Afterwards walked about and viewed some illuminations.
   7th. Morning. Cast type metal cuts. Planned out a jaunt to Rockaway and enquired when the stage goes. During the forenoon I was very busy at engraving. Finished the last of Harrison’s cuts, and delivered to him. He paid me 5 dollars in part. I paid Smith 1/ for smoothing off the negro’s stamp. Having cooked and eat dinner in haste, I left home and crossed the ferry about 1. Sat at Aunt Carpender’s, who compelled me to eat, till 2, when I stepped into the stage, with no other company than the Driver, a clever Negro fellow. Before 5 we arrived at Jamaica, where the Horses and I having eaten a little we set forward again and reached Far Rockaway about sunset. Took up my quarters at Mr. Vanderbilt’s, and paid 8/ for the stage. A view of the sea from the House, which is about a mile off. Got supper. Coffee.

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handsomest in town, and were really very spacious and commodious buildings. Washington Irving speaks of  a party he attended in one of them in the highest terms, and gives a glowing description of the house. The last recorded event in connection with the Government House prior to its destruction was the illumination in honor of the peace of 1815. It was a tall structure entered from the front by two winding series of steps, and was of large size.