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ed, but we never before heard any thing to compare with it. It seemed like a peal of thunder from among the hills, and it went on peal after peal gradually growing less and less till it died away in the distance. We could not judge accurately, but it seemed nearly if not quite a minute from the time the first echo reached the ear, till the last reverberation among the hills was heard. And what was more surprising, the quantity of sound seemed more than ten fold increased and had all that rattling peal that is heard in the loudest thunder. What must have been the echoes from these mountains when the fierce battle raged here, and the roar of cannon, the peal of musketry, and the shouts of contending armies arose from this quiet valley? We lingered upon these ancient battle fields holding communion with the spirits of the brave men who had fallen here in olden time, till the gathering gloom of night recalled us to our lodgings in the village. We were bewildered by the variety and excitement of the scenes we had that day visited, and, fatigued by our exertions, we retired at an early hour to our chamber that overlooked the lake. We were, however, prevented from sleep for some time by a serenade upon the lake. It was not, it is true, music of the first character, but heard at such a time, and under such circumstances, its effect was delightful. We watched the boat in which were the musicians, as it slowly steered its way, just visible in the star light, till its shadowy form was no longer seen, while the far off notes of the music came floating along upon the evening breeze from the opposite shore, mingling with their own echoes, and recalled the recollections of the days when every lake and mountain had its appropriate divinities, and the wood nymphs danced in the woodland dells. The notes of the music soon ceased, and all these fancies yielded to sleep. We were on the lake shore early enough to see the sun rise over the mountains that form the eastern shore of the lake. This has been described as being peculiarly beautiful and splendid. And we in fact found it so. The effect of the rays of the sun, as they first fell upon the mist that covered the bosom of the lake, like a robe of the purest white, was extremely fine. The little islands which one after another showed their green heads as the mist arose from the surface of the lake, seemed to be the creation of enchantment, and the thin vapors as they arose from around them, assumed a thou sand fantastic shapes, while they lingered along the sides of the mountains. With all these, however, we confess that we were disappointed. The morning was less brilliant, or our fancy was less

vivid, or we had lived too long in a mountain valley to feel all that some have described as arising from witnessing sun-rise over the mountains of lake George.

We were early on our way to Saratoga, and passed many spots which our driver, an intelligent lad, pointed out to us as interesting, by being associated with the incidents of warfare.

On our left was the "French mountain," down which Dieskau's army came, when it suddenly attacked and cut off Col. Williams' troops in 1755. There is nothing but its name to attract the attention of the traveller to this, more than to the other mountains around it. Not far from this, and near the road, we passed the "bloody pond," into which the slaughtered troops who fell on that day were indiscriminately thrown. It is small in circumference, and its surface is covered with the leaves of the pond lily. Its stagnant waters conceal the ashes of the brave, who have there decayed into one undistinguishable mass; the friend and the foe, the soldier of Britain, the hardy son of New England, the native of the sunny clime of France, and the dark children of the forest. And there is something solemn in the thought that irresistibly presses upon the mind, that from that spot, rife with once animated dust, a trumpet, other than that of war, shall awaken these warriors from their sleep.

We also passed a rock near the road side on our left, on which Col. Williams is said to have reclined, after he was mortally wounded, and is from that circumstance still called "Williams' rock." It is within the forest, which still remains much as when the battle was fought, except that the highway over which business peaceably pursues its way, and pleasure gaily passes, is made through it.

We again repeat, that these spots must, one day, become some of the classic scenes of our country. The interest felt by every one in the early history of our country, will make the spots where many of our fathers fought and fell, constantly increase in inter

est.

And here will fiction find materials for her happiest efforts.— Here is all the wildness and beauty of scenery; here have been performed feats of heroism and courage, worthy of the cause in which their actors were engaged; and here have been done deeds, the mere recital of which, harrow up the soul. Indeed, we know no spots so rich in materials for fiction, and fancy, as those we have so hastily described. Their true history, has all the interest of romance, and it needs but the pen of a master, to give to them, and to those who acted in their history, individuality and life, to in

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struct, while it fascinates. We rejoice, that while we have been writing, a work has made its appearance, that verifies, if we are correct in opinion, the remarks we have made. We allude to the "Last of the Mohicans ;" and we doubt not that the charm which the author has thrown over the spots we passed, will give to them a more lively interest, than has ever before been felt, by any who have visited them, except the patient antiquary, who may have identified the spots upon which history has bestowed a perpetuity of fame.

