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IN the following pages it is not designed to furnish a history of the city during the period designated, as there are several histories in existence which in detail and extent are in advance of any essay that either my recollection or information would attain. It is purposed only to give my recollection of some matters and occurrences that came under my observation or knowledge, and of some individuals who were prominently before the public; referring to matters previous and subsequent to the period embraced only when necessary to illuminate the subject treated of. Of the existence and advent of daily newspapers, only such are given as I knew of; and in a similar manner, the changes in churches and in the names of streets recited are those of which I was cognizant.

The matters and incidents now given were mainly collected some twelve years previous to this date, and were laid aside, inasmuch as strict professional authorship for a full period of sixty-five years was so much at variance with the graphic recital of ordinary incidental and personal events, that I doubted the propriety of relying wholly upon my ability to do justice either to the subjects or to myself.

The repeated recommendations of some friends ultimately decided me to publish, and in order to meet my inexperience in personal recitals, I submitted the MS. to Mr. J. E. Learned for his criticisms, and aid in the filling of some voids whereof my recollection of full details was deficient, both of which duties he has very acceptably performed.

I am indebted to Messrs. Harper & Brothers for many of the illustrations in the book, and to Mr. J. F. Phayre for assistance in some of the details of the work.

Not one of the illustrations of structures here given, with the exception of St. Paul's Church and the Jumel Mansion, is now in primitive existence ; the jail, Vandenheuvel Mansion, (Burnham's) Claremont, Tammany Hall second, Methodist Church in John Street, and Castle Garden, although existing, have all been altered or added to, and some appropriated to purposes other than originally designed.

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