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enterprize few or no fettlements. Among all the new townships that have been fettled fince the peace, (and they have been aftonishingly numerous) it is not known that one has been fettled by the Dutch. though they are as intent upon gain' as other people, they had rather reft fecure of what they poffefs, than hazard all, or even a part, in uncertain attempts to increase it.

The English language is generally spoken throughout the ftate, but is not a little corrupted by the Dutch dialect, which is ftill fpoken in foine counties. But as Dutch fchools are almoft, if not wholly difcontinued, that language, in a few generations, will probably ceafe to be used at all. And the increafe of English fchools has already had a perceptible effect in the improvement of the English language.

The manner of the people differ as well as their language. The ancestors of the inhabitants in the fouthern and middle parts of Long-Ifland, were either natives of England, or the immediate defcendents of the first fettlers of New-England, and their manners and cuftoms are fimilar to thofe of their ancestors. The counties inhabited by the Dutch, have adopted the English manners in a great degree, but ftill retain many modes, particularly in their religion, which are peculiar to the Hollanders. They are induftrious, neat, and economical in the management of their farms and their families. Whatever bufinefs they purfue, they generally follow the old track of their forefathers, and feldom invent any new improvements in agriculture, manufactures, or mechanics. They were the first fettlers of this ftate, and were particularly friendly to the English colony that fettled at Plymouth, in New-England, in 1620; and continued to be amicably difpofed towards the English colonies eaft of them, until the unhappy difpute arofe concerning the lands on Connecticut river.

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A celebrared traveller through this ftate, fome years fince, has given the following account of the Dutch ; They are every where well known for their avarice and felfishness. They are unhofpitable, and never difpofed to oblige beyond a profpect of intereft. A commentator. on this paffage remarks, Such inward feelings (if it be true that they exift) we may well fuppofe would produce difagreeable confequences, when united with the natural effects of their fituation in a conquered country; for the prejudice arifing from this circumftance ftill remains, though the event long fince took place. As the New England people were operative in producing this event, their firft and greateft malice is against them; white the difference in their natural difpofitions, and the peculiarities in the manners and customs of both parties, render them obnoxious each to the other, and afford an infinite fund to a genius for the malevolent burlefque.

The defign of the Dutch in coming to this country, was not to improve their minds, nor to erect public feminaries of fcience, but to increate their fortunes. Thus did their darling patlion, and the unhappy circunftance of their fituation, debar them from eminence, or even progrefs, in the field of science. A want of fchools and feminaries furnished with. able inftructors of their own nation-their unacquaintedness with the English language, and their national pride, have all confpired to keep thein

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in their native ignorance of every mental improvement. This will account for many unfavourable peculiarities in their manners and cuftoms.'

It is not to be doubted,' continues this writer, that there are many bright geniuses among them, who, through the difficulties of obtaining an education, have remained unpolifhed and unimproved. There are many, indeed, who, by their affiduous application, furmount every obftacle, burst through the cloud that overfhadows them, and fhine with diftinguished luttre in the first offices of church and state; and their luftre is brightened by being contrafted with the total darknefs in which others are involved; for to be fure, from the caufes already affigned, no people are fo ignorant as the lower class.

Another caufe of their unfociability and apparent referve, in encourageing and affociating with ftrangers, is their want of enterprize. Their neighbours, more enterprizing, emigrate and reap the fruit of thofe advantages which their local fituation puts in their own power. This excites jealoufy and rivalfhip. The balance of this rivalship they fee is against them. The prefervation of their intereft and of their dignity, Calls them to unite in oppofing their rivals, But it is evident that their union and friendship, in this regard, have too often their prime source in intereft, are continued through intereft, and have intereft for their ultimate object. The intended effect of this union, is in a great meafure loft, through the natural jealoufies and clafhing interests of heads of families and their parties; for although they are all combined by the general bond of national prejudice and national customs, and national religion, they are fplit into numerous and warm parties. And among them, he who has the greateft intereft and the ftrongest party, not he who has the moft merit, is the greateft man, the most honourable man,' and the best qualified for public office. In their meetings, they are ever led to think and fay the worft of their opponents, and recal all the little circumftances of buriefque, malice, or mistake in them, which perfons of more liberal fentiments would with charitably to veil and bury in oblivion. Thus it is that the practice of flandering and injuring each other's characters, becomes common, and furnishes a great part of their daily converfation; while that fweet and friendly intercourse, which mends the heart, and that dignified and fenfible converfation which improves the mind, are almoft wholly neglected.' Thus this commentator.

