"We are going to visit the oldest living thing in the city of New York, -- an ancient peartree, at the corner of Thirteenth Street and Third Avenue. It was

rXIOX PARI,

brought from Holland by Peter Stuyvcsant, the last and most renowned of the governors of New Netherland (New York) while it belonged to the Dutch. Stuyvesant brought the tree from Holland, and planted it in his garden in the year 1647. I believe it was never known to fail in bearing fruit. Many of the pears have been preserved in liquor as curiosities.

THE HUDSON.

and many a twig has left the parent stem for transplantation in far distant soil. The tree seems to have vigour enough to last another century.

Stuyvesant's dwelling, upon his "Bowerie estate," was near the present St. Mark's Church, Tenth Street, and Second Avenue. It was built of small yellow brick, imported from Holland. To this secluded spot he retired when he was compelled to surrender the city and province to the

STUVVESANT PEAK TEEE.

English, in 1664. There he lived with his family for eighteen years, employed in agricultural pursuits. He built a chapel, at his own cost, on the site of St. Mark's, and in a vault within it he was buried. The slab of brown freestone that covered it, and which now occupies a place in the rear wall of St. Mark's, bears the following inscription: -- "lu this vault lies Peteus Stuyvesant, late Captain-General and Commander-in-

THE HUDSON.

chief of Amsterdam, in New Netherlands, now called JSTew York, and the Dutch West India Islands. Died, August, a.d. 1682, aged eighty years." •••'