An Unpublished and Previously Unknown First Person Description of the City of New York on the Eve of the Declaration of Independence

Plus the statue of King George III pulled down on July 9, 1776, after the first reading of the Declaration of Independence; and the city’s defenses

This thorough-going survey of the city also discusses its commerce, ships, buildings, bridges, public places, Broadway, parks, religious composition, and much more: “There are seventeen places of worship, of which three are of the Church of England, three Dutch churches. The others are Germans, Jews, Methodists, Arabs, Papists and Quakers.”

An incredible and important rarity, unlike anything we’ve seen, never before offered for sale

New York and the American colonies are at war. The signs are all around, but are symbolized by the Liberty Pole in Lower Manhattan. An English visitor, unidentified, visits the city in June 1776, and leaves a detailed, fascinating, important and unpublished description of what he sees. It is a portrait of New York on the very eve of the Declaration of Independence, a snapshot in time, told in three very long pages. We obtained this in England just weeks ago, and its text is here revealed for the first time.

In 1770 a statue of King George III was erected in Bowling Green, a small public park in what is now the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, at the southern end of Broadway. On July 9, 1776, following the first reading of the freshly signed Declaration of Independence, a group of New Yorkers physically pulled down the statue. Connecticut revolutionaries melted parts of the lead statue to mold bullets to shoot at British soldiers. Loyalists reverently buried fragments underground, and the horse’s tail figures among New York’s most valued Revolutionary War mementos. There is a painting of this famous event.

The Liberty Pole was a symbol before which the Sons of Liberty assembled to pledge “their fortunes and their sacred honors in the cause of Liberty.” There were five Liberty Poles erected in New York before the outbreak of the American Revolution – all in the same park – and were a source of contention between the patriots and the British soldiers stationed in the city. The first Liberty Pole was erected in 1766, in what is now City Hall Park, in celebration of Parliament’s repeal of the Stamp Act. The British soldiers took it as an affront and cut it down. Likewise with three successor poles. On February 6, 1770, in great ceremony, six horses, colorfully decorated and accompanied by several thousand townspeople, hauled a great pine mast from the shipyard through the streets of New York. When this Liberty Pole was erected, it stood forty-six feet supporting a gilt vane bearing the word “Liberty.” As before, the Sons of Liberty braced the new pole with iron hoops and vertical iron strips and sank it twelve feet below the surface. This was the last Liberty Pole. The Liberty Pole survived until the British forces invaded New York City on September 15, 1776. The pole was soon after cut down.

Here, for the first time is the: “Description of the City of New York as it stood in the month of June 1776”.  Autograph manuscript, unsigned, “June 1776”. The precise identity of the author is unknown, though it is clearly a visitor from the England.

“New York is pleasantly situated on the end of an island which is 16 miles long to king’s bridge where it is so joined to the main by a wooden bridge. The island varies in breadth from two or three miles. It is formed by Hudson’s or the North river and what is called the East river, or more properly, The Sound. It is well cultivated and covered with Gentlemen’s country seats and pleasant farms. Land sells at a great price and gentlemen’s estates reach high prices convenient to a good market.

“The city labours under the disadvantage of not having been begun upon a regular place as parts of the streets are crooked, and by the ground rising from the sea, are very unequal in their aspects and defects. They are paved with round pebbles which (having no footpaths) makes walking on them very disagreeable to strangers. The houses are mostly built of brick, those that have been falling down begin to show a taste which in time will probably extend itself.

“The plan of the city may be deemed to be a triangle, the base of which lies along the Hudson’s river, upon the right towards the bay is the fort there the governor’s house was, and where he used to live until it was burned down in Governor Lyon’s time. This fort is of no signification in point of strength towards the land, being commanded by that part of the town which lies behind it. Standing on higher ground towards the water there is a battery on which has been mounted a number of great guns but at present there are no more on the carriages than 21, the others being dismounted.

“This battery is built upon the point formed by the bay and Hudson’s river. It is of great extent, no ships can come in or go out without being exposed to its fire. It is faced with sandstone and is in extreme good order. The water comes up to the walls, upon this there is a fine walk planted with trees, from it is a beautiful prospect of the Jersey shore, Staten and Long Islands and the bay, with its islands, and the shipping which are continually going out or coming in. Here many of the citizens enjoy themselves in the summer evenings having generally a cool breeze from the bay. The other parts of this fort are of little use, consisting of a parcel of walls put together without regularity and in bad condition. Guns have been mounted on them, but Lord Dunmore, when governor, caused them all to be thrown down.

“Along Hudson’s river are many wharfs run out for landing of goods, but these are only frequented by small craft. Here is likewise the King’s yard, having a convenient wharf beside it, the stores are kept in sheds. From the fort along the bay are a great number of wharfs, run out, at these the shipping load and unload The spaces betwixt are called slips, into them the ships come. They are very dextrous at making those wharfs, which are piers built of wood, filled with stones placed at a distance, one from another. These they put together to a lashing tight, and then float them out to where they are sunk in deep water. When they are raised so high as wanted, they are joined by ways made of long logs covered with plank, which are supported by upright posts in the middle, so as to form a good, secure road for carriages, and of a proper breadth for one to pass the other. The lower part of this town has been mostly gained off the sea which as it indicated, they had done by joining the ends of the wharfs, one to the other with a strong breastwork of logs and stones and then filling up the spaces where the ships used to lie with earth. It is still in the memory of many that where streets and houses now stand, several hundred yards back ships used to load and unload.

