262 PLACE-HUNTING. [CHAP. XXXIX. 



fish, to guarantee their good quality, arid guard the public against 

 imposition, in cases where the articles would be injured if opened 

 and examined by the purchaser. It is scarcely necessary to state, 

 that where the prey is so abundant, there will the eagles be gath 

 ered together ; and besides the aspirants to vacant offices, there 

 is a crowd of lawyers and paid agents of private individuals 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, besides that they spend, 

 perhaps, more money in Albany, we dignify them with the name 

 of &amp;lt; 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 repre 

 sentatives on a railway trip, to make them acquainted with the 

 merits of some case relating to a canal or railroad, and then 

 entertain them with a dinner before they return.&quot; &quot; In Massa 

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

 assembly.&quot; No doubt, for in that state there is much less to 

 give away, and therefore less corruption and intrigue. Besides, 

 we have only 160 senators 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 

 intrusted. He then accompanied me across the Hudson River, 

 to examine the slate and limestone eastward of Albany. Here, 

 from the summit of Greenbush Hill, we enjoyed a magnificent 

 view of the Catskill Mountains, and the Helderberg range in the 

 distance. In the foreground was the river, and Albany itself, 

 now containing a population of 40,000 inhabitants, with its domes 

 and spires clustered together, in the higher parts of the city, and 

 lighted up by a bright sunshine. 



The day following, Dr. Emmon.s and Mr. James Hall went 

 with me to explore the chain of the Bald Mountains, north of 



