Counties. Townships. Population. 192 461,978 Chief Towns and Population, 4...... 8,971...... Buffalo, 500 6...... 19,336 ..... Northempstead tp.2,750, Rensselaer......13...... 36,309...... Troy, 2,640 Brought over Niagara.... Oneida .... Onondago Ontario Orange Otsego ........ *Putnam Queens ... Richmond Rockland Saratoga ..... Schenectady Schoharie Seneca .... Steuben Suffolk...T Sullivan Tioga 4...... 5,347...... Richmond, 100 St. Lawrence...12...... 7,885......Ogdensburgh, 350 Ulster ..... *Warren 9... 21,113......Riverhead tp. 1,711 7... 6,018......Thompson tp. 1,300. 9...... 7,899......Spencer tp. 3,128 Washington.....21...... 44,285......Salem, 280 The city of New York is situated on an island of its own name, formed by the North and East rivers, and a creek or inlet connecting both of these together. The island is fourteen miles long, and, on an average, about one in breadth. The city stands on the south end, closely built from shore to shore, and is in length about two miles and a quarter, in breadth nearly one mile, and in circumference six; the present population (1819) is said to be 120,000. The East river separates it from Long Island, and the Hudson, or North river, from the state of New Jersey; the latter river is nearly two miles wide, the former is not quite so broad. Ships of any burden can come up to the quays, and lie there with perfect safety, in a natural harbour, formed by the above-named fine rivers, and a noble bay, completely protected by the surrounding lands. The city consists of about 17,000 houses, including public edifices and warehouses; and the number is rapidly in • Laid out since the census was taken. creasing. In the summer of 1818 it was computed that 2,000 new buildings were erecting, and most of them large and elegant; the houses are generally built of brick, with slated or shingled roofs. Within the city wooden houses are not allowed; but in the environs they are general; and being commonly two stories high, painted white, with green shutters, many of them are very handsome. The plan of New York is not regular, several of the streets in the old part of the town being too narrow, and some of them crooked; but all the modern part is built with much better taste, and most of the new streets are uncommonly elegant. Broadway is the finest street in the city, and from its great beauty and importance, merits a particular description. It commences at the Battery, on the south-east point of the city, and runs in a north-east direction about two miles and two furlongs, where it forms a junction with the Bowery road, which is 100 feet wide, and is connected with the road leading to Boston. The breadth of Broadway, including the side-pavements, is about eighty feet, and it is regular throughout its whole length. It is ornamented with rows of poplar trees on each side, and a number of public buildings are situated on it; particularly the custom-house, Trinity church, St. Paul's church, the mechanics' hall, the hospital, and the edifices for the city business. The street rises by a gradual ascent about half a mile, and is at its greatest elevation opposite to the city buildings. Greenwich-street is next in importance; it commences also at the Battery, and running due north about two miles, connects the city with the village of Greenwich. Pearl-street is one of the most important in the city, in point of trade; it rises likewise near the Battery, and runs parallel with East river to Cherry-street; from thence it runs to the northward, and joins Chatham-street, from which it has been extended to Broadway. Cherry-street is a continuation of Pearl-street, and runs along the East river, till it is terminated by a bend in that river. The other principal streets are Wallstreet, where most of the banks and public offices are. situated; Chatham-street, on which the theatre stands; Front-street, Water-street, and Broad-street. That part of the city which has been recently laid out upon East river, is constructed on a very handsome plan; the streets crossing each other at right angles, and there. are several public squares: but of these there are by far too few in the city, and they are hardly worthy of notice. The Battery, already mentioned, is a fine piece of ground, commanding an elegant view of the bay, islands, and shipping, and affords a most charming walk. On a sum mer's evening it is crowded with people, as it is open to the breezes from the sea, which render it particularly agreeable at that season. There is a triangular piece of ground, called the Park, in front of the public buildings, which is very ornamental; and these are all the public walks to be found in New York. The public buildings are numerous and handsome. The first in importance is the city hall, fronting the Park; it is built of white marble, and is said to be the most elegant building in America: indeed it is surpassed by very few in Europe. The others are, federal hall, custom-house, college, coffee-house, mechanics' hall, theatre, hospital, state prison, and bridewell. There are forty-six places of public worship, viz. five Dutch reformed churches, six presbyterian, three associated reformed ditto, one associated presbyterian, one reformed ditto, five methodist, two for black people, one German reformed, one evangelical Lutheran, one Moravian, four trinitarian baptist, one universalist, two catholic, three quaker, eight episcopalian, one Jews synagogue, and a small congregation who dispense with a priest entirely; every member following what they call the apostolic plan of instructing each other, and "building one another up in their most holy faith." * The city is accommodated with five public markets, of which the Fly-market is the principal; and these are well supplied with wholesome provisions, in neat and excellent order; which are generally sold at reasonable rates. The following is a list of the prices, in English money, at the beginning of the year 1819: beef, mutton, and veal from 4d. to 6d. per lb. ; ham and bacon 8d. to 10d.; dried beef, 9d.; fowls, 1s. 8d. to 2s. 7d. a pair; ducks, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 8d. a pair; geese, 2s. 3d. to 3s. 10d. each; turkeys, 38. 