ous nations, mentioned above, when imperfectly acquainted, as most of them are, with the English tongue. Those, who are of English descent, speak the language with as much propriety, as any other inhabitants of the Union. The well-educated descendants of the Dutch speak it substantially in the same man ner. The general attachment to learning is less vigorous in this city than in Boston: commerce having originally taken a more entire possession of the minds of its inhabitants. The character of NewYork, however, has, for some time been materially changing in this respect; and is still changing. A great number of the citizens give their sons a liberal education: and the interests of the Columbia College have become more an object of the public regard. Still there is not a little of that frivolous education, which I formerly mentioned, in fashion here, as well as in other places. Wealth also, in a much higher degree than good sense can justify, is considered as conferring importance, and distinction, on its owner. This prepossession is a blast upon all improvement of the mind: for it persuades every one in whom it exists, that such improvement is insignificant, and useless. The amusements in New-York are the same as in other cities; and occupy as much time, attention, and expense, as would ordinarily be pleaded for by the veriest votary of pleasure, and more than can be admitted by religion, or common sense. Theatrical entertainments, assemblies, balls, concerts, &c. are extensively objects of attachment. Visiting watering places, riding, sailing, shopping, and frequenting various spectacles, intended to kill time, and to enable the authors to live in idleness, are favorite pursuits. Travelling, also, is a considerable object of attention to the more intelligent part of the inhabitants, during the mild season. A number of the citizens are annually seen upon the race grounds near Haerlem, and on Hempstead plain. Such of them, as arc, or wish to be, sportsmen, hunt grouse, and deer, upon Long-Island, and catch trout in its waters. Since the estab lishment of steam-boats, excursions by water up the Hudson, into New-Jersey, and into New-England, have become favourite amusements. There is no place, more frequently selected by foreigners as an agreeable residence, than New-York. Indeed, there is none where the natives of the several European countries can, at such a distance, so generally enjoy the satisfaction, derived from intercourse with their own countrymen. In addition to this account, I am not a little gratified in being able to add that real religion was, perhaps, never more prevalent in New-York than within a few years past. In proportion to its size, it is not improbably a more religious city than any other in the world. The Police of New-York is in the hands of a Common Council; consisting of the Mayor, Recorder, ten Aldermen, and ten assistants; one Alderman, and one Assistant, being chosen by each of the ten wards, into which it is divided. You will easily believe, that the Police of every city must be efficacious, or not, according to the personal character of those, with whom the pow er is lodged. Still it is true, that every Government becomes insensibly energetic, or imbecile, by the progress of years; and by the influence of that series of events, numberless and nameless, which a considerable course of time regularly rolls on. From this source New-York has derived not a little advantage; and still more, from the character of the gentlemen, who have successively held the Mayoralty since the Revolution. The ancient government of the city, while it was the metropolis of a Province, was energetic, and exact; and the original inhabitants, as well those, who returned after the Revolutionary war, as those, who during its continuance resided here; were so habituated to such a government, that most of them, particularly men of extensive influence, were unwilling to see any other substituted in its place. The first Mayor after the Revolution vigorously followed the steps of his predecessors; and had sufficient weight of character to make any resistance to his measures hopeless. His successors, generally influenced by similar views, and possessing a similar character, have had the wisdom to pursue the same course. In this they have been firmly supported by the distinguished citizens; and with so much uniformity, that the system may now be considered as placed beyond the danger of any speedy alteration. With these advantages the police of New-York has become I suspect superior to that of any other city in the American Union. The order maintained here, is in a sense absolute. Law reigns with an entire controul; and resistance to it is unthought of. This, I acknowledge, is equally true of Boston: but Boston has scarcely more than a third of the population of New-York; and this population is chiefly native: while that of New-York is, to the amount of two thirds, derived from different parts of the United States, and from Europe. It is unnecessary for me to inform you, that a population, gathered from many different countries; with so many different principles, religious and political, with such a diversity of manners, habits, and even language; without attachments to each other, to the place, to the government, or in many instances to the country; must be governed, if governed at all, with much more difficulty than a community of equal size, where all these things are inverted. The late Parisian mob at Baltimore, where, one would believe, the spirit of Marat, let loose from the regions below, had come back to this world, to feast again on discord and carnage, awakened to a considerable extent a sympathetic pulse in the abandoned and profligate part of the American population. The measures, pursued by the police of this city, may be considered as having contributed largely to the preservation of these States from scenes of suffering, which it would be difficult to describe, or imagine. In Boston, the citizens at large, in a manner highly honourable to themselves, assumed the same determined attitude; and let me add, the same respectable character, and measures substantially of the same efficacious nature, are deservedly to be attributed to the citizens of Philadelphia. The following Report of the Treasurer for the year, ending December 31st, 1812, will, I presume, give you a respectful opinion of the importance of one American city. City and County of New-York. Account of cash received, and paid, from 31st Dec. 1811, to 31st Dec. 1812. Balance in the Treasury, 31st. Dec. 1812, 58,724 34 $1,012,460 38 1811 December 31. Doll. Cts. Balance in the Treasury 2,518 92 1812, Received for ground and house rents, 13,122 53 Water lot, Common lands sales and rent, Ferry rent, This report will exhibit to you in a single point of view the financial concerns of this city, both as to their nature and magnitude; the objects which are pursued, and the manner and the extent in which they are pursued. It is hardly necessary to observe, that these objects all wear on their face the stamp of utility; and from the scale, by which they are here estimated, present in a strong light both the wealth, and the liberality, of the citizens. There is one subject, which exhibits both their wisdom, and their liberality, with less advantage. The water is generally very bad. Much has been said concerning the subject; and various plans have been proposed for remedying the evil. The Manhattan Company was formed for this purpose; and the object of their incorporation, as expressed in the Act, "was to supply the city with pure and wholesome water." They were empowered to raise a capital of $2,000,000 in 40,000 shares; of which the corporation of the city was allowed to hold 2,000. When this object should be provided for, the company was authorized to employ their remaining capital in any pecuniary transactions, consistent with the laws of the state, and of the United States. Accordingly the company dug one or more wells; and conveyed water through a considerable part of the city in pipes. These have sometimes been in good order, and effectual operation; and at others have in various instances absolutely failed, at least for long intervals. The water, actually conveyed, was of an indifferent VOL. III. 61 |