SIDE LIGHTS ON EVERY DAY LIFE
IN OLD NEW YORK

The average historian has rarely room in his ponderous
tomes for anything but the view from the Olympian
heights of history. But the real story of the people is
best described in their little intimate notices and their
records published in less important documents. We have
always found the pages of the little weekly papers of old
New York a fruitful source of material. We append
a few such extracts:

Notice is hereby given to all Persons whatsoever, that
after the Date hereof, the first Person that it can be proved
against, that shall fire a Gun in my Woods, or any In-
closure on my Farm near Fresh Water, must expect to
be sued for Trespass, and all Damages that I have sus¬
tained by firing of Guns, &c. and the Reason of my giving
this publick Notice, is that they may not hereafter plead
Ignorance. On Saturday Afternoon last, the dry Leaves
in my Woods behind my Barn was set on fire, and very
probably by the Wad of a Gun, and the Wind blowing
fresh, it soon got to a great Head, and within 40 yards of
my Stacks of Hay, Grain, Barn, &c. but by a chance Dis¬
covery, and timely Assistance of some People at work
hard by, the Fire was happily extinguished.   Nich. Bayaud.
 

Neiv York, January 19.—On Wednesday last in the Fore¬
noon a Fire broke out in the Roof of the City Hall, at some
Distance from the Chimney; but by the immediate Attend¬
ance of the Magistrates, and Assistance of the Inhabitants
(who have been always remarkable for their Readiness
and Dexterity on such Occasion) it was soon extinguished.

Three Persons were observed to be extraordinary active
and useful; one was Francis Davison, a Carpenter (being
the same Person that was so instrumental in extinguishing
the Fire formerly in the Cupola of the New Dutch Church)
who got out upon the Roof with an Axe, and cut the Roof
open where the Fire was, the Engine at the same time
playing the Water upon him, and the Weather being in¬
tensely cold, by the time the F"irc was out he was cloathed

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