BROADWAY LOOKING NORTH PAST TRINITY CHURCH Watercolor and pen drawing by William Strickland, c. 1812 The New-York Historical Society not so uniformly elegant as those of Philadelphia, afford a more pleasing diversity. Broadway, the principal street, is without exception the most beautiful one in America and the new State house" which is built of cut marble, found near the boundary between this State & Vermont, is the most elegant and expensive structure in the Union or probably extant. It is said to have cost 800,000 dollars. Broadway & the old Battery are the most fashionable walks. From the latter there is a fine view of the Hook & the vessels in the Roads. The State Prison is well worth seeing. It is at Greenwich about 3 miles up the Hudson River. The mildness of the American laws condemn those only to death who are guilty of murder. The punishment for robbery, forgery &c is confinement in this prison either for life or a limited time, according to the aggravation of the offense committed. The humanity of this institution is worthy of being irnitated could it be strictly observed, but very frequently the culprits make their escape and often they are released by the intercession of a man in power, and the nation are again subject to their impositions. In the State Prison at Greenwich there are_upwards of 500 prisoners, ' Dunlop here refers to New York's new City Hall, construction of which had begun in 1803. The City Council held its first meeting in the new building in August 1811. 269