Connecticut western news., 1872-09-06
Seaside Correspondence.

l
 FRIEND PEAsE-The trip from Watch Hill to Long Branch is pleasant one, being by boats, except twelve miles from Sandy Hook to Long Branch. The Ston- ington steamers are large and fine in all de- partments, and ride over the water with less motion than any steamer that ever passed a night on. Leaving Watch Hill at 4.3O P. M., on Steamer Adela, you land at old Stonington, and are transferred to a Ston- ington steamer which lands you in New when you take the boat for Sandy Hook, passing the government forts: Hamilton, Richmond and La Fayette, where the North ern rebels, or some of them. had the honor of stopping during the Rebellion Fort La Fayette is rather an old concern, the walls being of brick, and it does not look very substantial, but forts Hamilton and Richmond, to the contrary, present a front of solid granite, and look as though they might be hard customers in an action or battle.
 Landing at Sandy Hook, you take the cars of the New Jersey Southern railroad, which lands you at Long Branch in about thirty minutes, where you find coaches, omnibusses and stylish turn. outs, worth $500 or $2OOO. The hotels here are very numerous, and of mammoth proportions. The Ocean House, kept by Iceland, is about 700 feet long on the front, with els attached on back side. I should judge il might accommodate 1900 or 15OO boarders. The parlors are very roomy, and furnished finely but not as elegantly as Congress Hall or Grand Union at Saratoga, to which al- luded last week. The land is high along the shore of the Atlantic, and the bank so steep that they have stairs to go down, 25 or 30 feet, to the bathing ground, which I think is very rough and dangerous, as the swells come in four to six feet high, and the undertow is very strong and there is no sefety even for good swimmers, and they keep hold of the ropes which are placed there for safety. Your humble correspon- dent prefers Watch Hill to this place. ''Nary skeeter' at Watch Hill, and not many flies. While here you would think the flies of Egypt had come around again. At Watch Hill every one seems to be free and easy; Goes where, and does as, he pleases, if he keeps within the bounds of good behavior and civility. Here there is more starch and preciseness in the ap- pearance of nearly all you see, and ''Old Fuss and Feather" is on hand malxing a display while here forgetting how he sails when at home. Expenses at the Branch are from $l5 to $50 per week, according to the accommodation and style you wish. If you wish to take q o'clock train, he must be sure to dine at two, or he may be late for the train, as the walters here, Eaaoao h03o not 10 do tt, to perfection. The bath ing at Watch Hill is far superior to Long Branch, being safe even for children ten years of age, twenty or thirty feet from shore. the bottom being of sand and free from stones, and no undeItow to make it dangerous. We had the honor of President Grants company from New York to Long Branch. He is q sensible looking gentles man dresses neatly but not showy, and would Eot attract particular attention in crowd where he was not known.-This is popular place, when those having time and pcash to spend. come to see and be seen, and is to New Jersey what Saratoga is to New York and New England: the grand resort ill hot weather. BENTLY.