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DESCRIPTION^ OP THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

Location of the City, Population, &c.

NEW-YORK CITY, the iirincipal city of the State of New-
York ; and in population, wealth, and commerce, the largest city in
the United States ; deserves to be denominated tile London of Ame¬
rica. The City Hall is in 40° 42' 40" N. hit., and 74° 1' 8" W. long,
from Greenwich, and 3° 0' 16" E. long, from Washington. It is 86
miles iV.E. Piiiladelphia, 210 miles S. W Boston, 225 miles N.E.
Washington, 670 miles N. E. Charleston, 145 miles S. Albany, 372
miles S. Montreal, 1370 miles N. E. New-Orleans.

The compact part of the city is situated on the south end of New-
York or Manhattan Island, at the confluence of Hudson or North
river with the East river, which connects Long Island Sound wilh
the harbor of New-York. The island, which contains about 14,000
acres of ground, extends from the Battery, on the south point oi the
island, 13J miles to Kingsbridge, and has an average breadth of one
mile and three fifths. The greatest breadth, about 2^ miles, is on
the line of 88th street. It is connected with the main land on the
north by three bridges: Harlem bridge, Macomb's bridge, and King's
brixlge.

The Population, in 1790, was 33,131 ; in 1820, 123,706; in 1840,
312,710. The present population (1845) is 366,785.

The Harbor, Islands, Forts, &o.

The harbor of New-York is spacious and safe, the inner harbor
extending 8 miles from the Narrows to the city, and several miles
further up both the North and East rivers. Besides this, it has an
outer harbor, extending from the Narrows to Sandy Hook, consisting
of Raritan Bay. Sandy Hook, on which is a light-house, is 18 miles
from the city ; at this point there are 27 feet of water ou the bar at
high tide, and 21 feet at low tide. Within Sandy Hook there is a
good anchorage. The harbor is entered not only from the ocean at
Sandy Hook and through the Narrows, but also on the northeast
from Long Island Sound, as well as on the southwest through the
Kills and Staten Island Sound.

After passing the bar at Sandy Hook, the channel to the city has
a de|ith of water of from 33 to 50 feet. The average tide at the
wharves is from 6 to 7 feet. Tlie safest and best portion of the har¬
bor, and where the vessels chiefly lie, is along East River, which is
rarely obstructed from ice, as the tide sweeps through it with a
strong and rapid current.

Islands and Forts.—Several islands within the inner harbor are
attached to the city, which are Governor's, Bedlow's, and Ellis's
Islands, on all of which are strong fortifications ; and Blackweil's,
Great Barn, and Randall's Islands, in the East River. Governor's
Island is 3200 feet from the city .at the Battery, and includes 70 acres
of ground. It contains Fort Columbus on the south of the island,
and Castle William on the northwest point, which is a round
tower, 600 feet in circumference and 60 feet high, with three tiers of
guns. There is also a battery on the northwest side, commanding
the entrance through the Buttermilk channel. At the Narrows, on
the eastern shore of Long Islafid, are Fort Hamilton and Fort La
Fayette, the latter of which (formerly called Fort Diamond) is built
on a reef of rocks, 200 yards fj-om the sho-e. On Staten Island, at
the Narrows, are Fort Tompkins and Fort Richmond, both of which
are strong fortifications. The entrance from the Sound on East River
is defendiid by Fort Schuyler on Throg's Neck.