352 PLACE HUNTING. [CHAP. XXXIX. 



so abundant, there will the eagles be gathered together; 

 and besides the aspirants to vacant offices, there is a 

 crowd of lawyers and paid agents of private indivi 

 duals and companies, who have to watch the passage 

 of private and public bills through the Legislature. 

 During the whole session, they fill the Governor s 

 ante-room, and the lobby of each House ; and, as 

 they are equal in respectability, number, station, and 

 influence, to the two other houses put together, be 

 sides that they spend, perhaps, more money in 

 Albany, we dignify them with the name of the 

 third house. &quot; 



&quot; Are they,&quot; said I, &quot; suspected of giving money- 

 bribes to legislators ? &quot; &quot; No ; but they may convey 

 a party of representatives on a railway trip, to make 

 them acquainted with the merits of some case relat 

 ing to a canal or railroad, and then entertain them 

 with a dinner before they return.&quot; &quot; In Massachu 

 setts,&quot; said I, &quot; people speak with more respect of 

 their assembly.&quot; &quot; No doubt, for in that State there 

 is much less to give away, and therefore less corrup 

 tion and intrigue. Besides, we have only 160 sena 

 tors and representatives, whereas the assembly at 

 Boston is far more numerous, so that it is not so 

 easy to bring the influence of * the third house to 

 bear upon it.&quot; 



In the public museum at Albany, Dr. Emmons 

 showed me a fine collection of simple minerals, rocks, 

 and fossils, made by himself and other geologists to 

 whom the State survey was entrusted. He then ac 

 companied me across the Hudson river, to examine 



