men were accustomed to get forward in the world--and without vanity we may say that no place increased more rapidly in wealth and improvement. But how strangely a few designing men have altered the channel of business! and, as if by enchantment, have driven or led men into visionary schemes of riches, by flattery and false promises, to their own ruin, the ruin of the city, and perhaps with injury to every quarter of the empire.

How surprisingly will it read in the London papers that one swindler, of no estate, with the assistance of a few unprincipled emissaries, have plundered, not only New York, but the greater part of America, of all their circulating cash; and to avoid the payment of his debts and procure safety for his life has shut himself up within the walls of a prison, and laughs at the calamity he has brought upon his country; while the bloodsucking brokers in his employ are still hovering around us like Milton's devils, pimping, soothing us, and promising redress without any intention, either in him or them, of ever performing.

The spirit of the Americans seems to have been stolen away with their money. They sit silently waiting what proposals His most gracious Honor will make to them-while he, as deep as hell, is consulting by what means he may hold the wealth which by every cruel stratagem he has obtained from the innocent mechanic, the poor widow and the helpless orphan. There never was, perhaps, a wretch possessed of as much ill-gotten wealth and as little feeling as this IMPOSTOR. And to add to the sufferings of the citizens, some one is cruel enough to conceal his agents, and communicate every sentiment they hear in public to them in their secure retreat. Despise such! ye New Yorkers, and consider them as friends to swindlers who would even dare to mention their names with a smile. There will be a day, perhaps, when our citizens will not silently put up with the delays and false proposals now circulating in the room of payment.

For the preservation of good order, the honor of the endorsers (if they have any) and the satisfaction of the public, I would advise Col. Dr to come forward as a man of honesty, lay his accounts before a committee of his creditors, shew where and how all his stock, cash, and New York bank shares have been appropriated, and prove to the world he has nothing but lands in the

moon, or if he has land anywhere else, tell them plainly that he has occasion for them and means to keep them himself; and after such a declaration I would recommend him to remove to Tippoo's dominions, that he may escape the vengeance which will await him in America, or in any part of Europe, where some will be daring enough to pursue him. A CITIZEN.

DIARY OF DR. ALEXANDER ANDERSON.

APRIL.

1st. Began to etch Rivington's 2d plate. I took the delineation of the Insects to Dr. Mitchell, who agreed to my proposal of offering it, with a paper of his on the subject, to Swords for insertion in the Magazine. I accordingly deliver'd it to him. After-noon-A. Herttell was at my Father's. I bespoke a pair of Silk-stocking breeches at Sander'st for 9 Dollars! EveningWent to Mrs. Rose's and sat with the family. Supper being brought in, I sat down with them, but help'd myself but sparingly. I was oblig'd to drink a glass and a half of wine, the operation of which I felt in my head during the remainder of the evening.

2d. Last night my brother and I had a squabble in our sleep, in the course of which he gave me a terrible rap aside of the head. Birdsall & Menut came this morning to see what progress I had made with the plate. I call'd upon Robertson & Gowan (Editors of the Novelists' Magazine) and got a tail-piece to engrave on wood.

* James and Thomas Swords were printers who learned their trade in this city during the Revolution from the Robertsons, and went away with them to Port Roseway, Nova Scotia, at the close of the war. Their father was an English officer, who died some time before hostilities began. After the death

of one of the Robertsons, the other returned to Scotland, and the Swords brothers came back to New York. They became publishers, and continued so till their deaths, fifty and sixty years later. Many very important works were issued from their press, particularly of a theological cast. They and Durell may be esteemed as the first who made publishing a business in this city.

Benjamin Saunders, tailor, of 26 Cherry street.

My brother complains of pains and disagreeable affections of his head. I took an hour's walk with him through the city. Went with Jno. Youle* to see the model of a cabouse for which he intends to get a patent. He wishes to get a draught taken of it tomorrow morning. I endeavour'd to put it off 'till the next day, but found it would prove a great disappointment to him. Bespoke a piece of box-wood at Smith's.

3d. Good Friday. Between 3 & 4 this morning I was wak'd by the cry of fire, which I suppos'd to be in the neighbourhood from reflection on the chimnies. My Brother and I ran out in the rain 'till we reach'd the tea-water pump,† when we found it to be a tan house on the brink of the Collect.

* An advertisement of the day thus describes his place:

The fire being

New York East River Air Furnace.-The subscriber has removed from his former residence at Beekman's slip to nearly opposite his furnace, at Corlaers Hook, just beyond the ship yards; where he carries on the Cast Iron Foundery in all its various branches, viz.: Ship's cabouses of all sizes, open and close, stoves, kettles, potash coolers, sugar boilers, &c., forge hammers and anvils, sash weights, 56, 28, 14 and 7 lb. weights, backs and jambs for chimnies, branding irons, cart and waggon boxes, hatter's basons, fuller's plates, mill work, &c., and all other kinds of castings, agreeable to any pattern.

Application may be made at the Furnace, or at William V. Wagenen's HardWare store, No. 43, corner of Queen street and Beekman's slip; where all orders will be received and attended to with punctuality and dispatch.

JOHN YOULE.

N. B. The public may be assured that his castings are equal to any in America for softness, neatness and strength.

The tea-water pump was a living spring on the west side of Chatham street (present Park row), which was esteemed as giving better water than any other place in the city. The water was regularly delivered by carts all around the town, and was used by good housewives for drinking and for tea water. Hence its name. The cisterns and neighborhood wells were used for other purposes. One of our antiquaries professed to have discovered it afresh fifty years ago, at No. 39 Chatham street. It was then disused.

