CHAPTER XVII.

Visit to Hyde Park-Dr Hosack's magnificent Seat on the Hudson, which every Foreigner should see-Dr Hosack's manner of addressing his Servants-The effect of the Diffusion of Wealth, and of the greater equality of Coudition-Sailing Vessels on the Hudson-Captain Hall's Declaration, that North America is an Unpicturesque Country, made rashly and without sufficient grounds-Captain Hall at no pains to see the most interesting scenes within his reach-Staten Island, Hellgate, Mount Vernon, &c.-Mrs Trollope's authority directly opposed to Captain Hall's-Reasons why she must be in the right— Works of Nature on a magnificent scale on this Continent, but the Embellishments and Decorations of an old Country are wantingFlushing in Long Island-Botanic Garden and Nurseries there Protected by Sir William Erskine during the revolution-Price of Evergreen Shrubs there-Camp-Meeting of People of Colour near Flushing-Price of Peaches and Melons-Mr Poinsett, late Minister of the United States to Mexico-His Observation respecting the Eastern States of America-Mr Ferrall's Charge against Mr Poinsett unfounded-Extract from one of Mr Poinsett's Diplomatic PapersMr Ferrall's and Mr Alexander Baring's views as to the acquisition of Texas by the United States-When did the United States interfere with British Accession of Territory in any Hemisphere-Mr Ferrall's Opinion, that Animosity towards Britain pervades America, unfounded; they desire peace, and no accession of territory-The right of Search, the only point of contention, and which should be arranged in quiet times-Outrages committed by British Ships of War, as detailed in the Eleventh Chapter of Captain Hall's Fragments, which every Englishman ought to read, in order to con

vince him that the Americans were too passive-The British Name a Passport in the United States-Return to Mr Van Boskerck's Boarding-House at Hoboken-Celebration of the French Revolution of July 1830, at New York, on 26th November 1830-Order and Decorum of the People, the Procession consisting of above one hundred thousand Persons-No Disturbance-No Accident-Prodigious Display of Individual Wealth-Enthusiasm of the People-Erroneous notion of Mrs Trollope, that the people are indifferent as to the Political Condition of any Nation but their own—) -Rejoicings in the United States on account of Catholic Emancipation in Britain-Remarkable Persons attending the Procession, Mr Munroe, Enoch Crosby, Anthony Gleen, David Williams-Severe winter-Sleighing at New York-Young Burke at the Park Theatre-No grounds for Mrs Trollope's Remark as to the Rudeness of Persons in the Theatre—Illness and Death of Mr Van Boskerck, our Landlord, at HobokenDetails of his Funeral-Voyage from New York to London in the President Packet Ship-Severe Storm on the 24th and 25th AprilHint, not to prefer a Ship on her First Voyage-Contrary Winds— Made the voyage from 17th April to 25th May, when we landed at Deal.

Summer and Autumn of 1830, and Winter of 1830, and Spring of 1831, till 25th May. I LEFT Mr Anderson's house for two or three days in the beginning of July to pay a visit, which I had long projected, to Dr Hosack, at his magnificent seat on the Hudson, where I was most kindly received by himself and his amiable family. He lives very much in the same style as an English country gentleman of large fortune, possessing every luxury and comfort which wealth, and the knowledge how to make use of it, can bestow. His mansion-house is large, elegant, and well-furnished; but it is not my object to describe a place laid out and embellished as a fine residence and fine grounds in England are, or to tell the readers of these

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of the size of Dr Hosack's rooms, of his eating pages or drawing-rooms, his excellent library, his billiard room, or his conservatory, of his porter's lodges, his temples, his bridges, his garden, and the other et ceteras of this truly delightful domain which he has adorned, and was, at the time when I was there, adorning with great taste and skill, and without much regard to cost. The splendid terrace over the most beautiful of all beautiful rivers, admired the more the oftener seen, renders Hyde Park, as I think, the most enviable of all the desirable situations on the river. Dr Hosack has now retired from practice as the first physician in New York. His activity is, however, unabated. He takes great delight in superintending his numerous workmen, and the management of his place and farm. He has 800 acres adjoining to his house, all, I believe, in his own occupation, and is taking great pains to obtain the finest breeds of cattle and sheep. I saw many good specimens of the Tees-Water breed. His park contains deer and a few Cachmere goats, which are particularly handsome. In short, this is quite a show place, in the English sense of the word, which every foreigner should see on its own account, -on account of the great beauty of the natural terrace above the river, and the charming and varied views from it, as well as on account of the art with which the original features of the scene are advantageously displayed.

Persons in the situation of Dr Hosack's family differ so little in their mode of living and manners in the United States, in Britain, and on the continent of Eu

rope, that there are no striking points of discrimination. In the United States all go to bed earlier and rise earlier, and, of course, breakfast and dine at earlier hours. I neither saw a tobacco-pipe nor a cigar while I remained at Dr Hosack's house, nor were spirituous liquors of any kind upon the table. The greatest hospitality was shown me; and I have cause to regret, that circumstances prevented me from availing myself of it frequently.

I observed that Dr Hosack, in speaking to his workmen, never addressed them by their Christian name alone, but always in this way: "Mr Thomas, be so good as do this," or "Mr Charles, be so good as do that." It would not be easy for an Englishman of great fortune to form his mouth so as to give his orders to his servants in similar terms; but the more equal diffusion of wealth, and greater equality of condition, which prevail in this country, put the sort of submission of inferiors to superiors, to which we in Britain are accustomed, quite out of the question in the free part of the United States, and undoubtedly render the mass of the people far more comfortable, contented, and happy.

The sailing vessels on the Hudson are extremely beautiful. They have no foresail,-merely a jib and main-sheet, bleached as white as a table-cloth, by the

sun.

Dr Hosack's grounds are so very charming, and the views from them so picturesque and striking, that I cannot help wishing that Captain Hall had seen Hyde Park Terrace before he declared "North America to

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be the most unpicturesque country to be found anywhere." This seems to me a most rash assertion, proceeding from an individual who merely had time to traverse a country about as large as Europe, in one line to the south and one to the north. What should we think of an American traveller who had journied from London to Newcastle by the east, and had returned from Carlisle by the west road, declaring England to be an unpicturesque country, and yet he would be far better entitled in that case, to deliver an authoritative opinion on the subject of England, than the gallant officer on the subject of America; for he would have travelled in two directions through England, which is not so considerable in point of extent, as several of the separate states of America. But Captain Hall had, in fact, admitted himself to be incapable of giving an opinion upon this subject worthy of any consideration. He tells us in one part of his book, that "there are few things so fatiguing as fine scenery,"" and in another, that "the most picturesque object in every traveller's landscape is the Post Office," he acted accordingly; and has confirmed the truth of his remarks, so far as he is concerned, by omitting to take the trouble to visit the most interesting scenes easily within his reach. It does not appear from his book, that he ever was on Staten Island to enjoy the views from it, though the most diversified and beautiful in America, and daily in his power. He passed through Hellgate in the dark, and never returned to see it, though one of the most singular scenes of that description in the world, within