"One day General Phillips accompanied my husband, at the risk of their lives, on a visit to us, who, after having witnessed our situation, said to him "I would not for 10,000 guineas come again to this place, my heart is almost broken." In this horrid situation we remained six days, a cessation of hostilities was now spoken of, and eventually took place ; a convention was afterwards agreed upon; but one day a message was sent to my husband, who had visited me and was reposing in my bed, to attend a council of war, where it was proposed to break the convention, but to my great joy, the majority was for adhering to it; on the 16th, however, my husband had to repair to his post, and I to my cellar; this day fresh beef was served out to the officers, who until now had only had salt provision, which was very bad for their wounds. The good woman who brought us water, made us an excellent soup of the meat, but I bad lost my appetite, and took nothing but crusts of bread dipped in wine. The wounded officers (my unfortunate companions) cut off the best bit and presented it to me on a plate. I declined eating any thing, but they contended that it was necessary for me to take nourishment, and declared they would not touch a morsel until I afforded them the pleasure of seeing me partake; I could no longer withstand their pressing invitations, accompanied as they were by assurances of the happiness they had in offer ing me the first good thing they had in their power, and I partook of a repast rendered palatable by the kindness and good will of my fellow-sufferers, forgetting for the moment the misery of our apartment and the absence of almost every comfort. "On the 17th October the convention was completed. General Burgoyne and the other generals waited on the American general (Gates ;) the troops laid down their arms, and gave themselves up prisoners of war! and now the good woman who had supplied us with water at the hazard of her life, received the reward of her services; each of us threw a handful of money into her apron, and she got altogether about twenty guineas. At such a moment as this, how susceptible is the heart of feelings of gratitude! As "My husband sent a message to me to come over to him with my children. I seated myself once more in my dear calash, and then rode through the American camp. I passed on, I observed (and this was a great consolation to me) that no one eyed me with looks of resentment, but that they all greeted us, and even showed compassion in their countenances at the sight of a woman with small children. I was, I confess, afraid to go over to the enemy, as it was quite a new situation to me. When I drew near the tents. a handsome man approached and met me, look my children from the calash, and hugged and kissed them, which affected me almost to tears. "You tremble," said he, addressing himself to me, "be not afraid." "No," I answered, " 'you seem so kind and tender to my children, it inspires me with courage." He now led me to the tent of General Gates, where I found Generals Burgoyne and Phillips, who were on a friendly footing with the former. Burgoyne said to me, "Never mind, your sorrows have now an end." I answered him that I should be reprehensible to have any cares, as he had none; and I was pleased to see him on such a friendly footing with General Gates. All the generals remained to dine with General Gates. "The same gentleman who received me so kindly, now came and said to me, "You will be very much embarrassed to eat with all these gentlemen; Come with your children to my tent, where I will prepare for you a frugal dinner, and give it with a free will." I said, "YOU ARE CERTAINLY A HUSBAND AND A FATHER, you have shewn me so much kindness." I now found that he was GENERAL SCHUYLER. He treated me with excellent smoked tongue, beef steaks, potatoes, and good bread and butter! Never could I have wished to eat a better dinner: I was content: I saw all around me were so likewise; and what was better than all, my husband was out of danger! When we had dined, he told me his residence was at Albany, and that General Burgoyne intended to honour him as his guest, and invited myself and children to do so likewise. I asked my husband how I should act; he told me to accept the invitation. As it was two days' journey there, he advised me to go to a place which was about three hours ride distant. General Schuyler had the politeness to send with me a French officer, a very agreeable nian, who commanded the reconnoitring party of which I have before spoken; and when he had escorted me to the house where I was to remain, he turned back again. In the house I found a French surgeon, who had under his care a Brunswick officer, who was mortally wounded, and died some days afterwards. The Frenchman boasted much of the care he took of his patient, and perhaps was skilful enough as a surgeon, but otherwise was a mere simpleton he was rejoiced when he found out I could speak his language, and began to address many empty and impertinent speeches