232 $we 1749. 



tries, through the places where it met with 

 the leaft oppofition. This is perhaps the 

 reafon why fome rivers run in fo many 

 ben dings equally through fields of foft 

 (earth, as likewife there, where mountains, 

 rocks, and ftones, divert their paffage. How- 

 ever it feems that fome rivers derive their 

 firft origin from the creation itfelf, and that 

 Providence then pointed out their courfe j 

 for their exiftence can, in all probability, 

 not be owing to the accidental eruption of 

 water alone. Among thefe rivers we may 

 rank the river Hud/on : I was furprifed on 

 feeing its courfe, and the variety of its fhores. 

 It takes its rife a good way above Albany, 

 and defcends to New Tork, in a direct line 

 from North to South, which is a diftance 

 of about a hundred and fixty Englijh miles, 

 and perhaps more ; for the little bendings 

 which it makes are of no fignification. In 

 many places between New Tork and Albany* 

 are ridges of high mountains running Weft 

 and Eaft. But it is remarkable that they 

 go on undifturbed till they come to the 

 river ffud/on, which cuts directly acrofs 

 them, and frequently their fides ftand per- 

 pendicular towards the river. There is an 

 opening left in the chain of mountains, as 

 broad as the river commonly is, for it to 

 pafs through, and the mountains go on as 



before, 



