322 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

for Horse. At one, a match for thirty guineas, by two gentlemen, who will also ride their own horses. Dinner will be ready at two o’clock, after which and suitable regalements, racing and other diversions will be calculated to conclude the day with pleasure and harmony. Brooklyn Hall, 6th August, 1781.”

“B. Creed’s Jamaica and Brooklyn Hall Stage Machine, 6s. a passage; not answerable for money, plate, and jewels, unless entered and paid for.”—Rivington, March, 1781.

And again: “Brooklyn Hunt.—The hounds will throw off at Denyse Ferry at 9, Thursday morning. A guinea or more will be given for a good strong bag fox by Charles Loosely.”—Riv., Nov. 14, ’81.

1782. In March of this year we find, in the Tory prints, some bitter complaining, on the part of the inhabitants of the county, against the rebel leaders, on account of heavy debts contracted by their prisoners, from May, ’79, to Feb., ’81, for board and washing, which, at $2 per week, had accumulated to nearly £20,000, for which their commissary had given notes of hand.

Congress, however, afterwards appropriated $30,000 to liquidate these debts. The Anhault Zerbet Regiment were at this time stationed at Brooklyn.

“A sweepstakes of 300 guineas was won by Jacob Jackson's mare, Slow and Easy, over Mercury and Goldfinder, on Ascot Heath. The two beaten horses are to run for 100 guineas a side, on Wednesday next, on the same ground.”—Rivington, April 27, Õ82.

“May 3, on Monday se’nnight the enemy (British) began to break ground to cut a canal on L. I., to run from the Wallabout to the Pond, taking in Cobble Hill Fort. The length of the trench is 21 miles. The militia are called out in rotation one day in a week, none above 15 being excused from labor.”—Conn. Courant, May 7, ‘82.

This “canal” is more accurately described by General Jeremiah Johnson as a strong line of intrenchment, extending from the hill of Rem. A. Remsen along the high lands of John Rapelje, crossing Sands street near Jay street, and thence over the highest land in Washington street, between Concord and Nassau streets, across the Jamaica Road (Fulton street) to the large fort, already described, on the corner of Henry and Pierrepont streets.