230                 THE OLD MERCHJUVra
 

CHAPTER XXIII.

After the return of John Pintard from Newark, in
the winter of 1804—06, he was appointed Clerk to the
Corporation of New York, and City Inspector. His
office was in the City Hall, then at the corner of Nas¬
sau and Wall street, where the Custom House now
stands, and he lived at upper Reed street. No. 11, (up¬
per Reed, upper Chambers, or upper Duane, meant
those streets on the east side of Broadway.)

I think that the City Inspector office must have been
created about that time, as I have seen no mention of it
previously.

Dr. Francis made an address to the Historical Socie¬
ty in November, 1867, and he says : " Our enlighten¬
ed founder, John Pintard, was personally known, dur¬
ing a long life, to a majority of our citizens." The doc¬
tor then goes on to say: " Examine for yourself the re¬
cord of the office of the City Inspector, and learn the
obstacles he encountered to establish the department
of the city institution for the registry of births and
deaths."

While Mr. Pintard was " Clerk " and City Inspector,
he was the fast friend of the firemen of the city, and
all the laws most conducive to their advantage were
drafted and recommended bv him.