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THE face of the country in the United States is, as may be supposed, exceedingly varied. The land for a prodigious extent on the borders of the Atlantic is flat, and in Virginia for a great distance inland. In Massachusetts more variety exists. In the level districts it is not easy to obtain an extensive prospect, owing to the quantity of timber encumbering the ground; and even where a good view is obtained, it is formal and uninteresting. The houses, generally built of wood, have no ornamental gardens about them, while the zigzag wooden fences have no beauty in themselves, and mar what little beauty there is in the landscape. Even where a river bursts upon the view, wide and magnificent, the

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spectator is disappointed as to its beauty, from the want of high banks. Where no prominent object appears for the eye to fix on, the surrounding beauties want the benefit of contrast. In the interior the scene improves. Nature in many parts is lavish of her bounties, as if laughing at the littleness of art. Hills and mountains, some rude and bare, others covered with trees; fertile valleys, watered by meandering streams; huge rocks, with tremendous precipices; cascades, cataracts, and torrents; these are all to be found in abundance. But as general descriptions fail of giving a distinct idea, I shall mention with some minuteness some of the parts I passed through, persuaded that the lover of nature will excuse a little tediousness to gain correct ideas.

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From New York I sailed up the Hudson to Albany, a distance of about one hundred and fifty miles in a sloop. The steam-packet from its expedition would have been preferable, had I not learnt that it passed by the most interesting part during the night. Having but little wind the voyage was long, and but for the variety and beauty of the scenery, would have been exceedingly tiresome. The banks adorned with a variety of forest trees rise in some places nearly precipit

ously from the water; in others, small cultivated hills here and there ornamented with a gentleman's house attract the eye. In one part, where the river passes through the Kaatskill mountains, it expands into a capacious basin resembling a lake, having that seclusion in the midst of magnificence, which gives to lake scenery its characteristic charm. We cast anchor in it, and just at twilight the steam-boat passed us. No sound was to be heard but that of its paddles striking the water. I looked around me, and while surveying the hills dark below, and bright above with the sunshine, I felt the power of a placid, majestic scene on the mind. It is productive of that pleasing melancholy described by Dyer,

"There is a mood,

There is a kindly mood of melancholy

That wings the soul and points her to the skies."

On the following morning we came in sight of two towns, one on each side of the river. They formed an agreeable spectacle, as showing us, that notwithstanding our last evening's loneliness, we were still near man and his haunts; for beautiful as nature is, it is in society that our chief delight is found. Beauty after beauty claimed my attention till we reached Albany. The Hudson at a future day will attract Americans as the Rhine now attracts Europeans.

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