ods. At the time of the convention they amounted to 4,129. The whole number, therefore, was, 13,222; of which, however, more than 2500 were sick. Future travellers, will resort to this spot with the same emotions, which we experienced, and recall with enthusiasm the glorious events, of which it is the perpetual memorial. It is impossible, that they should not kindle with patriotism. It is to be hoped also, that many of them will glow with piety. Even a generous minded Englishman must, I think, unite in his views and feelings with my own countrymen. How immensely more important to succeeding generations were these transactions than those of the plain of Marathon. That immediately affected the states of Greece only; few in the number of their inhabitants, and comprising but a speck of territory. Here was decided the destiny of a nation, inhabiting a million of square miles, independently of Louisiana, and already amounting to more than seven millions of people. Beside the vastness of these objects, every man of candour will admit, that the religion, the laws, the government, and the manners, of these people, are as superiour to those of the Greeks, as their numbers, and the extent of their territory. Who could be willing, that such a body of people, so circumstanced, should be conquered, and what is the regular consequence, enslaved. Who, especially, could be willing, that such an event should take place immediately before an era, at which the lights of human liberty and happiness have so suddenly, and in such numbers; been extinguished.

The majority of the British nation earnestly wished that the Americans might not be conquered; while they wished also, that their country might not be separated from the national domain. The ablest men in the councils of the kingdom resisted the war, and the measures which led to it, with unanswerable arguments, and with irresistible eloquence. The great Chatham solemnly warned the Parliament of the danger, which was involved in reducing three millions of their fellow subjects under the dominion of the crown, and placing them at its absolute disposal. The consequences of such an event cannot be divined; but it demands no great degree of forecast to perceive, that they might have been dreadful. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER VIII.

Saratoga-Fort Miller-Fort Edward-Cambridge-Argyle-The Baton KillEaston-Greenwich-Scotch settlers-Journey to Williamstown-Petersburgh -Pownal-Excursion to the summit of Saddle mountain-Natural Bridge.

Dear Sir,

THE township of Saratoga has been divided into two; Saratoga, and Northumberland; perhaps into more. In 1790, the inhabitants, contained within its limits, were 3,071 in 1800, the present Saratoga contained 2,481; Northumberland 2,007; in 1810, the numbers in Saratoga were 3,183, and in Northumberland 2,041. Both townships are of considerable extent.

The journey from Saratoga to Sandy-Hill is very pleasant, except that the road is indifferent in many places; a part of it being heavily encumbered with mud, and another part with sand.

The face of the country is very similar to that which was last described.

Several of the intervals, which we passed on this part of our journey, exhibit strong proofs of the manner, in which they were formed. A bare inspection of them evinced beyond debate, that they were at first islands, which rose above the surface at some distance from the bank and were gradually extended towards it. The part, which finally united each to the bank was last formed, and continued to be a channel to the stream longer than any other spot on the interval. Accordingly, this part of these grounds was, almost without an exception, lower than the

rest.

Before the year 1783, there were few settlements in this region. The expedition of Gen. Burgoyne obliged the inhabitants to fly; destroyed their buildings and fences; and plundered them of their cattle and their property. Since that event the number of planters has greatly increased; and they have considerably advanced in prosperity and wealth. Northumberland is, however, still in an infant state; many of the houses being built of logs;

the fields imperfectly cleared; the girdled trees remaining; and the enclosures, formed of logs and rubbish. These proofs of a recent settlement will soon vanish, and be followed by a superior cultivation.

Three miles above Carpenter's stood Fort Miller; a small, picketed work, built in 1756, or 1757, to check the incursions of the savages. Its remains have almost entirely disappeared; and the spot where it stood is now a cornfield. At this place there is a sprightly fall in the Hudson, down which Gen. Putnam is said to have descended in a small boat. Opposite to this spot Gen. Burgoyne spent near two months in his long journey from Skenesborough to Saratoga.

We crossed the Hudson at Dumont's ferry; and through a road in the township of Argyle, extremely miry, made our way to Fort Edward; where we stopped some time to examine this work. It was planned by Capt. Ayres, an engineer in the British service; and completed by Gen. Schuyler in the year 1755, principally with a design to check savage incursions, to be a depot of military stores, and to protect the persons, employed in transporting them. We found the work almost entire. It is built of earth in the form of an irregular square, with three small bastions on the North-West, North-East, and South-East, angles; and a counterfeit on the South-West. On two sides it was fronted by a ditch; under the third runs the Hudson: the fourth is the bank of a deep-sunk rivulet. From a sudden attack, therefore, it was well secured; but, being in the neighbourhood of several higher grounds, could not have been defended against artillery, half an hour. Its original name was Fort Lyman; derived from Major General Lyman, who was mentioned in a former part of these letters, and who at that time commanded the New-England forces, encamped here.

