Place Names in America.

The first people that arrived in America from Holland built a town that they named New Amsterdam, in honour of the capital of their country in Europe. But forty years later, when Holland was in war with England, an English fleet under the command of the Duke of York appeared before New Amsterdam. The town had no army; the English occupied the town and renamed it New York. And this, as we know, is the name that has remained to this day.

The first people who came to America did not try to think of new names for the towns they built, but often gave the new place the same name as the place they had come from. Along the east coast of the United States we find such English names as Plymouth, Cambridge, London, Boston. English names often appear with the word “new” as a prefix: New England, New York, New Britain.

When the first English inhabitants left their homes, they gave the new places the same names as those they had left behind. As a result, there are twenty-two towns in the United States that are called London, eighteen towns named Bristol, many named Chester, Winsor or New Winsor. There are towns named Philadelphia in four states, besides the Philadelphia that is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania. This explains the American tradition of writing the name of the state when addressing letters. If the sender does not do this, he can never be sure that his letter will go to the right address.

Setting Down in England

My name is Martin Anderson. My wife and I are Danish. As a matter of fact, many of my ancestors were English. I was born in England and was originally of British nationality. I lost my parents when I was a baby and lived in Denmark with my grandmother, so that Danish is really my native language.

We arrived in England last February at five o’clock on a Wednesday morning. We were both sick on the journey. To make matters worse, I left my camera on the ship.

We stayed for a week in a hotel, and were then lucky enough to find a house in the suburbs of London. It is not so convenient as our flat in Copenhagen, but it is less expensive. I am studying at the local Technical college and, in addition, often attend public lectures at the University of London on as many subjects as possible, chiefly to improve my English. I am an engineer and have worked for several years in a factory.

Our two children have joined us. My wife is working as a part-time nurse in a hospital.

We have made a few close friends who often invite us to their homes. Our children can already speak English more fluently than we can and are always making fun of our mistakes but spelling causes all of us many headaches.

Yale Law School

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Law School is one of the world’s premier law schools. It offers an unmatched environment of excellence and educational intimacy in the form ofworld renowned faculty, small classes, limitless opportunities forclinical training, and strong encouragement ofpublic service. The Law School is small by design; its impact on the world is measured by itsaccomplished graduatesand its ongoing scholarship and outreach throughnumerous centers and projects.

For students, the experience is unparalleled. The faculty-student ratio supports a vast array of courses and opportunities for independent research and student-organized seminars. Students get practical training by representing real clients in clinicsstarting in their first year.

Throughout, a spirit of collaboration reigns. All first-term courses are ungraded, and subsequent classes are graded honors/pass/low pass. 

Yale Law School is unique among law schools in that it produces leaders in all walks of life: distinguished deans and faculty members at law schools across the country and the world; industry CEOs and corporate counsels; founders of nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit entities; entrepreneurs; government servants in federal, state, and local offices and the judiciary--just a few areas in which our alumni's talent and passion and dedication have made a difference. Among the School’s graduates are U.S. Presidents and Supreme Court Justices; and among its far-reaching projects, the Information Society Project and the China Law Center.