to me; said, among other things, he could not believe that I was a general's wife, as he was certain a woman of such rank would not follow her husband: he wished me to remain with him, as he said it was better to be with the conquerors than the conquered. I was shocked at his impudence, but dared not show the contempt and disdain I felt for him, because it would deprive me of a place of safety! Towards evening he begged me to take a part of his chamber: I told him I was determined to remain in the room with the wounded officers; whereupon he attempted to pay me some stupid compliments. At this moment the door opened, and my husband with his aid-de-camp entered. I then said "Here, Sir, is my hus band;" and at the same time eyed him with scorn, whereupon he retired abashed; nevertheless he was so politeas to offer his chamber to us. out into forests or any other place that is proper or convenient. It has long been a source of wonder to me, that the Locust Tree is so little cultivated as it is. It is certainly one of the most valuable our country affords, whether we consider it with reference to ship timber, other buildings, or for fencing. I have never been able fairly to ascertain how long it will last for fencing, although I have made it the subject of inquiry one reason is, that very few persons live a sufficient age to witness the fixing of a locust post, and to see its decay or rot. My opinion is that from 50 to 80 years may be safely calcu "Some days after this we arrived at Albany, where we so often wished ourselves; but we did not enter it as we expected we should-victors! We were received by the good General Schuyler, his wife and daughters, not as enemies, but kind friends, and they treated us with the most marked attention and politeness, as they did General Burgoyne, who had caused General Schuyler's beautifully finished house to be burnt; in fact they behaved like persons of exalted minds, who determined to bury all recollection of their own injuries in the contemplation of our misfortunes. General Burgoyne was struck with General Schuyler's generolated on; when a chesnut post in the sity and said to him, "You shew me great kindness, although I have done you much insame exposure will rot in 15 years, or jury." That was the fate of war." replied less. the brave man, let us say no more about it." With your permission I will furnish for your next number, as a proper sequel to this account of the Baroness De Reidesel, General Burgoyne's eloquent description of the obsequies of General Fraser. Yours, &c. HISTORICUS. The following letter from Judge Mitchill, on the subject of the cultivation of the Locust Tree, has been communicated to us by Dr. Akerly, from whom we lately received a valuable paper on the same subject. Plandome, 1st November, 1817. To Dr. Samuel Akerly, DEAR SIR, When you visited Plandome, in July The little attention that has been given to the culture of the Locust Tree, is more to be wondered at, when we consider with what very little trouble it is cultivated, particularly after the trees have grown to a considerable size, and your ground properly prepared for it. As you cut off the timber you wish to dispose of, or make use of, by keeping the ground enclosed it immediately grows up into a thicket, and in 25 or 30 years it will be fit to cut again, and by adopting this plan they may be kept growing at pleasure. I have some facts and opinions on the subject of the Peach Tree, which I will make known to you in a future communication. Hoping these hints, through you, may be useful, I remain your obedient servant, DEAR England. last, I recollect your admiring my Letters of a Traveller to his friends in Nursery of young Locust Trees at that time about a foot high. The growing season is now over, and I can inform you that their appearance exceeds my most sanguine expectation. I planted the seeds about the first of April last, in the manner before stated to you, and have now many thousands of young Locust Trees, that have grown from four to six feet, very straight and beautiful, during the short period of seven months. I have much to expect from these trees if they improve hereafter as they have done this season, of which I have no doubt. The rows are now four feet apart, and I intend next April to thin them out, so as to leave them about four feet in the rows, and keep them in that position about three seasons, when I think they will be large enough to set Our voyage, I should suppose, was attended with more, and more harassing, disasters than any since the transit of Columbus; and since it occupied ninety days, employed a considerably longer period. Four weeks were wasted in the channel-gales and head-winds were almost constantly prevalent-the vessel laboured miserably in that narrow water; and so irrepressible and pervasive was the sickness occasioned by this awkward and unruly motion, that but very few of the passengers were able to appear upon deck. During this period, however, we enjoyed some scattered days of mild and beautiful