Yon sparkling stars which lend their light

To cheer the traveller's way,

The sun's bright orb will put to flight,
And night be chang'd for day.

Night throws her mantle o'er the skies,
Which look no longer gay;
Yet soon the light again will rise,
And night be chang'd for day.
Then why should I, when doubts arise,
And fears my faith betray,
Delay to trust the Only Wise,

And think 'twill ne'er be day?

Art thou not God, who reigns on high?
Whom sun and moon obey?
Then let me to my anchor fly,
And feel 'twill soon be day.
Oh! may I trust thy sacred word,
And own thy sovereign sway;
In darkness lean upon the Lord,
And feel 'twill soon be day.
Thy light to them thou wilt impart,
Who own they've gone astray;
'Tis in that light that we are safe,
And feel 'twill soon be day.
Then unto thee, great Lord of all,
I will my homage pay;
Grant me, whatever may befal,
To feel 'twill soon be day.
Jesus, to thee my soul I trust,
While in this house of clay;
And when my body turns to dust,
I'll live in endless day.

To mansions which thou hast prepar'd
I'll wing my wonted way;

Since thou hast in thy word declar'd,
"No night, but endless day."

THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

SUGGESTED BY ONE OF THE CARTOONS.
BEHOLD the teacher sent from God-
He seeks the shore at break of day;
His feet had down some mountain trod,
Where he had been to praise and pray :
And anxious crowds are waiting there,
Who all to hear his words prepare.
But weary, faint, and now oppress'd,
Lo! he retired toward the sea,
To find some bark in which to rest,

To gather strength and breathe more free;
On the blue lake he oft would teach,
And there to waiting thousands preach.
He had explain'd and taught the law,

And signs, and miracles, had wrought;
He would from hence awhile withdraw,

Our blessed Saviour thus besought
That Simon would launch forth his boat,
And leave it on the deep afloat.
He gives his blessing on the wave,

Appealing thus to all their hearts;
That he had come from heaven to save,
And, ere he from their coasts departs,
Exhorts them to believe his word,
And turn repenting to their Lord.

Then in a voice more full and sweet,

Than music's clearest, richest tone, We hear him once again entreat

To push from land, and this is done; "But now let down your nets," said he, "And they replenish'd soon shall be." Simon replied, "We through the night "Have toil'd and watch'd without success, "But what Thou sayest must be right,

"As all thy mighty works confess."
The nets were cast, and soon they found
Their labour was with plenty crown'd.
Finding them break beneath the weight,
They soon to their companions call,
But Simon leaves the valued freight

At his Redeemer's feet to fall;
He felt that God was with him there,
His heart was full of love and fear.
Descriptions fall far short to paint
The varied feelings of his mind;
Ready beneath the weight to faint,

No fit expressions he can find;
But cries, Depart, O Lord, from me,
"I dare not now look up to thee."
But once again the Saviour's voice,
Assures and animates his soul;
"Fear not," he said, go forth! rejoice!
Thou, as my servant, shalt controul
"The powers of darkness! fish again-
"And thou shalt catch the souls of men."

66

Were not the Saviour's words confirm'd,
When he his Holy Spirit pour'd;
And Peter full of grace affirm'd

That Jesus is the risen Lord?
Three thousand in that glorious hour,
Were converts by the Spirit's power!
Were not the Saviour's words fulfill'd,

When multitudes heard and believ'd? The truth was in their souls instill'd,

And all were in the church receiv'd; They all were of one heart and mind, In sweet communion ever join'd. Did he not too fulfil his word,

When, fill'd with missionary zeal, Peter went forth-proclaim'd his Lord; To every heart he made appeal, From Palestine to mighty Rome, He made the great salvation known. And there his faith he seal'd with blood, There he was bound, as Jesus said;

He thought upon his dying Lord, He pray'd them not to raise his head, Too great an honour thus to die As Christ was lifted up on high. Nov. 12, 1835.

MRS. HOPKINS.

♦ Ecclesiastical History informs us that this was fulfilled in Peter's crucifixion, about A. D. 68; and that by his own request he was executed with his head downwards, considering himself unworthy to suffer in the same manner as his Lord.-Cave's Lives of the Apostles, and Milner's Church History, vol. i. p. 113.

