Most persons have seen a series of humorous, but apparently exaggerated, sketches, representing negro life at New York. According to a recent traveller in America, none of these pictures at all exceed the truth. Speaking of the Castle Garden, the writer in question says – “On Sundays this public walk is filled with people of all classes, particularly those of the sable cast, making a protuse display of their finery. To the negroes this place of resort is something like Hyde-park, a place for show. Their dress in general borders on extravagance. The women wear bonnets decorated with ribands, plumes, and flowers of a thousand different colours, and their dresses are of the most showy description: the men are attired like real French petits-maitres manques – the coat so open that the shirt sticks out under the aringles; the waistcoats are of all colours of the rainbow; the hat is carelessly put on one side; the gloves are yellow, and every sable dandy carries a smart cane.

From: The Times. Feb 16 1835, pr. 4, Issue 15715