ILLUSTRATIONS.

No. 1-GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON-Frontispiece.

No. 2-PLAN OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK-opposite page viii.

No. 3-ST. GEORGES CHAPEL, BEEKMAN STREET, NEW YORK-opposite page

xxiv.

No. 4-ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, NEW YORK, 1800-opposite page 78.

No. 5-MAP OF THE BATTERY IN 1783 AND 1883-opposite page 180.

No. 6-FRAUNCES TAVERN, NEW YORK, 1902-opposite page 216.

No. 7-OLD CITY HALL, NEW YORK CITY, SITE OF THE PRESENT SUBTREASURY AT WALL AND NASSAU STREETS-opposite page 240.

No. 8-LEGGETT'S HALF WAY TAVERN-opposite page 292.

No. 9-BULL'S HEAD TAVERN, SITE OF THE OLD BOWERY THEATRE, NEW

YORK-opposite page 296.

No. 10-HANDBILL OF THE EVACUATION DAY PROCEEDINGS IN NEW YORKopposite page 300.

No. 11-THE LONG ROOM, FRAUNCES TAVERN, WHERE WASHINGTON BADE FAREWELL TO HIS OFFICERS-opposite page 308.

No. 12-THE PROVOST AS IT APPEARED IN 1783-opposite page 318.

No. 13-THE BLUE BELL TAVERN AT 181ST STREET AND BROADWAY (ALBANY POST ROAD), NEW YORK, AND THE PROVOST, AFTERWARD THE HALL

OF RECORDS AS IT APPEARED IN ITS LATER DAYS-opposite page 336.

vir

INTRODUCTION.

Introduction by Henry B. Dawson to "New York City during the American Revolution: "

*From these circumstances-selected from among a multitude of others may be judged whether or not New York has a history which is worthy of preservation; and whether or not the historians and the makers of school-books who have disregarded her patriotism, and left it unnoticed, have either been true to their country, to themselves, or to the fidelity of history. At the same time, and from the same circumstances, also, let it be determined what degree of interest it is which clusters around the contents of this volume, comprising exact copies of papers which have never before been published, and which relate entirely to the stirring events of the American Revolution in New York, or to those of the War of the Revolution through which the Independence of the United States was finally established.

In the earlier part of the period referred to, [1765-1770] as will be seen by reference to the map which accompanies the volume, New York was but a village, in extent, when compared with the populous and extended emporium which now stretches its boundaries to the farthest limits of the island on which it stands. The same "Broad Way," it is true, which then marked the course of the "back-bone of the island," as far north as where Duane street now crosses it, is still, as it was at that day, the pride of our citi

This article was written in the Spring of 1861. Matter in brackets for elucidative purposes inserted by the State Historian.

+ See frontispiece.

zens, their favorite promenade, and the great centre of their "shopping" interests. "The Bowling Green," also, and the graveyards of Trinity and St. Paul's, the winding and narrow thoroughfares in the lower part of the city, many of them bearing new names, and all of them divested of the peculiarities which they then possessed, and "the Commons," now dignified with the name, although but very few of the accessories, of a "Park,” remain to remind us of bygone days, and of generations which have also departed, leaving not even a connecting link behind.

At the period referred to, the lower extremity of the island was occupied with Fort George and its outworks-the latter embrac ing three bastions, with connecting curtains, extending from Whitehall slip on the south-east, to the line of the present Battery place on the north-west.

The fort, a rectangular stone work, strengthened with bastions at its angles, was elevated on an artificial mound, about fourteen feet in height, which had been thrown up "at an enormous expense;" and its gateway, which fronted "the Bowling Green," was defended by a raveling or covert-port which had been thrown. out in front of the fort, toward the city. Within the enclosure of the fort were the Provincial Governor's residence, a barrack which would accommodate two hundred men, and two powder magazines the latter of which, from their dampness, were entirely useless; and the glacis or counterscarp on its eastern and southern fronts, as far eastward as Whitehall street, and southward as far as Pearl street, was occupied as gardens for the Governor's use.

The armaments of the fort, the raveling, and the line of works on the water line, were mounted en barbette; and although upward of one hundred and twenty pieces of artillery were on the ram