POETRY. MARRIAGE OF THE SUN AND MOON. [The beautiful allegorical description which follows, was communicated for the Raleigh Register at the time of the last annular eclipse, by the late H. S. Ellenwood, then of Hillsborough-a gentleman of decided talents and fine poetical taste.] DID you know that a wedding has happened on high! "Twas the Sun and the Moon! in the halls of the sky tween New York and Albany, is the shire town of Dutchess county, one of the most fruitful sections of the state. It contains about eight thousand inhabitants. It was settled by the Dutch about the commencement of the last century, and many of the descendants of the first proprietors are now among its population. Its name is derived from the Indian word Apokeepsing, signifying safe harbour. The orthography has been changed several times, until many, for the sake of brevity, write it Pokeepsie.. The foregoing cut represents the first dwelling erected there. It was built, in the year 1702, by Myndert Van Kleek, one of the earliest settlers of Dutchess. The house and grounds attached have remained in possession of his descendants till the present time. It belonged to Matthew Vassar, Esq., at the time it was demolished, in 1835, by the innovating hand of improvement. On the left of the picture, in the distance, is seen a part of the old brewery of M. Vassar & Co., manufacturers of the celebrated" Poughkeepsie Ale." Until within a few years this ancient edifice exhibited its portholes, a feature so common in the buildings of the early settlers, they being necessary for defence against the original possessors of the soil. In 1787, this building, then a publick house of some note, was used as a stadthouse; the eleventh session of the legislature of this state was held therein. George Clinton was then governour of the state, and Pierre Van Cortlandt, afterward mayor of New York, lieutenant-governour. In 1830, a spirit of improvement, which for many years had lain dormant, was awakened in Poughkeepsie, and many valuable buildings were erected, new kinds of business introduced, and enterprise of every kind fostered and encouraged. In '33-4 several enterprising gentlemen, subsequently known as the "Improvement party," laid out about thirty acres of land, within the suburbs of the village, into streets, with a spacious square. They erected near the square a large publick hotel called the "Mansion house," and, in a short time, several elegant private dwellings grew up like magick around it. nd T THE village of Poughkeepsie, situated' upon the east bank of the Hudson river, about midway be About this time the business of whaling was commenced, and three ships were fitted out in rapid succession. The voyage of all proved disastrous, and one was entirely lost to the company. They 105 progressed, however, fitted the two out again, formed In addition to the whaling business, a silk comanother company, built an extensive wharf with pany was formed, and stores, and now they have four ships at sea, and one they have not yet gone into operation. Many other large factory erected, but at their wharf. The latter vessel returned two or manufacturing establishments were started, but the three months since with a full cargo, and all are doing most important and extensive is the Locomotive well. Engine Factory. Poughkeepsie Locomotive Engine Factory. This establishment is situated on the Hudson, di- from seventy-five to one hundred locomotive engines, rectly north of the wharf of the Poughkeepsie with their tenders, annually. It is under the direcWhaling Company. It is much the most extensive tion of R. M. BOUTON, Esq. one of the best engi of the kind in America, being capable of producing neers in the country. It is not yet in full operation. VOL. IV.-14 The literary institutions of Poughkeepsie are its improvements in view, indicating the existence of a pride and ornament. The collegiate school ranks the liberal spirit of well-directed enterprise. Nowhere,' highest, and justly deserves the celebrity it enjoys. said an ardent champion of popular education, The subjoined engraving and description are from recently, is nature more cloquent, than from that "The Youth's Magazine," published at the Metho-eminence;' and there, I may add, may the student dist Book Room in New York:of letters receive with grateful satisfaction, her im'Among the numerous and flourishing literary in-pressive lessons, portrayed in characters not to be stitutions of our country, the Poughkeepsie Colle- misunderstood, upon the fresh green fields, the towergiate School has already attained a high rank, and ing mountains, the sheen of a lovely river, or the enjoys an enviable reputation for every attraction broad dome of heaven, when night spreads its manwhich an intellectual nursery for American youth tle of shade over the earth. should possess. "The Collegiate School was first projected in the spring of 1835, under circumstances somewhat peculiar, and which show from what small beginnings great results sometimes follow. Mr. Charles Bartlett, the present Principal, while on a visit here, was in "Its situation is truly a noble one; standing upon an eminence commanding an extensive view of almost every variety of feature necessary to the perfection of a beautiful landscape. It is about a mile from the Hudson river, and half a mile from the bu-vited by the Hon. N. P. Tallmadge, and one or two siness part of the village. From the colonnade which entirely surrounds it, the eye of the spectator can compass a circuit of nearly fifty miles. On the south, at a distance of twenty miles, the Highlands