4d. to 5s. 8d.; pork, 6d. to 8d. per lb.; fresh butter, 16d. to 20d.; eggs, nine for 6d.; cheese, old, 9d. new, 6d. ; cheese imported, 11d. to 15d.; that manufactured in the United States is of bad quality; potatoes 3s. 5d. a bushel; green peas, (in the season) 7d. to 9d. per peck; turnips, 28. 3d. per bushel; cabbages, 2d. each; milk, 6d. per quart; fish, 2d. to 3d. per lb., except salmon, which sells from 13 d. to 38. 5d.; salt, 10d. a peck; brown soap, 7d. per lb.; refined do. 9d. ; candles, 8d.; mould do. 11d.; superfine flour, per barrel of 196 lb. 468. to 50s.; good common do. 368. to 41s.; rye, do. 31s.; Indian flour, 38s. to 418.; wheat, 8s. to 9s. per bushel; rye and barley, 68. 6d.; • Fowls of every description are nearly one half larger in America than in Great Britain; but they are not superior în quality. oats, 28.; hops, 20s. a pound; feathers imported, 14d. per pound; American do. 3s.; a loaf of bread seventeen ounces weight, 34d. ; ditto thirty-four ounces, 7d.; mustard, 38. 6d. per lb. ; common ale, 5d. per quart; best do. 7d.; apples, 10d. a peek; lobsters, 2d. per lb.; onions, 3d. a rope; cucumbers, 2d. each; common brown sugar, 7d. per lb.; lump do. 13d.; best do. 16d,; raw coffee, 11d.; souchong tea, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 7d.; hyson, 58. 7d. to 6s. 2d. 1.; gunpowder do. 10s. The quality of the provisions is excellent, except mutton, which is somewhat inferior; candles are not so good as they are with us, soap is superior. House rent is extravagantly high, in respectable streets that are eligible for business. In the skirts of the town, a small house, one story high, the front rooms of a moderate size, the back rooms less, but suited for beds, is from £12 to £14 per annum. A mechanic who has a family can have two small rooms for £18 a year. About half a mile out of the city, a small two story house, with two rooms on the first floor, and two closet bed-rooms on the same, one room in the garret, and the use of the kitchen, has been let for £24 10s. the landlord paying the taxes. A very small house, in a situation inconvenient for business, containing six rooms, is worth from £75 to £80 a year; a similar house in a better situation, £95 to £105; a ditto in a good street for business, £130 to £140; a ditto in a first rate retail situation, £160 to £200 per annum: it is to be observed that this is the smallest class of houses. A house containing a kitchen and servant's bed-room under ground, a dining-room, small parlour, and closet on the ground floor, a drawing-room and large bed-room on the first floor, three bed-rooms on the second, three in the attic, and a small back yard, the rent is £202 10s. and the taxes £11 58. A similar house to this, in a first rate private house situation, would be £300 to £350 per annum; were it appropriated to business, the rent would be higher. In Broadway, the rent of a shop and cellar only is £292 10s. ; the upper part of the house lets for £247 10s. Two moderate-sized houses in Wall-street were lately taken on lease, for the purpose of being converted into an inn, at a rent of £1,417 10s. per annum ; but not answering the expectations of the tenant, he put up at publie auction a nine years lease, which was knocked down for £2,587 10s. per annum! Ground lots for building, even in the suburbs, are enormously dear. Persons who are not housekeepers generally live at boarding-houses or hotels. A mechanic pays for his board and lodging 13s. 6d. a week, or, for better accommodation, 158. 9d.; for which he has three meals a day, coffee with fish or flesh meat for breakfast; a hot dinner; and tea (called supper) in the evening; at which last the table is filled with cheese, biscuits, molasses, and slices of dried beef. Boarding in one of the genteel houses is eight dollars a week, for such as remain only a short time; but at the same house, five or six dollars for a three or six months residence. Prices vary from eight to fourteen dollars a week, according to situation, respectability, and accommodation. Mrs. Bradish's boarding-house in State-street, is the best in New York, or perhaps in the United States; the rent of this house is £540 sterling per annum, with taxes to the amount of £18. Mechanics have good wages in this city; but are not always certain of employment. House carpenters and masons are in greatest request, and better paid than most other callings; the former receiving 7s. 101d. per day, and the latter 88. 5d. English money. Tailors can earn from 368. to 54s..; but their trade is much injured by the employment of women and boys, who work from twenty-five to fifty per cent. cheaper than the men. A man that can cut out will be occasionally very well paid; the women not being clever in this branch of the business, makes men more necessary. When a journeyman works by the piece, for making a common coat he receives 188.; a best do. 278. ; if he finds the trimmings, he is paid for a superfine coat 45s. to 51s.; for making trowsers, 98. To carry on this trade as a master, with a prospect of success, will require a capital of from £500 to £2,000; the profits are large, but long credit is given. The price of a coat made of best cloth is from £7 48. to £8 2s. There are large quantities of clothing imported from England, and many persons have their regular London tailors. Black and coloured Chinese crape, black stuff, white jean, white drill and Nankin, are worn for trowsers; all of which are made by women. Boot and shoemakers are numerous, some of them extensive. The price of sole leather is 11d. to 14d.; of dressed upper ditto, 11s. 3d. to 15s. 9d.; Wellington boots at the best shops are charged 40s. 6d. ; shoes, 13s. 6d. Spanish leather is much used for uppers; the shoes are made with taste, the workmanship appearing to be fully equal to that of London, and the American workmen not inferior to the English. A capital of from 500 to 1,000 dollars is requisite in a moderate concern; but it is not probable that a master shoemaker would be benefitted by moving to New York, though a journeyman would ; a first rate workman is capable of earning 45s. a week. |