RESIDENCES OF THE PRESIDENTS.

leaf" but his energies, both mental and physical are but little impaired by age. After holding several important offices of trust, he was chosen in 1824, President of the United States. He served but one term, and was succeeded by Gen. Jackson. Since then, he has almost constantly, House of Representatives, which office he now from year to year, represented his district in the

holds.

THE cut on p. 238 is the fifth of our series of views of the Residences of the Presidents of the United States, and represents that of the two Adamses. It is situated in Quincy, in the state of Massachusetts, and is now the residence of John Quincy Adams, who is a lineal descendant of a puritan patriarch of that name who fled from England during the persecution under the infamous The following notice of an interesting celebraBishop Laud, the Chaplain and adviser of Charles tion which took place at Quincy a few years the First. The farm on which this patriarch setsince we copy from one of our public journals. tled in 1630, has been transmitted from father to son through successive generations till the pres- hundredth anniversary of the gathering of this THE OLD CHURCH AT QUINCY, MASS.-The two ent time. And it is a remarkable fact that the Church was celebrated a few days since, and apprinciples of civil and religious freedom which pears to have been an occasion of great interest, the original settler maintained, have been handed though as it fell on the sabbath, few ceremonies down in all their purity, unscathed by colonial were observed. A Discourse was delivered by difficulties and the storm of the Revolution. No the Rev. Mr. Lunt, junior pastor of the society, name has so long stood conspicuous in the annals a hymn furnished by the Hon. J. Q. Adams, one of our Republic, as that of Adams, and we now view one who was the son of a President, and a President himself, actively engaged as a legislator in the inferior branch of our country's coun

cils.

of the members, &c. The exercises were in fact on the simple plan of those observed one century the illustrious patriot of the Revolution, was the before, when the Rev. John Hancock, father of sole pastor of this venerable church. This gen tleman's ministry lasted from 1726 to 1745. The present senior incumbent, Mr. Whitney, has occupied his situation about forty years.

'John, son of John Adams,'

It was Samuel Adams who, in connexion with John Hancock and a few other choice spirits, first carried into execution the design of resisting Many circumstances correspond to give interBritish oppression and of lighting an altar-fire of est to this commemoration. Mount Wollaston, civil and religious liberty in the western hemis- as Quincy was first called, was settled as early as phere. And John Adams, the father of the pres-fore Boston; and it is supposed to have been the 1625, five years only after Plymouth, and five beent occupant of the mansion, was one of the most first permanent settlement in the Massachusetts active and influential men during our revolutionary Colony. Great names too are connected with struggle. He took an active part in his native this humble institution. We are told by the Bosstate, in the events which there transpired in ton Register that among the early baptismal recfirst opposing the usurpations of Great Britain; ords of the century now closed, is written the and, when the Colonies united in a bond of holy name of union for the protection of their dearest interests, JOHN ADAMS was foremost in the general Congress a name which has been since deeper written in the as a firm patriot and inflexible friend of republi- history of our nation and in the hearts of men The church counts him among her sons-his facan principles. He was the man who nominated ther waited at her table; and he was at his death Washington to the post of Commander-in-chief of her oldest member. Rarely was he absent from the American armies, and was one of the com- the services of the Sabbath, and he now lies bemittee chosen to draft the Declaration of Inde-neath the stone Temple which his munificence pendence. Next after Washington he was chosen endowed, and which but lately has risen, a conPresident of the new Republic, and through a necting link between the centuries which have long life was honored and beloved by his country-gone and the future. Inscribed on the same recmen. Just fifty years to a day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, he and his fellow committee-man, Thomas Jefferson, resigned up their spirits to the God who gave them, and the last words that fell from his dying lips were, INDEPENDENCE forever!

JOHN Q. ADAMS has also been actively engaged in public life from earliest manhood, and in the brilliant career he has run, has honorably sustained the noble character of his lineage-noble not by ancestral heraldric bearings and titled names, but for public and private worth, and every virtue which constitutes the character of the patriot and christian. His life is now in the "sere and yellow

ords, and from the pen of the same pastor, is the name of "John Hancock my son."

