about six o'clock in the evening
Even to one who comes upon the capital of the New World , having seen many cities and many men , there is a charm in the sweeping woods and the distant heights , in the group of islets , and the massive buildings , that is hardly rivalled by the fascinations of any other harbour , that of San Francisco and the Golden Gates alone excepted . If you grant that the mere material of man 's making is all very new , its power and dignity is no less impressive . Nor in any other city of the world that I know does the grandeur of the natural environment force itself so close to the very gates , as in this bay which Hudson claimed , and a Dutch colony took possession of so long ago as 1614 . It was about six o'clock in the evening when we brought the _ Celsis _ through the Narrows between Staten and Long Islands , and passed Forts Wandsworth and Hamilton . Then the greater harbour before the city itself rolled out upon our view ; and as we steamed slowly into it the Customs took possession of us , and made their search . It was a short business , for we satisfied them that Paolo suffered from no malignant disease , although one small and singularly objectionable fellow seemed suspicious of everything aboard us . I do not wonder that he made the men angry , or that Dan had a word with him .