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William Wade Text from
William WadeOn the right hand, five miles from the City Hall, and on York
Island, is the scattered village of Bloomingdale, presenting to
the curious eye a pleasant aspect in the Orphan Asylum, with its
green lawn extending to the water's edge, and surrounded by a
grove. Three miles further up the island-eight miles from the
City Hall-is the Lunatic Asylum, a stately pile, standing on
elevated ground. Half a mile north of the Asylum, is the village
of Manhattanville, having a convenient landing and wharf, and
containing about eighty houses, with five hundred inhabitants. A
mile and a half east of this is the village of Harlem.
The next object of notice after passing Manhattanville, and the
highest point on New York Island is Fort Washington, two hundred
and thirty-eight feet above the river.