in North America, 115 



is clear and very wholesome, and contains quantities of 

 several species offish, such as perch (Perca fluviatilis), basse 

 (Z/ubrax Zupus Cwu.), pike {Esbx Ziicius), and sun-fish (Te- 

 trodon mola). 



The opposite shore rises gradually until it reaches the 

 highlands, and the eye passes over the villages of Philips- 

 burgh, Tarry town, Singsing, and Peekskill before it gains the 

 proud and stupendous heights of this grand chain of moun- 

 tains. Most of these villages are romantically situated, being 

 in notches, or in narrow and deep fissures. In the revolu- 

 tionary war Philipsburgh was the seat of some hard-fought 

 battles, in which the Americans were generally successful. 

 It contains several mills, having a small river, which, from its 

 rapid descent, renders the place peculiarly advantageous for 

 the operation of hydraulic machinery. Peekskill is a beau- 

 tiful village, and the largest which occurs on the Hudson 

 between New York and the highlands ; the houses are mostly 

 constructed entirely of wood, of two and three stories, well 

 and prettily painted externally, and have consequently always 

 a gay and pleasing appearance. 



The eastern shore of the Hudson is altogether of primi- 

 tive formation, and, what is rather remarkable, although 

 separated only by the river, possesses not a rock in common 

 with the opposite shore. Primitive limestone is found in 

 extensive tracts, as are also granite, mica-slate, crystallised 

 quartz, gneiss, &c. This last, like the limestone, occurs so 

 extensively in several places, and of such an excellent quality, 

 that large quarries are already formed, from which this stone 

 is constantly conveyed to New York. 



Some four or five miles above Vredideka Hook the river 

 again contracts, and is here and there interrupted in its course 

 '' by abrupt angles and juttings of rocks, which give rise to 

 eddies and such powerful currents that vessels approaching 

 too near their sweep have been known to receive serious 

 damage. The river soon opens into another expanse, called 

 Haverstraw Bay, a name derived frbm a small village, situated 

 on a beautiful and fertile plain a short distance from the 

 western bank. Haverstraw, in summer, is visited by the 

 fashionable and gay from the city, and is the scene of mh-th 

 and hilarity. 



Verplank's Point stretches from the eastern bank some 

 distance into the river, and forms a kind of peninsula, which 

 was a favourite military stand of the Americans in the revo- 

 lution : after several skirmishes, and some severe fighting, it 

 was at length forced, and for some tim^ maintained by the 

 British. A little above is Stony Point, which is a promontory, 



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