west two chains and seventy-seven links, thence north fifty-three degrees, west seven chains and twelve links to Great George Street aforesaid, thence along the east side thereof north thirty-seven degrees and thirty minutes, east two chains and sixty-four links to the place of beginning ; containing one acre and three quarters of an acre, together with all and singular the profits, hereditaments, &c. &c." The conveyance is to the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city of New York, and their successors and assigns for ever, for the consideration of £1050. The deeds are signed on the eighth day of October one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, by Augustus Van Cortland, Catharine Van Cortland, and Frederick Van Cortland. The witnesses to the signature, as well as to the receipt of the consideration money £1050, are Frances Van Cortland and James Van Cortland. The acknowledgement was taken, on the same day, by Henry White, Esq., one of his Majesty's Council for the State of New York, and the deeds were recorded in the Office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, on the 25th November, 1774 — at the request of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of New York. At that period, Governor Tryon ruled over the Colony, and among his other prero- gatives was that of appointing the Maydr and Sheriff of the City. It may not be without interest at this day, to see who then were the fathers of the City. They were for 1775, WHITEHEAD HICKS, Mayor. — JOHN WATTS, Jr., Esq., Recorder. Francis Filkins, Benjamin Bragge, Andrew Gautier, Benjamin Huggett, Theophilus Hardenbroek, ^ Assistants> Henry Brevoort, jCXllUXCW VHUUUC/.1. Ai^llJ. jr J-»i ^ v vy«-n 1-, George Brewerton, Jr., |> Aldermen. Andrew Hamersley. John Dickinson, Jacobus Lefferts, William Waddell. 88 MEMOIROFTHE An additional sum of £2,600, was in this year ordered to be issued, as appears from this entry. Common Council, 2d of August 1775. — Ordered by the Board, that a number of printed notes to the amount of £2600 be immediately struck of the several denomina- tions following : 3000 of eight shillings £1200 4000 of four « ' 800 5000 of two " 500 2000 of one « 100 Which notes when signed, are to be applied towards carrying on the New- York Water Works. The revolutionary struggle which had even then commenced, and of which the City of New- York felt the full effects, appears to have put an end to this enterprise for furnish- ing water, before it had made any great progress. Scarcely, however, had peace returned, with Liberty and National Independence achieved, than our citizens again busied themselves about good water. In April, 1785, Samuel Ogden made proposals to the Corporation for erecting and establishing Water Works to supply the City. In January, 1786, proposals for a like object were presented by the Hon. R. R. Livingston and John Lawrence, Esq. Both projects were submitted to a committee, who, in February, made a report thereon, and concluded with advising, that the Board advertise for proposals for supplying the City with water. This suggestion was adopted ; and on the 19th of April, the Clerk informed the Board, that he had received three sealed packets said to contain proposals for supplying the City with water. In this stage of the business, the inhabitants seem to have inter- fered, for the aldermen and assistants being called upon for the opinions of their constitu- ents, reported as the sense of the people of their respective wards, that the Corporation ought not to grant the privilege of supplying the City with water to individuals, but that the same ought, if possible, to be undertaken by the Corporation. In consequence of this manifestation of public sentiment, it was ordered, — That the proposals remain unopened with the Clerk, until the further order of the Board, or that they be returned at the option of the parties offering them. Ordered, further, That the Aldermen and Assistants, be requested to set on foot, in their respective Wards, representations to this Board, in writing, and subscribed by the citizens, in order, more fully, to ascertain their sense, whether the Corporation ought to grant to individuals, the privilege of supplying the City with water, or whether the same ought to be undertaken by the Corporation, and that the monies necessary for the purpose, should be raised by tax on the citizens. CROTONAaUEDUCT. gg These proceedings were ordered to be published, but, owing t<T the imperfection of the records of that day, the result of the application to the people does not appear, neither is there any trace of what the plans proposed by Messrs. Ogden, Livingston, and Lawrence, were, for the supply of water. In January, 1788, the matter was again agitated, upon the petition of a great many