weather. The first two or three days from Gravesend were calm and sunshiny-the air soft and soothing-and the English coast, now rising in abrupt precipitancy over the subject waves, and again sinking into softer and more graceful outlines, sprinkled with villages and hamlets, (to which occasionally we approached so near that the sound of the church-bells swelled audibly on the breeze,) and opening into plains and ascending woodlands, sweeping upward till their massy and mingled shades blended in indistinct beauty with the horizon: such was the weather-such the general aspect of the scenery, till we reached the lofty and snow-white promontory of Beachy Head. But the interest with which we gazed on the various attractions of the ever changing landscape was refined and exalted by a most delightful and unexpected contingency. Among the passengers in the steerage were several Germans and Italians, who performed, and with taste and skill, upon various instruments, the flute, violin, &c. At the request of the cabin passengers, these kind hearted wanderers came forward, and gave us several charming airs, some English, but more frequently the touching and captivating melodies of their native regions. We found these simple people as well acquainted with the scientific and ethereal compositions of Haydn and Mozart, and Jomelli, and Geminiani, as our ruder peasantry with the vulgar ditties that constitute their only music:-Oh! tell me, you whose mind and feelings, my dear render you so capable of appreciating the influence of sweet sounds-is there not something in the climate of the South that gives to the music of its children a pathos, denied (with few exceptions) to the more frigid and regular strains of the North? The delicious and picturesque scenery of those romantic climes-their pure glowing skies, and the constitutional gayety of their offspring; do not all these conspire to instil into their music a deeper and more affecting influence than breathes in the harmony of less favoured lands? So at least, I thought when gliding in light and serenity, past the coast of my native country, I listened to the martial minstrelsy of the Tyrol-or drank with eager ear the brilliant and fascinating melodies of Saxony and Bavaria; or reclining, in the purple beauty of the evening, over the sides of the ship, felt the notes of that sweet pensive composition, the Hymn to the Virgin, thrilling in every fibre of my frame-and wished-how vainly! that instead of the cold speculation that has blighted so many of the fairest flowers in the path of life, the nobler and more sensitive spirits of the "With those isles of light, Ryde and Gosport sent across the waters a wild and crimson gleam-and the rough surges over which we bounded were dashed by the velocity of the boat into countless, momentary, yet ever springing fires-and the wind whistled in our sail with a ferocity that suited admirably with the fierce and disordered features of the night. Thus we proceeded for some hours, cherishing the hope, that, at length, spite of all our efforts, began to wane. The boatmen, however, were still confident, nay, they discerned, they said, the light that is suspended at the mast head, on the expected or possible return of absent passengers:-but now, wet, weary, and exhausted-I felt the approach of despondency. I threw myself in the bottom of the boat, and resigned myself to the contemplation of the dilemma into which my folly had betrayed me. My thoughts, in that hour of dreariness and desolation, would not have excited the envy of the poorest man in England. Silently I ruminated upon the situation in which it seemed probable I should be placed by that unfortunate gratification of a desire abstractedly blameless, but to which circumstances conspired to give an air of utter inconsiderateness. In the midst of these gloomy meditations was roused by the exclamation of my companion and the boatmen-" the vessel- -is in sight," and at the sound I started :-yes-it was the ship. The captain-the mate-perceive us—“ Lieto for the truants"-and once more we stand upon the crowded and rejoicing deck of the Mary-Ann. At that moment I felt like Robinson Crusoe when he regained his Island: but the impression this adventure produced was too vivid to die away on its termination, and night after night was my sleep disturbed by its fancied repetition. I Immediately on our regaining the ship, her sails were unfurled, and she went forward, for some few hours, with all the canvass she could muster. But the wind, propitious during the night changed its direction with the break of day, and it was only with extreme difficulty, and continual tacking that we could make any advance against the strong blasts from the west. Yet it was rather by the shifting of the wind, than the quarter from which it blew, that we were prevented from proceeding on our course; we could not count upon its continuance in any point for half an hour-and for another week we wandered to and fro over the -the dull, listless victims of