The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-02-13
(eEoW OrR own coERrsroSpESr.I
Nrw YoRE. Dec. 30. ISl

New YORE, Dee. 2O, 1868.
The transformation of the corner Of Broadway
and Fulton street j. now completed. Where the
passer-by used to admire the transparencies and
the Haunting banners of Barnum's Museum.
where the loud-sounding band and the dccp-vOiccd
grilIa were wont to attract the sojourner from
the country, the great marble structures Of
the Hraid building anil the Park Bank now arise
in the completed tastelessness Of classic architect
ure The Park Bank. opened on the 18th TO the
public, has just been finished ut an expense of
little more than million Of dollars for the lot
and the building upon it. 1t il covered over
with the sprawling ornaments and the symbolic
figures Of the Renaissance. Griffith Thomas was
i.s architect--a man who has built n dozen or
more Of bank-buildings in this city, all in the
same popular style Of architecture
Broadway was never in process OF more rapid
trnnsformation than now. Insurance Companies
and banks are wing with each other in the con-
strucsiou Of the eostlic-t structures. All the
buildings are of marble. and will add % the
spleudor Of the street. The prices paid for build
ing Sites f1r labor, for materials Of construction
are greater than ever before; but expense does
not seem to check the development Of this famous
street IL il noticeable, however, that the most
colossal profits in New York are made by the
concerns that handle the money of others,-by
the bankers the brokers, the Life and Fire Insur-
ancc Companies. It is these rather than the
merchants who are making the spceliest fortunes.
The Reciprocity Treaty il expected to receive
early attention during the session of Congress
just commenced. No agitation Of the annexation
question, however, j. likely 20 take place in
W
St. Domingo, and some prospect OF a Cuban
Investment, the United States arc already sulTi-
GENTLY occupied with questions of real estate.
j. Lothrop Motley, the historian Of the Dutch
Republic, delivered an address before the
New York Historical Society, on the occasion Of
IT, sixty-iourth anniversary. The Academy Of
Music wns crowded with distinguished audi
enec. It was pleasant to see upon the stage the
venerable poet Bryant, whose flowing silver
beard and hair and square cut features gave him
the book Of Druid fresh from the worship Of the
mislctoe in the oakcu forest FlrTagut, ever
bithe and young-looking, smiling and bowing
when the speaker alluded to his picturesque feat
q daring ut Mobile Bay; Professor Lieber, the
scholarly ornament OF the New York University
the veteran GuIian q. vcrpIaneI<, who addressed
the conclusion Of Mr. NIotley's Grafton. gave
some of mis- "reminiscences Of that time. Peter
Cooper, one OF the best, richest and homeiest
men in New York, with a head that looks like
the head OF Chinese idol; Tuckcrman, the e.
sayist David Dudley Field Of the Atlantic Telc-
graph; Professor Botta, the historian John J.
Ciseo, with his broaI honest face; the ancient
Rev. DR.. DE Witt, Bishop Potter, and many
ether celebrities in the world of intellect. wealth,
AMI fashion. This array of notable men was a
feature "a interesting the eloquent Grafton Of
Mr. Motley on - Progress Mr.. Motley il a
man Of about fifty years Of age, tall, and of the
o'ious-nervous temperament, (better described rs
combination Of the . basic - AMI :. cerebral -
'enTeraments y he Is Iarge-boned, but thin the
expression OF his face j. ambitious and highly
Intellectual; bis eyes are brilliant and piercing
MS gesture, voice, and pronunciation are good
4"l the somewhat desultOry train Of his thought
vas enlivened by frequent passages Of humor.
Ut Motley Is man who has won his success by
NN' and work. lie is completely American in
s"IatIon and apparently in sentiment also.
~ religion he has independent views. Mr.. Mot
y retained the attention Of his audience through
"a address, which occupied exactly two hours in
.1e delivery; speaking with only the occasional
''i Of manuscript.
iew evenings ago, ut private reception
-" N honor Of Admiral Farragut, had n con-
''l'''n with the naval hero. His person affords
cong contrast a. his profession TO that Of
-, lS''Fi4E. Admiral FIrrasut stands five feet
P'' N height, is solidIy and litlcly built.