314 WASHINGTON HOTEL. 



have no doubt Albany will, in this respect, set an example 

 to other places in the States. I had carried from Britain a 

 few copies of the Agricultural Exhibition at Stirling, by 

 Messrs Drummonds, which I left with some of my friends in 

 the United States, and doubt not they will find them useful. 



From Buffalo to Albany, by way of the canal, there is a 

 good deal of fine land, and much of the foliage having dropt 

 from the trees, afforded an opportunity of seeing the country. 

 Indian corn was frequently seen on the ground, though in 

 some instances the ears had been plucked from the standing 

 stalks, and I was particularly struck with the puny appear 

 ance of the crops, compared with those of Illinois. Pump 

 kins seemed to have been frequently grown amongst In 

 dian com, and farmers generally engaged in carrying them 

 home. This vegetable is given to oxen and cows. In most 

 instances the wheat crop was above ground. Before reaching 

 Utica, I observed a drain forming, at no great distance from 

 the canal, which was the only attempt of the kind I saw 

 executing on the American territory. 



On the morning after my arrival at Albany, I set out for 

 New York, and the day being particularly fine, I enjoyed the 

 sail down the river. The trees presented a diversity of ap 

 pearance, some being without a leaf, and others in all the 

 freshness of spring. The blue rocks were seen behind the 

 fading foliage, a bright sun added to the brilliancy of the 

 autumnal tints, and rendered the scenery more beautiful than 

 I thought it when seen before in the early part of June. 



On reaching New York, about eight in the evening, I bent 

 my steps towards the Washington hotel in Broadway, and 

 found my trunks and keys were in the possession of the land 

 lord, Mr Ward. After having seen some of the most cele 

 brated hotels in the States, such as the Tremont at Boston, 

 and Mr Head s at Philadelphia, none of them pleased me so 

 much as the Washington hotel. No individual could be more 

 civil, accommodating, and attentive, than Mr Ward, and all 

 the arrangements of the house seemed to me extremely judi 

 cious. The tables were at all times served with the best of 

 fare ; the hours were kept with punctuality, and the waiters 

 numerous and active. I cannot speak of the accommodation 