London: Printed and Published by JAMES S. HODSON, at 22, Poppin's Court, Fleet Street; where all communications for the Editor (post paid) are to be addressed; sold also by Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., and by all other Booksellers, Newsvenders, &c. in the Kingdom.

The trade may be supplied in London, by STEILL, Paternoster Row: BERGER, Holywell Street, Strand; in Manchester, by Ellerby: She field, Innocent.

N. 192.

FEBRUARY 6, 1836

DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION AT NEW YORK.

CALAMITY of every kind finds a generous sympathy in the bosoms of Britons, especially of British Christians. This has been nobly proved by the munificent contributions from our countrymen, for the relief of sufferers in many nations; and were it needed, pecuniary aid would be promptly afforded to the numerous sufferers by the recent tremendous conflagration at New York.

Considerable interest has been felt by all classes

VOL. V.

of the community in Great Britain, in that calamitous event; and some record of its magnitude and details, with a notice of the city, and especially the religious statistics of New York, has been recommended as peculiarly appropriate for the Christian's Penny Magazine.

New York is frequently the scene of dreadful fires. Dr. Reed, in the Journal of the deputation to the American Churches, says, "This city is really worthy of the reputation she has for the frequency of the fires. There were six to my knowledge in ten days. They appear to arise partly from wood being the

G

common fuel, which is less safe than coal; and partly from flues being carried through frame buildings, which is very hazardous. Some, however, as with ourselves, are intentional; persons of bad principle and embarrassed circumstances abuse the benefit of insurance, and seek to save themselves by fire, reckless of whom they destroy."

Previously to giving details of the late calamitous fire, it seems desirable, on every account, to present a description of the city of New York. Dr. Reed remarks, "New York is the counterpart of Liverpool: they have grown remarkably together. At no distant period, they both had some 5,000 inhabitants; they have advanced almost thousand by thousand, and are now nearly equal in population. In point of site, Liverpool has the advantage. It springs boldly from the water, and, by its various elevation, presents more picture to the eye; while for water conveyance, and the mere purposes of business, the advantage is with New York. It stands on a plane only sufficiently inclined to ensure a good drainage, and of course supplies great facilities for the transit of goods. At present, Liverpool does by far the greatest amount of business; but, because New York has more home trade, there is with it a greater show of mercantile activity and life.”

New York is situated at the south-west point of York Island, which is about fifteen miles long, and from one to three miles broad, and at the confluence of the Hudson and East rivers: but it is joined to the main by a bridge called King's Bridge.

Mr. Hinton, in his splendid "Topography of the United States," gives the following description of the principal buildings in New York:

66

--

Broadway, the most splendid street in the city, runs through the centre, and extends three miles in length and about eighty feet in width. It is the great and fashionable resort for citizens and strangers, and is much crowded during pleasant weather. In this avenue are Grace, Trinity, and St. Paul's Churches, the Adelphi Hotel, City Hotel, National Hotel, Franklin House, American Hotel, Washington Hall, Masonic Hall, and a variety of shops, with elegant and extensive assortments of merchandize of every description. Opposite Trinity Church, Wallstreet opens, which contains the Exchange and most of the banks, together with the principal part of the brokers' and insurance offices. At the termination of Wall-street, is the Tontine coffee-house, an extensive and handsome establishment. On passing up Broadway still farther, are Cedar and Courtlandstreets, both of which lead to the Hudson River, where the steam-boats start for Albany. At the foot of Courtland-street is the ferry to Jersey city. A little further up is Fulton-street, at the corner of which stands St. Paul's Church. Fulton-street leads to the East River; along the docks of which are the steam-boats for the New-England ports. A little below are the boats for Newport and Providence; above, for Brideport, Saybrook, Hartford, New London, and Norwich. The Newhaven boats lie at Fly Market Dock, still farther below. Above St. Paul's Church are the Park and the City Hall, situated in the centre of the city, the former containing about eleven acres, which are ornamented with much taste, and enclosed by a substantial iron railing. It furnishes a cool and fashionable resort for men of business and pleasure, after the fatigue and heat of a summer's day. On the right is the Park Theatre, and on the left Park-place, on the west side of which is Colombia College. The next street above Park-place is Murray Street, which leads to Hoboken Ferry.

