376 CITY OF NEW YORK. 



tarian liturgy. Universalism, its extent in the States. Its charac 

 teristic feature and large charity. Alleged polygamy among the- 

 Mormons. Freedom of speech on religious sxibjects. Mr Colmau s 

 answer. Number of Roman Catholics in Massachusetts. Strength 

 of the Episcopal Methodists. Comparative strength of Romanism in 

 Gi-eat Britain and in the United States. Alleged greater harmony of 

 religious sects in the States. Is the consequence of greater civil 

 and political equality. 



NEW YORK, 5th Feb. I returned yesterday from Wash 

 ington to New York, a journey by railway of about 

 fifteen hours. There are many objects of attraction 

 which a large city like this possesses in common with large 

 European cities, which the stranger likes to visit, but 

 which it would be tiresome to describe. Fashionable 

 quarters, centres of mercantile transactions, and lines of 

 crowded docks and wharves, are to be seen in London, 

 Liverpool, or Glasgow, of pretension and extent at least 

 equal to anything this commercial emporium can show. 

 The street called Broadway Mr Cooper rebukes Eng 

 lishmen for speaking of it as the Broadway is unequalled, 

 I believe, in Great Britain, for united breadth and length 

 in a straight line. In these respects it reminded me of 

 the Nevski Prospect in St Petersburg, though far infe 

 rior to it in beauty, as it is also to many streets in 

 Great Britain, to which persons of taste would give a 

 preference. 



It is the sudden growth of all its streets and popula 

 tion, and wealth and commerce, which forms the boast 

 and pride of New Y r ork, and gives it the greatest interest 

 to a stranger. In 1790 it had a population of only 

 33,000, it contains now nearly 400,000. 



This increase is very remarkable, and the study of it 

 suggests to the mind a very interesting social and phy 

 siological problem. The rise of the city is a source of just 

 gratification and congratulation to the inhabitants, both 

 of the town itself and of the State of New York. But the 

 problem is, whether it be really a just subject of pride or 



