124 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK, 



Henry, one of its professors from 1826 to 1832, first 

 demonstrated his theory of the magnetic telegraph. 

 A few squares west of tlie Common was the stretch of 

 green that has since been set apart for a public park, 

 where the good people of Albany may find an agree- 

 able change of scene and an hour's pleasant recreation. 

 The New Capitol, on the site of the Old Capitol, is 

 a magnificent edifice in the renaissance style, built of 

 New England granite, at a cost to the State of many 

 millions. On passing quaint bits of architecture or the 

 suggestive aspect of some out-of-the way corner, one 

 turns naturally to the days of wigs and kneebreeches, 

 before the capital of the Empire State was thought of, 

 and when the forests of fair Columbia were overrun by 

 the bronzed warriors who still held undisputed sway. 

 It was back in these days that Henry Hudson, sent from 

 Holland by the Dutch East India Company, in sailing 

 up the " Grande " River in search of a passage to In- 

 dia and China, found that he could not send his ship 

 beyond the point where the city of Hudson now stands. 

 This was discouraging, but sure that the desired passage 

 was found, he and a few of his men pushed farther on 

 in a small craft, landing, it is believed, on the present 

 site of Albany. Later, Hudson and his men returned, 

 assured that the noble river could not take them where 

 they had hoped it might. After them came Dutch 

 traders, led by an enterprising Hollander who had been 

 with Hudson on his first voyage, and who saw a prom- 

 ising field in the red man's country. They established 

 a trading-post where the "Half Moon" had been 

 moored before, and froui here carried on their barter 

 with the Indians, exchanging attractive trifles for fursc 

 Other traders followed these, and then came the colo- 



