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Proposed Erection of 



Another grateful duty is before your committee. They recommend 

 that wlien the new City Ilall, now in process of construction, shall be 

 sufficiently advanced to receive it, a tablet of white marble shall be 

 built into the inner wall of the entrance, on which shall be cut the 

 words addressed by George Washington to the citizens of Albany, in 

 reply to their address welcoming him to Albany, 1763 : 



" While I contemplate with inexpressible pleasure the future tran- 

 quillity and glory ot our common country, I cannot but take particular 

 interest in the anticipation of the increase in prosperity and greatness 

 of the ancient and respectable city of Albany, from whose citizens I 

 have received such distinguished tokens ot their approbation and 

 affection. G-eorge Washington." 



Your committee do not believe it is necessary to tell the Institute, or 

 through it the people of Albany, that this prediction of the glory of 

 our Union, and this anticipation of the greatness of Albany, so well 

 phrased by the Pater PATRiiE^ deserves highest place amidst its 

 imperishable archives. The intelligent gentlemen who form the City 

 Hall Commission can easily effect the desired result. 



These are not the only interesting features of past history left in our 

 midst and in our vicinage. Few of those who, in its crowded thorough- 

 fare, pass the old building at the south-east corner of South Pearl and 

 State streets, notice the iron ANNO, which is relic of its date, whose 

 figures were so unfortunately removed by its owner. Mr. Munsell, a name 

 always to be spoken with honor by the Institute, had strong recollec- 

 tion of those figures as of the seventeenth century. 



On the opposite bank of the river, a brief distance south of the 

 Green bush ferry, is the old dwelling, formerly owned by Jeremiah 

 Van Rensselaer, and now the property of Mr. Callender. It is thought 

 to be of the seventeenth century, but the proof is not distinct. It has 

 in itself most interesting memorial, as yet showing the loop-hole 

 stones, of ancient defense against the savages. These relics are most 

 interesting as now placed, but whenever removed for any cause, they 

 should be built into the wall of some modern building, for preservation. 



Out of the desolation of taste which has characterized municipal 

 action on this subject, there is yet preserved, in the city streets, some 

 historic names which we would earnestly hope might be retained. 

 Beaver street indicates the very cause of the vitality of the trading 

 post, amidst all its discouragement of flood and foe; Van Tromp, the 

 patriotic remembrance of the Hollander of the sea-sweeping broom of 

 the brave sailor; to Church street allusion has been already made ; 

 Dean street remembers the name of the bold navigator who took an 



