The Arkansas banner., 1849-11-06
CAnp KEARxY,

1 My DEAR -; By this time you are perhap, fully satisfied of what am willing 10 confess-iha I am, at times one of the most miserabIy trifiina correspondents which the world ever produced. must throw myself upon your kind mercIes, and expect your forgiveness, while give you slight sketch of one of my recent pedestrian excursions One bright morning, in the beautiful month Ol May, as the sun was just rising above the eastern hills, and tinging their summils with crimson glow, lei. my comfortable quarters at the Point, and, enbarking in small craft which lay at the wharf, was soon waited across the smooth surface of the Hudson. Having attained the opposite bank of the river, entered at once amongst the dense evergreens which spread their shadow over this wild region; and, ascending gradually from the river for two or three miles. reached, at an elevation of 2 or 900 feet, the entrance to one Of those many valleys which intersect the mountainous country around, and which watered by small brooks that mnrmur amongst the rocks as they seek their way to the Hudson obtained, from this point, view looked back upon the river it flowed from the north. Just opposite my position, rose the precp. cliffs which girdle the river side of the smooth plain, which smiling in the gayest verdure of the early spring. The various buildings of the academy dotted this little nook of land, which seemed gathered beneath the dark hills beyond, and guarded in it's repose by the stern ruins of the moulderiag fortresses which overlooked it the y were brightening in the early light of the morning The river wound silently southward until lost 10 the view amongst the intricaeiss of Anthonys Nose aud the Dunderberg hills. The lovely stream was pouring it's tide of waters from the north and shining at the base of the dark mountains which were mirrored in it's glassy wave; while, through the deep gap which the resistiess river had cut through the mountain barrier, were. the smi-
 ling fields in the far distance; and beyond them still, rose successively the mountain range of the Sha- wangunk and the blue summi,s of the catsks, losing themselves almost ia the deep ceruean of the sky. The view, in this direction, embraced, through the narrow gap of the Highlands, an ex- tent of more than forty miles.
 Suatching a glance of the scene portrayed before me, as it smiled tn the early light of that beautiful day. 1 wound into the narrow valley which inter sected the highlands and, passing in south east direction, entered, after proceeding several miles. secondary valley which debouched, at some dis tancs from the river, upon that portion of the coun- kry known in revolutionary stories s the 'NeutraE Ground.' Continuing in the same direction, l crossed over country agreeabiy diversified with precipitous hills, covered with dense forests, and fertile valleys, watered by pure streams which coursed from the mountains, and smiling under the hands of the husbandIuan. It Is a region rich in stories of border warfare, and in recoections of the graver incidents of history. It is the of many romance which has been located here; and it re- quires but little exercise of the fancy to clothe this still wild region in all the rugged vesture of evolutionary days.
 l After marching about twenty miles through country characterized by this mixture of wldnesi and civilization, l had an opportunity of adniirinG ! that fine work of art-the dam over the Crotol river, erected to turn portion of the waters of tht stream into the aquednct which leads, after l of about forty miles, to the city of New York After examining the beginning of this vast moderr structure, l changed the course which had beel pursuing during the morning and, moving in southwestern direction, commenced approaching the river, from which had wandered s or 10 miles My journey now began to assume degree of cas l scal interest. as drew Hear the scene which hal
 been immortaIized by the pen of WAsHiNGro, IRVING, as the "local habitstion" of the luckles pedagogue, IchabOd Crane If you have no, reat that charming story of his, In the Sketch Book. titled Legend in Sleepy Hollow" you have In Geed missed one of the most beautiful things whcl IRVING everwrote, and you should not delay anothe day in procuring it. It was the frequent perusa of that inimitable "Legend'' which started me ol my pilgrimage To ''Sleepy Hollow" I louged t ] see q spot which had been so beautifully deneate, by the master hand of our greatest writer, am ! aroand which he had thrown the charm of his ge nius. To view It under the most favorable combi nation of circumstances, had left West Point o
 Saturday morning, the l9th May. in order to pay m
 visi, to tho ''Hoow" during the stiffness of Sab bath morning. When, therefore, after marchin about 8 miles, reached the borders of this drean l land, stopped for the night at the house of e Quaker. who resided upon a beautiful eminenc about mile from the Hollow.
 On Sunday morning, rose with the sun. It wa one O: the most charming mornings that ever lghte up with magical tints the beautiful landscape whic was smiling around me. The eminence upon whie
 stood overlooked. for great distance, the varie gated country undaated in the far distance. No a cloud obscared the brightness of the as hi beams diffased a native glow over farm and forest and lighted up, in the distance, the dark Palisade which frowned over the Hudson. and the snow white sails which were skimming. as if endue with life, over the smooth expanse of Tsppan Zss As if to contrast with the aspect of ifc and anma ton thus infused into the scenc, the quiet vale 'sieepy Hollow" repOsed below me. h the sab bath stiffness which regned through the precinc, of this secluded deli, whea all nature aroand wa gay with life, and the sweet birds of the sprin
 time were enrolling their madfigas. perceived tn
 fitness of the poets description of such spot: T "A pleasing land of drowsy head it was.
 T Of dreams that before the half shut eye; And of gay castles through the clouds that pass,