Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21
GLTMPsEs OF MEN, THINGS. Axp PLAcEs.-No. .
Seen By PROXY for tie readers of the LnteHgenoer.

am nov Juns lOth) standing upon the highest pon. of
fine swell Of land in South Brooklyn Long Isand) OPP
poste the Bay and Habor of New York. There enough
within the range of my vision brdseye view though be
present to the Imagination vivid picture of the restless
energy, change, and progress Of this wonderful country
Foreigners may laugh at for calling ii wonderful coun-
y but let them come and look IT, and then laugh as they
please. II IS wonderful country and the world has seen
none like before Indeed the world itself is beginning to
take in such an idea, if may Judge from the ten thousand
emgrans from foreign countries pouring into the single
port of New York in single peek-at the rate Of half
million year wonderful fact which am afraid does not
attract all that attention from statesmen which its magn
tude and importance demand But was not my purpose
to present the things which appear my minds eye
but simply to glance at what is actually physically before
ne-the land and water the hill and valley, the bricks,
brown-sone, and MARBLE the tall Of shipping and the
towering pnnaces Of churches all within my present com.
pass Of vision.
The elevation where stand is perhaps hundred feet
above the level Of the bay. Had stood seven years ago
precisely 10 the same spot where am should have
stood some seventy or eighty feet below the eahs surface
Then high swelling hill above me- for half mile around
would have been covered with green sward grazing place
for cattle and playground for boys Now that hill is
bowed down and brought low, sunk in single night by
earthquake but gradually melted away and moved by the
energy and industry Of man. Industry has here proved itself
to possess the power Of faith for has said "to this noun
tain be thou removed and be thou cast into the and i.
has obeyed The hill has gone down to the waters edge
spreading extensive marshy fats changing them to solid
dry ground, and driving back the tide in places
the distance Of third Of mile And now paved streets
beneath my feet and elegant and costly blocks Of build
ngs around every SIDE Street after street is lined
with magnificent dwellings, with brown sandstone fronts,
worth ten to fifteen thousand dollars each and here within
half dozen rods of where stand is going up an
ensve block Of superb twenty thousand dollar houses built
Of fine white marble. This spot is rapidly becoming the
court end Of Brooklyn. And what is Brooklyn village
Of yesterday, and to-day city Of hundred thousand in
habitants. Let me- while standing upon this summit turn
round like Foucaurs pendulum above the table, and see
what the eye reach Looking westward Atlantic dock
lies before me, the Brooklyn shore. is grand basin
Of forty acres capable of holding quite fleet And, al
though New York nged with piers for distance Of six or
eight miles her rivers, will not be long before her
mighty will require another Atlantic dock. This
dock has opening two hundred feet the western side
for the entrance Of shipping, and with this exception il is
walled in with heavy pier work, and surrounded with extern
sye and warehouses The sea side Of the
dock is pier nearly half mile in length, with the entrance
gateway in the centre. This pier is built up in vary
ing from thirty feet in depth, by first driving piles and
framing cross-imbers upon their heads, and filling with
stone work. range Of heavy granite stores three stories
in height stands upon the Of the pier extending about
wohds ofits length and be continued the whole length
Vessels load and unload at these stores each side
the pier Sixteen Of the have been occupied two or
three years by the United States Government warehouses
for bonded goods Lifting my eyes little, and crossing
Butiermk Channel, quarter Of mile in width, see
Governors Island beautiful spot belonging the General
Government, and occupied by fort, garrison, heavy
Of ordnance, &C. This the spot talked about for
Worlds Fair another year. if should be got up in this
country Buttermk Channel has now depth Of water of
thirty or forty feet. Before the revolution it is said it was
soal be forded and cattle crossed to the island
low water This change in the channel has doubtless
by the made land and the piers the New York side
throwing the Of the East river upon the Brooklyn
Shore and thus quckenng the current the side of
Governors Island.
Looking beyond Governors Island the bay, the eye
upon Jersey City busting with s railroad dspos and its
Cunard steamers for the English steamships there make their
landings little the right Bergen heights and Ho-
boken, renowned for its Elisian Fields and its riots
Turning the southwest the high lands Of Staten Island
loom up distance Of eight miles, presenting
ne picture Of green trees and white houses scattered
the nils, anu clustering III faBes aionS INC suote. ne
quiet bay epsn the foreground bearing its bosom many
white sailed vessel and here and there smoking
To the south lies the channel for seabound vessels leading
out through "The Narrows" at Fort Hamilton, and by
Coney Island and Sandy Hook.
Having suung round to the southeast, see Gowanuss
Creek and beyond Gowanus village. little way to the
Left beyond the creek stands queerookng twostory old
house. with its gable end the street, which is said to have
been occupied for time by Washington Beyond Gowanus
village rises ridge OF high land covered with forest trees
and beneath those forest sleep the dead Of Green
wood Cemetery" beautiful place, presenting great
variety the finest scenery. The cemetery, believe, now
comprises more than two hundred acres, and the winding
carriage ways through it, beside the ootpahs make up dis
lance of more than fifteen miles, But must not stop
to wander among the ombs and the tasteful
ed to the memory Of the departea for the steady swing Of
the pendulum (vide Intelgeneer Of the 7h instantly has
brought my eyes to the eastward passing prospect
Hill" and vaegated country scenery, and now to the
northeast where at the distance Of mile and half from
me look upon old Fort Green" Of Revolutionary memory
This noble hill with its tme-honored mound has for
years been in great danger Of disappearing before the march
Of improvement, like the where stand, by being
degraded to the general level Of the town. Repeated assaults
have been made upon it, and Of soil from its
side But better has prevailed, and is decided
to preserve this memorial Of the great struggle Of fathers
for freedom and turn into Park for the use comfort and
recreation Of their children forever.
In general northery view, take in the greater part Of
this "cy Of churches" Its right this title which has
for some wears been bestowed upon it present the
....., f abou fhv paces of vorshp and unite n num-