Note 4 — NO. I.—SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1807.

Amongst the amusements of the citizens in times gone by was that of making excursions in the winter evenings, on sleighs, to some neighboring village, where the social party had a ball and supper. Kissing-bridge had its name from the circumstance that here the beaux exacted from their fair companions the forfeiture of a kiss before permitting their travelling vehicles to pass over.—Paris Ed.

The Rev. Andrew Burnaby, Vicar of Greenwich, in his “Travels through the Middle Settlements in North America, in the years 1759 and 1760,” has this mention of the spot, fixing the locality near Fiftieth street, near the site of old Cato’s. “The amusements of the New Yorkers,” says Burnaby, “are balls and sleighing expeditions in the winter; in the summer, going in parties upon the water and fishing, or making excursions into the country. There are several houses pleasantly suited upon East River, near New York, where it is common to have turtle feasts: these happen once or twice in a week. Thirty or forty gentlemen and ladies meet and dine together, drink tea in the afternoon, fish and amuse themselves till evening, and then return home in Italian chaises, a gentleman and lady in each chaise. In the way there is a bridge, about three miles distant from New York, which you always pass over as you return, called the Kissing-bridge, where it is a part of the etiquette to salute the lady who has put herself under your protection.” From this it would appear that the privileges of Kissing-bridge were not confined to sleighing parties.