524 JNofes made durins^ a Visit to 



o 



planted by ^Ir. Bradhurst's father, which are now sixty feet 

 high, with their weeping branches falling to the ground. Such 

 fine specimens we have rarely seen. On the eastern front Mr. 

 Bradhurst has himself planted some good masses of pines, 

 which obstruct the view of the house from the street, and af- 

 ford protection from the winds. We left this place, highly 

 pleased with our visit. 



Fort IVashington, R. F. Carman, Esq. — The upper part 

 of the island contains many delightful situations for villa 

 residences, particularly on tlje borders of the Hudson river. 

 Beyond Haerlem, the surface is broken by gentle undula- 

 tions, and, in many places, so well wooded as to render 

 many situations exceedingly picturesque and beautiful. We 

 learned from our friend, Mr. Dunlap, who accompanied 

 us, that several individuals have selected some of these 

 fine spots for their country residences, and have already com- 

 menced building. 



Fort \\a3hington is highly interesting from its historical as- 

 sociations. It is situated immediately upon the Hudson river, 

 forming a steep bank of several hundred feet, from which the 

 surface rapidly descends to the north, east, and south. It was 

 probably from its more inaccessible character than any of the 

 heights near it, that it was selected for a fort in the revolution- 

 ary war. It will be recollected by those who are conversant 

 with the history of that period, that this fort was garrisoned by 

 the American troops to the number of nearly three thousand 

 men, under Col. Magaw; and when the American army re- 

 treated to the Jersey side, it was the wish of Gen. Washington 

 that this fort should be evacuated. But Gen. Greene, who had 

 the supervision of that portion of the army, deemed it ad- 

 visable for them to remain, until it was too late, and retreat 

 rendered impossible. The result was a severe engagement 

 with the English: the troops were driven into the fort, and 

 there compelled to surrender to Gen. Howe. Mr. Noble, the 

 gardener, informed us that, in ploughing and cultivating the 

 ground, he has dug up numerous cannon balls, bullets, &c.j and 

 he showed us some which had lately been taken out of the soil. 



Fort Washington is four miles beyond Haerlem, and about 

 eleven from New York. The direct road is over the Eighth 

 Avenue; but from the rail-road depot at Haerlem it is a short 

 ride. The house is built directly upon the spot where the 

 fort was erected, and very little trace can now be seen of the 



