prison -Courts of Law-Board of Health-Quaran tine Station-Chamber of Commerce-Inspectors of Lumber, &c.-Commerce of New York-In crease of Commerce-Abundance of Provisions Articles brought to Market-Price of Com modities at New York-Charitable Institutions -The Ladies' Society for the Relief of poor Widows with small Children-News-papers→→ Literary Fair.

NEW YORK contains thirty-three places of wor ship, viz. nine episcopal churches, three Dutch churches, one French church, one Calvinist, one German Lutheran, one English Lutheran, three Baptist meetings, three Methodist meetings, one Moravian, six Presbyterian, one Independent, two Quakers', and one Jews' synagogue.

1

Besides the public buildings which I have men. tioned, there are numerous banks, insurance com panies, commercial and charitable institutions, literary establishments, &c. The new State prison is an establishment worthy of imitation in England. By the law of New York, treason, murder, and

STATE PRISON.

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the procuring, aiding, and abetting any kind of murder, are the only crimes punishable by death. The mode of execution is the same as in England. All other offences are punished by imprisonment for a certain period in the State prison. This building is situated at Greenwich, about two miles from the City Hall, on the shore of the Hudson river. The space inclosed by the wall is about four acres, and the prison is governed by seven inspectors appointed by the State Council. They meet once a month, or oftener, together with the justices of the supreme court, the mayor and recorder of the city, the attorney-general, and district attorney. The inspectors make rules for the government of the convicts, and other persons belonging to the prison; and appoint two of their own body to be visiting inspectors monthly. The board of inspectors have charge of the prison, and appoint a keeper, or deputy, and as many assistants as they find to be necessary. The salaries of the keepers are paid out of the treasury of the State. The inspectors, or rather the agents of the prison, are empowered to purchase clothing, bedding, provisions, tools, implements, and raw or other materials for the employment of the convicts, and keep accounts of the same: also to open an account with each convict, charging him with his expenses, and crediting him with his labour: and

if there should be any balance due to the convict at the time of his discharge, to give him a part or the whole of it; but if the whole should not be given to him, to convey the residue to the credit of the State. If a convict on entering the prison is unacquainted with any trade, he has the choice of learning one most agreeable to him. I have been told of a man who became a shoe-maker in that prison, and at the end of his time came out with several hundred dollars in pocket. Hence the country is benefited; and individuals, instead of being made worse in prison, are rendered useful members of society.

The expense of conveying and keeping the convicts is always paid by the State. They are dressed in uniforms of coarse cloth, according to their classes and conduct, and kept at some kind of work. For profane cursing, swearing, indecent behaviour, idleness, negligence, disobedience of regulations, or perverse conduct, the principal keeper may punish the convicts by confinement in the solitary cells, and by a diet of bread and water, during such term as any two of the inspec tors advise. For the greater security, there is a detachment of firemen allotted to the prison, also an armed guard consisting of a captain, a serjeant, two corporals, a drummer, a fifer, and twenty privates.