402 Select Villa Residences. 



ing cliff; opening again to present to the eye a hew scene in the 

 clustered dwellings which mark the numerous villages through- 

 out its course. Those only who have passed and repassed 

 what we have attempted to give some faint impression of, can 

 appreciate the nobleness of the views which are every where 

 obtained. 



Newburgh is one of the pleasantest villages on the river. 

 It is situated just above the entrance to the Highlands, ten 

 or twelve miles above West Point, and about sixty from 

 New York city. Passing West Point, where the river is not 

 half a mile wide, it extends, opposite Newburgh, to the dis- 

 tance of a mile and a half. The banks, which a few miles 

 below are fifteen hundred feet high, are here, in some places, 

 easily approached from the river. Newburgh lies generally at 

 the height, probably, of from fifty to one hundred and fifty 

 feet above the level of the river: the streets are laid out par- 

 allel with its banks, and are crossed by others at right 

 angles. 



Newburgh possesses many interesting historical associations. 

 The old house which formed Gen. Washington's head-quarters 

 in the revolutionary army, and of which a very spirited and cor- 

 rect engraving is given in Sparks's Life of JVashinglon, is not 

 in so good condition as we could wish to see such a venerable 

 relic of the war of 1775; it is situated in a bleak or rather 

 exposed situation, with but one or two trees within the dis- 

 tance of a hundred yards: it commands, however, a beautiful 

 view of the river and surrounding country. 



The village we should judge, from its present appearance, 

 to have been naturally an open and but sparsely wooded coun- 

 try. A few situations have been much beautified by forming 

 plantations of trees and shrubs; but the town generally, con- 

 trasted with Fishkill, on the opposite side of the river, pre- 

 sents an exposed appearance. 



The residence of Mr. Downing is situated about half a 

 mile from the centre of the village. The grounds comprise 

 about eleven acres of land, separated into three lots of nearly 

 four acres each, by the streets, which, as we have before re- 

 marked, run at right angles. Mr. Downing's house is situated 

 on the upper piece, or that farthest from the river, and the an- 

 nexed ground plan represents a portion of this lot, laid out in 

 the modern or English style. Commencing with this, "vve 

 shall describe its difi'erent arrangements. 



