A VISIT TO MONTGOMERY PLACE. 193 



the Livingston family, and situated in that part of Dutchess county 

 bordering on the Hudson. About one hundred miles from New- 

 York, the swift river steamers reach this part of the river in six 

 hours ; and the guest, who leaves the noisy din of the town in the 

 early morning, finds himself, at a little past noon, plunged amid all 

 the seclusion and quiet of its leafy groves. 



And this accessible perfect seclusion is, perhaps, one of the most 

 captivating features in the life of the country gentleman, whose lot 

 is cast on this part of the Hudson. For twenty miles here, on the 

 eastern shore, the banks are nearly a continuous succession of fine 

 seats. The landings are by no means towns, or large villages, 

 with the busy air of trade, but quiet stopping places, serving the 

 convenience of the neighboring residents. Surrounded by exten- 

 sive pleasure-grounds, fine woods or parks, even the adjoining 

 estates are often concealed from that part of the grounds around the 

 house, and but for the broad Hudson, which forms the grand feature 

 in all these varied landscapesthe Hudson always so full of life in 

 its numberless bright sails and steamers one might fancy himself a 

 thousand miles from all crowded and busy haunts of men. 



Around Montgomery Place, indeed, this air of quiet and seclu- 

 sion lurks more bewitchingly than in any other seat whose hospitality 

 we have enjoyed. Whether the charm lies in the deep and mysterious 

 wood, full of the echo of water-spirits, that forms the Northern 

 boundary, or whether it grows out of a profound feeling of com- 

 pleteness and perfection in foregrounds of old trees, and distances of 

 calm serene mountains, we have not been able to divine ; but cer- 

 tain it is that there is a spell in the very air, which is fatal to the 

 energies of a great speculation. It is not, we are sure, the spot for 

 a man to plan campaigns of conquest, and we doubt even whether 

 the scholar, whose ambition it is 



"To scorn delights, 

 And live laborious days," 



would not find something in the air of this demesne, so soothing as 

 to dampen the fire of his great purposes, and dispose him to believe 

 that there is more dignity in repose, than merit in action. 

 There is not wanting something of the charm of historical 

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