408 Select Villa Residences. 



tains, a spur of the Alleghany range, that crosses the Hudson 

 at West Point, and is continued until it connects "vvith the 

 Green Mountains, in Vermont, rise up in majestic grandeur, 

 their rugged sides wreathed with a growth of wood. Below, 

 and near West Point, is Beacon Hill, remarkable for its sum- 

 mit, which is fifteen hundred feet high. This was so named 

 from beacon lights having been burned, in the revolution, on 

 its top, to indicate to the country the progress and position of 

 the armv of the enemy at their work. The opening of the 

 Highlands, at the lower end of Newburgh Bay, is perhaps the 

 finest river scenery in America: the bold summits of Cro' 

 Nest and St. Anthony, rising directly from the water nearly 

 half a mile high, their rugged surface of the eternal granite, 

 luxuriantly clothed with a rich vegetation of dark pines, dog- 

 woods, oaks, &c. almost to the very top. It is here that the 

 autunmal scenery of America may be seen in all its gorgeous 

 richness of coloring; its mellow hues and deep tints appear- 

 ing still more superb as we sail along upon the still surface of 

 the water, almost beneath the bold cliffs. Looking up the 

 river, the view, though tame in comparison with that below, 

 forms a good contrast, from its more cheerful character. 



We now continue our course along the walk, keeping to 

 the right. We here, (10,) pass the group of magnolias, 

 of which the M. conspicua is a good specimen, standing the 

 winter without protection, and flowering every spring. The 

 ?71nius alata, (11,) is a fine tree, of rather slow growth, but 

 exceedingly picturesque in the outline of its branches. Far- 

 ther on, we pass two of the circular beds (5,) filled with roses 

 and other flowers: the arabesque bed (4,) planted with Bour- 

 bon roses, among which Dubriel and Madame Desprez were 

 fine kinds, having immense clusters of flowers. At 12, we 

 have the group of trees before noted, of which the Mac- 

 lura, with its deep green polished foliage, is the most con- 

 spicuous. Virgil/a lutea is elegant, earlier in the season, 

 from its pendant racemes of yellowish white flowers. The 

 rustic basket (S,) next attracts our attention: then the two 

 next circular beds, raised in the centre, about eight feet in di- 

 ameter, filled with petunias, which were very splendid: one was 

 the P. GroomiJ, a pink variety with a dark centre, and the 

 other a deep rich purple, called P. intermedia. Again, we 

 have another pretty group of trees, (13,) with the fine »4"cer 

 striatum included, and near by, two arabesque beds (4, 4,) 



