10 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



bearing, only four years old ; he has a plant of Isabella grape, trained up 

 over the veranda of his house, covering a space of about 75 feet in 

 length, and has a very weighty crop, thought to prove a valuable thing in 

 wine or probably dessert. 



Thursday, September 4th. At 5 o'clock this morning I went on board 

 the steamboat James Kent and proceeded up the River Hudson towards 

 Albany. The scenery was particularly fine on the west side : the perpen- 

 dicular rocks covered with wood gave it an appearance seldom to be met 

 with. About forty miles from New York, in the highlands, many pleasant 

 villas are seen from the river. West Point is still pointed out to strangers, 

 being the place where the unfortunate, but good, Major Andre paid the 

 debt of nature in his country's defence. The approach to the Fort and 

 Military School on the north has a beautiful effect. At half -past 1 o'clock 

 I went ashore at Governor Lewis', eighty miles from New York. Calling at 

 his house I found that he and his family were on a visit to the western part 

 of the State. I then made towards an inn, to obtain refreshment, which 

 was three miles distant. In the afternoon I took a walk by the side of the 

 Hudson. I found nothing interesting except a rose which was growing 

 out of a crevice of rock ; no flowers on it, forty capsules in a corymb. 



Friday, September 5th. At 5 o'clock this morning I was aroused from bed 

 by a James Thomson, Jun., of Elerslie, who is neighbour to Governor 

 Lewis. He very kindly took me from the tavern and afforded me his 

 house during my stay there. I received great attention from Mrs. 

 Thomson, which was thankfully acknowledged. Mr. Thomson, Sen., I did 

 not see, he being engaged in the Supreme Court at New York. I saw 

 a fine collection of vegetables, fruits, &c., in their garden. Peaches in 

 particular in great vigour and health, neither pruned nor get any manure ; 

 apples, the usual choice ones peculiar to America ; pears, &c. In his woods 

 I found on a point a quarter of a mile west of his house Gerardia flava in 

 great perfection, growing in dry gravelly soil, partially shadowing another 

 species of Gerardia, small and starved. On the outskirts of the wood, 

 Eupatorium four or five species, Inula, Solidago, and Aster. The whole 

 of this place seems in cultivation, &c., like England. Four large oaks of 

 different species, acorns of which I am to get on my return. I stayed 

 here all day ; went to bed early, as I intended to take the steamboat for 

 Albany, which passed early the following morning. 



Saturday, September 6th. I embarked in the Richmond steamboat, 

 on her way to Albany, at 1 o'clock A.M. Very little difference in 

 point of scenery, &c., from that which I had seen two days before. 

 At 11 o'clock I arrived at Albany. I waited on His Excellency Governor 

 Clinton, who showed me attention, desiring me to call the following day at 

 12 o'clock and he would consult with me as to my route. I left with him 

 my instructions and withdrew. I went to the vegetable market in the 

 afternoon, where there was an abundant supply of fruit, &c. A small native 

 plum is brought to market from the opposite banks of the river, where it 

 grows plentifully. I here observed the cabbages and beans were superior 

 to those I had already seen. 



Sunday, September 7th. This morning at 5 I was awakened with 



