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lighted with the child's näivete, and Mr. Ames declared he desired no better evidence of its being a perfect likeness and a beautiful painting.

"Mr. Ames took Sir Joshua Reynolds for his guide in early life, and through him became acquainted with every really eminent painter, ancient or modern ;" and many years previous to this satisfactory production, it was said "friends have witnessed the mighty efforts of Ames's genius in the line of his noble profession, and the day is not far distant when the brush of Stuart shall meet its rival in Albany. An elegant portrait of the HON. GEORGE CLINTON when vice president of the United States, painted just before his death in 1812, by Mr. Ames of Albany, was sent to the Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia." [See frontispiece for portrait.]

Dear Sir:

Judge Spencer to Sol. Van Rensselaer.

Albany, Feb. 15, 1820. Will you have the goodness to hand the enclosed to Gen. Brown, it will reach him safer in this channel. So Tompkins stands his hand — and thus ends the deception practised upon the federal tamnanies at the beginning of the Session. We will cure his itch to come before the people — rely upon it he will fail by many thousands. Is it true that he was against any restriction in regard to slavery in Missouri? It is very important that we should be able to fix that charge upon him if it be true - let me know as soon as possible. You may remember that we conversed about some Mangle Wurtzel seed before you went on don't forget to procure me a pound of it as you return thro' Philadelphia, enquire for the best kind. Is there such a thing to be procured in Philadelphia as Orchard Grass seed ? What is the price and when is it to be sowed?

Your friend Judge Van Ness, I have no doubt, will come out as pure as gold from the refiners hand. Yours Sincerely

Genl. Solomon Van Rensselaer,

Representative in Congress, Washington.

A. SPENCER.

The late Chief Justice Ambrose Spencer was a severe and stern, but also a just and humane judge. His mind was remakable for the quickness of its perceptions, for its penetration and its comprehensiveness. He died March 13, 1848, in the eighty-third year of his age.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.

Judge Van Ness to Sol. Van Rensselaer.

My Dear Friend, Albany, Feb. 20, 1820. I have no time to say any thing more about politics, except that we shall carry the election, and as I verily believe by an immense majority. The residue of my letter must be short and relate to my own concerns. [His Impeachment.] You mentioned to me a conversation you had with Mr. Fowler of Newburgh, in which he stated to you the reasons assigned by B. for attacking and endeavouring to destroy me. The testimony of

Mr. Fowler may be important to me, and I will be much obliged to you. to give me a detailed statement of what Mr. Fowler communicated to you, your name shall not be revealed. I understand Mr. King speaks disrespectfully of me, and injures me when he can. Do you know any thing of this? I hear too Dickinson is more than cold towards me and for that reason I am afraid to write to him as I had intended to do. How do you understand him? I hear he is a violent Tammany man and regret it. One word more and I have done my enemies are malignant indefatigable and profligate -I set them at defiance; and tho' I feel mortified and indignant at the base attempts made to destroy me, I am tranquil and firm in the midst of persecution. I hope my friends will have reason to say I meet the shock like a man, and that I have never wavered, nor faultered for a single moment. I wish it had so happened that you could be here - but that is out of the question principal witnesses against me, I understand is Gat. Van Wie. Yours affectionately,

Hon. Solomon Van Rensselaer, In Congress.

one of the

W. W. VAN NESS Dr. Van Rensselaer to Sol. Van Rensselaer.

My dear Sir, Green Bush, March 1, 1820. You will excuse me for intruding a few moments upon your time, when you have so many important concerns on hand, if I say that you may do me a favor. In 1814, I had employed Mr. G. V. Denniston in some business relative to my deceased brother John - and had supposed that it was all settled- when he told me yesterday that by requesting your attention I could recover some considerable pay that was due at the time of his death. He says, that the only thing requisite would be an Examination of the Returns of the 23rd Regt. (of Infantry I think) in which he enlisted on the 25th of April, 1814. It will be there seen how much pay he had received and what balance was still due. Your attention to this will much oblige me. Will you inform me if any, and what other steps may be necessary? Since my return home from Europe, it has often been my intention, and still oftener my wish to write to you. I know not how it is, but the Genius of Laziness seems to claim as votaries all those who reside at Green Bush, and to throw her spells over all visitors. Indeed for a non-resident there are so few attractions in this place that I should be half dead, if it was not for your good family. Yours is the only house in Albany I visit, and I see the folks often and always with renewed pleasure. Poor little Harriet Maria has suffered greatly, but everything has assumed a more favorable appearance than when I first saw her. Inclosed is a slip from the news-paper containing an account of part of my trip ascent to Mount Vesuvius.

