still preserved in its original form at the time of our visit, and surrounded by beautiful shady trees, many of vs^hich werd^lanted by the master's own hand. It was then the residence of George Strover, Esq., who took pleasure in preserving it as General Schuyler left it. Even some ancient lilac shrubs, now quite lofty trees, gnarled and unsightly, that were in the garden of the old mansion, were cherished as precious mementoes of the past.

An outline sketch of events to which allusion has just been made is

SCHUYLER MANSION.

necessary to a full comprehension of the isolated historical facts with which this portion of our subject abounds. We will trace it with rapid pencil, and leave the completion of tlic picture to the careful historian.

The campaigns of 1775 and 1776, against the rebellious Americans, were fruitless of any satisfactory results. The British cabinet, supported by heavy majorities in both Houses of Parliament, resolved to open the campaign of 1777 with such vigour, and to give to the service in America such material, as should not fail to put down the rebellion by midsummer.

THE HUDSON. 91

So long as the EepuLlicans remained imitetl, so long as there existed a free communication hetween Massachusetts and Virginia, or, in other words, between the Eastern and the Middle and Southern States, permanent success of the British arms in America seemed questionable. The rebellion was hydra-headed, springing into new life and vigour suddenly and powerfully, from the inherent energies of union, in places where it seemed to be subdued or destroyed. To sever that. union, and to paralyse the vitality dependent thereon, Avas a paramount consideration of the British Government when planning the campaign of 1777.