shops and hospitals
were established. Here was forged the sword of Washington, now in the
keeping of the United States Government, and exhibited in the late
Centennial collection. It is marked with the maker's name, J. Bailey,
Fishkill.

The New York Legislature, retiring before the approach of the British,
after the evacuation of the city, came at last to Fishkill, and here the
constitution of the State was printed, in 1777, on the press of Samuel
Loundon, the first book, Lossing says, ever printed in the State.

Some years after peace was restored, the Verplanck family appear to have
occupied the Homestead from time to time. Philip Verplanck, a grandson
of Gulian the original grantee, was a native of the patent, but his
public life was spent elsewhere. He was an engineer and surveyor, and an
able man. Verplanck's Point in Westchester County, where Fort Lafayette
stood during the Revolution, was named for him, and he represented that
Manor in the Colonial Assembly from 1734 to 1768. Finally, Daniel
Crommelin Verplanck with his large family--one of his sons being the
well-known Gulian C. Verplanck, born here in 1786--came to live in the
old home permanently. He had led an active life in New York, served in
Congress and on the bench, and now retired to the quiet of the country.
It was he who planted the fine old trees which now shade the lawn; among
them the coffee-tree so much admired. About 1810 the north end, built of
wood, was added to the old house. Architects were not numerous,
apparently, in those days, so the Dutch type was lost in making this
large addition, though the interior is quaint, dignified and
interesting. It was from under its roof that Daniel C. Verplanck was
carried to his last resting-place as his father before him, and
generations after him lived and still live in the old Homestead.

For the above description, prepared with no little painstaking, of an
interesting house and demesne, as well as for the loan of the photograph
from which I made my pen-and-ink sketch of it, I am wholly indebted to a
member of the Verplanck family and a mutual friend.

A.J. BLOOR.

* * * * *

ROCK UPHEAVAL CAUSED BY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.--There was a remarkable
occurrence at the mills of the Combined Locks Paper Company at Combined
Locks, Wis., on Saturday. From some unknown cause there was an upheaval
of rock upon which the mills are located, throwing the mill walls out of
place, cra