zn North America. 495 
and forms a remarkable feature in its geology, being composed 
chiefly of trap, or rather a kind of coarse basalt in large 
columnar masses, occurring sometimes, as I observed, in the 
form of regular hexagons. The ridge, at its highest eleva- 
tion, will be from 500 to 600 ft. above the level of ithe river. 
The morning was quite clear; all was calm, the tumult of 
the heavens had ceased; not a cloud was to be seen; the 
wind, although light, was very favourable; and we were wafted 
slowly along the rugged and truly romantic shore of Wee- 
hawk. The mountains, bluffs, rocks, glens, and deep ravines 
which here present themselves after so short a sail from all 
the pomp and splendour of art, form a contrast, on which the 
mind will be apt to reflect. 
At a short distance from the upper ferry, called Hoboken, 
just before you approach the acclivities of Weehawk, stands, 
near the shore, the monument of the once brave and patriotic 
Hamilton: it is seen like a small steeple, peeping from amidst 
the thick wood that surrounds it; and, as though ashamed of 
the spot where was shed the noble blood of this hero, it is 
content to perpetuate the name of a man once adorned with the 
taurels of fame, great, good, and talented, amidst wild woods, 
and in the gloom of nature’s rudest productions. Hamilton 
was a brave and distinguished general in the revolutionary 
war, and merited the long life and exemplary death of a vir- 
tuous man; but coming in contact with some of the political 
views of the ambitious, wily, subjected [?], and equally talented 
Colonel B., he accepted his challenge, was shot, and buried 
where now stands this monument. ‘This place, ever since his 
death, has been selected for duelling-ground. It is a circular 
hollow, of perhaps one hundred yards i in circumference, and 
completely surrounded by interrupted and irregular masses of 
rocks, bushes, and trees, on many of whose trunks may be 
seen the marks of bullets. T'wo or three instances of honour- 
able meetings have lately occurred at this place. ‘ O tem- 
pora! O mores!” 
The country on the New York, or eastern, side of the river, 
extends from two to fifteen miles up the Hudson, without 
almost any perceptible elevation, and is agreeably variegated. 
with patches of woodland, fields apparently in fine cultiv ation, 
farm-houses, cottages, eat villas. Houses in the country, as 
in the cities and towns of America, are mostly constr ucted of 
wood, and generally well coated with white paint. What is 
palled the Promontory of Weehawk is somewhat more than a 
mile from Hamilton’s monument: it commands an excellent 
view of the harbour and. city of New York, Long Island, 
Staten Island, and the ocean, with various other objects of 
K K 4 
