Old New York: A Journal Relating to the History and Antiquities of New York City

Lords: There arrived here yesterday the ship called The Arms of the Amsterdam, which sailed from the River Mauritius (now the Hudson), in New Netherland. on the 23d of September. Report is brought that our people there are diligent and live peaceably. Their wives have also borne them children. They had purchased the Island of Manhattas from the Indians for the sum of 60 guilders. It contains 11,000 morgens of land. They have sown all kinds of grain in the middle of May, and reaped it in the middle of August.

"I send you small samples of the Summer grains, as wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, beans and flax. The cargo of the ship consists of 7.246 beaver skins, 17,812 otter skins, 43 mink, 36 cat-lynx, 33 mink, 34 small rat, together with a considerable quantity of oak timber and nut wood. Commending your high and mighty lordships to the favor of the Almighty. I am your High Mightinesses' humble servant, "P. SCHAGEN.

At AMSTERDAM, Nov. 5, 1626."

DENNIS'S.- Denice's Ferry" is on the Long Island side of the Narrows, and is shown on William Faden's Map of East Jersey, 1771. W. H. B. THOMAS, The Dennis inquired about in your October number is on Long Island, above the Narrows a little distance. The ferry ran from this place to Staten Island. It is perhaps a half mile north of Fort Lafayette. The location as Denyse's is shown on a map published in London in 1777, showing Howe's military operations, and in other maps of the day. A. G.

NAVAL OFFICERS.-The following are the persons, says the Brooklyn Eagle, who have held the position of Naval Officer of the Customs in New York from 1789 to the present time:

Benjamin Walker, August 3, 1789; Richard Rogers, February 20, 1798; Samuel Osgood, May 10, 1803; John Ferguson, August 23, 1813; Enos T. Throop, January 10, 1833; William S. Coe, March 29, 1838; Thomas Lord, March 18, 1841; Jeremiah Towle, April 15, 1843; Michael Hoffman, May 3, 1845; Cornelius S. Bogardus, September 30, 1848; Philip Hone, April 16, 1849; David A. Bokee, July 7. 1851; Heman J. Redfield, March 3, 1853; John R. Brodhead, October 22, 1853; Ausburn Birdsall. February 15, 1858; George Denison, May 16, 1861; Moses F. Odell, August 31, 1865; John A. Dix, September 25, 1866; Cornell S. Franklin (acting), November 24, 1866; Edwin A. Merritt, March 29, 1869; Moses H. Grinnell, July 13, 1870; Addison H. Laflin, April 8, 1871; Alonzo B. Cornell, January 23, 1877; Silas W. Burt, July 16, 1878; Charles K. Graham, March 15, 1883; Silas W. Burt, July 1, 1885; Theodore B. Willis, October 1, 1889.

TARGET COMPANIES IN NEW YORK.-There are a great number of military companies in New York, and some of them are really very martial looking indeed. I am told there is a company of Highlanders, formed by the sons of far Caledonia; and there are German, French, Italian companies, etc. There are a number of target companies, each known by some particular nameusually, I believe, that of a favorite leader who is locally popular among them. Others take their appellation from some celebrated historical character, and others from anything that happens to occur to them, it would seem. A few of

them are

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"The Washington Market Chowder Guard" (chowder is a famous dish in the United States), "Bony Fusileers," Peanut Guard," Sweet's Epicurean Guard" (surely these must be confectioners), George R. Jackson and Company's Guard," "Nobody's Guard," 'Oregon Blues,' "Tenth Ward Light Guard,” “First Ward Magnetizers,” “Tompkins' Butcher Association Guard," "Mustache Fusileers." "Henry Rose Light Guard," Atlantic Light Guard," "Junior Independence Guard," and multitudes of others. The militia numbers about one hundred companies, which comprise six thousand men. The target companies are said not to fall short of ten thousand men. I am informed that the passion of arms is beginning to manifest itself very much here, and the youths are not happy until they are enrolled in some of these bands. It is said that thousands of the boldest spirits in the Mexican campaign, who were ever in the van, and at the post of danger, rushing to the cannon's mouth with fiery valor and storming with irresistible intrepidity the strongholds of the enemy, were those who had figured in such "target companies" as these. Generally a target, profusely decorated with flowers, is carried before the company, borne on the stalwart shoulders of a herculean specimen of the African race, to be shot at for a prize, or for glory, and the "bubble reputation" alone. On its return from the excursion and practice the target will display many an evidence of the unerring skill and marksmanship of the young and gallant corps. I remarked before that it is supposed that the love and desire of military distinction is increasing. In corroboration of this, I find it observed in one of their papers that the American boy, after delightedly firing off his pistol or his miniature cannon on "Independence Day," or other national anniversaries and festivals, in commemoration of particular events, rests not now on his budding laurels till he becomes a member of one of these target companies. Fired with youthful patriotism, and glowing with a boyish ambition, he desires ardently in some way to distinguish himself among his fellow striplings; and once admitted as a member, he strives hard to attain the post of lieutenant or captain among his companions in arms. Subsequently he aspires to join a more regular militia corps; but it is said there are many instances where their devotion to the Target Company, which originally inspired them with military enthusiasm, is so strong that they will not desert its ranks for those of the most brilliant and best appointed militia company in New York. There are so many of those enrolled bands that they and the omnibuses share the honor of filling and rousing the echoes of busy Broadway.-Lady Mary Wortley Montague.

