USA > New York > The Empire State: a compendious history of the commonwealth of New York > Part 2
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CHAPTER XXVI.
Social aspects of New York State and City at the beginning of this century, 367-370 ; The Chamber of Commerce and benevolent societies, 369 ; Churches and country-seats ; First revision of the State Constitution, 370 ; Political influence of two families, 371 ; A bitter personal and political warfare, 372 ; Schism in the Democratic Party ; Hamilton and Burr, 373 ; Hamilton slain by Burr in a duel, 374, 375 ; Burr's political death, and trial for treason ; The West Point Military Academy ; Governor Morgan Lewis, 375 ; Foundation of a permanent school fund laid ; The Free School Society, 376; Navigation by steam established, 377 ; Embargo Act, 378; Cause of the downfall of the Federal Party ; Coquetting with the "Burrites," 379, 380 ; The State prepares for war ; Gov- ernor Tompkins, 380; The British Orders in Council unrepealed, 381.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The genesis of the Erie Canal, 382, 385; Gouverneur Morris, 382 ; Jesse Hawley, Simeon De Witt, and Joshua Forman, 383 ; Thomas Eddy and a public meeting in New York, 384; Beginning of the construction of the Erie Canal, 385 ; Opposition to it, 386 ; Second overthrow of the Federal Party, 386 ; War of 1812-15 ; The Chesapeake and Leopard affair, 387 ; Peace Party ; Northern frontier of New York, 388 ; Surrender of Detroit ; Militia of New York, 389 ; Beginning of war on the Northern frontier, 390- 392 ; Battle of Queenstown, 393-396.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Doings of the American Navy, 397, 398 ; A bank charter in politics, 399, 400 ; De Witt Clinton a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, 400; Hostilities on Lake Ontario and the regions of the St. Lawrence and Niagara rivers, 400, 401 ; War spirit in the West, 403 ; Movements for the recovery of Michigan, 403, 404 ; Belligerent fleets on Lake Erie, 405 ; Battle on Lake Erie, 405, 406 ; The Creek War, 406, 407.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Attack on Ogdensburg, 408 ; The capture of York (Toronto), 409; The Niagara River and frontier in possession of the Americans, 410 ; Attack on Sackett's Harbor, 411, 412 ; Affair at the Beaver Dams, 412; Operations on the Niagara frontier, 413 ;
xii
CONTENTS.
Operations on Lake Champlain, 414, 415 ; Expedition against Montreal, 415-417 ; The Niagara frontier desolated, 417; Naval operations on the sea, 417, 418 ; Amphibious warfare, 418; American naval force in 1813, 419.
CHAPTER XXX.
Wellington's veterans sent to the United States, 420 ; Peace Faction, 420 ; Battle at La Colle Mill : Struggle for the mastery of Lake Ontario, 421 ; Invasion of Canada, 422, 423; Battle of Chippewa, 424; Battle of Lundy's Lane, 425; Americans victorious at Fort Erie, 426 ; Land and naval contest at Plattsburgh, 427-431; Attack on Fort Mackinaw, 432.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Naval and military operations on the coasts of the United States, 433, 434 ; Stirring scenes at New York, 434; British invasion of Maryland, 435 ; Battle of Bladensburg ; Incendiarianism at Washington, 436 : British repulsed at Baltimore, 437 ; Naval opera- tions on the ocean in 1814, 438, 439; American privateers, 440 ; New Orleans and Louisiana threatened, 441 ; Battle of New Orleans, 442; News of peace at New York, 442, 443 ; The Hartford Convention, 443, 444.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Governors Tompkins and ('linton, 445; Common schools and school fund, 446; Civil affairs in the State, 447-457; Defence against invasion, 448 ; Movements in favor of the construction of the Erie Canal, 449, 450 ; AAbolition of slavery proposed, 451 : Change in the position of political leaders, 452 ; " Bucktails " and " Clintonions," 453 ; Powers of the Councils of Appointment and Revision, 454 ; Revision of the State Con- stitution, 453 ; Features of the revised Constitution, 456, 457.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Condition of New York in 1821 ; The Barbary Powers, 458; Readjustment of the machinery of the State government, 459 ; The " People's Party ;" De Witt Clinton and the people, 460 ; Lafayette's visit, 461 ; A new era, 462 ; Opening of the Erie Canal, 463 ; Celebration of the opening of the canal, 463-468; Grand display in New York . Ilarbor, 465 ; Nuptials of the lakes and the sea, 466 ; Grand procession in New York City, 467 ; Achievements of the Erie Canal, 468-470 ; Buffalo and Rochester in 1813, 469, 470 ; A pagan rite at Rochester, 470; The common-school system, 471; The Anti-Masonic episode, 471, 472.