The pleasure grounds in front, appear to have been laid out in the ancient Dutch style, with high artificial banks, adorned with rows of statea Surrogate's ofBce, N. Y.

b The following item occurs in the will of Frederick van Cortlandt, dated 2iid of Oct. 1749 : " whereas, I am now about finishing a large stone dwelling house on the plantation in which I now live, which, with the said plantation, will, by virtue of my deceased father's will, devolve after my decease, upon my eldest son James, &c. Surrogate's office N. Y., fol. xviii. G2,

ly box, venerable for their height and antiquity; while beneath are still visible the remains of old fish ponds and jets d'eau. Above the old fashioned windows, grim visages in the shape of corbels seem to frown upon the beholder. We suppose them to be a kind of "genii loci."

Coitlandt House, tlie resilience of Augustus van C'oitlaiidt, Esq.

Two eagles surmount the posts of the old gateway facing the stables. These were part of the spoils taken from a Spanish privateerduring the war; and presented to Augustus van Cortlandt, by Rear Admiral Robert Digby of the British navy. To the east of the house, the Mosholu (Tippetts brook) pent up by the mill dam, forms an extensive sheet of water, which is greatly enriched by the vicinity of green meadows, orchards and neighboring hills. South of the pond is situated the old mill. Amid the ^rove of locusts on George's point, a little north of the mill, stood the original residence of the Van Cortlandts.