The bricks of which the chimney is constructed were imported from Holland. In this house the first public religious services in that region were held,

and it was used as a fortress in early times, against the Indians. It now belongs to the Heermance family, descendants of early settlers there. Beekman' s son, Henry, afterwards procured a patent from the English government for a very extensive tract of land in Duchess County, im*luding his Ehinebeck estate.

( Just below the Ehinebeck Station is EUerslie, the seat of the Hon. "William Xelly. No point on the Hudson commands a more interesting view of the river and adjacent scenery, than the southern front of the mansion at EUerslie. The house is at an elevation of two hundred feet above the river, overlooking an extensive park. The river is in full view for more than fourteen miles. At the distance of about thirty-five miles are seen the Fish-Kill Mountains, and the Hudson Highlands, while on tl^ west, the horizon is bounded by the lofty Katzbergs. )

(EUerslie is ninety miles from New York city, and contains about seven hundred acres of land, with a front on the river of a mile and a-half. Its character is different from that of an ordinary villa residence, being cultivated with much care as a farm, whilst great regard is had to improving its beauty, and developing landscape effects. The lawn and gardens occupy thirty acres; the greenhouse, graperies, &c., are among

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the most complete in this country. The park contains three hundred acres; its surface is undulated, with masses of old trees scattered over it, and upon it feeds a lai'ge herd of thorough-bred Durham cattle, Avhich the proprietor considers a more appropriate ornament than would be a herd of deer. ^