nished by the surface of the ground, the enclosures of stone, groves, and buildings; nor the little American parties, which were directed to avail themselves of these means; have materially obstructed his progress. But the opportunity was lost and Gen. Washington moved his whole army to the rear of the White Plains. They were then attacked; but it was too late.

:

Equally inexplicable has it ever seemed to me, that the British commander did not originally move his army up the East, or the North River, or both, immediately after the battle of Brooklyn, and station them in the rear of Gen. Washington. Had this measure been taken, the whole body of Americans, except a few fugitives, must have fallen into his hands. The defence of NewYork was, I presume, undertaken, solely, to satisfy the citizens of that State: for, circumstanced as it was, no spot could have been less capable of a defence. The measure could never have been dictated by Gen. Washington's own judgment. At the same time the possession of that city, though a great convenience to the enemy, could scarcely be considered even as a step towards the conquest of the country. Nothing in the conduct of the Americans, during the Revolutionary war, was more ill-devised than the several efforts, (including the erection of Fort Washington, and Fort Lee,) intended for the defence of this island and the Hud

son.

East-Chester is the next township on this road. Its surface is somewhat smoother, and less stoney, than that of West-Chester; and its soil of a better quality. A small, scattered village, composed of indifferently looking houses, surrounds an Episcopal church, built of stone, about three fourths of a mile North of the present road. I passed through this village in the year 1774 ; and know not a place, possessed of so many advantages, which has altered so little within that period. The rest of the township is covered with plantations.

New-Rochelle, the next township, is more inviting. On a beautiful hill, about three miles from East-Chester, stands the village built by the French protestants, who originally formed a settlement in this place. Several of their houses, and, I presume, of

their descendants, are still remaining. The ground on which New-Rochelle is built is a handsome eminence of considerable height, gradually and almost insensibly declining to the East, West, and South, and commanding a delightful prospect of the neighbouring country, and the Sound. The old French houses, long buildings of stone, of one story, with few and small windows, and high, steep roofs, are very ill-suited to the appearance of this fine ground. Nor is the church, built by the same people in the same style, at all more ornamental. There are, however, several good English houses. Some others are erected on the border of the Sound.*

Mamaroneck, so far as it is visible from the road, is generally a rough, stony, tract, covered with a strong soil. It is wholly a collection of plantations; and can scarcely be said to contain even a hamlet. It is set, however, with a number of good houses, and excellent farms; and presents several very pleasing views to the eye of a traveller; particularly around Mamaroneck bay. On the creek of the same name, a mill-stream, which enters the head of this bay, there has been lately erected a large, well-appearing, and expensive building; which is intended for a manufactory; whether of cotton, or wool, or both, I am ignorant.

Rye borders upon Mamaroneck, Eastward; and has a much handsomer surface, and a still better soil. On an elevation, not far from its Western limit, stands the mansion-house of the late Mr. Jay; father of the Hon. John Jay. It is now the property of Mr. Peter Jay, the youngest son of the original proprietor. This gentleman had the misfortune to become blind, when he was fourteen years of age. It has not, however, prevented him from possessing a fine mind, and an excellent character; or from being highly respected and beloved, by his acquaintance. Notwithstanding the disadvantage, under which Mr. Jay labours, he directs all his own concerns with skill, and success; and often with an ingenuity, and discernment, which have astonished those, by whom they were known. Some years, since, as I was informed by a gentleman in his neighbourhood, Mr. Jay, having directed a *The inhabitants have lately built a neat Presbyterian church.

carpenter to renew the fence, which enclosed his garden, made a little excursion to visit some of his friends. Upon his return he was told, that the posts on the front line of the garden were already set up. He therefore went out to examine them; and having walked with attention along the whole row, declared, that it was not straight. The carpenter insisted, that his eyes were better guides in this case than Mr. Jay's hands. Mr. Jay still persisted in his opinion; and pointed out the place, where the row diverged from a right line. Upon a re-examination the carpenter found a small bend in the row, at the very spot, designated by his employer.

Delicacy of feeling was remarkably shown by the same gentleman on the following occasion. The account I received from the late Hon. John Sloss Hobart, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of this State.

