1J42
 

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

given boat lo miles an hour in still water, could not have told the
power necessary to drive her 5 railes an hour, until he had seen the
powers in my boats, and now that he sees the powers and can copy
tbem, be cannot divide them and tdl where they are lost, or well
applied, or why so rauch power is applied.

"Hence I can prove that before my success there was no eiperi¬
ment, no patent, nothing written or printed which gave any idea
of a auccessful stearaboat or hope of success, and for this reason
considered impracticable. Any common mechanician, by almost
any application of steam, can make a boat go 3 miles an hour; 4
require good works; 4J or 5, a knowledge ot principles. Your
boat, you say, Is 120 teet long, 15 beam to draw two teet of water,
to whicb you are giving a 40 horse power to go 10 railes ao hour, to
win your bet of Mr. Gwin. You wiU, I know, be astonished when I
tell you that 160 horse power is required to drive her 10 mites an
hour. An engine ot tbis power could not be put in the boat. It is
therdore impracticable. I teU you this fact because I know the
science. You wiU, of course, not request me to let you into my
secret until all acknowledge that In this subject I ara first, and my
claims to priority be substantiated by law.

"Yours respectfully,

"R. Fulton."
—From printed copy of the letter in Tke Colledor (pub. by Walter
R. Benjamin), XXXH: No. 5 (March, 1919). The original is
owned by Mr. Cortiandt Palmer. See also Cat. ot Fulton MSS.
and documents sold at Anderson's, April 26-27, 1921, by order of
Mrs. A. T. Sutdiffe, items 143, 144, 159, and 165.

Because "odium" attaches to them as inhabitants of Bedlow
Street, "owing to the disorderly Conduct ot some of their neigh-
bora," and this has caused a depreciation in the value ot their
property, these inhabitants petition the common councU to change
the name of the street.—Frora the original petition (MS.), in
metal file No. 47, city clerk's record-room. The name is changed
to Bancker St. accordingly, and the proper change made in the
"Direction boards."—Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VH: 91. Later, it
became Madison St.-L. M. R. K., Ill: 993, 1005.

"A writer under the signature of 'A Citizen,' in the Mercantile
Advertiser, calls tbe attention of the public to the Old Cily Hall,
which ia advertiaed to he sold at Auction on the 15th Inst. He
recommenda tbat it be purchaaed for the purpoae of Converting
[it] Into an Exchange, tor the accommodation of tbe Merchants, and
others. Now we would suggest to this writer the impropriety ot
the measure,—The Hall is considered in its present situation as
a very great nuiaance, aa it projects about thirty feet into Wall-
street, and almoat stops up tbe entrance into Naasau-atreet. The
Corporation has done well in ordering ita reraoval, as it wiU lend
to beautify the handsomest street in the City. If a company
could he formed to purchase the Lota which are to be sold at the
aame time, tor the purpoae ot building an Eichange, we shaU
heartily approve ot it,"—N. Y. Gaz. & Gen. Adv; Ap i, 1812. The
old city hall waa sold on May 13 (q.v.).

"The Proprietors of the Flag Staff respectfuUy inforra the
Ladiea and Gentlemen of this city who raay visit this ddightful
and healthy retreat, whicb for prospect and sdubrioua air has
not its equal In any city of tbe union, that every exertion has
been made by them to provide a choice assortment of fruit and
refreshments In order to render the walk a stiU greater aource of
comfort and accoraraodation to the citizena."—A''. Y. Eve. Posl,
Ap I, 1812. On April 2, they announced that '*the subscription
Book tor the Spy Glass" was ready tor signatures.—N. Y. Morn.
Posl, Ap 2, 1812.  See alao Janvier, In OldN. r., 239.

The Tammany Soc. Is issuing shares, of $10 each, in a sub¬
scription loan, bearing 7 per cent interest from May r. For fac¬
simile ot one ot the certificates, see Afon. Com. Coun. (1858),
opp- P- 373-

The "afflictive intdhgence" that congress intends to pass
another embargo act reaches New York.—N. Y. Spectator, Ap 4,
1812. The act was pasaed on April 4 (q.v.). On April 7 il was
atated: "Since the Newa of the projected Embargo reached this
city . . . Seventy Vessela have cleared from our Custom House
for foreign ports ...  all of them are beyond the Hook.  .  .   .

