A most appealing 1761 view of New York City as seen looking west from Brooklyn Heights, capturing the city’s splendid natural setting and commercial vibrancy.

The view depicts perhaps a couple of miles of the city’s East River waterfront, from the very southern tip of Manhattan Island to the fine country houses at the far northern edge of settlement… a visual reminder of just how little of Manhattan was actually settled in the 18^th century. From left to right, some of the more prominent features include Fort George, The Great Dock and its mole, Trinity Church, and the shipyard. The river is crowded with naval and commercial vessels, and at far right in the near ground the facilities of the Long Island ferry are visible.

This view appeared in the London Magazine for August 1761, while the French and Indian War was still raging and curiosity about Britain’s American colonies remained high. The image was accompanied by a one-page article on page 400 (not present here), which begins

“The city of New York, capital of the province of that name, in North America, having made a great figure in the present war in America, and being so considerable for its commerce, &c. we thought the annexed beautiful SOUTH PROSPECT thereof, would be very agreeable to our readers.”

The article describes the city’s geography, Fort George and other public buildings, and the city government. A list of “References” at the end identifies the 22 numbered locations on the view as follows:

1. The Fort [i.e., Fort George]
2. The Chapel, in the Fort
3. The Secretary’s Office
4. The Great Dock with a Bridge over it
5. The Ruins of Whitehall, built by Governor Duncan [i.e., Dongan]
6. Part of Nutten [i.e., Governor’s] Island
7. Part of Long Island
8. The Lower Market
9. The Crane
10. The Great Flesh-Market
11. The Dutch Church
12. The English Church
13. The City Hall
14. The Exchange
15. The French Church
16. Upper Market
17. The Station Ship
18. The Wharf
19. The Wharf for building Ships
20. The Ferry-House, on Long Island Side
21. A Pen for Cattle, designed for the Market
22. Colonel Morris’s Fancy, turning to windward, with a Sloop of common mould

There are three known variants of the view. The other two are variants from the same plate, both readily distinguished by the absence of the word “North” in the title (One of these may be viewed here.) The variant offered here is clearly from a new plate and adds the word “North” to “America” in the title, adds more figures to the sailing vessels in the harbor, and has numerous other minor differences. It is not clear which plate has priority.

This view is based on Thomas Bakewell’s 1746 reissue of A South Prospect of Ye Flourishing City of New York, originally drawn by William Burgis in 1717 and published in or around 1719. Bakewell had purchased the plates after engraver John Harris’ death in 1739, added a few buildings and a new dedication, and published it under his own name. One a handful of examples of either issue are known to exist today.

A scarce, attractive and informative image of 18^th-century New York City.

References
Stokes, American Historical Prints, #1746 B-55. Weitenkampf, The Eno Collection of New York City Views, #18. Snyder, City of Independence, p. 57.