we met with a Mr. Jackson, from New York, who had
arrived at the same time, and who was accompanied by his sister and
his son, Columbus, a sensible lad about ten years of age. Mr. J. is
a teacher. In consequence of the vicinity to the Ballston, Saratoga,
and New Lebanon springs, and the fashionable season, the hotel was
so full of strangers, that I was obliged to sleep with Mr. Tromp, in
a small chamber....]

Albany has received a new impulse, an increase of commerce, and expects
to reap the most happy results from the Erie canal, which commences
here, and runs a distance of three hundred and sixty-two miles to Lake
Erie. The company took a walk to the new basin, into which the canal
empties. It is separated from the Hudson by a dam which runs parallel
with the river.

[_Travels_:

Albany has received a new impulse, an increase of commerce, and
expects to reap the most happy results from the Erie Canal, which
has been lately established, and which commences here, and runs a
distance of three hundred and sixty-two miles to Lake Erie.... We
... took a walk to the new basin, into which the canal empties. It
is separated from the Hudson by a dam which runs parallel with the
river....
...]

[[The Erie Canal was begun in 1817 and completed in 1825.]]

On the morning of the 14th of August they took passage on board of the
Albany, one of the canal packet-boats, for Lake Erie. This canal, which
is three hundred and sixty-two miles in length, with eighty-three locks
between the Hudson river and Lake Erie, which lies six hundred and
eighty-eight feet above the level of the former river. The packet-boat
took them from thence to Schenectady. It was covered, and contained a
spacious cabin. On account of the great number of the locks, the
progress of their journey was but slow. The boat was drawn by three
horses, that walked upon a narrow path leading along the canal, and
beneath the numerous bridges which are thrown over it.

[_Travels_ (chapter VI begins):

On the morning of the 14th of August, we took passage on board the
Albany, one of the canal packet-boats, for Lake Erie. This canal....
is three hundred and sixty-two miles in length, with eighty-three
locks, between the Hudson and Lake Erie, which lies six hundred and
eighty-eight feet above the level of the former river.... The
packet-boat which took us to Schenectady, was seventy feet long,
fourteen feet wide, and