this state would never increase the rates of ferriage, nor permit the same to be increased, beyond what is necessary to support the ferries in the best manner; they therefore prayed that the Legislature would not surrender to the Corporation of NewYork a right, which had been reserved by the Legislature, and which the petitioners deemed of the greatest importance to the inhabitants of NassauIsland."

ROADS AND PUBLIC LANDING PLACES.

This town appears to have entered early into the contest respecting roads. There are many instances on record previous to 1683, of the Constable of Brooklyn being ordered to repair the roads, and in case of neglect, fined; and in one instance he was ordered by the Court not to depart until further order.

The main road, or as part of it is now called, Fulton-street, in the village of Brooklyn, was laid out March 28th, 1704, by Joseph Hageman, Peter Cortelyou, and Benjamin Vandewater, Commissioners, appointed by an act of the General Assembly of the colony of New-York, for the laying out, regulating, clearing and preserving of public highways in the colony. The record of this road is as follows:-"One publique, common and general highway, to begin ffrom low water marke at the ferry in the township of Broockland, in Kings county, and ffrom thence to run ffour rod wide up between the houses and lands of John Aerson, John Coe, and George Jacobs, and soe all along to Broockland towne aforesaid, through the lane that now is, and ffrom thence straight along a certaine lane to the Southward corner of John Van Couwenhoven's land, and ffrom thence straight to Bedford as it is now staked out, to the lane where the house of Ben

jamin Vandewater stands, and ffrom thence straight along through Bedfford towne to Bedford lane, running between the lands of John Garretse, Dorlant and Claes Barnse, to the rear of the lands of the said Cloyse, and ffrom thence southerly to the old path now in use, and soe all along said path to Philip Volkertses land, taking in a little slip of said Philip's land on the south corner, soe all along said road by Isaack Greg's house to the Fflackbush new lotts ffence, and soe all along said ffence to the eastward, to the north-east corner of Eldert Lucas's land, lying within the New lotts, of Fflattbush aforesaid, being ffour rod wide all along, to be and continue forever."

This road or "king's highway," as it was then called, leading from the ferry to the old Dutch Church, or Brooklyn parish, was the cause of much contention. At the April term of the General Sessions of the Peace for Kings County, in 1721, indictments were found for encroaching on the " common high way of the King, leading from the ferry to the Church at Brookland," against John Rapalje, Hans Bergen and James Harding, and others. --By which indictments it appears that the road should have been four rods wide.

These indictments appear to have been predicated as well on the following application of John Rapalje and Hans Bergen, as on complaints from several of the inhabitants :

"Fflatbush, April 19, 1721. John Rapalje and Hans Bergen of the fferry, desires of the grand jury that the Commissioners now being should be presented for not doing their duty in laying out the king's highway according to ye law, being the King's highway is too narrow from the ferry to one Nicalus Cowenhoven, living at Brooklyn and if all our neighbours will make ye road according to

law, then ye said John Rapelje and Hans Bergen, is willing to do the same as aforesaid, being they are not willing to suffer more than their neighbours. As witness our hands the day and year first above written. JAN RAPELJE, HANS BERGEN."

Some of the persons indicted considering themselves aggrieved, and others who feared being placed in the same situation, applied to the Colonial Legislature, and July 27th, 1721, obtained the passage of a law to "continue the common road or king's highway, from the ferry, towards the town of Breuckland, on the Island of Nassau, in the Province of New-York," with the following preamble. "Whereas several of the inhabitants on the ferry, on the Island of Nassau, by their petition preferred to the General Assembly, by setting forth, that they have been molested prosecutions, occasioned by the contrivance and instigations of ill and disaffected persons to the neighbourhood, who would encroach upon the buildings and fences that have been made many years, alledging the road was not wide enough, to the great damage of several of the old inhabitants, on the said ferry; the said road as it now is, has been so for at least these sixty years past, without any complaint, either of the inhabitants or travellers."

The law then proceeds to establish the road "forever," as it then was, from the ferry upwards to the town of Breuckland, as far as the swinging gate of John Rapalje, just above the house and land belonging to James Harding. These proceedings will readily account for Fulton-street, in the present village of Brooklyn being so narrow and crooked in many places.

The point however to which the Compiler wishes to draw the attention of his fellow citizens, is to the existence and location of several public highways and landing-places in this town which at present are known to very few.

There is a public landing-place at or near the mills of Nehemiah Denton, Esq. and a public highway leading thereto.-The record of which is as follows:-"One common highway to Gawanus mill, to begin ffrom the north-east corner of Leffert Peterses ffence, and soe along the roade westerly, as it is now in use to the lane yt parts the lands of Hendrick Vechte, and Abraham Brower, and Nicholas Brower, and soe all along said lane as it is now in ffence to the house of Jurian Collier, and from thence all along the roade now in use to the said Gowanos mill, being in all four rod wide to the said lane; and that there be a convenient landing place for all persons whatsoever, to begin ffrom the southermost side of said Gowanus mill house, and ffrom said house to run ffour rod to the southward, ffor the transportation of goods and the commodious passing of travellers; and that said highway to said Gowanos mill ffrom said house of said Jurian Collier shall be but two rod only and where it is now in use; said common highway to be and continue forever; and ffurther that the ffence and gate that now stands upon the entrance into said mill neck, ffor the inclosing and securing of said neck, shall soe remaine and be alwayes kept soe inclosed with a ffence and hanging gate; and the way to said mill to be thorow that gate only and to be allwayes shutt or put to by all persons that passes thorow." The Commissioners laid out the above road and landing place, March 28th, 1704.

In 1709, the Commissioners laid out another road and landing place, at or near the mill of John C. Freeke, Esq. The record of which is as fol

lows:-"One common highway to begin ffrom the house of Jurian Collier to the New mill of Nicholas Brower, now sett up on Gowános mill neck soe called, as the way is now in use along said neck to said mill to be of two rod wide; and that there shall be a landing place by said mill in the most convenient place ffor the transportation of goods and the commodious passing of travellers; and said highway and landing place to be, remaine and continue forever."

This town has a public landing place seven rods in length, near the foot of what is now called District-street, in the village of Brooklyn.-This landing place is mentioned in the record of a road three rods wide, leading to the same, which record the Compiler omits inserting in consequence of its length and the multitude of entries connected therewith.

It is believed by many, and not without very good reason, that this town has a public landing place a short distance to the North of the Old or Fulton ferry, and which landing place is now in the possession of the Corporation of New-York.

There is a very distinct tradition of a road to near where this landing place is supposed to have been, at the foot of which road was the public slaughter house, where the butchers of Brookyn dressed their meats. The road referred to, came out where the house of the Fire Engine No. 4 now stands, and the existence of that road gives the town its title to that small piece of ground.

COMMON LANDS, AND THE DIVISION THEREOF.

The town having acquired so great an extent of Common land by the purchase of 1670, from the Indians, the inhabitants thought proper to take some order for the division and defending thereof, together with their other lands-accordingly, "at