Between Cold Spring and West Point lies a huge rocky island, noAV connected to the main by a reedy marsh already referred to. It was called by the Dutch navigators Martelaer's Island, and the reach in the river between it and the Storm King, Martelaer's Rack, or Martyr's Reach. The word martyr was used in this connection to signify contending and struggling, as vessels coming up the river with a fair wind would frequently find themselves, immediately after passing the point of the island into this reach, struggling with the wind right ahead.

The Americans fortified this island very early in the old war for independence. The chief military work was called Port Constitution, and the island has ever since been known as Constitution Island. It contains very little arable land, and is chiefly composed of rugged rocky heights, every one of which now bears the ruins of the old militaiy works. To its shore nearest approaching West Point the Great Chain, which we have already considered, was fastened ; and upon a high bluff near (delineated

ic K

THE HUDSON.

in the sketch) are yet seen the remains of a heavy battery -- a part of Fort Constitution -- phxced there to protect the river obstructions.

At the time of my visit, Constitution Island belonged to Henry Warner, Esq., the father of the gifted and popular writers, Susan and Anna B. AVarner.^' They resided in a pleasant cottage, near the southern border of the island. Its kitchen was one of the barracks of Fort Constitution. It fronted upon a beautiful lawn that slopes to the river, and was sheltered by evergreen and deciduous trees, and beautified by flowers