1823, SEPTEMBER. ALBANY 11 



tremendous peals of thunder. On my looking out of the window the streets 

 were quite inundated ; the town standing on a gentle declivity, the water 

 rushed with great rapidity. I waited at 12 on His Excellency the Governor, 

 who said that his opinion was for me to proceed to Canada without delay, 

 the season being far advanced, and particularly as the steamboat Superior 

 was to sail from Buffalo on Saturday next. After giving me letters of 

 introduction to all the places of science or influence on my line of journey, 

 accompanied with a small guide and verbal instructions, I prepared to 

 leave Albany, calculating to see it perfectly on my return. I wrote to 

 Jos. Sabine, Esq. Left Albany at 4 o'clock for Schenectady, where I arrived 

 at 9 o'clock of the same evening ; the rain fell in torrents all the way. 



September 8tJi. At 3 this morning I pursued my journey in the stage 

 towards Utica. This morning was cool, the rich verdure of Nature, the 

 lofty mountains on the right hand, the fertile fields, and the Mohawk 

 gliding down on the left, gave to the country an appearance, fine beyond 

 description. All the farmers here have orchards cultivated: seldom 

 more than ten or twelve varieties of apples ; pears are scarce. They 

 make their own cider. In every village or cottage I passed stood a cider- 

 mill, casks, and men busily employed preparing for their cider harvest. 

 Two or three varieties of plums are in cultivation. lAt 2 o'clock I came 

 to Little Falls, 70 miles from Albany. The bad road and the j olting reduced 

 me so much that I was obliged to give up that mode of travelling. The line 

 of coaches and canal-boats being in company, I took the canal-boat at this 

 place. I Here is a beautiful, elegant bridge across the Mohawk, consisting of 

 three arches, built of granite, serving as an aqueduct and a bridge, built in 

 the space of two months and two days, dedicated to De Witt Clinton, &c., 

 Commissioner of Canada. I arrived at Utica about 9 o'clock at night. 



Tuesday, September 2th. At 8 o'clock this morning I left Utica by canal- 

 boat for Rochester ; sixty miles from here without a lock. * The fields on its 

 banks are rich and fertile, and in general well cultivated. Passed Rome at 

 12. On the right, about one mile further on, two fine seats on an eminence. 

 Passed some large swamps of fir, walnut, ash, oak, elm. I here, to my 

 astonishment, found a Magnolia ten feet high, leaves large, smooth, ovate, 

 and acute. I saw no more but itself ; no seed on it ; had no appearance of 

 having flowered. The boats are fitted up on good principles : accommo- 

 dation for twenty-four ladies in one cabin and as many in the men's. 

 I slept on board, but was much disturbed passing the locks,* &c. 

 To-day presented nothing different from yesterday. I arrived at 

 Rochester at 6 o'clock on the llth. 



Thursday, September llth. After breakfast at 8 o'clock I took the 

 mail to Avon, twenty-four miles south, with the intention of getting the 

 coach on the western road to Buffalo. In this movement I was dis- 

 appointed, and had to stay all night. In the afternoon I went to see the 

 celebrated sulphur-springs known by the name of Avon Springs ; seem to 

 partake of magnesium. Many people are here for the benefit of their 

 health. 



Friday, September 12^. Left early in the morning by stage from 

 * Sic in MS. ED. 



