22Q 



NEW YORK. 



tains, which, commencing their career several miles south of Fort George, extend beyond 

 Plattsburgh, and terminate near the north lines of the State, occupying a distance of about 100 

 miles. Those on the east are high, bold, and, in various places, naked and hoary. Those on 

 the west are somewhat inferior, and generally covered with a thick forest to their summits. 

 The road for the three or four last miles passes through a forest, and conceals the lake from the 

 view of the traveler until he arrives at the eminence upon which Fort George was built. Here 

 is opened at once a prospect, the splendor of which is rarely exceeded. 



" The whole scenery of the lake is greatly enhanced in beauty and splendor, by the pro- 

 gressive change which the traveler sailing on its bosom perpetually finds in his position, and by 

 the unceasing variegations of light and shade which attend his progress ; the gradual and the 

 sudden opening of scoops and basins, of islands and points, of promontories and summits ; the 

 continual change of their forms, and their equally gradual or sudden disappearance, impart to 

 every object a brilliancy, life, and motion scarcely inferior to that which is seen in the images 

 formed by the camera obscura, and in strength and distinctness greatly superior. Light and 

 shade are here not only far more diversified, but are much more obvious, intense, and glowing, 

 than in smooth, open countries. Every thing, whether on the land or water, is here affected 

 by the changes of the day, and the eye, without forecast, finds itself, however disposed on 

 ordinary occasions to inattention, instinctively engaged and fastened, with emotions approaching 

 to rapture. The shadows of the mountains, particularly on the west, floating slowly over the 

 bosom of the lake, and softly ascending that of the mountains on the east, presented to us in 

 a wide expanse the uncommon and most pleasing image of one vast range of mountains, slowly 

 moving up the ascent of another. 



" The water is probably not surpassed in beauty by any in the world ; pure, sweet, pellu- 

 cid, of an elegant hue, when immediately under the eye, and at very small, as well us at great- 

 er distances, presenting a gay, luminous azure, and appearing as if a soft lustre undulated 

 everywhere on its surface, with a continual and brilliant emanation. This fine object, however, 

 is visible only at certain times and perhaps in particular positions. While employed on its 

 shores, or in sailing upon its bosom, the traveler is insensibly led into one habitual and irresis- 

 tible consciousness of singular salubrity, sweetness, and elegance. During the mild season, 

 he finds an additional pleasure. The warmth of the water on the surface diffuses a soft and 

 pleasing temperature, cooler in the day, and warmer in the evening, than that of the snore, 

 and securing the traveler alike from inconvenience and disease. The islands are interesting, on 

 account of their number, location, size, and figure ; their number is very great, fancifully com- 

 puted at 365. Few pieces of water, and none within my knowledge, are so amply furnished. 

 Their location is exquisite ; they are solitary, in pairs, and in groups, containing from three to 

 perhaps 30, arranged with respect to each other, and the neighboring shores, with unceasing 

 variety, and with the happiest conceivable relations. 



" Both the size and the figure of these islands are varied in the same delightful manner. 

 The size ranges from a few feet, to a mile and a half in length ; the figure of most of them 

 is oblong ; a small number are round ; but the variety of their appearance is peculiarly derived 

 from their surface ; a small number of them are naked rocks, and by the power of contrast, are 

 very interesting features in the aspect of the group. Some are partially, and most are com- 

 pletely covered with vegetation ; some are bushy, others are ornamented with a single tree, 

 two, three, or many trees, and those with or without the bushy attendants ; others, forming the 

 greater number, exhibit an entire forest. Some of them of a long and narrow structure, pre- 

 sent through various openings in their umbrage, the sky, the mountains, the points, and other 

 distant beautiful objects, clinging to the eye as the traveler approaches and passes them. On 

 some stand coppices impenetrably interwoven ; on a great multitude, the lofty pine with its sep- 

 arate boughs, lifts its head above every other tree, waving majestically in the sky ; on others, 

 the beech, maple, and oak, with their clustering branches and lively verdure, present the strong- 

 est example of thrifty vegetation ; at the same time, on a number not small, decayed, bare, and 

 falling trees are finely contrasted with this vivid appearance. 



" The shores of the lake exhibit a similar and scarcely less striking aspect. On one part of 

 the lake you are presented with a beach of I'ght-colored sand, forming a long-extended border, 

 and showing the purity of its waters in the strongest light ; on another you see a thick, dark 

 forest, rising immediately from the rocky shore, overhanging and obscuring the water with its 

 gloomy umbrage ; here the shore is scooped by a circular sweep ; the next bend is perhaps 

 elliptical, and the third a mere indent ; the points, also, are alternately circular, obtuse, and 



