in No7'th Amenca. Ill 



chinks and shelves of moss-covered rocks, where there is 

 scarcely the appearance of earth; and, from its spreading 

 bright red flower, forms a relief and an agreeable contrast to 

 the gloom which mostly surrounds it. I also observed, of 

 the Convallaria family, sp. latifolia, ciliata, and bifolia; several 

 species of the Eupatbrium, the stately plants belonging to 

 which genus do not flower before August; the humble Fra- 

 garia, the delicate Coptis, Claytonza, Anembne, /^lola, and 

 the slender Corydalis, Potentilla, and Sagittaria, of each one 

 or two species. Among the i^ilices were the Polyp^dium, 

 which, not long ago, was thought capable of exterminating 

 the whole race of worms, but in these days of keen enquiry 

 has been reduced to its level, and is now, and very properly 

 too, placed at the very fag-end of the list of materia medica ; 

 thus verifying the trite adage of Virgil, so far as its popu- 

 larity, at least, is concerned, " Stat sua cuique dies* ;" the 

 Pteris, y^diantum, Aspidium, and Osmunds. 



The Palisado and neighbouring ridges, on the eastern side 

 of the Hudson, are principally composed of serpentine and 

 secondary limestone, so compact as to admit of a tolerably 

 fine polish. 



Descending by a circuitous route, after an absence of three 

 hours, I reached my companions on the river, and felt myself 

 highly gratified with the excursion. 



I am, my dear lady, yours most sincerely, 

 Hudson River, May, 1823. . T. W. 



Letter IV. > no i^r 



My dear B. — On my return to the Neptune all was in 

 readiness to set sail. The wind sprang up, and we were 

 presently wafted into a broad sheet of water, " the Sea of 

 Tappan." The river here suddenly expands, and for the 

 distance of ten miles will average about four miles in breadth ; 

 in many places the water is so shallow, that the helmsman, 

 his track being already marked out, steers by the direction of 

 posts, stationed here and there in the river, that he may keep 

 his vessel free from sandbanks. The shore on each side of 

 lis presented a level, agreeably interrupted in places by the 

 intervention of minor hills, apparently fertile, and in fine 

 cultivation. The villages of Tappan and Nyack, a few framed 

 houses and huts scattered irregularly on the western side, and 

 about one mile from the river, claim the attention of the 

 traveller. They are situated near the foot of a valley, and 

 overlooked by some stupendous and abrupt ridges, whose 



* " Every thing has its day." 



