tions appear to have been thrown out against the loyalty of the city authorities; and after a somewhat excited conference, the Common Council returned to the City Hall, and it was resolved, “by a majority of votes, that the cutting and paying for the stockadoes for the building of a platform on the point of rocks, for the defense of the city, is not a county charge, but, nemine contra dicente, the Board are of opinion that the said platform is a necessary work."

They subsequently resolved, that the easiest way of raising funds, to pay for the stockadoes, will be by a tax on the inhabitants, which they were willing to lay, if the Governor and Council declare in writing that the Common Council is enabled to do so by virtue of their charter. Protesting their loyalty, they drew up a formal demand that the Governor and Council render a written opinion and judgment upon the powers of the Common Council in that respect. To this an answer was given, as follows: "His Excellency and the Council are of opinion that it is a power natural to every body politic, by the very act of incorporation, to do all those reasonable acts that are necessary for the continuance of their being, and accordingly, to impose a tax, or other levy, on the respective members of such body, for the carrying on and effecting all such matters the representatives of a corporation judge necessary for the good and advantage of the body politic, be it for its civil defense or otherwise, and that it is lawful for any private corporation to raise money upon its respective members, according to the proportion of their interest in the same, for its military defense, whenever the government under which it has its being is pleased to give leave."

The magistrates, having no further excuse, ordered a levy of 3d. on the pound towards the object indicated.

In November, 1734, a bill being before the General Assembly "for erecting a battery on Capsey Rocks," under the authority of the Colonial Government, a clause was inserted, with the consent of the City Government, as follows: "To the end that when the battery shall be so built, it may not be rendered useless, by buildings which may blind and encumber the same, be it enacted that no houses or edifices shall be built on the river, or on parts which overflow with water, between the west part of the battery, or Capsey Rocks, to Ells Corner, on the Hudson River" (present Marketfield street).

The following engraving shows the appearance of the Battery about the year 1746.

The Battery was used exclusively for military purposes until after the Revolution. About the year 1692, measures were taken for filling up, inclosing, and adorning the place as a public park, to which purpose it has been devoted since that period.

ERECTION OF PUBLIC MARKETS.

The following extracts from the records indicate the measures taken towards the establishment of public markets.

A temporary shambles, having a block in it for the convenience of country people bringing meat to sell in the city, was erected prior to 1658.

April, 1659, the Burgomasters resolved "to erect a meat market, and cover it with tiles, to have a block brought therein, and to leave the key with Andries the baker, who shall have temporary charge

thereof." The location of this market was in the green, in front of the fort (now Bowling Green).

It was further resolved, that "the market for live cattle shall be beside the churchyard (Broadway, west side, above Morris street), where some stakes shall be fixed."

In January, 1660, a general cattle fair was provided for, and publication made thereof, as follows: "Be it known to all persons, that the Burgomasters of the city of New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, intend to open a market in said city, for store and fat cattle, steers, cows, sheep, goats, hogs, bucks, and such like, and, to that end, stalls shall be built. Said market shall be opened on the 20th of October and end on the last day of November in each year, during which time it shall remain a free market, and no stranger shall then be liable to arrest."

January, 1677-" Whereas, a weekly market in this city has been thought necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants, for which purpose a suitable house is now being built by the water-side, near the bridge and weigh-house, it is hereby made known to all, that said market shall begin on the 24th day of March next, and so continue every Saturday following for three years."

On the expiration of those three years, the market day was changed to Wednesday, and the market was continued for three years longer. In 1683, three market days in each week were established, viz. : on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

In 1684, the market was removed from its former location (foot of Whitehall street) to the green in front of the fort. The old markethouse was let as a place of storage for merchants' goods landed at the dock. The market-place in front of the fort was, for several years, the only one authorized for the sale of meat in the city. A resolution was passed to that effect as late as the spring of 1691, but in the course of that year it was ordered that there be two markets for flesh kept in the city, viz.: one on Broadway, opposite the fort, and the other under the trees by the slip (present Hanover square). It was further ordered, at that time, that fish be brought for sale to the dock opposite the City Hall, or "the house that long Mary formerly lived in; likewise herbs, fruits, roots, &c."

Some idea of the kind of building used for the principal market at that period may be inferred from an order made in 1694, that "the market-house or shed in Broadway be let to Henry Crossly, butcher, for seven years, at one pound per annum, he to keep it in good repair."

The subject of improving the character of these edifices was agitat

ed about this period, and a plan was adopted by which the city was saved the expense of erecting the necessary buildings. This was by the inhabitants of different sections of the city, adjacent to the proposed market, contributing the fund for its erection, the building to be maintained and kept in repair by the neighbors, a certain rent to be paid to the city, and the building to revert to the city after a long term of lease, in some cases extending to fifty years. In this manner a two-story building, constructed of stone, was erected at the foot of Broad street, in the year 1700, by the inhabitants of the South Ward. Two others were constructed, upon the same system, about the same time--one at Burger's path (Hanover square), and another at the foot of Maiden lane.

The old market-house in Broadway was, however, still standing, as we find it was let for five years from the year 1702.

On the same system of constructing markets by private subscription of the neighborhood, a market was erected in 1706 by the inhabitants of Queen street. This was situated at the foot of Maiden lane, and was long known as "the Fly Market."

In 1709 a market was permitted to be erected at the foot of Wall street. This market was afterwards (1726) appropriated, for a time, exclusively for the sale of corn and meal, and was hence commonly known as the Meal Market. It was also the established place where "slaves stood for sale or to be let to hire."

A new system for governing public markets was established in the year 1735, by an ordinance which recited, that-whereas, the markets of the city were chiefly supplied by country people with victuals and provisions, by water carriage, as the tide and wind permitted, by reason whereof no particular times or days could conveniently be appointed for holding said markets, it was ordered that thereafter every day in the week (Sundays excepted) be appointed public market days, from sunrise to sunset, when country people might resort in the markets then named, viz.: at the market-house at the slip, commonly called Coenties Dock (Coenties slip); at the market-house at the old slip, commonly called Burgher's Path (now Old slip); at the market house at the lower end of Wall street; and at the market-house at Countess Key (present Maiden lane).

A Standing Committee of the Common Council was appointed, to have full charge of the markets, and to contract for letting stalls to butchers.

Under this arrangement, the seven stalls at the Old slip market were let for an aggregate of forty-six pounds, and those of Fly Market (seven stalls) were let for twenty-nine pounds per annum.

In 1738, the market occupying the centre of Broadway. near Maiden lane, long known as the Oswego market, was erected. A petition was presented in April of that year, by the inhabitants of the West Ward (which was on the North River side of the city), stating that most of the inhabitants of that section lived at a great distance from any of the public markets; and as there were country people who came from Hackensack, Tappaan, and other places up the North River, they asked leave to erect a market-house forty-two feet in length and twenty-five feet in width, in the middle of Broadway, "fronting the street in which the Chief Justice lives" (probably Maiden lane), "and opposite to Crown street" (now Liberty street). This petition being considered, and "the place being found convenient," it was granted. In 1746, twenty-one feet were added to the south end of this market.

At about the same time that the market was erected in the middle of Broadway, another was built in the middle of Broad street, by the inhabitants of the Dock Ward. This was situated near the present Exchange place. But it was not of so long duration as its rival in Broadway.