Mayor’s Office,
Wilmington, N. C., May 23d, 1857.
H. R. Helper, Esq.,
New-York,
Dear Sir:—
I am in receipt of yours of 19th inst. The value of real estate as per last assessment, 1st April, 1856, was $3,350,000
We have no system by which to arrive at the value of personal property: I estimate the amount, however, exclusive of merchandize, at $4,509,000
There has been no census taken since 1850—the present number of inhabitants is estimated at 10,000.
I regret my inability to afford you more definite information.
Very respectfully, &c.,
O. G. Parsley,
Mayor.
From the foregoing communications, we make up the following summary of the more important particulars:—
NINE FREE CITIES.
| Name. | Population. | Wealth. | Wealth per capita. |
| New York | 700,000 | $511,740,492 | $731 |
| Philadelphia | 500,000 | 325,000,000 | 650 |
| Boston | 165,000 | 249,162,500 | 1,510 |
| Brooklyn | 225,000 | 95,800,440 | 425 |
| Cincinnati | 210,000 | 88,810,734 | 422 |
| Chicago | 112,000 | 171,000,000 | 1,527 |
| Providence | 60,000 | 58,064,516 | 967 |
| Buffalo | 90,000 | 45,474,476 | 505 |
| New Bedford | 21,000 | 27,047,000 | 1,288 |
| 2,083,000 | $1,572,100,158 | $754 |