for good morals, notwithstanding the discrepancy of their religious views:

"Whereas thier is a prohibition expresse by an order from y Govern', of all such exercises upon ye first day of y week, as gunning, ball-playing horse-races, nine-pins, excessive drinking and royetting, with others ye like, which greatly tende to ye dishonour of God, ye hindrance of many from and in religious duties, to the reproach of y Governmt and shame of the place, for ye prevention whereoff, y officers of this towne, according to their duty, have given due notice, that what person soever shall in the like transgresse, shall pay 10s. and answer it before y° Governor. This act proclaimed ye 13 of 8th month 1675."

A law was also passed in town-meeting, "that whoever should transgress, in word or deed, in defaming, scandalizing, slandering or falsely accusing any one, should receive such condign punishment as should be thought meet by the magistrates, either by fine, imprisonment, stocking, or standing at a public post."

Shortly after the surrender of the province to the English government and the establishment of the ridings, this town was made the seat of justice-a Court-house was erected in 1665, and the courts were regularly held here until 1686, when they were removed to Flatbush.

The boundary line between this town and New Utrecht has been a matter of dispute and protracted litigation for many years, and still remains unadjusted.

CHURCHES, &c.

Of the early religious history of this town, very little authentic information has been obtained and the subject is involved in doubt and uncertainty.

It is known that soon after the quakers came upon the island, about the year 1657, this was one of the towns in which their system met with peculiar favour. Many of the inhabitants readily embraced their doctrines and discipline, and one of the first regular meetings on the island was organized, and maintained here for many years. Records of this fact, it is said, still remain: though there is no evidence that they ever erected a house of worship. It will be recollected, that George Fox, when upon his eastern tour, both going and returning, visited this place, and held meetings, which were numerously attended.

And here, though a matter of small importance, it may be worth while to correct a mistake fallen into by Sewel, the historian of that denomination. Speaking of this journey of Fox, he says, "He went also to the town, formerly called New Amsterdam, which name is now changed unto that of New-York. Here he lodged at the Governor's house, and had also a meeting there." Now, it is manifest from Fox's Journal, though no reason is assigned for the fact, that he never entered New-York; nor even mentions that city, except in connection with the meeting at Gravesend, which, he says, would have been attended by people from New-York, if the state of the weather had not prevented. Besides this, the fact is still handed down, and often spoken of by the Friends of the present day, that Fox purposely avoided the city of New-York. There is no way to account for this obvious mistake, but by supposing, that Sewel has inadvertently transferred the attentions which Fox received in Rhode Island to New-York. Possibly he supposed, that that city was in New England. Greater geographical blunders in regard to America are still made by English writers, even at the present day.

There is equal difficulty in tracing the origin of the Reformed Dutch Church in this town, or ascertaining at what period the first house of worship was erected. It has been supposed, that the first erection was made soon after that at Flatbush; but the writer has been unable to find any evidence of the fact. And there are several circumstances which render such a conclusion highly improbable.

The first settlers of this town being almost exclusively English, the church that was first organized, seems to have had no connexion with the churches of the Dutch towns, till after the revolutionary war; probably because the most of the inhabitants could not understand their language. If then, they had a church organization at an early period among them, they must have derived their supplies from some other source. It is also a singular fact that the town records, which cover a period of 200 years, and are nearly entire, afford not the least intimation of a church being erected at an early date. And it is remarkable, that the plan of the settlement, previously mentioned, has no designated site for a house of worship. It also appears, that from 1684 to the end of that century, marriages were usually performed by the civil magistrate, of which there are numerous records on the town books; and occasionally, by ministers, who are expressly mentioned as belonging to other towns. For example:

"Oct. 20th day 1693, Abraham Emans & Rebecca Stillwell pronounced man and wife, by ye Domine Rudolphus Verryck att flattbusch."

"Nov. 4th day 1693, Andrew Emans and Rebecca Van Cleefe pronounced man and wife, by y Domine Rudolphus Verryck, flattbusch."

From these and other circumstances it seems very questionable, whether there was any ecclesiastical organization or house of worship in this town, until the latter part of the 17th century.

The precise date of the second erection is also veiled in obscurity. Nicholas Stillwell, Esq., who has been for many years Town Clerk, informed the writer that his kinsman, Rutgert Stillwell, who died Oct. 9th, 1823, at the age of 76, had often informed him "that when he was a school-boy, and attended school in the vicinity, the second church was in building that it was smaller than the former, as he noticed the new sills lying within the old ones: and that these remarks were the result of frequent observation, as he was in the habit of going within the enclosure to eat his dinner." This would bring the date of the second building not far from 1760. The present edifice was erected in 1833, on nearly the same site with the former.

