NEW YORK. 145 



the Hudson, and along the east, the city of Brooklyn and its 

 neighbouring towns form a continuous city upon the eastern 

 side. A few years ago, was completed the gigantic and 

 wonderful bridge connecting Brooklyn with New York. From 

 the Battery, which formerly was a very fine promenade, the 

 view of the Bay, the Islands, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Jersey 

 City, and the entrance of Hudson River present one of the 

 most animated and beautiful pictures to be found. The upper 

 part of the city lies opposite the Palisades, and is remarkable 

 for its rural and picturesque scenery. The lower part, from the 

 Battery for about three miles north, is rolling and sandy, ft 

 then rises slightly and becomes rocky. At Central Park, 

 near the centre of the city now, but outside it in 1853, it rises 

 into broken hills, and northward along the river, the land rises 

 to a height of 238 feet at Washington Heights. 



Above the island the land is hilly and rough. The lower 

 part of the city has been much altered by filling and grading, 

 and the original width has been materially increased by filling 

 in the river on both sides. The city is compactly built up to 

 5gth street, at the southern end of Central Park, and on the 

 east of the park, it extends some three-and-a-half miles 

 further to the Harlem River. All the villages on the north 

 and west sides are now included in the city, which is so 

 rapidly spreading up that it promises to be one of the largest 

 and most populous in the .world. Indeed, few cities in the 

 world can vie with New 7 York in the beauty and convenience 

 of its site. 



The port is defended by the strong fortress of Fort 

 Tompkins on the west, and Fort Hamilton on the east, while 

 old Fort Lafayette stands in the bay a short distance from the 

 shore. At the confluence of the east and Hudson River is 

 Governor s Island, distinguished by the circular fortress on its 

 northern shore. Piers are numerous, the principal being the 

 great pier of Jersey City, where the Cunard line of steamers 

 lands its passengers, the Hoboken pier of the Hamburg and 

 German lines, and the large piers on the Hudson River, 

 where the Inman, White Star, Anchor, National and French 

 lines land their passengers. 



To give an idea of the extraordinary development of 

 New York, I subjoin several dates which speak for themselves. 

 In 1653, the population was 1,120 



J 753 10,256 



1800 60,000 



1820 123,000 