"Of the public buildings, the most prominent and

important is the City Hall, the front of which is built of white marble. It is 216 feet long, 105 feet broad, and, including the attic story, sixty feet high. The rooms for holding the different courts of law are fitted up in a rich and expensive style. The room for holding the mayor's court contains portraits of Washington, of the different governors of the state, and of many of the most celebrated commanders of the army and navy of the United States. The foundation stone of this building was laid in 1803, and the whole finished in 1812, at an expense of 500,000 dollars. It is one of the most elegant edifices in America, and reflects great credit on the inhabitants for their munificence and taste.-The Merchant's Exchange in Wall-street is also a superb structure of white marble. Its front in Wall-street is 114 feet, and its depth, extending to Garden-street, 150 feet. The main body of the building is two stories high, besides the basement and an attic story. About two-thirds of the basement is occupied for the post-office, including a spacious corridor for the convenience of persons visiting the office, with entrances from Wall and Exchange Streets. The portico of the building, to which a flight of marble steps ascends, is ornamented with Ionic columns twentyseven feet high. In the centre is the Exchange, of an oval form, eighty-five feet long, fifty-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high, surmounted with a dome, from which light is reflected. The whole is imposing, and affords a delightful promenade. From the Exchange are doors and passages leading to a commercial reading-room, and numerous newspaper and other offices within the edifice. From the attic story, a flight of stairs leads to a room in the cupola where telegraphic signals are made, which are returned from the telegraph at the Narrows, seven and a half miles distant. The height of the cupola above the attic story is sixty feet. The cost of this building, including the ground, was 230,000 dollars. It was commenced in 1824, and completed in three years. The United States Branch Bank, in Wallstreet, is an elegant white marble building, sixty feet in front. The ground on which it was erected cost 40,000 dollars.

"Trinity Church, in Broadway, at the head of Wallstreet, from its antique appearance generally attracts the notice of strangers. The first church on this spot was erected in 1696. Originally small, it was enlarged in 1737; but during the fire which destroyed the western part of the city in 1776, while the British troops were in possession, it was destroyed, and was not rebuilt till 1788. The present building is of stone, in the gothic style, much like the old one, except its diminished size, and has a steeple 198 feet high. It contains a chime of bells, the only set in the city, and an excellent organ. St. Paul's Chapel is a superb structure further up the Broadway, near the Park. It contains a portico of the Ionic order, consisting of four fluted pillars of brown stone, supporting a pediment, with a niche in the centre containing a statue of St. Paul. Under the portico is a handsome monument erected by order of congress to the memory of General Montgomery, who fell at the storming of Quebec in 1775, and whose remains were brought to New York, and interred beneath the monument, in 1820. The spire of this church is 234 feet high; and the whole building is esteemed one of the best specimens of architecture in the city. In the church-yard adjoining is an elegant monument, recently erected to the memory of Thomas Addis Emmet, an eminent counsellor at law, and brother of the unfortunate Irish orator, Robert Emmet. The plinth of the monument is one entire block, seven feet square and

twelve inches thick. The Egyptian obelisk standing on this base is also in a single piece, and is about thirty-two feet high. The face towards Broadway is embellished with the American eagle sheltering a harp unstrung, with a medallion likeness of Emmet, and with two clasped hands, having stars around one wrist, and shamrocks around the other. On the north side is a Latin, and on the south an Irish inscription. There are nearly 100 other churches in the city, many of which were erected at a very considerable expense, and are ornaments to the sections of the city in which they stand.

"Columbia College, above the City Hall, was chartered in 1750, under the name of King's College. The edifice and grounds attached are extensive, and are advantageously and handsomely situated. The college contains a chapel, lecture-rooms, hall, library, museum, and an extensive philosophical and astronomical apparatus.

"The New York Society library, in Nassau-street, was commenced in 1740, and at the commencement of the revolution contained 3,000 volumes, which were destroyed or taken away by the British troops. It was re-established in 1789, and now consists of about 20,000 volumes, many of which are rare and valuable. The Athenæum, Broadway, corner of Pine-street, contains a reading-room, which is open daily, except Sundays. The New York Institution is in the rear of the City Hall. Its apartments are occupied by the Literary and Philosophical Society, the Historical Society, the American Academy of Fine Arts, the Lyceum of Natural History, the American Museum, and the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. The Historical Society has a library of 10,000 volumes, embracing many valuable works. Near the institution are the Savings' Bank and Panorama Rotunda; and a little further up Broadway, the New York Hospital. The annual expenditure in this institution is about 40,000 dollars, and the annual number of patients from 140 to 180."