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Tariff laws and the " American System ;" Death of Governor Clinton, 473 ; Safety- fund system, 474 ; Anti-Masonic journal and Thurlow Weed, 476; A " Workingmen's Party ;" New York fashions, 476 ; Name of the Whig Party-how given, 477 ; Imprison- ment for debt abolished, 478 ; Renewal of the United States Bank charter considered, 479; Van Buren appointed Minister to England ; Rejected by the Senate, and the result ; Nullification suppressed, 480 ; Actions of the United States Bank ; Equal Rights Party, 481, 482; Loco-focos, 481; Revolution in journalism, 483; Election riots in 1834, 483, 484; Native American Party, 484, 485 ; Abolition riots, 485 ; Collapse of the credit system, 485, 486 ; Croton Aqueduct, 487.
xiii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Free school libraries established, 487 ; Normal School at Albany, 488 ; Lancastrian and Pestalozzian systems of teaching, 488, 489 ; Revolutionary movements in Canada, 489, 490 ; " Hero of the Thousand Islands," 490 ; A disturbing incident on the Niagara frontier, 491 ; Overthrow of the Democratic Party, 491, 492 ; Financial achievements of the State, 492; Erie Canal ; Mr. Seward's first encounter with the slave power, 493 ; Seward on general education, 494 ; John C. Spencer on the same subject, 495; The Roman Catholics and the common-school fund, 496, 497 ; The Secretary of State and the Legislature at variance, 497; Anti-rentism, 499, 500; The electric telegraph and Professor Morse, 500; Governor Wright on the school fund, 500 ; The common-school system ; The annexation of Texas, 501.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Third revision of the State Constitution, 503-505 ; The school system, action upon the, 505-507 ; John Young governor, 506 ; Hamilton Fish governor ; Whig Party trium- phant, 507 ; Washington Hunt governor ; Repeal of the Free School Law, 508 ; The common-school fund ; Horatio Seymour governor, 509 ; Reorganization of the edu- cational system of the State; Completion of the canals urged, 510; Governor Sey- mour offends the temperance people by vetoing a prohibitory liquor bill, 510; Myron H. Clark governor, and a stanch prohibitionist, 511; Republican Party organized, 511 ; Controls the National power, 512 ; The Lemon slave case, 512, 513 ; John A. King gov- ernor, 513; Edwin D. Morgan governor, 514 ; Struggle between Freedom and Slavery begun, 515 ; Conspiracy against the Union, 515, 516.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Condition of New York State and City in 1861 ; An approaching tempest watched, 517 ; A famous and inspiriting order, 517, 518 ; Loyal and patriotic action of the Legis- lature, 519 ; Disloyalty of the Mayor of New York, 519 ; Conservatism of business men ; The Crittenden Compromise, 520; A disloyal society, 520, 521 ; Insolence of a Seces- sion leader ; Formation of a league to destroy the republic, 521 ; Events in Charleston Harbor ; The President's call for troops, 522 ; Response of New York, 522; War meet- ing at New York, 522, 523 ; The Union Defence Committee, 523; The Seventh Regiment goes to the field, 524; Patriotic women ; The Friends, or Quakers, 524; Action of civil and military authorities, 525 ; Financial aid given by New York; Women's Relief Associations, 526 ; United States Sanitary and Christian Commissions, 527-529.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Change in political aspects ; Financial ability of the State, 530 ; Soldiers furnished for the war ; A new era ; Governor Seymour's message, 531 ; The peace faction and Vallandigham, 532 ; Seditious movements ; The draft, 533 ; Draft riot in New York City, 534; Union League Club ; National currency established, 535; Conspiracies of the Confederates, 536 ; Men and money furnished for the war ; Trophies, 537 ; Close of the war ; Death of President Lincoln, 538 ; Important legislative action, 539 ; Revision of the State Constitution ; Cornell University, 540 ; Election in 1868, 541.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
John T. Hoffman governor ; Fifteenth Amendment of the National Constitution, 542 ; A reactionary movement ; Amendments of charter, 543 ; Popular education ; Riot
xiv
CONTENTS.
