The American HiMa7ids. • 29-1^ 



"t) 



heights," of which, most Hkely, I shall soon have an oppor- 

 tunity to treat more at length. 



West Point is the seat of a military school, and is a place 

 of great notoriety. It is an extensive level, near the termin- 

 ation of the northern slope of the Highlands, and on an ele- 

 vated angle of the river, of granite formation. Two hundred 

 young gentlemen cadets are instructed at this establishment, 

 not only in soldiership, but in the arts and sciences generally, 

 as well as in various languages and polite literature. In 

 the war of the revolution, the camp of the illustrious Wash- 

 ington was stationed at West Point, when Sir Henry Clinton, 

 the British general, was to have surprised him ; and if the 

 plot of Arnold had succeeded, the commander of the American 

 forces, and with him their choicest army, must have fallen into 

 the hands of the English. The scheme failed ; Major Andre 

 was taken prisoner, and forfeited his life, This gallant officer 

 was employed by Clinton to negotiate with Arnold. 



At West Point the river is narrow, and difficult of navi- 

 gation. In its vicinity are the remains of many batteries and 

 entrenchments, where bullets and human bones are yet to be 

 found. Diedrich Knickerbocker (Washington Irving), in 

 his History of New York, has laid some of the most amus- 

 ing scenes in that work in this neighbourhood. Below you 

 have a sketch ( /ig, 55.) of West Point ( 1 ), and of the northern 

 slope of the Highlands, looking south. . 



Passing the base of Anthony's Nose, the top of which is 

 about 1600 ft. above the level of the river, and two or three 

 other mountainous elevations of less importance, we were 

 clear of the Highlands. Our prospects were now of another 

 description : instead of enormous crags, and overhanging 

 cliffs, the hissing, foaming, and gushing of waters, the 



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