New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-01

so large q surface de II now does. Inc "uttct
was nearly two miles further up the stream than
the present one; but even then the pond was re-
garded as b. autfu object spreading. Is it did, so
finely between the moub tains The present dam has
raised the water 80 that it covers very large sur
face, probably double as many acres as formerly.
For several years after the enlargement the decay
ing wood and vegetables bred fevers, but now
the valley is very healthy. The water passes from
the pond down the natural channel as lar as fomP.
ton at which point il is turned into the feeder
connected with the main canal. The scenery In the
Long Pond Valley is exquisite. If one will ascend
the ridge immediately back Of the Presbyterian
Church, he will have scene spreading out befote
him never to be forgotten On either side are bold
mountains, and in plain view the pond, whilst in
every direction are beautiful fields and meadows
From the mountains on either side OF the valley the
prospect is very beautiful.
Midway in the valley there is turnpike, which
finds its way through notch in the mountain into
Orange County. 1t is rough road through very
bold scenery When child it made me studder
to look down the deep gorge by the roadside, 90
deep indeed that the hemlock trees were below
you. Just as YOU leave the top Of the mountain
going east you come to sharp turn III the road, o.
which point very singular occurrence took place
many years ago. A person named Matthew San
ford, who is still living WIS on his way to church
one Sunday morning, accompanied by his wife, VINO
had babe in her arms. They were riding in an
old.fashoned gig, and as the horse came near that
sharp angle in the road, he became unmanagaole
and sprang of the bank into the top OF venerable
bemlock tree. Sanford seeing what was coming to
pass exclaimed "Wfe. guess we've started for
tarnity this time ~ Strange to say, the horse
Sanford. his wife and the babe all made their way
down through the friendly branches of that heuock
TO the rocks below without the loss OF life or limb
When the man and bis wife picked themselves up
they for some time were unable 10 ma the cnl.a'
but its cries finally directed them to crevce into
which it had fallen without any serious damage !
met with several persons who were well acquainted
with the facts, and have often seen Sanford the
chief actor, and always with an involuntary laugh
about bis starting to 'tarnity" through that hem
lock tree top. 1t is doubtful whether the TACT can
| be paraelled.
This valley has been for several years the favorte
retreat Of Mr.. CrOpsy the justly celebrated land
scare painter. 1t is said that some years ago he
WAS sent 10 the valley by q gentleman, native of
the valley to paint landscape in which his native
| home should be the prominent object. While On
gagged in executing this order he discovered that the
valley had many natural beauties, put none 80 pleas
ING as the young lady whom he afterward married.
| This amiable and accomplished lady has accompa-
MED her husband in his extensive journeys through
| this country and several countries Of Europe Her
| letters SEINE Of which have SEEM show keen ap'
probation of the famous places and scenes through
which she has passed in the Old World Altogether,
| the mountain Girl has done no little honor to her
| native home. She Is now with her HUSBAND, spend
| ing several years in London.
A few miles from the Long Pond is place known
| ~ Rngwood, which is somewhat famous in the his
| tory of this region. Some years before the Reyolu'
| tion probably rs early as 1850 or 765, 1.-THE Lon.
| don Company wasformed, which secured, by grant
or purchase, large tracts of land at Charotenoursh
| nine miles south Ct West Milford RingwOOd, some
| EIGHT miles east of West Milford, aud Pompton
about midway between RingwOod and Paterson
| The main object OF the Company was to manufac-
ture iron. The first manager of the Company in this
country was said to be John Jacob FOesch, after
ward the owner of the Mount Hope Furnace IN
| Morris County. Under his direction furnace was
| built at Charottenburgh, another at RngwoOd
| another at WinOckie and stu another at Pompton
| These furnaces were small affairs compared with
those built in our day. The management OF Mr.
Foesch did not please his employers who superseded
him by sending Robert Erskine, esq, to take
his place. This Mr. Erskine was the son OF
Scotch clergyman and having gone into business
made failure. have seen some letters addressed
BY his mother to her dear Robe" which are very
| aifeciOnate in style and wholesome in matter Mr.
| Erskine was noted as mathematician Ill his day
| and made many curious calculations and drafts
| which are still in existence. Occasionally also, he
wrote in humorous vein for some Of the London
newspapers, and some of the rough drafts in these
| articles are yet 10 De seef
| Mr. Erskine must have come to this country
about l772. Copies of many letters to his employ
els in the old country still in existence, and very
| soon after he came he began to notify his CORE
spondents at home of the spirit which was pervading
all Glasses i'll this Country. Some OF these letters
| are deeply interesting showing what the peo-
| pie thought and how they felt before the war
| came on. One thing is worth noting remarkable,
| that Erskine espolsed ard defended the American
| side Of the dispute with great warmth. After The
war commenced he became "gcographer' to the
| amy and am quite sure have seen copy OF his
map Of New.Jersey drafted for the use OF Wash
| ingtOn. He was also commissioned az captain In
! the army, and perhaps rose to higher rank. hIs
| position as the manager of those great ron-works
gave him the control Of many men, so that he bad
company enlisted from them, the arrangement being
| that this company was not to be called out except
in cases of absolute necessity. He and his men did
good service to the country and his maine ought to
be held in kindly remembrance for his zeal IN serv-
ing bis newly-adopted country.
| Mr. Erskine and his amiabe lady-they had no
| clldren-resided at RingwOOd, in d mansion which
| combined elegance and strength 1t was furnished
with such stout oaken doors and shutters to be
considered prcof against all the ordinary means OF
assault. have often converted with an old lady
| who said that rich people for many miles around
were accustomed in dangerous times, 10 carry their
| silver plate to Erskines house for safe keeping
This fact excited the cupdity of gang Of robbers
WHO infested that REGION being led by one Claudius
Smith. Traditions differ as to the manner in which
the house was entered. One tradition says that one
night in the houte and, after the family were asleep,
that be let in his cOnfederates Another tradition
gays that they caught young man employed as a
clerk by Erskinp And COMPELLED him 10 90 u the