SOUTH AMERICA. 259 



the prospect he had of doing a fellow-creature a 



. 



kind turn or two, and he completely won my regard 

 by an affability which I shall never forget. This 

 obliging gentleman pointed out every thing that 

 was grand and interesting as the steam-boat plied 

 her course up the majestic Hudson. Here the 

 Catskill mountains raised their lofty summit ; and 

 there the hills came sloping down to the water's 

 edge. Here he pointed to an aged and venerable 

 oak, which having escaped the levelling axe of 

 man, seemed almost to defy the blasting storm, 

 and desolating hand of time ; and there, he bade 

 me observe an extended tract of wood, by which 

 I might form an idea how rich and grand the face 

 of the country had once been. Here it was 

 that, in the great and momentous struggle, the 

 colonists lost the day ; and there, they carried all 

 before them : 



" They closed full fast, on every side 



No slackness there was found ; 

 And many a gallant gentleman 

 Lay gasping on the ground." 



Here, in fine, stood a noted regiment; there, 

 moved their great captain; here, the fleets fired 

 their broadsides; and there, the whole force 

 rushed on to battle : 



" Hie Dolopum manus, hie magnus tendebat Achilles, 

 Classibus hie locus, hie acies certare solebat ." 



At tea-time we took our tea together, and the 

 next morning this worthy American walked up 



s 2 



