slowly formed by the flowing of a stream, which, coming down the mountain in which the cavern is found, enters at a narrow fissure in the roof, and, descending from crag to crag, presents a beautiful succession of cascades, till it reaches the level of the floor, where it spreads out in a quiet little pond. The whole cavern is large, being divided into two compartments by an immense rock which has fallen from above. The inner chamber is about seventy feet in length, while the Gothic arch above is twenty feet in width, and the top about two hundred feet high. "The scene, "remarks a visiter, "is well fitted to inspire devotional feelings: the heart acknowledges the power of the Creator, and rises in admiration of his works.' St. Paul's Church, Troy. small but constant streams flowing down the eminence on which the spectator is supposed to stand; and such is the variety found among the factories, mills, &c., in this immediate vicinity, that we can not pretend to give a full account of them. Population, 1850, 29,000. TROY is one of the numerous towns in this state which display striking evidence of rapid, substantial, and permanent improvement, which has been so extensively occasioned by the enlightened internal policy of the government, and accomplished by the intelligence and industry of the people. A view from Mount Ida, an eminence rising abruptly from its eastern border, embraces a scene of life and activity seldom sur- PLATTSBURGH.-This town, the capipassed. A young and flourishing city tal of Clinton county, one hundred and below, with streets crowded with busy twelve miles north of Whitehall, and people, the noble Hudson sweeping ma- one hundred and sixty-four miles from jestically by, crossed by a fine pier, Albany, enjoys an advantageous and which serves the double purpose of a pleasant situation, on the western side bridge and a viaduct to the railroad- of Lake Champlain. The township is the combined trunk of the Champlain supplied with many fine mill-seats, by and Erie canal, floating the crowded the Saranac and Salmon rivers, and sevboats from the north and the west-several other small streams; and the easteral of the splendid New York steam-ern part of it is generally level, although boats, which penetrate to this highest accessible point: all these are embraced within the immediate range of the eye, with the various signs of bustle to which they give rise. The United States arsenal, at Watervliet, stands opposite; while nearer by, the environs of Troy are beautified by the mansions and gardens of some of the wealthy citizens, and the rumbling of machinery, and the smoking of chimneys, betray the vicinity of some of the largest and best manufactories in the country. Some of these are supplied with moving-power by the the western is hilly. The village stands on the lake-shore, at the mouth of the Saranac. In speaking of Lake Champlain, on a preceding page, we alluded to the important naval victory achieved on the Cumberland bay, opposite this place, in the last war with Great Britain, in 1814. Plattsburgh was twice taken by their troops, but the country below was finally delivered from danger by the event just mentioned. The victorious Ameri-, can squadron, under Commodore McDonough, had 820 men, and 86 guns, and the British 1,050 men, and 96 guns. The following recollections of the battle are from the pen of a friend: "The Battle of Plattsburgh.—It was a bright sabbath in September, one of those rich, soft, and mellow days that begin to wear the sober tints of autumn, that my childish heart was made sad by the scenes and the sounds of war. Our home was on the eastern border of the lake, just across from Plattsburgh; and, for many long months, the event of battle had been the theme of conversation by the fireside, among men as they met in their daily haunts, and friends by the wayside. Preparations were going forward for defence; and among men there was enlisting, draughting, &c., and all things wore the aspect of some impending evil, which threw a kind of gloom over the feelings, in which all sympathized. We lived within less than a day's march of the enemy's ground, and consequently were often alarmed with conjectures and painful suspense, in regard to their movements. Often were we surprised with rumors of the near approach of the British-that they had crossed the lines-were marching down upon us, &c., which kept the inhabitants in a very uneasy and unsettled condition. But so many false alarms had a tendency, at length, to lull them into a state of indifference, or to allay their apprehensions so much, that people had resumed their avocations in comparative quiet. "But at last the event burst upon us, with all the dreaded realities of bloodshed and war! The scene was sufficiently distant to prevent immediate danger, yet all knew that their future security hung on the result, and every eye was strained, and every heart beat with deep anxiety, for the sequel. "It was a peaceful sabbath morning; the sun had risen with its accustomed splendor, and nature wore the stillness peculiar to the sacred day. But alas! it was a strange sabbath with man. The booming sounds of guns came across the water, in such quick and rapid succession, that they shock the earth, an sounded like heavy and deep-toned thunder. The engagement lasted two hours and twenty minutes; and we knew the work of death was going on at every new report. Such a sabbath may this land never see again! It was not a day of rest,' or of worship, but one to be remembered with feelings of horror and dread. A few gathered in the morning, aged men, women, and children, in a lonely group, for worship; but, as the excitement increased, every man fled from the