and east winds.

Irving says of the family at the time of the Revolutionary War:--

"Two members of this old and honorable family were conspicuous
patriots throughout the Revolution. Pierre Van Cortlandt, the father,
at this time about fifty-six years of age, was a member of the first
Provincial Congress, and President of the Committee of Public Safety.
Governor Tryon had visited him in his old manor house at the mouth of
the Croton, in 1774, and made him offers of royal favors, honors,
grants of land, etc., if he would abandon the popular cause. His
offers were nobly rejected. The Van Cortlandt family suffered in
consequence, being at one time obliged to abandon their manorial
residence; but the head remained true to the cause, and subsequently
filled the office of Lieutenant-Governor with great dignity."

The history of the house records other interesting events besides
those of war: From its high veranda the great Whitefield preached to
crowds who were seated on benches on the lawn. The memory of this time
has been kept green by a small brass plate, recording the fact, which
is attached to a post of the veranda.

The whole air of the place is so homelike and comfortable that the
traveler could easily pass it by never dreaming that the career of
this vine-clad nest is one that many a more pretentious dwelling would
be proud to own to.

The old Van Cortlandt family cemetery is situated on a hill west of
the house and west of the road. Here lie the remains of that Mrs.
Beekman whose distrust of Joshua Smith prevented him from securing a
disguise for Andre. Along the southern foot of this hill lies the
Haunted Hollow.

[Sidenote: _TELLER'S POINT._]

For-years "the walking sachems of Teller's Point" held nightly
councils here, the ghosts of departed Indians, whose last resting
place on this Point was disturbed by the white man's plough and spade,
but their clay has long since been burned into bricks and their shades
have scattered in all directions; some of them no doubt looking down
on us to-day from Manhattan's lofty skyscrapers.

An Indian castle or fort defended Teller's or Croton Point from
up-river tribes, and it was here that old Chief Croton died while
defending the firesides of his people, he being the last warrior to
go down before the invaders. But though dead he yet walked, much to
the inconvenience of belated travelers, more especially those who,
having passed a friendly evening with hospitable nei