LINES BY DR. COOPER.-The following lines were written by Dr. Cooper, in England, on the 10th of May, 1776, the anniversary of his departure from New York. As it is descriptive of his precipitate flight from the college, to avoid the outrages of a mob, this effusion, remarks the editor of Curwen's journal, may be regarded as a document of historical interest, aside from the beauty of the poetry:

To thee, O God! by whom I live,'
The tribute of my soul I give.

On this revolving day :

To thee, O God! my voice I raise,
To thee address my grateful praise,
And swell the duteous lay.

Nor has this orb unceasing run
Its annual circle round the sun,

Since when the heirs of strife, Led by the pale moon's midnight ray, And bent on mischief, urged their way To seize my guiltless life.

At ease my weary limbs were laid,
And slumbers sweet around me shed
The blessings of repose:
Unconscious of the dark design,
I knew no base intent was mine,

And therefore fear'd no foes.
When straight a heaven directed youth*
Whom oft my lessons led to truth,
And honor's sacred shrine,
Advancing quick, before the rest,
With trembling tongue my ear addrest,
Yet sure in voice divine:

Awake! Awake! the storm is nighThis instant rouse-this instant flyThe next may be too late : Four hundred men, a hostile band, Access importunate demand,

And shake the groaning gate.

I wake-I fly-whilst loud and near
Dread execrations wound my ear,
And sore my soul dismay;
One avenue alone remain'd,
A speedy passage there I gain'd

And wing'd my rapid way.
That moment all the furious throng
An entrance forcing, pour'd along

And fill'd my peaceful cell ;† Where harmless jest, and modest mirth, And cheerful laughter oft had birth,

And joy was wont to dwell. Not ev'n the Muses' hallow'd fane, Their lawless fury can restrain,

Or check their headlong haste; They push them from their solemn seat, Profane their long rever'd retreat,

And lay their Pindus waste. Nor yet content-but hoping still, Their impious purpose to fulfil,

They force each yielding door;

Mr. Nicholas Ogden.

+ King's, now Columbia, College.

And whilst their curses load my head,
With piercing steel they probe the bed,
And thirst for human gore.
Meanwhile along the sounding shore,
Where Hudson's waves incessant roar,
I work my weary way;
And skirt the windings of the tide,
My faithful pupil by my side,

Nor wish the approach of day.
At length ascending from the beach,
With hopes reviv'd by morn, I reach
The good Palemon's cot;
Where free from terror and affright,
I calmly wait the coming night,
My every fear forgot.

'Twas then I scaled the vessel's side, Where all the amities abide

That mortal worth can boast; Whence, with a longing, lingering view, I bid my much loved York adieu, And sought my native coast. Now all compos'd, from danger far, I hear no more the din of war, Nor shudder at alarms; But safely sink each night to rest, No malice rankling through my breast, In freedom's fostering arms. Tho' stripp'd of most the world admires, Yet torn by few untam'd desires, I rest in calm content; And humbly hope a gracious Lord Again those blessings will afford

Which once his bounty lent. Yet still for many a faithful friend Shall day by day my vows ascend

Thy dwelling, O my God!
Who steady still in virtue's cause,
Despising faction's mimic laws,

The paths of peace have trod.
Nor yet for friend alone-for all
Too prone to heed sedition's call,

Hear me, indulgent Heaven!
O may they cast their arms away,
To Thee, and George, submission pay,
Repent and be forgiven!

Mr. Stuyvesant's seat in the Bowery.

§ Kingfisher, sloop of war, bound to England.

Entered at the Post Office of New York as second-class matter.

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Battle of Long Island-Capture of New York-Places of Imprisonment

-The Dutch Churches-Sugar House-Provost-Escapes of Prisoners—
Burials in Sand Hills-The Food.

ILLUSTRATIONS.-Door of the North Dutch Church-Rhinelander Sugar House, from
Rose Street-Sugar House in Liberty Street-The Buried Bell--Window in the North
Dutch Church-The Provost-The Rhinelander Sugar House, from Duane Street-De-
molition of the last Church Prison.

DIARY OF PHILIP HONE,

Sketch of His Life-The Proposed Cathedral-Abolition Meetings-

Property in the Burned District--Gas Ill Calculated for a Family-The
Grave of Lady Cornbury-Fanny Ellsler-The Croton Aqueduct―Jenny
Lind-Strange Death of the First Delmonico.

A BOY'S REMINISCENCES,

The Yellow Fever in 1803-Savage's Museum-Cabbages Brought Here

in Canoes-The Southern Mail-Hamilton's Monument-The Old State
Prison-Indians in the City.

HISTORY OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK,

The Prayer Book in Mohawk-Scarcity of Early Pamphlets-Benjamin

Franklin in New York-Keimer's Visitors-Emoluments of Bradford's
Position-The Governor Offended at Him-Becomes a Vestryman-
Lyne's Map of the City-Establishes a Paper Mill in Elizabeth Town.

PASSPORT FOR THE EAST INDIES,