The Crown been or were incorporated, or whether they have willing that a

York.

corporation be been or were heretofore incorporated or not) into founded by the name of The one body politic and corporate, by the name of Mayor, Aldermen, and Com- The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city monalty, of the of New-York, by our letters, to make, constitute, city of Newconfirm, renew, and of new to create. And we, being also further willing and fully intending and desiring, that the sald inhabitants and citizens of our said city, by the name aforesaid, should have perpetual succession, and should hold, possess, and enjoy, all and singular, the rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, pre-eminences, advantages, jurisdictions, courts, powers, offices, authorities, ferhereditaments. ries, fees, fines, perquisites, profits, immunities,

And that they

should enjoy all their former privileges, franchises and

rents, possessions, lands, tenements, and other hereditaments, not only which in the before recited grants, confirmations, writings, and letters patent, are mentioned or intended to be thereby granted, but also, which they have held, or claimed to hold, by prescription or otherwise, with the alterations and enlargements thereof, and additions thereto, in such manner and form as hereinafter is mentioned and contained, notwithstanding the before mentioned, or any other questions, doubts, opinions, ambiguities, debates, faults, or imperfections.

Wherefore know ye, that we, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, have willed, ordained, constituted, confirmed, given, and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors do will, ordain, constitute, confirm, give, and grant, that our said city of New-York, be,

and from henceforth forever hereafter shall be and remain a free city of itself; and that the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the said city, and their successors, from henceforth and forever hereafter, shall be and remain one body corporate and politic, in re facto, and nomine, by the name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New-York,

The city of New-York

made a free city of itself.

Corporation created by the

name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and com

York.

and them and their successors by the name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the city of monalty of the New-York, one body corporate and politic, in re facto, and nomine, really and fully, we do for us, our heirs and successors, erect, make, ordain, constitute, confirm, declare, and create, by these presents, and that, by that name, they shall and may have perpetual succession; and also, that they and their successors, by the said name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the city of NewYork, be, and forever hereafter shall be, persons able in law, and capable to sue and be sued, im

plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all courts and places before us, our heirs, and successors, and before

all and any the judges, justices, officers, and ministers of us, our heirs and successors, and elsewhere in all and all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands, whatsoever, and of what kind or nature soever, in as full and ample manner and form, as any of our other liege subjects of our said Province, being persons able and capable in law, can or may sue and be 'sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be an

And by that name to have

perpetual suc

cession.

and be sued in all courts.

And to sue

1

swered unto, defend and be defended, by any lawful ways and means whatsoever. And also, That they and their successors, by the same name of, And capable to The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the city purchase and hold lands, ten- of New-York, be and shall be, forever hereafter, ements, goods and chattels. persons capable and able in law, to purchase, take, hold, receive, enjoy, and have, any messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, possessions and other hereditaments, and real estate, within or without our said Province, in fee and forever, or, for term of life, or lives or years, or in any other manner; and also goods, chattels, and all other things, of what kind or quality soever. And also, That they and their successors, by the same name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the city of New-York, shall and may give, grant, demise, assign, and sell, or otherwise dispose of all or any the messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, possessions, and other hereditaments, and real estate, and all their goods, chattels, and other things aforesaid, as to them shall seem meet, at their own will and pleasure.

And to sell, let, and dispose thereof.

Corporation to have a common Seal.

And also, That the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New-York, for the time being, and their successors, shall and may forever hereafter, have and use a common seal for sealing all and singular deeds, grants, conveyances, contracts, bonds, articles of agreements, assignments, powers, authorities, and all and singular their affairs and things, touching or concerning the said corporation And, by virtue of these our letters,

it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the city of NewYork, and their successors, as they shall see cause,

to break, change, and new-make, the same, or any other common seal, when, and as often as to them it shall seem convenient.

And we do further, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, order, and appoint, that the said city of New-York, and the compass, precincts, circuit, bounds, liberties, and jurisdictions, of the same, do reach, extend, and stretch forth, and shall and may reach, extend, and stretch forth, as well in length as in breadth and circuit, in and through the limits and boundaries following, to wit: To begin at the river, creek, or run of water, called Spyt den Duyvel, over which King's-Bridge is built, where the said river or creek empties itself into the North River, on Westchester side thereof, at low watermark, and so to run along the said river, creek, or run, on Westchester side, at low water-mark, unto the East River, or Sound, and from thence to cross over to Nassau-Island, to low water-mark there, including Great-Barn-Island, Little-Barn-Island, and Manning's-Island, and from thence all along Nassau-Island shore at low water-mark, unto the south side of the Red-Hook; and from thence to run a line across the North River, so as to include NuttenIsland, Bedlow's-Island, Bucking-Island, and the Oyster-Island, to low water-mark on the west side of the North River, or so far as the limits of our said

vided into seven Wards.

province extend there, and so to run up along the west side of the said river, at low water-mark, or along the limits of our said province, until it comes directly opposite to the first mentioned river or creek, and thence to the place where the said bounCity to be di- daries first began. And also, that the said city, within the limits and jurisdictions thereof as aforesaid, be, and forever hereafter shall be, and remain divided into seven wards,* to wit: the West Ward, the South Ward, the Dock Ward, the East Ward, the North Ward, Montgomery Ward, and the Out Ward; each and every of which wards, shall contain and comprehend, and reach and extend through the several limits and bounds following, to wit:

Their names.

Bounds of the
West Ward.

The West Ward to begin at the middle of the east end of the street that goes from the Parade to the North River, between the lot of ground now in fence, belonging to Charles Sleigh, and the house and ground late of Thomas Elde; and from thence to run a direct line over to the middle of the west end of Beaver-street, and so along to the middle of Beaver-street, till it comes directly opposite to the middle of the south end of New-street, and then to run all along the middle of New-street, to the north end thereof; and from thence to run to the rear of the dwelling-house, now in the possession of Domine Du Bois, and from thence to run all along the rear of the houses that front the Broad-Way, up

* The number of Wards has been since increased to nine, and the boundaries altered by an Act of the Legislature. See the Appendix.