"From the Windows of the Mail Coach" the hospitality and kind attentions of Col. Barclay,* his Majesty's Consul for the Eastern States, and at our departure he presented us with letters of introduction to the commanding officers on the different stations in Canada which were afterwards very useful to us. ► On the 2 July we embarked in the Car of Neptune, one of the numer- - ous steam boats which ply between New York & Albany.6 The valuable and fashionable springs of Ballstown & Saratoga, a few miles from the banks of this river, attracted a great concourse. There were upwards of 150 passengers, chiefly consisting of the fashionable people of the State, led hither either on account of health or amusement. At 5 o'clock the machinery began to operate & the boat went off in great style at the rate of 6 miles an hour. We soon passed the [spot or place] where the unfortunate Hamilton was sacrificed to the feelings of jealousy and envy. On the spot where he fell in the duel with Burr there is a monument erected to his memory. Few pass it without leaving a regret behind for the misfortunes of this good man. We entered among the highlands at midnight, but the moon shone bright and I do not know whether it was not the most advantageous time to view them. These hills are supposed to be the most romantic part of America. They are new to those who are accustomed to see nothing but a level country but to one who has witness [ed] the brown topped, magnificent mountains in Scotland, they are nothing uncommon. At day break we passed West Point, the fortification in which Arnold commanded, when the unfortunate Major Andre, actuated with too fervent a zeal for the benefit of his country, undertook to pay him that visit which cost him his life. It stands in a commanding situation & is reckoned to be the key of the North River. Among the numerous places at which we touched was Clermount, the seat of Mr. Livingston," on which a great deal of agricultural taste & beauty was displayed. These Livingstons are the descendants of a Scotch family of that name of great eminence, who were obliged to leave their country in consequence of their affection to the Stuart family. Mr. L. has done much service to the agricultural interest of America. Among his other improvements he has introduced the merino breed, upon which he has devoted successfully all his attention. This gentleman first encouraged the soi disant inventor (Mr. Fulton) of steam boats in the United States and acquired by his influence with the 'Thomas Barclay (1753-1830), a native of New York City and son of a rector of Trinity Church, was a Loyalist who went to Nova Scotia after the Revolution but returned in 1799 as British Consul-general for the Eastern and Northern States, a position he held, with interruptions, until his death. BThe Car of Neptune, Robert Fulton's second Hudson River steamboat, was built in 1809 and ran until December 1816 when she was damaged beyond repair by ice. •Robert R. Livingston (1746-1813), Revolutionary statesman, Chancellor of the State of New York, and Minister to France at the time of the Louisiana Purchase. 272