MINISTERS.

In 1785, the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker was ministering to the church of Gravesend, in connexion with that of Harlaem. From this it is to be inferred, that a church had been previously organized in the town, and also that it was not connected with the collegiate Dutch churches in the other towns. Upon Mr. Schoonmaker's accepting the call to the collegiate charge, the church of Gravesend was admitted into the compact, and participated in the labours of the several pastors, from that time till the dissolution of that connexion. Mr. Schoonmaker died, as previously stated, in 1824.

For several years after this time, the church remained destitute of a pastor and was supplied more or less by appointments from the Classis.

The Rev. Isaac P. Labagh was settled Nov. 7th, 1832, and was dismissed Nov. 7th, 1842. Since that time he has embraced some peculiar sentiments on the second advent and the christian sabbath; for which, being summoned before the Classis, and refusing to submit to their authority, he was suspended from the ministry.

The Rev. Abraham I. Labagh succeeded to the pastoral charge of this church Jan. 22d, 1843, and remains in that relation.

In the south-east part of the town, at a place called the Cove, a Methodist Protestant Church was erected in 1844, and incorporated July 24th, the same year.

Another Methodist church was erected, about the same time, in the south-west corner of the town, near the Fishing Beach, which was incorporated Aug. 14th, 1844, under the style of the "Fishermen's Meth. Epis. Church."

Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 3, nearly.

This town is bounded on the north by Brooklyn and Flatbush-and on the east, by Gravesend-on the south, by the Bay, and on the west, by the Narrows.

Fort Hamilton, a United States fortification, is situated on the western extremity of the town. Fort La Fayette (otherwise called Fort Diamond, from its form) is built in the water, a short distance from the Long Island shore. These together with Fort Tompkins, Hudson and Richmond on Staten Island, form a strong defence of the Narrows, which are here about a mile and a half wide.

The settlement of this town was commenced by about 20 Dutch families in 1654. In 1660, on application to the Governor, certain officers were appointed to maintain some sort of government in the infant community.

In 1662, the Governor gave a patent to the town, authorizing the inhabitants to elect magistrates, subject to his ap proval, with power to hold courts having civil jurisdiction in all causes not exceeding the amount of £5; and in criminal cases of the degree of petit larceny. A new patent was given in 1668 by Gov. Nicolls under the English government, which was renewed by Gov. Dongan in 1686.

The repeated requirement of the colonies, to renew their patents, was not one of the least impositions practised by the English Governors: and the exorbitant fees which they extorted from the people on these occasions, was undoubtedly the principal reason for the requisition. Some of the towns strenuously resisted the order, but the threat of a forfeiture of their lands, generally forced compliance.

The village of New Utrecht is situated in the eastern part of the town, about 2 miles east of Fort Hamilton, and 2 miles south-west of Flatbush.

Bath is the name of a watering establishment less than a mile south of the village, beautifully situated on the shore of the Bay.

This town, as well as others, particularly in this county, is rendered memorable by many revolutionary incidents, a particular detail of which does not come within the design of this work. It may, however, be remarked in passing, that it was in this town that the British army, under Gen. Howe, effected their landing, Aug. 22nd, 1776, the week before the disastrous battle of Long Island. And in this village the old stone-house is still standing, in which Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull expired in consequence of his wounds, Sept. 20th, 1776. This remarkable mansion, covered with tiles imported from Holland, has stood nearly a century and a half, and is one of the oldest on the island.

CHURCHES.

For a long time after the settlement of this town, the inha. bitants had no separate ecclesiastical organization, but attended worship at Flatbush. The formation of a distinct church appears to have taken place about the year 1677, as the first election of Elders and Deacons was made in October of that year. A separate house of worship was not erected till about the year 1700. This building was of stone in the usual octagonal form. It was occupied by the British during the war, as a hospital or prison. In 1783, it underwent considerable repairs, and was again devoted to its original purpose during more than 40 years.

In 1823, it was taken down, and the present edifice erected of the same materials, which was dedicated, Aug. 26th, 1829. In 1835, an Episcopal Church, under the style of St. John's, was erected in the vicinity of Fort Hamilton.

In 1844, a Methodist Church was erected at Yellow Hook, near the north-west corner of the town.

MINISTERS.

The early ministers were, of course, the pastors of the collegiate churches of the county, this being one of them. The installation of Mr. Freeman in 1705 took place, by order of the Governor, in the Church of this town, whether, on