Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  There she might read in nature's page the wonders of Creation, almighty power, infinite wisdom and unbounded might. There truths that entertain, reward the searching mind, and onward lead inquiring thought. The curious wonders still unfold, and rise upon the view. The mind rejoicing, comments as she reads, and raises still to the Almighty Power increasing homage.

  The summer was past its meridian, and had shed abroad its warmestinfluences, and enriched the various scenes of nature with theluxuriance and beauty of its foliage. In the meantime, Alida departedagain from her father's house for the city, to join a party composed ofgentlemen and matrons, Albert her brother, with several young ladies,who all left the port of New-York for the Falls of Niagara. Her pensivemind became cheered and animated as the gallant steamer left the shoresof the city and moved majestically over the smooth face of the Hudson.The morning was extremely beautiful, and she surveyed with a new andalleviating pleasure, the various and extensive prospect of thesurrounding country. The scenery on the river at this season surpassedall description, and exhibited a landscape worthy to relate in history.The borders of the river beautifully interspersed with cottages,villages, and large flourishing towns, elegant country-seats, withgrounds tastefully laid out, which afforded to the eye of the travellera novel and enchanting appearance. They arrived about sunset at the cityof Albany, and took lodgings at Cruttenden's boarding-house, on aneminence near the Capitol or State-house.

  This city, which is situated on the right bank of the Hudson, and standswestward upon a rising ground, received its name, when in possession ofthe English, in honour of James II., who was the duke of York andAlbany. On the following morning they took a walk through the city. Inconsequence of its vicinity to the Ballston, Saratoga, and New LebanonSprings, in the fashionable season the hotel was so full of strangersthat no more could be accommodated.

  Albany has received a new impulse, an increase of commerce, and expectsto reap the most happy results from the Erie canal, which commenceshere, and runs a distance of three hundred and sixty-two miles to LakeErie. The company took a walk to the new basin, into which the canalempties. It is separated from the Hudson by a dam which runs parallelwith the river.

  On the morning of the 14th of August they took passage on board of theAlbany, one of the canal packet-boats, for Lake Erie. This canal, whichis three hundred and sixty-two miles in length, with eighty-three locksbetween the Hudson river and Lake Erie, which lies six hundred andeighty-eight feet above the level of the former river. The packet-boattook them from thence to Schenectady. It was covered, and contained aspacious cabin. On account of the great number of the locks, theprogress of their journey was but slow. The boat was drawn by threehorses, that walked upon a narrow path leading along the canal, andbeneath the numerous bridges which are thrown over it.

  The distance from Albany to Schenectady by land is only fifteen miles,and persons are enabled to travel it in a very short time in a stagecoach, but as they were anxious to see the canal, they preferred goingby water twenty-eight miles.

  The city of Troy, five miles and a half above Albany, is pleasantlysituated on the left bank of the river, at the foot of several tolerablyhigh mountains, one of which is called Mount Ida. There is a branchcanal, which has two locks, and establishes a communication with Troy.They soon arrived at a place where there were no less than nine locks,with an ascent of seventy-eight feet. In front, and to the right ofthis, is another canal, which unites with the Hudson and the canal fromLake Champlain. At this place they left the Hudson, and directed theircourse along the Mohawk river. During their ride, they observed acovered wooden bridge, which extends over the latter river, a shortdistance from its mouth, and is about six hundred feet in length,supported by fifteen wooden piers. There was a fine view of the famousCohoes Falls of the Mohawk river, seventy-eight feet in height, andabout four hundred feet wide. In the spring, when these falls extendover the entire bed of the Mohawk, they are said to be extremelymagnificent. During this season of dry weather, they presented ahandsome appearance, though they were very small, the river being almostcompletely dried up. Finding great difficulty in continuing the canal onthe right bank of the Mohawk, they were obliged here to carry it to theopposite side of the river by means of an aqueduct bridge one thousandone hundred and eighty-eight feet in length. This bridge is supported bytwenty-six stone columns, on which account they have placed achevaux-de-frieze to keep off the ice in the river. The canal is cutthrough the rocks almost the whole distance, where it runs along theleft bank of the Mohawk, and presents a very handsome appearance. Twelvemiles further on, it returns again to the right bank of the river, by asimilar aqueduct, supported by sixteen piers. Four miles farther on isSchenectady, where they arrived after sunset. Between this town andAlbany they passed no less than twenty-seven locks. At this place theyleft the packet-boat, and found excellent lodgings at Given's hotel,which, after the great heat they had endured during the day, wasexceedingly agreeable. Early on the next morning they walked through thetown, and visited Union College, which consists of two large buildingssituated at a short distance from the town, upon a little eminence. Fromthis building there is a beautiful view of the town and of the Mohawkvalley. They left Schenectady early in the morning on board thepacket-boat, which had engaged to take them to Utica, eighty milesdistant, by an early hour the next day. The canal again ran along thewell cultivated valley of the Mohawk, and the prospect of the country,on account of the foliage of the trees upon the heights, was beautiful.

  The village of Amsterdam consists of a few neat houses. The canal iscarried over two rivers, called Schoharie, Canajoharie, from which itreceives the most of its water. At this place the horses were conveyedto the opposite side of the two rivers by means of a ferry-boat. At thefirst ferry is a small village, called Fort Hunter, where at the time ofthe revolution there had been a fort, or rather a redoubt of the samename. Towards evening they passed through a valley, which is formed bytwo rocky mountains. There are twenty locks between Schenectady andUtica. The day was intolerably warm, and the company very much oppressedby the heat, but in the evening fortunately there was a thunder-shower,which cooled the air. They passed over an aqueduct bridge during thenight, which stands over a solace called Little Falls. Towards morningthey passed through a well-cultivated region called German Flats, whichwas settled by some Germans during the time of Queen Anne. At about teno'clock they arrived at Utica, which is intersected by the canal, and isa large, flourishing town. In fact it is only here that a person beginsto admire the great improvements in cultivation, and gets perfectly newideas of the works of man and of his enterprising genius. Utica, on theright bank of the Mohawk, has two banks and four churches. It has alsoseveral taverns, the largest of which called Shepherd's hotel, theyfound excellent accommodations. There were besides many large andconvenient stores, a bookstore, and printing office. The number oftravellers this summer were unusually great, especially from thesouthern states.