the river on the first day, and, as the walking was very bad on the summit, I concluded to cross the river, if possible, and take the post road. I accordingly, with some difliculty, descended the precipice to the shore, where I found several persons engaged in loading a sloop with stones. I made known to them the object of my excursion, and stated to them my wish to cross the river, when the master of the sloop, Captain Branen, immediately volunteered his services and boat to put me over. I landed on the east shore about one o'clock, and immediately commenced my march for New-York. I reached the site of Fort Washington, near the northern extremity of York Island, at four o'clock. This work occupied a commanding situation on the west side of the island, at an elevation of 238 feet above the river. It is, I believe, the highest land on the island, and appears to have been intended, in conjunction with Fort Lee and the other works on the western shore, to command the channel. The objections, however, which I have stated respecting Fort Lee, will apply to Fort Washington. The parapet of this work is now so nearly levelled with the ground, as to render it almost impossible to trace its outlines or determine its figure; it appears, however, to have been a rectangular parallelogram, fortified with four bastions. The front, next the river, can be clearly distinguished. The following are the dimensions of its several parts, from the best measurement I could make of them; length of each flank of the bastion, yards-length of each face, 7 yardslength of the west curtain, next the river, 21 yards-length of the south curtain, 60 yards. On an eminence about one half or three quarters of a mile to the north of Fort Washington, and at an elevation above the river of 229 feet, was another work, called by the British Fort Tryon; but previous to the taking, it, I believe, was called Fort Montgomery. This appears, from the traces of it remaining, to have been a star-fort, and was doubtless intended as an outwork to Fort Washington. I left Fort Washington at half past five o'clock, and arrived at New-York at eight o'clock somewhat fatigued, having walked between 40 and 50 miles this day, several miles of which was over rocks and through bushes without any road. The whole distance walked during the excursion was about 116 miles. The accompanying table contains the results of my observations; to these I have added, the 5 altitudes of the Catskill Mountains, those of the highlands between Peekskill and Newburg, and also the heights of Neversink Hills, with the other eminences you and myself have ascertained, in the vici nity of this city. The whole will present, I believe, a pretty correct view not only of the most prominent elevations in the immediate vicinity of New-York city, but in the state generally. Summary of all the memorable Eminences within View of Hudson River, arranged in the Order in which they present themselves to an Observer entering the Bay of New-York at Sandy Hook, and passing by Water to Albany. Altitude of Mount Mitchill, the highest of the Neversink, Do. of Tompkins' Hill, on StatenIsland, Do. of Hempstead Hill, on Long Island, Do. of the Craggy Cliff, near Weehawk Ferry, Do. of Fort Lee, Do. of Fort Constitution, near Fort Lee, Do. of Lydecker's Bluff, a little below Spiten Devil, Do. of the Bluff opposite Spiten Devil, Do. of the Bluff a little above Spiten Devil, Do. of Bompey's Hook, two miles Do. of Closter Mountain, a little Do. of the South Peak of the Hook 900 40% 307 319 175 311 301 378 407 479 517 549 539 668 Do. of the North Peak of the same, 640 Do. of the South Peak of the high 698 Bluff, near Haverstraw, Do. of the North Peak of the same, 852 Do. of the Torn Mountain, above 768 Pierson's Manufactory, Do. of the same above tide-water, 1067 Do. of Pierson's above tide-water, 299 Do. of Fort Washington, on YorkIsland, 238 999 Do. of Fort Tryon, a little north of Altitude of Anthony's Nose, on the 935 866 Among the multifarious subjects that are discussed in your Magazine, I bave never found that the human nose has been mentioned. Permit me therefore to talk to you about the nose in "the human face divine." The nose is not only a protuberant and conspicuous portion of the visage, but it is also one of the grandest features of the face. Take away the nose, or mutilate it, or increase it with spiritous excrescences, and the physiognomy is ruined. The very idea of a man or woman without a nose, or with a bad nose is shocking. On the other hand, a well proportioned, a sound and healthy nose contributes not only to the dignity and beauty of man, but it is so convenient and useful, and in fact so important a member of the face, that it always received ample attention from the ancient writers and philosophers. The "philosophy of noses" was held in the highest estimation. As for the modern gentry of that sort e. qr. writers and philosophers, they seldom or never mention the