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CHAPTER X.

Glen's Falls to Saratoga Springs-Great Watering-Place of the United States-Accommodation-Sir William Johnson, first European there -Analysis of Waters-Extensive use of them-Exercise seldom taken in the open Air, but in Carriages-Hotels-Musquitoes-Flies, -Apples and Peaches dried in sun— -Population-Churches-Persons of Colour-Employment of persons who do not go to ChurchA Funeral-October Weather-Colours of Trees-Saratoga Lake— Ballston Lake-Fish Pond-Field of Burgoyne's Battles-Account of his Campaign-Stark defeats part of his Force-Actions of 19th September and 7th October-Burgoyne's Surrender-Incidents of the Campaign-Baroness Reidesdel-General Fraser's death-Funeral-Lady Harriet Ackland-Particulars of the Surrender-General Schuyler's kindness and magnanimous conduct- Baroness Reidesdel's interviews with the British Royal Family-Dinner in a small Country Inn-Saratoga Springs to Ballston Spa-Population -Analysis of Water-Hotels-Mrs Macmaster's Boarding-House-⚫ Mr Brown-Expence of Inquest of Lunacy-Episcopal ChurchFuneral-Proclamation of Thanksgiving Day-Washerwoman.

From 20th September to 31st October. SARATOGA Springs, the great watering-place of the United States, is situated on high dry ground, at the distance of seventeen miles southward from Glen's Falls. We came here on 20th September. The weather had previously become comparatively cool, and the

multitude had taken their departure. The great hotels were about to close. Intending to remain for some time here, we went to one of the lesser houses open for visitors during the whole year, and afterwards to a private boarding-house. The gentleman who had accompanied us from Britain left us to our regret on his return, a few days after we reached this village. It consists of one fine broad street, fringed with trees, on the sides of which are so many large and splendid hotels, that it appeared to me that there was more extensive accommodation for company here than at Harrowgate. Fifteen hundred people have been known to arrive in a week. They come from all parts of the states, even from New Orleans, at the distance of between 2000 and 3000 miles, to avoid the heat and unhealthy weather, which prevail in the southern part of the states during the end of the summer, and to enjoy the very wholesome and pleasant mineral waters of Saratoga.

The Indians were acquainted with the medicinal qualities of those waters before the country was known to Europeans. Their attention was attracted by the great quantity of game, and occasionally of wild cattle, that frequented the place. The first communication by the Indians was made to Sir William Johnson on the Mohawk river, when he was in bad health, in the year 1767. They conveyed him to the springs,-cutting a road for him through the forests. Sir William's health improved, and he made the virtues of the water known. The revolutionary war prevented the springs from be

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ing resorted to for many years; and in 1787 similar springs were discovered at Ballston, seven miles from Saratoga springs. Hotels were erected there,-the land being at that time the property of more enterprizing persons; and it was not till the Congress water at Saratoga springs was discovered, about twenty-five years ago, that much was done with a view to provide accommodation for strangers. The medical properties of the waters at the different springs, of which there are fourteen here, and four at Ballston, are owing to their containing, in various proportions, muriate of soda, carbonate of soda, carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of iron, and carbonic acid gas. A gallon, or 231 cubic inches, of the Congress water at Saratoga springs, which is more used than all the other waters there, contains of

and 343 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas.

The quantity of fixed air in the Congress water is much greater than in any of the other waters here or at Ballston, and vastly exceeds any thing yet discovered in this or any other country. The medical gentlemen here say, that the large quantity of the gas, combined with the marine salt, and various carbonates, give to the Congress water, in its cathartic properties, a de

cided superiority over every water of the same kind hitherto discovered. The temperature at the bottom of the spring is fifty degrees of Fahrenheit, and suffers no change in winter or summer; neither does the season of the year affect the quantity of the water. The taste is very agreeable; and the briskness of the water at the fountain delightful. Three or four pint tumblers are generally taken in the morning before breakfast. We also, as most people do, use it at meals from choice, although it is never so good as at the fountain, before there is any escape of gas. The people resident in the village and its neighbourhood, within six or eight miles of the place, have it carried to their houses, preferring it very much to ordinary spring water. The quantity of gas is such, that a very nice sort of breakfast bread is baked with Congress water, instead of yeast. So large a quantity of it is bottled, and sent all over the states, that the proprietors, Messrs Lynch and Clarke, are said to be making a fortune of it. Even the American packet ships are supplied with it in abundance; but there is a very considerable loss of the gas in bottling, which renders the taste insipid, and the least loss of gas occasions a precipitation of iron, which gives the water a muddy appearance. Seltzer water in the bottled state is as pleasant as Congress water, except at the fountain.

The use of the water is chiefly recommended in bilious, dyspeptic, and calculous complaints, for diseases of the skin, and for chronic rheumatism; but the great bulk of the people who resort to these celebrated springs, many

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of them regularly once a-year, come for amusement, and for the preservation, rather than the recovery, of health, at a period of the year, when the violence of the heat renders a visit to a high and comparatively a cold country very desirable. I have found the use of the water and the baths so beneficial for a trifling complaint, for which I had last year tried the water at Harrowgate, that we resolved to remain here and at Ball ́ston springs for a couple of months. The gay people had almost disappeared before we arrived. The invalids seem to live very sparingly,-hardly tasting any liquid but the water, and tea, which here, and at other places where we have been, we sometimes observe ladies take at dinner. Many of those invalids are quite able to take exercise in the open air, and would, if I am not much mistaken, derive as much benefit from it, if taken in moderation, as from the use of the water; but they seem to confine themselves to a five or ten minutes walk in the morning, when they go to the fountain, and to a drive in an open carriage for an hour, or an hour and a-half. When they meet us walking several miles for exercise, and the pleasure of being in the open air, they, whether acquainted with us or not, frequently stop their vehicles, and very civilly offer us a ride with them, and can hardly believe us serious, when we, in declining to avail ourselves of their kindly meant offer, tell them that we prefer to walk. There are few more striking points of difference between this country and Britain, than in the numbers of the people who ride and walk on the public roads. It absolutely seems