River Travel in the 1810s

Editor's note: The following articles are from the publications listed below. Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing these articles. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

Palisades (Hudson River Portfolio, plate 19) -- John Hill, After William Guy Wall 1823

Political Barometer (Poughkeepsie, New York), February 28, 1810
The EDWARD, John Foster, Jun. Master, WILL sail from the Landing of GEORGE B. EVERTSON, &Co. for the accommodation of Ladies and Gentlemen travelling on business and pleasure. As the Edward is designed entirely for the convenience of passengers, the proprietors hope that the extra accommodations will please every person that takes passage on board. Her births are furnished with sacking bottoms, new beds and bedding, and the owners pledge themselves that there shall be nothing wanting on their part to accommodate the public. Passengers will be set on shore or taken on board, if requested, at any place between Poughkeepsie and New-York.

The EDWARD will leave Poughkeepsie on Tuesday the 27th inst. at 4 o'clock P. M. and New-York, at Coentie's Slip, on Friday the 2d day of March, at 4 o'clock P. M. and continue to leave each place every Tuesday and Friday throughout the season. -- Passage 3 dollars -- children half price. Every person engaging a birth and not occupying the same, must expect to pay the usual price.

The subscriber acknowledges the favors of the public since the commencement of the Edward for passengers only, and begs leave to solicit a continuance the ensuing season. JOHN FOSTER, Jun.

New-York Evening Post, April 11, 1812, COMMUNICATION.
A passenger who lately came down from Albany in the Paragon [writes about] the superior accommodations of this extraordinary vessel. With more room than any steam boat on the river, being of the same length of keel with the frigate President, and considerably wider than the Car of Neptune, it may be added that in speed she excels all competitors. It is not too much to say that she unites in herself, convenience, neatness, elegance and dispatch beyond what has been yet seen in this country.


George Temple.  The American Tourist’s Pocket Companion; or, A Guide to the
Springs, and Trip to the Lakes.  New York, 1812.
The different steam-boats afford the easiest, most certain, and expeditious manner; they have, however, their inconveniences, as they leave Newyork of an evening, the opportunity is lost of viewing the romantic scenery of the highlands, the steam boats passing them during the night.  By proceeding in these vessels, little of the country is seen, the glance is transient, and as correct an idea of it might be formed by peeping into a raree-show, which exhibits the same views.  The crown and bustle on board of a steam-boat, is also disagreeable to the valitudinarian, the sedate, and all those who entertain an aversion to be jostled about like cattle in a pen.  The gay, and those in the hey-day of youthful spirits, may, however, find them agreeable, and have ample scope to indulge their exuberance of mirth.

Stages also pass alternately every day from Newyork to Albany, on each side of the river.
       
When a numerous, or a family party, are about proceeding on this tour, they will generally find it to their advantage to agree with the captain of one of the Albany sloops, for the exclusive right of his cabin, and by laying in a small supply for their voyage, will find themselves infinitely more at home, in every respect, than on board of a steam-boat.  They must, however, be possessed of patience to bear the occasional bad luck of contrary winds and calms.  However, to a party of pleasure, not pressed for time, and having no urgent cause for expedition, a day or two longer, passed on the water, especially in agreeable weather, and sailing on a fine river, the banks or which are constantly regaling the eye with a variety of interesting prospects, is no material objection, more especially if the party are happy among themselves, and carry with them books and other resources against tedium.
       
When the tourists form a duo, and are equally desirous of leisurely admiring the romantic beauties of nature, and a few days is of no consequence to them, I would advise the following manner of pursuing this tour.
       
To ferry over the Hudson to Hoboken, and proceed in the stage to Patterson; view the falls of the Passaic; proceed by a chance conveyance to Goshen; thence to the celebrated spot of West-Point, and the romantic scenery of the highlands; proceed to the agreeable village of Newburgh; thence by the steam-boat to Hudson, and wait there for the succeeding steam-boat to proceed to Albany.  Here a day may be passed in viewing the city, and visiting the mineral springs of Harrogate, or the opposite shore of Hudson river.  

. . . as a monitor, I would be careless of my duty, if I did not avail of the present opportunity . . . to caution in the strongest manner, the young, unwary, and unexperienced, against joining strangers on board of steam-boats, packets, and at boarding -houses, at cards, the smallest inconvenience, is their being involved in disputes, which are at all times disagreeable.  And sharpers are always prowling about, to take advantage of the heedless -- besides those, who are professionally sharpers, there are others who, unmindful of their situation in life, make a practice to avail of their dexterity, and boast of defraying their travelling expenses by this polite science -- of all such beware.
       
Where there is such a number confined together in a small space, as there is usually found on board of steam-boats, it is natural that some little intimacies should be formed and groups or little parties assemble, drawn together by some small similarity of taste and relish for conversation; influenced by these circumstances, we formed part of a circle composed of about a dozen ladies and gentlemen, and retiring to a corner of the deck after enjoying much cheerful and agreeable conversation, it growing rather languid, a song from the ladies was proposed; diffidence however, prevented the accomplishment of our wish, and one of the gentlemen favoured us with the appropriate song of the "Heaving of the lead," in a masterly stile.  The person whose turn it next was to regale us, declaring that nature had not favored him with any vocal powers, substituted an amusing anecdote; after which a compromise was arranged with the fair ones, by which they were prevailed on to  sing alternately with those gentlemen who could, and that those who could not, would relate a real story.  The moon rose clear, the night was charming, and the hour for dowsing the lights, and establishing tranquility in the cabins being ten o'clock, we preferred prolonging our agreeable recreation until a late hour, to descending to stew out the night in the regions below. 

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