about the Hudson, c^-c. 147 



other papers and periodicals, having been extensively copied from 

 the Traveller, he was induced to bring them out in a small volume, 

 as they might be of use as well as prove interesting to the innume- 

 rable mass of travellers, who, either for pleasure or business, pass 

 up the Hudson in the elegant steamers that daily, indeed almost 

 hourly, navigate its waters. 



Were it not that the author's remarks, discursive in their char- 

 acter, touched upon subjects coming within the scope of our 

 Magazine, we should not spare the room to notice this volume in 

 any other way than to announce its character, and to speak in 

 commendation of the spirit in which it is written. Interesting as 

 it might be to the traveller, it would form no portion of the use- 

 ful matter of our Magazine, did it not contain notices of the fine 

 gardens which exist on the borders of the noble Hudson, and, in 

 particular, those of some of our most intelligent correspondents; 

 we allude to the botanic garden and nurseries of the Messrs. 

 Downing, and the amateur collection of plants of Mr. Knevels, of 

 Newburgh. These two places are noticed in a manner which is 

 highly creditable to the author (in whom we recognise an 

 acquaintance,) and at the same time in justice to the respec- 

 tive proprietors. It is rare to see the letter writers, who are en- 

 gaged by the daily presses and periodical works of this country, 

 both at home and abroad, to scribble news and nonsense, notice 

 the gardens in and about tlie vicinity of such places as they may 

 visit. We have often looked through the letters of European 

 coiTespondents, written by Americans, to find some accounts of 

 the many splendid gardens which abound both in England and on 

 ^.he Continent; but, with one or two exceptions, we have never ob- 

 served the least notice of any, not even the most celebrated, of 

 them. On the contrary, the English correspondents to English 

 Magazines are early in their notices of fine gardens, wherever found. 

 It is therefore with much pleasure that in this small unpretending 

 volume, written without any expectation of receiving more than the 

 ordinary attention of newspaper correspondence, we found the 

 notices which we have just alluded to. They are evidently writ- 

 ten with a view to impart to the reader an idea of their extent 

 and beauty, and at the same time to create a greater taste among 

 the public for fine gardens, and elegant shrubs and flowers. But 

 we proceed to give a few extracts from the volume; and, first, 

 is a description of the residence of the editor of the JVeu» York 

 Mirror, Col. George P. Morris, at Cold Spring. 



" Col. Morris's house is built upon a plateau just above the villaj^c, and 

 coinuiaiids a ])icturesque and lake-like view of the noble Hudson to the 

 north, with the blue ranije ofthe distant Catskiils boundiiii^ the horizon. 

 In front you have olri Cro'-Nest and his subject mountains, with their 

 map of livins^ verdure crowuing their brows and sides — the scene of 

 Rodman Drake's exquisite jjocm of the ' Culprit Fay.' To the south, 

 it enjoys one of the finest au'l most uninterrupted views imaginable of 



