repast which an epicure might have envied. The scene, the air, the laughing heavens, and the cheerful companions, have graven the place on my inemory as one of those "sunny spots" which chequer with gold the shadowy path of human life.

There are several very pleasing falls of water to be found in the hills of the surrounding country, and though in grandeur that of the Mohawk stands pre-eminent, in beauty some may do more than rival it. I have frequently been surprised, in the small section of this vast country that I have visited, to find, upon a more close examination, wild and romantic features in a landscape whose out-line wore a character of mild beauty or dull uniformity; rocky glens, clothed with shaggy wood, and traversed by brawling streams, broken into cascades, are not unfrequently found in hills, rising gently out of vast and swampy plains, or skirting valleys, watered by placid rivers, whose banks of alluvial soil are rich with golden harvests. The broken course of America's rivulets and rivers has, I believe, among other appearances, led the scientific to suppose this a world of later formation than the other. I was once much startled by the eager refutation which this hypothesis received from an American naturalist, no less remarkable for the simplicity of his character, than for his enthusiasm in his chosen pursuits. Chancing to put a modest query to the philosopher upon the

results of his researches into the age of his native continent, I quickly perceived, that to question her antiquity, were as though you should question her excellence, and you will believe, that I bowed out of the subject, (for I had never presumed to make it an argument,) with all possible politeness and deference.

WHAT

Canadaigua, August, 1819.

HAT is there in life more pleasing than to set forward on a journey with a light heart, a fine sun in the heavens above you, and the earth breathing freshness and fragrance after summer rain? Let us take into the account the parting good wishes of friendship, recommending you to a kind fortune, and auguring pleasant roads, pleasant skies, and pleasant every thing. A preux Chevalier, in olden time, setting forth in a new suit of armor, buckled on by the hand of a princess, to seek adventure through the wide world, might be a more important personage than the peaceful traveller of these generations, who goes to seek waterfalls instead of giants, and to look at men instead of killing them; but I doubt if he was in any way happier, or felt one jot more exquisitely the pride and enjoyment of life, health, vigor, and liberty. These are the moments perhaps, which, in the

evening of life, when seated in an easy arm-chair, we may rouse our drowsy senses by recurring to; and, like old veterans counting their honorable scratches, and all their "hair-breadth 'scapes in the imminent deadly breach," pour into the ears of some curly-pated urchin our marvellous adventures upon the back of a mule, or in the heart of a stagewaggon, with a summary of all the bruises and the broken bones, either received, or that might have been received, by riding in or tumbling out of it. Should I live to grow garrulous in this way, our journey hither may afford a tolerable account of bruises, though it is now a subject of congratulation with me, whatever it may be then, that there must remain a total deficit under the head of fractures.

If our journey was rough, it was at least very cheerful; the weather beautiful, and our companions good-humored, intelligent, and accommodating. I know not whether to recommend the stage-coach or waggon, (for you are sometimes put into the one and sometimes into the other,) as the best mode of travelling. This must depend upon the temper of the traveller. If he want to see people as well as things to hear intelligent remarks upon the country and its inhabitants, and to understand the rapid changes that each year brings forth, and if he be of an easy temper, not incommoded with trifles, nor caring to take, nor understanding to give offence, liking the inter

change of little civilities with strangers, and pleased to make an acquaintance, though it should be but one of an hour, with a kind-hearted fellow creature, and if too he can bear a few jolts-not a few, and can suffer to be driven sometimes too quickly over a rough road, and sometimes too slowly over a smooth one, then let him, by all means, fill a corner in the post-coach or stage-waggon according to the varying grade in civilization held by the American diligence. But if the traveller be a lounger, running away from time, or a landscape-painting tourist with a sketch-book and portable crayons, or any thing of a soi-disant philosophe, bringing with him a previous knowledge of the unseen country he is about to traverse, having itemed in his closet the character, with the sum of its population, and in his knowledge of how every thing ought to be, knowing exactly how every thing is, or, if he be of an unsociable humor, easily put out of his way, or as the phrase is, a very particular gentleman - then he will hire or purchase his own dearborn or light waggon, and travel solus cum solo with his own horse, or, as it may be, with some old associate who has no humors of his own, or whose humors are known by repeated experience to be of the exact same fashion with his companion's. In some countries you may, as it is called, travel post, but in these states it is seldom that you have this at your option, unless you travel with a phalanx capable