S64 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA : 
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The North, or Hudson River, is nearly two 
miles wide; the East, or the North-East one* 
as it should rather be called, is not quite so? 
broad. The depth of water in each, close to 
the city, is sufficient for the largest merchant 
vessels. The principal seat of trade, however, 
is on the East River, and most of the vessels 
lie there, as during winter the navigation of 
that river is not so soon impeded by the ice. 
At this side of the town the houses and stores 
are built as closely as possible. The streets are 
narrow and inconvenient, and, as but too com- 
monly is the case in seaport towns, very dirty, 
and, consequently, during the summer season, 
dreadfully unhealthy. It was in this part of 
the town that the yellow fever ra^ed with such 
violence in 1795; and during 1796, many per¬ 
sons that remained very constantly there, also 
fell victiips to a fever, which, if not the yellow 
fever, was very like it. The streets near the 
North River are much more airy; but the 
most agreeable part of the town is in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the battery, on the southern point 
of the island, at the confluence of the twq 
rivers. When New York was in possession of 
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the English, this battery consisted of two or 
more tiers of guns, one above the other; but 
it is now cut down, and affords a most charm- 
> •. „» -a * s 
ing walk, and, on a summer’s evening, is 
crowded with people, as it is open to the 
