Historical Sketches 15 



style, and a new entrance lodge by the gate, in the bracketed 

 mode; in short, we can recall no place of moderate extent, 

 where nature and tasteful art are both so harmoniously 

 combined to express grace and elegance. 



Montgomery Place, the residence of Mrs. Edward Living- 

 ston, which is also situated on the Hudson, near Barry- 

 town, deserves a more extended notice than our present 

 limits allow, for it is, as a whole, nowhere surpassed in 

 America, in point of location, natural beauty, or the land- 

 scape gardening charms which it exhibits. 



It is one of our oldest improved country seats, having 

 been originally the residence of Gen. Montgomery, the hero 

 of Quebec. On the death of his widow it passed into the 

 hands of her brother, Edward Livingston, Esq., the late 

 minister to France, and up to the present moment has 

 always received the most tasteful and judicious treatment. 



The lover of the expressive in nature, or the beautiful in 

 art, will find here innumerable subjects for this study. The 

 natural scenery in many portions approaches the character 

 of grandeur, and the foreground of rich woods and lawns, 

 stretching out on all sides of the mountain, completes a 

 home landscape of dignified and elegant seclusion, rarely 

 surpassed in any country. 



Among the fine features of this estate are the ' ' Wilder- 

 ness," a richly wooded and highly picturesque valley, filled 

 with the richest growth of trees, and threaded with dark, 

 intricate, and mazy walks, along which are placed a variety 

 of rustic seats. This valley is musical with the sound of 

 waterfalls, of which there are several fine ones in the bold 

 impetuous stream which finds its course through the lower 

 part of the wilderness. Near the further end of the valley 

 is a beautiful lake, half of which lies cool and dark under 

 the shadow of tall trees, while the other half gleams in the 

 open sunlight. 



In a part of the lawn, near the house, yet so surrounded 

 by a dark setting of trees and shrubs as to form a rich 

 picture by itself, is one of the most perfect flower gardens 

 in the country, laid out in the arabesque manner, and glow- 



