New-York tribune., 1889-10-13
OLD NEW YORK.
GLEANINGS FROM THE ANNALS OF WATSON.
THE ANTIQUARIAN.

ton as historian in the Quaker City, and his work
here added new laurels TO his wreath. In 1882
his Historic Tales of Olden Time" appeared.
followed in 1s43 by "The Annals of Newly ork,
the latter volume rendering his name immortal
among local antiquarians. 1t is interesting and
instructive to read his works now, having in mind
the wonderful advances made since they were
written, but his descriptions Of early New-York
are still more pleasing.
In olden times, on the site OF the city, were
numerous hills and ravines, through the latter
flowing silvery brooks widening into ponds. The
hills have been levelled, the valleys filled in and
the crystal streams have long since been pent up
in slmy sewer walls. Watson states that some
OF these hills were very steep, citing Beekman's
and Pecl1's hills in the neighborbood OF Pearl.
Beekman and Ferry SITS, and from the Middle
Dutch Church in Nassau-st down to Maiden Lane.
where a considerable stream flowed TO the river
through Smiths Marsh Another stream, or rather
inlet, existed where Broad-st was aiterward cut
The famous Collect where the Tombs now stands.
in early times connected with the East River
by small stream emptying near Pecks Slip.
and It is stated that at high water boats were
used at the crossing of Pearl and chatham sts
Lynes map of 729 shows bridge at this point
That this neighborhood has been much altered
is, Of course to be expected, but that the ahd
hereabouts was at one time very low is still ap
parent.
The Collect itself was busy place century
since, il one is to believe DR.. Alexander Duers
statements. In his anniversary address pefoe
the St. Nicholas Society on December l. lsio' ne
saws that alongside the pond were Mcqueen
furnaces, Crolus's potteres, Janeways brewery
Brools's and Couthard's tanneries, and Scheriner-
horns ropewalk lie states further that Stevenss
steamboat WAS tried there in 1795 All
these facts he vouches for, having as boy roaleu
over the county at will. His parents moVeu 10
house opposite ST. Pauls in 1884, where the Cheu'
icoI RAM. afterwards was. At that time they
were on the outskirts of the city, ana only open
folds 70 the north and west greeted the eye.
The year following Alderman William Bayard dl-
vided nm his farm Of fifty acres on the west side
Of Broadway, beside St. Paufs, into town lots
96x1oo feet. which he sold for s25 each Fancy
or;oo ,bat and vet no smaller in comparison than
,bot received by Columbia College, which in l766
leased half the block bounded by Barclay, Murray.
Greenwich and Washington sts TO Frederick Rhine
lander forever in consideration of a perpetual
ground rent of s37l so.
The main outlet of the Collect pond was through
Jisnenard's Swamp, connecting with the North
piyer In will be noticed that there was there
fore n vatercOurse clear across the city, lolnlng
hoth rivers which fact certain enterprslng Cit
izons sourbt TO turn to advantage about the be-
ginning of the present century by converting tue
streams into deep canals, and making the collect
into basin for shipping, such as may be iouhu III
Rerlin. Antwerp and Amsterdam. The pan leu
through. however, as had previous scheme, sug-
cested by the celebrated Major L'Enfant, OF max
inc the Collect the centre of line park, extend
ir, from Reade to Grand SITS. 1t is SAID that part
90 tho Collect WIS open as late as 1871 although
Ijspenard's Pond had been filled IN seVeral StarS
earlier. Both bodies of water were famous nsh'
inr resorts in days gone by, the sunilsh oil tne
former being especially mentioned
Major Pierre L'Enfant, mentioned ABOVE was ','0
architect of ST. Pauls, and also had chaFge oI '''I
remodelling of the old City Hall lhto feuef''
uou for the use of Congress. His greatest "oFN
was in planning and laying out the StrecS -
Washinoton. The City Hall, built IN low "U
cost Of 1000 pounds, had been used rs GUU'
to,so rrisor nroyincial capitol and library lerc
yaro hold the drawings Of the Colohial lV''''S'
wa H. orriors viii find a full list of them IN
"Tha Weellv Postboy" of June lo' l'4'' u'
whole first page being devoted ther'"' -
..,,a,ro ,,,as erected mainly with the stone taken
80, u,o o1d fort which had stood on the Site
preyious TO | 600. The building "rncli ''' ,,a
sod boforo nc the City Hall. was sold IN loV'
IN John Rodman for 02O pounus' =.
the Kings arms. and iron work noU ..
oIrded The cage. pillory, and stocks IN iro"U
- a., ,,o,,,ro wore TO be removed wlthh "
roor These instruments Of punishment Were ''o
ND in Broad ST. opposite the ne" h''" 100
one knows. Federal Hall was torn doW" >, III
and the Custom House, now the ouo'
erected on the site. l.. .,,o ola
In Wotson's time the postofce was IN 'lc oi'
Middle Dutch Church in Nassau-SC'' oeO"
Cedar and Liberty sts and it is mehhoho" .'' -
churchvord ,vas v6t filed with graVestOheS' NJ V'U
church wos one Of the historic Dullulns> VI Wv
oitv Rnilt before the close OF the seNen'o'
century. the steeple and interior "0o""' ~ 49,,
brought from Holland. The pewS "ere o.. 80, a9
for fuel nv the British dunng the No'
and the building was converted ln'o r,7
school. and later into prison anu ho'P'"' -,
name of this old church constantly recui9 IA oto
records The Government leased ~ "'ouV at
for postoficc purposes paying so'ooo S'"' lI
then an unheard Of sum- There Were h''"
of penny postmen attached to the oihcc, W. w."
went their rounds twice day ue"Neri"5 -,
and papers TO all who were Wiling W pay N
for so doing. -, .,..,,
The growth OF the mail service IN the counu' ,iI.
was ooincident with increased Su'ge i"o.',',
as is well illustrated by the TACT that III 'oV
first coach was started between TINS cl" GU"
Philadelphia-timc three days through III
the time had been reduced to TWO days. anu -
| 796 TO one dov. Postage on letter between the
two cities in 700 was ten cents. When the mails
were first carried independently of the passenger
stage, boy with saddle bags performed the ser
vice, then came a sullly, and the quantity iur'
thcr increased, a peculiar vehicle, carrying huse
bag instead Of a coach body, came into use III
s3l it became necessary To use fourhorse stage
the route being by way of Staten Island III
1925 postage was increased 30 IL l'2 cents per
letter The Great United States MaiP per-