In 1664 Charles II. of England, jealous of the productiveness of this Dutch colony, determined to secure it. In 1621 James I. had claimed it by right of first occupancy. In 1632 Charles I. reasserted this claim; and in 1654 Cromwell ordered an expedition for the conquest of the New Netherlands. The treaty with Holland stopped these proceedings, and the colony was left in peace until 1664, when Charles II. granted the entire territory to his brother, the Duke of York. In August of that year an expedition arrived to capture the city, which surrendered to the English fleet without resistance. The name of the city was then changed to New York, in honor of its ducal owner. In 1673 the Dutch recaptured the city, and christened it New Orange. The following year, by a treaty of peace with Holland, it was restored to the English and again called New York. In 1702 Wall Street was paved, and in 1711 a regular slave market was established. In 1775, at the beginning of the war, New York declared for independence, but in 1776 it fell into the hands of the English, who retained possession until 1783, when they finally evacuated it. In 1788 New York celebrated the adoption of the Constitution--the great Constitution under which we live to-day and enjoy our freedom. A ship, representing the Ship of State, was drawn through the streets of the city by ten milk-white horses. Alexander Hamilton had done so much to convince the State of the wisdom of adopting the Constitution, that in recognition of his great services the platform upholding the Ship of State was inscribed in large letters with his name. New Yorkers must never forget that it was in their city that the first President was inaugurated, and that that President was George Washington. To New York belongs the greatest honor any American city can boast, in having placed the sceptre of government in the hands of the greatest man the country has ever produced. On March 4th, 1789, the new Constitution went into operation, but it was not until April 30th that the President took the oath of office. Standing on the balcony of a building in front of Federal Hall, where Congress met, and in the presence of an immense multitude, George Washington took the following oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States; and to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Then, amid the ringing of bells, the firing of cannon, a great shout went up, "Long live George Washington, President of the United States." It was the streets of New York that first resounded to this glorious cry! Federal Hall was the old City Hall. It stood on the northeast corner of Wall and Nassau streets, on ground now occupied by the United States Sub-Treasury. New Yorkers have much to be proud of in their city. G.H. ROSENFELD.