in North America. 495 



aiid 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 the 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 

 laurels 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 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. Two 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 cultivation, 

 farm-houses, cottages, and villas. Houses in the country, as 

 in the cities and towns of America, are mostly constructed of 

 wood, and generally well coated with white paint. What is 

 called 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 