“At the wharf near the fort lie the Albany sloops, which bring down this river vast quantities of wheat and flour which is lodged in warehouses adjoining, until it is shipped off to foreign markets. Near this stands the exchange, which is a plain, brick building, with arches all around that support a room above used for public announcements. The wharfs extend all along that part of the city that fronts the bay which maybe a large mile. About half a gunshot off is the road where there is a good anchoring ground.

“At the end of the city, towards the river are the shipyards, here many vessels are built, some of which are very large.

“Opposite to the entrance of the fort and at the end of the Broadway stands an exquisite statue of his present Majesty. It is of cast metal gilt and he is represented in a Roman dress. It is a bad resemblance of the King, and I think the horse (says the author) is too short. On the pedestal is the following inscription:

“Equestrian Statue of George III King of Great Britain MDCCLXX

“At this commendation the street widens greatly and a large area around the statue is railed in with iron rails. Broadway is about three quarters of a mile long and is about a hundred foot wide, it is almost parallel to the Hudson’s river, in it are several handsome houses. At the other end is a large area where several streets terminate.

“Here stands the Liberty Pole, erected by the sons of Liberty during the times of the struggle about the Stamp Act. At first it was several times cut down, supposed by the soldiers, to prevent which for the future, it is covered with iron bars, fixed on with hoops of the same metal. Upon the top is a brass vane with the word “Liberty’ cut through it.. Here are held the meeting when the great cause is in danger, but they generally adjourn to the adjacent taverns of which there is a great number. Upon one side of the area is the prison, a large, square stone building of three stories, near this is the poor house and the house of correction. Behind these are the barracks for the soldiers. Two long wooden buildings face each other, with an area or court betwixt, enclosed at the ends, having a gate which is shut after the retreat is beat. These barracks may contain about two regiments. On the same side and opposite to Liberty Pole they are building a Bridewell, the foundation of which is brought up to the surface of the ground, and shows it will be a long, narrow building.

“From the side of the area towards Hudson’s river run several streets, this part is called the holy ground, from its belonging to the church, and here great numbers of prostitutes have their habitations. Nearby is the college, a long stone building three stories high. This establishment is yet in its infancy, from this platform is a noble prospect.

“Further on the road that lyes to the country from the above mentioned area is the hospital, a large stone building with wings, so as to form the letter H by its plan. This building was accidentally burnt down this 28th Feb 1775 when within a fortnight of its being finished. The Assembly who were then sitting voted the sum of £4000 to repair it. This must be a foundation of great identity to the poor and seafaring peoples, it is substantially built, but has a very heavy appearance.

“A little further on upon the opposite side of the road are the water works. The city is in great want of water for making tea, and thus they are supplied with at present from the springs that come from the higher ground, and it is carried about in carts daily and sold. The lower part of the town having only a brackish kind of water which they pump out of wells. To remedy this they have agreed with a man for the sum of 18,000£ (the currency of NY is as 7£ is to £4 Sterling) to bring the water from this part and distribute it through every street in the city. The water is to be burrowed from a hollow by means of a fire engine into a long basin or reservoir which stand upon high ground, from here to be conducted in wooden pipes,. The fire engine is already built and the well sunk for the pump to work in. The reservoir is formed by big banks of logs and gravel.

“Near the middle of the city where 4 streets meet stands the statue of William Pitt Esq, now Earl of Chatham. It is a mean copy of the same at Charlestown. It is of white marble. Upon the pedestal, which is of the same material, is put the following inscription:

“This Statue Of the
Right Honourable William Pitt, Earl of Chatham,
was erected as a public testimony of the gratitudes once the colony of New York retains of the many eminent services he rendered America, particularly in promoting the repeal of the Stamp Act, Anno Dom 1770.

“Not far from this is the State house or City Hall, it fronts down Broad Street. This building is three stories high, in it are halls filled up with seats for the Council House of Assembly. As also different apartments for the High Court which is held here. There is likewise a library, this edifice is far from being adequate to what such a city as New York ought to have, being greatly inferior to those in other towns of America, the ones not carried on the sound with part of their trade. There are seventeen places of worship, of which three are of the Church of England, three Dutch churches. The others are Germans, Jews, Methodists, Arabs, Papists and Quakers.The steeples of so many churches and the fortifications of the town rising from the water’s edge gives it greatly the advantages of Philadelphia in any prospect of it especially from the bay, whom it affords a most noble view. There are seven markets which are mostly built with open brick arches that support their roofs. The stalls are placed along their sides, having a walk in the middle. These markets are plentifully supplied every day with all kinds of butcher’s meat, fowls, in the season, fish in great quantities, herbs, roots, salads, fruit of different kinds, the produce of this province and likewise of the West Indies.

“This city is inhabited by gentlemen who live on the rents of their estates, by merchants, shopkeepers, tradesmen and seafaring peoples. They bear a good character in their dealings, except that of cheating the King; smuggling having been carried on here to a great extent. Many of them are rich, and live in a genteel manner, keeping equipages, and having their town and country houses west of the city, wherein have their saddle horses or single horse chaise, and their pleasure boats with which they are very often out at a pleasuring, as they call it. This better sort does well and the lower ranks are decent in their apparel (no beggar is to be seen in the streets). They are open, frank in their manners, polite, hospitable to strangers, in short they are a happy people.”

This remarkable manuscript appears to have never been published. It does not appear in principle works, such as Iconography of Manhattan Island, Documentary History of the State of New York, or Gotham.

A search of public records shows no similar manuscript ever having reached the market.