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for instead of handsome grass-plots you see potatoes and turnips 
planted in the garden. The trees, however, are very handsome, 
mostly chesnut, and some hickory. I also observed particularly 
two large and strong tulip trees; the circumference of one was. 
fifteen feet. In the hot-houses was a fine collection of orange 
trees, and a handsome collection of exotic plants, some of the or¬ 
der Euphorbia from South America; also a few palm trees. The 
gardener, an Englishman by birth, seemed to be well acquainted 
with his plants. Through a hydraulic machine the water is 
brought up from the river into several" basins, and thence forced 
into the hot-houses. There was also iii the garden a mineral 
spring of a ferruginous quality. From several spots in the garden 
there are fine views of the Schuylkill, whose banks, covered with 
trees, now in the fall of the year, have a striking and pleasant 
effect from the various hues of the foliage. The other garden, 
called Woodlands, belonged to the Hamilton family. The road 
led us through the village of Mantua, which altogether consists 
of country-seats, and where Mr. Halbach also has his country 
residence. Woodlands has more the appearance of an English 
park than Mr. Pratt’s country-seat; the dwelling house is large, 
and provided with two balconies, from both of which there 
is a very fine view, especially of the Schuylkill and floating 
bridge. Inside of the dwelling there is a handsome collection of 
pictures; several of them are of the Dutch school. What parti¬ 
cularly struck me was a female figure, in entire dishabelle, lay¬ 
ing on her back, with half-lifted eyes expressive of exquisite 
pleasure. There were also orange trees and hot-houses, superin¬ 
tended by a French gardener. 
The navy-yard, which I visited with Mr. Tromp, was shown 
us by a lieutenant of the navy and major Miller of the marines; 
at the same time I became acquainted with the naval architect, 
Mr. Humphreys, who is considered one of the most skilful in 
his department in the United States. Three years ago he visited 
England and its dock-yards by order of the government. This 
navy-yard is not very large, for although ships are built here, 
yet they do not leave the yard perfectly equipped, as the Dela¬ 
ware is too shallow for completely armed ships of the line. On 
the stocks there was a ship of the line and a frigate yet incom¬ 
plete, which, however, could be made ^ready for sea in a short 
time. The former is to carry one hundred and forty guns, and 
is said to be the largest vessel ever built. The frigate was of sixty- 
four guns. Each vessel had an elliptic stern, and was under 
cover. The house which covered the ship of the line is so large 
that I counted on one side one hundred and forty windows. Be¬ 
tween the two houses the keel of a sloop of war is to be laid. * 
* [The Vandalia, recently launched.]—T rans. 
