ezvous, and in
1812 the United States Government established extensive barracks,
whence troops were forwarded to Canada.

=Albany=, 144 miles from New York. (_New York Central & Hudson River
Railroad_, _Boston & Albany_, _West Shore_, _Delaware and Hudson_, the
_Hudson River Day Line_ and _People's Line_.) Its site was called by
the Indians Shaunaugh-ta-da (Schenectady), or the Pine Plains. It
was next known by the early Dutch settlers as "Beverwyck," "William
Stadt," and "New Orange." The seat of the State Government was
transferred from New York to Albany in 1798. In 1714, when 100 years
old, it had a population of about 3,000, one-sixth of whom were
slaves. In 1786 it increased to about 10,000. In 1676, the city
comprised within the limits of Pearl, Beaver and Steuben streets, was
surrounded by wooden walls with six gates. They were 13 feet high,
made of timber a foot square. It is said that a portion of these walls
were remaining in 1812. The first railroad in the State and the second
in the United States was opened from Albany to Schenectady in 1831.
The pictures of these old coaches are very amusing, and the rate of
speed was only a slight improvement on a well-organized stage line.
From an old book in the State Library we condense the following
description, presenting quite a contrast to the city of to-day:
"Albany lay stretched along the banks of the Hudson, on one very wide
and long street, parallel to the Hudson. The space between the street
and the river bank was occupied by gardens. A small but steep hill
rose above the centre of the town, on which stood a fort. The wide
street leading to the fort (now State street) had a Market-Place,
Guard-House, Town Hall, and an English and Dutch Church, in the
centre."

* * *

I wandered afar from the land of my birth,
I saw the old rivers renowned upon earth,
But fancy still painted that wide-flowing stream
With the many-hued pencil of infancy's dream.

_Oliver Wendell Holmes._

* * *

Tourists and others will be amply repaid in visiting the new Capitol
building, at the head of State Street. It is open from nine in the
morning until six in the evening. It is said to be larger than the
Capitol at Washington, and cost more than any other structure on the
American continent. The staircases, the wide corridors, the Senate
chamber, the Assembly chamber, and the Court of Appeals room, attest
the wealth and greatness of the Empire State. The