196 
repaired to the City Hotel in Broadway, where I had lodged last 
autumn, and occupied again the same apartment which I then 
did. 
I leave it the reader to imagine with what remarks and feelings 
I again entered this place. I gratefully turned to the Great Master 
of Life, who had so manifestly protected me during this long 
journey, and brought me back again to this place in health! 
I passed at this time but few days in New York, and I mention 
but a few circumstances. I was indeed very busy during these 
days, but almost every thing was done with a view to my depar¬ 
ture. 
I made a visit to Colonel Burr, who was a vice-president of the 
United States at the commencement of this century, and a rival 
of Mr. Jefferson for the presidency, which was decided in favour 
of the latter by the vote of Mr. Claiborne. In consequence of 
this election, Colonel Burr fought a duel with General Hamilton, 
in which the latter was killed. Burr afterwards went to the 
western states, and, as it was said, intended to detach these from 
the eastern, and form them into a separate state. His plan was, 
however, discovered, and he was arrested, but acquitted for want 
of sufficient proof. He then travelled through Europe, and now 
lives at New York as a lawyer. During his travels in Europe, 
he came, in 1810, to Weimar, and spoke of a remarkably good 
reception on the part of my father. I found him to be a little 
old man, with very lively eyes, who spoke very well. 
As I went to pay a visit to Mr. Zimmermann, consul of the 
Netherlands, a fire occurred in a tar manufactory near his house. 
It was fortunately checked by the excellent fire companies, before 
it extended. I had scarcely remarked the fire when the bells 
were rung, and fire cried in all the streets. In less than five 
minutes engines arrived, each drawn by about thirty people, by 
means of two long ropes. In New York numerous fire compa¬ 
nies exist, among whom the different engines are divided. The 
members of these companies have voluntarily engaged themselves 
for this laborious service, and are relieved, in consequence, from 
jury and military service. They wear a short frock at a fire, of 
coarse linen, with a leathern belt, and a leathern hat with a num¬ 
ber. As in many English cities, there are water pipes laid in 
the streets, with an inscription at the corner, how many feet dis¬ 
tant is the opening. This has' an iron cover to which each en¬ 
gine has a key, is brought near, and the water conveyed into it 
through a leathern hose. As I had nothing to do with the fire, 
I returned to my lodgings, and passed a second fire in another 
street. This was, however, less important than the former, and 
soon extinguished. 
I went one evening to the Italian opera in the Park Theatre. 
