148 Review of Letters 



West Point, the plains, buildings, and Fort Putinan; and on a clear 

 day, the parade of tiie cadets may be distinctly seen from the portico; 

 and their music, echoed by a hundred hills, falls soothingly and pleasant- 

 ly upon tlie ear. 



" Altogether, this is one of the most magnificent sites for a summer 

 residence in the United States. It possesses, in many respects, advan- 

 tages even superior to those of West Point; and if a good hotel or 

 comfortable boarding-houses were established here, it would vie with 

 that spot as a summer retreat. I believe that it is or was contem])]ated 

 by Mr. Samuel Gouverneur, one of the largest landholders in the neigh- 

 borhood, to build a house of this description on the bluff just below 

 Cold Spring, which forms the narrowest part of theHighlands." 



" The grounds are well disposed, and susceptible of the highest improve- 

 ment, and if the plan which the Colonel showed me on paper be carried 

 into effect, his residence at Cold Spring will be a little nook stolen out 

 of paradise. I can't resist narrating a circumstance here, which shows 

 the inconceivable stupidity of a foreign beautifier and layer out of 

 grounds, who came here for that purpose, recommend as a man of taste, 

 and as the ex-gardener of an English earl. Reliance being implicitly 

 placed upon his tact and skill, he received orders to exercise his accom- 

 plishments in his pecular line to the best advantage — things were left to 

 his discretion and responsibility, and he had uncontrolled and ad libitum 

 authority to plant, to lay out, and dispose, as he listed, for two months, 

 last spring. Judge, friend P., of his employer's surprise .and mortifica- 

 tion, when he found that this time had been employed by his beautijier 

 and radical reformer in cutting down and laying waste almost every 

 thing in the shape of a tree about the premises! 



-"It is really astonishing how much mischief may be done in a little 

 time by an ignorant person, even though he be the ' gardener of an 

 earl,' and the growth of years prostrated in one hour. The only con- 

 solation left for the jtroprietor was, that the trees, although lofty, were 

 only cedars, and that the circumstance afforded opjjortunity for the dis- 

 play of his taste in arboriculture, by replacing them with others of a more 

 ornamental, choi e and elegant description. At the present time, they 

 are busy in transplanting full-grown and large-sized oaks, maples, and 

 other forests trees, on the plan suggested and practised by a Scotch baro- 

 net named Stewart, and 1 have no doubt of the complete success of the 

 experiment. In this event, the ' earl's gardener,' without intending it, 

 has unconsciously done good; and out of much evil, benefit will have 

 been deduced, as all transplanters of trees will have a model before them, 

 how most safely and judiciously to manage their operations." 



Hyde Park, the late residence of Dr. Hosack, is mentioned, 

 with some other places; but we omit the remarks on this place 

 to give the extracts containing the notice of the nurseries of our 

 correspondents, the Messrs. Downing, of Nevvburgh, and to one 

 of whom, Mr. A. J. Downing, the author states, in his preface, 

 he was much indebted in procuring valuable information. 



" The botanic gardens and nurseries of the Messrs. Downing, a little 

 north of the village, in a charming situation, sloping gently towards the 

 shore, and looking out from among the bright flowers and the fresh foliage 

 over one of the sweetest of views, are by no means the least attractive por- 

 tion of the suburbs of this place; and 1 suspect, from the celebrity which 

 this establihment is attaining, as a commercial garden, throughout the 

 Union, that many strangers are drawn hither by the increasing taste for 