However true thefe obfervations may have been, in regard to that part of the people with which this writer was more immediately acquainted. (and it is prefumed he never meant to have them generally applied) they will admit only of a partial application to the Dutch inhabitants throughout the ftate; and even in this cafe, it ought in justice to be observed, that the revolution and its confequences, have had a very perceptible influence, in diffufing a spirit of liberality among them, and in difpelling the clouds of ignorance and national prejudice. Schools, academies, and colleges are established and establishing for the education of their children, in the English and learned languages, and in the arts and fciences, and a literary and fcientific fpirit is evidently increafing. If fuch are the buddings of improvement in the dawn of our empire, what a rich harveft may we expect in its meridian?

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The city of New-York is inhabited principally by merchants, methanics, fhop-keepers, and tradefmen, compofed of almoft all nations and religions. They are generally refpectable in their feveral profeffions, and fuftain the reputation of honelt, punctual, fair dealers.

The manners and character of the inhabitants of every colony or flate, will take their colouring, in a greater or lefs degree, from the peculiar manners of the firit fettlers. It is much more natural for emigrants to a fettlement to adopt the customs of the original inhabitants, than the contrary, even though the emigrants fhould, in a length of time, become the most numerous. Hence it is that the neatnefs, parfimony, and induftry of the Dutch were early imitated by the first English fettlers in the province, and, until the revolution, formed a diftinguishing trait in their provincial character. It is ftill difcernible, though in a much lefs degree, and will probably continue vifible many years to come.

Befides the Dutch and English already mentioned, there are in this ftate many emigrants from Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and fome from France. The principal part of thefe are fettled in the city of New-York, and retain the manners, the religion, and fome of them the language of their refpective countries.

Chief Towns.] There are three incorporated cities in this ftate; NewYork, Albany, and Hudíon. New-York is the capital of the state, and, fo long as it continues to be the feat of the general government, muft be confidered as the capital of the United States.

This city ftands on the fouth-west point of an island, at the confluence of the Hudfon and Eaft River. The principal part of the city lies on the eaft fide of the island, although the buildings extend from one river to he other. The length of the city on Eaft river is about two miles, but falls much fhort of that diftance on the banks of the Hudfon. Its breadth, on an average, is nearly three-fourths of a mile; and its circumference may be four miles. The plan of this city is not perfectly regular, but is laid out with reference to the fituation of the ground. The principal ftreets run nearly parallel with the rivers. Thefe are interfected, though not až tight angles, by ftreets running from river to river. In the width of the treets there is a great diverfity. Water-ftreet and Queen-ftreet, which оссиру the banks of Eaft River, are very conveniently fituated for business, but they are low and too narrow; not admitting, in fome places, of walks on the fides for foot paffengers. Broad-ftreet, extending from the Exchange to City-hall, is fufficiently wide. This was originally built on each fide of the creek, which penetrated almoft to the City-hall. This ftreet is low, but pleasant; and that part which did not fuffer by the fire during the war, is generally well built; the other is recovering from its ruins.

But the moft convenient and agreeable part of the city is Broadway. This ftreet runs upon the height of land between the two rivers, beginning at the fort near the fouth end of the city, and extending to the Hofpital, in front of which it opens into an extenfive plain or common. This teet is wide, and elevated fo as to command a delightful profpect of the town, and the Hudson.

Wall Street is generally wide and elevated, and the buildings elegant, Hanover-fquare and Dock-freet are conveniently fituated for bufines,

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and the houses well built. William-ftreet is alfo elevated and convenient, and is the principal market for retailing of dry goods. Many of the other ftreets are pleasant, but most of them are irregular and narrow.

The houses are generally built of brick, and the roofs tiled. There are remaining a few houfes built after the old Dutch manner, but the English taile has prevailed almoft a century.

Upon the fouth-west point of the land ftands the fort, which is a square with four battions; within the walls of which the governors used forinerly to refide. Below the fort, near the water, there is a line of fortifications of confiderable extent, defigned to command the entrance into both rivers. But it is queftionable, whether any number of cannon would prevent fhips from paffing with a favourable wind and tide, and indeed whether New-York is capable of defence, by land against a powerful marine force. The battery, however, in the fummer feafon furnishes the citizens with an agreeable walk, which is open to refreshing breezes from the bay.

