the city whenever you want to!"

The distance was too great, however, and Mr. Rogers did not buy.

By 1826, however, the tide had carried many persons of wealth out to
this neighbourhood, and there were more and more carriages to be seen
with each succeeding month. All at once, high iron railings were built
about the deserted Potter's Field,--a Potter's Field no longer,--and
on June 27th of that year a proclamation was issued:

"The corporation of the city of New York have been pleased
to set apart a piece of ground for a military parade on
Fourth Street near Macdougal Street, and have directed it to
be called 'Washington Military Parade Ground.' For the
purpose of honouring its first occupation as a military
parade, Colonel Arcularis will order a detachment from his
regiment with field pieces to parade on the ground on the
morning of the Fourth of July next. He shall fire a national
salute and proclaim the name of the parade ground, with such
ceremonies as he shall see fit."

This occasion, an anniversary of American independence, seems to have
been a most gorgeous affair, with the Governor, Mayor and other
officials present, and a monumental feast to wind up with. The menu
included, among other dainties, two oxen roasted whole, two hundred
hams ("with a carver at each"), and so many barrels of beer that the
chronicler seems not to have had the courage to record the precise
number!

1827 seems to have seen a real growth of social life around the