Again, it appears that from this ancient church in July, 1767, John Quincy Adams received the sign of baptism, and on the list of her communicants his name is enrolled. Thus has this little Society, founded in feebleness, nurtured in its bosom two of the Presidents of the Union, and the President of that glorious body which issued the Declaration of American Independence. To these names may be added that of QUINCY also, itor of all that race, was one of the earliest memhardly less distinguished. Edmund, the progenbers and founders of this Church.

Those of our readers familiar with the accustomed observances of our New England brethren

NEW YORK, September 20, 1839

VIEW OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

OUR readers will perceive, that we have been ampie in our illustrations of American subjects, in the preceding part of this work. In continuance of our design, we now present a view of the city of New York, as it is, from a beautiful design by a distinguished artist: and as farther interesting, we also give the view of the city in 1673, that the reader may the more readily perceive the radical change it has undergone since then.

To that highly distinguished gentleman, Professor J. W. FRANCIS, we are indebted for the extracts which follow, descriptive of the great Commercial Metropolis of the Union. They are taken from an elaborate and minute account of New York and its institutions, by Dr. F., published in Hinton's United States, Vol. II., printed in 1834.

indeed the only cities at that time in the colony were called after his title.

Richard Blome, in his book entitled "The Present State of his Majesties Isles and Territories in America," printed at London, in 1687, in discoursing on these occurrences, thus expresses himself:-" New York was first discovered by Mr. Hudson, and sold presently by him to the Dutch, without authority from his sovereign, the king of England, in 1608. The Hollanders, in 1614, began to plant there, and called it New Netherland; but Sir Samuel Argal, governour of Virginia, routed them; after which, they got leave of King James to put in there for fresh water, in their passage to Brazil, and did not offer to plant till a good while after the English were settled in the country. In 1664, his late majesty King Charles the Second, sent over four commissioners to reduce the colony into bounds, that had been encroached by each other, who marched with three hundred red coats to Manhadees, and took from the Dutch the chief town, then called New Amsterdam, now New York, and August twenty-nine, turned out their governour with a silver leg, and all the rest but those who acknowledged subjection to the king of England; suffering them to enjoy their houses and estates as before. Thirteen days after, Sir Robert Car took the fort and town of Aurania, now called Albany; and twelve days after that, the fort and town of Arasapha, then Delaware Castle, manned with The island is essentially primitive, and consists Dutch and Swedes; so that now the English are mainly of one formation, gneiss. It is about four-masters of three handsome towns, three strong forts, teen and a half miles long from N. to S., and vary- and a castle, without the loss of one man. The first ing in breadth from half a mile to nearly two miles, governour of these parts for the king of England comprehending about twenty-one and a half square was Col. Nicols, one the commissioners." miles. The limits of the city and county are the Herman Moll, geographer, who published in Lonsame, and the only legal subdivisions are the wards, don, in 1708, the British Empire in America, 2 vols, at present fifteen in number. It is separated on the 8 mo., in his account of the city of New York, north from the continental part of the state by Har-states it to have at that time contained one thousand lem river; from New Jersey on the west by the river Hudson; from Staten Island on the south by the bay or harbour; and by the East river from Long Island.

NEW YORK is the chief city of the state of New York, and the most populous and commercial town in the United States. It is situate on York Island, at the confluence of Hudson and East rivers, in lat. 40° 42′ 45′′ N. and 74° 4′ W. lon. from Greenwich; or 3° 14′ 15′′ E. from the city of Washington.

houses, most of them "very well built." The great church [Trinity] was built in 1695. A library, he states, was erected in 1700; and the Dutch built mills to saw timber, "one of which would do more in an hour than fifty men in two days." Tradition reports, that the first white child was a female, of the parentage of Isaac Bedlow, who arrived in New York in 1639, as secretary of the Dutch West In

torical Society affirm, that the first child of European parentage in New Netherlands, was a Sarah Rapaelje, daughter of Jan Joris Rapaelje, born June 9, 1625. The limited extent of settlements, the age, single condition, and peculiar pursuits of those who had arrived previously to 1625, may, as Moulton remarks, be justly inferred from this fact.

