New York City

Text from William Wade

The view presented on leaving the city of New York, on our voyage up the river to Albany, is grand and extensive; embracing in the direction of the sea, parts of Long Island, and Staten Island, and the Narrows, with the fortifications on the two former, commanding the latter, and the strong fortifications guarding the approach tothe city upon Governor's, Bedlows and Ellis islands. The bay of New York is spreads to the southward, and is about eight miles long, and from one and a half to five and a half broad. It is one of the finest harbours in the world, generally open for vessels at all seasons of the year, the currents being so strong that the most severe winters rarely obstruct it with ice for more than a few days. Governor's Island contains seventy acres of ground, and is distant three thousand two hundred feet from the city at the Battery. Castle William, on the west side of the island, is a round tower six hundred feet in circumference and sixty feet high, with three tiers of guns. Fort Columbus is on the highest point of the island, and on the east side is a battery to defend the entrance into Buttermilk channel. As the steamboat leaves her mooring for the bosom of the majestic stream, a scene of indescribable beauty is presented to the eye of those who love to "crowd on the incident."