GROWTH OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
Population in 1696

4,302

NOTICES OF THE CONFLAGRATION AT NEW YORK.

However desirable, on many accounts, it might be to extend the details of this fearful visitation of Divine Providence, a few extracts only from the American papers can be given in the Christian's Penny Magazine.

From the New York Gazette. "What an awful calamity has come upon us! The great business part of our city, our Exchange, Post Office, &c., are in ruins-200 stores full of goods, containing millions of property, consumed! We are still left, as it were, among the vast ruins, after moving our books, papers, &c., not expecting to be able to announce the calamity to-day. As to particulars at such a time, and in such a situation, no one will expect them. The calamity is indeed great-our feelings are prostrate in humility."

From the New York Sun.-" At nine o'clock on the night of Wednesday, the 16th of December,

1835,-a date, which will long be memorable in the history, not only of New York, but of the nation of which she forms the first commercial emporiumsmoke and flames were seen to issue from a fivestory building in Merchant-street, formerly Hanoverstreet, in the vicinity of the Merchants' Exchange, and in a part of the city the most crowded with wholesale warehouses and stores, filled with the most costly productions of foreign and domestic manufacture. The building was ascertained to be the dry-goods store of Messrs. Comstock and Andrews, No. 25 in that street.

"The fire was furiously extending through Exchange-street and Exchange-place to William-street, and to all the buildings in the rear of the Merchants' Exchange. This magnificent and beautiful edifice, the pride of our city and country, for the purity and grandeur of its architecture, it was hoped would rear its dome in the sky, though all around it should become a scene of desolation, for, there being no flames between it and the course of the wind, it seemed fortunately secure from any imminent danger; and so much confidence was reposed in this, that it was selected as the grand depot of the dry goods and all other kinds of merchandise which could be rescued from the adjacent streets, and with which its great hall was completely piled. Every precaution too was taken to preserve it, by conveying hose to its roof, and by spreading wet blankets along those parts of its windows and cornices the most exposed to heat. But all proved vain! at about one o'clock in the morning it took fire, and although the flames preyed on it but slowly for some time, they at length burst forth from its roof and dome, and

Weav'd a pall of ruin o'er its walls.' For full half an hour the flames arose in pyramidal columns from its dome, up to an immense height in the troubled sky, and rendered it a most sublime though fearful object. But before the unhappy persons who had made it the refuge for their property from the terrible enemy that was abroad, could again rescue scarcely an article, its dome fell in, burying beneath it the beautiful statue of Hamilton, so recently erected to adorn it. This statue had been for some time a most interesting object from the opposite side of Wall Street, where it was seen erect in placid dignity, as if the protecting genius of its own temple irradiated, but not scathed by the light flickering around it. But it was doomed to descend from its proud pedestal, and to hide its head among smok. ing bombazines, broad cloths, and blankets.

"The following is a grim compendium-the hideous skeleton, as it were, of the mammoth destroyer, as he now lies upon the ground. South-street is a pile of ruins, from Wall-street to Coentie's-slip; Frontstreet lies in ruins throughout the same distance; Water-street lies in the same state, for the same extent; Pearl-street is levelled with the earth from Wall-street to Coentie's-alley, where the flames were stopped by the blowing up of a building with gunpowder. Stone-street is burnt down from Williamstreet to No. 32, on one side, and to No. 39 on the other. Beaver-street is burnt down half-way to Broad-street. Exchange-place is down from Hanover-street to within three doors of Broad-street. William-street is a line of utter ruins from Wall-street to Old-slip and South-street. Wall-street is burnt down on the south side from William-street to Southstreet with the exception of six houses, Nos. 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, and 61. All the streets, lanes, and alleys, within the above limits, are a dreary wilderness of ruins. Several hundred houses are burnt, besides those in Wall-street, which have not been counted. Of the Merchants' Exchange nothing remains stand

ing but a portion of its walls and pillars, and even those are split and exploded by intense heat. In this edifice were the Post-office, the contents of which were rescued by timely precaution; the publishing offices of the Daily Advertiser and fournal of Commerce; the Merchants'-reading-room, and many other offices, which will be hereafter specified. It was at the Reformed Dutch Church, in Exchangeplace, that the fire was arrested in that direction. This church, known as Dr. Matthew's church, had been made a depository for goods in the early part of the fire, and many thousands of dollars' worth were entirely consumed with the building, leaving nothing but the bare walls. This church for a long while resisted the mass of flames in their course towards Broad-street. The bright ball and star above it on the highest point of the spire gleamed brilliantly, and still, while they were both shining on the bright blue concave, with an intensity of splendour which attracted general remark, gave one surge and fell in all their glory into the heap of chaos beneath them.