in New York City, 544 ; Tweed Ring, 544, 545 ; Plundering of the Treasury of New York City, 545, 546 ; The . Exposure of the plunderers, 547, and the result, 548; Movements of the colored population ; Liberal Republican Party ; Horace Greeley for President of the United States, 548; A social phenomenon (note), 548; A Civil Rights Bill ; John A. Dix governor, 549; Alterations in the State Constitution ; Compulsory education, 550; Laws for the protection of minors, 551 ; Samuel J. Tilden governor, 552.
CHAPTER XL.
Centennial celebration and exhibition ; Savings-banks, 553 ; Investigations ; Frauds discovered, 554 ; Canals in the State, 554; Their length and cost, 555 ; Railroads in the State and their operations, 555 ; Public instruction, 556; New State House, 556, 557 ; The aggregate public debt ; Movements of population, 557 ; Products of industry, 558, 559 ; Marine architecture, 559 ; State of popular intelligence, 559, 560 ; Books and periodicals ; Money investments ; Benevolent and charitable institutions ; Literary and scientific societies, 560 ; Churches, 560, 561 ; The Hudson River and its associations, 561 ; Manors and manor-houses on the Hudson, 562-565 ; Government House ; Attractions of New York City, 566 ; New York City and its harbor, 566, 567; Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World ; A metropolitan city, 567.
CHAPTER XLI.
Religious and social aspect of New York City ; School of the Collegiate (Dutch Reformed) Church, 568 ; Religious denominations in colonial New York ; An episco- pacy opposed, 569 ; Political condition of colonial New York, 569, 570 ; Courts, trade, and population in the colony ; How settlements were discouraged, 571 ; Statesmen, jurists, historians, and other literary men, 572-575 ; Writers on science, 575 ; The fine arts and artists, 575, 576.
APPENDIX.
The organization of the counties of the State; Governors, colonial and State.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
A. PAGE
PAGE
1. Albany, Seal of the City of. 102
2. Albany County Seal. 99
3. Albany, Plan of in 1695. 128 4. Allegany County Seal. 578 5. Allerton, Isaac, Signature of. 49
6. Amherst, Jeffrey, Portrait of , 179
7. Armstrong, John, Portrait of .. 313
8. Andros, Edmond, Signature of. . 91
9. Arnold, Benedict, Portrait of .. 310
10. Ato-tar-lo 8
B.
11. Battery, Bowling Green, and Fort George. 195
12. Baxter, George, Signature of. 58
13. Bayard Arms, The 106
14. Bayard, Nicholas, Signature of .. 106
15. Beeckman Arms, The. 111
16. Beeckman, Gerardus, Portrait of. 110
17. Beeckman, Gerardus, Signature of .. 110
18. Beeckman, William, Signature of. 72
19. Bellomont, Earl of, Portrait of .. 121 20. Bellomont, Earl of, Signature of .. 121 21. Bellows, Henry W., Portrait of .. 527
22. Berkeley, Johu, Signature of .. 94
23. Billop House. 246
24. Binnenhof, The. 16
25. Bogardus, Everardus, Signature of. 34
26. Bolingbroke, Lord, Signature of. 136
27. Bouck, W. C., Portrait of. 498
28. Bradstreet, John, Signature of. 174
29. Brant, Joseph, Portrait of. 270
30. Broome County Seal. 578
31. Brown, Jacob 396
32. Brown's Monument.
307
33. Buffalo in 1813.
469
34. Burnet, William, Portrait of. 139
35. Burns's Coffee-House. 198
36. Burr, Aaron, Portrait of. 365
C.
