Trinity Church was originally a small square edifice, but it was afterwards enlarged in 1737. "It stands," as was remarked by an early writer of the history of New York, "very pleasantly upon the banks of Hudson's river, and has a large cemetery on each side, enclosed in the front by a painted paled fence. Before it a long walk is railed off from the Broadway, the pleasantest street of any in the whole town. This building is about one hundred and forty-eight feet long, including the tower and chancel, and seventy-two feet in breadth. The steeple is one hundred and seventy-five feet in height, and over the door facing the river, is the following inscription:

PER ANGUSTAM.

Hoc Trinitatis Templum fundatum est anno regni illustrissimi, Supremi, Domini Gulielmi tertii, Dei gratia Angliæ, Scotia, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Octavo, Annoq; Domini 1696.

Ac voluntariâ quorundam contributione et Donis Edificatum, maximé autem, dilecti Regis Chiliarchæ Benjamini Fletcher, hujus Provinciæ strategi et Imperatoris, Munificentia animatum et auctum, cujus tempore moderaminis hujus Civitatis incolæ, Religionem protestantem Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, ut secundum Legem nunc stabilitæ profitentes quodam Diplomate, sub Sigillo Provinciæ incorporati sunt, atque alias Plurimas, ex Re sua familiari, Donationes notabiles eidem dedit.-Smith's History of New York, Vol. i. pp. 302, 303.

Which being Englished, is,

This Trinity Church was founded in the eighth year of the reign of the Most Illustrious Sovereign Lord William the Third, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c., and in the year of our Lord 1696; and built by the voluntary contributions and gifts of some persons, and