The Arkansas advocate., 1831-02-16


 Isuddenly around that bold and lofty promonto- i iry, was selected for this purpose, from the na- ltural strength of its positions; and, during the lhrst years of the war. fortified under the di- trection of the most skliul engineers of the A. meriean and French armies, with degree of expense and labor which, iil tiIe cnieebied state of the nation, was truly astonishing. The pre- .seryation of this post was the cardinal point in the plan of more than one eyentful campaign, and it's surfenderto the enemy was the great ob- ject of Arnold's treason. twas called at that time, and with justice, the Gibraltar of North l America.
 Since the peace of l7S3, Fort Putnam, to- gether with the other works of defence at that station, has been gradually dsmantled, and at last suffered to fall to decays so that it now ap- pears venerable ruin of massive military ar- chiteeture, erowning the woody and rugged steepof a mountain.
 i As such, it is a feature almost unique in A. meriean scenery, reminding the traveller of the romantic ruined towers of defence in the eor- ges Of the Pyrenees, or the feudaI castles which still frown from the rocky banks of the Rhine. fromits dilapidated basions, the eye wanders lover a wide sea of mountain ridges. rising one above. or beyond another, i'll every direction, un- ! til they suddenly descend in steep, rocky. and j stupendous banks, to the mighty stream which { flows silently at their base. Far away 10 the north you may trace the summits of other noun | talns of the same chain gradually reeeding from the river on each side, and leaving al their feet l the rich plains of Duchess and Orange counties. l filled with farms and villages, and hero and there bright with small lakes, and winding streams glttenng Tn the sun. lneyery part of this mag. I!ihcent view, the broad Hudson appears in all iits grandeur; not however, as 1t is usually seen. lpouring it's steady and unbroken current directly to the ocean, ssforth and right on, but apparent l ly divided into series of lakes, which. to the southward, are girt with the boldest mountain scenefY, as wild and as rude now as when old Hudson, Gin the first ship, broke the unknown waveo of the stream destined to immortalize his name: whilst to the north, it opens into still l broader eXpanse, covered with the white sails 1 of sleops and with steam boats, trailing their long dark clouds behind them, between cultivat- ed but picturesqe banks, interspersed with villa ges, villas, and spires.
 Immediately beneath you, you perceive the lplan of West Point, surrounded by the buildings of the National Military Academy, and ga4 with the tents of the encamped cadets, or gilt ering with their arms and martial array.
 These ruins are rlcl, with the most hallowed associations; for they are fraueht with recollec- tions ofheroism, liberty, and virtue.
 There Arnold plotted the subjngation of his country, and, surrounded as he was by an a smy and militia, unpaid, unelothed, and suffering, ne could find none of them base enough to re- ceive his gold, and participate in his treason. As We muse over this magnificent scene of great events, the imagination nsensibly kindlcs. and l the plain below, and forts, and rocks. become peoped again with the soldiers and chiefs ofthe revolution. The majestic WASHINGTON, the young and gallant HAMILTON, the veteran dis ciplinaran STEUBEN, the fearless PUTNAM. the daring WILLET, the cool and sagaeious CLINTON, successvely pass before us. In the hollow re- cess of the bank beneath, the melancholy Kos | cIosko was won't to mourn alone and without hope over the woes and the wrongs of Poland. Upon the cliffs the right, the young and high spirited LAFAYETTE often sat, meditating lofty thoughts of good to America, to France, to man. kind, whilst bright and gorgeous visions of glory and freedom floated before him.
 Amid the ruins of Fort Putnam, the patriot ! may find materials to animate him with fresh hopes for his country's future welfare, as well as to recall the noblest recolections of her past history. Onthe plain beneath feet, ,are annual ly collected the chosen youth of that country, to DC instructed III the highest attalnments Of sc- ence, ard the best uses of military skill. There, as they daily tread the soil eonseerated by the steps of heroes, sages, and patriots, the Genius of the place fires their ingenious breasts with a generous emulation of the illustrious dcad.- | There, is an armory of mind, living arsenal. I which, in the worst extremes reserved for our country, will prove its cheapest, it's surest, it's Iproudest defence.
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 No men labor harder than printers--no me-. are more scantily paid inproportion to the veal land tear of mental and physical constitution no menin this community, we are quite certat are called upon for so large an amount, pro