The grounds surrounding the mansion are greatly enriched with luxuriant woods and plantations. Just below at the foot of the terrace is a fine spring house, reached by a flight of stone steps. About seven years ago during a heavy drought, this perennial spring supplied the whole neighborhood with water. Overshadowing the top of the spring house is a venerable white oak four or five feet in diameter, while near by are groups of horse-chestnuts, originally imported in pots from England, also fine groves of locust trees. The beautiful Island of Oscawana, through which the Hudson River rail road passes by a tunnel, once formed a portion of the Cruger estate, but now belonging to Henry P. DeGraff, Esq.

Staats Morris Dyckman, the former proprietor, was the fifth son of

THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT.

Jacob Dyckman" of Philipsburgh, and the protege of Gen. Staats Morris, he w as also for many years the private secretary of Sir 'William Erskine, (Commissary General of the British army) in which capacity he attended the latter to Europe. Sir William died in 1795, leaving a large and valuable property to his secretary.

Soon after the death of his friend, Mr. Dyckman returned to his native country, purchased the Boscobel estate, and erected the present mansion. After the Revolutionary war the English Government in gratitude for services rendered, presented Mr. Dyckman with a full set of diamonds, and a golden urn 18 inches high. As stated above, Elizabeth, wife of Col. John P. Cruger, was the daughter of Peter C. Dyckman, the son of Staats Morris, by his wife Eliza Kennedy. In the possession of Mr. Cruger, is a "loving cup," used for family christenings, brought from Ireland by James Kennedy, more than a hundred years ago; marked, "B. K."b