22 A GEOLOGICAL HISTORY. 



On the west side of Broadway, and nearly op- 

 posite to the water basin, stood an old fort (built 

 of earth) which had been used during the Revo- 

 lutionary War : on the outside of this fort, on the 

 slope of the hill, were buried many of the American 

 prisoners of war who had died in the old " Sugar 

 House" in Liberty Street, then Crown Street, or in 

 " The North Dutch Church" in William Street, 

 both of which were used as prisons by the Eritish. 

 These bodies were buried so near the surface, that 

 by the slight washing of the hill their bones were 

 exposed ; and many a time, when a boy, have I 

 seen their remains pulled out and abused by my 

 thoughtless companions — as late as 1800. 



The next hill to be described was the highest 

 and steepest on the south end of this island, and 

 was called tC Bunker's Hill ;"* it stood where now 



* They commenced levelling this hill about the year 1802, and in dig- 

 ging down, the earth was removed more than 14 feet lower than the bot- 

 tom of the well ; in it were found old iron hoops and other relics ; among 

 which was an old cannon, (a nine pounder,) which I saw there at 

 the time. How often have I, when a boy, stood on the breast-work of 

 this hill, and looked, with delight, to the south, over that beautiful 

 sheet of water, the Kolck (Collect,) on the small city, with its few spires 

 and domes. Beyond was seen the bay, with the hills of Staten Island still 

 further in the south ; then turning to the west, the " Noble Hudson," with 

 the Newark Mountains in the distance, the farm houses and country 

 seats of the island, and that stupendous work of nature," the palisades, 

 on the north, and on the east the high ridge of that fertile plain, Long 

 Island, " all covered with their native green." 



