Deed, especially as the buildings which you have directed to be destroyed were on the ground [124] when I purchased. And, Gentlemen, I repeat to you that the Laws of the State secure and fortify my possession, as the best estate in the world, even against the claim. you set up to my property: and I again thus publicly assert and shall in due time abundantly prove my assertion, that there is surplus of ground North of my enclosure to satisfy all demands-and further, that any man who does say, (understanding the subject) that my enclosure comprehends any part of Samuel David's Street, (and meaning no quibble about the name Bleecker Street) is a liar and the truth is not in him; and I stake my reputation to prove my assertion from your own public documents which some of you are perhaps uninformed of: and the Actors in this scene, who proceed understandingly in this business, incur the denunciations pronounced in the sacred volume, to wit-" Cursed is he who removeth his neighbour's landmark "—and may this curse attend them. "Matters having been thus brought to a crisis between us, and I being determined at all events never to submit to such harsh treatment as I have received and am threatened with from the Guardians of this city, without a serious struggle for my rights, I now [125] inform you, gentlemen, that from a regard to my dear-bought and improved interests, and my own reputation, and knowing, as I believe, the powers of the Common Council on the subject, I have been put to the painful alternative of submitting, or at very considerable expence retaining able Counsel; which I have done, with a view of examining in an open and public manner into the conduct of those whom I consider my oppressors; and to this end I have directed Suits to be instituted in the Supreme Court against your Street Commissioner, who avows himself to be your agent and to be by you authorized to commit the trespasses, and against others, and from time to time, for the trespasses committed & to be committed on my possessions-and also a Suit in chancery to try your high-handed proceedings, and to be relieved against illegal Assessments founded upon the usurpation of powers not committed to you. And I trust that with the aid of gentlemen of high Standing in the Community, and who have been from their infancy regularly bred and have practised as surveyors, and who can give constructions to Maps, and not by those better calculated for building pig-pens and selling drams at the [126] counter than for Surveyors, and upon some such you are unfortunately obliged to depend for information, I shall be able to shew that there are lands sufficient, north of the South Bounds of Samuel David's Street or my "Resolutions on the above Memorial of Richard Varick. 1 "Resolved, that the Communication just read, and signed by Richard Varick contains a gross attack on the integrity of the Corporation, indecent in manner, and insulting in the diction thereof, unworthy the character of a gentleman in the intercourse with his fellow citizens, and particularly obnoxious as an address to a public body, to whom the said communication professes to offer correct information and a statement of facts. 2 "Resolved, that the aforesaid communication also contains an unjustifiable imputation upon the fair character of several officers of this Board, and as such is inadmissible to that [131] respectful consideration which every memorial from a worthy citizen couched in decent and proper language is at all times entitled. 3 "Resolved, that the aforesaid communication of Richard Varick, dated 9th March 1818, of 13 folio pages, containing both an unjustifiable attack upon the Corporation as a body, and upon the individual members composing the same, as also upon the officers of this Board as well as Surveyors and others employed by them, cannot and ought not to be received or any further noticed. 4 "Therefore resolved that the Committee, to whom the said Communication was referred, be discharged from the further consideration thereof." Of which Resolutions, the 1st and 4th were agreed to unanimously: the 2d and 3d each with one dissenting voice. W. J. Waldron, Asst City Inspect. 1 month to 1 April...... 52.00 Obad. Ayres, Asst City Inspect. 1 mo. to 1 April.. 52.00 64.00 62.00 52.00 52.00 60.00 98.75 Geo. Snethen, Supdg & lighting Lamps, 1 mo. to 1 April.... 723.43 Jas. Meghan, pav. Greenwich St. from Hamersley to 500.00 Pet. Debaun, reg. Greenwich St. from Hamersley to 500.00 Thos. Barnum, Supdg Piers, 24 days to 29 inst.. 48.00 50.00 30.00 2344.18 Balance $4544.92 Adjourned to Monday next 4 o'clock [133] In Common Council April 6. 1818. Present. Thos. R. Smith Esqr. Deputy Mayor, President. The Minutes of last meeting were read and approved. A Petition from Sundry Inhabitants, for a Well and Pump at the Intersection of Bleecker and Wooster Streets, and a Petition for a well and Pump in Suffolk Street between Brome and Delancy Streets—were read and referred to the Aldermen and Assistants of the respective wards and Street Commissioner to report ordinances therefor. A Memorial from Sundry Inhabitants, residing in Mott Street, praying that a Cistern may be sunk in said Street opposite Zion Church as a Reservoir [134] for water in cases of fire, was read and referred to the Committee on the Fire Department and Street Commissioner. A Petition from Jordan Mott, to be permitted to construct a Vault and a Cistern in the Street opposite his house, at the corner of Pearl and Fulton Streets, was read and referred to the Street Committee and Street Commissioner. A Petition of Peter Woolly for permission to remove a Frame House from the corner of Jay and Staple Streets to Orange Street, was read referred to the Aldermen and Assistants of the 5th and 6th Wards and Street Commissioner with authority to grant the prayer of the petition. A Petition of Adrian K. Van Bokkelen, for the use of the mud machine for a few days, was referred to the Committee on Wharves, with authority to grant the prayer of Petitioner. A Petition of Elbert Anderson, for permission to construct a Vault in front of his lot No. 28 Provost Street, and a similar petition from Garrit Storm, John Suydam and Rembrandt F. Muller for vaults opposite their respective Lots [135] in Franklin Street-were read and granted on the usual terms. A Petition of Samuel Jones, by his son D. S. Jones, stating that he is owner of more than half of the Lots fronting on Bond Street, and praying that the same may be regulated, the side walks raised and the Carriage way arched in the same manner as has been done in Great Jones' Street, was read and referred to the Street Committee and Street Commissioner. A Petition from Ebenezer Stevens, Peter Schermerhorn & Sons, and John & Austin L. Sands for a Water grant opposite their property at Brooklyn-was read and referred to the Committee on Wharves, Street Commissioner and Comptroller to report. A Petition of the Sextons in the different churches in the City, praying for some compensation for making their weekly Reports of Interment and for ringing the bells at times of fire-was read and referred to the Finance Committee. A Petition of Jacob Halsey, praying that the sum of Six hundred dollars awarded to John Tierney for a Lot in [136] Bancker Street may be paid to him as he has a Mortgage on said lot-was read and referred to the Counsel, Street Commissioner and Comptroller to report. A Petition of Holly Waterbury, for appointment as Keeper of the Park on the Battery-was read and referred to the Committee on Applications. A Petition of Bethuel Howard for Stall No. 35 Catharine Market -of Henry Pessinger for the same stall-of Samuel Piercy for permission to sell meat in Division Street—and of John Simonson and of Cornelius Vandenburgh for a Stall in Centre Market-were read & referred to the Market Committee. A Petition was received from Benjamin A. Akerly and others, stating that they hold by grants from the Corporation Lots on both sides of Water Street between Pike Slip and Rutger's Slip: that by their grants they were bound to make Water Street 45 feet, which they have done that they have lately received an order from the Street Commissioner to widen Water Street to 50 feet: that they approve of the improvement of widening said Street, but consider themselves en- [137] titled, in consequence of the great expence they have been at in making said Street to a Compensation for the extra ground which will be taken from them: and stating their willingness to an arrangement on the subject-whereupon, the same was referred to the Street Committee and Street Commissioner to report. The City Inspector presented Ordinances for Correction of 40 Nuis |