Rough Notes of a Tour to the Lakes, 297 



desks in circular rows, and also appropriately decorated with 

 tapestry and paintings, its interior is confined and inconve- 

 nient. The front is the only part which distinguishes it from 

 an ordinary public academy or free grammar school. This 

 consists of a portico, with a pediment supported on four 

 massive white marble pillars of the Corinthian order, and 

 finished in a style creditable to the artist. At the centre of 

 the roof is a plain-looking cupola of wood painted white ; on 

 the top is a figure dressed with studied simplicity, intended, 

 no doubt, to personate Justice : but Justice requires no human 

 invention to make her lovely in the eyes of all. The state 

 legislature holds its sessions in this building. 



Almost close to the Capitol stands the Albany Academy. 

 This edifice is in an unfinished state ; but, when completed, 

 will form a handsome and commodious building, and is to be 

 endowed with all the rights and privileges of a chartered col- 

 lege. It already contains both a lyceum and museum, which 

 promise to become valuable and extensive. From the literary 

 and scientific acquirements of the principal conductor, this 

 academy must soon rise into great celebrity. Here is also 

 an agricultural society, which holds its meetings in one of the 

 apartments in this institution. Albany supports a charity- 

 school also, of about 400 scholars, who are taught upon the 

 plan of Lancaster. 



There are three banks in this city, modern and not un- 

 handsome buildings ; being made of an inferior white marble, 

 quarried from the transition limestone of this country. As in 

 England, these banks issue money made of paper, without, it 

 is feared, much reference to capital or means of redemption. 

 The natural consequence of such a system is, that bank fail- 

 ures are common, and the country inundated with paper 

 money, and those pests of mankind called money changers. 



Your friend, T. W, 



Albany^ June, 1823. 



Art. II. Rough Notes made during a Pedestrian Tour to the 

 Lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland f in the Spring of 1830. 

 ByG. 



" To a homeless man, who has no spot on this wide world that he can 

 truly call his own, there is a momentary feeling of independence, when, 

 after a weary day's travel, he kicks off his boots, thrusts his feet into 

 shppers, and stretches himself before an inn fire. Let the world without 

 go as it may, let kingdoms rise or fall, so long as he has the wherewithal to 

 pay his bill, he is for the time being the very " monarch of all he surveys ;*' 