If the domestic circle is quiet, the Political world is all in confusion and tumult. The Nominations of Daniel D. Tompkins and Genl. Moore's you have doubtless seen in the public prints. Of their addresses to the Electors I say nothing but that they were penned by the fellows who alone voted against Rufus King as our Senator. Their last Meeting is said to be the largest that has ever assembled in Albany - Query - How many of them were entitled to vote for Governor? The arraignment of Judge Van Ness has, I am sorry to say, made an unfavorable impression in the minds of many good federalists and thus their infernal schemes are succeeding, even when they shall be forced to acquit him. One of

their party lately told me, "if we can't prove him guilty, his reputation will at any rate be damned." I trust however that his character will stand still unblemished in the minds of the most respectable part of the community. For the present adieu If your time allows, I shall be happy to hear from you to ask it, is almost too much when you have so many demands upon you. We are all well here, thank God. I remain, yours Most Sincerely, JER. VAN RENSSELAER.

Gen. Sol. Van Rensselaer, M. C., Washington.

While Dr. Van Rensselaer was traveling in Europe, his instructive and pleasant letters were frequently published in the leading journals of the day. He subsequently took his family abroad, remaining many years, and in 1852 moved into what was once called the "Cralo Fort" at Greenbush.

"The following extract of a letter is from Dr. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, of Greenbush, New York- a young gentleman now in Europe, and where he has been for several years, to complete his studies in the medical art." April 20, 1819. I begin my letter to you on the crater of Mount Vesuvius. The extreme heat of the river of lava, by the light of which I wrote the above, prevented my continuing. We have descended about 150 feetour guides would go no farther. Our company have gone to Naples. H. and myself have determined to pass this night here, and are now writing by the light of a torch on warm lava, that flowed seven days ago. An eruption of some consequence took place last night, and the lava is running in a stream of about 7 feet wide, at the rate of about three miles an hour. Nothing can possibly be imagined more sublime - the smoke issuing from the glowing torrent, is like a cloud of fire-part of the mount seems on fire, while below it appears the very centre of desolation and gloom. At break of day we mount again, to descend further into the crater, and see the sun rise from its mouth. I may perhaps try more experiments. I have written your name in the burning lava, and it has cooled-the piece is beside me. I also put in a five franc piece- the impression is good, and you shall one day see it. Our torch is about going out, and I must stop to finish to morrow at Naples. Two distinct eruptions have just taken place, and cast out heated stones to the height of 100 or 150 feet. Naples, 22d. I scarcely know what you will think when you open this letter. If it was not for the sake of the place where I began it, you should never see it. We passed the night very well on the mountain. Our guides cleared away the larger stones, and left us none bigger than eggs - we spread our great coats in this little hollow, and were comfortable enough. We required no covering at our feet issued a small column of heated airbeneath us too warm air oozed up; but the great coats prevented our being steamed. H. found that he was too warm, and got up to walk about. I laid quiet, to enjoy the superb sight before me. Some provisions were sent to us by the party-it arrived about eleven o'clock. Fatigue was a good opiate, and our sleep was sweet. Our guides slept on the bare stones beside us. At 3 o'clock we took some bread and wine, and began again the ascent. Our route now lay in another direction. It was not so difficult as what we had ascended the evening before. Before 5 we were at the top, and waited only a few minutes to see the purple tinge of the horizon gradually change into brightened gold. A sea of clouds floated far beneath us - - it resembled an undulated plain of cotton, whose edges were tinged and burnished

by the first rays of the morning. The scenery below was lost-nought appeared but the fiery summit on which we stood, and the tops of lofty mountains around that rose above the clouds that settled on their sides.

