CHAPTER VIII.

CONDITION   OP   THE   CITY  AT  THE   TIME   OF   THE    CAPITULATION   TO  THB
ENGLISH  IN 1664,  CONTINUED.

We have thus far, in the previous chapter, conducted our
readers within the city walls, through the ancient " Hoogh
straat," which, as has been stated in former parts of this
book, was originally the line of a road from the fort to the
ferry, along the river shore. At the period of which we
are now writing, there had been constructed a street, facing
the water between Broad and William streets, on the
present line of the north side of Pearl street. This street
was called the " Waal," from the circumstance of the river
shore being faced with a siding of boards, to prevent the
washing of the tide on the street—its history being as
follows : After the conclusion, on the part of the authori¬
ties, to build a city tavern, in the year 1642, its site was
selected close to the shore, south of the road to the ferry.
The building was of considerable dimensions and cost;
and this place was chosen for its situation, as giving a good
appearance to the town from the harbor. The building was
erected near high water mark, on the present north-west
corner of Pearl street and Coenties alley. After the or¬
ganization of the city magistracy, in 1653, this building
was ceded to the city for the purposes of a city-hall, and
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