The lake Owasco lies almost equally in this township and Scipio.

After we had crossed the bridge we entered the township of Junius; and, travelling through a thinly settled, and uninviting country about three miles, came to the Seneca river; a large, sprightly mill-stream of remarkably pure, transparent water. Here we found a small and poor settlement. The remaining distance to Geneva, about seven or eight miles, is a forest. The soil is a hard clay, producing scattered and stinted oaks. Here, also, we found in two or three spots the only white pines since we left the Chenango. The whole tract is dull and forbidding.

Two or three miles East from Geneva, we left the turnpike; and directed our course to the Seneca lake. On the North end of this beautiful water, strongly resembling Lake George in its elegant, pellucid appearance, the waves, agitated by the South wind, have thrown up a hard beach, consisting wholly of small pebbles, about six feet in height, and two rods in breadth. A better road, and a pleasanter ride, can scarcely be imagined; that is, in a country so destitute of cultivation. The outlet of the lake, which is the commencement of Seneca river, is bordered by a low, marshy, dismal ground; a copy of one of those, concerning which Ossian says, that their mist is "the dart of Death."

Geneva stands at the North-West corner of the Seneca lake. The town is partly built on the acclivity, by which it is entered from the East, and partly on a single street, running North and South along the summit of the hill; the most beautiful eminence, I think, for the site of a town, which I ever beheld. The street is about a mile in length, and from 150 to 200 feet in breadth. The surface is an easy, obtuse, elegant arch; and at the highest point elevated about 200 feet above the lake. The houses are chiefly built on the Western side; the lands on the Eastern being devoted to gardens, declining to the water, and forming a very ornamental part of the landscape. The houses on the acclivity, and at its foot, are generally very indifferent; as are also a number of those on the hill. There are a few pretty buildings, a considerable number of decent ones; and, what is remarkable, as the

town is scarcely of sixteen years standing, a number well advanced in decay. This fact is partly accounted for by the negligence of the proprietors, and still more by the slight imperfect manner of building, which to a great extent prevails throughout this region. The prospect from the street is more attractive than any other in this part of the State. The lake is the most beautiful piece of water, West of the Hudson. The shores on both sides are handsome rising grounds, covered, like those of the Cayuga, with a rich forest. The South-Eastern view is terminated at a great distance by a mountain of considerable length, and moderate height; which, though exhibiting a straight uniform summit adds here an interesting variety to the landscape. The whole aspect is remarkably cheerful and pleasant, and is warmly commended by every traveller. Fortunately, the disagreeable buildings, and marshy grounds, which I have mentioned, are chiefly out of sight.

Geneva is a settlement, formed by Major Williamson. The spot was pitched upon both as an object of taste, and a theatre of business. Hitherto, the latter part of the design has, however, failed. There are several stores, and mechanic's shops, and a considerable distillery in the list of its buildings. But the general aspect of business is dull and lifeless.

A respectable clergyman is settled here, who preaches half the time to the inhabitants, and is employed the other half as a missionary in the surrounding country by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church.

There are about seventy houses in this village. It lies in the township of Seneca ; which, in the year 1800, contained 1,522 inhabitants and, in 1810, 3,431. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER III.

Easton-Canandagua—Bloomfield-Charleston-Hartford--Genesee River—Genesee Flats-Oak Plains-Their peculiar appearance, owing to fires kindled by the Indians-Their soil productive-County of Genesee-Buffaloe-View of the Lake, &c.-Beautiful collection of Clouds.

Dear Sir,

TUESDAY, Oct. 2d, we left Geneva in the morning, and rode to Bloomfield through Easton, and Canandagua, twenty-one miles. In Easton we saw nothing remarkable, except that the forests to a considerable extent were composed of oaks. This township contained in the year 1800, 476 inhabitants.

The township of Canandagua lies chiefly on the Western side of the lake, heretofore mentioned as bearing this name, and in the centre of the County of Ontario.

