On the East side we have— Vincit Amor Patriæ. Nearly half a century before this monument was built, was a faithful Patriot-one in whom that the Record is true. On the West side the inscription reads after this manner "Fidelity. On the 23d of Sept. 1780, Isaac Van Wart, accompanied by John Paulding and Daniel Williams, all Farmers of the county of Westchester, intercepted Major Andre on his return from the American lines in the character of a Spy, and notwithstanding the large bribes offered them for his release, nobly disdained to sacrifice their country for gold, secured and carried him to the commanding officer of the district, whereby the dangerous and traitorous conspiracy of Arnold was brought to light, the insidious designs of the enemy baffled, the American army saved, and our be loved country free," &c. Paulding was, unquestionably, the master spirit of the trio. He is represented by those who knew him, as a brave man and a good soldier. White Plains is a small village, with about five hundred inhabitants, and is the county town for Westchester. The Court House and the Jail, of course, have their location here. Thank God, however, the poor debtor is not incarcerated for pov. erty, in the prisons of New York. I blush for the attempt making in my native State to restore that relic of barbarism to the code. Continue in the same fearless way you have commenced, to advocate the cause of the poor and the oppressed, in opposition to a few interested enemies of popular rights, and the "inglorious twenty"* will hide their diminished heads, and retire to the obscurity they deserve. I had intended to notice the last named village more fully, but the foregoing digression fills the second sheet of your New York Traveller. * Mr. Porter, the editor of the American Traveller a paper which he has conducted with ability for the last ten or twelve years, has ever fearlessly advocated the abolishment of imprisonment for debt. The "inglorious twenty," is a term he applied to twenty Senators, who voted for the perpetuation of this barbarous law. LETTER V. Put up at the Mansion House-Troy a prominent point of interest-Visit to Mrs. Willard's Female Seminary-The Amateur Vocalist-Mrs. Willard's zeal in the cause of Education, &c. Mansion House, Troy, N. Y., November 13, 1835. FRIEND P.-My epistle, in one respect at least are "like angels visits, few and far between," but on that account may, I presume, be the more acceptable to that portion of your readers who prefer the sparkling effusions of a brilliant imagination to the plain matter of fact letters of a plain man, like your humble servant. I arrived here two days since, and find myself so pleasantly located under the protecting care of the worthy Doctor, who presides over the destinies of the transient residents of the Mansion House, that my tarry will be somewhat protracted, and you may expect to hear from me several times before I take up the line of march. Troy may be considered a prominent point of interest as the mercantile head of navigation on the noble Hudson; and its enterprise and public spirit, as well as its topographical situation, entitle it to more than a passing notice. I have just returned from a visit to Mrs. Willard's Female Seminary, and it affords me unfeigned pleasure to be able to give some account of one of the most interesting establishments of the kind in the Union. The principal of this Institution is a lady of no ordinary mind, and possesses in an eminent degree all those traits of character which add to the dignity of the sex. Mrs. Willard has been engaged in the cause of female education more than fifteen years past. In 1819 she established a Female Academy at Waterford, and obtained an act of incorporation from the New York Legislature, without, however, receiving any aid from the State. The plan of her institution, at that time unmatured by the experience of years, met the decided approbation of the intelligent, and gave to the female sex advantages in point of solid mental acquirements, and general improvement, in branches of taste, utility, and science, much beyond what they had previously enjoyed in this vicinity. Encouraged by the liberality of a few gentlemen at Troy, she was induced to remove hither, in May, 1821; when she entered a new building erected for that purpose. Since that time her school has increased in importance and favour with the public, and has now probably a larger number of boarding scholars than any Female Academy in the Union. The building was enlarged in 1824. and in 1828 an additional edifice was erected, fifty by thirty-seven feet, con nected by a sort of out-door-chamber entry. Another addition to the main building was made in 1833. The several alterations have all been made without affecting the unity of the original design, and the main structure is now one hundred and thirty feet by forty. The last There are at present about two hundred and sixty young ladies, from every state in the Union, from the Canadas, the West Indies, one from Scotland, one from London, and two from Paris. came over with Mrs. W. on her return from Europe, a few years since. Her family consists of one hundred and sixty persons, one hundred and ten of whom are boarding scholars. Mrs. Willard, as principal, is assisted by two "vice principals," and twenty-two teachers and officers, two only of whom are gentlemen. Were I a Benedict, I should have hesitated about accepting the pressing invitation of the hospitable head of the institution, to take tea with her numerous and attractive family. But the courtesy was extended so sincerely and frankly, and being anxious to learn something of the domestic arrangements of the institution, I cheerfully complied, although I confess I felt somewhat abashed, on entering a dining-room with one hundred and thirty blushing and beautiful maidens. My worthy hostess, however, by her ease of manners and agreea |