had been governor of the colony of New York, and was now a brigadier in the royal army, hated the Americans intensely. He really seemed-to delight in expeditions of this kind, having almost destroyed Danbury, in Connecticut, and East Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk, on the borders of Long Island Sound, in the same State. Now, after destroying the public stores and slaughtering many cattle, he set fire to almost every house in the villa2;e. In allusion to this, and the devastations on the Hudson,

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above the Highlands, by General Vaughan, Trumbull, an American contemporary poet, wrote indignantly : --

' Behold, like wlielps of Britain's lion, Our warriors, Clinton, Vauglian, aud Tr3'on, March forth with patriotic joy To ravish, plunder, and destroy. Great gen'rals ! foremost in their nation, The journej-men of desolation. Like Samson's foxes, each assails. Let loose with fire-brands in their tails, ■ And spreads destruction more forlorn Than they among Philistine corn."

It is proper to observe that Tryon's marauding expeditions were condemned by the British public, and the ministry were censured by the opposition in parliament for permitting such conduct to pass unrebukcd.

On the following morning, when the sun had climbed high towards meridian, I left Peek's Kill for a day's sketching and observation in the

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winter air. The bay was alive with people of all ages, sexes, and conditions. It was the first day since a late snow-storm that the river had offered good sport for skaters, and the navigators of ice-boats.* It was a gay scene. "Wrapped in furs and shawls, over-coats and cloaks, men and women, boys and girls, were enjoying the rare exercise with the greatest pleasure. Fun, pure fun, ruled the hour. The air was vocal with shouts and laughter; and when the swift ice-boat, with sails set, gay pennon streaming, and freighted with a dozen boys and girls, came sweeping gracefully towards the crowd, -- after making a comet-like orbit of four or five miles to the feet of the Bonder Berg, Bear Mountain, and Anthony's Nose, -- there was a sudden shout, and scattering, and merry laughter, that would have made old Scrooge, even before his conversion, tremulous with delight, and glowing with desires to be a boy again and singing Christmas Carols with a hearty good-will.