terminate the view, within which an apparent plain stretches to their base, covered with highly cultivated farms, neat mansions, and thriving villages. Similar scenery meets the eye on the east, but more undulating. On the west and north, the Hudson rolls on in its pride and beauty, dotted with the sails of inland commerce, and numerous steamboats, all laden with the products of industry and of busy men. In the dim distance, the azure summits of the Catskills, reared to the clouds, stretch away to the north, a distance of forty miles, where the far-famed Mountain House' is distinctly seen, like a pearl in their towering crest, at an elevation of nearly three thousand feet above the river. At our feet, like a beautiful panorama, lies the village of Poughkeepsie, wis churches its literary institutions, and various other gentlemen, to take a ride about the suburbs, to witness the various improvements, then progressing. Alighting at the base of the hill on which the school now stands, they ascended it, and while so doing, Mr. Bartlett was, (as he had been before,) solicited to take charge of our academy for boys, but, as before declined. When they reached the summit of the hill, and were gazing with admiration upon the scene around them, Mr. B. remarked, What a beautiful place this would be for a literary institution;' to which Mr. Tallmadge immediately replied, Will you take charge of one, if established?' I will,' was the prompt answer, and ten days after, a meeting of a few enterprising citizens was held, the ground bought for the sum of $12,000, and in a very short time, contracts were made for the erection of a building. In October, the following *To the liberal enterprise of this gentleman, in connexion with others less publickly known, our village is greatly indebted for its : ourishing literary institutions. year, it was completed, and in November ensuing the view in front by a curtain. At the southern extremschool was opened under the superintendence of ity of this dormitory, are study rooms for the Mr. Bartlett, assisted by eight competent teachers. teachers, who necessarily exercise a salutary suDuring the first term, there were fifty pupils; the second, eighty-four; the third ninety-four; and the present or fourth term, there are one hundred and eight. The capacity of the school for accommodations, is for about one hundred. "The building is modelled after the Parthenon at Athens, and is thirty-five by one hundred and fifteen feet in size, exclusive of the colonnade; inclusive, seventy-seven by one hundred and thirty-seven feet. It cost, exclusive of the ground, about forty thousand dollars. "Its interiour arrangement is simple, but elegant and convenient. There are two sets of apartments, one for the purposes of the school, the other for a family. The apartment for the school consists, in the basement, of two large halls for recreation during inclement weather. These halls are surrounded with small rooms, containing wardrobe, toilettes, &c., for the pupils, two or three occupying one room. At the end of the east hall is situated a general wardrobe and bathing-room, under the care of a matron; at the end of the west hall are the dining room, the ironing room, &c., in the rear of which are the kitchen, pantries, cellar, washrooms, &c. "On the second floor is the school-room, which has on the north side three recitation rooms, and in its rear the library and cabinet, monitor's room, and a small recitation room. The family apartment is also upon this floor, and contains two large parlours, a sitting room, nursery, and a spacious hall. pervision over the pupils. The family part of this story consists of five bed-rooms. The attic is finished for rooms, and a part of the family, including some of the smaller boys, are there comfortably lodged. 66 The government of the school is parental; and while the pupil may there receive instruction in every branch of education, taught in incorporated and endowed colleges, he is subjected to a moral influence unknown in many of them, and entirely satisfactory to the most fastidious parent. Possessed of a highly cultivated mind, a moral character without blemish, religion without bigotry, and a quick perception of the various intellectual features and disposition of those under his care, the Principal manages his institution with deserved success. His dignity is tempered with so pleasing a familiarity, that affectionate reverence is the controlling power that keeps his pupils in the path of duty. This is no fulsome adulation, but a just tribute to the worth of an excellent man; and I doubt not that men will hereafter shine in the elevated circles of the great, the wise, and the good, who will refer with gratitude to the time when the moral precepts of Mr. Bartlett imbued the whole soul of the boy with a laudable ambition to become truly excellent in those qualities of the head and heart which constitute the character of the good man." There is also in the village an academy for boys, and two excellent female schools of the higher order; "In the second story is the dormitory; each pupil | the "Female Academy," and "Miss BOOTH's Fe occupies a cot in a recess, by himself, secured from male Seminary." centre of the village and is second to none on the at the steamboat wharf, kept by WARREN SKINriver. It is kept by L. B. VAN KLEEK & SON, lineal NER. It was erected about two years since, and af fords every convenience and comfort which the descendants of the Van Kleek beforementioned. The Exchange House. This establishment is traveller may desire. Poughkeepsie Hotel. |