YORK. 



trace the feries of events that occurred in this ftate before 

 the year 1776, when, on July 4, the thirteen united colonies 

 were declared independent. This was followed in 1777 by 

 the formation and adoption o£ the ftate conftitution, by a 

 convention of delegates, which was revifed in 180 1. In 

 1783, New York was evacuated by the Briti(h,and general 

 Wafhington made his public entry Nov. 25. In 1787 the 

 prefent conftitution of the United States was propofed 

 by the convention, and acceded to by this ftate in 1788, by 

 a majority of 30 to 25 votes. General Wafhington was 

 elefted prefident of the United States, and Congrefs met at 

 New York for the firft time under the new federal conftitu- 

 tion, M5rch4, 1789. In 1797 Albany was made the capi- 

 tal of the ftate. In 1801 the legiflature divided the ftate 

 into thirty counties, and thefe into towns. An academy of 

 the fine arts was founded in New York, In 1807 a fteam- 

 boat was eftablifhed on the Hudfon for paffengers, between 

 New York and Albany ; and in 181 1 their number was 5. 

 In 1809-10, the capital was built at Albany, at an expence 

 of 1 1 jjooo dollars, and was firft ufed by the legiflature in 

 the feffion of 1809-10. 



York, Nao, a county in the American ftate of the- 

 fame name, comprifes the ifland of Manhattan, or York 

 ifland, on the E. fide, and near the mouth of Hudfon 

 river. It is about 14^ miles long from N. to S., and in 

 breadth varying from half a mile to two miles : its area is about 

 2if fquare miles, or 13,920 acres. It is fituated between 

 40" 42', and 40° 52' N. lat., and o' and 8' E. long, fronri the 

 city of New York. It is bounded on the N. and E. by 

 Haarlem and Eaft rivers, S. and W. by the Hudfon, or by 

 York bay, and the ftate of New Jerfey. The limits of the 

 county, town, and city of New York are the fame ; and 

 the only legal fubdivifions are the wards, ten in number. 

 The jurifdiftion of the city and county of New York ex- 

 tends to low-water mark on the oppoCte (hores of the 

 waters that furround this county. The agriculture of New- 

 York county is highly refpeftable, and its horticulture is in 

 the firft ftyle of the country. The whole population of the 

 county probably exceeds 100,000 ; by the cenfus of 18 10, 

 it amounted to 96,373. This county fends 11 members to 

 the houfe of aflembly. 



York, New, a city of America, the capital of a county of 

 the fame name, is fituatedon the E. bank, at the confluence 

 of Hudfon and Eaft rivers, at the fouth end of New York 

 ifland. N. lat. 40'^ 42' 40". W. long, from Greenwich 

 74'^ o' 45". The compaft part of this city extends along 

 the Hudfon about two miles, and along Eaft river, from the 

 S.W. angle of the battery, near four miles : its circuit is 

 about 71 miles. The ftreets of the ancient part are irregu- 

 lar ; but the northern part has been recently laid out to 

 greater advantage. Many of the ftreets are fpacious, run- 

 ning in right lines, and interfefted by others at right angles. 

 The furface has at prefent a gentle afcent from the Hudfon 

 and Eaft rivers, and commands a fine view on the right and 

 left of the town, the above-named rivers, and their crowds 

 of ftiipping. The principal ftreets are, Broadway, opening 

 to the N.E., and extending through the whole length of the 

 city, Greenwich-ftreet, Pearl-ftreet, &c. &c. The ufual 

 tides at New York are about fix feet, and the depth of 

 water is fuf&cient for the largeft ftiips ; and the harbour, 

 which is fafe and good, is capacious enough for the largeft 

 fleets, and very rarely obftrufted by ice. The houfes of 

 this city are well built of brick, and its public buildings 

 are numerous and elegant. The firft of thefe that deferves 

 mention is the city -hall, in which are held the courts for the 

 city and county of New York. This building ftands on 

 elevated ground, and its ftrufture is ornamental to the city. 



