LETTER II.

Indian monument-Kent-Major-General Swift-Journey from Salisbury cataract. to Lake George--Caldwell-Northumberland--Moreau-Saratoga SpringsBallstown Springs--Lansingburgh--Troy--Albany-Hudson--Livingston

Clermont-Rhinebeck-Clinton-Poughkeepsie-Fishkill-Philipstown.

Dear Sir,

AFTER We had examined the falls of this river, and its passage through the mountains below; my companions ascended the summit of that on the Eastern side, for the purpose of seeing a monument of stones, formed in a manner generally resembling that which I have heretofore described in these letters, as existing on Monument mountain, near Stockbridge. It was intended to mark the grave of an Indian chief, who was buried here.

This chief was one of the Scaghticokes: a tribe which I have heretofore mentioned, and of which New-Milford was formerly the principal residence. His crime was the murder of one of his own people. In consequence of this act he was immediately pursued by the avenger of blood; who, among the Mohekaneews, and among the Iroquois also, was, usually, the nearest male kinsThe chief fled to Roxbury; a township bordering on NewMilford South-Eastward; thence to Woodbury; and thence to Southbury in which township he came upon the river. He then directed his course up the stream, till he reached the summit of this mountain; where he was overtaken, and killed, by his pursuer, on the spot in which he was buried.

man.

The figure of this monument was, in one respect, different from that which is in the neighbourhood of Stockbridge. That was an obtuse cone. This is a circular enclosure, surrounding the grave. Both were, however, gathered in the same manner. Every Indian, at least of the tribe to which the deceased belonged, considered himself as under a sacred obligation, whenever he passed by, to add one stone to the heap; as did, I believe, those of every other tribe, belonging to the same nation. In this gradual manner both monuments were accumulated.

It is remarkable, that both are on high, and solitary, grounds, remote from every Indian settlement; and that the persons buried were excluded from the customary burying places of their respective tribes; places considered, I believe, by all the Mohekaneews as consecrated ground. Of both it is also true, that the Indians have declared the obligation to cast any more stones upon them to have ceased for a considerable period. Of the chief, buried here, it is certain, that he was considered as having committed a gross crime. This last fact makes the practice of forming monuments, in this manner, approximate still nearer to the custom of the Israelites, mentioned in my account of Stockbridge. Within a short time past, some young gentlemen, studying physic in the neighbourhood, attempted to dig up the bones of this deceased chief. The attempt, while it destroyed an interesting relic of Indian manners, gave very great offence to the Schaghticokes; who threatened them with violence for the injury done to their tribe.

The road, as it comes from the South, ascends this mountain in a manner, well devised and very convenient; but passes over ground, fitted to awaken horrour in the traveller. It runs at a small distance from the edge of a precipice, which in different places is from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet in height.

The township of New-Milford extends near twenty miles along this river, and is about six miles in breadth. The surface is handsome; an open valley, rising gradually, and irregularly, from the river, and swelling into hills, varied in their forms, and in several instances beautiful. On the South-West the expansion opens to the hills beyond Danbury; and is in this direction not less than twenty miles in extent. The Hooestennuc is here a considerable stream, alternated with ripples and falls. It is also bordered for a great length by rich and beautiful intervals.

The soil of this township is various. A great part of it is of the very best quality; producing all the crops of the climate.

The town consists of about forty houses, built chiefly on a single street, running parallel with the river. It is a neat settlement. The inhabitants, it will be supposed, are prosperous. The rest of the township is divided into farms, of uncommon fertility.

New-Milford contains two parishes; the town, and Bridgewater; and three congregations; two Presbyterian; and one Episcopal. In 1756, the number of inhabitants was 1,137; in 1774, 2,776; in 1790, 3,167; in 1800, 3,221; in 1810, 3,537.

Three miles Eastward from this town there is a silver mine. One of the inhabitants, a Capt. Rowe, dug ore from it eight or ten years, after the Revolutionary war, as an agent for the proprietors, who were citizens of New-York. The work was given up on account of the water, which flowed into the cavity, and which could not be drawn off without too great an expense. The general belief, here, is that it was wrought with considerable profit.

Both white and clouded marble abound in this township; and have been extensively wrought for many years.

