LIFE OF WILSON. 
Ixxxv 
from one particular house to another, till, I believe, I became al- 
most as well known as the public crier, or the clerk of the market, 
for I could frequently perceive gentlemen point me out to others as 
I passed with my book under my arm. 
* ^ 
On Sunday morning, October 2, I went on board a packet for 
Newhaven, distant about ninety miles. The wind was favourable, 
and carried us rapidly through Hellgate, (a place I had no inten- 
tion of calling at in my tour) on the other side of which we found 
upwards of sixty vessels beating up for a passage. The Sound 
here, between Longisland and the main, is narrowed to less than 
half a mile, and filled with small islands, and enormous rocks un- 
der water, among which the tide roars and boils violently, and has 
proved fatal to many a seaman. At high water it is nearly as 
smooth as any other place, and can then be safely passed. The 
country, on the Newyork side, is ornamented with handsome villas, 
painted white, and surrounded by great numbers of Lombardy 
poplars. The breeze increasing to a gale, in eight hours from the 
time we set sail the high red-fronted mountain of Newhaven rose 
to our view. In two hours more we landed; and, by the stillness 
and solemnity of the streets, recollected we were in Newengland, 
and that it was Sunday, which latter circumstance had been almost 
forgotten on board the packet-boat. 
“ This town is situated upon a sandy plain ; and the streets 
are shaded with elm trees and poplars. In a large park or com- 
mon, covered with grass, and crossed by two streets, and several 
foot paths, stand the church, the state house and college buildings, 
which last are one hundred and eighty yards in front. From these 
structures rise four or five wooden spires, which, in former time, 
as one of the professors informed me, were so infested by wood- 
peckers, which bored them in all directions, that, to preserve their 
steeples from destruction, it became necessary to set people, with 
guns, to watch and shoot these invaders of the sanctuary. Just 
Y 
VOL. IX. 