The city of New York was originally settled by the Dutch, in 1614, and its progress has been, since the revolutionary war, rapid beyond precedent, in numbers, wealth, commerce, and improvements. According to the researches of a writer on Ameri-dia Company; but records in the New York Hiscan Antiquities,* Henry Hudson arrived at the island of Manhattan, (York Island,) called by the natives Manhadoes, on the fourth of September, 1609, then occupied by a ferocious tribe of Indians; he navigated as high as Albany, and on his return to Holland ransferred his right of discovery to the Dutch, who afterward granted it to their West India company. The latter, the next year, sent ships to Manhattan, The earliest authentick record extant of the poputo trade with the natives. In 1614, a fort was built lation of this city, is of the date of 1656, when by the Dutch at the southwest extremity of the several new streets were laid out, and a plan of the island, and another, called Fort Aurania, at Orange, town sent to the city of Amsterdam, for the examiwhere Albany now stands, which was settled before nation and approval of the directors of the West Inthe city of New Amsterdam, (New York ;) the latter dia Trading Company. At that time the village by was most probably not permanently occupied until the name of New Amsterdam contained only one he year 1619. From this period it remained in hundred and twenty houses of the humblest descrippossession of the Dutch, until the conquest of the tion, and one thousand inhabitants, including the colony by the English, in 1664. A few years after, garrison. Several rough engravings of the city, it was granted by Charles II. to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany; and the two principal,

John Pintard, LL. D.

+ Neither of these authorities, Blome nor Moll, are mentioned by Holmes, (Annals,) copious and accurate as is that excellent author. The Oldmixon cited by Holmes, is the edition of 1741 the work of Moll and Oldmixon has the imprint of 1708.

illustrative of its appearance at about this time, and for one hundred years after, are preserved among the records of the New York Historical Society. In 1686 the first charter was granted which was renewed in 1730, with new privileges.

POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.

1696,

4,302

1731,

6,628

1756, 10,381

1773, 21,876

1786, 23,614

1790, 33,131

1800,

1810,

60,489 96,373 1820, 123,706

1825, 167,059

1830, 203,007

1832, 213,500

Averaging somewhat more than a tenth part of the entire population of the state.

lighted by gas, under the management of the Gas Light Company, which went into successful operation in 1825.

city. On the bar at Sandy Hook, the depth of water at high tide is twenty-seven feet, and at lowwater twenty-one feet; from thence to the city the channel has a depth of from forty to fifty feet.

Bay and Harbour.-The bay and harbour of New York may be classed among the most convenient and beautiful in the world; the banks are bold, and the bay interspersed with many handsome islands; the city and surrounding land, when viewed on the bay in approaching the city, present a scene truly charming and picturesque, and excite general admiration. The bay may be estimated at nine miles long and five broad, without including the branches of the rivers each side of the city. From the ocean, Sandy Hook, to the city at the head of the bay, is about twenty miles. The water is of sufficient depth to float the largest vessels, and ships of one The most compact part of the city is at its south-hundred and ten guns have anchored opposite the ern extremity, whence it extends on the north side along the course of the Hudson river, about two and three quarters of a mile, and along the East river, from the southwest angle of the battery, three miles; its circuit about eight and a half miles. The ancient irregularity of the city has been materially corrected by recent improvements; the upper, or northern parts have been laid out with systematick regularity. Many of the streets are spacious, running in right lines, and intersected by others at right angles; in short, the whole of the upper portion of the city is laid out in this manner, and though the spirit of improvement has been active, and at a tremendous expense here, to reduce the site of New York, to an entire level, there is a gentle ascent from Hudson and East rivers, and a commanding view of the city is afforded. The most distinguished streets are Broadway, commencing at the Battery, and running north by east nearly three miles, Greenwich street, Wall street, Pearl street, South street, Canal street, Grand street, the Bowery, East Broadway, &c., &c. Besides the Battery, a delightful promenade at the lowest or southern portion of the city, there are several open squares, which serve the important purposes of ventilation and health, as the Park, Hudson square, Washington square, Hamilton square, Lafayette place, Union place, Clinton square. The approach toward the city on the north, has also been made more advantageous by several new roads, denominated avenues, agreeably to a plan of the late Gouverneur Morris and De Witt Clinton.

