COUNTRY HOUSES ON THE HUDSON RIVER. 
331 
as much below it, to restore the equipoise, so 
must it be with California, and it will take some 
time to accomplish this. L. T. Talbot. 
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COUNTRY HOUSES ON THE HUDSON RIVER. 
Within the past twelve years, the number of 
country houses for gentlemen,.on the banks of 
the Hudson River have greatly increased, and 
the style of them has undergone an entire 
change. Formerly, there were very few, and 
most of them were in the Grecian portico style, 
with tall, two-story pillars in front, than which 
nothing is more ugly and absurd, in our estima¬ 
tion, for an American county house, and only 
to be tolerated in a large hotel. Ijfow, hand¬ 
some piazzas, supported by one-story pillars, 
surround three, and often four sides of an other¬ 
wise plain, though elegantly-built house, mak¬ 
ing it no less comfortable for hot weather than 
Cold. In the summer it woos the breeze and 
affords a grateful shade; in the winter it forms 
a dry and delightful promenade, especially for 
ladies. Then we have the chaste Italian, with 
its sheltered porch, airy balconies, shady veran¬ 
das, cool, projecting roof, and lofty campanile 
dr tower; the castellated Gothic, with its frown¬ 
ing turrets, donjon keep, and portcullis; the 
Cottage orne, of great variety of style, pictur¬ 
esque chimneys, bracketed roof, bow windows, 
port cochere, verandas and piazzas, all surround¬ 
ed with ornamented grounds, lending a variety 
and finished beauty to the landscape, of which 
before it was nearly destitute. 
Of the country houses recently erected on the 
Hudson, the most magnificent which we have 
visited, is that of Edwin Bartlett, Esq., a wealthy 
retired merchant of this city. It stands on the 
east bank of the river, about two miles above 
Tarrytown, on a commanding situation, and is 
built entirely of massive, dark-grey stone, found 
in the immediate neighborhood. It is 120 feet 
in length, and of a corresponding width, with 
lofty turrets, a high tower, and noble port cochere. 
The style is unique, for the United States, being 
a mixed old English, harmonising admirably 
with the bold, picturesque scenery around. 
But we hold in reserve a full description of this 
house and its beautiful grounds—just blocked 
out—together with the classic dell of Sleepy 
Hollow; where, according to the veracious 
sketches of the renowned Geoffrey Crayon, on 
dark, gusty nights, strides the terrific headless 
horseman, dread punisher of love-presuming 
pedagogues. We only wish to speak of one 
thing now about this mansion, which, on in¬ 
specting it, highly gratified us; and that is, 
while Mr. B. has provided amply, and even lux¬ 
uriantly for his own family and guests, he has 
not forgotten the comfort of his domestics. Their 
rooms for cooking, washing, &c., and chambers 
are large, and well ventilated, and abound with 
every convenience—even baths are provided 
in the latter, to ensure greater comfort, health, 
and neatness. 
Mrs. Bartlett took no little pride in showing 
us her noble cows; and we dare say, when 
the pleasure grounds are duly planted, flow¬ 
ers, shrubbery, and trees will not alone be 
their ornament; but that groups of improved 
animals will be found gamboling there, add¬ 
ing life and animation to the scenery around. 
It is in this particular, that the ornamental 
grounds of English gentlemen greatly excel 
those of other nations, and are so much the 
more admired. To our eye, a noble park or 
pleasure grounds are in a measure desolate 
without domestic animals of some kind, grazing 
upon them. 
THE MAG-UEY OF MEXICO. 
Under this name, two plants are known fn 
Mexico, the one being the far-famed Agam 
americana , or century aloe, and the other a 
species of the genus aloe itself, the distinctive 
characteristics of which I shall soon be prepar¬ 
ed to delineate. These two plants have hitherto 
been confused by most writers, arising, prob¬ 
ably, from the fact that both are simultaneously 
called maguey by the Mexicans. Nevertheless, 
their characteristics are quite different in sev¬ 
eral points, and they can be readily distinguish¬ 
ed by any observer. The agave flourishes in 
the coldest districts of Mexico, but the aloe res¬ 
quires the Terras Calientes or warmest regions 
of that country for its full development. The 
pulque, a well known common drink of the na¬ 
tives, is made from the agave only; but the 
mescal, a spirituous liquor as strong and as es- 
| citant as brandy, and produced, by distillation, 
is obtained from both the species indiscrimi¬ 
nately, and they are consequently often grown 
intermingled in the same field. The leaves are 
seven to eight feet long, and* the plants are 
ranged in immense fields at six to seven feet 
asunder. We everywhere found these two 
plants in extensive use among the native Indians 
and mestizoes. Strangers to Mexico have but 
little knowledge of the extent to which the cul¬ 
ture of the maguey is carried in that country. 
There are thousands of acres devoted to its 
culture, for the purpose of distillation princi¬ 
pally, and for the fabrication of cordage of all 
sizes, suited to the wants of the country. Even 
