Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-05-10
From the National Intelligencer.
A VISIT TO TRE FIVE POINTS.
BY N. p. WILLIS.

As presume you are interested in the
one porllon of New York made classic by
e foreign pen. let me jotyou down mem
or two from my first visit to Dickens
Hole at the Five Points, made one eve
mig last week with distinguished party
under the charge OF the Boz officer.
| had an idea that this celebrated spot
was on the eastern limit of the city, al the
end Of one of the omnibus routes, and was
surprised 10 find that it was not more than
three minutes walk from Broadway, and
in full view from one of the fashionable
corners. Ii lies, indeed, in a lap between
Broadway and the Rowery, in what was
once secluded valley Of the island OF
M.nhauan, though to believe it ever 10
have been green or clean requires pow
eriul effort ofthe Imagination. We turned
in;o Anthony street about halfpast ten,
passed the Tombs. aud took the down
ward road, as did Or2heus and Dickens
before Us. 1t was cold night, but wo.
men stood at every door With bare heads
and shoulders, most OF them with some.
thing to say, and by their attitudes, show
Ing alcompIete insensibility 10 the cold.
la everything they said, they conlrived 10
bring in the word shilling" There
we're very few men to he seen. and those
whom we met skuked past as if avoiding
observation possibly ashamed TO be there
possibly shrinking from any farther
cquain'ance with officer Stevens, though
neither Of these feelings seemed to be
shared by the females OF the community.
A 1.-THE turn 10 the left brought us against
what looked to me bind tumble down
board fence but the officer pulled latch
and opened door. and fight Of steps
was disclosed. He went down first and
threw open door at the bottom, letting
up blaze Of light, and we followed into
the grand subIerranean Almack's of the
Five Points. And really it looked very
clean and cheerful. 1t was a spacious
room with low ceiling, excessively
whitewashed, nicely sanded, and We liz
and the black proprietor t1d his minis
ering SPIRITS literally filling their voca.
bon behind a very tidy BARI were well
dfessed and we'll hammered people, and
received Mr.. Stevens and his associates
with the politeness ofgrand chamberlaias
We were little early for the fashionable
hour "lhe ladies' not having arrived from
he theatres !" and proposing to look IN
lgaia after making the round of the Other
'esorts. we crept up again to the street.
Our next dive was into cellar crowd
ID with negroes, eating, drinking, anc
lancing. one very well made mullattC
Erl playing the cdslinets, and Initiating
EssIer ia what she called the crackocer
'gaiM Iu|. way these people seem
Scheer aud comfortable. We
s'ked EDWARDS at several drinking
wees, tI|onged with creatures who look
lover their shoulders very Significantly
the officer; found one ortwo bar-room
tpt by women, who had preserved tn
@e virue OF neatness. (though in ever,
lean place the hostess seemed a terribl
'Eago) and il was then proposed that "
Mou!d see some of the dormitories of thi
asatia. And at this point must end al
Se cheeriulness ofmy description. Thi
called numbering alley" said on
Jude. We entered between two hig
Nck walls. with barely room 10 pass, an
y The police lantern made our way up
Token and filthy staircase to the fir
loos cta large building, Under its OF
70. me oineer thought there usually sic
thousand of these wretched outeasl
ue kn4eked at door on the left. Ilw,
1rnrf unwillIngly by woman wi
AZ dirty horse blanket over her brea:
at the sight Of the police lantern. 81
ped back and let US pass in. III
30 was covered with human bein,
weep In thei. rags and when called
y officer TO look in at closet bsyor
could hardly put our feet to |
sSHnd. they lay so closely toge.her,b la
~ White, men. women, and chIldrt
ae doorless apartment beyond, OF I
- o. kennel. was occupied by "
Az M and her daughter, and the daughte
~ laying together on the floor, a