Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-19
LETTERS FROM NEW yoRK.-No. ,
Far tie Phenir Gazette.

ed yesterday-premising, whatl forgot 20 state
b.r ore, that they were written a year ago, and
never designed for the public eye.
"NEw YORK, -.
"Now the great commercial city would be
described by the din of confusion that swelled
around: the resounding rope tunes OF The lively
and hardy tar; the fain, ratlling OF bar,iron,
u,on shore; in the store houses; and the rumble
Of the carts; the peal Of the sledge- hammer
from the iron workers shops, and the general
hustle Of every wharf, made US glad that bois-
ferrous passage was nigh concluded, and thai,
we should soon a'ight on the ground, among
the bus,ling many, and be revived by the Nov
ing society that gathered in every path. The
most advantageous place to review the eastern
front of the metropolis, is from Governors ISL
and. have seen the sketch Of an arts, from
on small scale, could be expected In pass
ing here, though on my FIRST visit, did not
miss observing closely the beautiful and splen-
did scene afforded. The pointed steeples, daz-
forcibly strike the vision on an upper glance,
The immense mass Of buildings, from which
every trace Of nature is effaced; all the plans
and devisings of arts, all the flights of ingenu-
ity, and the labor Of man, are beheld conjoined
in one s,upendous and orderly pile. The mind
broods over the whole with mingled anticipa-
ton and awe The fruits OF NOR tai genius and
industry, reaching almost beyond The remotest
pierce Of the optics, awake solicitude, aad a.
greeable and lofty surprise; yet, considering the
deeds that have passed since its location o.
yer the face OF SO much occupied earth, and
the fate that awaits the vast residence, the soul
breads the thought, and irembles on the verge
Of fuiurity. A city, the first in magnihcence,
enterprise, and advantages both commercial
and inland, in the Countrywide peculiar adap-
tation of the citizens Of which to traffic aud adj
ventures, cannot but be observable to the care
full mind,-- the height Of its glory and indie
pendence,-eauses ones thoughts TO stretch be-
yond their ordinary bounds. Where once tow
cred forest and heightened a desert beach,
now man triumphs and glows amidst the sur
rounding grandeur; where fingered the savage,
ayes past, civilization has EXTENDED, and sci
ence pros pered; where barbaTism and ignor-
ant usaees found shelter humanity and charity
seek their abodes, virtue is cultivated, and JUS
,ice presides. But who can name the time OF
its existence or where will cease this torren, OF
glory! Where shall be recorded the history
or it's present times, or who shall succeed this
race Of inhabitants, and whether they be civil.
ized or wretches formed in de2ravity? These
are questions which can be better answered in
some future unknown centuries.
Leaving the body of the city, survey OF the
marine prospect, is far more interesting. The
swarmng masts Of the crowGing vessels, inter-
polated and interjoined in such manner that
i, is impossible TO analyze or separate one,
makes it appear like withered forest, when
the barren branches are entangled and snarled,
apparently without there being any single or
disconnected tree among the whole. On the
opposite side of the stream, the inviting and
verdant. bordered village OF Brooklyn rises on
an active and perpendicular bank, with every
thing of contrary appearance from New York.
TIE Sound, which separates Long Island from
the main, is narrow throughout, and the current
very rapid. About OF II miles from the ci-
~, is dangerous whirlpool, commonly demo-
minated Hells Gate, or otherwise Hurls Gate,
This violent and raging par, Of the current, is
caused by the conjunction o. the two tides run
ming in from the northern and eastern inlet
of the ocean, and can never be approached or
passed, in safety, only at one guage ofthe wa
tiers. The wrecks and skeletons Of some SUI
perior vessels lay around this spot, and appear
10 give to the incautious sailor a doleful warn
ing from the ,emeri,y Of others. / would not
attempt to send you sketch OF one half OF the
scenes, of various classes, that surround this Vi
entity"