37. Carr, Robert, Signature of . 75
38. Carroll, Charles, Portrait of. 239
39. Carteret, George, Signature of ... 94 40. Carterets, Arms of the. 86
41. Cartwright, George, Signature of. 75
42. Castle Garden.
461
43. Cattaraugus County Seal. 578
44. Cayuga County Seal 578
45. Champlain, Samuel, Portrait of. 10 46. Chase, Samuel, Portrait of 239
47. Chautauqua County Seal. 578
48. Chenango County Seal 578
49. Cincinnati, Order of the. 330
50. Clark, Myron H., Portrait of. 511
51. Clarke's Monument. 152
52. Clermont, The.
377
53. City Hall, The First
63
54. City Hall in 1700. 126
55. City Hall, Wall Street 344
56. Clinton Arms, The
154
57. Clinton County Seal.
578
58. Clinton, De Witt, Portrait of.
385
59. Clinton, George, Portrait of 399
60. Clinton, James.
284
61. Clinton's Despatch.
285
62. Clipper-built Schooner, A.
439
63. Colden, Cadwallader, Seal of. 140
64. Colden, Cadwallader, Signature of .. 187
65. Colden, Cadwallader, Portrait of. 187 66. Collyer, Vincent, Portrait of .... 529
67. Columbia County Seal.
578
68. Constitution House at Kingston. 258
69. Cook, Lemuel.
328
xvi
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
PAGE
70. Cooper, James Fenimore, Por- trait of 574
71. Cornbury, Lord, Signature of .. .. 131
72. Cornbury, Lord, Portrait of. 131 73. Cortland County Seal 578
74. Costumes of Hollanders, 1630. 20
75. Costumes and Furniture, 1740. . 149
76. Costumes, 1800. 368
77. Costumes about 1832 477
78. Cruger, John, Portrait of. 369
D.
79. Dearborn, Henry, Portrait of ... 392 80. Delaware County Seal. . 579 81. De Laet, John, Signature of .. 64 82. De Lancey, James, Signature of. 158
83. De Lancey, James, Seal of. 158
84. De Lancey, Oliver, Signature of. 213 85. De Peyster Arms 130
86. De Peyster, Abraham, Portrait of. 129
87. De Peyster, Johannes, Seal and Signature of . 86
88. De Sille, Signature of.
67
89. De Vries, David Fietersen, Por- trait of 33
90. Dix, John A., Portrait of. 548 91. Dix's Order, Fac-simile of. 518
92. 'Dongan, Governor, Signature of. 96
93. Duane, James, Portrait of. 350
94. Duchess County Seal 99
95. Duke of York's Seal. 84
96. Dunmore, Governor, Signature of 203
97. Dunmore, Governor, Seal of. 203
98. Dutch Church at Albany 45
E.
99. Erie County Seal. 578
100. Essex County Seal. 579
101. Evertsen, Admiral Cornelis, Por- trait of. . . 88
102. Executive Privy Seal.
504
F.
103. Fac-simile of Journal of the Con-
vention, 1788 340
104. Federal Arms of the Five Na- tions. 7
105. Fenton, Reuben E., Portrait of .. 537
106. Fish, Hamilton, Portrait of. 507 107. Flag of Holland. 81
108. Flag of the Dutch West India Company 22
109. Fletcher, Governor, Seal and Sig- nature of 117
110. Fort Plain Block-House.
306
111. Franklin, Dr., Portrait of .
239
112. Franklin County Scal.
579
113. Fulton County Seal.
579
114. Fulton, Robert, Portrait of. 376
115. Fulton the First.
378
G.
116. Garden Street Church.
125
117. Gardiner Arms, The
42
118. Gates Medal, The.
282
119. Genesce County Seal.
579
120. Genet, E. C., Portrait of
354
121. George III., Statue of. 199
122. Goshen, Monument at 302
123. Gouverneur, Abraham, Signature of ... 111
124. Government House
566
195. Greene County Seal.
579
126. Grinnell, Moses H., Portrait of. .. 523
H.