Fort Edward is distant from Albany forty-seven miles, and from New-York two hundred and three. A small, scattered, lean looking village is built in the neighbourhood.

From Fort Edward to Sandy-Hill, (three miles,) the road, after ascending a long acclivity, passes over the plain, on which that

village is built. The evening I spent with Judge H, a member of the Senate of this State. This gentleman gave me much useful information concerning the surrounding country, and its inhabitants.

Saturday, October 12, Messrs. C and H left us, and proceeded to Lake George. Mr. D and myself, intending to return to Carpenter's in the evening, stopped at Glen's Falls; three miles on the road. It rained all night, and until ten in the morning. We were therefore late; and after spending an hour and a half at the falls returned to Sandy-Hill. The river was high; and all those fine varieties of water, which were so visible in the preceding autumn, were lost in one general accumulation of force and grandeur. The river rolled, or fell, every where in a violent and majestic torrent. A copious mist filled its bed, and descended on us in a shower.

We took a late dinner; and, crossing at Roger's ferry a little below Sandy-Hill, pursued our journey on the Western side of the Hudson. Here we found the road much better, and the scenery much pleasanter.

On Sunday morning, October 13, having been informed, that there would be no public worship in Saratoga, none, I mean, in which we wished to participate; and that there was a respectable Scotch clergyman at Cambridge; we left this place, and crossing Dumont's Ferry again, rode through the township of Argyle, and a small part of Greenwich, to the place of our destination; where we arrived just after the congregation had begun their morning worship. On our way, a decent Scotchman came up to us on horseback; and very civilly enquired why we traveled on the Sabbath; observing to us at the same time, that such travelling was forbidden by the law of the State, and that the people of that vicinity had determined to carry the law into execution. We easily satisfied him; and were not a little pleased to find, that there were people in this vicinity, who regarded the law of the land, and the law of God, with so much respect. When we entered the church, our companion obligingly conducted us We found in the desk, a respectable clergyman

to a good seat.

from Scotland, who gave us two edifying sermons, delivered, however, in the peculiar manner of the Seceders.

The country from Dumont's Ferry through the township of Argyle, is, for six or eight miles, a plain of pitch-pines. The soil is alternately clay and sand, every where replenished with slate of a very fragile and dissolute texture. The surface then rises gradually into easy swells; and then into hills. The soil of these is loam, mixed with gravel; generally of a moderately good quality. The forests contain oak, chesnut, and hickory; and abound in maple, and beach. The rocks are principally granite.

On this road there is a small village in the township of Argyle; and another, in that of Greenwich. The latter is built around a

This large mill-stream ri

collection of mills on the Baton Kill. ses in the township of Dorset, in Vermont; and, running SouthWestward through Manchester, turns to the West in the North part of Sunderland. Thence, passing through Arlington, it crosses the County of Washington between Cambridge and Salem, Easton and Greenwich, and discharges its waters into the Hudson at the SouthWest corner of Greenwich. Its course is about forty miles. Here it is called Batten Kill. In this village there is a decent Baptist church; and about thirty houses of an indifferent appearance.

The township of Argyle contained in 1790, when it included Greenwich and Easton, 2,341 inhabitants; in 1800, after Easton was separated from it, 4,595. In 1810, after Greenwich was separated from it, 3,813. In 1800, Easton contained 3,069; and, in 1810, 3,253. In 1810, Greenwich contained 2,752. The original township contained in 1800, 7,764; and, in 1810, 9,818.

In 1790, the County of Washington contained 9 townships, and 14,042 inhabitants; in 1800, 16 townships, and 35,574 inhabitants; in 1810, 21 townships, and 44,289 inhabitants.

These facts will give you a tolerably just view of the progress of settlement, and population, in those parts of this State, which until very lately were a mere wilderness.

The township of Cambridge is both fertile and pleasant. On its Western side runs the range of Taghkannuc, in a succession of hills; some of them approaching towards a mountainous height.