New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-21
ect 10 which | wish to ask yaur

The subject to which | wish to ask ysur
attention this evening, is The City Of N,r' York.
and us Progress during the last Fifty Years
Born myself in this City, and identified with 1t
through all that period by interest, association
and affection, | very cheeriully accedcd to the
suggestion made to me by the Committee at
whose instance am here, to take New-York
for the topic of my lecture
You will readily apprehend that the difficulty
in treating this topic lies not IN the scanIlness
but in the superabundance Of materials and.
with all my efforts to avoid what would be In
evitabe-if anything like a detailed enumera-
ton be attempted of the manifold proofs and IL
Illustrations of the City's growth and progress
the dryness and formaity of a mere journal or
record, yet fear that may fail to interest my
hearers In what, nevertheless, Is most interest
ing theme. Without further preface, enter at
once upon It.
IL is now 237 years since the passengers OF
Dutch emigrant vessel landed on the point OF
the Battery, and laid the foundation OF this proud
and populous City. On its struggles, It's Sicissi'
tudes and its triumphs, from that period to the
commencement of the present Century, this Is
not the place nor the occasion to enlarge.
NETWORK IN 1901.
Passing at once to the year 1901, we find
that feeble Dutch settlement already goodly
City, numbering about $1,000 people and then
entering fully upon that career OF commercial
greatness, whch-fayored by the wise national
policy Of Washington, and stimulated by the en-
terprise OF intelligent freemen, whose own strong
arms had, under the favor of Heaven, achieved
the independence Of their country-has gone on
increasing, and to increase, so long as the
de scendants of those freemen shall be true to
the character of their fathers and to the glorious
institutions bequeathed to us, their successors.
In this City had assembled the first Congress
under the Constitution. In its ancient CITY Hall
then standing where the Custom-House now
stands, at the head Of Broadst.-the Constitution
had been accepted and swomto by George Wash
ington. the first President under it and here the
new Government was organized and set IN mo-
ton. At the close Of the second session oil the
First Congress, in December, 1890, the seat OF
Government was transferred to Philadelphia ana
New.York, happily for her interests was lef't 70
her own resources, and to the commercial pur-
suits especially for which her natural position
and advantages are so great, without the iran
and perilous dependence upon the too often cor
rupting patronage and expenditures OF Seat Of
Government.
The CITY in 1901 was divided into seven
Wards. Edward Livingston, since so renowned
as a lurst and statesman, was then the Mayor
Broadway, as a street, at that time terminated
at Catharine.st, now called Anthony'st; ana
beyond was hill-country, sloping on the one soc
to the resh.water pond, or the kolck on the eaS''
and to the lowlands OF Lispenard's Meadows on
the west. The limit Of habitations, or streets In
which there were buildings, was, on the Nor'n
River. Harrison st. on the East RIVER Rutgers
- with very large spaces between, on which
we're no dwellings. The houses on Bowene-
lane-as was the early designation OF that wlde
and noble avenue-furhest out OF town, were
near Bullock.st., now Broome.st.; and on either
side of these houses was an open space to each
river of cultivated grounds and orchards
The outside street on the west side OF the
town was Greenwich.st from the Battery up 70
Cedar.st There the eacroachments upon the
river had snatched from the waters, IN the true
spirit of our Dutch ancestors, the commence
ment of another street, now Washlnston'''''
and it extended, only partially built up on ono
side. to Harrison-st, where the waves stu o''A'
upon the natural leach. A.
In Greenwich.st., on the west SIDE, near "o''
ris.s, stood. in 1903 and long after circular
building which had been used as circus ~
Ricketts, Company; and but few houses existed
on tho Yves, side ST the street, between the pay
and Rector-st. The water came up 10 the
s,ree, and boys bathed there. Greenwich-s''
from the Battery to Courtlandt's.' was paved ior
the first time in May 1902. In the fail oil i7oi'
late as October, the Yellow Fever reaPPeate1 ~
the Civ, but il lasted only about iorInish'
PACE oF THE cITY-REsOyAL or CIV
respected friend, then and no" fs'iuo"' -
New.york. has furnished me with some very -,
,e,es,ing recoIlections as to TINS eaiy Pei'v1'
which being then abroad WIN NY amer NA'
wn WI. Minister Mister at the Court Of Ensand) cannot
.n s about from personal knowledge "ln WIZ
~, We resided" says he, lat the time, 1902, at
M 1925 Pesrl-st., formerly occupied by the Bank