Several gentlemen were at Mr. Jay's on a friendly visit; and among them Judge Hobart. In the room, where they were sitting, was a large stand, or what used to be called in this country a corner-table. One of the company observed, that so wide a board must have been furnished by a tree of remarkable size. Another doubted whether the board was single. It was examined; no joint could be found; and the generally uniform aspect of the surface seemed to prove, that it was but one board. Governour Jay, who had gone out, was asked, when he returned, whether the table was formed of one or two boards. Upon his declaring, that it was made of two, a new examination was had; but none of the company could find the joint. The Governour then observed, that his brother would be able to show them where it was. Mr. Jay soon came in; and, having moved his finger for a moment over the middle of the table, rested it upon the joint. It was barely visible, even when thus pointed out. When we remember, that it was so nicely made at first; and that it had been waxed, and polished, for perhaps half a century; we shall be satisfied, that the touch, able so easily to detect an object, imperceptible to every eye in this company, must possess an exquisiteness of sensibility, which, antecedent to such a fact, would scarcely be credible.

489

There are two villages in Rye: one of which is customarily called Rye; consisting of perhaps twenty houses, built on the border of a small mill-stream, which passes through the centre of this township. The other is extended along Byram river, and contains fifty or sixty. Both of these villages are decent, and include several good houses. The Southern, and principal, part of the latter village is called the Saw-pit. The Northern is called Byram.

There are two small churches in Rye: an Episcopal, and a Presbyterian. An Episcopal Minister has occasionally been established here, but there has been no Presbyterian Minister within my remembrance.

Byram river, the Eastern boundary of Rye, separates the State of New-York, in this quarter, from that of Connecticut.

To these observations, I shall add a few remarks concerning the County of West-Chester. This County extends about forty miles from North to South along Hudson's river, and about eighteen along the Sound. Its Northern boundary is a line, running from East to West about twenty-five. Its Eastern boundary is the crooked line mentioned in the beginning of this work, as the Southern extremity of the West border of New-England.

This County contains twenty-one townships. Those on the Sound are, however, small. It is universally settled, so far as the nature of the ground will admit; and is almost merely a collection of farms. All the villages, of any importance, have been mentioned in the observations, made above, except one; Bedford: which, however, is the most considerable in the County, and the shire town; and lies about twelve or fourteen miles North-West from Stamford.

The surface of this County is generally rough, and hilly; but no where mountainous, except that it borders on the highlands. It abounds in rocks, and stones; chiefly granite. The townships on the Sound have generally a rich soil; and produce every thing suited to the climate. The agriculture is moderately good, and in a few instances, under the direction of several gentlemen, who have embarked in this business with zeal, is not, I believe, excel led in the United States.

West-Chester is well watered with springs, brooks, and millstreams. Its advantages for a market, and the means of conveying to it its produce, are perhaps singular: one of its boundaries being the Sound, and another, the Hudson.

The prospects, presented in frequent succession on this road, are very beautiful and brilliant.

Neither Learning, nor Religion, has within my knowledge flourished to any great extent among the inhabitants. Academies have been established at New-Rochelle, Bedford, and Salem : but neither of them has permanently flourished. The ancient inhabitants had scarcely any schools; at least of any value. A few gentlemen are scattered in various parts of this County, possessing the intelligence, usually found in that class of men: but the people at large are extremely stinted in their information.

The little attention paid by them to religion, is strongly seen in this fact; that there are but two settled Ministers in the six townships on this road. Yet the tract, which they occupy, contains 6,038 inhabitants. The congregations, which form the cures of these Ministers, do not, I believe, amount to a thousand persons. The same unpleasant truth was, also, strikingly taught to the public by the Missionary Society of New-York the last year.* This respectable body determined by a solemn act, that West-Chester was proper Missionary ground; and accordingly directed one of their Missionaries to appropriate his labours to these people only. No person, acquainted with the County, will hesitate to acknowledge, that the decision was worthy of the wisdom and benevolence of the gentlemen by whom it was made.

The generality of these people are in a good degree industrious; and although their houses are in great numbers indifferent, are yet in easy circumstances. But their minds are almost wholly engrossed by the field, the stall, and the market; the boat, or the waggon, which conveys them to it; and the gain to which it gives birth. With other interests most of them have little concern; and with other regions, none. Very worthy people are found among them, in humble, as well as superiour, life but there is

* 1812.