127. Half Moon, The. 12
128. Hamilton, Alexander, Portrait of. 337 129. Hamilton, Andrew, Portrait of .. 145
130. Hamilton and the People 146
131. Hamilton County Seal. 579
132. Heathcote, Caleb, Portrait of .. 132 133. Heathcote, Caleb, Signature of .. 132 166
134. Hendrick, King, Portrait of .. .
135. Herkimer County Seal. 579
136. Hoffman, John T., Portrait of .. 542 137. Ilone, Philip, Portrait of ... 465 138. Ilowe, Lord George, Portrait of. 175 139. Iludson, Henry, Portrait of ..... 11 140. Hughes, Archbishop, Portrait of. 496 141. Hunt, Washington, Portrait of .. 508 142. Hunter, Robert, Signature of .... 137 143. Hunter, Robert, Seal of .. .... 137
ILLUSTRATIONS.
xvii
I.
PAGE
144. Indian Fort, Attack upon ..
17
145. Ingoldsby, Richard, Signature of. 133
146. Iroquois Chieftain.
3
147. Irving, Washington
573
148. Izard, George, Portrait of.
426
J.
149. James 1I., Portrait of. 101
150. James II., Signature of.
101
151. Jay, John, Portrait of.
257
152. Jay, William, Portrait of
451
153. Jefferson County Seal.
579
154. Jersey Prison Ship. 249
155. Jogues, Isaac, Portrait of. 47
156. Johnson, Guy, House of.
225
157. Johnson, Sir John, Portrait of .. 231 158. Johnson, Sir William, Portrait of. 224 159. Johnson, Sir William, Signature of. 25
160. Johnson Hall.
226
K.
161. Keg of Erie Water. 467
162. Kent, James, Portrait of.
448
163. Kieft, William, Signature of.
39
164. King, John A.
518
165. Kings County Seal.
99
166. Knapp, Uzal, Portrait of.
235
L.
167. Lamb, John, Portrait of 205 168. Lamb, John, Signature of. 205 169. Leisler, Jacob, Seal and Signa- ture of. 107
170. Lewis County Seal. 579 171. Lewis, Morgan, Portrait of 374 172. Life-Guard, Banner of. 236
173. Links of Chain at West Point
253
174. Livingston Arms, The. 108
175. Livingston County Seal. 579 176. Livingston, John, Portrait of. 562
177. Livingston Manor House. 563 178. Livingston, Mary, Portrait of ... 562
179. Livingston, Robert, Portrait of .. 108 180. Livingston, Philip, Portrait of ... 221 181. Livingston, Robert R., Portrait of. 345
PAGE
182. Loockermans, Govert, Signature of ... 56 183. Lovelace, Lord, Signature of .... 133
M.
184. Macdonough, Thomas, Portrait of .. 429 185. Macomb, Alexander, Portrait of. 430 186. Madison County Seal. . 579 187. Marcy, William L, Portrait of .. 479 188. Megopolensis, John, Signature of. 77 189. Melyn, Cornelis, Signature of .. 51 190. Milking-Time at Albany. 150 .. 191. Minuit, Peter, Signature of. 27 192. Monckton, Robert, Signature of. 193 193. Monckton, Robert, Seal of. 192 194. Monroe County Seal. 579 195. Montgomery County Seal. 582 196. Montgomery, Richard, Portrait of .. 229
197. Mooers, Benjamin, Portrait of .. 427 198. Moore, Governor, Signature of .. 193 199. Moore, Governor, Seal of. .. 193 200. Morgan, Edwin D., Portrait of .. 512 201. Morris Arms, The. 143 202. Morris, Gouverneur, Portrait of. 382 203. Morris, Lewis, Signature of ..... 143
N.
