the subject, it has appeared very formidable. We found it otherwise, in a degree which, I confess, I had not expected. The only difficult place is a declivity at the Southern extremity. Upon the whole, there are several ascents, and descents, in the road from Pittsfield to Northampton, compared with which all the difficulties in this passage over the highlands are trifles.

This mountainous region is in the township of Phillipstown. We found along the road, many settlements, which appeared to be sprightly and promising. The houses were frequently neat; and the owners were plainly in very comfortable circumstances. In the year 1790, the number of inhabitants in this township was 2,079; in 1800, 2,754; and, in 1810, 3,129.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER III.

Col. B. Robinson--Prospect in the Highlands--Visit to Forts Montgomery and Clinton-Expedition of the British up the Hudson-Peekskill-Cortlandt-Prospect of the Hudson and its shores below the Highlands--Mount PleasantGreenburgh-Yonkers-Capture and death of Major Andre-The River Hudson and its tributary streams.

Dear Sir,

In the year 1778, while I was a chaplain in the American army, I spent between four and five months in the highlands, at West Point; a promontory, which juts into the river on the West side in the township of Cornwall, and County of Orange, directly opposite to Phillipstown. A part of this time I resided at the head quarters of General Putnam, then commanding at this post; and afterwards of General Parsons, who succeeded him in the cornmand. These gentlemen lodged in the house of Col. Beverly Robinson; a respectable native of Scotland, who married a lady of the Phillips family; one of the wealthiest, and most respectable of the Province of New-York. With this lady Col. Robinson, acquired a large landed estate lying in Phillipstown, Fredericktown, and Franklin; as they are now called; and for the more convenient management of it planted himself in this spot. Here he had a spacious and convenient mansion; surrounded by valuable gardens, fields, and orchards, yielding every thing which will grow in this climate. The rents of his estate were sufficient to make life as agreeable, as from this source it can be. Mrs. Robinson was a fine woman: and their children promised every thing, which can be expected from a very hopeful family. His immediate friends were, at the same time, persons of the first consequence in the Province.

When the Revolutionary war broke out; Col. Robinson was induced, contrary as I have been informed to his own judgment and inclination, by the importunity of some of his connexions to take the British side of the question. To him it appeared wiser, and safer, to act a neutral part, and remain quietly on his estate. VOL. III.

55

The pressure, however, from various sources was so strong against him, that he finally yielded; and carried his family with him to New York, and thence to Great Britain. His property was confiscated by the Legislature of New-York; and his family banished from their native country. It was impossible for any person, who finds an interest in the affairs of his fellow-men, and particularly while residing in the very mansion, where they had so lately enjoyed all, which this world can give, not to feel deeply the misfortunes of this family. Few events in human life strike the mind more painfully than banishment; a calamity, sufficiently disastrous in the most ordinary circumstances, but peculiarly affecting, when the banished are brought before us in the narrow circle of a family; a circle, the whole of which the eye can see, and whose sufferings the heart can perfectly realize. Peculiarly is this true, when the family in question is enlightened, polished, amply possessed of enjoyments, tasting them with moderation, and sharing them cheerfully with their friends and neighbours, the stranger and the poor. Such, I have sufficient reason to believe, were the circumstances, and character, of this family. Whatever some of our more resentful countrymen may feel, in similar cases, concerning the subject; I hope always to be able to say, and to say truly,

“Homo sum, et nihil humanum a me alienum puto,”

If a heathen theatrical audience could applaud this sentiment from a writer, and an actor, of plays; I have the best right to assure myself, that my own countrymen, professing the religion of HIM, who has left behind him the parable of the good Samaritan, and a life, formed on the great principle of that parable, will cheerfully subjoin their assent to these observations.

The head quarters of a commanding officer are, of necessity, a scene of bustle and business. Such at that time was, particularly, the case with ours. On the 15th of March, which was Sunday, we attended divine service in the morning. After it was ended, the house was filled with a succession of officers, and others, who came in to receive orders, or to report the manner in which they had executed those which they had already received.

To withdraw ourselves from such a scene of confusion, Major Humphreys,* an intimate friend of mine from the time when we were fellow-students at Yale College, and myself determined to seek the only retreat in our power; a solitary walk. Accordingly we wandered to the top of Sugar-Loaf; a mountain of considerable height; at a small distance to the South from Col. Robinson's. These observations will introduce with a sufficient explicitness the following letter, from which you will derive a more distinct view of the appearance of the most interesting part of the highlands, than I can give you in any other manner.

Yesterday afternoon, in company with Major Humphreys 1 went up to the summit of Sugar Loaf: a mountain near Col. Robinson's house. We ascended it with some difficulty, from the steepness of the acclivity, and from the loose stones, which, frequently sliding from under our feet, exposed us to imminent hazard of falling. From the summit we were presented with an extensive, and interesting prospect, comprising the objects, which I have heretofore mentioned, and many others, which I had never seen. The point of view was remarkably happy: the mountain being so situated, as to bring within our reach the greatest number of objects in the surrounding region, and to exhibit them with the highest advantage. What is almost a singularity, there was not a cheerful object within our horizon. Every thing which we beheld, was majestic, solemn, wild, and melancholy.

The Northern division of our prospect was almost entirely bounded by two great mountains, named Butterhill and Brecknock the former on the West, the latter on the East, side of the Hudson. Both abut so directly upon the river, that their rude lofty cliffs form a part of its banks. These mountains ascend at the distance of, perhaps, six miles from the spot, where we surveyed them; and extend Northward to the valley of Fishkill.

From Brecknock stretches a range, of inferiour magnitude, at the distance of half a mile, one, and two miles from the Eastern shore of the Hudson. The ground between them, and the river, being generally level, and capable of cultivation. It contains a

*The late General David Humphreys.—Pub.

small number of other houses, besides that of Col. Robinson. Of this range Sugar-loaf is the termination; its Southern limit being the river.

Still Eastward of this range ascend others, terminating also on the Hudson. The Southernmost, which is in sight on the Eastern side, and indeed the Southernmost of the whole cluster, is Anthony's Nose: a noble bluff, whose cliffs rise almost perpendicularly from the water's edge to the height of perhaps 1500 feet; with a sublimity, which I believe is not often rivalled.

On the Western side runs a rude range of mountains, commencing at Butter Hill, and terminating, to the eye, at a point, opposite to Anthony's Nose. The three loftiest summits in this range are the Crow's Nest, a fine sharp cone; Bear Hill; and the Donderbarrak, or Thunder Hill. At the foot of these commences a plain, of no great breadth; if I may be permitted to call that a plain, which, while it approaches generally towards a level surface, is undulating, rocky, and wild, throughout a great part of its extent. This tract reaches Northward to West-Point; and Southward near to Anthony's Nose. Directly North, the Hudson, here a mile in breadth, and twice as wide higher up, is seen descending from a great distance, and making its way between the magnificent cliffs of the two great mountains, Butter Hill, and Brecknock. The grandeur of this scene defies description. Through the opening, here called the Wey-gat, or Wind-gate, because the wind often blows through it with great violence, is visible the cultivated country at New-Windsor, throughout a considerable extent. Beyond this, at the distance of about forty miles, rise the Kaatskill mountains; whose blue summits were at this time lost in the clouds. In this reach of the river lies an island, to the eye a mere bird's nest; and near it were two boats, resembling in size those, which children make of paper.

South of these two mountains, the river bends between West-Point, and Fort Constitution; and for a short space is invisible. Thence it becomes visible again, and continues in sight, till the prospect is terminated by Anthony's Nose on the Eastern, and Bear Hill on the Western, side.