No state in the Union occupies, at the present time, a more prominent position than New York, or, in many points of view, a more interesting. One of the earliest in the history of the colonial settlements, occupying one of the largest territories among the original thirteen states, touching, with its extensive arms, the ocean, and two of the larger lakes, including for a century the most powerful body of Indians within our borders, and some of the principal paths of foreign invasion, her scenes of early enterprises and military operations, often distinguished by the bold and beautiful traits of nature, have been in turn the witnesses of extending civilization, and the triumphs of modern science and art enlisted in her service. Where the Indians, sent out or led on by the French Jesuits in Canada, laid the ambush, or fell upon the defenceless frontier settlement, or where the armies of France and England contended for the possession of American forests. in the course of years the same places witnessed the strife between the colonies and the mother-country; and, since it ceased, have been enlivened by the passage of steamboats or rail-cars, or afforded sites for flourishing towns and cities. To give more than an imperfect outline of the past and present condition of so large, populous, and important a state, in the few pages allotted to it in a work like this, will be impossible; and, to avoid the necessity of falling into a mere record of dry statistics, we must confine our attention to some of the leading natural features, the most important epochs in history, works of art, and other points of interest. HUDSON RIVER.-This stream, as one of the most important channels of commerce in the Union, merit special attention. Its natural advantages have been immensely surpassed by those added by art: for, since the construction of the canals, especially the Grand or Erie canal, an extent of territory has been opened, surpassing, a thousand times, that which borders the stream and its branches. The railroads already made increase the amount of navigation and valuable freights annually borne upon the bosom of this noble river; and those proposed and partly completed, promise still greater and incalculable results. Of those more recently completed, the New York and Erie railroad, described on another page, is by far the most important, forming, as it does, a second and more rapid communication between the Atlantic sea-board and the lakes. The Hudson rises in the wild, elevated, and almost uninhabited region west of Lake Champlain, and flows, at first, nearly north, then east, and finally south, till it falls into New York bay, passing through which and the lower bay, its waters mingle with those of the ocean, at Sandy Hook. The latter and principal part of its course is remarkably straight, and almost due south. After receiving several small branches in the upper regions, it is swelled by the Mohawk at Waterford; and soon after reaching Troy, the head of steamboat navigation, passes Albany, where the northern and Erie canals communicate with it, through a spacious basin. From that place to its mouth, the Hudson is navigated by a number of steamboats, sloops, canal-boats, and vessels of larger size, worthy of the principal commercial river of the United States, flowing into the Atlantic. Although it passes through a line of mountains at the Highlands, that are commonly regarded as the Allegany range, it pursues its way with a smooth and unbroken current, causing no interruption to navigation. It has two large expansions below that point, called Haverstraw and Tappan bays, after which it proceeds, with a breadth but little increased, till it reaches the city of New York. The tide is evident even at Albany; but the water is perceptibly affected by the brine of the Atlantic only as high as Polopel's island, at the northern extremity of the Highlands. The numerous and flourishing towns upon its banks, with the variety of taste displayed in the country-seats occupying the heights, declivities, and shores, intermingling with the beautiful and sometimes wild scenery with which nature has enriched it, and which is widely and so justly celebrated-all these, combined with the evidences of industry and wealth, displayed by the fleets of vessels of different kinds continually ploughing its waters, render the Hudson one of the most agreeable routes for a traveller. In summer, the number of travellers passing up and down this river is almost incredible: for it lies on the way between the commercial metropolis of the Union and several of the principal points to which travellers for business or pleasure direct their course: Ballston and Saratoga, Lakes George and Champlain, Canada, Niagara, and the West; while by numbers this attractive route is chosen in going to Boston, the White mountains of New Hampshire, and other parts of New England. One of the remarkable objects on the Hudson is the trap range, on its western bank, extending from Weehawken bluff ar up toward the Highlands, called the Palisades. It often presents a precipitous wall, totally inaccessible from the water, except occasionally; and for some distance it rises about four hundred feet perpendicularly. MOUNTAINS.-The Allegany range enters this state from New Jersey, and crosses the Hudson at the pass of the Highlands, celebrated for its scenery, and for some important events in the Revolutionary war, and passes into New England. The Catskill mountains rise at some distance above the Highlands, about seven miles west of the river, and present a range of rocks, covered with a thin coat of forest-trees, with several peaks rising a little above the general outline, the loftiest of which, the Crow's-Nest, is about three thousand five hundred feet above the ocean. The poverty of the soil and the roughness and almost inaccessible nature of the surface, render this wild region the retreat of deer and wolves. The abundance of oak-trees is such, that numerous tanneries are found Moving northward, the Genesee flows toward the great mart and manufactory of those stores of grain which its shores yield in such abundance; and that large and flourishing town owes its existence, or at least its importance, to the abundant water-power afforded by the sudden descent of its waters over the steep falls at that place. Both sides of the in that region. The village of Hunter is situated halfway up the mountain, at an elevation considerably higher than any other within the limits of New York. The Mountain house, in the upper parts of this Alpine region, is the resort of numerous travellers of taste in the warm seasons; and, while it affords every comfort, and many of the luxuries of life, it commands one of the most ex-stream are there lined, for a great distensive and delightful views to be found tance, by mills of the largest size, conwithin the circuit of the Union, with ea- structed in the most substantial manner, sy access to the wild valley of the Cau- which are celebrated for the excellency, terskill creek, and its remarkable cas- as well as the amount of the flour which cades. they annually produce. OSWEGO RIVER is a very remarkable stream on account of one singular peculiarity. It is the drain of almost the whole cluster of small lakes in the middle of the state of New York. Having its head in Canandaigua lake, in its easterly course, it receives the outlets of all those which empty northward, and at length, after passing several villages, receives the Oswego canal, and falls into Lake Ontario at the village of Os wego. GENESEE RIVER.