Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-26
NATIONAL INTELLlGENCER.
GLIMPsEs OF MEN, THINGS, AND PLACES.


GLIMPsEs OF MEN. THINGS, AND PLACES.
Loss IsLAsD SoUsD,
TUESDAY EvEHINs, JULr Is, 1851.
If the traveller would enjoy. as | have tonight,
the largest and grandest panoramic view, in the
shortest time, of the city and harbor of New York
and the opposite shores of Brooklyn, Williams
burg &C., let him at o'clock step on board one Of
the floating palaces that nightly glide over Long
Island Sound, between New York and Boston i
Hs viii and lhem on the North River, within three
81 four piers OF the Battery and If he happen to
hit the Empire State" of the Fall River linc, as
did on the present occasion, ne need not trouble
him elf to look further for Aadins lamp itself could hardly
improve his condition. Let him take cool seat under The
awning on the promenade deck, the sviathsn steamer
slowly from the pier presenting for the rs scene
Of the panorama the opposite shore Of the Hudson Jersey
City, Hobokep and the Bergen hills Then, with grace
full curve and cautious direction among the numerous boats
and vessels in motion rest every direction, the steamer
sweeps round the Battery the East River entrance
the Sound" presenting at the same time beautiful view
of the Battery and Castle Garden the le Governors
Island with the fort the right and Staten Island in the
distance down the Bay Now her speed gradually increases
but STILL like the elephant the managee she walks care
fully among the lesser craft causing them indeed to ostle and
roll but ampng Of them under her feet Here opens
to the traveller the third Of the panorama, in forest OF
asts on the left hand stretching the East River as far as
the eye can reacb and the right hand the inviting shore
and scenery Brooklyn the long range Of the Atlantic dock
stores the tunnel Of the Long Island rarosd the Brook
lyn heghs the Montague bridge over Furman street. at
the foot Of the heights for the accommodation OF new ferry
to connect with Wall street. the bridge above the Montague
bridge the top of the heights to unbroken that
grand promenade and finally the elegant blocks Of dwellings
- 49, cstu &c rkrvrho
But we must look quick, nger long, for the steamer
quckens her step; Brooklyn is behind and here is Waa
bout Bay close gh. hand with the navy yard and the
big ships and the big shphouses and the gigantic
and the mighty array of warlike apparatus. But j. Is
no longer Waabout Bay looking at for two minutes
have elapsed and there passing in review before us
the fine young village Of Williamsburg with lis thirty thou
sand inhabitants But we look left well right for
the New York side also passing Corlaers Hook
and and the extensive array OF shipyad work
to be found any spot upon this continent or perhaps
in the world Here built the leviathan steamers which
are now turning the Atlantic into ferry, and the clipper
ships which exciting the admiration Of the maritime world
The force employed this spot in the various branches of
naval architecture would be sufficient arranged for that
purpose to turn out moderae-sized ship day the year
round The tonnage Of the Collins line Of steamers is equal
to the largest class Of sevenyour gun ships Of them
tendency is sill increase the size An intelligent ship
builder in New York is said to have lately declared bis belief
that within years would be the fashion to build ocean
steamers Of five or six thousand tons burden.
But stay where are vet We have unused too long.
We have lost sight of Coaers Hook and Williamsburg and
the pretty young village Of " Green Poin" is far behind
having received scarcely passing glance and now we are
shooting BY Backwes Island the abode Of the thousands Of
New York criminals, and by Randss Island the home
Of the thousands Of the New York poor. Fifteen twenty
buildings many of them large and extensive blocks, mostly
constructed of stone glide swiftly by these two
Islands But look here fair village either hand,
Astoria to the right and Harlem to the left. They not
Scya and Charybd but truly what they seemvlages
lovely to look upon and pleasant to dwell in. But have
care for both Scya and Chaybdis united lie boiling and
foamng between these villages and directly in our path
Even while We are yet speaking the daring steamer has
plunged feaessly into the whing tide Of Hell Gate,
where many gallant has been wrecked and her shst
tered bones sewed along the shore. sgratiyng to know
shat an effort s about to be made the dangers Of
this noted pass in Long Island Sound. Large rocks here
rise up in deep water to within few feet Of the surface and
as the tide in and they literally make the deep
to boil like pot" gentleman has offered for certain
blast these rocks away, deep enough for the largest
vessels pass them at low in perfect safety, and the
amount required believe has been guaranteed
The strong Of steam has carried the floating palace
steadily and safely through the boiling tide unscathed BY
whirlpool rock snd veerng little to tie right
We are gliding broad smooth bay, and watching the
hills and valleys the promonoes and bold headands along
the northern shore Of Long Island That deep is Flush
ina Bay and that s Hemstead Harbo-and that and that
will corsul. the map the first opportunity and learn their
names In the time let US withdraw our eyes from the
world without for night beginning to close upon MS and
see what sort Of world there within this huge magnificent
steamer promenade the long saloon Of the upper deck
splendid palace 6 for kings and princess and some two
hundred sovereign people" Of this free Republic using
It though it just h for them. Loungng upon easy
chairs reclining upon gorgeous sofa walking rich Brus
sells carpets and talking Of politics and Presidential candidates.
specie and speculation Caona and Canton, Newport and
Saratoga, the common dwelers Of the saloon make genu
inc republic where every feels himself independent
and good his neiehbor and sits and walks and reads
and talks best suits him. On each side Of the grand s-
loon s long range Of state These are the private
residences of gentlemen and their ames Each occupant
has the key his premises, and OF the fussy old
ladies and some Of the smart young misses appear to feel N
much importance and enjoy much satisfaction 10 the
FREQUENT locking and unlocking of their DOORS the Virginia
chief manifested 10 locking and unlocking
twenty times day the door Of the house built for him
by Capt John Smith.
Blu. let us descend the bread stairway and look on the deck
below Here is the "Cspn's Office" where all have to
walk up and settles" here are huge piles Of merchandise