Many of them had lawns and gardens as at Albany, and the best were planted with rows of trees which would afford a fine shade in warm weather.

Above the mercantile houses and dwellings rose the lofty spire of St.George's Chapel in Nassau Street, which had been completed less than three years before, and which secured Robert's admiration for its height and impressiveness.
The aspect of the whole town was a mixture of English and Dutch, but they saw many sailors who were of neither race.

Some were brown men with rings in their ears, and they spoke languages that Robert did not understand.

But he knew that they came from far southern seas and that they sailed among the tropic isles, looming large then in the world's fancy, bringing with them a whiff of romance and mystery.
The sidewalks in many places were covered with boxes and bales brought from all parts of the earth, and stalwart men were at work among them.

The pulsing life and the air of prosperity pleased Robert.