Fishery boundaries question; some of their sloops having been seized by British cruizers, their flag, they say, has been insulted, and war they must have with John Bull. They talk as if all Europe were subject to their power and influence; the inflated language employed, and the position they assume in this matter is absurd and laughable in the extreme. They never were so ill prepared for war as at present; they have no steam navy to speak of, all their great river boats are quite useless to serve as an armament at sea. The Union confines their standing army to twelve thousand men, and these are scattered over the entire continent, whilst their navy is not worthy of notice.* On their own soil they would always muster a large force, either of militia or of foreign mercenaries; but, for purposes of aggressive war, the boast is most futile; even in the last Mexican war, only one-fourth of those serving under the American flag were native troops, the

Since my return to England, the President's message to Congress has been published. Its whole tone and tenor is moderate, and pacific. All desire on the part of America for possession of Cuba is repudiated. The incorporation of that island into the Union, would, it is declared, be fraught with serious evil. And, with regard to the fisheries question, arrangements are stated to be in progress between Great Britain and America, for placing matters on a satisfactory footing.

rest were Germans, French, Irish, Scotch and English. To show the motley character of the service, you find the commandant of Fort Hamilton a Frenchman, the junior officers Americans and Germans, the great majority of the men Irish; there was one solitary man, a sergeant, who stated himself to be a native of Manchester (a warehouseman), who, to all appearances, was the most respectable of the party.

After ten days' sojourn in this oven of a city, I was all impatience to depart, and accomplish the great wish of my heart-to run wild amongst the glens and forests, to look down upon the great lakes and hear the loud roar of the mighty water-falls, the wonder and admiration of all ages.

Note. Since the preceding was in type, information has reached me that a project is on foot for establishing a double line of rail along the entire length of the great Broadway in New York. This will, indeed, if accomplished, be a most acceptable undertaking to all classes, and will entirely obviate the great inconvenience caused by the incessant noise and confusion, of which all who reside in, or who visit, this city, most justly complain,

CHAPTER III.

The River Hudson described. Steamboats. Henry Hudson. Sankikani and Manhartan Indians.Jersey City. Cunard's Steamers (British).—Collins's and Havre Steamers (American).-Scenery of " Yonkers," "Palisades," "Fort Lee," 66 Piermont,"

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Tappan,' Grassy Point," Warren," "Caldwells," and "Peekskill" Villages. Washington Irvine's Residence.-Poetry.-Highland Scenery."West Point" Mountains. Military School and Barracks." Fort Putnam."-" Coldering" Village, Iron Works and Steam Machinery." Pollopel's Island." "Fskkill" Valley.- "New Paltz."Barregat" and "Poughkeepsie," the Queen Village of the Empire State." Hyde Park."-"West Park." Staatsburgh."-" Hondout."-"Kingston."--" Barrytown.' "Tivoli."- 66 Saugertis" and "Bristol" Villages. Approach to the "Catskill" Mountains.— Pine Orchard and Mountain House.-Description of the Forest and Ascent.-Scenery compared with Naples and Rio de Janeiro and Quebec.-Desirable for Invalids." Catskill" Waterfalls.-Morning Descent and Description.-Embarked on the Hudson.of Hudson."-Villages of "Athens," "Coxsackie," "Kinderhook," "New Baltimore," Coeyman's,' Castleton,' Vanwie," and "Greenbush."-Farewell to the River!

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I FEEL I ought not to do less than devote a chapter to the magnificent Hudson, a truly grand and lovely river, running upwards of one hundred and fifty miles in length, having its source in the mountainous regions (44° N. L.) between Lake Champlain and the river St. Lawrence.

In many respects it is one of the most import

ant streams in the world from its extent, and is not inferior in usefulness to the Mississippi: for purposes of steam navigation, it is superior to all other rivers. It is navigable for vessels for one hundred and forty miles from its outlet, and its course is only impeded by the ice during the months of January and February.

The width of the Hudson for twenty-five miles north of New York, varies from one to four miles; it is occasionally of a greater width, giving it, as you proceed, the appearance of a chain of lakes; the land on either side frequently attains an elevation of fifteen hundred feet above the water's edge. Many large steamboats ply up and down daily, besides thousands of ships, sloops, and boats-giving animation to the scene, which must be witnessed to be appreciated.

What would be the astonishment and delight of Henry Hudson, who, in the year 1610, first discovered and made known to the world this highly interesting locality, could he revisit this terrestrial globe, and view the changes that have taken place; to see the life, the very soul of man thrown upon this beautiful region,-what would be his pride and satisfaction in seeing millions of his fellow-creatures located in the spot which he found inhabited by wild Indians, whose clothing consisted of the skins of elks and foxes, their food Indian corn, sleeping in the open air, on

mats made from leaves of trees, and preying on white men, when opportunity offered. Where New York now stands, a tribe named Sankikani squatted, hostile to their surrounding neighbours, the Manhartans and others, but all opposed to the pale-faced man, warring against him from the land east beyond the seas. They would, however, occasionally barter for furs and skins and large oysters, in return for beads, iron, and their favourite drink, rum.

*

Such is the extent, variety, wealth, and population of this river, with its towns, villages, hamlets, villas, farms, and plantations at this day. To convey an idea of its greatness, I will briefly enumerate some of the chief features which attracted my attention, and which may be useful to future travellers, especially to the artist. I would desire him to lay in a good store of materials for portraying this wonderful river; it offers inexhaustible matter for his pencil and brush.

Early on the morning of the 9th of August, I embarked on board one of the large river steam palaces, freighted with many hundred passengers and some merchandize. The river takes

*It is curious to observe that Hudson found the Indians on the west shore more affable and friendly than those on the east side, who were ever at war one with the other.