The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea

Below us we could hear the deep breathing of furnaces, and the sullen, monotonous pulsations of trip-hammers, busily at work at the "West Point Foundry, the most extensive and complete of the iron- works of the United States. Following a steep, stony ravine that forms the bed of a watercourse during rain-storms, we descended to these works, which lie at the head of a marshy cove, and at the mouth of a deep gorge, through which flows a clear mountain stream called Foundry Creek. We crossed the marsh upon a causeway, and from a rocky point of Constitution Island obtained a good panoramic view of the establishment. Eeturning to the foundry, we followed a pleasant pathway near the bay, into a large grove spared from the original forest, in which are situated the dwellings of a former and the present proprietors of the works.^' One of these, the

* The West Point Foundry was established in 1817, by au association organized f jr the chief purpose of manufacturing heavy iron orcbiance, under a contract with the government. Thiit yet foi-med a large portion of its business in 1860. The works then consisted of a moulding house ; i gun foundry ; tlu-ee

THE HUDSON.

honourable Gouverncur Kemble, an intimate and life-long friend of Irving and Paulding, and a former proprietor, withdrew from active participation in the business of the establishment several years ago, and is now enjoying life there in elegant retirement, and dispensing a generous hospitality. He has a gallery of rare and excellent pictures, and a choice library; and is surrounded by evidences of refined taste and thorough cultivation.