Yonkers
"By chance we found in the harbour a small sloop (small vessel with one mast) making for the place where
we wished to go. We took it on the spot, and after two or three hours of delightful sailing we arrived at
Younker, a village near the residence of Mr. Livingston. But, lo and behold, the Livingstons were not at
home. We therefore had to return to Younker. But what to do next? Where to go? W would have liked to
continue our voyage up the Hudson and on our way up to Albany stop at different places worth inspecting
more closely, such as West-point where the military school of the United States is, and Caskill [sic]
whose heights present a noted view. But we have no means of transport and so are retained at Younker
without any way of leaving it.
We spent our afternoon as well as possible. After a modest repast Tocqueville took his gun, I my portfolio and album, and while I, seated on the summit of a hill, sketched a view of the Hudson, at the side of which I was careful to place Younker and the sloop which brought us, Tocqueville was carrying on a war to the death against the American birds.
The birds are most of them charming. Many are entirely blue; others, whose body is black, have a small yellow collar which is very pretty. Those of whom I speak are very common here. We haven't had much opportunity to shoot them yet; we had forgotten to take our guns to Sing-Sing. Besides, for us in our position what's a very incidental occupation. To return to Younker, daylight having yielded to the shades of night, I had to close my album. We climbed down the bank and, arrived at water's edge, we plunged into the Hudson, where we took a very agreeable bath. I swim fairly well now, thanks to the lessons of friend Tocqueville, who has put a lot of perseverance into procuring me this talent which is so useful to travelers."
Beaumont (Pierson 171-172)
Itinerary