The bay is making rapid progress toward the condition of a salt meadow. In 1840, the swollen Croton River broke away the dam connected with the aqueduct by which New York city is supplied with water, and swept down into the bay, an enormous quantity of earth, on which occasion the river, directly opposite the mansion, rose suddenly to the height of eight feet above the ordinary tide level, while up the river about half a mile to the eastward, it exceeded fifty feet. Where the Shad and Herring fishery was once carried on successfully, is now an oozy marsh; where vessels before rode at anchor, green grass may now be seen at low tide. It is said that the bay was once famous, too, throughout the country as the favorite resort of vast flocks of canvass back ducks. Into the mouth of that bay, -- according to the leagues, latitude and topograhy given in the log-book

a Testimony of David Merrltt of Cortlandtown. McDonald MSS. In possession of George H. Moore, Esq., of New York llist. Society.

THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT.

of the navigator, -- Henry Hudson sailed and anchored the "Half-Moon" at sunset on Sunday, the 1st of October, 1609, O. S., or about seventyfive years before the manor-house was built.

As we have previously shown, when Stephanus Van Cortlandt became full proprietor of the grand domain, it was erected into the Lordship and Manor of Cortlandt, by royal charter, bearing the date of June 17, 1697. That charter, written on parchment, and preserved at the manor-house, with the circular tin box containing the crumpled royal seal, has upon it a well engraved portrait of the royal grantor, King William III, of England, &c.