| Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917. | | | | On the City Encroachments on the River Hudson, 1800 (abridged) | | By Philip Freneau |
| | | WHERE Hudson, once, in all his pride | |
| In surges burst upon the shore | |
| They plant amidst his flowing tide | |
| Moles to defy his loudest roar; | |
| And lofty mansions grow where late | 5 |
| Half Europe might discharge her freight. | |
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| From northern lakes and wastes of snow | |
| The river takes a distant rise, | |
| Now marches swift, now marches slow, | |
| And now adown some rapid flies | 10 |
| Till join’d the Mohawk, in their course | |
| They travel with united force. | |
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| But cease, nor with too daring aim | |
| Encroach upon this giant flood; | |
| No rights reserved by nature, claim, | 15 |
| Nor on his ancient bed intrude:— | |
| The river may in rage awake | |
| And time restore him all you take. | | | | |
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