"These vessels probably contain more than twenty thousand
tons ot surplus American produce."—Ibid., Ap 8, 1812. Another
New York paper said that, "bad the city been envdoped In fiaraes.
property could not have been raoved off with greater eipedition,
Frora the morning of the 2d ot April until the evening of the 4th
 

forty-eight vessels deared trora the port ot New York."—Guernsey,    Apr.
JV. r. City & Vicinity during the War 0/1812-15, ^-  '^-                      »

An embargo for 90 daya ia laid on  all ahips and  veasels In     4
Araerican  ports.—taioi of U.  S;   12th  cong.,  chap.   49.    See

Ap2.

Gov. Torapkina wntes to William Irving: "There are two "
thinga which weigh upon my mind In rdation lo the Southern
Diatrict. The one is the dread which I entertain ot having Federal
Senators returned at the neit dection in consequence of the achlams
which appear to prevail about the right ot nominations; and the
other is my anxiety to have the City ot New York regain its Re¬
publican character k send a Republican repreaentation to the
Asserably. The eyes of our friends In every part of tbe State are
directed to New York, and their universal wiah and prayer is
that the spirit of discord may be charmed down or be merged in
the importance of the present crisis."—Pub. Papers ofDaniel D.
Tompkins, U: 523-24.

An ordinance presented to the coraraon council for building     6
a bulkhead across and fiUIng in Cortiandt St. slip is passed and
assessors are appointed.—Af. C. C. {1784-1831), VII;   99.

Arrangements are raade by the coramon council for widening "
Nassau St. 22 ft. on the east side between Wdl and Cedar Sis.
The coramittee recoramending this action reports: "The AppU¬
cation for widening Nassau Street presents in the opinion of your
Committee a caae of a a much importance aa can perhapa ariae in
relation lo improving Streets. The present arrangement of that
part of the Town Is confined, inconvenient and dangerous, and aa
the Corporation when making a disposition of the ground on
whicb the old City Hall atands can coraparativdy with little
expense reraove these difficulties and render this street both ele¬
gant and coraraodious. . . , This Street when properly ar¬
ranged wiU open frora the Eichange Slip through the center of
the Town and parallel with Broad Way a spacioua and degant
communication to the New City Hall. It ia the only street which
presents similar advantages, and if improved from time lo time
as circumstances warrant will for convenience be estimated among
our principal streets."—Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VII: 100-1. See
also iiiU, VH: 351.

It is resolved hy the common council "That the atreet commis- "
sioner cause the ditch from Liapenard'a Meadows to Hudson
river to be cleared out, and that the superintendant of Repaira
be directed to have the Drain acroas Greenwich enlarged to a
capacity sufficient to carry off the watera that run into said mead¬
ows."—From original MS. of the resolution, in metal file No. 39,
city clerk's record-room; Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VII;   102.   See

A  Washington   editorial  says:      That  an  iraportant  crisis     9
has arrived in the U. States ia seen by every one:  that it haa been
unavoidable is equaUy certain: and that it raay be made to ter¬
minate with honor and  advantage lo Republican governraent,
cannot adrait of doubt.  ,   .  .

"G. Britain took the lead in the career of violence and in¬
justice. Every stage ot the present war has been marked hy
some act which evinced the distinguished hostility of her govern¬
raent to tbis country. She has irapressed our seamen trora on
board our own vessds, and hdd them in long and oppressive
bondage. She has intercepted our lawful trade with nations with
whom we were al peace. She has violated our jurisdiction; in¬
sulted ua on our coast and In our harbors, and finally usurped the
absolute dominion of the sea, forbidding our commerce with all
nations witb whom it does not suit her to allow it, and allowing
it to none witb whom she is not herself permitted to trade.  ■  .   ,

"France has exhibited, in her conduct towards neutrd powers,
tbe counterpart to this disgusting picture; ... If she has done
less harm at sea, it was becauae her raeana were inferior to thoae
of her rival. She declared the Bririah Islands and all the British
dominions in a atate of blockade, when she had not a single ship
on the ocean: ... By her RambouiUet, her Bayonne and other
decrees, she has seized and confiscated aU the vessds of tbe U.
States and thdr cargoes that were in port.  .  .   .

". . , this crisis . . . has been forced on us by the voice
ot the whole Araerican people, who, deeply incensed at these
wrongs, have called on their government for redress."—Nationd
Intelligencer (Wash,), Ap 9, 1812. In tbe next Issue, tbe editor
reviews incidenta aince 1806 leading up to the present crisis.—
Ibid; Ap II, 1812,  The Intelligencer dso contains current reports