In describing the bay of New York, a late English traveller thus writes:-"I have never seen the bay of Naples. I can therefore make no comparison; but my imagination is incapable of conceiving anything more beautiful than the harbour of New York. Various and lovely are the objects which meet the eye on every side; but the naming of them would only be to give a list of words, without giving the faintest idea of the scene. I doubt if ever the pencil of Turner could do it justice, bright and glorious as it rose upon us. We seemed to enter the harbour of New York upon waves of liquid gold; and as we dashed past the green isles which rise from its bosom like guardian sentinels of the fair city, the setting sun stretched his horizontal beams further and further, at each moment, as if to point out to us some new glory in the landscape."

It has been repeatedly observed, that the cold of winter has less effect upon the waters of New York harbour, than in several places further south. The usual tides are about six feet, and this, with the greater rapidity of the currents, may be looked upon as the prominent cause why so rarely inconvenience is experienced from the formation of ice. During the severe winter of 1780-1, the harbour, however, was covered by a bridge of compact ice; and again, in the memorable winter 1820-1, the harbour and the branches of the two rivers were obstructed by the same cause for many days. At this time the intensity of the cold was manifested by the thermometer ranging several degrees below 0 of Fahrenheit.

The materials of which the earlier buildings of the city were constructed, were wood and bricks, imported from Holland. The style of architecture was steep roofs, tiled gables to the streets and alleys between the houses. Speaking of New York, in According to the reports made by the ward asses1681, Blome remarks, the town is large, containing sors of the amount of real and personal estate of the about five hundred well-built houses, built with city of New York, it has been stated in 1828, as Dutch brick, and the meanest not valued under one personal, thirty-six millions eight hundred and sevenhundred pounds. Of this latter construction not an ty-nine thousand six hundred and fifty-three dollars; edifice now remains; the last of this character, as real, seventy-seven millions of dollars. In 1829, situate in Broad street, and bearing date, according as personal and real, somewhat less: but these to the Dutch fashion, 1698, having been torn down estimates must be deemed as entirely too low. Acfor modern architecture in the spring of 1831. The cording to the details furnished in a valuable statiswooden edifices are comparatively few in number, tical work, (The New York Register,) the assessed and are chiefly located in the suburbs. The modern valuation of the real and personal estate in the sev taste in building is almost exclusively confined to eral counties in the state of New York, for the brick, though a few houses in different places are year 1833, amounted to four hundred and sixteen constructed either of granite, free-stone, or of mar-millions four hundred and eighty-one thousand one ble, obtained within the neighbourhood. The prin- hundred and thirteen dollars; whereof the county cipal streets and publick buildings and stores are of New York embraced as real, one hundred and

fourteen millions one hundred and twenty-nine thousand five hundred and sixty-one dollars; as personal, fifty-two millions three hundred and sixtyfive thousand six hundred and twenty-six: total, one hundred and sixty-six millions four hundred and ninety-five thousand one hundred and eighty-seven dollars. The whole of the bank capital in the city of New York is about twenty millions of dollars. The aggregate capital of the marine and fire-ensur-ner in which they are built. Hence they possess ance, and other incorporated companies, may be put down at thirteen millions of dollars. According to a late statement made by Alderman Stevens to the corporation, when on the discussion of the report in favour of introducing pure and wholesome water into the city; the number of dwelling-houses, stores, manufactories, and churches, was valued at seventyfive millions of dollars; the merchandise in the city at fifty millions; hence, the total value of buildings and merchandise is one hundred and twenty-five millions of dollars. But this estimate may be safely doubled.

influence in facilitating or in retarding decomposition. The deceased subject by marasmus will longer retain its constituents than one occasioned by dropsy, for "water is a sore decayer of the dead body." If these positions be correct, we may account for the extraordinary preservation of bodies in these cemeteries, by adverting to the dry soil they occupy, their structure of limestone, &c., and the admirable manadvantages which are denied to vaults in the structure of which similar precautions have not been observed. In reflecting upon the manner in which the marble cemetery seems to cherish the lineaments of our mortal remains, one feels inclined to adopt the language of old Jeremy Taylor; "after all, our vaults are our longest and sincerest mourners.” The marble cemeteries were projected through the enterprise of Perkins Nicols.

