Rose at seven. Soon after breakfast I visited the cemetery and copied
the lines on John Taylor. The morning cool; after another chat went to
the steamer with Hudson; we were too soon but I enjoyed the scenery
particularly the ingenious management of a sloop. At 1/4 before 12
observed the two boats sailing nearly together. The smaller got in first
but persuaded by Hudson I took the larger the _Champlain_, sailed 5
minutes past 12 racing and betting, as on horses. Paid for passage and
dinner 1 dollar. The most romantic part of the Hudson near West Point;
one fellow devoured almost more butter at dinner than all Mr.
Whitehead's family for a week. Do not observe many gentlemen's seats on
the banks of the Hudson on the New York side; the opposite is too rocky
and precipitous. Observed a funeral supposed to be a negro, as all the
attendants excepting the driver of the hearse were people of colour; two
of the first appeared to be ministers, both dressed with white cravats;
a number on foot after the body, with two coaches filled mostly with
females.