按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to place themselves in positions perhaps that they are not always
exactly qualified to fill。 Of all social usurpations； that of
mere money is the least tolerableas one may have a very full
purse with empty brains and vulgar tastes and habits。 The wisdom
of thus throwing the control of a feature of society； that is of
much more moment than is commonly supposed； into the chapter of
commercial accidents may well he questioned
Some crude attempts have been made to bring the circles of New
York within the control of a code prepared and promulgated
through the public press。 They who have made these abortive
attempts have been little aware of the power with which they have
to contend。 Napoleon himself； who could cause the conscription to
enter every man's dwelling； could not bring the coteries of the
Faubourg under his influence。 In this respect； society will make
its own laws； appeal to its own opinions； and submit only to its
own edicts。 Association is beyond the control of any regular and
peaceful government； resting on influences that seem； in a great
measure； to be founded in naturethe most inflexible of all
rulers。 Tastes； conditions； connections； habits； and even
prejudices； unite to form a dynasty that never has yet been
dethroned。 New York is nearer to a state of nature； probably； as
regards all its customs and associations； than any other
well…established place that could be named。 With six hundred
thousand souls； collected from all parts of Christendomwith no
upper class recognized by； or in any manner connected with； the
institutions； it would seem that the circles might enact their
own laws； and the popular principle be brought to bear socially
on the usages of the townreferring fashion and opinion
altogether to a sort of popular will。 The result is not exactly
what might be expected under the circumstances； the past being
intermingled with the present time； in spite of theories and
various opposing interests； and； in many instances； caprice is
found to be stronger than reason。
｛conscription = the military draft； the Faubourg = the
fashionable neighborhoods of Paris； the popular principle =
democracy｝
We have no desire to exaggerate； or to color beyond their claims；
the importance of the towns of Manhattan。 No one can better
understand the vast chasm which still exists between London and
New York； and how much the latter has to achieve before she can
lay claim to be the counterpart of that metropolis of
Christendom。 It is not so much our intention to dilate on
existing facts； as to offer a general picture； including the
past； the present； and the future； that may aid the mind in
forming something like a just estimate of the real importance and
probable destinies of this emporium of the New World。
It is now just three…and…twenty years since； that； in another
work； we ventured to predict the great fortunes that were in
reserve for this American mart； giving some of the reasons that
then occurred to us that had a tendency to produce such a result。
These predictions drew down upon us sneers； not to say derision；
in certain quarters； where nothing that shadows forth the growing
power of this republic is ever received with favor。 The
intervening period has more than fulfilled our expectations。 In
this short interval； the population of the Manhattan towns has
more than trebled； while their wealth and importance have
probably increased in a greatly magnified proportion。 Should the
next quarter of a century see this ratio in growth continued；
London would be very closely approached in its leading element of
superioritynumbers。 We have little doubt that the present
century will bring about changes that will place the emporium of
the Old World and that of the New nearly on a level。 This opinion
is given with a perfect knowledge of the vast increase of the
English capital itself； and with a due allowance for its
continuance。 We propose； in the body of this work； to furnish the
reasons justifying these anticipations。
｛another work = James Fenimore Cooper； 〃Notions of the Americans：
Picked up by a Travelling Bachelor〃 （Philadelphia： Carey； Lea and
Carey； 1828）a detailed description； in the guise of letters
written by a fictitious Belgian traveler； of the geography；
history； economy； government； and culture of the United States｝
Seventeen years since； the writer returned home from a long
residence in Europe； during which he had dwelt for years in many
of the largest towns of that quarter of the world。 At a convivial
party in one of the most considerable dwellings in Broadway； the
conversation turned on the great improvements that had then been
made in the town； with sundry allusions that were intended to
draw out the opinions of a traveller on a subject that justly
ever has an interest with the Manhattanese。 In that conversation
the writerhis memory impressed with the objects with which he
had been familiar in London and Paris； and Rome； Venice； Naples；
etc。； and feeling how very provincial was the place where he was；
as well as its great need of change to raise it to the level of
European improvementventured to say that； in his opinion；
speaking of Broadway； 〃There was not a building in the whole
street； a few special cases excepted； that would probably be
standing thirty years hence。〃 The writer has reason to know that
this opinion was deemed extravagant； and was regarded as a
consequence of European rather than of American reasoning。 If the
same opinion were uttered to…day； it would meet with more
respect。 Buildings now stand in Broadway that may go down to
another century； for they are on a level with the wants and
tastes of a capital； but none such； with a single exception；
existed at the time of which we are writing。
｛seventeen years since = Cooper had returned to New York in
November 1833； after a seven year sojourn in Europe｝
In these facts are to be found the explanation of the want of
ancient edifices in America。 Two centuries and a half are no very
remote antiquity； but we should regard buildings of that； or even
of a much less age； with greater interest； did the country
possess them。 But nothing was constructed a century since that
was worth preserving on account of its intrinsic merits； and；
before time can throw its interest around them； edifice after
edifice comes down； to make way for a successor better suited to
the wants and tastes of the age。 In this respect New York is even
worse off than the other ancient places of the countryancient
as things can be regarded in Americaits great growth and
commercial spirit demanding sacrifices that Philadelphia and
Boston have as yet escaped。 It is quite within the scope of
probable things； that； in a very few years； there should not be
standing in the old town a single structure of any sort； that was
there previously to the Revolution。 As for the new towns；
Brooklyn； Williamsburgh； etc。； they had no existence worth
alluding to anterior to the commencement of the present century。
If any dwelling is to be found within the limits of either； that
can claim a more remote origin； it is some farmhouse that has
been swallowed up by the modern improvements。
That which is true of the towns； in this respect； is equally true
of the whole country。 A dwelling that has stood half a century is
regarded as a sort of specimen of antiquity； and one that has
seen twice that number of years； of which a few are to be found；
especially among the descendants of the Dutch； is looked upon
with some such reverence as is felt by the modern traveller in
gazing at the tomb of Cecilia Metella； or the amphitheatre of
Verona。
｛tomb of Cecilia Metella = the most famous monument on the Appian
Way outside Rome； commemorating the wife of Crassus （d。 53 BC）；
who as member of the First Triumvirate； joined with Caesar and
Pompey to end the Roman Republic； amphitheatre of Verona = built
by the Emperor Diocl