We made excellent progress in the night so that we found upon going on deck we were within a few miles of New York. After considering the difficulty of getting rooms in that city and the little use of our staying there if we could, I determined on passing if I could at once to the Steamer going up the Hudson. This our early arrival made perfectly practicable. We crossed a single Wharf and found ourselves quietly ensconced in the Albany, just getting ready to start for the place from which she took her name. The day was beautiful but there were two drawbacks to my enjoying it—my Wife’s condition, brought on by the unusual excitement of travelling, and the excessive crowd in the boat, and the absence of acquaintance.

The scenery of the Hudson River for sixty miles from New York is superior to anything of the kind I ever saw. It combines almost all descriptions of beauty. But it must be admitted that three or four hundred persons of all sorts do not add to the agreeable character of the meditation upon them. To be manoeuvring to get a seat and then fear to move from it on account of the hazard of it’s loss—To be pushed aside by rough seamen, or dirty emigrants, to be stared at by 6vulgar-genteel people—These are the deductions from a picturesque tour, which travelling on the Hudson calls for.

We reached West Point at about twelve and were pleasantly lodged at the Hotel. But greatly to our surprise we met with two of the Misses DeWint together with Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Angier and Jos. H. Adams, who had come down from Fishkill for a day or two’s gaiety.1 This made up a large party. The number at the House was extraordinarily large on account of the presence of the Board of Visitors who have not quite completed their examination.

After dinner, we were not much disposed to make exertion. Abby was quite tired out and I myself felt some need of rest from the nervous agitation which twenty two hours of steam transportation of so rapid a character had produced. I. Hull Adams came in with two or three of his companions—Ridgely, McLane and so forth. He sung on the Guitar. He is in high spirits in consequence of having passed his examination unexpectedly well. But there is a want of character about him that reminds me of his father.2

In the evening, we attended the Parade and afterwards a kind of dance at the Hotel, in which the Officers and band of the Station took the principal part. Abby danced notwithstanding all her fatigue, and we retired late in a noisy house.