27 



with which the Hessians plied the bayonet. At length some of 

 the Americans, by a desperate effort, cut their way through the 

 host of foes, and effected their retreat, fighting as they went ; 

 others took refuge among the woods and fastnesses of the hills, 



but a great part were either killed or taken prisoners." * 



Let then this spot, consecrated by the blood of patriots, 

 be preserved, it" for no other reason than that in recalling the 

 memories of a glorious past, it may incite new hopes for a more 

 glorious future. 



PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT. 



In laying down a plan for the improvement and embellish- 

 ment of the area which has been described, it seems barely 

 necessary to say that the natural topographical features should 

 be the basis of that improvement. For, laying aside the ques- 

 tion of the greater expense which any other method would 

 incur, the infringement upon good taste, and upon that regard 

 for the beauties of nature possessed by every cultivated mind, 

 which would result from a display of artificial constructions, 

 would defeat the primary object of the park as a rural resort, 

 where the people of all classes, escaping from the glare, and 

 glitter, and turmoil of the city, might find relief for the mind, 

 and physical recreation — the park, under such circumstances, 

 becoming a mere place where the excitements of the town were 

 contiuued in another form, both alike destructive of that repose 

 of the mind so essential to the health of the body. Besides, 

 architectural constructions are too often matters of fashion, as 

 we see in the constant destruction of well-built edifices, to 

 make room for a later style of building ; and, although our 

 artificial erections may be copies of the most approved designs, 

 pleasing to the eye in their freshness and novelty, they soon lose 

 these, their chief merits, and in a few years, probably, are 

 removed, to make way for the further conceits of some new 

 aspirant for notice. 



AVhile on the other hand nature in its beauty and variety 

 never palls upon the senses ! never fails to elicit our admira- 

 tion ; whether displaying its wild grandeur in the vast soli- 

 tudes of the forest, or throwing its peaceful, clustering shadows 



* Irvine's Life of "Washington. 



