our country to undertake the establishment of similar institutions. In the year 1809, the first organized society was formed in this city, for the dissemination of religious tracts; and in the following year the Protestant Episcopal Tract Society was instituted. After watching the progress of these societies for about two years, the Methodist became convinced of their practical efficacy, and erected another, for the dissemination of their own particular tenets,which they termed the New-York Methodist Tract Society. Other sects soon imitated the laudable example; until, at this moment, there is scarcely a congregation in the city which is not zealously employing the same means to circulate their doctrines throughout their country.

The American Tract Society was instituted in May, 1805, and is composed of different denominations of Christians; and their constitution forbids any two members of the same denomination serving in the Publishing Committee; Nor can any Tract be published which has been objected to, by any one member of that committee, Each subscriber of two dollars annually, is a member; and each subscriber of twenty dollars at one time is a member for life. Each subscriber of five dollars annually, is a Director; and each subscriber of fifty dollars at one time, or who, by one additional payment, increases his original subscription to fifty dollars, is a Director for life. Members are entitled to tracts annually, to the value of one dollar; and Directors to the value of two dollars; or, if preferred, they may receive tracts at any one time to the value of half the sum given. The Society meet annually, on Wednesday immediately preceding the second Thursday in May, at their House, No. 144 Nassau-street. The affairs of this institution are managed by a Board, consisting of a President, eightteen Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and thirty-six Directors; all of whom are chosen at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors elect, annually, by ballot, a Publishing Committee, a Distributing Committee, and a Finance Committee; each consisting of not less than three, nor more than six members. The members of these three committees constitute an Executive Committee, to conduct the business of the Society, and are, ex-officio, members of the Board.

A large and commodious building has been erected for the use of this Society, at the corner of Nassau and Spruce-streets, near Chatham-street, fronting the Park. This edifice is four stories high, exclusive of the basement story, with a front of eighty feet on Nassau-street, and a gable end of forty-eight feet on Spruce-street. The first floor contains a room for the

sale of Tracts, and three suits of offices, which are rented for other purposes. In the second story are rooms for the use of the several Committees, and of the Board, and the general Depository of Tracts. The third story is occupied principally by the Bindery, Folding-room, and the Stereotype Finishing-room; the Foundery being in the basement story. The fourth story and garret is occupied by the Printing establishment; where power presses are carried by steam, mules, &c.

The New York Religious Tract Society was instituted in 1807, and re-organized in February, 1812. Its affairs have since been conducted by a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, Treasurer, Clerk, and twenty-four Managers, who are chosen annually on the second Wednesday of February. The stated meetings of the Board are on the first Tuesday of every other month, beginning with February. During the year ending May, 1825, this society issued no less than 754,950 Tracts and children's books. They have since resolved to become an Auxiliary to the American Tract Society, and have committed to that Institution such of their stereotype plates and engravings as were deemed useful by the Publishing Committee, reserving only enough to extinguish the debts of their own Society, and provide for the wants of the current year.

The Female Tract Society was instituted as a branch of the foregoing, and is now an Auxiliary of the American Tract Society. The ladies who compose it, are very zealous and active in the cause, and have co-operative branches in almost every Presbyterian congregation in the city. Their contributions to the general society in a few months amounted to $56783 cents.

The Young Men's Auxiliary Tract Society was instituted in 1815, and in a few months contributed $100 to the funds of the parent institution. They also have flourishing Auxiliaries in the South Baptist and Seventh Presbyterian churches.

The New-York Methodist Tract Society was formed in 1812. Its affairs are conducted by a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and twelve Managers, who are elected, annually, in the month of April, and hold stated meetings four times a year. The Protestant Episcopal Tract Society was instituted in 1810; and holds its annual meetings in November.

MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

The New-York Missionary Society is composed principally of members of the Presbyterian denomination, including the Reformed Dutch Church. Its object'is to evangelize the Indian Tribes on the borders of the United States. Its affairs are managed by a Board of twenty-one Directors, a President, four

Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and Clerk; all of whom are elected annually, on the first Tuesday of April. They hold regular meetings on the first Monday of every month.

The Young Men's Missionary Society, was formed in January, 1809, as an auxiliary to the foregoing. In February, 1816, however, it resolved to appropriate its funds to the sole purpose of propogating the gospel among white gentiles nearer home. What success has attended their exertions, in this respect, we have never learned.

The United Foreign Missionary Society, was organized on the 28th of July, 1817, "in consequence of a recommendation of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the General Synods of the Reformed Dutch, and Associate Reformed Churches. Its object is to spread the gospel among the Indians of North America, the inhabitants of Mexico and South America and in other portions of the heathen and antichristian world." Its concerns are managed by a President, six Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding and Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and twelve Managers; all of whom are elected, annually, on the Wednesday preceding the second Thursday of May, and meet on the fourth Monday of every month.