village, and, in short, almost every one had climbed to some height on the hills, or in the steeple of the church, to read, in the progress of events, our consequent destiny. When the British ships struck their colors, and victory was the cry, there was great rejoicing, in the sure and delightful feeling of safety, far more than in that of success. "Men and boys had nearly all crossed over the lake to witness the scene, from the hills about the village, and were spectators of the bloody affray. One of my brothers went aboard one of the vanquished ships, soon after the action ceased. The deck was strewed with the dead and dying, weltering in gore. The gallant Downie, who had commanded the British forces, lay on a large iron chest, just as he was slain. Victory was the theme and the cry of the conquerors; but grief and dismay were the feelings of the vanquished. "The officers who fell in these encounters, both by land and water, were buried side by side in the graveyard at Plattsburgh. Monuments have been erected to all. Friends and foes sleep as quietly as if they had never had collision here on earth. Commodore Downie, though slain in the invasion of our country, as the officer of the highest rank, is placed in the centre; and a tablet, erected to his memory, bears the following inscription : "Sacred to the memory of George Downie, Esq., a post-captain in the British navy, who gloriously fell on board his B. M. ship Confiance, while leading the vessels under his command to the attack of the American flotilla, at anchor in Cumberland bay, off Plattsburgh, on the 11th of September, 1814.-To mark the spot where the remains of a gallant "The family of Dr. Davidson were residents of Plattsburgh at this time; and Mrs. Davidson, in a work of hers called 'Selections,' has given an interesting sketch of events that occurred in her own family during the scene of those eventful days. officer and sincere friend were honora- | southern extremity, is now the most bly interred, this stone has been erected populous, as well as the most important, by his affectionate sister-in-law, Mary on the western continent, and vies, in Downie.' commercial rank, with many of the principal ones of the old world. It now occupies the whole of Manhattan island, being conterminous with the county of New York. Its limits, therefore, extend to the narrow channel between the Hudson and East rivers, called Harlem river; a distance of 14 miles, with a breadth varying up to two miles, and an area of 213 square miles. The southern portion, forming about one sixth of the whole, is occupied by the main body of the population, amounting, in 1840, to 312,710, and in 1850 to 515,547. The number of buildings, in 1850, in the compact part of the city, was 37,730; the valuation of real estate, $227,000,000, and of personal estate, $93,000,000. "After some months, the vessels were taken to the head of the lake, at Whitehall. Circumstances of travelling just at that time gave me an opportunity, in the impressible season of childhood, to see from the tall masts the British and American flags floating lazily in the breeze, the conquered 'lion' looking just as fierce and terrible as if he had not been a captive among Americans. We were invited on board, and saw the mutilated ships of war. They were making preparations to sink them in the lake, which was afterward done, for preservation, and the soldiers were rolling cannon-balls into their holds, as weights. "Commodore M'Donough was present—a man of middle stature; but there was nothing in his looks or manner which indicated aught of the exciting scenes through which he had passed. It is said of him that, after the enemy's fleet hove in sight, the men of his ship were assembled on the quarter-deck, when he kneeled down, and, in humble and fervent prayer, commended himself, his men, and the cause in which they were engaged, to the 'God of battles,' and arose from that posture with a calmness and serenity on his brow which showed that he had received comfort and assurance from above. The dead of both armies were taken to the small islands near the scene of action, and there buried. Those waters now look as blue and as beautiful as if never disturbed with war; and those islands are as green and verdant as if never broken with new-made graves." NEW YORK CITY.-The site of this city, which was first occupied by Europeans in 1614, or 1615, and then only by the erection of a blockhouse near its The harbor is very capacious, with good anchorage for the largest ships, almost wholly free from shoals, and with currents strong enough to keep it usually free from ice in the winter, even when more southern ports are obstructed Governor's and Bedlow's islands are strongly fortified; and the entrance to the lower bay is defended by Fort Hamilton, on Long island, Fort Lafayette, on a rock in the water, and batteries on Staten island, opposite. The Hudson river opens a natural navigable channel of 150 miles to Albany, and with the various canals and railroads heretofore mentioned; while the East river communicates with Long Island sound, which pours much trade into this city. Lines of the most capacious and splendid steamboats lead daily, and almost hourly, in all directions; and new channels of communication are now in preparation, which will still further facilitate and extend the great commercial relations of New York. The streets in the lower and oldest part of the city are generally narrow and crooked; but in the upper portion, to which many of the inhabitants have changed their residences within a few years, they are straight, broad, well built, and more agreeable. The number of churches is 245. Of these there are-baptist, 31; congrega |