Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/97

 Journal of Jo/iii Mair, lygi 87 ably singular dance to different tunes with such vehemance that the Men frequently are obld. to throw off all their clothes but what decency requires to remain, they are in great subordination to their elders who directs the dance and prayers and regulates the whole Oconomy of the society, a prostitute who follow'd the English Camp is said to be the foundress.' it seems too absurd and too prejudicial to a rising popula- tion to last, they say when question'd, that dancing serves by its violent exercise to subdue their passions to venery, but I have allways been inclin'd to think the reverse the fact, the spring of Lebanon was once more frequented than at present, it is a very weak water, and barely the chill taken oft', its situation is beautifull, on a hill which commands the circumjacent country, which is well setled, and has several different villiages in the valley below; we found some invalids here and there are 4 or 5 good houses to accomodate lodgers. at 12 o'clock we continued our rout, and din'd at Stevens town 9 Miles, a small villiage. the country hilly, pretty well setled. and a fine stream running through the valley which empties itself into the North river at Kinderhook. we Slept at Phillips town a small villiage 7 Miles, and next Morning got to Albany 14 Miles, crossing the north river directly opposite the town; a great part of the last 21 Miles is but little setled, the road good, the country hilly, the whole distance from Hartford to Albany 115 Miles, the mountains of the green wood which I am told extend up to Canada seem a division design'd by nature be- tween the North and Connecticut rivers. Albany is situated on the North river at the foot of hills, which tho it shelters it from' the cold in winter makes it exceeding hot in summer, the town is pritty large and has some good buildings in it. the streets are wide, the inhabitants are a mixture of Dutch and English, but the Dutch manners are disagreeably predominant, the circumjacent country is beautifull, a fine view of which is had from the hills at the back of the town, it is inconceivable what a great trade is carry'd on between this place and York for Grain lumber etc. I counted myself 30 sloops and Schooners at anchor, and am told there frequently is a hundred, the river here is about as broad as at London bridge, but it is navagable for sloops no higher. Mr Van Rhenselleir is possess'd of lands stretch- ing 24 by 20 Miles, but the spot where the town of Albany stands tho' in the middle of his lands has its own rights etc. I rode from hence one day to the falls of the Cohouse." it is about nine Miles from Town the road along the North river till arriv'd at one of the branches of the Mohawk, it is three Miles up that river, the width there is broader than the Rhine, but it is not so high, nor near so much water except when there has been a great fall of rain or the snow melting, it then not only fills its bed but over flows the road ahd contiguous fields, and must certainly be a most magnificent sight, the fall is very little broken so that the sheet wou'd then be perfect. ' The reference is to Mother Ann Lee. ^Cohoes.