1 08 Natural Hishiy Tour 



of the country has been long declining, is a melancholy 

 truth ; but it may be again revived, by calling into exercise 

 temperance, moderation, and self-denial. As men, we know 

 the advantages of these feelings in the happiness or misery 

 of our domestic circles ; and, as Christians, we are commanded 

 by a higher authority than man to practise them. 

 Tittenhanger Green, St. Alba?i*s, 

 Dec. 13. 1830. 



Art. II. Original Letters, descriptive of a Natural History Tour 

 in North America, By T. W. 



(Continued from Vol. III. p. 496.) 



Letter III. 



My dear B. — You may think my choice rather more 

 whimsical than sensible, because I have preferred a sloop to 

 a steam-boat: but the fact is, when on board the former, 

 opportunities now and then occur, which, if you have an 

 inclination to make a short excursion into the country, will 

 enable you to go on shore, and remain there for two or three 

 hours, a boon not to be expected if depending upon a 

 steam conveyance. Sail-boats are very often becalmed ; and 

 it is not unusual on this river, when light winds prevail, for 

 them to ride at anchor until the tide again sets in their favour. 



Situated on an eminence, within 50 yards of the river stands 

 Fort Lee (Jig. 16. a) named in honour of a general of revo- 

 lutionary notoriety : it now resembles a crude mass of stones, 

 much dilapidated, and overgrown with weeds and brushwood. 

 It views Fort Washington (6), which borders the eastern bank 

 nearly opposite, but in position it is much less elevated than its 

 neighbour. Seated on a high hill, and commanding the river 

 in both directions for some distance, this last fort must have 

 been, to the party in possession, an advantageous post in 

 time of war. Except on the south side it is inaccessible by 

 land, and even there approached only with great difficulty. 



Fort Washington, in the revolutionary war, was constantly 

 supported by a garrison of 2000 men ; yet notwithstanding 

 its difficulty of access, and this formidable number of Ameri- 

 cans (considering the site), it was approached, and compelled 

 to surrender to the intrepidity and skill of about an equal 

 number of the British. Like the other, this fort is in ruins, 

 and at present appears better suited for a lair of wild beasts 

 than a place of warfare. Such a state of these places, where 



