and narratives taken down by him from the lips of men who took a prominent part in the public affairs of the city from the period of the American Revolution down to the year 1844. Conversations, for example, with Aaron Burr, Chancellor Livingston, Nicholas Bayard, Chief - Justice Yates, John Jay, Robert Morris, Morgan Lewis, William Maxwell, Robert Troup, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Dr. Francis, and others, contain much that is new and especially valuable, not only to the historical scholar, but to the mere lover of curious and entertaining reading. In this work will be found, entire, three valuable contributions to the history of the city. These are, first, the narrative of the GRAND ERIE CANAL CELEBRATION, written, at the request of the Corporation of the City of New York, by the late Colonel William L. Stone; second, an account of the PROCESSION IN HONOR OF THE ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION in 1788, and WASHINGTON'S RECEPTION AND INAUGURATION BALL, in 1789, by the same author; and, third, REMINISCENCES OF NEW YORK CITY, by the late Gulian C. Verplanck, first given under the nom de plume of "Francis Herbert," in the Talisman for 1829-'30. These narratives, alone, should make this work of particular value, since, as is well known to book-collectors, they can only be obtained with difficulty and at a high price. The writer himself, also, has enjoyed peculiar advantages of a similar kind for gaining accurate and extended knowledge of events which, although of comparatively recent date, are fast fading from the minds of the present generation. Of these may be mentioned the GREAT FIRES OF 1811 AND 1835, the RECEPTION OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE in 1824; and the "TRINITY CHURCH," "FIVE POINTS," "FLOUR," and "STONE-CUTTERS' " RIOTS-the facts of which were in part communicated to him by one who was an active participant in those scenes, the late Gabriel P. Disosway, of Staten Island, the well-known antiquarian and local writer. The author has likewise derived much assistance from conversations held with General Prosper M. Wetmore, Chief-Justice C. P. Daly, the late venerable David T. Valentine, for many years clerk of the Common Council, and from the writings of Colonel Thomas F. Devoe, Mr. Asher Taylor, and Miss Mary L. Booth. His thanks are also due to President James B. Angell, of the University of Michigan; Colonel Silas W. Burt, Franklin Burdge, Esq., Dr. Joseph W. Richards, and Manuel C. Jordan, of New York city; Dr. E. P. Buffett, Lewis A. Brigham, Esq., and B. W. Throckmorton, Esq., of Bergen, N. J.; Waldo M. Potter, Esq., of Davenport, Iowa; and Hon. Judge C. S. Lester and Dr. R. L. Allen, of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., for valuable suggestions. Nor must he forget to make special mention of the kindness of Lucien B. Stone, Esq., the well-known Broad-street banker, for assistance in gathering important statistics. In the hope that, whatever defects there may be in his work, he will, at least, be credited with the desire of performing his task conscientiously, the author submits this volume to the kind consideration of his fellow-citizens. WILLIAM L. STONE. CONTENTS. FIRST PERIOD. 1598-1674. CHAPTER I. 1598-1647. Hendrick Hudson not the Discoverer of the Island of Manhattan-Topography CHAPTER II. 1647-1674. Governor Stuyvesant arrives at Manhattan-Finds the Colony in a "low con- Provinces-Le Moyne discovers Salt at Syracuse-Population of New Am. Social Manners and Customs of our early Dutch Ancestors-" Quilting." and "Husking" Bees-New Year's Day-Paas or Easter-Santa Claus-Dinner Parties" unknown-Habits of a Model Housekeeper-A Dutch Parlor-The Sconce Captain Kidd-The "Betsie "-The Dutch fond of Milk-Rip Van Dam keeps two Cows-Scarcity of Coin-Wild Horses on Manhattan İsland -Literature of New Amsterdam-Taking up Collections in Church-The “Koorleser,” or Clerk-Marriage Bans-The Dutch Dames love Flowers— No Bonnets worn by the Ladies-Dress of a Fashionable Gentleman-Walks of Lovers-The Kissing Bridge-Amusing Anecdote-The Dutch leave their impress upon the City and State of New York-Names of City Officials in Description of New Amsterdam as it appeared in 1661-Situation of the Town |