ennui, waves-1 that was rarely relieved by any favourable change in the circumstances of the vessel. Once we gained the neighbourhood of Torbay, but were compelled to retrace almost the whole of our course from that port to Yarmouth,* where at length we lay to, as well for the purpose of recruiting our stores, as to wait for a steady breeze from the east. During my stay at Yarmouth I was introduced to a gentleman of the name of Mitchill, to whose polite and ever friendly attentions, as well as those of his amiable lady, I am indebted for much of the pleasure attached to my second visit to the Isle of Wight. In his youth Mr. Mitchill had been appointed to one of the civil stations of British India; he had travelled through and seen much of that interesting portion of Asia-his memory is still surprisingly retentive-his knowledge of Eastern history, manners, customs, literature, prejudices, and superstition, evinces an observing and even studious disposition-and in our conversations upon oriental topics, the natural cheerfulness of my venerable host warmed into unusual vivacity. We canvassed together the records of the Arsacidæ and Sassanides, traced the footsteps of the homicide Timour in the march of the nobler Macedonian-and mourned over the fallen grandeur of Agra and Delhi. With the abasing despotism of their ancient masters, we compared the ease and security enjoyed by the natives under the benignant sway of their British Rulers, and found reason to rejoice in the establishment of a government, and the possible extension of a religion, beneath whose united auspices the children of Brahma may at length be led to the knowledge of political and divine truth. Of poetry Mr. M. is an ardent admirer. With the writings of our old and modern schools he is almost equally familiar; conscious as I am of my own inability to produce lines worthy of any thing more than a transient existence, the frankness with which he exhibited his own efforts in that and its sister art of painting, encouraged me to submit to his perusal some manuscript verses I had brought with me; among them were a few unfinished stanzas written, literally extempore, on the sailing of the Mary-Ann from Gravesend. With these he had the *A market town in the Isle of Wight, in the County of Hampshire-containing about 1500 inhabitants. The town offers nothing to gratify the curiosity of the traveller; but the walks in its vicinity abound in the softer charms of nature, while the extraordinary ferobjects of agriculture, a hundred for one. tility of the soil repays the labourer, in some of the politeness to express himself pleased. I venture to send them to you-not from an idea that they possess any superior claims to the approbation of so excellent a judge as yourself, but rather from the feeling that what I showed to a casual, though interesting acquaintance, should not be withheld from one who has every claim to my lasting and most respectful affection. Lines on the departure of the Mary-Ann from Fresh from the shore blows the steady gale, She sails in a track of light to the West. Heaven speed the gallant ship, for she bears Brilliant the heavens, and smiling the seas, Each heart is joyous-each eye is glistening- The virtue and piety that are content to operate and diffuse themselves in secret it is the delightful duty of every just and liberal mind to bring into more general notice. The severe sufferings of the poor in Mr. Mitchill's neighbourhood, in consequence of the inclement winters that have of late years afflicted not England merely, but nearly the whole of Europe, have been considerably alleviated by that gentleman's substantial generosity; at the same time that he has not been unmindful of the deficiencies existing in the state of their religious inVOL. II.-No. III. a sort of struction. For the purpose of incul- In my next I will relate every thing that I can suppose interesting to you with respect to our passage across the Atlantic, and endeavour to give you some idea of the beautiful city of Boston, in which port we anchored at the close of October last. I am, &c. G. F. B. New-York, November 26th, 1817. To the Editors of the American Monthly GENTLEMEN, Noticing an attack on my Nautical Almanacks, from one Edward Hitchcock, a few remarks only are necessary to explain the man's drift. He says my Almanack for 1816, page 16, at the bottom, had the number 12. instead of 21. It may not be improper to inform the reader that the fourth page of every month, in the Nautical Almanack, contains the following figures at the bottom of the left hand column, viz. 1, 11, 21. After the form was made perfectly correct, the figures 21 were drawn out by the balls, and the pressman, through mistake, transposed them, and a few copies were printed 12; but I have now on hand 200 copies of that year, not one of which contains the error he points out. The second error he has pointed out, viz. immersions instead of emersions, was corrected previous to the publication of the work. He continues; Blunt's Edition for |