204. New Amsterdam, 1664. 79
205. New Amsterdam, Cottage at.
80
206. New Amsterdam, Seal of.
67
207. New Netherland, The
25
208. New Netherland, Map of. 36, 37
209. New Netherland, Seal of. 27 210. New State Capital (Frontispiece).
211. New York City, Seal of. 95
212. New York County Seal.
97
213. New York Province, Seal of 109
214. Niagara County Seal
582
215. Niagara, Fort 402
216. Nicolls, Richard, Signature of ... 74 217. Nicholson, Francis, Signature of. 105 218. Normal School Building .. 488
0.
219. Oneida County Seal.
582
220. Onondaga County Seal
582
xviii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
221. Ontario County Seal. 582
222. Orange County Seal. 99
223. Orleans County Seal.
582
224. Oswego County Seal.
582
225. Oswego, Fort, in 1750
141
226. Otsego County Seal.
582
P.
227. Perry, Oliver H., Portrait of. ..
405
228. Philipse Manor House. 565
229. Pike, Zebulon M., Portrait of .. . 409 230. Pleasure Wagon, A Dutch. 69 231. Power, Nicholas, Signature of .. 339 232. Public Instruction, Seal of De- partment of. 510
233. Publishing the Constitution 259
234. Putnam County Seal. 582
Q.
235. Queens County Seal. 99 236. Queenstown, Incident in the Bat- tle at. 394
R.
237. Randolph, Peyton, Portrait of ... 210 238. Randolph, Peyton, Signature of. 211
239. Red Jacket, Portrait of.
423
240. Reid, Samuel C., Portrait of. 440 241. Rensselaer County Seal 582
242. Richmond County Seal. 99
243. Riedesel, Baroness de, Portrait of 265
244. Rivington, James, Portrait of .. 233 245. Rivington, James, Signature of .. 234 246. Robinson, Beverly, Portrait of .. 318 247. Robinson House, The. 313
248. Rochambeau, Portrait of. 320 249. Rochester in 1813. 470
250. Rockland County Seal 582 251. Rogers, Robert, Portrait of 185 252. Royal Savage, The. 251
S.
253. St. Lawrence County Seal 582 254. Saratoga County Seal 583 355. Schenectady County Seal 583 256. Schoharie County Seal 583
PAGE
257. Schuyler Arms, The 135
258. Schuyler County Seal ... 583 259. Schuyler, Peter, Portrait of 134 260. Schnyler, Philip, Portrait of. 281
261. Scott, Winfield, Portrait of 422
262. Sears, Isaac, Signature of .. 208 263. Seal, First Great, of New York .. 332 264. Seal, Second Great, of New York 333
265. Seneca County Seal .. 583 266. Seward, William H., Portrait of. 492 267. Seymour, Horatio, Portrait of .. 509
268. Silver Bullet. 285
269. Snake Device. 212
270. Statue of Liberty, Bartholdi. 567 271. Steenwyck, Cornelis, Portrait of. 87 272. Steuben, Baron von, Portrait of. 322 273. Steuben's Monument. 321
274. Steuben County Seal. 583 275. Stirling, Lord, Portrait of. 245 276. Stone Mill at Plattsburg 428
277. Stone, William L., Portrait of .. 463
278. Stuyvesant, Peter, Portrait of .. 53
279. Stuyvesant, Peter, Signature of .. 78
280. Stuyvesant's Seal. 54
281. Suffolk County, Seal of. 99 282. Sullivan County Seal 583
283. Sullivan, John, Portrait of 303
T.
284. Tables at Federal Dinner 351 285. Throop, Enos T., Portrait of 478 286. Ticonderoga, Fort, Ruins of. 219 287. Tilden, Samuel J., Portrait of .. 551 288. Tioga County Seal. 583 289. Tompkins, Daniel D., Portrait of. 380 290. Tompkins County Seal 583 291. Totemic Signatures 6
292. Trinity Church, Old. 120 293. Tryon, Governor, Signature of .. 204 294. Tryon, Governor, Seal of 204
U.
295. Ulster County Seal. 99
296. Underhill, John, Signature of ... 50
297. United States Sanitary Commis- sion Seal. 528
xix
ILLUSTRATIONS.
V.