We continued our labor, and got near the mouth of the crater — the wind drove the smoke towards us, and we were obliged to descend and try the other side. We rose to the highest point, and thence a gradual descent took us to the mouth of the largest crater. Its shape constantly varied - at present there are two fountains, whence issue the smoke and stones. We could not observe the bottom very plainly to descend was impossible. The smaller crater has three of these nostrils or breathing holes, smaller than the first, but more active. The wind drove the smoke in such a manner, that we saw the bottom on the other side. Our guides were urging us to descend a shower of hot stones and cinder had more influence than their entreaties. The lava is seen in neither crater, but flows through a subterranean canal, almost horizontal; and does not appear till it forces through the crust about 150 yards from the crater. It forms at once a river about seven feet wide, and flows at the rate of between 2 and 3 miles an hour; its depth cannot be told. The present stream issued in this spot seven days ago, and continues still running- it resembles flowing liquid iron, running in a gutter, which it seems to have formed, having on either side a perpendicular wall of lava, about three inches thick, serving as a kind of raceway. About a mile from the orifice, it spreads into a large bed or lake, and there cools, gradually becoming black on the surface, and still glowing beneath. Occasionally the river changes its course this gave an opportunity of breaking several times the crust that covers the stream, to see the hot lava below. In some places, where all was cold, we broke it and found it quite hollow beneath, by the extrication of the gas. Usually a heavy wind breaks the crusts, and then they fall in every direction, giving the whole mountain a terrific appearance. At a distance it looks like new ploughed land, and of the same colour: as we approach, it is much more rough and hideous. Having taken some more impressions in the lava, we turned to survey the scene. around us. The clouds hung on the foot of the mountain, and only permitted us to see the gloomy cone on which we stood. The genius of desolation may be said to reign over this dreary realm; not a sign of vegetation relieves the eye, wearied and sad with the horrible and bleak expanse that environed us: How melancholy are the feelings excited in such a situation! How much more so are the recollections it recalls! I felt as if we alone stood on the ruins of the universe as if chaos was come again; nor can I think of it without emotion. A long and distressing walk on the broken lava brought us to the place where we had slept. Our last descent began here, and when once at the foot of the upper part of the mountain, we rapidly went in seven minutes, the same distance that we were an hour in ascending the day before. The fathers received us kindly at the hermitage, where we breakfasted on bread and wine. The clouds had now dispersed, and we enjoyed a view of the superb bay of Naples. I must say (nor do, I know how far prejudice .influences my saying so), that it is inferior to the bay of New York. The famed places that skirt its shores, give to it a reputation and a classic interest that New York cannot boast and as long as Homer, Virgil, Horace and Pliny are read so long will this bay be the most interesting in the world. Independent of these writers, the fertile soil that envelopes the foot of Vesuvius, with its burning craters, the number of cities and villages de

stroyed by its dreadful workings, will ever attract the lover of landscape and the student of nature. The cities over which we walk - the palaces over which we sail the lakes, half swallowed - and mountains ejected in a single night—all add to the interest of the place.

Such were my thoughts as my mule came down the base of the mountain, at the little village of Rescina, from whence we had descended the day before into Herculaneum. The theatre alone is now shown; some persons having been lost in the excavations, they are closed to the public and through the inadvertency of others, we are deprived of pleasure and instruction. To Pompeii is 8 miles, and we took a kind of chaise for the day. The Neapolitan chaise, or cabriolet, is a very small gig, into which two very small persons may squeeze; one of them drives, and the coachman stands behind to whip the horse, which is exclusively his prerogative, and the passenger cannot prevent him from making the horse run all the distance. Pompeii, as it is shown to visitors, is more interesting than Herculaneum ; since it is part of a city exposed to light, and open to day. We walk by daylight in the streets; enter the houses and temples, and visit the forum and tombs, the same as any ancient town - but cannot forget, that since the year 79, till within a short time, the ashes of Vesuvius have hid it from the day. The temple of Isis is the most complete; few houses have the second story; the first are perfect, and are easily known. Thus several cook-shops, a bake-house, a surgeon's or druggist's, a milkman's &c., are at once recognized by the signs painted on the walls, and frequently the name is seen too. One of the streets must have been superb; it yet exhibits the marks of carriage wheels. The workmen and guides are very strict; I wanted a small square piece of marble, which served as a floor to one of the courts - although it laid loose on the ashes, yet they replaced it; nor had a bribe far beyond its intrinsic value, any effect. They gave me to understand that both their necks would answer for it.

I wrote to you from Leghorn. We went from thence to Pisa, Lucca, and Florence; the latter is a beautiful and interesting place, in the vale of Arno, one of the most luxuriant in the world. From Florence to Rome is 200 miles, we arrived in the Holy Week, and saw the ceremonies of Easter. The religious ceremonies were the most splendid I ever saw. The pope, 20 cardinals, 30 bishops, and lots of deacons officiated — about 30,000 persons were in St. Peter's during the service. We got by chance with the ambassadors; but though luck favored us in the cathedral, it left us to shift for ourselves at the door, and we mingled in a crowd of 150,000 persons, who knelt to receive the benediction of his holiness.

The illumination of St. Peter's, and the fire works, were superb beyond description. They are said to have cost more than one million of dollars, and still his holiness cannot clear his dominions of banditti - he is too poor! Part of the way from Rome to this place, guard houses are built every quarter of a mile, and we had frequently a soldier on each side of the carriage to protect us from robbers. Still the traveller sees every mile crosses erected on the grave of some murdered traveller, or the limb of some wretched victim of the law.

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From Rome we crossed the Pontine marshes the travelling is 10 miles an hour the people look as if nature was sinking to rest; still they are the only contented folks I have seen in Italy. Formerly felons were condemned to act here as postillions; at present things are not so bad, and only want proper management.

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