Albany. 255 



frequently obferved abundance of minute in- 

 ledts in water, which has been remarkable for 

 its clearnefs. Almoft eachhoufein^f/^^j/ha 

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

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

 ing, they commonly take the water of the 

 river Hud/on, 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 moft. They fcarce 

 make ufe of any other wood for this purpofe. 

 The black Walnut-tree affords excellent 

 wood for flocks ; but it does not grow in 

 the neighbourhood of Albany. 



"June the 2 1 ft. NEXT to the town of New 

 Tork^ 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 weftern fhore of the 



river 



