in this spring in constant
agitation. So much fixed air escapes from it, that an animal held over
it, as in the Grotto del Cane, near Naples, cannot live above half a
minute.

In a few days they left Saratoga Springs, in a convenient stage, to go
to Albany, thirty-six miles distant. They passed through a disagreeable
and sandy country. The uniformity was, however, very pleasingly
interrupted by Saratoga Lake, which is eight miles long.

At the small town of Waterford they passed along the left shore of the
Hudson on a long wooden bridge, to avoid a bad bridge over the Mohawk.
They proceeded on their route in the night on a very good road, and
passed through Lansingburgh and Troy. The latter is very handsomely
built, and many stores were very well lighted up in the evening. Here
they returned to the right shore of the Hudson, and reached Albany at
ten o'clock at night.

At eight o'clock next morning they took passage on board the steam-boat,
to go down the river as far as the town of Catskill, at the foot of Pine
Orchard. The company ascended the mountain, which is twelve miles high,
in stages. They reached Pine Orchard a little before sunset. The
building on the mountain for the accommodation of visiters, is a
splendid establishment. Alida was truly delighted with the landscape it
presented in miniature; where large farms appeared like garden spots,
and the Hudson a rivulet, and where sometimes the clouds were seen
floating beneath the eye of the spectator.

The next morning they again took the steam-boat at Catskill to go to
Hudson, twenty-seven and a half miles from Albany, which they reached
about noon. This city appears very handsome and lively. On the opposite
side of the river is Athens, between which and Hudson there seems to be
much communication kept up by a team-boat. A very low island in the
middle of the stream between the two places, rendered this communication
somewhat difficult at first, as vessels were obliged to make a great
circuit. To avoid this inconvenience, a canal was cut through the
island, through which the team-boat now passes with ease and rapidity.

This place affords a very fine view of the lofty Catskill mountains.
They left the city of Hudson in the afternoon, and arrived at West Point
at eleven o'clock at night, on the right side of the Hudson, and landed
at a wharf furnished with a sentry-box. An artillerist stood sentinel.
They were obliged to ascend a somewhat steep road in order