Part 6 (1/2)

My arrival in Albany and lecture at Tweddle Hall on the evening of the eighteenth were tothe notable events of my journey Colonel J

M Finley, who accoer of my lecture course from Boston to Buffalo, introduced me

Called at the Capitol on the nineteenth to see the adjutant-general in relation toin the interest of the fund for the erection of a Soldiers' Home which at that time interested persons had proposed to build at Bath, New York I was presented to General Townsend by Colonel Taylor, assistant adjutant-general, whom I had known for several years

Found that General Townsend was not, as I had been informed, the treasurer of the fund Colonel Taylor then ith ton avenue in search of Captain John Palmer, Past Department Commander, G

A R, whom I was advised to consult on the subject

These matters attended to, I went in pursuit of Captain William Blasie and Lieutenant Arthur Richardson--acquaintances of many years and both of whom had been the co the War of the Rebellion

My stay in Albany was prolonged by preparation for lectures at Troy and Schenectady, and by needed infor the early history and development of the former city The second Sunday ofto the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Hudson and Philip streets

[Illustration: VIEW IN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK]

CHAPTER VI

ALBANY TO SYRACUSE

Fourteenth Day

_Given's Hotel_, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, _May 22, 1876_

Left Albany at eleven o'clock My journey to this city led me over the Schenectady Turnpike Was compelled to ride between showers all day as a rainstor Albany Stopped for dinner at Peter Lansing's, whose farentlereatly amused me with his blunt manner and dry jokes I was sorry to leave the shelter of his hospitable roof, especially as the weather was exceedingly disagreeable, but o on I found it necessary to ride the last threeshower Reached my hotel at four o'clock in the afternoon, and lectured in the evening at Union Hall under the auspices of Post 14, G A R Several representatives of the city press iththem was Colonel S G Ha the war, and now editor of the _Union_ In theColonel Finley went over to Troy to assist Mr

Farrington,for my lecture in that city

Fifteenth and Sixteenth Days

_91 Centre Street_, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-third--Twenty-fourth_

Accepting an invitation to spend a day or tith friends, I went to 91 Centre street afterto business and private correspondence A telegram from Colonel Finley toldforupon this plan I went over to Troy the following afternoon by way of Albany

Called on Captain Palmer in the latter city, and handed him the proceeds of my lecture at Schenectady, which he at once transmitted to the fund in aid of the Soldiers' Houson, Hon

Martin I Townsend, the McCoys andSyne I may add that this was the only instance in my journey thus far in which I had deviated from a direct line of march

Seventeenth Day

_91 Centre Street_, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-fifth_

Returned to Schenectady by way of Albany afterfor n between Schenectady and Buffalo There was rather a surprising announcement in the afternoon's _Union_ to the effect that I had left for Little Falls

I did not learn from what source Comrade Hamlin of that paper received his information Colonel Finley went on to Utica, where he was joined by Mr Farrington

During my stay here I became interested in the place and found that Schenectady was as rich in legends and story as her neighbors She counts her birthday aun her career in 1620, when the Mohaere still holding their councils of war and spreading the terror of their naeous Dutchan the work of civilization This brave colony did not find life as peaceful as the innocent aspect of Nature would suggest, however, for in the winter of 1690 the French and Indians began their terrible work, burning the houses and h a baptis-post developed into a city Noas one of theand important towns in the valley; and the transformation was so complete that it is almost iles The Schenectady of to-day is a busydistrict about it, whose cornfields and orchards attest the richness of the soil It is the seat of Union College, a well-known institution of rich endow a handsoe was founded in 1795 by a union of several religious sects Its buildings are plain and substantial, their stuccoed walls suggestive of the good solid work that is accohteenth Day