Rose at seven. Soon after breakfast I visited the cemetery and copied
the lines on John Taylor. The morning cool; after another chat went to
the steamer with Hudson; we were too soon but I enjoyed the scenery
particularly the ingenious management of a sloop. At 1/4 before 12
observed the two boats sailing nearly together. The smaller got in first
but persuaded by Hudson I took the larger the _Champlain_, sailed 5
minutes past 12 racing and betting, as on horses. Paid for passage and
dinner 1 dollar. The most romantic part of the Hudson near West Point;
one fellow devoured almost more butter at dinner than all Mr.
Whitehead's family for a week. Do not observe many gentlemen's seats on
the banks of the Hudson on the New York side; the opposite is too rocky
and precipitous. Observed a funeral supposed to be a negro, as all the
attendants excepting the driver of the hearse were people of colour; two
of the first appeared to be ministers, both dressed with white cravats;
a number on foot after the body, with two coaches filled mostly with
females.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH.
James Dean set off early to the warehouse. I walked with Thomas who
wished me to speak to his brother lest he should indulge too freely in
drink. Walked through the fruit market, found it well supplied, then the
fish, found many all alive alivo. A cart load of cods weighed by means
of a double steel yard, one below and suspended from the other. The cart
suspended by a chain fastened to each axle outside the wheel, and the
front of the cart and the other wound up by a capstan. The grapes in the
market of a poor sort: no wonder that peaches and melons are preferred.
Called at Mr. W. and received but poor accounts of Dr. Marsden who has
been worse since he left: thought he had liver complaint and he
considered his lungs to be affected. Curious screw docks, eight on each
side raise the frame on which the ship is floated. After dinner at the
Franklin House, James Dean and I set off to H.; took a ride upon the
circular railway, watched them play at nine pins, the bowls returned by
means of an inclined wooden conductor into which the balls are put by
the person who sets up the pins. Afterwards walked along a beautiful
shady road with occasionally a glimpse at the Hudson and the beautiful
white sails; then across an embankment over a swamp; along a beautiful
road and through the grounds and garden of Mr. King, where we had a most
charming view of New York, the Hudson, etc., etc. Could not get tea at
either hotel till the usual time; got very good coffee near the theatre,
and only charged 19 cents each. Went to the theatre; very full; met
Webster, he had seen all our passengers but Mr. Grindrod. Mr. Hamilton
was about returning by Quebec, Mr. Cayley stopping with his brother at
Toronto.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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