4.92 Natural History Tour 
description is scarcely to be seen.* There being three ferries 
expressly for steam-boats, the communication to and from this 
gay city, across the Hudson, is constant, and attended with 
that convenience and facility which characterise the operations 
of this people. ‘Two, or sometimes more, steam-boats are 
usually attached to each ferry ; and, from sunrise to long after 
sunset of each day, they are busily employed in transpor ting 
passengers, carriages, cattle, and various kinds of goods, to 
and from market. The ferry-stands are, in fact, drawbridges, 
regulated to suit the rise and fall of the tide: thus the ingress 
and egress into and out of the boats become at once both safe 
and easy. Numerous sloops, schooners, and various other 
descriptions of smaller craft, are constantly seen on the Hud- 
son ; and when viewed from an elevation, silently and leisurely 
winding their way among the verdured hills, sails white 
and spread, the effect is very interesting, and always forms 
one of the best embellishments to a land scene. ‘The vessels 
designed for passengers are finished in an elegant style ; their 
cabins are comfortable, capacious, and convenient, and deco- 
rated with the richest drapery. In beauty of form and gene- 
ral appearance, certainly, they excel any packet vessels I have 
ever seen in Europe. On the water they are easy and light, 
and, with a moderate wind, sail with astonishing rapidity. 
Albany is distant from New York 160 miles, and one of these 
vessels (a sloop) has, a few days ago, made this distance in 
13hours. In burthen, the sloops and schooners will average 
from about 30 to 150 tons, and in number they have been 
calculated to be upwards of 1500. 
Here are, besides, four steam-boats which ply up the Hud- 
son from New York to Albany, calling at the intermediate towns 
and villages on their way, as the wants of the passengers may 
require; and, for beauty, size, and despatch, they excel any 
I have seen or heard of in any part of the world: those of the 
Thames, Clyde, or Mersey, would cut a pitiful figure alongside 
ofthem. In burthen they are from 500 to 700 tons, and have 
occasionally accommodated from 150 to 200 passengers with 
beds. ‘These cabins extend nearly fore and aft, and are so lofty 
as to contain three and even four tiers of beds: a spectator at 
his entrance, struck with the magnificence of these apartments, 
is apt to imagine himself in the mansion of some nobleman. 
Splendid cabins, however, form not their only recommendation: 
one of those steamers, the James Kent, a new vessel, and in 
* Since the above was written, the prospect here alluded to has under- 
gone much improvement. Powle’s Hook (the name given to the ferry and 
shore on the Jersey side, immediately opposite to the city of New York) 
now displays many large and elegant houses, gardens, and plantations. 
