landt (land), a term expressing the form of the ancient Duchy of Courland. Orloff emigrated to America, and settled in Xew Amsterdam (New York), and in 1697 his son Stephen purchased the large estate on the Hudson, afterwards known as the Yan Cortlandt Manor. By intermarriages, the Yan Coi'tlandts are connected with nearly all of the leading families of New York -- the Schuylers, Beekmans, Yan Renselaers, De Peysters, De Lancys, Bayards, &c. The Manor House was built of heavy stone ; and

THE HUDSON.

the thick walls were piei-ced with loopholes for musketry to be used in defence against the Indians. It has been somewhat changed in aspect, by covering the round stone with stucco. Its front, graced by a pleasant lawn, commands an extensive view of the bay, and of the Hudson beyond. In that bay, under the she]ter of Croton Point, Hendrick Hudson anchored the Half-Moon, on the evening of the first of October, 1609;! and such a resort were these waters for canvas-back ducks, and other water-fowl, that, as early as 1683, Governor Dongan came there to enjoy the sport of fowling. There, too, great quantities of shad were caught. But its glory is departed. The flood of 1841, that swept away the Croton Dam, almost filled the bay with earth ; it is accumulating there every hour ; and, in the course of a few years, the Van Cortlandt estate will have many acres of fine meadow laud added to it, where once large vessels miaht ride at anchor.