Albany. 255 



frequently obferved abundance of minute in- 

 fects in water, which has been remarkable for 

 its clearnefs. Almoft. each houfe in Albany has 

 its well, the water of which is applied to com- 

 mon ufe ; but for tea, brewing, and warn- 

 ing, they commonly take the water of the 

 river Hudfon, which flows clofe by the 

 town. This water is generally quite mud- 

 dy, and very warm in fummer ; and, on that 

 account, it is kept in cellars, in order that 

 the flime may fubfide, and that the water 

 may cool a little. 



We lodged with a gunfmith, who told 

 us, that the beft. charcoals for the forge 

 were made of the Black Pine. The next 

 in goodnefs, in his opinion, were charcoals, 

 made of the Beech-tree. 



The beft and deareft flocks for his muf- 

 kets were made of the wood of the wild 

 Cherry-tree ; and next to thefe he valued 

 thofe of the Red Maple mod. They fcarce 

 make ufe of any other wood for this purpofe. 

 The black Walnut-tree affords excellent 

 wood for ftocks ; but it does not grow in 

 the neighbourhood of Albany. 



June the 21ft. Next to the town of New 

 York, Albany is the principal town, or at 

 leaft the moft wealthy, in the province' of 

 New Tork. It is fituated on the declivity 

 of a hill, clofe to the weflern more of the 



river 