word nose in any of their works, except it be in their Nosologics. Nosology, you know, means not the doc trine or discription of Noses, but of disea ses, being derived from the Greek (which language, sir, is an inexhaustible fund for new ologies, witness the works of all terminalogists and learned discoverers, down to C. S. Rafinesque) Ness, a disease, and Ages, a description. It is evident then an author of a Nosology will necessarily devote but a few words to the nose, unless he should expatiate under the head of Nusen. Think not, however, sir, that the ancient importance and respectability of the nose is never to be revived. I am happy to inform you that Professor Graefe of Berlin has made it his study, and outstripped all his prede cessors, in rendering material service to that momentous article, nay, he even makes excellent new noses where they have been wanting: More of this below. I might furnish you with various extract from various writings, in various tongues, and of various times and countries, all tending to prove, and set in a proper point of view, the value of the nose. But I will not trouble you so much at present. In the Illustrations of Sterne, by John Ferriar, the author speaks of "Gaspar Tagliacozzi, or, according to the pedantic fashion of the times, Taliacotius, a professor at Bologna, who had the misfortune of being too learned for his time, in D'Alembert's phrase, trop instruit pour son siecle." Alas! it is the case of too many in our own" siecle." Because in knowledge they are a century ahead of their contemporaries, they are styled "fools." Well, sir, the first part of Gasper's book, De Curtorum Chirurgia, however, was sufficiently accommodated to the prevailing taste. It contains several chapters on the dignity of the face and its different features; the fifth and sixth chapters are bestowed upon the nose, and contain much philosophy.In the fifth chapter there is a laboured description of the deformity resulting from the mutilation of this important fea ture. When the nose is cut off, we are told, "that the gulphs and recesses of the inward parts are disclosed; vast vacuities open, and cuverns dark as the care of Trophonius; to the dismay and terror of the beholders." Lib. i. cap. v. "There is besides," says Taliacotius, "something august and regal in the nose, either because it is the sign of corporeal beauty and mental perfection, or because it denotes some peculiar aptness and wisdom in governing." Many historical examples might be cited to corroborate this nasal character. Josephus says, the nose is of such estimation, that upon the beauty and configuration thereof depend the highest ecclesiastical dignities, the noblest governments, and the most extensive kingdoms. On the physiognomonic doctrine of the nose, Taliacotius has said a great deal, and LAVATER has left nothing unsaid. This latter gentleman is one of the few moderns who have meritoriously discussed the subject. Taliacotius, this learned Italian surgeon, made brilliant discoveries on the union of living parts, which have accidentally remained so obscure, that successive sons of the healing art have either unwittingly trodden in his steps, or they had not sufficient candour and justice to give credit to his knowledge and experience. He certainly repaired mutilated noses, and supplied deficient parts, by taking additional substance from the patient's arm. Though his artificial noses laboured under some inconveniences, yet whatever may be said on the subject, the chief merit of the discovery is undoubtedly due to Taliacotius. It is just to mention in this place that a similar practice is known in Asia, where the point of the nose is an object of so much importance, and that the new part is supplied from the patient's own forehead. Recent communications from Germany state, that professor GRAEFE of Berlin, bas lately proved that the process by which Taliacotius was enabled, upwards of two centuries since, to restore lost noses (which process has been improved by Prof. G.) is not so absurd and fabulous as it has been generally considered. The person upon whom he has most successfully performed the operation which confirms the reality of the process, is named Michael Schubring. This man, who is 28 years old, lost his nose in the campaigns of 1812 and 1813 by the stroke of asabre. The operation took place in the Chirurgo-clinical Institution of the University of Berlin, of which Mr. Graefe is director, in the presence of the principal civil and military authorities of the capital, and a numerous assemblage of students. The nose was formed from the skin of the arm, which was maintained in a suitable position, until the arm was grown fust to the man's face! The success of the operation answered 'the most sanguine expectations, and the patient obtained a well-shaped nose, with two perfect nostrils, and cartilage, which performs all the functions of a natural organ. As this first experiment had