Part 50 (2/2)

The party arrived at Saratoga at two o'clock in the afternoon, and stopped at Congress Hall. The greater part of the company had already departed, among those who remained was the governor of the state of New-York. They were introduced to his Excellency. The gentlemen conversed with him freely, and found him intelligible and refined, and scientific in his conversation.

[_Travels_:

We arrived at Saratoga at two o'clock in the afternoon, and stopped at Congress Hall. The greater part of the company had already departed, so that but forty persons remained; among these was the governor of the state of New York, the celebrated De Witt Clinton. I was immediately introduced to his excellency, and very well received by this great statesman.]

[[During the period spanned by _Alida_ (1811-1816), the governor of New York was Daniel Tompkins.]]

In the evening the company a.s.semble in the large hall in the lower story, and pa.s.s away the time in music, dancing or conversation, where they witness all the politeness, refinement, and hospitality that characterize the Americans.

[_Travels_:

.... In the evening the company a.s.sembles in the large halls in the lower story, at this season, alas! by the fire, and pa.s.s the time in music, dancing, or conversation....]

The waters of the different springs are generally drank, but baths are also erected. High Rock spring flows from a white conical lime-stone rock, five feet high. The water is seen in this spring in constant agitation. So much fixed air escapes from it, that an animal held over it, as in the Grotto del Cane, near Naples, cannot live above half a minute.

[_Travels_:

The different springs, which do not lie far from each other in a swampy ground in the same valley, are called Hamilton, Congress, Columbia, Flat Rock, Munroe, High Rock, President, and Red Spring.

The water is generally drank, but baths are also erected. High Rock Spring flows from a white conical limestone rock, five feet high, in which there is a round aperture above, about nine inches in diameter, through which the water in the spring is seen in a state of constant agitation. So much fixed air escapes from it, that an animal held over it, as in the Grotto del Cane, near Naples, cannot live above half a minute....]

In a few days they left Saratoga Springs, in a convenient stage, to go to Albany, thirty-six miles distant. They pa.s.sed through a disagreeable and sandy country. The uniformity was, however, very pleasingly interrupted by Saratoga Lake, which is eight miles long.

[_Travels_:

The governor had the kindness to give me some letters for New York, and a letter of introduction to the Shakers of New Lebanon.

Furnished with these, we left Saratoga Springs, September 12th, at 9 o'clock, in a convenient stage to go to Albany, thirty-six miles distant. We pa.s.sed through a disagreeable and sandy country. The uniformity was, however, very pleasingly interrupted by Saratoga lake, which is eight miles long....

At the small town of Waterford they pa.s.sed along the left sh.o.r.e of the Hudson on a long wooden bridge, to avoid a bad bridge over the Mohawk.

They proceeded on their route in the night on a very good road, and pa.s.sed through Lansingburgh and Troy. The latter is very handsomely built, and many stores were very well lighted up in the evening. Here they returned to the right sh.o.r.e of the Hudson, and reached Albany at ten o'clock at night.

[_Travels_:

At the small town of Waterford we pa.s.sed along the left sh.o.r.e of the Hudson on a long wooden bridge, to avoid a bad bridge over the Mohawk. We proceeded on our route in the night on a very good road, and pa.s.sed through Lansingburg and Troy. The latter is very handsomely built, and many stores are very well lighted up in the evening. Here we returned to the right sh.o.r.e of the Hudson, and reached Albany at 10 o'clock at night.

At eight o'clock next morning they took pa.s.sage on board the steam-boat, to go down the river as far as the town of Catskill, at the foot of Pine Orchard. The company ascended the mountain, which is twelve miles high, in stages. They reached Pine Orchard a little before sunset. The building on the mountain for the accommodation of visiters, is a splendid establishment. Alida was truly delighted with the landscape it presented in miniature; where large farms appeared like garden spots, and the Hudson a rivulet, and where sometimes the clouds were seen floating beneath the eye of the spectator.

[[This paragraph does not appear in _Travels in North America_.]]

The next morning they again took the steam-boat at Catskill to go to Hudson, twenty-seven and a half miles from Albany, which they reached about noon. This city appears very handsome and lively. On the opposite side of the river is Athens, between which and Hudson there seems to be much communication kept up by a team-boat. A very low island in the middle of the stream between the two places, rendered this communication somewhat difficult at first, as vessels were obliged to make a great circuit. To avoid this inconvenience, a ca.n.a.l was cut through the island, through which the team-boat now pa.s.ses with ease and rapidity.

[_Travels_:

At ten o'clock we embarked on board the steam-boat Richmond. The banks of the Hudson are very handsome, and here and there well cultivated. From Albany to New York it is one hundred and forty-four miles, and to West Point ninety-six. Hudson, a place twenty-seven and a half miles from Albany, which we reached at noon, seems to be very handsome and lively. We remarked in the harbour several sloops, and on sh.o.r.e some brick stores, five stories high. On the opposite side of the river lies Athens, between which and Hudson there seems to be much communication kept up by a team-boat. A very low island in the middle of the stream between the two places rendered this communication somewhat difficult at first, as vessels were obliged to make a great circuit. To avoid this inconvenience, a ca.n.a.l was cut through the island, through which the team-boat now pa.s.ses with ease and rapidity.]

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