Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
sea, which render it particularly agreeable at that season. There is a
fine view from it of the roads, Long and Staten Islands, and Jersey
shore. At the time of high water the scene is always interesting on
account of the number of vessels sailing in and out of port; such as go
into the East River pass within a few yards of the walls of the battery.
From the battery a handsome street, about seventy feet wide, called
Broadway, runs due north through the town; between it and the North
River run several streets at right angles, as you pass which you catch a
view of the water, and boats plying up and down; the distant shore of
the river also is seen to great advantage. Had the streets on the
opposite side of Broadway been also carried down to the East River, the
effect would have been beautiful, for Broadway runs along a ridge or
high ground between the two rivers; it would have contributed also very
much to the health of the place; if, added to this, a spacious quay had
been formed the entire length of the city, on either side, instead of
having the borders of the rivers crowded with confused heaps of wooden
store houses, built upon wharfs projecting one beyond another in every
direction, New York would have been one of the most beautiful sea-ports
in the world. All the sea-ports in America appear to great disadvantage
from the water, when you approach near to them, from the shores being
crowded in this manner with irregular masses of wooden houses, standing
as it were in the water. The federal city, where they have already begun
to erect the same kind of wooden wharfs and storehouses without any
regularity, will be just the same. It is astonishing, that in laying out
that city a grand quay was not thought of in the plan; it would
certainly have afforded equal, if not greater accommodation for the
shipping, and it would have added wonderfully to the embellishment of
the city.
Many of the private houses in New York are very good, particularly those
in Broadway. Of the public buildings there are none which are very
striking. The churches and houses for public worship amount to no less
than twenty-two; four of them are for Presbyterians, three for
Episcopalians of the church of England, three for Dutch Reformists, two
for German Lutherans and Calvinists, two for Quakers, two for Baptists,
two for Methodists, one for French Protestants, one for Moravians, one
for Roman Catholics, and one for Jews.
[Sidenote: INHABITANTS.]
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