Smyrna times., 1857-08-05
A TRIP UP THE HUDSON.


= on short trip, taking in his course the Oce
River and Mountain. From Philadelphia
y proceeded to New York, in a staunch oee,
steamer. The beautiful view of the Delawa
Bay, the sublimity of old Ocean, the sea sic
y ness and tribute paid old Neptune, Cape Ma
Ne" York Bay, the many objects of interest
the city of Gotham, and its noise, hurry, bus,l
, &c, will have to be entirely passed over, f
e want of space, and our narrative confined alon
to the river and mountains. . la au ...s
On Saturday morning we took the fine steame
Broadway, which plies between New York an
Albany, occupying eight or ten hours in tn
passage. The most of the boats run at night
and splendid steamers they are, too,---but littl
interior to the large crafts that cross the Atlan
tic. We took our seat on the upper deck viii
high anticipations, Of beautiful prospects, an,
our highest ideals were more than realized.--
The Hudson river is, in natural scenery, tht
giandest in the world, and, in ornamental, it il
fast apProximating to those of Europe. The
Rhlner over which Europeans 60 into raptures
Mr. Fillmore, who travelled several months last
year on that continent, says, diyested of its
legends, castles, &C., would fall far behind the
Hudson. Its entire length is 325 miles, and it
is naVigable to Troy, $50 miles, to which place
the tide-water ascends. The east side, for
many miles, is lined with the most beautiful
country-seats of retired merchants of New
York, rivalling the palaces Of princes and mobiles
in dimensions and grandeur. They are mostly
on the brow Of the high banks which rise
abruptly from the river, and are frequently hid
almost entirely from the view by the dense TO-
liage which surrounds them. There are sell
dom either yards or gardens attached-nothing
but a thick-set grass plat densely covered with
trees. The land, twenty or thirty miles up the
river, commands $500 and $1,000 per acre,
and is useless for anything besides building
purposes. The most of the residences cost from
S5O,OOOto 100000. Ned Forrest has recent
y sold his castle, with Is or 20 acres of ground
for 100000, to the Sisters of Mercy, aud his
is inferior TO many others. The celebrated
residence of Washington Irving" Sunny
Side was pointed out TO US, as well as those
OF Moses Grinnell, Jno. C. Hamilton, (son OF
Alex. Hamlton,) Stewart, the rich merchant,
and many others. There are numerous towns
along the river on the east side, which have
sprung into existence during the last eight or
ten years, mainly consisting of country resi-
dences. Great attention is paid to architecture, |
and of course the houses are novel and beaut- !
ful in design. But the river, were there not |
town or house upon it, would be an especial |
object of regard to the tourist The picturesque |
beauty of its banks-forming gentle grassy |
slopes, or covered with forests to the waters /
edge, or crowned by neat and thriving towns,
now oVershadowiDg the water with tall cliffs,
md now rising in mural and fearful precipices
and the Legendary and historical interest as.
'oclated with numerous spots combine to rem
Ter the Hudson the classic stream Of the Uni
ed States. Under the continuous hill, from
me to several hundred feet in height, covered
or miles with a succession of magnificent viii
as, chataus, palaces and cottages, winds the
hudson River Railroad, with its immense ex-
ent Of excavations aud continuous bank-wall
leXt TO the water. Every twenty or thirty
minutes tram of cars pass up or down, giving
ddilOnal ANIMATION to the scene. The whele
Expense of the construction of this road has
'een over $l2,70O,00O. On the west or Jer-
ey side OF the river, for distance Of twenty
i've or thirty miles up the same, are high precl.
'Ices, known as the Palisades, varying from
wO to five hundred feet in height. At the foot
# this curious formation is a pile of broken
ocks or debris; above this it looks like fluted
columns or huge trunks Of trees placed close
ogelher in an upright form. But these are
Insignificant when brought in comparison with
he Highlands, which have an elevation of from
me thousand to fifteen hundred feet, rising many
II them perpendicularly from the bed of the
liver in grand and solemn beauty. They look
ike solid rocks, but the most of them are lined
With stinted trees and shrubbery. Sometimes
he river, compressed and turbulent, passes be-
ween two Of these precipices, presenting as
Wild and romantic view as can be pictured in
he gayest fancy. West Point is located among
he Highlands, and is undoubtedly the most
picturesque place on the river. But our article
will not admit of details, so we must hurry on.
There are many places of historical interest on
his river,--Fl. Washington, Fl. Lee, Tarry- 4
own, (where Major Andre was arrested,)
stony Point, Forts Clinton and Montgomery
Vest Point, &c., to which we can only make al
'assing allusion. A few miles from StotyI
Point is the place where Capt. Kidd is said to
rave buried his money. Some years since, /
lerrick, worked by steam. power, was erected
nd large excavations made, but to no purpose,
md the works still stand there monument of
heir folly. The numerous towns on this river
which would, in themselves, form the subject
or long article, we are compelled to pass by
With mere mention. They are Yonkers,
Syack, Tarytown, Sing Sing, Haverstraw,
'eekskill, West Point, Newburg, Kingston,