The Collect, as the word was most commonly spelled and pronounced, was a pond of fresh water in the present Sixth Ward. In Longworth's Map of 1808, it occupies the ground reaching from the present Baxter street, then Orange, on the east, to the west side of Elm on the west. At the south the limit was almost at Pearl street, while at the north it went beyond Franklin street. The shape then was that of an apoplectic bag, tied around the neck, the opening be ing to the southwest. There was an island in the centre. The persons who lived near it threw in their rubbish almost from the time of the Revolution and after the beginning of the present century the Common Council reso.vea to fill it up. The work was completed about the yea 1817.

nearly master'd by this time, we return'd home. I felt an uncommon Drowsiness & lassitude. About 7, I went and drew the fig. of the Cabouse at the shop of a blacksmith near the Battery. Had I thy pen, O Zimmerman! I would depict the dwelling, the visage, the behaviour of this poor happy man-happy, if Happiness consists in the active pursuit of an object. I saw part of a chemical apparatus with which he intends to prosecute alchemical enquiries, & has great hopes of transmuting some base metal into Gold or discovering the Universal medicine. Mr. Youle came in before I had finish'd the draught-paid me 4/. This forenoon I went to the Chapel and heard Mr. Bissett deliver a Sermon suitable to the day. Before dinner, I viewed the ruins near the Collect. After-noon, took a walk with my Brother. Read in Zimmerman on Solitude, which I procur'd from Fellows's Library. Saw Mr. McFarling's Rolling press, which he has lately bought. Convers'd awhile with A. Tiebout.

4th. Apply'd aq. fortis to my plate. Went to see Degray's child. After-noon, I sat the aq. fort. to work, while I play'd on the violin. Paid G. Youle 20/5 for 2 type-metal plates. Finished Zimmerman. Went to return it, but the shop was shut.

5th. Walk'd round the Battery.* Saw two patients. Went to the Church in the fore-noon. Mr. Moore preach'd. Receiv'd the Sacrament. Read in Paley's Philosophy. Walk'd as far as the Navy-yard, when I met Aug. Bailey (who had return'd from St. Augustine) and Mr. Mabie. Return'd as far as the Dr's with them.

6th. Return'd Zimmerman to Fellows's Library & paid 6d. Rejoicing for the successes of the French in Holland. Early in the morning a discharge of Cannon & the ships dress'd in Flags. At noon, after another discharge of Cannon from the French ships the Marseilles Hymn was echoed from them. Towards evening, another discharge. Grand-mama at my Father's. Bought an unfinish'd violin from Claus for 5/. Left it to be repair'd. Before

The Battery then was much smaller than now. Off of it was an island with a battery on it, built upon the Copsee Rocks, and connected with the mainland by a bridge. This has all been filled in, and filling in has also been done all along the rest of its front. There were many fashionable residences here till 1850, and one or two families lingered in this neighborhood till after 1860.

dark I call'd at Mr. Bailey's. When I came home, Aunt Henry & T. Bolton were there. I began Gowan's wooden cut. Left a dose of calomel with A. Tiebout for a young quaker who is complaining-probably hipp'd.

Staid but a short time, Deliver❜d to young Rose Play'd on the violin for Aunt Evening at my Father's.

7th. Polish'd and varnish'd Birdsall's plate. Finish'd the wooden ornament and left [it] at Robertson & Gowan's-charg'd 8/. Went up in their printing office. Call'd at Bailey'sAugustus insisted upon my staying to tea, I however made my escape. I agreed to engrave a cut of a horse for Jones for 8. Evening I call'd at Widow Rose's. though much press'd to stay to supper. a box of Electuary of Cort. Peru. Henry & T. Bolton, who spent the 8th. W. Debow has return'd. Has suffered considerable hardships, and appears to have a proper sense of his past conduct. Dreads the thought of returning to the sea. I went in search of small-pox infection. Procur'd some, with which Dr. Young inoculated 4 & 16 persons from New-England. In the after-noon, I put up their preparations. Came home in the after-noon. Dr. Davidson there. I went to Mr. Bailey's and got a piece of scotchstone for 1/. View'd some fine oil paintings. Paid Claus 23 Dollars for repairing and furnishing my old Violin. I call'd upon the Mayor and express'd my wish to undergo an examination for the practice of Physic. He directed me to apply to Judge Benson. Thither I went, but found him not in.

*Col. Richard Varick was then the Mayor of New York, holding that position from 1791 till 1801. A Revolutionary soldier, he was Recorder of this city after the evacuation, but from 1789 till 1791 was Attorney General of the State. He was President of the American Bible Society for a number of years. He was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, March 25th, 1753, and died in Jersey City, July 30, 1831.

+ Egbert Benson was born in the city of New York the 22d of June, 1746. He was graduated at King's College in 1768, and studied law with John Morin Scott, one of the brightest minds of that epoch. Practice was begun at Red Hook, Dutchess County, and he soon attained so much consideration for the soundness of his views that at the outbreak of the war he was elected a member of the Provincial Conventions of 1775 and 1776. He became Attorney General, also being a member of Assembly for four years during the war. In 1781 he was a member of the Continental Congress, and was reappointed each year until the Confederation ceased, and the present Congress came into being. He was