The New York City Marble Cemetery is situated in the block of ground between Second and Third streets, the Bowery and Second Avenue. It is 250 feet in length, 83 feet in breadth, and surrounded by a wall of solid marble, 2 feet thick, 22 feet in height, 10 feet under and 12 feet above the surface of the ground, and the top covered with broken glass botdles. Within these walls are placed 156 vaults, in four ranges, 2 single and 2 double, and these also are built of solid marble. There is also within these walls a dead house, built of solid marble, and placed | on the surface of the ground.

Opposite to this cemetery is the New York Marble Cemetery, situated in the adjoining block of ground, between Second and Third street, and First and Second Avenue. It is 450 feet in length, 92 feet in width, and surrounded by a wall of solid marble, 2 feet thick, 22 feet in height, 10 under and 12 above the surface of the earth. Within these walls are placed 288 vaults, in 6 ranges, the same as in the first cemetery, with all the improvements capable of being made. Each vault has a silver gray stone door, composition hinges and locks, flagged, shelved, and coped with the same kind of stone. Every vault has a tablet of white marble placed on the wall opposite, giving the name of the owner. Both of these cemeteries are incorporated by the state legislature, for the burying of the dead for ever, and for no other purpose; free of taxation, judgement and execution; made personal property, and transferable by stock, the same as bank stock. They are placed on a bed of dry sand, 35 feet above any spring of water, forming a complete dry cispool, free from mould and dampness, which is so usual in vaults built of brick, red or blue stone.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFICK SOCIETIES.-There are several associations in New York whose prominent object is the promotion of general and scientifick knowledge. The following are the most important:

New York Historical Society. This association originated from the example of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Its commencement was in 1804, and an act of incorporation was obtained in 1809. Its professed object is to collect and preserve whatever is best calculated to illustrate the natural, civil, political and ecclesiastical history of the United States, and the state of New York in particular. That the society has not been unmindful of this high trust, its extensive and unique library of ten thousand volumes, embracing materials for the American historian, its cabinet of medals, maps, engravings, and valuable MSS., abundantly evince. It has published several volumes of Collections, illustrative chiefly of facts and circumstances in American history. Its most efficient founder was John Pintard. This society has recently obtained an admirable location in Broadway.

Literary and Philosophical Society.-This association originated in 1814, and was incorporated by an act of the legislature the same year. It has published one volume of transactions, quarto, which contains among other matters the inaugural discourse of its first president, De Witt Clinton, LL. D. The second volume, part first, is enriched with the results of Capt. Sabine's late experiments.

Lyceum of Natural History.—This society was incorporated in 1818. It possesses a valuable cabinet of minerals, an herbarium of great extent, a rich cabinet of zoology, ichthyology, &c., &c. No institution in the state has so ably and so zealously devoted itself to the important object of its formation, and its printed transactions, in several volumes, are extensively known and commended. Its most distinguished patron was the late Samuel L. Mitchill, M. D., LL. D. who long held the office of president.

The diversified forms which the decay of the human body after death assumes, seems to be no less numerous than the immense variety of causes by which life becomes extinct. The evidence of this Horticultural Society.-Incorporated in March, assertion may be witnessed by any one who will en- 1822. This association has effectively directed its ter a vault containing many bodies deposited therein energies to the best means of improving the cultivaat different periods, more or less remote, and observe tion of our vegetable productions, and to the acclithe materials with which he is surrounded: season, mation of exoticks of an esculent nature. It has acage, the character of disease, protracted illness, sud-quired a substantial reputation for the services it has den death, &c., wil' all exercise a greater or less rendered horticultural science. A veriodical journal