proved so satisfactory, it became an object of considerable interest to try the method practised in India, and twice repeated with the best success by Mr. Carpue in London. By a comparison of the two methods, a rational opinion might be formed of their respective merits. A fit subject for this second experiment was soon found in the person of Christian Müller, a woman of 50, who had long lost her nose in consequence of a cancerous affection. The operation was performed on the 29th of July, 1817, and a new nose formed from the skin of the forehead. It was attended with no difficulty; and the healing of the new nose is so perfectly satisfactory that the woman declares herself completely compensated by it for the natural one. Mr. Graefe designs to publish a comparison of the two methods founded on his own experiments, which will demonstrate the superior advantages and success attending the formation of the new organ from the skin of the arm, whereby also the disfigurement arising from the scar on the forehead is avoided. An eye witness of the first operation informed me, last winter, that M. Schubring, before he lost his original nose, had been engaged to a young lady, to be married as soon as he should return from the wars. But alas! his nose was left on the field of battle, the fair daughter of Germany hesitated to fulfil her promiseand contrary to so many examples around her, refused to reward the constancy and valour of her lover with conjugal felicity. To the great relief and consolation of both distressed parties Dr. Graefe performs a most valuable experiment. The patience of Michael, whilst nature and art, during several months, combined to repair his face, and restore his nose. was unexampled. At the expiration of his confinement, his fair lass could no longer refuse, but forthwith submitted to be united in the bonds of matrimony to her rightful and constant lover. With the hope that these remarks and facts relative to noses, and the restoration and repairing of noses, may be acceptable, I am, Yours respectfully, An admirer of a good NOSE Sketch of a Journal from Paris to England (via Holland) in 1805, in a Series of Original Letters, written from memory, by a Lady, in 1810.. DEAR H. Having previously experienced repeated disappointments, we received our pass port, and proceeded immediately to the Bureau des diligences, where we sccnred two places in the Antwerp coach, for the Saturday following: thus, we avoided At three o'clock (in December) on the When we departed she wished us a "bon voyage" and hoped she should see us again. We travelled many miles, over bad pavement, before we again stopped, the unfavorable state of the weather, and the inconvenience we felt from jolting, prevented much observation; the fears also that we experienced from the deranged lady's knife, which she insisted on having, kept us on the watch within the coach, and the shortness of the days also contributed to render the first part of our journey particularly disagreeable. I cannot describe what we suffered at night, for the further we advanced, the more the jolting increased, and the guide was obliged to go before with a lantern, and replace the stones which had been left in heaps. Travellers generally have credit for exaggerating-were I to say ten times more I should then give you but a faint idea. In some places we were obliged to get out of the coach, or more correctly speaking, to be carried, (as the dirt was over the guards' jack-boots,) and wait till the wheels could be extricated from a slough; the old lady always remained in, declaring she would not attend to the guide, for he made the carriage go without horses. On Tuesday morning, about four o'clock, we arrived at Vallenciennes, two agreeable companions where our took their leave. The guard, contrary to the usual custom, having taken pity on our fatigue, which was really unfeigned, allowed us to remain there till 8 o'clock, the three hours' sleep we enjoyed at this place was of essential service to us, and we were ready to obey our summons with renewed alacrity; never indeed were the pleasures of repose after fatigue more duly appreciated than by us; and I was highly delighted the next morning to perceive the weather clear, while the real picture of a once besieged town before me, though melancholy in itself, from its novelty afforded me pleasure. We passed slowly through the streets, and went over several drawbridges; I can assure you, the noise which our heavy vehicle made when upon them was rather terrific, and I felt rejoiced when safely over; the greatest part of the town was in a ruinous state, but still had a grand appearance. Our travelling companions then consisted of a gentleman and his dog, who went with us to Mons. He was a polite and intelligent man, and I felt sorry (as he kindly explained to me every thing I wished to know) that he was not going to Bruxelles, for our former ignorant companions were unable to answer any