How the writer obtained the History of the Military Academy at West Point-Lt. Roswell Park-West Point a place of inter- est-Hallowed by Washington, Kosciusko, Lafayette, etc.-View of West Point after entering the Mountain Gap above-The Monuments-Links of the chain broken by the British vessels in 1777-Early History of the Academy-The Officers-Practi- cal considerations which should influence those who are seek- LETTERS ABOUT THE HUDSON, &c. LETTER I. Poughkeepsie-Location-Products of Dutchess CountyPopulation of Poughkeepsie-Sidewalks-Churches-Enterprising men-Education-College and Academies-Remarkable rise of real estate-Cause of it-A place for mechanics-Prospect from Mansion Square-Hatch's Hotel, etc. Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1835. DEAR P.-In my last from New York city, I promised the disclosure of some facts relative to this interesting and flourishing village. But the peculiar advantages of its location, its rapidly increasing population, the public spirit of the citizens, the great advance of real estate, and the introduction of new sources of improvement and wealth, have been of late so generally the subject of newspaper remark, that I am fearful I shall not be able to add much that is new or interesting to the general stock. But to begin.-Poughkeepsie may justly rank with the first villages in New York or New England. Indeed, I am not acquainted with a single village which in some important particulars equals it, and but few that will bear a favourable comparison. It is situated on the east bank of the Hudson, midway between Albany and New York. It is the court town of the richest county save one in the "Empire State," and as a highly cultivated agricultural county, it is, I apprehend, unsurpassed by any other in the Union. The gross products of the county, from its soil, its mines, and its manufactories, are believed by persons best qualified to judge, to approach very near to five millions of dollars per annum. The products of Dutchess and Ulster counties, and a portion of the western towns of Connecticut, are brought to this village, where they are shipped for the great commercial market. The village is very compact-the streets numerous, spacious, and well paved. The sidewalks too are neatly paved, and give the traveller a very favourable impression of the public spirit of the corporation. The population of the village in 1830 was 5022, and the town about 7000; now the population of the village exceeds 7000, and the town contains well nigh 10,000. The assessment of real estate in the corporation in 1834 was $1,099,085; of personal, $937,700. There are seven places of public worship: one Baptist, two Friends, one Episcopal, one Methodist, one Presbyterian, and one Dutch Reformed. The Episcopal church is a beautiful Gothic edifice. It was built in 1833. A second Episcopal church is about being erected. A second Presbyterian church is now going up, and another Baptist and Catholic church are, I understand, to be commenced without delay. The public spirit of such men as Cunningham, Talmadge, Potter, Oakley, Vassar, Hatch, and a few others, gentlemen of intelligence and liberality, will not stop till it has given the place not only a beautiful external appearance and a business character, but endowed it with the means of education and intellectual improvement. They have projected, and are making rapid efforts for building a large and commodious academy for girls and boys; and a lofty and one of the most beautiful sites in the county has been purchased, on which an imposing edifice is to be built, to be occupied as a collegiate school of the highest order. Another is to be erected and liberally endowed for young ladies. These advantages of general education, will unquestionably hold out inducements of the most powerful kind, to wealthy gentlemen with families to settle in this healthy and delightful village. At a recent sale of land, quite a number of persons of this description were present, and one hundred and eighty-three lots of ground, suitable for house lots, together with a farm of one hundred and three acres, situated two miles south of the courthouse, were sold for $79,279. Lots which were sold eighteen months since for $600, have been sold for $4000. A plot of fourteen acres in the suburbs of the village, which was purchased ten months since for $4000, was recently sold for $14,000. Another plot, which could have been purchased nine months before for $10,000, was sold a few days since for $24,000. A farm in the vicinity, which was offered twenty months since for $22,000, has lately been sold for $68,000. A lot in the village, purchased sixty days since for $2000, has been sold for $5000. This enumeration of facts I have from the most unquestionable authority. Some view this rise as the result of the "speculating mania," which exists all over the country at this time. But I must, I confess, concur with an intelligent gentleman of New England, whom I have just seen, in the opinion, that the primary cause of this advance is to be found in the enterprise and public spirit manifested by the gentlemen alluded to above, and which now seems to prevail with the whole population. Few places in the country afford better opportunities for ingenious and industrious mechanics. The enterprising gentlemen who are labouring with laudable zeal to promote the growth of Poughkeepsie, have struck out a course which cannot fail of success, that of introducing new branches of business; hence every ingenious mechanic is ta |