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other persons of the best families of New York, who were all on 
board, good conversation was not wanting. About half past five 
we started, but did not long enjoy the beauties of this noble ri¬ 
ver, as it soon became dark. During night we were awakened 
with the unpleasant news that the leading boat had run ashore in 
a fog. After five hours of useless exertion to get her afloat, v, e 
were obliged to go on board the steam-boat Henry Eckford, 
passing up the river. This boat was old, and no longer used for 
conveying passengers, but as a tow-boat. She had vessels at¬ 
tached to her, on both sides, laden with goods, which gave her 
the appearance of a ferry-boat. Though not very pleasantly situ¬ 
ated on board of this boat, we had a good opportunity of observ¬ 
ing the magnificent banks of the river after the fog disappeared. 
Instead of arriving at eight o’clock, A. M. we did not reach our 
place of destination till five o’clock P. M. We were received by 
the owner, a gentleman seventy-six years old, and his lovely 
daughter. The house is pleasantly situated on an elevated spot in 
a rather neglected park. Our new acquaintances mostly belong¬ 
ed to the Livingston family. I was introduced to Mr. Edward 
Livingston, member of congress, the brother of our entertainer, 
a gentleman, who for talent and personal character, stands high 
in this country. He resides in Louisiana, and is employed in 
preparing a new criminal code for that state, which is much 
praised by those who are acquainted with jurisprudence. 
In the evening about eight o’clock, the company assembled at 
the ball, which was animated, and the ladies elegantly attired. 
They danced nothing but French contra-dances, for the Ameri¬ 
can ladies have so much modesty that they object to waltzing. 
The ball continued until two o’clock in the morning. I became 
acquainted at this ball with two young officers from West Point, 
by the name of Bache, great grandsons of Dr. Franklin. Their 
grandmother was the only daughter of this worthy man; one is 
a lieutenant of the artillery at West Point, and the other was 
educated in the same excellent school, and obtained last year the 
first prize-medal; he was then appointed lieutenant of the engi¬ 
neer corps, and second professor of the science of engineering, 
under Professor Douglass. On the following day we took a ride 
in spite of the great heat, at which I was much astonished, as 
it was so late in the season, to the country-seat of General 
Montgomery’s widow, a lady eighty-two years of age, sister 
to the elder Messrs. Livingstons. General Montgomery fell 
before Quebec on the 31st of October, 1775. This worthy 
lady, at this advanced age, is still in possession of her mental 
faculties; her eyes were somewhat dim. Besides her place of re¬ 
sidence, which is handsomely situated on the Hudson river, she 
possesses a good fortune. Adjoining the house is a small park 
