HISTORICAL NOTICES. 23 



BlitheiDood, the seat of R. Donaldson, Esq. near Barrytown 

 on the Hudson river, is one of the most tasteful villa residen- 

 ces in the Union. The lawn or park, which commands a 

 view of surpassing beauty, is studded with groups of fine fo- 

 rest trees, beneath which are delightful walks leading in easy 

 curves to rustic seats, summer houses, etc. disposed in seclu- 

 ded spots, or to openings affording the most lovely pros- 

 pects. (See Frontispiece.) In various situations near the 

 house and upon the lawn, Maltese vases exquisitely sculptured 

 in stone, are disposed in such a manner as to give a classic 

 air to the grounds. The entrance lodge, built in the English 

 cottage style, is exceedingly neat and appropriate, and the 

 whole place may be considered quite a model of elegant ar- 

 rangement ; such indeed as may fairly come within the reach 

 of numbers of our wealthy proprietors, did they possess the 

 taste, as well as the means, for this species of refined enjoy- 

 ment. 



There are one or two old and celebrated country residences 

 on the Hudson, in the possession of the Livingston family, in 

 the neighbourhood of Barrytown. The magnificent single 

 trees, groups, masses, and rolling woods, which seem as if 

 tastefully disposed in the modern style over an extensive un- 

 dulating park, covered with the finest turf, give these seats 

 very much the air of an old European residence ; which per- 

 haps they resemble, more than any mansion residences that 

 we have in the United States. These places owe almost their 

 entire beauty to nature, as nearly all the fine trees, groves, 

 and woods, are the natural growth of the soil ; such as indeed 

 once covered many of our fine river valleys, but which have 

 fallen a prey to the licentious axe of the woodman in so many 

 thousand instances. Here, just so much of the natural growth 

 of timber has been retained, as to clothe the estate with a truly 



