XX 



the continent lying chaotic, in mountain, and lake,, and 

 jEbrest, with a fii;iger that should develop all its resources 

 of beauty,, for the admiration and benefit of its children, 

 seemed' to hiin a task worthy the highest genius. This 

 was. th6 dream that dazzled the silent yea,rs of his Ufe 

 in the garden, and inspired and strengthened hiril in ' 

 every exertion, As he saw more and more of the results 

 of this spirit in the beautiftil Hudson country-seats, he, 

 was, '.naturally^ only the- more resolved. To-, lay out one 

 garden well, in qohformity with the character of the sur- 

 rounding landscape, in obedience to the truest taste, and 

 to niake'a man's home, and its grounds, and its accesso- 

 ries, as genuine works of ^t'as any picture or statue that 

 the owner iad brought , over the sea, was, iu his mind, the 

 |jrst step toward the ^reat result. H 



At the'va,rious places ypon tlie river, as he visited them., 

 from time to time, he was received as a gentleman, a scho- 

 lar, and the- most practical man of the party, would neces- 

 sarily be welcomed. He sketched, he measured ; "in a 

 Wjalk he plucks froni an overhanging bough a single leaf, " 

 examines its color, form and structtire ; inspects if with 

 his microscope, and, having recorded his observations, pre- 

 sents it to his friend, and invites him to study it, as sug- 

 gestive of some of the first principles of rural architecture 

 and economy." No man enjoyed society more, and none 

 ever lost less tinie. His-plfeasure trips from point to point 

 upon the, river were the. excursions of the honey-hee into 

 the flower. He returned richly laden; and the young 

 partner, feeling from childhood the necessity of entire self- 

 dependence, continued to live much alone, to be reserved, 

 but always afikble and gentle. .Tl^ese tra)fels were usiially 

 brief, and strictly essential to his education. He was wisely, 

 getting ready ; it would be so 4tal to speak without autho- 



