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SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, SS. Be it remembered, that on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1827, L. S. in the 51st year of the Independence of the United States of America, SAMUEL MARKS, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "The Description of the City of New-York; Containing its population, institutions, commerce, manufactures, public buildings, courts of justice, places of amusement, &c. To which is prefixed, a brief account of its first settlement by the Dutch, in the year 1629; and of the most remarkable events, which have occurred in its history, from that to the present period. By JAMES HARDIE, A. M. In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled “An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the time therein' mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

FRED. I. BETTS, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

When the Author, (MR HARDIE), issued his Prospectus for this work, in August, 1825, public expectation was considerably excited; as he was well known to be competent to the task he had undertaken; and had he lived to finish it, there is no doubt that the most sanguine anticipations would have been realized. But his course was arrested by the hand of death, and, after more than a year's delay, the completion of the work devolved on another, and a less experienced hand.

As regards the author's original design and intentions, they are fully developed in the following extracts from his prospec

tus:

"With respect to the work, in which I am now employed, it is my design, as far as it may be in my power, to render it

a COMPLETE STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

In my proposals, I have promised much; but if it shall please God to preserve my health, I shall faithfully perform every thing, which I have promised. I shall farther observe, that, in the prosecution of the work, I shall add such other interesting matter, as may either occur to myself, or be suggested by my learned and judicious friends, whose countenance in this arduous undertaking I most earnestly solicit, and on whose assistance I greatly depend.

"I am well aware, that the undertaking will be attended with great labour; for though it is easy to write works of fancy, there is nothing more difficult and tedious than to ascertain facts. It will, likewise, be attended with considerable expense. But I have counted the cost. I have had the subject under consideration for several years; but more particularly since April last, when I published a pamphlet, entitled "A cencus of the new buildings erected in this city, in the year 1824, &c. Also a number of statistical documents, interesting to the Christian, the Merchant, the man of inquiry and the public in general." As this little work was honoured with uncommon patronage, I propose, early in the ensuing year, to publish a new edition, with material improvements. I likewise determined to publish "A DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK," upon an extensive scale, similar to that

of The Picture of London, The History of Edinburgh, The Tableau de Paris, The Oxford Guide, and other statistical accounts of the most celebrated cities in Europe. To this important work, my unceasing exertions shall be directed, till it shall be brought to a conclusion, and I shall proceed with pleasure, in full confidence that I shall receive from a generous public, an adequate compensation for my endeavours to serve them."

Such were our friend's intentions, But, alas! it pleased the All-wise disposer of events to remove him from this sublunary state of existence, in the midst of this career of usefulness. He died without leaving any instruction or materials for the direction of his successor. The writer of this article has however, done the best he could, under existing circumstances; and begs leave to assure the reader, that if the work prove inferior to his expectations, the fault must be attributed solely to lack of ability and information in the

New-York, July, 1827.

FINISHER.

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