in 1711, which renders it probable that the house of worship had been erected not long before. It was in the usual form, an octagon, with a pyramidal roof, surmounted with a cupola. It was a mere inclosure, without pews or gallery, till near the close of the century, the congregation furnishing themselves with benches or chairs. In 1790, the building received a new roof; and in 1795, a front gallery was erected, and the ground floor furnished with pews.

In 1829, the old building was taken down, and the present neat edifice erected, which was dedicated in the fall of that year.

MINISTERS.

From the first organization of a church in this town, it constituted a part of the collegiate charge of the County, and was served by the pastors of the five Dutch towns. Of course, from the preceding dates, Messrs. Freeman and Antonides were the first pastors of this church, and they preached here alternately every third sabbath. There is a receipt from the former, for salary, in 1709. The name of the succeeding pastors, with the dates of their settlement and dismission or decease, will be found in the annals of Flatbush.

In 1868, the Rev. Mr. Lowe having withdrawn from the oversight of this church, to the exclusive charge of Flatbush and Flatlands, the Rev. Mr. Schoonmaker continued to preach here occasionally till his death, in the spring of 1824.

In 1811, the Rev. John Basset, D.D., was installed pastor of this church. On the 1st of June, 1824, he was suspended from the ministry, for intemperance, and died in the succeeding autumn.

The Rev. Stephen H. Meeker was ordained pastor of this church, Feb. 27th, 1826. He was dismissed, April 27th, 1830, and was called to the Dutch church in Jersey city. After an absence of about 6 months, he was recalled and reinstalled, in the fall of the same year. He still continues in the charge, and the congregation has enjoyed uninterrupted harmony and a gradual accession to its numbers.

The spring of 1843 was distinguished as a season of special refreshing, which resulted in the addition of 35 to the communion of the church. The whole number of members at the present time is 170.

This church holds its connexion with one of the Classes of the City of New-York.

Ratio of population to the acre, 10 to 1.

881 978

The territory occupied by this small town having been taken off from Bushwick, its exact content as above stated, is the result of a rough estimate which is not claimed to be perfectly correct. It is, however a very small township containing less than 2 square miles; being bounded on the north and east by Bushwick-south by Brooklyn, and west by the East river, which separates it from the city of New York.

This it will be perceived, is the most populous town, in proportion to its territory, on the island; and the increase of its inhabitants during the last few years, is almost without a parallel. By the U. S. Census of 1840 its population was 5,094; and by the late State Census it is 11,338, having more than doubled in 5 years.

The early history of the place is of course, identified with that of Bushwick, from which it was separated, and made a distinct town in 1840. From its proximity to the city, it might be supposed to have been the seat of the principal settlement in the first occupation of this region. But it was far otherwise. The first town plat was evidently not far from the present site of the village in Bushwick; and until 17 years ago, the whole territory now embraced within the limits of this town was occupied in separate farms, the whole number of which was 23; of which 10 butted on the river. Besides the farm houses belonging to these several tracts, there were scarcely any tenements, excepting a few small buildings on the roads connected with North Second-street Ferry.

The site of this village rises gradually to the height of about 45 feet above the level of the adjacent waters. And though it afterwards suffers a depression about a mile from the river, the surrounding lands will furnish sufficient material to raise the whole to a desirable elevation. The east part of the town, or the "Upper Village" as it is called, a little more than a mile from the ferries, is a peculiarly pleasant and desirable residence. On the whole, nature seems to have formed this entire territory as the site of a beautiful town.

In 1827 an Act was passed by the legislature, conferring the usual village powers. A surveyor was employed by

public authority, and the village was laid out in its present form. Although there is a great deal of regularity in the plat, it will be a matter of lasting regret, that the streets were not laid out in exact parallels and perpendiculars; and it is difficult to imagine, on what principle, so many veering and con. verging streets could have been laid down, on a tract of land, that presented no obstacles to a perfectly regular plan. If it were designed to accommodate the existing line of farms, or the few buildings that were previously erected, it must have been a short sighted policy that sacrificed the convenience and beauty of a future city, to the real or imaginary interests of a few individuals. These remarks are made without any knowledge of the views that governed the survey; and are suggested entirely by the fact, that in the whole circuit of the city of New York, there is not a spot of ground of equal extent, where a village could have been laid out with such perfect regularity, in both the direction and the grade of the streets, as within the entire limits of Williamsburgh.

