THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO AN ORDER OF COMMON COUNCIL, PASSED THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. GEORGE the second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, king, defender J. Montgomeof the faith, &c. To all whom these present letters shall come, greeting: Whereas, on the twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty and six, Thomas Dongan, then lieutenant governor and vice-admiral of New-York and its dependencies, under our predecessor, James (the second) then king of England, &c. did make and execute a certain grant, or instrument in writing, under the seal of the province of New-York, in these words following, Thomas Dongan, lieutenant-governor and viceadmiral of New-York, and its dependencies, under his majesty James (the second) by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, supreme lord and proprietor of the colony and province of New-York, and its dependencies in America, &c. To all to whom this shall come, sendeth greeting: Whereas, the city of New-York, is an ancient city within rie, governor, 1730. Recital of the old Charter by Gov. Dongan, of April, 22, 1680. In hæc verba. Recital that the city of New-York is an ancient city. & the citizens the said province, and the citizens of the said city anciently a bohave anciently been a body politic and corporate; and the citizens of the said city have held, used, dy politic and corporate. grants, pre scriptions, &c. Recital of grants of sundry lands and tenements to the corporation. and enjoyed, as well within the same, as elsewhere, in the said province, divers and sundry rights, liberties, privileges, franchises, free-customs, preeminences, advantages, jurisdictions, emoluments, and immunities, as well by prescription as by charter, letters patents, grants, and confirmations, not only of divers governors and commanders in chief, in the said province, but also of several governors, directors, generals, and commanders in chief, of the Nether Dutch nation, whilst the same was, or has been, under their power and subjection. And whereas divers lands, tenements, and hereditaments, jurisdictions, liberties, immunities, and privileges, have heretofore been given and granted, or mentioned to be given and granted, to the citizens and inhabitants of the said city, sometimes by the name of Schout, Burgomasters, and. Schephens of the eity of New-Amsterdam; and sometimes by the name of The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New-York; sometimes by the name of The Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriff, of the city of New-York; sometimes by the name of, The Mayor and Aldermen of the city of New-York; and by divers other names, as by their several letters patents, charters, grants, writings, records, and minuments, amongst other things, may more fully apSundry pub- pear. And whereas the citizens and inhabitants of the said city have erected, built, and appropriated, at their own proper costs and charges, sevethe City-Hall, ral public buildings, accommodations, and conveni By sundry and different names & titles. lic buildings and conveniencies, made 1 by the city; as |