sum of $2,074,846. An Act of Congress, passed February 15,
1799, allowed any State to discharge its debt by payment into
the treasury before April, 1800, or by expending a like amount
within five years in the erection of fortifications. New York was
the only State that chose to extinguish its debt by erecting
defenses upon its own soil; and a committee of Congress reported
in February, 1801, that no other States had shown any disposi¬
tion to pay the balances reported against them. The amount
credited to New York was $891,129.81, and the remainder of
the indebtedness was subsequently released.—American State
Papers, Finance, I, 697.

The amount of moneys reduced to specie value received by, or
paid to, the State of New York from the beginning of the Revo¬
lution to April, 1790, was as follows, in dollars:—

Received from State.............................  $1,545,889

Paid to State................................................ 822,803

A descriptive and historical notice is given of the several forti¬
fications in the localities where they occur. The latest official
summary that has been published, dated in 1851, is given
below:—

Forts.

Jocatiojt.

1

8

1

I

1

When finished.

Garrison in war.

Total •number of
guns.

Estimated cost of
construction or re¬
pair.

Amount expended
for construction
or repair.

Amount required
to complete or con¬
struct.

Estimated cost of
armament, includ¬
ing 100 pounds of
ammunition.

Fort Schuyler...............

Throggs Neck.....................

1833

1,250

318

$873,013

$848,013

$25,000

$225,040

1831

4

105

1831

L 800

78

269,467

259,467

10,000

1831

1845

H

12 184

1841

1844

80

5 096

5 096

Fort Wood.....................

Bedloes Island....................

1841

.350

77

245,689

213,000

32,689

76,540

Fort Richmond..............

Staten Island.....................

1847

140

505,808

205,606

300,202

124,302

11,000

64

1841

1846

50

20 081

1841

1846

J

9

3 508

3 508

Fort Lafayette..............

Reef, near Long Island........

1812

370

' 76

348,573

341,941

6,632

75,778

Fort Hamilton...............

Long Island.......................

1824

800

118

634,752

614.752

20,000

86,757

Fort Montgomery..........

Rouses Point......................

1841

500

164

411,497

187,355

224,142

132,384

Fort Ontario............,....

Oswego..............................

1839

300

30

83,013

78,013

5.000

18,610

Fort Niagara.................

Mouth of Niagara River......

1840

300

21

84.027

59,027

25,000

12,961

Fort Porter...................

Black Rock........................

1842

300

64

150,000

116,500

33,500

51,208

The forts on Staten Island are being rebuilt on an extensive
scale. Fort Schuyler, on Throggs Neck, has since been finished,
a site purchased fo&a fort at Wilkins Point, directly opposite,
and an immense fortress has been commenced on Sandy Hook,
for the more effectual defense of New York Harbor. These
works will effectually defend the approaches to New York by
water, but would not prevent an attack by land should an
enemy effect a landing upon Long Island. To guard against
this, it has been proposed to erect a line of redoubts across the
island from Wilkins Point to Fort Hamilton at such intervals
as would secure this object.

The General Government has appropriated large sums of
money during many years to the construction of a floating battery
for the defense of New York Harbor. It is building at Hoboken,
and is said to be nearly completed. It is of iron, of great strength
and thickness, with its outer deck oval, and every part proof
against cannon ball. It is to be mounted with heavy guns and
propelled by steam. No official account of its construction has
been published; and, for obvious reasons, the details of its plan
are kept secret. It is reported that it has a capacity to accom¬
modate 3000 men, with the necessary supplies of fuel and
military stores; and it is thought that of itself it might oppose
an effectual barrier against the approach of a hostile fleet in any
passage which it might be brought to defend. This mighty
engine of war was planned by the late John C. Stevens.

The other military establishments of the National Government
in New York are,—

The Military Academy at West Point.

The Navy Yard, Dry Dock, Naval Hospital, and Labo¬
ratory at Brooklyn.

The Arsenal at Watervliet for the manufacture of gun car¬
riages and other heavy furniture of artillery for the field
and fort.

The Arsenal of Deposit, at Rome.

Plattsburgh Barracks.

Madison Barracks, at Sackets Harbor.

Buffalo Barracks.

A few years after the last war with Great Britain, a military
road was surveyed and partly opened by the United States from
Plattsburgh to Sackets Harbor; but this work from the first has
been kept in repair by the towns as a common highway.

Fort Montgomery is the only work now under construction
on the northern frontier. The Canadians have the following
fortifications adjacent to New York:—    °

Fort Wellington, at Prescott, erected in 1812-15.

Fort Henry, at Kingston, with Several Martello towers and
batteries, for the protection of the harbor and town and defense
of the north channel of the St. Lawrence. They were partly
built in the War of 1812-15, and partly in 1837-40. Fort Carl¬
ton, now within the United States, commanded the south chan¬
nel, and portions of the work, executed a century ago. (and sinco
the Revolution entirely neglected,) might still be made available
upon short notice.

Fort Massasauga, at Niagara, directly opposite the American
fort, is of modern origin.