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General PataGm.- men have been more remarkable than General Putnam for the acts Of successful rashness to which a bold and intrepid spirit frequently prompt ed him.

 When he was pursued by General Tryon at the head of fifteen hundred men, his on- ly method of escape was precipitating his horse down the steep decliyity of the rock called Horsenec1; and as none of his prr- suers dared to initiate his example, he es- capped.

 But an act of still more daring inrepidity was his yenturing to clear Ill boat, the tre- mendous waterfalls of Hudson's river.- This was in the year I756, when Putnam fought against the French and their allies, the Indians. He was accidentally with a boat and five men, on the eastern side of the river, contiguous to the falls. His men, who were on the opposite side, informed hlm by signal, that a considerable body ot sayages were advancing to surround hm, and there was not a moment to lose. Three modes of conduct were at his option ito remain, fight, and be sacrificed; to at tempt 10 pass to the other side exposed to the tall shot of the enemy; or to sail down the waterfalls, with almost a certainty of be- ing overwhelmed. These were the only alternatives. Putnam did not hesitate and jumped into the boat at the fortunate instant, tor one of hls companions, who wi,s at ilt- tle distance, was victim to the Indians.- iis enemies soon arrived, and discharged their muskets at the boat before he could get out of their reach. No sooner had he escaped this danger through thc rapiddiity of the current, but death presented itself under a more terrific form. Rocks, whose points projected above the surface of the water: large masses of timber that nearly closed the passage; absorbing gulls, and rapid de- scents, for the distance of quarter of mule, left hlm no hope of escape but by a miracle. Putnam however placed himself at the helm, and directed 1t with the utmost tranquility. His companions saw him with admlratlon, terror, and astonishment, avoid with tic utmost address the rocks and threatening gulfs, which they every instant expected to devour him. He disappeared, rose again, and directed his course across the only passage which he could possibly make, he atlength gained the even surface of the river that flowed at the bottom of this dreadful cascade. The Indians were no less surprised. This miracle astonished them almost as much as the sight of the first Europeans that approached the banks ot this rlyer. They considered Putnam inyulnerable; and they thought that they should offend the Great Spirit, if they at tempted the life of man that was so visa ply under his immediate protection.