The whole number of the churches, or houfes for ChtiHiait 

 worfliip, is 37, befides a Jewifh fynagogue. Of thefe. eighc 

 are Prefljyterian, eight Epifcopal, four Dutch Reformed, 

 three Scots Preftjyterian, three Methodift, two for Fnends 

 or Quakers, two Baptift, two German Lutheran, one 

 French Proteftant, one Moravian, one Roman Catholic, two 

 African. The New York hofpital is an extenfiveeftablifli- 

 ment ; the cuftom-houfe adjoins the battery at the S.W. 

 angle of the city ; the gaol and bridewell are oppoCte to 

 the Park, and the alms-houfe is on the fame fquare with the 

 gaol, bridewell, and city-hall. The college is about mid- 

 way between the Park and the river Hudfon ; and St. John's 

 church, reckoned the moft elegant in the city, is in Hudfon- 

 fquare, farther north. The ftate-prifon is two miles N. of 

 the battery, on the bank of the Hudfon. Here are alfo a 

 hbrary and theatre, fix market-houfes, and many other 

 buildings that might, if fpace were allowable, be enume- 

 rated. There are eight banking-companies in this city ; and 

 their houfes and offices, together with thofe of the infurance, 

 manufafturing, and other companies, and thofe of various fo- 

 cieties, add to the number of edifices that adorn the metro- 

 polis. The population, which by the cenfus of 1810 was 

 eftimated at 96,373, is fuppofed to amount to more than 

 100,000. The city and harbour of New York have beea 

 lately fortified againft naval aflaults at a very great expence : 

 but we fhould be tedious in minutely defcribing the works 

 which have been conftrufted for this purpofe. The number 

 of charitable eftabliihments, and of fchools for education in 

 this city, is very great, and does honour to the difpofition and 

 liberaUty of its inhabitants. The markets, which are kept 

 every day, are well fuppHed with the productions both of 

 land and water. The public walks and amufements in the 

 vicinity of this city afford attraftion to its ftated inhabit- 

 ants, and to thofe who occafionally refort hither. The 

 theatre, reading-rooms, public-gardens, park, and walks 

 on the battery, afford amufement, and contribute to aftivity 

 and health. 



The city of New York is governed by a mayor, recorder, 

 aldermen, and afliftants, who conftitute the common coun- 

 cil. Each ward choofes an aldemian and affiftant. The 

 mayor, deputy-mayor, recorder, and aldermen, are ex -officio 

 juftices of the peace, and juftices of oyer and terminer ; and 

 the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty, are authorized to hold 

 a court of record or of common pleas ; and this is called the 

 mayor's court, and deemed of great importance. For the 

 manufactures, commerce, literary inftitutions, &c. &c. of 

 the city of New York, we refer to the account already 

 given of the ftate of New York. Melifti. Morfe. Spaf- 

 ford's Gazetteer of New York, 1813. 



York, New, a poft-town of Virginia; 167 miles S.W. 

 of Wafhington. 



York Town, or York, a townfliip of Weft Chefter 

 county, in the ftate of New York, 45 miles N. of New 

 York, bounded N. by Duchefs county, E. by Somers and 

 Newcaftle, S. by Newcaftle, W. by Cortlandt ; in length 

 N. and S. 10 miles, and nearly 4 miles wide. The general 

 furface is hilly, but produftive, and well diftributed into 

 arable, pafture, and meadow lands. In 1810, here were 

 269 taxable inhabitants, 142 eleftors, and in all 1924 

 inhabitants. 



York Town, a town of the ftate of Virginia, capital of 

 the county of York, on the right bank of York nver, about 

 10 miles from its mouth, containing about 800 inhabitants. 

 In the year 1781, the Britifh army under lord ComwaUis 

 furrendered themfelves prifoners of war to the united forces 

 of America and France near this town, and was the occa- 

 fion of a peace which followed foon after. A marble 

 5^ 2 column, 