From this time the village began to rise, and continued to increase till 1837, when from the universal" pressure of the times," it was brought to a dead stand. The pressure here received additional weight, from the extensive prevalence of "the spirit of speculation" and the rage for "public improvement," which had characterized the operations of former years. And so heavy was the blow, that for several years, there was scarcely one step in advance. But wiser counsels

and more prudent measures have, in a good degree, restored public confidence. The influx of a healthful and enterpris ing population, is adding strength and vigour to the community; and it is now advancing with unprecedented prosperity.

As the growth and prosperity of this village are chiefly dependent on its connection and means of intercourse with the city of New York, its Ferries are worthy of a brief notice.

The first ferry was established not far from the commencement of the present century, at the foot of what is now North Second-street.

The Grand-street ferry was commenced in 1812. After a few years it was united with the former.

The Peck-slip ferry was established in 1836.

The Houston-street ferry in 1840.

The last three are in constant operation, and their patron

age, as a matter of course, is increasing with the increase of population.

The natural location of Williamsburgh, and the great extent of the city embraced by its ferries, most unequivocally mark it, as the appropriate and natural terminus of the L. I. Rail road, and the other great thoroughfares of the island. The distance from Jamaica, is 2 or 3 miles shorter than to Brooklyn, and its ferries afford the traveller or the marketman, the choice of being conveyed directly to the seat of business or to the upper part of the city.

It is worthy of remark, that, by an act of the legislature in 1840, Williamsburgh was erected into a separate township, while the village organization remains under its charter, which was amended in many important particulars in 1744; and thus it has the needless and expensive arrangement of two municipal corporations, with separate elections, and a distinct set of officers to administer government within exactly the same territorial limits. It is difficult to imagine what benefit is secured by such an arrangement, or why the people should be willing to prolong a needless expense, that might be entirely obviated by a slight amendment of the village charter.

Notwithstanding all the embarrassments which this village has been labouring under, from the mistakes and errors of for mer years, its present prospects are peculiarly cheering; and nothing but a mistaken policy on the part of the village rulers and the land proprietors can impede its progress. Within the last 2 years, more than 400 dwelling-houses have been erected-many of them superb buildings; and there is now scarcely an unoccupied tenement to be found.

A large portion of the present population consists of those, whose business transactions are carried on in the city of New York, and who have fixed their residence here, for the sake of enjoying a freer air and other corresponding advantages. It is difficult, if not impossible, for persons occupying such a relation to a community, to feel all that interest and exert all that influence in its concerns which is desirable. Still, however, the constant increase of citizens from this source is evidently exerting a favourable effect on the welfare of the place; and the more they feel, that the interests of their families are identified with the interests of the community in which they have cast their lot, and that their personal exertions are indispensable to its prosperity, the greater benefits may be expected to result.

One of the most promising indications of the future pros

perity of this village is the provision which has been made for popular education. The village is divided into three school districts, in each of which a spacious edifice for instruction was reared in 1843. The schools were opened near the close of that year, and are supported by a tax on the entire popu lation. In the same manner, books, stationery, and everything necessary for the use of the pupils are provided, so that all the children of the place (of which there are 2,691 between the ages of 5 and 15) have access to the means of education, without charge. It remains to be proved whether this very extensive liberality will be duly appreciated by the community, and result in extending the benefits of education to the greatest number. It is well known that that which costs nothing is very apt to be regarded as worth little or nothing. Besides this, education is of very little advantage to that child who does not feel the importance of having books of his own, which are to be preserved with care for future use; and those parents, who are not willing to furnish their children with books, are not very likely to avail themselves of any advantages for educating them. In such a place as this, free instruction is indeed desirable; but the furnishing of books, &c., to be used or abused at the option of the scholar, is at least very questionable and that this liberal provision is not yet appreciated, may be inferred from the fact that a large number of the children, of the legitimate age, are not in the habit of attending the schools.

Besides the public institutions, there are numerous private schools, more or less select, for both sexes, and of various grades; while many, who can afford it, daily send their children across the ferries to the schools of the city-the last place, it would seem, in which a cautious parent would be willing to expose his children. It is a disgrace to the vil lage, that it can boast of no literary institution of a higher grade within its limits, for the improvement of either sex; and yet it is obvious that few villages possess greater advantages for rearing and maintaining a seminary, of a high order, for the liberal education of their sons and daughters. Nothing is wanting, but united views and combined exertions, to secure the important object.

In connexion with the literary advantages of the place, it is worthy of notice, that a LYCEUM was organized here in 1843, which has maintained a respectable course of useful exercises of a literary and scientific character, during the last two winters. Having recently obtained an act of incorporation,