We

that family, which was confiscated after the revolution. have not traced the history of this property further than to ascertain that a few years prior to its demolition (1796) it was owned by Henry Doyer, who carried on the distillery and also a grocerystore. Adjoining it were premises owned by John De Riemer.

The Delancey estate, famous in colonial times as the seat of Lieutenant-Governor James Delancey, embraced a large farm, extending from the Bowery to the East river. Its southern boundary was the present Division street; from the Bowery to the junction with Grand street, and thence along the latter street to the river. Its northern boundary commenced at the present Stanton street, running thence by irregular lines to a point on the East river at the foot of Third street, covering about one hundred and twenty blocks of ground as now established. The mansion-house stood east of the Bowery lane, between Delancey and Rivington streets. Comporting with the wealth and refined taste of its original proprietor, it was a commodious and handsome building, surrounded by ornamental grounds. Having enjoyed higher honors than any other native citizens of New York of the Colonial era, this respected citizen died at his house, in 1760, of disease of the heart, being found expiring while sitting in his library chair. His sons became identified with the British cause in the rupture which soon after separated the colonies from that government. They acquired great distinction in the course of the contest and were rewarded by the bestowal of honors and some remuneration for their sacrifices; but their large estate in New York was confiscated and sold by the Commissioners of Forfeitures after the close of the war.

The formation of this estate is due to Governor Delancey. It originally embraced several of the Dutch grants, including Bowery No. 5, Pennybacker's Bowery, and Corlaer's plantation; but these, in course of years, had been subdivided into much smaller parcels. The first parcel purchased by Delancey was the Domine's pasture, so called from having been the pasture-field of Domine Selyns, which adjoined the Bowery and Division street. Next, north along the Bowery, was the seat of Dr. Bickley, containing about 18 acres, which was purchased by Mr. Delancey in 1744 for £200; and this is supposed to have embraced the mansionhouse alluded to. The other portions of the estate were acquired at various times about that period. The progress of the city led

to the setting off of the lower part of the estate near the Bowery into streets and lots prior to the revolution. The portion thus set off laid south of the present Grand street, and extended eastward to near the junction with Grand street. A park was provided for, embracing four blocks, in the vicinity of the present Grand and Orchard streets. This was abandoned, but in other respects the streets then laid out remain at the present time. Prior to the revolution the actual improvements on these streets were as follows: One house on First street (now Chrystie street); eight houses on Second (now Forsyth) street; three houses on Third (now Eldridge) street; seven houses on Eagle (now Hester) street; thirteen houses on Pump (now Canal) street; while on the Bowery, from Division to Grand street, the lots were quite compactly built upon.

During the revolutionary war a line of fortifications, embracing a variety of field-works, was constructed from the East to the North river, and running on about the present line of Grand street. These were partly the labor of the Americans and partly of the British. They remained until the improvement of that section by buildings toward the commencement of the present century, when they speedily disappeared. As may be imagined, this part of the city was a point of great interest during the revolution, as the Bowery was the only regular avenue of approach to the city. From the proximity of the troops stationed on the lines the improvements in the vicinity during the war were not of the best character; most of these were drinking-houses, and particularly did these establishments characterize that part of the Bowery within the lines.

History records that on Evacuation Day (25th November, 1783) the Bowery presented a scene most exhilarating to every patriot. The American troops, early in the morning, entered the suburbs of the city and remained at the Bowery until noon, when the British army was withdrawn from the various forts and relieved by the American. As soon as the city was finally in the possession of the American army, General Knox, with a great number of respectable citizens on horseback, repaired to the Bowery to receive his Excellency General Washington and Governor Clintɔn, who, with their respective suites and followed by the Lieutenant-Governor and Senators, the officers of the army and citizens on horseback eight abreast, and citizens on foot four abreast,

entered the city through the Bowery, Chatham and Pearl streets, to the Battery, where they found the British flag still flying, as our foes had fastened it and greased the staff so liberally that some time elapsed before it could be hauled down and the thirteen stars and stripes be hoisted in its place.

North of Delancey's and Bayard's farms several country seats of smaller extent were established prior to the revolution, among the earliest of which was that of Perro, next adjoining Bayard, whose property was purchased in the early part of the last century. We find mention, in 1721, of the sale of a house and 15 acres fronting on the Bowery, from Hoppe to Perro, for the sum of £250. In 1750 about 5 acres were sold by Perro's heirs to Mandeville for £90. In 1767 between 7 and 8 acres were sold by the same parties to Hon. Mr. Elliot for £303. In 1768 about 2 acres were sold to Mr. Brandon for £211. In times more nearly approaching our own, portions of this property become of interest from a public character given to them. That sold to Elliot became "The Sailors' Snug Harbor," one of the most munificent charities of our city.

Another place of great notoriety for many years, in the same vicinity, was Vauxhall Garden. This was situated in the Bowery, south of the present Astor place. It was originally the property of Jacob Sperry, a native of Switzerland, who emigrated to this country, while a youth, in the middle of the last century. He had studied physic, but, having some means, purchased the property referred to and adopted the vocation of a florist and horticulturist. In 1803 he sold the garden to John Jacob Astor for £9,000, then considered a good sale. Mr. Astor gave a twenty-one years' lease to a Frenchman named Delacroix, formerly keeper of Vauxhall on the old Bayard estate, who moved the green-house broadside on Bowery and converted it into a handsome saloon, at the same time remodeling and planting the garden, so that in course of time it became one of the most popular places of resort in the city. The old buildings were removed in 1855 to give place to new buildings for business purposes. The following birds-eye view shows the horticultural garden of Mr. Sperry at the time of the sale by him in 1803.

The Bowery road was in early times the principal drive in the suburbs of the city, various roads diverging from it to points of resort. The particulars as to these customary drives may readily