236 ROMAN CATHOLIC VOTE. 



some church object a short time before my visit to the 

 city, by which they cleared 4000 dollars. . A clergyman 

 of another denomination, talking to me on the subject, 

 mentioned that his people had also had one. &quot; And how 

 much money did you clear?&quot; I asked. &quot; Four hundred 

 dollars,&quot; was his reply. u And how do you account for 

 that great difference ? &quot; &quot; The reason is, that my bazaar 

 and that of any other denomination is supported only by 

 our own people, but everybody patronises the Roman 

 Catholic bazaar. Their vote is so strong that nobody 

 who looks for any public office, and no party, dare give 

 them offence. Every one courts them, and thus they 

 continually gain in strength, in wealth, and in influence.&quot; 



Albany was founded by the Dutch, and many of their 

 descendants remain and give the character of steadiness 

 and aversion to rash speculation, which still favourably 

 distinguishes the merchants of Albany. There are now, 

 besides other admixtures, many of Irish birth and descent, 

 and about six thousand Germans. The Germans are 

 prosperous, and are increasing in numbers. They have 

 three Protestant and one Romanist church, and two 

 synagogues. 



The prosperity of Albany is dependent upon its posi 

 tion on the Hudson, above the head of tide-water, and at 

 a point from which the road is shortest and most direct 

 towards the rich western country on the borders of the 

 lakes. It has now, however, a formidable rival in the 

 town of Troy, about six miles farther up the river, which 

 in some respects enjoys advantages over Albany, both 

 as regards the trade to the west, and with Canada by 

 the way of Lake Cham plain. 



The Legislature of the State of New York consists 

 of a Senate of 32 members, chosen for two years, 

 one from each county, and an Assembly of 128, elected 

 annually, four from each county. The session com 

 mences with the beginning of the year, and business had 