The road from Caldwell to Saratoga is poor, being either rocky or sandy, and over a level and uninteresting country. The soil is poor, and not susceptible of much cultivation. We breakfasted at "Glenn's Falls," where there is a considerable village. We went to the Falls of the North River at this place; but the water was low, and they had nothing magnificent in them, and were destitute of beauty or grandeur, when compared with those of Montmorenci or the Chaudiere, which we had so lately seen. Our ride from this place to Saratoga, was precisely such as might be expected, over a dusty, sandy road, on a hot day, with just breeze enough to keep the dust in motion. We arrived at noon, at the "Springs," and were in time to be in "at the death," or in other words, to be ready for the dinner, which forms so important an item in the sum of happiness, at that resort of hungry belles, and healthy epicures. And here, reader, will we stop. If you have followed us thus far, we cannot, in conscience, stun you with the clattering of knives and forks, and the bawling for servants, or annoy you with the crowding and jostling every one has to undergo, who visits that spot for health or pleasure. We would again apologize for the length of this narration, if an apology would remedy its defects.Be this as it may, we assert with confidence, that the tour, whose out-line we have attempted to sketch, has much in it to interest and amuse, although attended with no inconsiderable fatigue and labor; few can return from it without becoming more American, and without having felt the noblest emotions, as well from the contemplation of the scenes of nature, as from visiting the scenes immortalized by deeds of glory.

W.

TOBACCO.

THOSE Who hold in due respect the various good qualities of the Virginia weed, the tremendous counterblasts of the learned King James and the good Mrs. Rowlandson, to the contrary notwithstanding, will be gratified with the confirmation of the good estimation wherein they hold the worthy plant, in the subjoined extract from the writings of that excellent gentleman, John Josselyn, himself addicted to the use thereof, howbeit with moderation. Hear ye

"The vertues of tobacco are these; it helps digestion, the gout, the tooth ache, prevents infection by scents, it heats the cold, and cools them that sweat, feedeth the hungry, spent spirits restoreth, purgeth the stomach, killeth nits, &c.; the juice of the green leaf, healeth green wounds although poysoned, the syrup for many diseases; the smoak, for the phthisick, cough of the lungs, distillations of Rheume, and all diseases of a cold and moist cause; good for all bodies, cold and moist, taken upon an empty stomach; taken upon a full stomach it precipitates digestion; immoderately taken, it dryeth the body, enflameth the bloud, hurteth the brain, weakens the eyes and the sinews."

JNO. JOSSELYN's first voyage to New England, 1638-p. 76. Hearken now, kind reader, to the violent denunciation of King James-the prince of pedants, and the pedant amongst princes; who wrote thus:

"That tobacco was the lively image and pattern of hell; for that it bad, by allusion, on it all the parts and vices of the world whereby hell may be gained; to wit: First, It was a smoke; so are the vanities of this world. Secondly, It delighteth them who take it; so do the pleasures of the world delight the men of the world. Thirdly, It maketh men drunken, and light in the head; so do the vanities of the world; men are drunken therewith. Fourthly, He that taketh tobacco, saith he cannot leave it, it doth bewitch him; even so the pleasures of the world make men loath to leave them, they are for the most part so enchanted with them. And further, besides all this, It is like hell in the very substance of it; for it is a stinking, loathsome thing, and so is hell." And further, "were he to invite the devil to dinner, he should have three dishes-1. a pig: 2. a pole of ling and mustard: 3. a pipe of tobacco for digestion.”

To none of these courses, worthy reader, would you probably object, nor could the Prince of the Powers of the Air reasonably refuse a banquet so sumptuous.

But this royal tirade was not sufficient to express the whole bitterness of indignation against the fuel for the pipe. Hear what he saith again, of smoking:

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"It is a custom, loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs and in the black, stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless !!!"

J.

ORIGINAL.
POWHATTAN.

It is related by Belknap, that the King of England sent to Powhattan a crown and scarlet cloak, among other things, as a present. It was long before Powhattan would consent to put them on, but he would not be bribed by · them to admit the English to go through his country on a voyage of discovery. His reluctance to put on, or wear this finery suggested the' following ;

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TAKE back these baubles, I would be

A King, without these tinsel things;

My warriors are too brave and free

To wish for toys from foreign Kings.

The head that wears this crown must ache;
Take back the gilded bauble, take.

And think you that these limbs were made
To be within that robe confined?

Its gorgeous dies too soon would fade,
If gazed on with a feverish mind.
Ah, no! a chain shall ne'er enfold
Powhattan's limbs, though forged of gold.

Give me the mantle that I wore,

Before the white man's step was here;

When from the mountain to the shore,

We chased in peace the bounding deer:

And free as is the mountain air,

The Indian dwelt securely there.

Think you, yon deer, that lightly bounds
Along that forest glade would be,
If chained, amidst your harvest grounds,
As light, or feel his heart as free.
The forest fastness is his home,
He pines and dies if thence he roam.

Or think you, that yon bird of light,
That sails above yon mountain blue,

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