-The scenery along the course of this river is wild, where it passes through the high and rocky ridge which bounds the rich "Genesee Flats, on the south. The banks, for a considerable distance, are perpendicular, as if cut through by some irresistible torrent, exposing to view the strata far below the original surface. The extensive valley which succeeds, so celebrated for its fertility, affords the stream a smooth and level channel, by which it gently meanders through a scene of peculiar richness, in summer waving with some of the best wheat in America. The stream, by wearing away the limestone rocks above, annually enriches the soil by its deposites; and this natural manuring process is aided by the action of the wind, which, in blowing down the rocky chasm just mentioned, brings with it particles of dust from the crumbling surface, and spreads them far and wide over the meadows. So important are the effects of this process, that the land is perceptibly richer, on the upper part of the valley, as we approach its rugged boundary. It is remarkable in the history of this part of the state, that the superior fertility of the Genesee Flats long remained unknown, as well as the peculiar fitness of the soil for wheat. Thousands of emigrants from New England, says Darby, settled on other tracts of land further west, where they were satisfied if they could raise thirty bushels of corn on an acre. But the value of this fertile region is now well appreciated; and sixty bushels of corn, or twenty-five of wheat, are annually yielded by thousands of acres. A finer sight can hardly be shown in any part of our country, than this region, when covered with its waving crops. The Genesee Flats were a favorite district with the Indians; and the last blow received by the Iroquois, in the Revolutionary war, was given here, when a large village was burnt, and they were driven from their richest planting grounds. The remains of ancient mounds and other traces of past generations, prove that the banks of the stream were long the residence of a large population. SPRINGS.-New York abounds in mineral springs, and of very different qualities. Some of them possess highly sanative properties, and are the most celebrated resorts in America, by invalids and travellers for pleasure. Others are merely curiosities, on account of the peculiar substances held in solution by their waters. Gas springs are among the latter; and these are found in several places in the western parts of the state, chiefly at Ballston Springs.-The old chalybeate spring, in the centre of the village of Ballston Spa, near the Kayderoseros brook, was known to the Indians, and highly valued by them. It was visited by Sir William Johnson, before the Revolutionary war, at the recommendation of an Indian, for the improvement of his health; and he was carried for a considerable distance on a litter, there being at that time no road. The vicinity of the spring was marked by the feet of numerous deer, and paths were trodden by them to their favorite drinkingplace, from every direction. For several years after the war, there were no better accommodations at the place than a miserable loghouse; but it gradually became a place of considerable resort; and about the year 1814 or1815, was a village, with several houses for lodgers, one of which, the Sans Souci, had accommodations for about one hundred and fifty persons. Several other springs had been discovered, and more were afterward found, all situated in the small alluvial valley of the Kayderoseros. These differed in nature: some being pure water, others chalybeates, sulphurous, and saline. This place, however, for many years, has been superseded by Saratoga Springs.-This is now by far the most important watering-place in the Union, for the number of visiters. There are five or six hotels of the largest size, and numerous smaller ones, all standing on one street, and within a short distance of the principal spring; and the place, during the warm season, especially in the months of July and August, is generally crowded to over The Congress spring, at the southern end of the village, affords a plentifu! supply of saline water, in which Glauber's salt abounds, accompanied with portions of lime and magnesia, and a slight trace of iron, and abundance of carbonic acid gas, all which together render it one of the most useful of natural mineral waters in the world. It is recommended for many cases of disease, and great quantities are bottled for the supply of cities and towns in all parts of the Union, while much of it is sent abroad. It was discovered soon after the Revolution, in the bed of a small brook, which flows through the narrow, marshy strip of ground. in which all the other springs at this place are situated, including the Iodine spring, which is a great rarity. The Round Rock spring was known to the Indians, and is named from a hollow conical mass of rock in which it rises, and over the top of which it formerly flowed. A tree, it is said, fell upon it some years ago, and caused the crack through which the water now escapes, near the level of the ground. The water is a feeble chalybeate, of little value or interest, and holds in solution a portion of lime, whose gradual deposition, on the escape of the carbonic acid, no doubt formed the singular cone, which naturally has made it an object of popular curiosity. NATURAL HISTORY.-A few years ago the legislature of this state authorized a scientific survey of its territory, appointed some of the most eminent naturalists in different departments and appropriated considerable sums of money to pay the expenses. The state has now been traversed and examined, re ports have been made, accepted, and printed, and we have already eleven volumes, elegant quartos, abounding in facts, and illustrated by hundreds of engravings, representing the rocky strata, |