The city-hall is a brick building, more ftrong than elegant. It is three ftories in height, with wings at each end, and fronts Broad-street, which affords an extenfive profpect. The first floor is an open walk, except two finall apartments for the door-keeper and city-watch. In the fecond ftory of the eastern wing is the affembly chamber, now occupied by Congrefs, and adorned with the following paintings: The portrait of the great Columbus, belonging to the affembly of this ftate; a painting valuable only for its antiquity and the character of the man-The likeneffes of the King and Queen of France, as large as the life, executed in a masterly manner, and prefented to Congrefs by his Moff Chriftian Majefty; equally valuable for the richness of the paintings, the dignity of the perfonages whom they reprefent, and as pledges of royal friendship-The likeness of General Washington, prefented by a gentleman in England; a likeness dear to every American, and deftined to grace the walls of every councilchamber in the New World.

The western wing contains a room for the council or fenate, now occupied by the fecretary of Congrefs, and another for the Mayor's court. In the body of the house is a fpacious hall for the fupreme judicial court. Large additions are now making to this building for the accommodation of Congress, under the direction of the ingenious Mon. Le Enfant.

There are three houfes of public worship belonging to the reformed Proteftant Dutch Church, one is called the Old Dutch Church, which was built in the year 1693, and rebuilt in the year 1766; another is called the North Church, which was founded in the year 1767, and dedicated to the fervice of God in the year 1769. This laft church was ruined by the British during the late war, was repaired in the year 1784, and has fince been used with the old church for the performance of divine fervice. The middle church, generally called the New Dutch Church, was built in the year 1729; is the moft fpacious of the three, but was alfo ruined in the war, and is not yet fully repaired.

The people of this denomination were the first fettlers of this ftate, and make a refpectable part of the citizens. The church in the city is confidered as one church or congregation, though worshipping in different places. The charter, or act of incorporation, was granted by William

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the Third, in the year 1696, when Benjamin Flitcher, Efq; was governor of the province. The minifters, elders, and deacons are the body corporate, and hold confiderable property. Many years before the war, they found it neceffary, by reafon of the decline of the Dutch language, to Have fervice performed in English, and had then two Dutch and two English minitters. Since the war it has been performed chiefly in Englifli, and they have at prefent only two ministers.

There are four Prefbyterian churches in the city of New-York. The first was erected in the year 1719, built of stone, and rebuilt and enlarged in the year 1748-it is eighty feet long and fixty wide, with a copula and bell; and stands in the upper end of Wall-treet, the north fide of the street, near the Broadway. The second was erected in the year 1767, iš a genteel brick building, eighty-three feet long, and fixty-five feet wide, with a steeple not finished; it ftands on the catt fide of the green, at the head of Beekman and Naffau-streets.

The congregations worshipping in thefe churches are connected with each other, under the care of the fame minifters, who preach alternately in them, and having the fame elders and deacons ; their temporalities allo are managed by the fame truftees, incorporated under the law of the state, paffed in April, 1784, capacitating religious focieties of every denomination to incorporate themselves, for the purposes therein mentioned.

The third Prefbyterian Church was erected in the year 1768, is a genteel ftone building, fixty-five and an half feet long, and fifty-five and an half feet wide, and ftands in Little Queen-street, not far from the Broadway. This church is alfo incorporated agreeably to the fame law.

Thefe three churches were occupied by the British troops during the late war. as hofpitals and barracks, and were left by them in a moft ruinous fituation-and have been repaired with great neatnefs, and at a very great expence, by their refpective congregations, fince the peace.

The fourth Prefbyterian Church was erected in the year 1787, is a neat frame building, fifty feet long and twenty-four wide, and ftands in Naffau-ftreet.

The clergy of the Prefbyterian Churches in this city are maintained by the revenues arifing from the rents of their pews.

There are three Epifcopal Churches in New-York, under one charter, which was granted the 6th of May, 1697. Trinity church was built in the year 1696, and at feveral times afterwards improved and enlarged. It was fituated on the weft fide of Broadway, in view of the Hudfon, with a spacious cemetery on each fide; including the tower and chancel it was about 148 feet in length, and 72 in breadth and the steeple 173 feet in height. This was fuppofed to be the moft ftately building of the kind in America, but was destroyed in the fire which happened juft after the British troops entered the city in 1776. It is now rebuilding, and feveral thoufand pounds have already been fubfcribed for that purpofe.

St. George's Chapel, in Beekman-ftreet, was finished in 1750. This is a neat building, formed with hewn ftone, and the roof tiled.

St. Paul's Chapel, in Broadway, was completed in 1766. This building, which is in itself elegant, is embellished with a fuperb monument, erected by ordǝr of Congrefs, and at the expence of the United States, to

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