104 
edly made by the washing of the water. The saw-mills, all of 
wood, occupy a bold position over the falls, and appear besides, 
to be in such a state of decay, that a fear arises, lest they should 
soon fall into the abyss. The Hudson is partly navigable above 
Glenn’s Falls, and two miles further up, feeds a navigable canal, 
with thirteen locks, which runs seven miles north of the Hudson, 
and then joins Champlain canal. 
We arrived at Saratoga at two o’clock in the afternoon, and 
stopped at Congress Hall. The greater part of the company had 
already departed, so that but forty persons remained; among these 
was the governor of the state of New York, the celebrated De 
Witt Clinton.* I was immediately introduced to his excellency, 
and very well received by this great statesman. 
The water of the springs is cold, of a somewhat salt taste, and 
stronger than the mineral water of Eger. It is said to act very 
beneficially as a tonic. When this region was yet covered with 
forests, inhabited principally by Indians, and by few white peo¬ 
ple, the Indians were acquainted with the virtues of this water; 
only one spring, however, High Rock Spring, was discovered. 
They led to it the above-mentioned Sir William Johnstone, who 
was much beloved by the Indians, and in a bad state of health. 
By drinking this water he regained his health, and thus this 
spring became known. It is not above twelve years since a be¬ 
ginning was made to clear the ground, and build houses; at 
present, more than a hundred, principally of wood, form a street. 
They are generally arranged to receive strangers. The four 
largest hotels are Congress Hall, Union Hall, the Pavilion, and 
the United States Hotel, the last of brick, the three former of 
wood. Congress Hall alone, was yet open, the others had closed 
since September 1st, on account of the frost. The hotel can ac¬ 
commodate two hundred strangers. In the evening the company 
assembles in the large halls in the lower story, at this season, 
alas! by the fire, and pass the time in music, dancing, or con¬ 
versation. Games of chance are strictly forbidden by the laws 
of the state, and in general, public opinion in the United 
States is much against gaming. I was told that at a watering- 
place in Pennsylvania, three genteel young men once arrived 
from different parts of the United States. They were at first 
very well received, but afterwards were found to be gamblers. 
All communication with them was immediately broken off in so 
striking a manner that they were soon obliged to leave the place. 
The different springs, which do not lie far from each other in 
a swampy ground in the same valley, are called Hamilton, Con¬ 
gress, Columbia, Flat Rock, Munroe, High Rock, President, and 
* [Since, unfortunately for hits country, deceased. J—Tbans. 