After dinner we bade our friends adieu; and rode to Kent: twelve miles. The first part of our way was pleasant; the remainder, wild and solitary; lying principally in a forest, thinly interspersed with settlements. The road is indifferent; being little used. A parallel road on the hills, which is good, and considerably shorter, commands almost all the travelling in this direction.

The next morning we proceeded to Sheffield, through Kent, Cornwall, a part of Canaan, and Salisbury: thirty-two miles. The first part of our journey lay over the Scaghticoke lands, formerly described. These lands have lately been sold, under a law of the State, which directs the interest of the money to be applied to the support of these people. They are now enclosed; and begin to wear the appearance of well directed agriculture; but are much less romantic than in their former state.

Kent is an indifferently appearing town, built in a scattered manner along the road for two or three miles. The surface is very uneven, and not very inviting; and the soil much inferiour to that of New-Milford. The township at large is rough; and the road indifferent.

Kent contains rich mines of iron, which are extensively wrought. They are the property of the Hon. William Samuel VOL. III.

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Johnson, of Stratford, and of Samuel Forbes, and John Adam, Esquires, of Canaan.

Kent contained in 1756, 1,000 inhabitants; in 1774, 1,996; in 1790, (having been divided,) 1,318; in 1800, 1,607; in 1810, 1,794.

Cornwall, along the river, has a softer aspect than Kent; and is particularly distinguished for being the residence of the Hon. Major-General Heman Swift. This gentleman was born in Wareham, in the County of Plymouth, Massachusetts, formerly described in these letters. The only education, which he received, was that of a parochial school. Soon after his removal into this State, when a young man, he was chosen a representative to the Legislature. In the American army he rose to the rank of a Brigadier-General. After the Revolutionary war was ended, he was elected a member of the Council. He resigned his seat at this board in the year 1802. For many years, also, he was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Litchfield.

Gen. Swift was distinguished for native strength of mind, regularly directed to practical and useful objects; and he solicitously sought improvement, from the sources, which were within his reach. In this manner he acquired, extensively, that knowledge, which fits a man to be serviceable to his fellow-men. This, it must be acknowledged, makes little figure in books; but, in him, its efficacy was happily felt by all those, with whom he was concerned in the affairs of life. His affections were soft and gentle; and his conversation mild, and unassuming. But his conceptions were bold and masculine; and his disposition invincibly firm. When he was once assured of his duty, nothing could move him from his purpose. Hence he possessed an independence of mind, which all men reverenced, and all bad men dreaded.

As an officer, though destitute of the brilliancy, so coveted in that character, he was highly respected by his fellow-officers, and loved by the soldiers; every one of whom approached him with a certainty of being justly, and kindly, treated. His bravery was that of Putnam, tempered with consummate prudence. As a

Judge, probably no man ever held a more equal balance. As a Councillour, he was wise, public spirited, and honourable. a man, he was humble, sincere, upright, generous, charitable, and eminently pious. The great inquiry of his life was, what was his duty; and his great purpose, to do it.

Not long after the resignation of his public offices, he was attacked by infirmities, which in a great measure destroyed his energy, both of body and mind. I saw him; but he was in ruins. He knew me; which was more than I expected; and shook me by the hand, with visible affection, and pleasure; but it was a gleam of sunshine through the crevice of a dark cloud, opened only for a moment. He requested me earnestly to remember him in my prayers; and bade me an affectionate, and final, farewell.

I should hardly make these observations concerning a living man, who was sufficiently possessed of his faculties to realize their import but this is beyond the power of the excellent man, whom I have described. With respect to this subject, he is deceased. In themselves they are just; and by General Swift are richly deserved.

From Cornwall to the Salisbury cataract the country resembles that, which has been already described; but is of a still softer aspect. It is thinly inhabited; and the soil is indifferent. You will remember, that I speak of the valley only. The road is a turnpike, in some places sandy; otherwise good.

We dined at a house near the cataract; and, while our dinner was preparing, went out to take a view of this fine object. Its appearance I found sensibly changed since my last visit. The mill on the right bank was gone. The rocks were in several places considerably worn. The direction, size, and figure of the currents, and the spots, from which they issued, were materially altered in a variety of places; though incomparably less than at Glen's Falls. Still, there was a loss, in some degree, of the grandeur, and the beauty, with which I had been formerly delighted. The two rocks, which I mentioned heretofore, as leaning in a remarkable manner towards each other, and which then stood in the bed of the stream, now stood on the Eastern shore: the riv