the high hills of iVew York island, and heights of Fordliam. The pleasure grounds in front, appear to have been laid out in the ancient Dutch style, ^%-ith high artificial banks, adorned v/ith rows of stately box, venerable for their height and antiquity; while beneath are still visible the remains of old fish ponds andyV/x d'eau. Above the old fashioned window, grim \-i.sages in the shape of corbels seem to frown upon the beholder. We suppose them to be a kind of ''genii loci."

Two eagles surmount the posts of the old gateway facing the stables. These were part of the spoils taken from a Spanish privateer during the

-« rue following item oo.:.rs in the will of F^t'-l^':"-'),^-^" ,^'^^1^"^ '• f,-^^*";^ 2^:|„°J[;f U^ no^^- live, wr.icji, with -he .-uin.- ,iUmt;iti..n, ^viil, t,y virtue ot my d.>c.-;w^a f.utit- A.r^A, W no1\ e lifier uiv a^.■ct.•a^^^.^ U[)ua my i-:a.j:,[ sou J.iiiics, ic-- iJarroijaU' a uilice -N. \., I'A. xvui. 0..

620 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

war; and presented to Augustus van Cortlandt, by Rear Admiral Rolen Digby of the British navy. To the east of the house, the Mosholu (["\<^ petts brook) pent up by the mill dam, forms an extensive sheet of water, which is greatly enriched by the \'icinity of green meadows, orchards aii 1 neighboring hills. South of the pond is situated the old mill. Amid the grove of locusts on George's point, a little north of the mill, stood the original residence of tlie Van Cortlandts.