2Q2 Natural History Tour in North America : — 



almost endless towering of mountains and lofty ridges, we had 

 an extended view of apparently a richly cultivated country, 

 pleasingly ornamented with villas and other vestiges of human 

 skill and activity. The river, which is in many places very 

 broad, and studded with small islands, stretched before us 

 about thirty miles in nearly a direct line. 



At four P.M. we came up to Newburgh. This flourishing 

 village is distant seventy miles from the city of New York : 

 it is built on a gradual but pretty steep acclivity ; and is seen 

 at some distance, and very advantageously, from the river. 

 The Neptune had now finished her voyage, and was hauled 

 alongside of a wooden wharf (wharfs and piers in this country 

 are uniformly constructed of wood). I adjourned to Craw- 

 ford's, which is a large and somewhat elegant hotel. My old 

 calculating companion, who, at least, certainly appeared to 

 consider my welfare and personal comfort as matters of no 

 trifling importance, strongly recommended this house to my 

 notice. He described it as having quite superior accom- 

 modation, keeping the best of tables (a first-rate American 

 consideration), and having excellent and wholesome beds, as 

 soft as the softest down. '* Besides," he added, " the land- 

 lord is a smart, good-natured, and civil fellow, always upon the 

 spot, and alive to the wants and enjoyments of his guests." 

 Here he gave such a recital of the good living, the luxuries, 

 the feasts of turtle-soup and the like, of which he had from 

 time to time partaken at this hotel, that I am sure it would 

 have raised the appetite of an individual of infinitely less noto- 

 riety than an alderman. 



It was, however, more out of compliment to my friend's 

 wishes than to my gastric propensities, that I was induced 

 to conform to his pleasure in taking up my temporary abode 

 at Crawford's. To be thought an epicure would annoy me 

 most unmercifully ; and, therefore, I pray you to bear in mind, 

 that my sojourning at Crawford's is directed by other feelings 

 than those which voluptuous eating and drinking can afford. 



The first thing most likely to attract the attention of a 

 stranger at Newburgh is the state of its improvements. Like 

 the machinery of a clock, every part is in motion The num- 

 ber of recently built houses, and those now being built, the 

 dash and rather gaudy display of numerous shops, crowded 

 storages, the continual and almost deafening noise of carts, 

 and the lively, bustling, business-looking faces and quick 

 movements of the inhabitants, considering the size of the 

 place, are quite astonishing. The upper stories of the dwell- 

 ings are mostly made of wood, and painted white ; the lower 

 ones are of stone or brick, and for the greater part are 



