Ossining
Hudson eleven leagues to the north of New-York. It's a town of 1000 to 1200
souls which has been rendered famous by its prison. . . the most vast in the
United States. . . . We have come here with the intention of examining it from
top to bottom; we have already been here a week, and we experience a well-
being that you can't conceive. The extreme agitation in which we were obliged
to live in New-York, the number of visits we had to make and receive each day
began to weary us a little. Here we have the best employed and most peaceful
existence. We live with a very decent American family which holds us in great
consideration. We have made the acquaintance in the village of several persons
whom we go to see when we are free. . . ."
Tocqueville, letter to his father (Pierson 109)