caused much less alarm than that of 1819, though the infected district was far more extensive, and occupied a part of the city that was supposed to be healthy.... The seeds of the disease are undoubtedly imported, whether it is ever generated here or not. Indeed, there is scarcely a summer in which some case of the fever does not occur at the Lazaretto, through vessels from the West Indies or the more southern points of the United States. That the disorder does not extend itself, is imputed to the pureness of the atmosphere at the time being. It is certain, that the inhabitants of New York, who would have considered their lives in jeopardy by entering their dwellings one day, take peaceable possession of them the morning after a wholesome frost with entire impunity." "* Although the true yellow fever is certainly imported, yet it is admitted, that a fever strongly resembling it sometimes originates in the climate. Upon the whole, the laboured attempt of this American writer to prove that the hazard of the disease has been magnified, leaves an impression the very opposite to that which he aims at producing; and the natural conclusion is, that, during the heats of summer, when the thermometer frequently stands above 80° for many successive days, New York is far from being a salubrious residence. According to the statement of Dr. Mitchell, however, upwards of one-third of the deaths in New York, are occasioned by consumption and debility.

* Notions of the Americans, vol. i. pp. 153–159. It would seem that the "slips," or irregular docks of the harbour, which are apt to become very foul and offensive in the hot weather, have generally been the spots to which the origination or first appearance of the yellow fever has been traced. There appears to be little doubt, in fact, as to its strictly endemic origin; and it has become epidemic only under extraordinary circumstances.-See Warden's United States, vol. i. ch. 7.

PART II.

"To the influence of moisture and the sudden changes of the weather," says Mr. Lambert, "has been attributed the prevalence of nervous disorders and debility among a great number of the inhabitants of the United States. Much may, no doubt, be ascribed to those causes; but I think the mode of living has a more immediate effect upon the human frame, than even the climate. The higher and middling classes of the Americans live, generally speaking, in a more luxurious manner than the same description of people in England. The constant use of segars by the young men, even from an early age, may also tend to impair the constitution, and create a stimulus beyond that which nature requires, or is capable of supporting. The effects of a luxurious, or of a meagre diet, are equally injurious to the constitution, and, together with the sudden and violent changes of the climate, may create a series of nervous complaints, consumption, and debility, which, in the States bordering on the Atlantic, carry off at least one-third of the inhabitants in the prime of life."*

The environs of New York afford some very agreeable excursions. Long Island, in particular, is a favourite summer resort. The climate is deemed very salubrious, and there are numerous villages at short distances along the shore. A little above Brooklyn, a town fast rising into importance, immediately opposite to the city, and communicating with it by a steam ferry boat, the United States have established a navy-yard, and are building ships of war. The navyyard is conveniently situated upon the bank of a com

Lambert, vol. i. pp. 82, 3. The rate of mortality in New York, is very considerably higher than in London, and suicide is not less frequent. This Traveller is disposed to ascribe a prejudicial effect to the crowded churchyards, and vaults in the heart of the town.

modious little bay, opening into the Sound, where vessels of the largest class may float in safety. Here lies the famous steam frigate, "Fulton the First," dismantled and roofed in ; "a most tortoise-looking man of war," says Mr. Duncan, "in shape pretty nearly an oblong octagon, rounded off a little at the corners ;" and he describes its construction as follows.

"The steam frigate is a double boat resting upon two keels, with an intervening space, 156 feet long, and 15 feet wide, in which the paddle-wheel revolves. This is carefully covered in, so as to be as much as possible unapproachable by shot. The wheel has a free motion both ways upon its axis, so that it can propel the vessel with either end foremost. For this purpose, each individual boat has two rudders, one at each end, which are also carefully defended; each pair acts simultaneously, and when the pair at one end is in operation, the other is secured so as to offer no obstruction to the vessel's progress. She carries two bowsprits and two masts, which are intended to bear latteen sails. The rigging formed no part of the original design, but was added at the suggestion of Captain Porter, who had been appointed to her command. The sides are 4 feet 10 inches thick, composed of four thicknesses of oak timber, alternately vertical and horizontal. Her gun-ports, thirty in number, are all on the principal deck, and go completely round both ends of the vessel, so that, if necessary, her shot can fly simultaneously at every angle, like radii from the centre of a circle. She carries thirty-two-pounders, some of which are in the carriages; with these, she is intended to throw red-hot shot, for preparing which she is amply provided with furnaces. Fulton also intended that she should carry upon her upper deck four Columbiads, as they are called; enormous guns,

men.

capable of discharging a ball of a hundred pounds weight into an enemy's vessel, under the water mark. At present, however, her upper deck is without any armament, but is surrounded with a strong bulwark. The officers' cabins are in the centre of the vessel, or on the main deck. The steam-boilers are contained in the one boat, and the engine in the other. Room is left for a machine, which Fulton purposed to add, capable of discharging with great force an incessant stream of water, either hot or cold, which, it was anticipated, would completely inundate an enemy's armament and ammunition, if it did not also destroy the Her machinery impels her at the rate of five and a half knots an hour; and her inventor felt confident that, in a calm or light breeze, no seventy-four would be a match for her......But I am led to think that considerable doubt prevails as to the possibility of working her, so as to make her efficient against an enemy's vessel. Fulton died before her engine was put on board. Had he lived to superintend its complete adjustment, it is impossible to say to what degree of perfection he might have brought it; but his Biographer acknowledges that there are, at present, great and obvious defects in her machinery. During the trial voyages, various inconveniences were experienced. One of these was the heat of the furnaces, which is so insupportable, that the engine-men cannot remain beside them for more than a minute or two at a time. In the confusion and bustle of an action, it would probably be found extremely difficult, if not impossible, to regulate with deliberation and coolness the many complicated operations which would be necessary in such a machine; and where so much internal combustion is going forward, the slightest inat tention or accident in managing the powder, might be

instantaneously fatal to all on board. Should they succeed in overcoming these difficulties, and acquire that expertness in her management which practice alone can be expected to produce, we can scarcely imagine, for a bay or harbour, a more powerful instrument of attack or defence. Independent of wind or tide, she could plough her way under an enemy's stern, or across his bows, and vomit forth her flaming balls wherever the foe was most vulnerable; while the reverting of the paddle-wheel would instantly relieve her from a wrong position, without the delay of working round; and the enormous thickness of her sides would render any but the largest guns inefficient upon her timbers.

"The commissioners, in their last report, recommended that, notwithstanding the peace, she should be commissioned and sent to sea, that officers and men might be trained to her management, and that defects in her construction might be discovered and obviated. But this recommendation could have been complied with only at an expense which would ill-agree with American ideas of economy; and here she lies, slumbering in ignoble indolence and security. I would add with all my heart, Requiescat in pace.”

*

The heights of Brooklyn overlook the city and harbour; and during the Revolutionary war, some fortifications were hastily thrown up there by the citizens ; but, happily, the peace prevented their completion. Dr. Dwight speaks of this elevation as the finest position for a view of the magnificent scenery. But the best bird's eye view of the city, is said to be gained from the high ground between the Hackensack and North

• Duncan, vol. i. pp. 35-41. The keel of this singular vessel was laid in June 1814. By May 1815, her engine was put on board, various obstacles having impeded its construction; and before that period, Fulton had died.