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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five,

BY DAVID T. VALENTINE,

in behalf of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York, in the Clerk's office of the Southern District of New York.

Ree Nov 12.1857

PREFACE.

THIS Collection of the Laws of the State of New York, relating particularly to the city of New York, has been prepared at the request of the Common Council of said city, and is published under their direction.

It embraces,

1. The Titles of all Acts passed by the Colonial and State Legislatures, down to and including the Session of 1854, relating to the city of New York, not published in this volume; and a list of all incorporated Banks located in this city, or organized therein under the General Banking Law. A reference to the Index of these Acts, will enable any person to find any Law of the State relating to this city, or to the rights of persons and property located therein, not contained in this volume. They exhibit, with the Laws herein published, a connected view of State Legislation affecting the city, from the earliest period.

2. The Charters of the city of New York, and the several amendments thereto, with the Notes and Illustrations by Chancellor Kent. An Index, to aid a reference to and examination of these, will also be found.

3. Such portions of the Revised Statutes of this State, as relate particularly to the city of New York. Several Laws of the Colonial and State Legislature have been inserted-passed previous to the Revision of 1813. It is believed that they will aid materially to a correct understanding of the Act of April 9, 1813; and, in the construction of that Act, are frequently and necessarily referred to.

The Session Laws passed since the Act of April 9, 1813, includ ing those passed at the last Session of the Legislature, relating to this city, are published in chronological order; and, it is believed

that no Act of importance has been omitted. A copious Index to all these laws is appended at the conclusion of this volume, and which will insure the finding of any act or provision with facility. Notes to several decisions of importance, affecting the rights, property, privileges and duties of the Corporation and its officers, have been added. These have been greatly abridged from the intention originally entertained, by reason of the unexpected space occupied by the Laws. They are intended, however, but to indicate the principles adjudicated, and to point out the sources from whence more full information can be obtained.

The whole work is submitted to the candid criticism of the city authorities, at whose request it has been prepared, in the hope that it may be found useful to them in the discharge of their important and most responsible duties, and that it may contribute, somewhat, to aid them in advancing the prosperity and good government of our noble city.

New York, April, 1855.

HENRY E. DAVIES.

TITLES OF ACTS

RELATING TO

THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

[THE following LIST OF ACTS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK has been made with no little time and labor, to facilitate the investigations of gentlemen who have occasion to refer to them. These public acts are obsolete or repealed; but they, nevertheless, have an important bearing upon the jurisprudence of our city we refer to the law as it was to obtain a knowledge of what it is. These acts have also an important connection with titles and rights to property, which have been acquired and are now held under them. They also exhibit a CONNECTED VIEW of city legislation, from the earliest period. The private acts also are important, as many titles in the city depend upon them; and reference, therefore, to those acts is frequently made. There is a provision in our statute book (2d vol. Rev. Stat. p. 779, § 4, App.) which declares, that "No statute, passed by the govern-. ment of the late colony of New York, shall be considered as a law of this state." Nevertheless, for the reasons before given, many of the acts of the provincial assembly have been introduced-those only which appeared to be of sufficient importance to merit an insertion, or where still supposed to influence, more or less, some title or right still existing.

The titles of acts relating to the city, passed since the organization of our government, it will be perceived, are introduced; and, in many cases, with remarks, which, it is hoped, will further facilitate the examinations of gentlemen in relation to them. These acts are scattered through a great number of books, many of them scarcely accessible to many members of the bar. They have been collected here in a body, and indexed. By a reference to the index, the subject matter of the title of the act will

be seen.

The index refers to the page in this list, where the whole title, with a reference to the book containing the act itself, may without difficulty be found.]

The preceding was the preface to the volume of Laws relating to the city of New York, published by the Common Council in 1833. The title of acts in that volume, ended with the session of the Legislature of 1832. In the present publication, the list is continued down to and including the session of 1854, and embraces the title of all acts passed by the Legislature since 1832, in any way relating to the city of New York, which are not published in this volume.

An Act for settling, quieting, and confirming unto the Cities, Towns, Manors, and Freeholders, within this Province, their several grants, patents, and rights, respectively; passed April, 1691Smith & Livingston, vol. 1, p. 2. Br. 1.

Vide acts of assembly passed in the province of New York from 1691 to 1718-Lon don, printed by John Baskett, 1719. It does not appear that this book has been cited in any legal work with which we are acquainted.

An Act for regulating the Buildings, Streets, Lanes, Wharves, Docks, and Alleys of the city of New York; passed October 1, 1691 S. & L. 8. Br. 12.

The corporation are, by this fact, authorized to appoint surveyors or supervisors of buildings, &c., and their powers and duties are detailed.

An Act for settling Fairs and Markets, in each respective city and county throughout the Province; passed November, 11, 1692 -S. & L. 11. Br. 17.

By this act it is declared, there shall be kept yearly, for the city and county of New York, two fairs at the city of New York: the first fair annually to commence the last Tuesday of April in every year, and to end on the Friday next following, being in all four days, inclusive, and no longer; and the second fair to commence the first Tuesday of November in every year, and to end on the Friday next following, being in all four days, inclusive. And the fair to be holden, together with a court of py-powder, after the manner of the realm of England.

An Act establishing certain rates upon such Goods and Merchandise as shall be brought unto their Majesties' Beam, in the weigh-house at New York; passed April 10, 1693—S. & L. 16, 17.

An Act for settling a Ministry, and raising a maintenance for them, in the city of New York, county of Richmond, Westchester and Queens County; passed September 22, 1693-S. & L. 18. Br. 23.

By this act every city and county is required to call and induct a protestant minister, and to raise a sum for their support; and the freeholders of every city and county are required to choose ten vestrymen and two churchwardens. The justices and vestrymen are empowered to lay a tax upon the cities, counties, parish or precincts, for the maintenance of the minister and the poor of their respective places.

An Act against unlawful By-laws and unreasonable Forfeitures; passed October, 1695-S. & L. 23. Br. 25.

This act declares certain by-laws of the city of New York void, in relation to the prohibition of the importation of flour in New York.

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