The town of Canandagua* is built chiefly on a single street, formed along the great road. Its site is partly an easy, handsome acclivity, and partly an elevated level, at its termination. The situation is inferiour in beauty to that of Geneva. The town itself is greatly superiour. The houses are remarkably good; in a better style than that of most older settlements, and at the same time are not defaced by any appearances of decay. The inhabitants are without a church; but have settled a respectable clergyman. A good building is erected here for an academy, on a very: pleasant elevation. It is not yet completed, but so far advanced, that it is intended to establish a school in it the ensuing winter. This building was erected by several public spirited individuals, who have endowed the institution with funds, consisting chiefly of lands, continually increasing in their value, and as is said, already worth $40,000. It is under the management of a board of trustees.

This name was formerly written Canandargue, and is now commonly written Canandaigua. Both modes are erroneous. The Iroquois have in no other case used the dipthong ai.

The stores in this town are more numerous, and the mercantile business more extensive, than in any other West of Utica. At present it is the resort of the whole surrounding country. How long it will retain this advantage cannot be foreseen. Trade, every where fluctuating in some degree, is in a newly settled country always ready to shift its residence. The inhabitants of Canandagua have availed themselves of their present advantages. A general spirit of industry and activity is every where visible, and the whole town wears a very cheerful appearance of thrift and prosperity.

The state of society is in several respects superiour to what is found in any part of this country, West of Whitesborough. The disadvantages, attendant upon recency of settlement, undoubtedly exist; but in a less degree than in any other place, which we had visited on this journey.

The soil also is excellent; and yields abundantly the various produce of the climate. I never saw fruit trees more luxuriant. The late peaches were not gathered; and of many trees which I examined in the garden of Dr. Williams, there was not one, the boughs of which were not either bent quite to the ground, or broken by the load of fruit. Plums, apricots, and apples, all prosper with a similar luxuriance. Some of the peaches, which I tasted, were finely flavored. General Taylor, an inhabitant of this town, was supposed to have in his orchard 1,100 bushels of peaches. Some persons have begun to distil the juice of this fruit into brandy.

The enemies, which attack these fruits in many of the ancient settlements, such as the peach worm, the canker worm, the rose bug, and the caterpillar, together with several sorts of flies, some of which sting the fruit, and others the twigs, of the more delicate fruit trees, have not yet made their appearance. Accordingly they all, even the nectarine, are cultivated with entire success. It is to be regretted that these enemies, which make a regular progress, wherever man provides them with food, will at no great distance of time ravage the gardens, and orchards, of this region, as they have long done those of others.

Canandagua is the shire town of this County. In the courthouse, a decent building, the inhabitants hold their public worship.

Canandagua lake is a fine piece of water. At the North end, it is deformed by a marshy outlet, and a margin of bulrushes; but it generally has a sprightly, beautiful aspect. The shores resemble those of the Seneca; but are furnished with the advantage of having several points on both sides, which project handsomely into the water. The Southern limit is pleasantly formed by distant mountains. In the year 1800, this township contained 1,153 inhabitants; and, in 1810, 2,392.

Bloomfield, the next township to Canandagua, is large; containing four squares, through the two Southernmost of which passed our road. This tract is generally a collection of hills and vallies, resembling in a good degree those in Connecticut; not lying in long continuations or ranges, like all the preceding country from Manlius to this township; but assuming many varieties of form, and, therefore, to us, at least, particularly pleasant. In these hills the inhabitants are furnished with the important article of stone for building, and fencing. The soil, a mixture of loam with gravel, is excellent, and produces every thing suited to the climate.

The forests of Bloomfield are composed of oak; and in some instances of chesnut and hickory; together with maple, beech, bass, &c. this tract yielding all the variety of timber, found in the Southern parts of New-England. The oak, which grows here, and which is the most valuable production of the forest, is straight, tall, and easily riven. A great part of the fields are enclosed with rails, made of this timber; and the inhabitants believe it will not fall very far short of the chesnut, in resisting the injuries of the weather. Of this, however, they cannot be competent judges, because their experience has extended only through the short period of ten or twelve years. Even if they should be disappointed in their expectations, many of them will be able to form their enclosures of stone. In both respects they are distinguished from most of the people of this region.