PAGE
298. Van Buren, Martin, Portrait of .. 446 299. Van Cortlandt Manor House ..... 564 300. Van Cortlandt, Oloff S., Seal and Signature of. 61
301. Van Curler, Arendt, Signature of. 44
302. Van Dam, Rip, Portrait of. 142 303. Van Der Donck, Signature of. 61
304. Van Dincklagen, Lubbertus, Sig- nature of 38
305. Van Rensselaer Arms, The. 46
306. Van Rensselaer, Killian, Signa- ture of. 32
307. Van Rensselaer, Jeremias, Por- trait of. 74
308. Van Rensselaer Manor House. .. . 561 309. Van Rensselaer, Stephen, Por- trait of 395
310. Van Ruyven, Cornelis, Signature of. 78
311. Van Slechtenhorst, Signature of. 60
312. Van Twiller, Walter, Signature of . 34
313. Varick, Richard, Portrait of ..
.. 359
W.
314. Wampum Belt.
19
315. War Implements, Indian. 294
I.AGE
316. Warren County Seal. 583
317. Washington County Seal 583
318. Washington, Colonel George,
Portrait of. 176
319. Washington's
Headquarters,
Room in. 326
320. Watson, Elkanah, Portrait of ... 348
321. Wayne, Anthony, Portrait of. 299 322. Wayne County Seal. 583
323. Wayne's Despatch. 300
324. Webb, James Watson, Portrait of. 483
325. West India Company's House .. . 21
326. Westchester County Seal. 99
327. Wilkinson, James, Portrait of. 414 328. Willett, Marinus, Portrait of. 272
329. Windmill, A Dutch 69
330. Wool, John E., Portrait of. 525
331. Wooster, David, Portrait of.
230
332. Wright, Silas, Portrait of
475
333. Wyoming County Seal. 583
Y.
334. Yates, Joseph C., Portrait of. 459
335. Yates County Seal. 583
336. Young, John, Portrait of.
506
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER I.
NEW YORK is ranked among the commonwealths of our Republic as " The Empire State." Wherefore ? Is it imperial in its various aspects of population, wealth, the products of its industries, its forests and mines, its natural scenery, its commerce, and its institutions of learning and benevolence ? Let us see.
The superficial area of New York is 49,000 square miles, including its share of Lakes Erie and Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Its surface is picturesquely diversified with lofty ranges of the Appalachian chain of mountains, which crown the Atlantic slope of the continent from the Gulf region to the St. Lawrence, and with fertile valleys and uplands, and numerous lakes and rivers.
The loftiest mountain peak in the State is Mount Marcy, the Ta-ha- was or " sky-piercer" of the Indians. It is one of the grand Adirondack group in Northern New York, and rises to the altitude of over 5400 feet above tide-water.
The chief river of the State is the Hudson, flowing from the springs of the Adirondack Mountains, receiving numerons swift-running tribu- taries, and is navigable for large vessels fully 160 miles from the ocean. It traverses a most picturesque and fertile region abont 300 miles. Along its whole course its waters and its banks are thickly clustered with exciting and romantic historical and legendary associations.
New York is bisected east and west by the longest and best-equipped canal in the world. It was constructed by the State (1817-25), is 363 miles in length, and cost over $9,000,000. Its subsequent enlarge- ment cost $25,000,000. There are ten other canals owned by the State, the aggregate length of which is over 900 miles. There are 133 rail- roads in the State, having a total length in operation within the borders of the commonwealth of nearly 7000 miles.
THE EMPIRE STATE.
The climate of New York is salubrious and varied, having a range wider than in any other member of the Union. The State lies between the parallels of 40° 29' and 45° north latitude. Its soil is productive almost everywhere. In the value of its farm lands and general farm products it leads all the other States. In 1880, according to the tentli national eensus, it liad within its borders nearly 242,000 farms, embracing over 23,000,000 acres, of which nearly 18,000,000 acres were improved land. The total value of the farms was more than $1,000,000,000. The State contained, in 1880, nearly 43,000 manufacturing establishments, employing about $515,000,000 of capital, and prodneing annually goods valued at nearly $1,100,000,000.
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