ques tions with precision. L. M. B. • Mons is a delightful town, the streets on you, and reserve all further accounts are clean and wide, there are a number for another epistle. of manufactories, the inns are good, the people civil, and uncommonly attentive. We had a luxurious English breakfast of hot rolls and tea. The inn we were at, I recollect, faced the Town-Hall, and stood near the Market place; all appeared in a bustle, but the people seemed happy. It was at Mons I felt my spirits revive a little, for they had been till then, very much depressed, partly from an over-fatigue, and greatly from having left friends, whom probably I should never see again. After having left Mons we travelled some distance alone, but at a small village where we dined, we took up another passenger, clerk to a merchant, who went as far as Bruxelles. The country in Flanders is beautiful, and though in the month of December, all wore a pleasing aspect, the roads were in high order, for the Emperor had been there twice within a short space of time. It was through him that we had suffered so much the former part of our journey, a number of men had been employed to repair the roads, over which his majesty was expected to pass, and when he made known his intention of travelling by a different route, they were ordered to leave their work unfinished. The small towns through which we passed, gave us an idea of the poverty of their inhabitants; we arrived at Bruxelles about six in the evening, and alighted at a magnificent hotel, here we were conducted to a comfortable room, in which was a delightful English fire, tea and hot rolls were placed before us, and two or three attendants anxiously tried to anticipate all our wishes. The following morning we had a breakfast prepared for us, after the English fashion, we then took a walk and admired one or two squares, which are famous for the regularity of the buildings; we returned to the inn at one, took some refreshments, and when called for the bill were much astonished to find the charge did not exceed 4 shillings and 6 pence English money, equal to one dollar. We gave to the waiter and female servant a small Flemish silver coin each, value 3 pence English money, for which donation we had bows and curtsies for half an hour and good wishes of "bien du bonheur aux dames Anglaises." Where in this country (Eng.) could we purchase the good wishes of a waiter for three pence? as our journey from Bruxelles to Antwerp, though only 22 English miles, was full of incident from the variety and number of our comranions, and might take another half sheet for the relation-I shall now take pity I think I had not quitted Antwerp in my last, but was on the point of so doing. At half past three in the morning, we as cended a coach, in shape and size very similar to our stages, drawn by four horses, harnessed after the English fash ion, and a coachman on the box. Although the notice of these trifles must appear, I own, trivial, yet it was an extraordinary sight to us, who had not seen any thing of the kind during our journey. Probably you think we were now proceeding in ease and in a superiour style; but I must undeceive you. The seats of the coach were substantial wood without cushions, nor was the carriage particularly well hung; added to this, we travelled some distance over a plain which appeared nearly as one sheet of water, so deep in some places, that it was up to thehorses' shoulders. Notwithstanding the dreary prospect before us, I never was better amused. I am ashamed to tell you one thing that contributed to it.Shall I?-or shall I not?-It was the alarm and ridiculous fears of one of our female companions. At the same time, I must also add, I was much delighted by the rational conversation of two Americans, to whose polite behaviour and knowledge of the country through which we were travelling, we owed a great deal. The first place we stopped at was a house which marks the boundaries of Holland and Flanders; the barn of which was converted into a custom-house, where our trunks were externally examined, for the first time, and the Paris seals were cut, and Dutch impressions put on in their places; but so far does "la politesse Francaise" extend towards the ladies, that they did not open our trunks! The nation was at war with our's! And it was not to an English mind, unreasonable to expect that national prejudice might extend even to individuals, but such is the liberality inherent in the minds of the French, descending even to that of a custom-house officer, that they scorn to commit an ungenteel action. I hope you have not passed over these latter lines a trifling but sincere tribute to their honour! These affairs duly arrang ed, we were invited to a tolerable repast, and were also informed that we should not depart from thence for three or four hours. We therefore accepted our hos tess' offer, and took a walk in her garden, which though not spacious, was arranged |