vanishes, his merits are insignificant, beside the "Woman yet alive" of Governor Dongan's report. The Albany fort was described by Dongan as being made of pine trees fifteen feet high, and fitted with batteries, etc., yet all very rotten, and he strongly recommends the substitution of masonry for timber at this important post. From Dutch to English, then back again from Eng- lish to Dutch, and finally once more into English hands, the embryo metropolis passed : but one looks in vain for records of carnage or of heroism. The transfers were made apparently without undue excitement on either side. A report to the Dutch Lords relates how one of these events came about. High and Mighty Lords. One Andries Michielsen, having been placed by Captain Binckes, the Commander of a squadron of four ships and one sloop-of-war, on board a prize of about fifty tons burthen, taken by the aforesaid Commander near Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean Islands, to bring her here, was forced, by leakage and insecurity of the ship, to run through the'Channel, where he had the mis- fortune to be captured by the English of Bevesier. He pre- sented himself to-day before our Board, and verbally reported that, after the abovenamed Captain Binckes, reinforced by Cap- tain Cornelius Evertsen's squadron had, together, burnt in the River of Virginia five English ships laden with tobacco, and Digitized by Microsoft® 24 The Hudson River captured six others, without having been able to effect anything further there, they had sailed for New Netherland, and became masters of the principal fortress situate on the Island Manhates, on the 9th of August ultimo; that also, before his departure on the nineteenth ditto, when he was dispatched with letters hither, he had heard that they had reduced another fort, situate some thirty leagues inland. The English had, some days before his departure, been removed elsewhere in four ships, viz., three be- longing to this Board and one of Zealand, the remainder staid at anchor before the Island Manates. Only by a resolute exercise of the imagination can we expunge from our vision the artificial cafions and mesas that have arisen at the bidding of the architect, and restore again even the modest town that the his- torian Smith pictured in 1757. What a century and a half have wrought of change and growth may best be appreciated by reading the description he wrote when Domine Ritzemer dispensed unadulterated Calvinism to his flock, when the Dutch farmers " in the small village of Harlem, pleasantly situ- ated" on the north-western part of New York Island, cultivated produce for the city markets, and the oyster beds within view of the Battery afforded one of the principal sources of food for the poorer people. At that date, almost midway in its history (if we reckon history by years), New York is described as a city of about two thousand five hundred buildings. It is a mile in length, and not above half that in breadth. Such is its figure, its centre of business and the situation of the houses, that the mean cartage from one point to another does not exceed above Digitized by Microsoft® Two Cities on One Site 25 one quarter of a mile, than which nothing can be more advantageous to a trading city. It is thought to be as healthy a spot as any in the world. The east and south parts, in general, are low, but the rest is situated on a dry, elevated soil. The streets are irregular, but being paved with round pebbles, are clean and lined with well built brick houses, many of which are covered with tiled roofs. Upon the southwest point stands the fort, which is a square with four bastions. Within the walls is the house in which our governors usually reside ; and opposite to it brick barracks, built, formerly, for the independent companies. The Governor's house is in height three stories and fronts to the west; having from the second story a fine prospect of the bay and the Jersey shore. There was formerly a chapel, but this was burned down in the negro conspiracy of the spring of 1741. According to Governor Burnet's observations this fort stands in the latitude of 40° 43' N. The following description, by a foreign writer of that day, gives a vivid picture of the social life of New York when fashion still lingered around the Bowling Green : The first society of New York associate together in a style of elegance and splendor little inferior to Europeans. Their houses are furnished with everything that is useful, agreeable, or orna- mental; and many of them, are fitted up in the tasteful magni- ficence of modern luxury. Many have elegant equipages. The dress of the gentlemen is plain,