It is most likely, therefore, that the position of this group of lodges may have been at or near Second avenue, where a run of fresh water existed in the vicinity of a knoll, thus affording to some extent shelter and water-supply. The course of the old Eastern post-road which we thus regard as the successor of the original trail, was by way of Fourth avenue from Astor place as far as 17th street, whence, skirting marsh-lands on the west side, it ran to 23d street at Fifth avenue.

Here it turned sharply to the east, passing diagonally across Madison Square to 26th street at Madison avenue, the reason for this divergence being a convenient crossing over the head of a brook between two areas of marshy land at that point (see Map II). From this crossing it continued eastwardly over Madison avenue at 26th street, and thence diagonally to Fourth avenue at 28th street. Its east side touched Lexington avenue at 30th street, where it turned north and ran parallel with Lexington avenue through the lots on its west side.

It then passed easterly across Lexington avenue between 37th and 39th streets, and diagonally east over to Third avenue at 44th street.