been recently laid out, named Vanderheyden.* This place is situated precisely at the head of navigation on the Hudson. Several bold and enterprising adventurers have already settled here; a number of capacious warehouses, and several dwellings, are already erected. It is favorably situated in reference to the important and growing trade of Vermont and Massachusetts; and I believe it not only bids fair to be a serious thorn in the side of New City,† but in the issue a fatal rival.

I spent a day in examining this locality, and then walked on the banks of the Hudson, a distance of three miles, to New City, where I continued several days. This place is thronged by mercantile emigrants, principally from New England, who have enjoyed a very extensive and lucrative trade, supplying Vermont and the region on both banks of the Hudson, as far as Lake George, with merchandise; and receiving in payment wheat, pot and pearl ashes, and lumber. But, as I remarked, I think Vanderheyden must, from its more eligible position, attain the ultimate ascendency.

I crossed the river at Half-Moon, a small hamlet containing about twenty dwellings; and about a mile from this place I visited the Cohoes falls, upon the Mohawk river. Nothing so much charms and elevates my mind as the contemplation of nature in her bold and majestic works. Fixing my position on the margin of the bank, which descends in a vertical precipice of about seventy feet, I beheld the volume of the Mohawk, plunging over a fall of about the same height, and nearly perpendicular. The barrier of rocks-the lofty banks-the roaring and dashing of the waters-and the cloud of mist, presented a spectacle of surprising sublimity. The river divides immediately below the falls into three branches, and empties into the Hudson, nearly opposite New City. The bed of the stream is filled with rocks, among which it rushes and surges in terrific impetuosity.

*The original name of the present beautiful city of Troy.
†The city of Lansingburgh was then known by that name.

In the view of ascending by locks from the Hudson into the Mohawk river, it appears to me that the obstacles at this place will be much greater than to cut a canal across the pine plains, into a grand basin, back of Albany. I took passage in a bateau at New City, to Albany, for the purpose of sounding the river. The result of my examination satisfied me, that in ordinary tides five or six feet may be carried to within a mile of New City, and from thence to that town fifteen to eighteen inches. The tides sensibly rise and fall as far up as Vanderheyden.

Upon careful investigation and mature reflection, it appears to my mind that Albany is one of the most favorable positions in America for the future enjoyment of a vast internal commerce. It is favorably situated in reference to the trade of Vermont, and the extensive eastern country. It may control the fur trade of the lakes; it must occupy the avenues which penetrates into the valley of the Mohawk; and will be the depot of the produce from the luxuriant territory of the Genesee.

From Albany, Mr. Watson proceeded to New York by a packet, and occupied three days in the passage. He speaks of the Overslaugh three miles below Albany, as sounding only eight feet of water, while immediately below it deepens to twelve or fourteen feet, and suggests that the impediment might be removed by closing two channels, and throwing the whole current of the river into the third. This obstacle being removed he expresses the opinion that Albany would become a mart of foreign

commerce.

PETITION OF REV. G. DELLIUS
FOR PAYMENT OF SERVICES. ›

1714.

To the Honnerable the Generale Assembly for the collony of New York.

The Humble petition of Godefrius Dellius, by his Attourney Adolph Philipse.

Sheweth: That during the time your Honnor's Petitioner was minister to the Dutch Congregation of Albany, he undertook, at his great cost and Labour to Convert the 5 Nations & River Indians to Christianity. And haveing Layd the first Foundation of that Pious work, and made a Progress therein beyond expectation, It was Esteemed of that utility, not onely in Propagating the Gospel among those Heathens, but Likewise to steddy them in their Interest and Obedience of the Crown of England, That the Then Governor and council allowed to your Petitioner a Sallary of sixty pounds pr. Annum for that service, which was accordingly payd from time to time (as he believes) Except for one year and some odd months, which still Remains unpayd.

That upon the conclusion of the Former Peace with France, the Right Honnorable the Earl of Bellmont, then Governor of this Province, sent Coll. Peter Schuyler and your Petitioner on an Ambassy to the Governor of Cannada, For which they were to have a Reward of one hundered pounds. And your Petitioner is informed that Coll. Schuyler has Received £50 for his moyety thereof; the other £50 due to your Petitioner for that service Remaines unpayd.

That your petitioner having some Reasons to Remove with his family back to Europe, could not Personally

sollissit the obtaining warrants or Payment of the Respective Sumes above mentioned; and the severall Attourneys your Petitioner had here from time to time, have been the more Remiss in procuring Either the one or the other, because they found the Revenue so much Anticipated before. So that the onely Relief Left your Petitioner is from this Honorable House, who having now under their Prudent consideration the Payment of all the Just Debts and Claims of this Collony, and your Petitioner Conceiving the said two sumes to be such,

Doth therefore humbly Pray your Honnors in your great Justice will please to order and enact that the two Respective Sumes of £60 and £50 for the services abovementioned, may be payd for his use to his said Attourny, In the Like manner as other the Debts and Claims of this Government are to be payd, or in such other manner as to your great Wisdom shall seem meet. And your Petioner as in Duty bound shall Ever Pray &c.

A. D. PHILIPSE,

For GODFRIEDUS DELLIUS.

New York, 19th May 1714.

["Considered by ye Councill and allow'd for Instructing ye Indians halfe, the other Disallowed."]

NOTES FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.

Continued from vol. ix, p. 283.

1834.

May 1. It appears by the semi-annual report of the Chamberlain that the debt of the city was $118,000; that $46,166 had been paid during the previous six months. Among the expenditures were the following:

City Watch,....

City Lamps,..

Paving and draining,

$4,159.60

2,668.72

48,865.47

Ferry, including purchase of lots, &c.,.. 11,562.26

May 21. Dr. C. Humphrey, eldest son of Chauncy Humphrey, died in Calcutta, aged 33.

June 23. The common council elected Harmanus Van Ingen chief engineer of the fire department. William McElroy and Charles Pohlman were elected assistant engineers.

The canal basin having been constructed without any outlet, became a nuisance, and the corporation was indicted for it. The recorder, James McKown, was instructed to defend the action, on the ground that the bulk head at the lower part of the basin had been placed there by the pier company under the sanction of an act of the legislature, and being private property, the corporation could not be bound to abate the nuisance. The Albany court of sessions decided against the corporation, but the supreme court reversed the decision.

A law was passed to construct a stone arch over Beaver creek in Johnson street. The creek was still an open stream throughout its entire length, to the river.