"The following is said to be a correct estimate of the number of buildings destroyed:-Water-street, 25; Pearl-street, 72; South-street, 37; Water-street, 76; Front-street, 80; Hanover-street, 16; Exchangeplace, 62; Exchange-street, 31; William-street, 44; Old-slip, 33; Coentie's-slip, 16; Stone-street, 60; Hanover-square, 3; Beaver-street, 23; Governeur'slane, 20; Jones-lane, 10; Guyler's-alley, 20; Millstreet, 38;-Total, 674.

"To enumerate the particular iudividual losses, however, is impossible. As an example, one merchant had in silks alone 300,000 dollars, which were destroyed; another 200,000 in teas and brandies.

"I. and A. Brown, importers of Irish linen, in Merchant-street, lost 40,000 dollars.

"William Redmond, importer of linens and British dry goods, in Merchant-street, lost 100,000 dollars. Hyslop and Son lost 40,000 dollars.

"Mr. Stephen Whitney had just built twenty-four stores, at an expense of 10,000 dollars each-all were levelled with the ground, and no insurance.

"After raging sixteen hours the course of the fire was stayed, but not until a further supply of powder had been obtained from the mills at Red Hook to explode other houses. The chief cause of this great devastation was the intense cold, which not only benumbed the firemen, who were already greatly exhausted by previous efforts, but which speedily congealed the water as it lay in the hose.

"The most remarkable circumstance attending this tremendous fire is, that very few persons are supposed to have fallen its victims. Only a few are known to have perished, although it seems almost inevitable that many must have been overwhelmed by the roof or walls of such a multitude of houses.

"Such being the calamity which Divine Providence hath permitted to befall us, the question is presented, what are we to do to mitigate or repair the evil? It is our first duty to seek out

"The first objects of benevolence-The porters, the warehousemen, the carmen, the clerks, are the first objects, for they are and will be the first and most imminent sufferers; 3,000 of such persons, at the lowest computation, are now thrown out of employment, and it may be fully presumed that these have at least 2,000 dependants upon them."

of

Commercial prosperity, and the vast influx of strangers from Europe, instead of secularizing the people and destroying religious principle, appear rather to have roused, or rather, the vital power American religion, stimulated the piety of Christians in that great country; for during thirteen years, in the state of New York alone, the congregations more than doubled: in 1819, they were only 716; but in 1832, they had increased to 1470!

Readers of the Christian's Penny Magazine, may judge of the energy of religious principle in New York from the following paragraphs from a letter to the writer of this article, dated New York, April 12, 1832. It was in reply to inquiries relating to the statistics of that city including its suburbs, &c. The intelligent English friend, who had resided several years in New York, states

"You wish to know the population of New York city, &c. The last census, 1830, made it 220,000:--the whole number of churches is 120, viz. Presbyterians, 24; Episcopalians, 23; Methodist, 17; Baptist, 14; Dutch Reformed, 14; Roman Catholic, 5; Friends, 4; Jews, 3; Lutheran, 2; Independent, 2; Universalist, 2; Unitarian, 2; Moravian, 1; Mariners, 1; Miscellaneous, 3; there are also several others of different denominations now building and contemplated. The numbers of clergymen of different denominations are as follow (in the whole state) :Presbyterians and Congregationalists 460 Episcopalians

Baptists Reformed Dutch

Methodists

Lutherans

Other denominations

143

"The foregoing is from a statement published within a few days. It is stated also from another publication, that there are twenty Catholic priests in the state of New York; and that the number of persons over whom they exercise spiritual care, averages from 130,000 to 150,000, mostly Irish emigrants."

Ir is a piece of that corruption that runneth through human nature, that we naturally prize truth more than goodness, knowledge more than holiness.Ralph Cudworth.