itary purposes. The largest of
these is Governor's Island, formerly the property of the redoubtable
Wouter Van Twiller, and still called after him. It lies midway between
New York and Brooklyn, at the mouth of the East River. It embraces an
area of seventy-two acres, and is one of the principal military posts in
the harbor. Fort Columbus, in the centre of the island, is the principal
work. Castle William, on the west end, is a semi-circular work, with
three tiers of guns. Two strong batteries defend the passage known as
Buttermilk Channel, between the island and Brooklyn. In the early days
of the Dutch colony, this passage could be forded by cattle; now it is
passable by ships of war. These works are armed with upwards of 200
heavy guns. Ellis Island, 2050 yards southwest from the Battery
Light-House, contains Fort Gibson, mounting about twenty guns. Bedloe's
Island, 2950 yards southwest of the Battery Light-House, contains Fort
Wood, which is armed with eighty guns.

The best point from which to view the Inner Bay is the Battery Park, from
the sea-wall of which an uninterrupted view of the bay and both rivers
may be obtained.

III. THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

By the terms of the charter of 1870, the government of the City of New
York is vested in a Mayor, Common Council, consisting of Aldermen and
Assistant Aldermen, a Corporation Counsel, and Comptroller, all elected
by the people. There are also a Department of Public Works, which has
charge of the streets of the city, and the Croton Aqueduct and
Reservoirs; a Department of Docks, charged with the construction of new
piers, etc., along the harbor front; a Department of Public Parks; a Fire
Department; a Health Department; and a Police Board. The heads of all
these Departments are appointed by the Mayor of the city. Previous to
1870 the city was governed by a series of commissions appointed by the
Governor of the State, and the citizens were deprived of all voice in the
management of their own affairs. It was urged by the friends of the New
Charter, that that instrument restored to the citizens of New York the
right of self-government. Had its provisions been honestly carried out,
New York might have had a good government; but we shall see that they
were perverted by a band of corrupt men into the means of the grossest
oppression of the citizens.

For many years it was the habit of the respectable and educated classes
of New York to abstain from