lU 



Natural Histoty Tour 



paltry plea, and suffered, in consequence, the life of one of 

 their finest officers to be ignominiously lost. 



On a green eminence, over which hangs the dark and 

 funereal shade of the willow, is the grave ot this unfortunate 

 soldier {Jig, 17. «): it is a short distance south and west of 



17 



the village. " No urn nor animated bust," only a few rough 

 and unshapely stones, without a word of inscription, and care- 

 lessly laid upon a mound of rudely piled earth, are shown to 

 the traveller as the spot where rest the remains of poor 

 Andrd.* 



Near to Nyack are quarries of sandstone and secondary 

 greenstone. The ridges and mountains in this vicinity are 

 chiefly composed of coarse and rather compact greenstone, 

 resting mostly upon sandstone, or upon an argillaceous stra- 

 tum. A lofty range of mountainous ridges terminates the 

 valley on the north ; these stretch quite down to the river, 

 and form, at the water's edge, an inaccessible cliff, or promon- 

 tory, between 600 and 700 ft. in height, jagged with rocks, 

 and of a terrific appearance. This promontory is called 

 Vredideka Hook. Immediately behind these ridges rises, 

 from a lake about five miles in circumference, and upwards of 

 100 ft. above the level of the Hudson, the principal stream of 

 the Hackensack river. The water of this lake, I was told. 



ing a few pieces of silver for betraying his country. Whatever was his 

 recompence in this way I know not, but I am certain he was despised as 

 long as he lived, and his memory will for ever be pointed at as contempti- 

 ble and degrading by the people of both nations. 



* The remains of Major Andre were lately, by a special request from the 

 British government to the United States, brought to England, and placed 

 among the worthies of Westminster Abbey. 