The Female Missionary Society, was instituted in the year 1816, for the purpose of employing a missionary among the ignorant and destitute of this city, and its immediate neighbourhood. The affairs of this society are managed by a First and Second Directress, a Treasurer, Secretary, and ten Managers, who meet on the second Monday of May and November, to transact business. They have also prayer-meetings, on the first Tuesday of June, September, December, and March.

The American Society for Evangelizing the Jews, was instituted on the 30th of December, 1816. Its management is assigned to a President, Vice-President, Secretary, a Treasurer, and seven Managers; all of whom are elected, annually, on the last Monday of December, and meet regularly on the third Thursday of every other month, beginning with January.

The Society for supporting the gospel among the poor in the city of New-York, was instituted in November, 1813, "for the purpose of maintaining a stated preacher to the AlmsHouse, Hospital, Bridewell, Prisons, and other receptacles of the indigent and wretched, who are not otherwise supplied with the stated ministrations of the gospel." The affairs of this society are managed by a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and six Trustees, who are elected annually, on the first Wednesday of December, and hold quarterly meetings on the first Tuesday of February, May, August and November.

Besides the above, there is the Baptist Missionary Society; the Baptist Female Missionary Society; the Evangelical Society of Young Men; all of whom are engaged in the same general object. There is also an Episcopal Society, instituted for the purpose of procuring funds for the Committee of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church of this diocese.

CHAPTER XI.

GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

THE government of this city is vested in a Common Council, consisting of the Mayor, Recorder, fourteen Aldermen, and fourteen Assistant Aldermen ; the city being at present divided into fourteen wards, each of which is represented in Common Council by one Alderman and one Assistant. Every new ward that may hereafter be created, will, of course, add two more members to the corporation. The stated regular meetings of this body for the transaction of business, are held every Monday evening, at the Council Room, in the City Hall, which is fitted up, for that purpose, in an elegant and commodious manThe chair for the Mayor is the same that was used by General Washington when he presided at the first Congress, which was held in this city. It is elevated by a few steps, on the south side of the room and surmounted by a canopy. The Aldermen sit in a circular form, in the body of the room, and at the upper end, immediately below the chair, there is a table for the clerk of the council. Neither the Mayor, Recorder, nor Aldermen, wear any distinguishing dress or insignia of office.

ner.

Besides the power belonging to the Corporation of enacting all municipal laws, and of enforcing their observance under proper penalties, the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, are (by virtue of their office) justices of the peace, having power to hold courts of general sessions, and to decide as to all offences coming under the cognizance of the regular justices of the peace. They are likewise included in the commission of Oyer and Terminer for the trial of capital offences; and hold a court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court, in which civil actions are tried of every description. Of the latter court, the Hon. John T. Irving is now the presiding judge. It belongs to the Mayor and Aldermen, who are supervisors

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of taxes, to regulate all levies of public money, previously authorized by the legislature, for supporting the poor, and other necessary purposes. All taxes in the city and county of New-York are raised by laws, especially enacted for the purpose by the legislature.

On the first Monday of November, annually, the electors of each ward choose, by a general ballot, an Alderman, Assistant Alderman, two Assessors, one Collector, and two Consables. On the first Monday of January following, the new Aldermen are sworn into office, after which they choose a Mayor for the current year. The Sheriff, Coroner, Register, and Clerk of the county, are elected by the people, once in three years, or as often as a vacancy happens The Sheriff can hold no other office, and is ineligible for the next three years after his term of office expires.

Every male citizen of the age of twenty-one years, who has been an inhabitant of the state one year preceding the annual election, and for the last six months, a resident in this city, is entitled to a vote at every annual election-provided he has paid a tax-to the state or county, assessed upon his real or personal property, or is by law exempted from taxation—or if, being armed and equipped according to law, he has within the year, performed military duty in the militia of this state,—or if he be legally exempted from such duty.

POLICE DEPARTMENT.

The duties of the Police are discharged by three Justices, appointed for the purpose by the Common Council, and removeable at pleasure. The Chancellor, Justices of the supreme court, and members of the common council, as conservators of the peace. may attend and assist the police justices. A court is held every day (except Sunday) at which one at least of the Justices, and the Police Clerk must be in constant attendance, at sunrise, every morning, to take cognizance of offences committed during the night, against the good order and peace of the city. Besides the ordinary duties of examining persons brought up for breaches of the peace, and other offences, and binding over the parties to prosecute at the sessions, when this appears necessary, the police magistrates possess powers, in certain cases, similar to those exercised by the Aldermen of the city out of the sessions. These relate to illigi

timate children, apprentices, servants, vagrants, vagabonds, &c. &c. The acceptance of special bail; the administering of oaths in causes before the court of common pleas, and the