Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 4.

[p. 105] to refresh and recruit us. He gives us a profusion of strawberries. Hepsey has added them to her lacteal regime, to which she strictly adheres. I gave Mrs. Brooks an airing this morning around the suburbs of the city as far to the northward as to give her a view of Troy. Previously, however, I conducted the ladies to the wharf and gave them a view of a steamboat. We had just time enoa to visit the different apartments before she sailed for New York. The whole was a great treat to us all and has added to the strength of our wishes, which were previously very strong to participate with you, the pleasure of a passage in one of those wonderful aquatic vehicles to New York. Before Tea, which is but just over, the ladies took a shopping stroll throa some of the principal streets of the ancient city, and viewed some of the houses of Knickerbocker memory, the bricks and tiles of which were imported in days of yore from the Dutch Netherlands. With the miserable appearance of these buildings, we may rank among the most disagreeable things of Albany, the dirt and stench of the streets and the grunting of as many swine as a certain female we read of possessed of demons. But on the other hand we saw a number of very handsome public edifices, and many good private dwelling houses, and a good deal of business, as Saturday is a market day, going on in the streets. As we were descending State street, on returning from our ramble, we were shocked with an accident which happened directly before our eyes. A large powerful horse was descending State street in a cart loaded heavily with gravel. The load pressed very hard on the horse and he attempted to kick up, but the driver, who was a negro, instead of soothing, irritated the horse, and precipitated him into a full run. The driver, who was standing on top of the load, seeing himself in danger, leaped with great agility upon the pavement, but being unable to maintain his feet pitched forward under the left wheel, and his brains were instantly